Commuting from Berkhamsted to Hammersmith

sunshine.girl
sunshine.girl Posts: 8
edited September 2010 in Commuting general
Hello,

Am planning to move to Berkhamsted in the near future (reluctantly leaving London...) and wondered if anything thought it would be feasible to cycle to work in Hammersmith from Berkhamsted. Currently commute 20 miles (round trip) a day and run about 50/60 miles per week. Any thoughts on a good route would be very welcome - am hoping to try it out soon.

All help/thoughts appreciated!

Thanks.

Comments

  • Simon the Pieman
    Simon the Pieman Posts: 48
    Blimey that is a long way. I only do about 7 each way so have no real experience on long distance commute. There was a chap a few months ago who was thinking of doing something similar (i think he was in NI) hopefully he or someone else will give you some better advice.
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    I had to google it... 32 miles or so :shock:

    You're looking at a minimum of 4 hours a day btw.

    In summer once a week or so it might be nice but realistically ... well it's out of my league.

    I did some weeks of 150 miles commuting (luckily for me its countryside all the way) but I've found the motivation hard so I'm down to 100 a week which I think I'll do throughout winter.

    Still, we're all made of different stuff.
  • Robstar24
    Robstar24 Posts: 173
    i commute daily rickmansworth to central london, total of 23 miles each way, 4 or 5 days a week. takes about 90 mins each way.

    which way would you think of going into town from berkhamsted? through chesham/amersham way or some other route?
  • sunshine.girl
    sunshine.girl Posts: 8
    Thanks for the thoughts! Don't really know the roads at all in that area, so will need to do more research on routes. Had thought about going along the canal - but might be too indirect. Really interesting you commute in from Rickmansworth though, Robstar 24. Boyfriend works in Amersham so getting a lift there and cycling from there would probably be more sensible.

    Mind you, he has said that would be the final straw though, so maybe not!
  • beverick
    beverick Posts: 3,461
    Having cycled around that area a few times this summer I'd say the main problem is the state of the roads.

    The roads around Rickmansworth seem particulalry bad. They don't particulalry have pot-holes in them it's just the 1-1.5m up to the kerb is so badly ridged and rutted that they play havoc with your contact points. I had sore wrists, feet and, well the obvious points, for aweeks after the last run down there in July.

    Bob
  • sunshine.girl
    sunshine.girl Posts: 8
    Interesting thought, Beverick - thanks.
  • Tostaryman
    Tostaryman Posts: 89
    Yep - Berko to London would be quite a schlepp! Like Robstar24 I often commute from Ricky to London, but I like the route along the canal from Northholt. Earlyish in the morning there isn't too much traffic about and you can easily cruise along between 15-20mph (depending on the breeze!) all the way to Paddington. On a sunny day it's fantastic.

    Agree re bevericks comments about poor roads around Ricky - they aren't great....

    Good luck!
  • jobless
    jobless Posts: 29
    I have done chesham -> Richmond (2-3 times a week) and now Chesham -> Hanger lane (3-4) and yes the roads are not the greatest. and you will struggle to do more than a few times a week.

    I don't have any issues with contact points or tyres or the p-word. But make sure you have good kit. you will be in the saddle for getting on for 1.5 hours each way so you want to be confortable. especially when it rains.

    The only other thing is that you won't see ANYONE until you get near to Hammersmith. No racing, no wheels to follow - if you ever see mine though you are welcome to follow it.

    Get some good lights too.
  • sunshine.girl
    sunshine.girl Posts: 8
    Thanks ever so much, everyone! Food for thought (and a good excuse for more kit!)!
  • Lycra Man
    Lycra Man Posts: 141
    I've just googled a route and got it down to 17.8 miles each way.

    My daily commute is 15 miles each way (and it's hilly), which I do from Monday evening to Friday morning, regardless of weather, except for ice and sno.

    This route would be definitely possible, and you'll get really fiit. After 6 months you'll be looking at interesting detours to make the ride longer and more fun.

    So I would definitely go for it. But then, I'm mad.

    Lycra Man
    FCN7 - 1 for SPDs = FCN6
  • sunshine.girl
    sunshine.girl Posts: 8
    Thanks, Lycra Man! I'm clearly a bit mad too - just can't bear the idea of being cooped up on the train when there's cycling to be done! Roughly which route did you map out to get it down to 17.5?
  • Lycra Man
    Lycra Man Posts: 141
    Dear sunshine.girl,

    I made it 18.8 miles by getting it to be as straight a line as possible. I don't know the roads and terrain, and now I look closer, I can see that the route follows the larger roads - A404, and even the A40 Westway, so not cike-friendly territory.

    Mind you, when I get on my bike I get quite militant and reckon it's just as much my road as that belonging to the cars, vans and lorries.

    So it's not a nice car-free route, that's for sure, but as a distance, I still think it is attainable. My 15 miles has two hills with a dip in the middle, and I can do that in 54 minutes. It is 'across country' from home in Waddesdon to work in Leighton Buzzard, so I only have three or four roundabouts and no traffic lights. Your route would be quite a different matter.

    Best to ignore my ramblings.

