Route

The route is designed to celebrate the best London has to offer and is suitable for those signing up for their first ‘sportive’ and those training for Alpine challenges

Areas of outstanding natural beauty, historic Olympic venues and the chance to visit to some of London’s most famous sights all in one weekend. We will be giving full route maps and gpx files out to all signed up riders before the ride, but in the meantime you can watch the fly through video of the route on the right of the page and also find out about some of the things you will pass on each of the two days of the ride.

Day 1: Waterways & Woods to Windsor Castle

102 miles
940m of climbing*
8.5 hrs at 12mph

The first day takes the fired up and fresh riders North from the Excel centre and away from the hectic-ness of the city on a journey through some of the best back roads and most beautiful scenery you can find around London. Riding North East through the Ingrebourne Valley brings the riders to the leafy calm of Epping Forest. Then it’s a spin past Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge before pressing on towards Lee Valley Park; home of the Olympic White Water Rafting Centre. Around half way now, we will pass through the Norman Great Wood at Northaw and cross the Grand Union Canal before hitting the stunning Chilterns. Fatigue will likely be kicking by this point, but it is a final trundle through the National Nature Reserve of Burnham Beeches before the welcome sight of the majestic Windsor Castle welcomes you home. For those staying the night it is time to shower, change and relax in preparation for an evening of feasting and entertainment worthy of the Queen’s back yard.

Profile of day 1

Day 2: History, Heritage & Sporting Heroics

84 miles
1058m of climbing*
7 hrs at 12mph

The second day takes the slightly wearier riders south from the racecourse out through glorious Windsor, site of the 1908 Olympic marathon and the 1948 Olympic cycling road race. Then we follow the mighty Thames East to cross over the historic Civil War era River Wey navigation system before heading up to Ranmore Common to join the London 2012 road race cycle route. You’ll experience the beauty of the North Downs cresting Box Hill up the legendary zig zags where Cavendish and Co. made their bid for glory. You’ll be feeling the strain after the hills but make sure you have saved some energy for taking in the views from Crystal Palace and for a blast around Herne Hill velodrome to live out your cycling dreams at the site of the 1948 Olympic cycling events. You are nearly there now and we’ll begin to get back into the rhythm of city riding before the triumphant crossing of that most iconic of London landmarks…Tower Bridge. Then it’s just a final easy cruise in the evening sun (hopefully!) back to the start point to close the loop and complete the full MITIE London Revolution.