New to road biking -any tips on routes and rides near London

DXG82

I have been mountain biking for a few years and really love it but I live in London so there is a shortage of decent places to mountain bike nearby so I have decided to give road biking a go.

I collected my new road bike from Evans Cycles at the weekend and have been on a couple of test rides around the streets of London but now I am really keen to get out onto the open country roads out of the city and have a couple of questions:

1. Where are the best places to ride near to London? I hear people talking about the Surrey Hills, but where exactly should I head to? Anywhere else recommended?

2. Does anyone know of any cycle clubs for beginner road riders in or around London? As I am new to road biking (and also quite unfit at the moment) something nice to easy to start off with please!
Thanks

WisePranker

Which area of London are you in?

bobtbuilder

DXG82 wrote:

1. Where are the best places to ride near to London? I hear people talking about the Surrey Hills, but where exactly should I head to? Anywhere else recommended?

Look on googlemaps for the area south of the A25 between Shere and Dorking. The village of Peaslake is the epicentre of some great riding in the Surrey Hills.

Headhuunter

London's a big place, it's hard to advise unless we know which side you live on. I live SE, so I ride around Kent, sometimes straying towards Box Hill etc. Perhaps you should join a club and follow others who know routes. Dulwich Paragon do rides for a range of abilities. Alternatively look at websites that people have downloaded routes to...

DXG82

Sorry - forgot to say I live in North West London

DXG82

Sorry - forgot to say I live in North West London

secretsam

NW London? Bail out of the smoke and head out from Marylebone to Bucks, get off at Wendover, lots of nice rides round there, careful of the Chilterns, though, can get a bit lumpy and roads often ropey.