    Lycra Man
    FCN7 - 1 for SPDs = FCN6
  • sunshine.girl
    sunshine.girl Posts: 8
    Think I should give it a go and see how I get on! Thanks all.
  • thelawnet
    thelawnet Posts: 719
    Lycra Man wrote:
    Dear sunshine.girl,

    I made it 18.8 miles by getting it to be as straight a line as possible.

    18.8? No way.

    It's 23.57 miles as a dead-straight line; using the roads will be much longer
  • Robstar24
    Robstar24 Posts: 173
    A404 is ok really, not too busy a road, and has nice parts like going through pinner park. Bikes aren't allowed on the westway, have cycled there once (without knowing) and it's not actually that bad as there is a hard shoulder.

    the 404 between amersham and ricky is in an absolutely terrible state, apalling road!

    when you speak of the canal, do you mean the one that goes past the coy carp pub in harefield? does that go all the way into town?
  • Tostaryman
    Tostaryman Posts: 89
    Robstar24 wrote:
    when you speak of the canal, do you mean the one that goes past the coy carp pub in harefield? does that go all the way into town?

    Yep, the grand union canal that goes all the way to Paddington. But there's little point going all the way along it from Ricky. Much quicker to chop off the corner and go on road via Northwood Hills/Eastcote/South Harrow and join it at Northolt. From Northolt its a decent surface all the way as its an official sustrans route etc. On a good day I can get from Ricky to Oxford Circus in 1.15. I think its a cracking way to get to London, although with winter setting in, I might be joining you on the 404!
  • Constant headwind
    Constant headwind Posts: 33
    Robstar24 wrote:
    i commute daily rickmansworth to central london, total of 23 miles each way, 4 or 5 days a week. takes about 90 mins each way.

    which way would you think of going into town from berkhamsted? through chesham/amersham way or some other route?



    I do Ricky to Wembley. 13.5 miles each way. Can do it in 50 mins at a push. I shudder at the thought of doing another 10 miles each way. Fair play to you. Does Batchworth Hill annoy you as much as it does me (quite a bit)?
  • Robstar24
    Robstar24 Posts: 173
    Tostaryman wrote:
    Robstar24 wrote:
    when you speak of the canal, do you mean the one that goes past the coy carp pub in harefield? does that go all the way into town?

    Yep, the grand union canal that goes all the way to Paddington. But there's little point going all the way along it from Ricky. Much quicker to chop off the corner and go on road via Northwood Hills/Eastcote/South Harrow and join it at Northolt. From Northolt its a decent surface all the way as its an official sustrans route etc. On a good day I can get from Ricky to Oxford Circus in 1.15. I think its a cracking way to get to London, although with winter setting in, I might be joining you on the 404!

    thank you for the tip, so is it an asphalt surface from Northolt? ie suitable for a road bike?
  • Robstar24
    Robstar24 Posts: 173
    Constant headwind wrote:
    Robstar24 wrote:
    i commute daily rickmansworth to central london, total of 23 miles each way, 4 or 5 days a week. takes about 90 mins each way.

    which way would you think of going into town from berkhamsted? through chesham/amersham way or some other route?



    I do Ricky to Wembley. 13.5 miles each way. Can do it in 50 mins at a push. I shudder at the thought of doing another 10 miles each way. Fair play to you. Does Batchworth Hill annoy you as much as it does me (quite a bit)?

    batchworth could be worse, the road is wide so traffic isn't too close, i find the best way is to take the bottom bit easy then push once you're up that. when i get bored of batchworth i either go through moor park, or through harefield and meet the a404 at white hill near mount vernon hospital (both longer ways round though)
  • Tostaryman
    Tostaryman Posts: 89
    Robstar24 wrote:
    Tostaryman wrote:
    Robstar24 wrote:
    when you speak of the canal, do you mean the one that goes past the coy carp pub in harefield? does that go all the way into town?

    Yep, the grand union canal that goes all the way to Paddington. But there's little point going all the way along it from Ricky. Much quicker to chop off the corner and go on road via Northwood Hills/Eastcote/South Harrow and join it at Northolt. From Northolt its a decent surface all the way as its an official sustrans route etc. On a good day I can get from Ricky to Oxford Circus in 1.15. I think its a cracking way to get to London, although with winter setting in, I might be joining you on the 404!

    thank you for the tip, so is it an asphalt surface from Northolt? ie suitable for a road bike?

    Hi there - should have clarified when I said 'decent surface'... it is for a towpath, but its not all asphalt. There are certainly some decent stretches that are, but there are also sections which are a little bumpy in places. There are a few miles of smooth gravelled surface as well, but to be honest these are better than all the roads around our way! I've seen a few people on road biikes, and quite a few on crossers - prob the best machine tbh. I do it on a slicked rigid mtb at the moment. However a road bike would certainly be doable providing you had tough tyres on
  • Thomsonp811
    Thomsonp811 Posts: 20
    So guys cycling in from Ricky, exactly which way do you go. I have started work in Westminster and haven't got round to cycling in. It is quite a step up from my old five miles in Bristol!!

    Batchworth hill is a pain and I'm not looking forward to that as a start to the day!

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