East London Road Cycling .... is it possible ?!

turnerjohn
turnerjohn Posts: 1,069
edited November 2010 in Training, fitness and health
Hi guys am after some training advise...
moved to London (Beckton) last month from Worcester and boy what a shock !!! where in Worcester I was 10mins from countryside....here it seems near impossible to get out of the traffic ! I've not yet tried south of the river, but been getting out as far as Brentwood and Thurrock (to north east) and the roads / traffic getting there is madness !!!
Are there any "easy routes" out ?....or where to head (cycle super highway is great for getting to work but useless for proper training rides ) ? or do I confine myself to putting the bike in the car and getting "out of the smoke" to get a decent ride in ?...if so any ideas whats good and whats not ?
Ta guys any advise is much appriciated :-)

John

Comments

  • sunburntknees
    sunburntknees Posts: 272
    Head for Chigwell Row. Its about 10 miles from you. From there you have miles and miles of country roads.

    As for the traffic...you will get used to it. Inevitable in a city of 7 million I'm afraid.

    Lots of clubs round East London/Essex if you want to go on some club rides.
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    Sunburntkees? I think I recognise that username! :)

    Indeed there are lots of clubs and organised riding. One of the larger (and more friendly) is East London Velo. We organise a club run every Sunday (other days on an ad-hoc basis), all welcome (inc non-members), no-one left behind.
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • sunburntknees
    sunburntknees Posts: 272
    mclarent wrote:
    ...no-one left behind.

    Except yesterday when myself and several notable names were left behind :!: :!: :!:
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    Sounds too hard to me - wouldn't have happened if I'd been out, but I was "Oot" in mid-Argyll skinning my knees on icy roads! :)
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • sunburntknees
    sunburntknees Posts: 272
    Tom, I thought one of your key objectives for the coming year was to stay upright???

    Yes, will be slower next week. Looking for around a 17mph average. All noobs welcome. Nobody gets left behind.
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    yeah, doesn't apply until 2011 ;)

    Seriously, getting bored of crashes.

    I got sprayed with broken glass on the ride in this morning as well, cut up my other leg, which was nice. :(
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    sunburntknees wrote:
    Head for Chigwell Row. Its about 10 miles from you. From there you have miles and miles of country roads.

    As for the traffic...you will get used to it. Inevitable in a city of 7 million I'm afraid.

    Lots of clubs round East London/Essex if you want to go on some club rides.

    +1
    Also you can head out to Epping / Epping Forest - lots of country lanes especially around Ongar + some steep short hills at High Beech for reps. Look on the shlep from Beckton through East ham as time to warm up or down!
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000

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