Welcome to the 16th edition of the London Phoenix Easter Classic

Date: Easter Monday, 21st of April 2025

Time: Registration 8:30am - 9:30am; Start Time from 9:00am

Start/Finish: The Boat House at the Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre IG63HN (near the Redbridge Cycling Centre a.k.a Hog Hill)

Event Type: Sportive. The event is timed. Helmets are compulsory. The short road route option is suitable for riders of all proficiency levels. The long road route and gravel route require a more advanced level of fitness. 

Route Options: Road long (113k); road short (54k); gravel (70k). Road routes will take you through quiet, flat and green country lanes of Essex.The gravel route is mostly bridleways or single track.The routes are not arrowed, so you'll need onboard navigation (or ride with someone who has a Garmin or Wahoo or similar). Of course.gpx files are available for download.

Amenities: Bar/restaurant/toilets at start/finish. Feed stations at village halls with homebaked goods, sausage rolls, the usual supplies and toilets (two feed stations on the long road route, one feed station on the short road and gravel routes). Neutral car service and broom wagon. Results published on the web, with optional print-at-home completion certificates.

Entry Fee: £15 for online bookings (+ £1 BC booking fee), £20 for on-the-day entries (contactless payment preferred).

The event is volunteer-run, with a relaxed ambience and homemade baked goods; given the low online booking fee, you might as well bag an early sign-up and take a chance that the weather will be OK on the day.

Info for Riders

HQ and start/finish is the Boat House Bar at Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre, situated between Fairlop tube station and the Redbridge Cycling Centre (aka Hog Hill). If you come by car, for navigation using Google Maps, simply search for "Boat House Fairlop". Plenty pay & display parking is available (contactless payments only). The Boat House has toilets but no showers or dedicated changing facilities.

After the timed start at Fairlop, the short road route will pass through Toot Hill on the way out and swing back after Moreton (where the long and short road routes split) via North Weald Basset and Abridge back to the start at Fairlop.

The long road route will split off the short route at Moreton, pass through the villages of Good Easter and High Easter and swing back through Hatfield Broad Oak and Matching Green, rejoining the short route near Moreton. Both road routes are mostly on back roads & small lanes, away from traffic 

The gravel route is not suitable for road bikes. The route will take you through Buckhurst Hill and Epping Forest, passing the feed station at North Weald Bassett, then via Toot Hill to Chipping Ongar, where the route turns down the Ongar Road for a stretch, skirt the Bentley Golf Club and taking you back to the start via the Weald, Havering and Hainault Forest and Country Parks. There will be fine views across the Essex countryside and a panoramic of London city from the high ground. 70% off road, mostly hardpack, but depending on the weather, some stretches could be quite muddy. 

There are two feed stations on the long road route: Pleshey Village Hall and North Weald Bassett Village Hall. At both feed stops, you'll be able to enjoy free hot/cold drinks, sausage rolls and our legendary oat bars and other wholesome goodies. Toilets are also available The gravel route and the short road route will pass the North Weald Bassett feed station only. The long road route passes both feed stations. All routes finish back at the Fairlop Boat House.

Route files will be available for download or we can email the .gpx files to you. Just ask.

Registration 8:30am – 9:30am

Start time from 9.00am

After the ride, you can chill at the licensed Boat House bar before making your way home.