Help for visit to Wimbledon

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I have a internet friend from Greece. He's staying in Wimbledon whilst settling his daughter into Uni in the near future. Any knowledge of bike hire and pedaling routes would be most appreciated. More general thoughts on things to see and do in the Wimbledon area would be good too.

Thanks All

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Help for visiting Wimbledon??

Don't!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Oh, and it is 'an Internet friend'.


Seriously though, I am sure there are plenty of things to do, and I'm sure a London bod will be along soon!

 

[mickle]

I took my first acid trip riding a mountainbike around the Wimbledon Common golf course under a full moon and in two inches of pristine glittering snow. I can highly recommend it.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Well, yes, you could do that, or, you could go on a tour of the Tennis place - I hate Tennis, but I ended up on a tour of the place as I was with others. Without the Tennis bit, it was interersting enough!

 

[Dec66]

Richmond Park for the riding bit? TfL have a cycle route planner on their website to work out a nice, quiet route there.

 

[michaelcycle]

I think there is a bike hire place in Richmond Park. Alternatively your friend could visit Smith Bros in Wimbledon Village and have a chat with the guys in there and they should be able to point him in the right direction.

Bike routes - well Richmond Park is the obvious bet but there lots of great routes out to Hampton / Surrey Hills / Box Hill which are all worth a bash.

As for things to do there are lots of bars / restaurants in the Village. The Fire Stables is nice for Sunday Lunch. If your mate fancies boozing then Oliver Reed's Wimbledon 8 pub crawl is a must (however, if after the pub crawl he finds himself a hot sweaty mess dancing with a woman of uncertain repute in Hemmingways then I cannot be held responsible....). There's also Wimbledon Common and Bushy Park if he fancies walking or running on some beautiful trails.

He can also head out to Clapham if he wants to hang out with the beautiful young things or towards Tooting if he fancies great Indian food or pie and mash (Harringtons is the real deal but not sure if it is still around.)

Tons to do around here truth be told.

 

[Dec66]

If your mate fancies boozing then Oliver Reed's Wimbledon 8 pub crawl is a must (however, if after the pub crawl he finds himself a hot sweaty mess dancing with a woman of uncertain repute in Hemmingways then I cannot be held responsible....).

I think I need to learn a little bit more about this... Could you please elucidate?

 

[michaelcycle]

I think I need to learn a little bit more about this... Could you please elucidate?

What, on the Wimbledon 8 or Hemmingways?

The Wimbledon 8 is apparently the 8 pubs Oliver Reed took Steve McQueen to in under 2 hours with a pint being had in each. They're all pretty nice but I think one or two have changed name or have substitutes in place of the original etc. My memory of the night is rather hazy to be fair.

As for Hemmingways - I'm saying nuffink.

 

[Dec66]

What, on the Wimbledon 8 or Hemmingways?

The Wimbledon 8 is apparently the 8 pubs Oliver Reed took Steve McQueen to in under 2 hours with a pint being had in each. They're all pretty nice but I think one or two have changed name etc. My memory of the night is rather hazy to be fair.

As for Hemmingways - I'm saying nuffink.

Hmmm... Well, as you're "saying nuffink", I sense I'll have to undertake my own investigations. It's way off my manor, but we're coming up to Christmas, after all

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Hmmm... Well, as you're "saying nuffink", I sense I'll have to undertake my own investigations. It's way off my manor, but we're coming up to Christmas, after all

Sounds like a CC meet up to me

 

[vickster]

If he's still looking for things to do, it's 20 minutes by train to Central London

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

If he's still looking for things to do, it's 20 minutes by train to Central London

Yeah - got that. Think he is keen for a bit of a pedal. He's not a huge mileage guy tho'. 20 km or something like that would be good. Richmond Park sounds favourite.

 

[vickster]

I'm not a fan of the park but it's popular with cyclists, on and more off road options. Plenty of leisurely rides along the river too. As well as up on Wimbledon common etc

 

[Cuchilo]

Richmond park do have a hire place as said above . Its on the Kingston Wimbledon side next to the cafe where the nobbers hang out and say " Yah , i came to ride but ive drunk so much coffee if i exert any effort i may sh*t my Rapha "