London ride
Next ride
Date: Saturday 8 June 2019
Time: Depends on start point
Location: Various
Start points
Start locations and timings for 2019 have been planned but cannot be confirmed until closer to the date. Follow us on our new website WNBR.London or FaceBook or Twitter for latest news. We will need volunteers to help out at each of the starts - please volunteer!!
| Start | Meeting Point | Gather | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clapham Junction | Grant Road, SW11 2NU | 14:30 | 14:45 |
| Deptford | Matchstick Piehouse, SE8 5HD | 13:00 | 14:00 |
| Hyde Park | North Carriage Drive, nr Marble Arch | 14:00 | 15:00 |
| Kew Bridge | North end of Kew Bridge nr W4 3NQ | 13:30 | 13:45 |
| Regents Park | Outer Circle, near NW1 4NA | 14:20 | 14:50 |
| Tower Hill | Trinity Square Gardens, EC3N 4DJ | 14:00 | 14:45 |
| West Norwood | 242 Norwood Rd, SE27 9AW | 12:00 | 14:30 |
Here's a good idea! Find the start you want on Facebook and click the button to say you are going or interested. That way you are most likely to see any updates to times or locations. Then use the share button to invite all your friends!
Route details will not be finalised until closer to the date but are likely to be based on last year's ride. Subject to confirmation, here's a topological map (similar to a tube map) showing how they fit together:
NB The exact departure times may change on the day, depending on how many people go to each start point. However, they won't be any earlier than the assembly times listed here.
Choosing a Start Point
In recent years WNBR London has had multiple start points. We regularly have over 1,000 riders so it would be hard to fit you all in one place. This also means you can choose a convenient location. But, wherever you start, all groups converge to form one peloton that can be around 4Km long when stretched out!
So, what considerations might you have?
- Convenient location
- Transport links (train/tube/bus)
- Bike hire locations
- Length of ride
- Scenic / sightseeing opportunities
- Where your friends are starting from
- Opportunity for social time before ride
- Bodypainting
- Crowds vs Small Group
- Public vs Private
- Minimising spectators and photographers
Kew Bridge is the longest ride at 17¾ miles (28½ Km). It tends to attract a small group of enthusiastic cyclists. The ride crosses the meandering Thames five times before joining in with the Clapham Junction start. Altogether you should get to cross the Thames eight times! The ride starts from the southbound roadside at the north end of the bridge. This means there is nowhere to socialise or do body painting – and no point in arriving early. It is a relatively small group of riders.
Clapham Junction is very convenient for the train connections, after all, it is the biggest junction and has the most trains passing through – over 2,000 on weekdays. Our start point is alongside the station (Platform 1 side) in a fairly small public square, so there is no time for socialising or body painting. The overall route is 9 miles (14½ Km).
Deptford is new for 2019. At 10⅓ miles (16⅔ Km) it is another fairly long ride, crossing two of the best Thames bridges,Tower Bridge and London Bridge, before joining the other groups. The start is at Matchstick Piehouse, a theatre, café and bar. It is a private location which means you can arrive early to socialise, do bodypainting, eat pies and drink.
The other rides are relatively easy rides into the centre.
Tower Hill is arguably the most scenic ride, starting alongside the Tower of London, crossing four bridges, riding alongside the river, passing through Trafalgar Square and Westminster. It’s handy for London Bridge, Waterloo, Charing Cross, Fenchurch St and Liverpool St stations. We use a reasonably large public park, so it is possible to arrive early, picnic, socialise and do body painting. Because it is a public space there will be onlookers and photographers. The ride from here is about 7¾ miles (12½ Km).
Hyde Park is the best known starting point and always attracts large crowds (including photographers), so those riders need to enjoy being in a crowd! Each year we have to agree details with the Royal Parks (and the Parks’ Police), but we expect to be able to gather early enough for socialising and bodypainting. Being a large group of riders, it tends to move slowly. It is a short route at just over 7½ miles (12¼ Km).
