Cycling in Harrow — Where Do I Start?
Whether you are thinking about getting back on a bike, looking for somewhere to ride, wanting to build your confidence, or interested in helping other people discover cycling, there are lots of opportunities to get involved.
This page brings together some of the rides, routes, advice and resources that have been put together for cycling in and around Harrow. Where you see Ready-made it means the text and route required for the Let's Ride platform is packaged up and ready to use.
Not sure where to start? Choose the option that sounds most like you or look at the simple poster.
🚲 I Want to Start Cycling
Perhaps you can ride a bike but are nervous about going out on the road. Maybe you have not cycled for years and would like to regain your confidence.
There are Beginner Bike Rides from Kenton Recreation Ground, usually on Saturday afternoons at 2pm. These are short, friendly rides designed for people who are starting out, returning to cycling or simply want to build their confidence.
The ride is taken at the pace of the slowest rider and the route can be adapted according to the people taking part.
Find some Ready-made routes:
- Beginner Bike Rides (5 miles approx.)
- Short confidence-building rides (10 miles approx.)
Find out more on group riding:
Just Twelve Tips:
Learning to ride isn't covered here but there are options including your local borough, cycle organisations, and hubs such as the Harrow Cycle Hub which has its own facility in Kenton Recreation Ground in the borough of Harrow, North West London. It's always worth subscribing to a hub or club newsletter as you will be kept informed of events and opportunities.
Not sure whether a ride is suitable for you?
Contact the ride leader before booking.
🚴 I Already Cycle — Where Can I Ride?
If you are already comfortable on a bike, there is a growing collection of routes around Harrow and the surrounding area.
Distances range from short local rides of around 10 miles through to longer day rides of 20, 40, or even 60+ miles.
Speed will be set by the ride leader and will be adjusted to suit riders and no one is left behind (sometimes refered to as a no drop ride). This is the general approach nationwide though know your comfortable average speed, check the ride details and contact the ride leader if you are unsure if the ride is right for you.
There are routes for different levels of experience and different interests: some concentrate on quiet roads and cycle paths, others head into the Chilterns, while some are simply an excuse to find a good café! Here are some collections for you to explore.
Ready-made shorter local routes
These routes all start in the borough of Harrow, are between 10 and 25 miles and include a café.
Ready-made longer local routes
These routes mostly start in the borough of Harrow, are between 25 and 40 miles and are great for exploring Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, London and the surrounding countryside.
Ready-made challenging local routes
For experienced riders looking for hills, distance and a full day's cycling these routes are over 40 miles long.
Explore route lists
These resources might typically be used by ride leaders though it is suitable for anyone who wants pre-designed routes.
More generally, there are plenty of resources available. For Komoot you select "Routes" from the menu and enter your search criteria. I mention paper maps as that can provide inspiration.
Joining rides on Let's Ride
Let's Ride is a web-based platform supported by British Cycling. You need to register on the Let's Ride website then request to join the Harrow Cycle Hub group and you can then join Harrow rides. You will receive email notification when new rides are posted.
There are many other groups on Let's Ride so join a few and see which groups suit your schedule, ride preferences and availability.
There are also plenty of opportunities:
Before joining a ride, always read the full description, including the distance, terrain, expected pace and duration, and make sure the ride is suitable for you.
Not sure whether Harrow's rides are for you?
A web search will reveal many more clubs and organisations in the Harrow area.
🌳 I Want to Explore
Cycling is a great way of exploring places that are surprisingly close to Harrow. These rides typically involve a train ride to allow riders to explore further afield. If your ride starts at a station sych as Uxbridge or Watford Junction you can always cycle there instead of taking the train if you are confident.
Some of the rides are simply about getting to a café or having a picnic. Others take you to parks, villages, viewpoints, historic places and other destinations that you might otherwise pass by.
There are also resources for planning your own cycling adventures.
Inspiring day trips
The excellent Lost Lanes book by Jack Thurston has ideas and practical information on day trips. These aren't Ready-made routes and of course you need a copy of the book if you are leading the ride.
Ready-made day trips
Ideas for destinations that can be reached by train and bike from Harrow and Kenton.
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Ready-made routes
Some routes have already been planned and documented, including GPX files and the information needed to create the ride on the Let's Ride platform. Try these different collections as well as the collections mentioned above.
Annual ride schedule
See what rides and cycling activities are planned throughout the year in Harrow including the annual Canons Park picnic.
Ready-made multi-day cycling
If a day ride is not enough, there are also examples and ideas for short tours
You don't have to follow an organised ride.
Use the routes as inspiration and create your own adventure.
🙋 I Want to Help Other People Cycle
Cycling needs people as well as bikes.
There are many ways to help, from assisting on an occasional ride through to becoming a Ride Leader.
You don't have to commit to becoming a Ride Leader immediately. Volunteering, assisting or simply coming along on a ride can be a good way to find out whether you would enjoy it.
Volunteer
There are opportunities to support cycling activities in different ways. If you have a particular skill or idea that could help, but cannot see an advertised role, get in touch with the relevant organisation. Voluntary Action Harrow will show specific vacancies though other opportunities will exist.
Help on rides
Ride assistants and other volunteers play an important part in making group rides welcoming and enjoyable.
Become a Ride Leader
If you would like to lead rides yourself, there is a graduated route into Ride Leadership. Resources here explain the training, British Cycling and Let's Ride requirements, ride planning and some of the practical considerations of leading a group.
Beginner Bike Ride Volunteer
Individuals new to cycling or restarting their cycling may need extra support:
To volunteer for beginner bike rides you can email rides@harrowcyclehub.org to express interest.
Wheels for All
There are also opportunities to support inclusive cycling and help more people experience the benefits of being on a bike.
Find out more about volunteering and becoming a Ride Leader.
🔧 Need Help With Your Bike?
You do not need to be a bicycle mechanic to enjoy cycling, but learning a few basic skills can make a big difference.
The resources here include:
A little preparation can turn a potential problem into a minor inconvenience.
📚 Resources for Cyclists and Ride Leaders
There is a lot of cycling information available, but sometimes the difficulty is knowing where to look.
This collection includes resources for both riders and people organising rides, including:
Interested in becoming a ride leader?
Ride Leader Guidance brings together practical information about training, planning and running rides.
📍 Where Do the Rides Start?
Rides start from a number of locations around Harrow and the surrounding area, including:
Kenton · Harrow · Pinner · Hatch End · Eastcote · Croxley Green · Uxbridge · Rickmansworth
Each start location has its own information about meeting points, public transport, parking and other useful details.
Check the start-location information before setting out and remember to arrive 10-15 minutes before the advertised start time for introductions, bike check and briefing.
☕ Cycling Is Better Together
Most of the rides described here have one thing in common: they are as much about the people as the miles.
A coffee stop, a conversation, discovering somewhere new and getting home having enjoyed the day are all part of cycling.
You don't have to be fast, own an expensive bike or ride enormous distances.
Find a ride that suits you, get on your bike and see where it takes you.
Have a Question?
If you are unsure which ride is right for you, want to know more about volunteering or are interested in becoming a Ride Leader, please get in touch.
I'll be happy to help point you in the right direction.
If you are interested in developing the support required for riders and ride leaders have a look at what you could be involved in and get in touch.