Cycling in london. Is this a stupid idea?

chunkytfg

I'm currently umming and arring over my choices tomorrow for a cycle.

I've arranged to meet a couple of mates at brands hatch tomorrow and I cant decide if cycling there would be a stupid decision?

I'm living in Ruislip Manor ATM so by bike it's best part of 40 miles each way which as things stand at the moment is a bit too much for my legs to cope with however I'm comtemplating the ride from Aldgate station which Google maps puts at 21 miles eachway.

Doing it this way would certainly allow me to decide if my legs can cope with the extra bit on the way home and do the extra 20 miles back to the flat but it means riding right through london which i'm not sure is wise?

I'm by no mean afraid of it as i spent a couple of years riding in on a motorbike so am perfectly used to the traffic I just cant seem to decide if riding down the likes of the A20 for 10 miles is wise considering it's also a strike day tomorrow on the underground?

Would you do it or jump in the car and go for a ride later on when you get home?

inkyfingers

Why don't you get the train to somewhere out of the centre of London like Bromley or even Greenwich and ride from there. Would miss out some of the worst roads and there are some decent routes out of South london without having to Time Trial down a dual carriageway.

Gazzaputt

Wouldn't be a bad ride at all.

Over Tower Bridge and follow the A2 out of London until you get to New Cross and pickup the A20. Go through Lewisham and Lee.

At the Kidbrooke Park Road junction I'd make a route that doesn't follow the A20 as from there it is dual carriage way.

I'd follow the road into Eltham High Street. At the top of the High Street turn towards New Eltham and follow this road all the way through to Sidcup until you come to Ruxley Corner.

Follow to Swanley and out towards the A20\M25 junction. Here take the A20 down Farningham Hill and follow up to Brands Hatch.

SteveR_100Milers

This is where something like a Garmin is soooo handy. Plot a route online beforehand avoiding any roads you want to avoid, download to PC, upload to Garmin device and follow the course. Simple.

dilemna

It can be pretty hilly around Brands Hatch. Would you cycle Death Hill?

chunkytfg

dilemna wrote:

It can be pretty hilly around Brands Hatch. Would you cycle Death Hill?

Death hill as far as I'm aware is the other side of Brands Hatch.

In the end I took the routet Gazzaput said although I got a bit lost around sidcup and ended up doing a couple of extra loops that were not necessary.

The wind was an absolute killer today though. It seemed no matter what direction I was travelling I had a headwind so strong it was like climbing a 10% hill on the flat!

A mere 52.5 mile round trip not including the tube ride each way.

I must say though to all of you who commute round london everyday, I dont know how you do it! I dont think I have every stopped at soo mnay sets of red lights in my life!!!

chunkytfg

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

This is where something like a Garmin is soooo handy. Plot a route online beforehand avoiding any roads you want to avoid, download to PC, upload to Garmin device and follow the course. Simple.

I would be amazing but I just cant justify the cost. I'm al ready angling for a Garmin 500 kit for Xmas and tbh I think even then that is pushing my luck with the missus!!

Gazzaputt

I avoid Death Hill like the plague.

Over from it is Mussendean Lane which comes out at Fakeham Green. Much more pleasant and you can stop at the Speedgate cafe at the top. :-)

Glad the route was ok. Can't think how you got lost in Sidcup though .

chunkytfg

Gazzaputt wrote:

I avoid Death Hill like the plague.

Over from it is Mussendean Lane which comes out at Fakeham Green. Much more pleasant and you can stop at the Speedgate cafe at the top. :-)

Glad the route was ok. Can't think how you got lost in Sidcup though .

If i'm honest I dont really know! I just sort of cycled along quite happily and then it seemed like i got on a sort of ring road that never seemed to have a sign to leave it only to keep on going round it! :roll:



Coming back was easier though as I wrote the directions on my water bottle with a whiteboard marker! Even so though I have to say they dont really like road signs in that neck of the woods! :roll:

deptfordmarmoset

I don't know whether I'm off topic or simply off route but I'm just looking at the OS map trying to figure out which one Death Hill is. I've got Mussenden Lane and there's a road that runs to the North East more or less parallel from Mussenden Lane but that's marked as School Lane and runs from Horton Kirby up to Speedgate but the contour lines look pretty steady. Is it one of the shortish savage-looking ones slightly to the east?

Gazzaputt

Death Hill is the A20 from Eynsford to Brands.

Mussenden I use for repeats. Is an average 7-8%. School lane is about 4-5%. Great little circuit of 5 repeats

chunkytfg

Gazzaputt wrote:

Death Hill is the A20 from Eynsford to Brands.

Mussenden I use for repeats. Is an average 7-8%. School lane is about 4-5%. Great little circuit of 5 repeats

In that case then yes I did climb it and yes I see why it's called Death hill!!! :shock:

Yesterday it was into the headwind as well!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

deptfordmarmoset

Gazzaputt wrote:

Death Hill is the A20 from Eynsford to Brands.

Mussenden I use for repeats. Is an average 7-8%. School lane is about 4-5%. Great little circuit of 5 repeats

Got it, eventually. It now makes sense to me. Cheers.