Regents Park is an easy ride down through the centre of town, and particularly good if you are bringing your bike in via Euston or Kings Cross stations. The Royal Parks do not give us permission to start from the Park, so we start roadside instead. There has not been a problem with people visiting the park before the start, but do not get naked, do bodypainting or look like you are lining up for the start! This is the shortest route at just under 7½ miles (12 Km).
This year, unfortunately, we have been unable to agree starts at Kings Cross or West Norwood.
All the routes merge for the core part of the route, from Westminster Bridge onwards, to form the 1,000+ rider peloton (which always moves at a safe, comfortable pace and gets stuck a bit).
If you are worried about how far you can cycle, bear in mind that you can choose to finish any time you want to. You don’t have to do the full course to show your support for the campaign.
Start points and routes may be subject to change due to unforeseen traffic conditions on the day so riders should check the exact locations and details on the WNBR London website, FaceBook pages or Twitter feed.
Things to Know
Wear clothes before and after the ride
Do not undress until just before the protest moves off, as this will undermine our positive relationship with the authorities. There is no law against nudity in England, but please don't exercise your right to nudity in London before the ride, as it will impact on our ability to make arrangements with police. Feel free to undress in the UK at any other time of the year, as this will not have any impact on the WNBR.
Body paint, decorated bikes, flags, whistles, etc make a great impression. Remember - it is AS BARE AS YOU DARE you do not need to be naked. If you are concerned about spectators and cameras at the start, you might keep some clothes on until the first time the ride halts.
Some more information about the photography policy can be found here: UK FAQ
Assembly area
You can assemble at one of the start points before the actual start time; see above for exact times at different locations. You can stay dressed as long as you want, but don't get undressed more than five minutes before the advertised start time, or as otherwise directed. If you turn up too early, Stewards will ask you to leave and return at the proper time. See the section below to read why. Be prepared to form up ready for departure at about five minutes before departure. The protest will start at different times at different locations - see details above.
Body Painting
This varies depending on the start point. Please consult the relevant page for specific information.
Route
Arranging the route for the WNBR requires negotiation with multiple authorities, working around other events, some of which are planned well in advance and others which occur on very short notice. The WNBR isn't the London Marathon and can't agree roads being closed months in advance. We try and ensure the route goes past many of the London landmarks where it will be seen by people on the streets. This helps to promote the goals of the protest ride whilst letting you see London whilst doing something a little bit different. We do try to announce the route beforehand, but sometimes it is difficult to do so without having to change it at the last minute. This is why the route isn't always available beforehand and may even change on the day at the discretion of the lead marshal.
The route should see you passing the London landmarks of Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Waterloo Bridge, Royal Courts of Justice, Covent Garden, The Mall and Wellington Arch. Altogether, our multiple start points will see us crossing 12 bridges over the Thames and covering 33 miles of London's streets!
There is no secure storage for your clothes or valuables while we are doing the ride. You need to take them with you. Most people either have carriers on their bike or wear a backpack. It's also risky to trust friends to carry them in case you can't find them in the crowd.
Ride length
The routes are between 7 and 17 miles long depending on where you begin - so choose one that suits your ability. Central London is fairly flat with very few hills. It's an easy, leisurely ride, going at the pace of the slowest riders and pausing to allow the groups to catch up! It should take around 2.5 hours for the shorter routes.
Finish
The finish is Hyde Park Corner/Wellington Arch. When you arrive at the end of the ride, congratulate yourself and fellow riders on staging a successful protest. The finish area will not be a venue for prolonged naked socialising. So when you've found your friends, taken your photographs and celebrated the highlights of the ride, please get dressed and move on to continue your celebrations elsewhere. In particular, please note that playing games, such as Frisbee or ball games, in the finish area is not allowed.
The dispersal will commence as soon as the ride finishes. People will be asked by Stewards to leave the roadway, dress and depart immediately.
Dispersal
Get dressed before you leave the finish area. If you decide to move into surrounding areas, please show consideration for others. Remember that any misbehaviour that is associated with WNBR riders may jeopardise our ability to continue assembling anywhere in London in future years.
