About to start commuting

Paul E

I moved down here last August and now have settled into my new job etc and finally got around to buying a road bike (even though it's still up in south west Scotland, that's a small glitch though) and have sorted out where to store it at work (bit complicated but I work 4 days a week two in one place two in another) I am able to cycle in for two of the days, the other two I have no place to store the bike.

Anyway, I am based in SE London just off shooters hill and was wondering if anyone knew of any good routes into the west end where I work.

Cheers
Paul

R_T_A

Hi & welcome!

Check out the Silly Commuter Racing (SCR) Thread, and you'll meet quite a few people that fly around your way.

Paul E

R_T_A wrote:

Hi & welcome!

Check out the Silly Commuter Racing (SCR) Thread, and you'll meet quite a few people that fly around your way.

Thanks, I think I will need to build up to any racing on my commute, I used to when up in Birmingham but I am no where near as fit at the moment...

lost_in_thought

Welcome, welcome!

Don't worry about the actual racing part, well, not too much, it's a great motivator to push yourself and up your speed and fitness. Also check out the SC Stats for similar motivation!

I'm afraid I don't know that area at all, but somebody will. A post in Silly Commuting Racing may also help.

Wondering what your FCN is? Click the link in my signature!

Clever Pun

Rich158 goes through there I think

Paul E

Trouble is I tend to get very competitive on a bike whatever I am doing, so for the first few weeks I am going to have to exercise a lot more self control than normal...

Thanks for the advice, have posted on that thread now.

Ahh yes that's how I worked mine out, not sure if it's too high for my current state of fitness/health though lol

DonDaddyD

Welcome, Welcome.

Pull up a chair and here's your beer.

Share stories, give or ask advice we are all a friendly bunch. Morpeth Pub on Friday's and occasional weekend rides.

What? Yeah, she's single.... :shock:

Paul E

Clever Pun wrote:

Rich158 goes through there I think

ahh cool so I'm not in deserted part of london when it comes to commuting into the centre, phew

Yeah I would be up for weekend rides, dont always have saturdays off though which is a pain but cool yeah

DonDaddyD

Paul E wrote:

Yeah I would be up for weekend rides, dont always have saturdays off though which is a pain but cool yeah

Threads appear from time to time about these as well as the Silly Commuter Sportive thread (to appease your competitive side) and Social weekend rides thread.

Also where does your commute start and finish? Perhaps you overlap into other peoples commutes.

markshaw77

Just posted a route in SCR Thread, as I come in from Dartford via Shooters Hill, but here is is again for info
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/18535948

Good luck with the commute and welcome to the game!!

OldSkoolKona

Welcome to the fold :-)

Another cyclist joins the commuting ranks <evil laugh>

Paul E

DonDaddyD wrote:

Threads appear from time to time about these as well as the Silly Commuter Sportive thread (to appease your competitive side) and Social weekend rides thread.

Also where does your commute start and finish? Perhaps you overlap into other peoples commutes.

Have posted on the SCR thread and looks like mine does overlap with other peoples.

Thanks for all the welcomings, I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms after cycling into work for many years in Birmingham and the trains, ohh the trains, it was starting to feel like a steel coffin...

Canny Jock

I go from Hither Green to the City, via Deptford, Evelyn Road, Jamaica Road, but you may be better off going up the Old Kent Road. Whereabouts in the West End, or more importantly which bridge are you aiming to cross?

Headhuunter

Welcome to SE London! I commute from Brockley quite near you. I drop down Pepys Rd in Telegraph Hill onto New Cross Rd then up Old Kent Rd. There are other routes that head through the side roads but OKR is a fast blast along bus lanes mostly. I turn at Bricklayers Arms and through Bermondsey St and across London Bridge...

Paul E

Canny Jock wrote:

I go from Hither Green to the City, via Deptford, Evelyn Road, Jamaica Road, but you may be better off going up the Old Kent Road. Whereabouts in the West End, or more importantly which bridge are you aiming to cross?

Not sure which bridge to go across, it's all about the same distance, it's just whats easiest and safest really. The evelyn road jamaica road way looks like a decent route as it's a bit further north. Shaftsbury Avenue is where I need to get to in the West End

Paul E

Headhuunter wrote:

Welcome to SE London! I commute from Brockley quite near you. I drop down Pepys Rd in Telegraph Hill onto New Cross Rd then up Old Kent Rd. There are other routes that head through the side roads but OKR is a fast blast along bus lanes mostly. I turn at Bricklayers Arms and through Bermondsey St and across London Bridge...

That looks like another good route too, will have to try all of these when I can during days off and see which one works best for me. I would rather try and keep my speed up than do stop start.

On the road as I used to commute most fo the time on canal towpath I used to be able to average on my rockhopper 19 mph with a few stops and starts, that was logged using my garmin etrex gps (not that good), but I have no idea what I can do on a road bike.

deptfordmarmoset

Paul E, wait till Porgy spots this thread - he commutes from Bexley (the dark side of Shooters Hill) into town, though maybe he crosses the river earlier than you'll want to on the way in.

Riatsala

I start nearer to town than you, Greenwich. If I were you I would probably do the A2 then cross Greenwich Park along Creek Road to Deptford, Evelyn Rd, cut through Southwark Park then Jamacia Rd to London Bridge. I then go round the back of Borough Market , Southwark Street then Upper Ground (behind the Oxo Tower) up onto Waterloo Bridge then cut through Covent Garden to Shaftsbury Ave.

I hope that helps