05\ THE URBAN EXPLORER
Beginning in East London before looping up through Hertfordshire and into Essex, our final ride marries the best of town and city with greenery to spare The Hackney to Essex Circuit, chosen by Tao Geoghegan Hart, winner of the National Under-23 Road Championships 2016, now riding for Team Sky DISTANCE 72 miles TOTAL CLIMB 1056m TARGET TIME 4 hours DIFFICULTY 6/10 ROUTE LINK strava.com/ routes/6132224 It can be tough getting a decent ride when you live in London, but there are superb areas of the city to explore. Often, I’ll go to Regent’s Park for a short recovery ride, but for something more substantial I’ll meet friends at Lee Valley, near the Hackney Downs.
It’s a great start to the ride and close to the Olympic Park – a brilliant reminder of what a bit of dedication and willpower can achieve. After that, head north through the delights of Walthamstow to Epping Forest – proof that you don’t have to venture far out of London to find great beauty spots.
After this you’ll get your country fix on the rolling lanes, leading out toward Ware and Hertford. The best part is that this loop doesn’t feel restricted by the city, whereas so many do. There are a few short climbs as you get into Hertfordshire and while there aren’t any particularly hard sections, you’ll always be on the pedals, sharpening your fitness and toasting calories from start to finish. If it does all get too much, you can always catch a train back to Central London in 20 minutes.
When you loop back through the village of High Beach, it’s tempting to feel like you’re nearly home, but there are still another dozen miles to go, so you need to suck it up and get your head down. My favourite part of the ride is bombing back through Epping Forest with the lights of East London ahead. It’s a spectacular view that makes me appreciate living in the capital even more than I already do. The Rest Stop – On market day there are plenty of stalls to choose from in the Hackney Downs, but the Mess Café on Amhurst Road is always a decent back-up for a no-nonsense refuel.