Sunday 9th June
The Tour de Penge is an annual event that has taken place on a Sunday in May or June for over a decade since 2007. It is a free-to-enter community bike ride from Penge to Greenwich and back.
This is a popular fixture in the local calendar and is part of the annual Penge Festival. It involves 300 cyclists of all ages and abilities on a guided, safe, mostly off-road route along the National Cycle Network route 21. It is a round trip of about 13 flat miles, depending on where you stop at Greenwich.
You don’t have to be a member of Penge Cycle Club to join in. For first-timers, the revelation that you can cycle along river paths and through parks all the way to the Thames at Greenwich will come as a wonderful surprise. It is a great chance for regular Tour riders to enjoy a family ride, take in ice cream and (hopefully) enjoy the sunshine.
Starting at Alexandra Junior School
Meet at Alexandra Junior School, Cator Road, London. SE26 5DS – via the school gate on Bertie Rd, off Woodbastwick Rd. Find it on Google maps. Meet from 8:30am with the ride starting at 9:30am. Gather at the school with your bikes ready for action. Get there early to meet old friends and ensure you are signed on for the ride.
Dr Bike will be offering free bike checks at the start. (This is very popular, so checking that your bikes are in roadworthy condition beforehand will cut down the queues.)
We divide into groups of 20 or so, with a leader and a back-marker and set off at regular intervals towards Greenwich.
When we arrive at Greenwich, we pause for the odd photo, drink and snack for about 30 minutes. We then make the return journey in the same groups we set out with, pausing to let the young ones rest if needed.
The route
This follows National Cycle Network Route 21 – The Waterlink Way. For 2023, we have a detailed GPS route for cycle computers, including a cue sheet. The 2019 version of the route is still available for more basic devices.
Finish party – Alexandra Junior School, Cator Road, Sydenham, SE26 5DS
The finish is back at Alexandra School with a feast. We have soft drinks for the kids, a fantastic BBQ, a raffle and some refreshments for the grown-ups.
Volunteers
We always need volunteers to help the day run smoothly. The key roles we need support with are:
- Pre-ride publicity
- Sourcing raffle prizes and selling raffle tickets
- Ride guides and back-markers to take the groups to Greenwich and back without getting lost
- Taking turns with the BBQ
Calls go out for volunteers via email and Facebook to members as the date approaches.
Partners
We use the day to do some fundraising for our chosen club charity, Wheels for Wellbeing. We also have great support from the local London Cycling Campaign Group: Bromley Cyclists, along with the support of many of our neighbouring cycle clubs, including regular partners Bigfoot CC from Bromley.
Registration
The ride is free, but you must register beforehand to join the ride and agree to our T&Cs. Registration is online with RiderHQ. Please register everyone in your family or ride group, including kids, who will be cycling.
Register for Tour de Penge 2024
Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring a puncture repair kit and spare inner tubes. We recommend you wear a helmet and be prepared for the weather. If it’s wet, bring a good waterproof; if it’s hot, don’t forget suncream. Bring a drink and some ice cream money. We accept card payments for drinks and food at the BBQ.
Results from our fun grassy knoll circuit time trial 2024
Want to ride or want to help?
Dust down your bike, pump up those tyres, oil your chain, and get ready for a great day out.
For ride guides and back-markers, check out our route risk assessment.
Also, check out Tour de Penge on Facebook.
For any offers of help or for further information, contact: tourdepenge@pengecc.org.