Training Loops in Cental-ish London

Toks

I really only want to ride the Turbo Trainer when its absolutely necessary this winter. Does any one know any flatish training loops in London apart from the two R.P.'s.

phil s

What distance Toks? I know plenty. Most of mine are a bit hilly but I have some flat variations I can send you.

binlinus

Toks

Always difficult in London. This http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Fitzrovia-Richmond-Park-Fitzrovia route from Italia Uno cafe to Richmond Park and back is a regular 40k route of mine. A few of us used to do it as an evening ride and into Richmond Park through the pedestrian gates after dark. Some opportunities for some fast riding along some of the stretches of the route. Of course I jump as many lights as I can (but be careful!).

I went up Swains Lane a few times this morning in the rain. Joggers and every other cyclist were overtaking me. Down-graded to Highgate West Hill, but even that was too much after a few ascents :-(

Bin

rjeffroy

There is this http://tinyurl.com/35e4yqg loop around Docklands, flat with some fast dual carriageway sections, not too much traffic as I remember. A bit bleak and windswept.

phil s

Toks, from your neck of the woods you could ride up Hornsey Road, swing left into Hornsey Lane, up the top half of Highgate Hill, into North Road/North Hill when you get to the top, follow that for a while passing East Finchley tube and in the direction of Barnet. When you cross the A406 take the second left into Squires Lane, right onto Long Lane and left onto Ballards Lane. You'll come to a set of traffic lights where you need to turn right into Dollis Road. From there you drop down a hill, follow the road all the way to the roundabout and then take the third exit onto Bittacy Hill. I know you said flat but this is all a decent warm-up. Climb the hill all the way, pass Mill Hill school then you drop down again and hit a shortish, very steep rise called Highwood Hill. Up to that point it's 9.85 miles - a decent warmup. Once you're at the lights at the top of Highwood Hill you take a right and you have a flattish loop of around 6.5 miles with hardly a traffic light. In fact there are two and the phase is short. The loop is as follows: Highwood Hill into Totteridge Common/Totteridge Lane. After 1.6 miles turn left into Barnet Lane. All the way to the top (about another mile and a bit) and turn left into Mays Lane. This road is 2.5 miles long, at the top you go left into Barnet Road but almost immediately left again into Hendon Wood Lane - that junction is the first set of lights. At the end of Hendon Wood Lane (after almost a mile) is the second set of lights. You turn left back on to Totteridge Lane to complete one loop.
I find this a decent loop for fast riding, but if you want better longer routes into lanes and within really easy reach of London give me a shout and we'll ride them together. There's a lot of good stuff just past Mill Hill and Barnet when you seek it out.

Toks

Cheers guys, I'll be checking out those loops this the winter.