Route to Excel London (not the spreadsheet)

rjsterry

Just a quick one for those who commute to the Docklands. I'm off to the Ecobuild expo next week and am thinking of cycling as PT is a bit of a faff and the distance is not too far. I can get to Tower Hill/Aldgate no problem, but am I better off taking the Highway or Commercial Road to Limehouse, and then East India Dock Road? The Lower Lea Crossing doesn't look much fun but then neither does Barking Road. Anyone have any route advice? Thanks in advance.

SimonAH

Oh, I thought you were wanting spreadsheet help.

Sorry, many years ago I was a dispatch rider in London, but my navigational knowledge has atrophied to the extent that I had to use the sat nav on my phone to get from Mayfair to Old Street the other week :oops:

bails87

SimonAH wrote:

Oh, I thought you were wanting spreadsheet help.

Me too. I was going to say "Start->programs->Microsoft Office....."

sketchley

Ok, Highway is my preference to CS3 which goes up Cable Street. At the end of the Highway (Limehouse tunnel) cross the road and go down Narrow St (You can also turn left before tunnel and go through St James Gardens on CS3 but I wouldn't). Once on Narrow St you'll pick up CS3 when it joins it. Follow it to West Ferry (which is where my local knowledge ends) but you can then stay on CS3 down poplar high street and toward the Lower Lea Crossing. I'd be tempted to give this a go as from google at least it has cycle path. Either way it's two lanes in both directions and you'll be against the traffic in the morning and evenings. It cannot be any worse than the highway....

rjsterry

Thanks Sketchley. Seems like getting there might not be too hard, but finding my way around the complex to find somewhere to lock the bike up might be more of a challenge

sketchley

rjsterry wrote:

Thanks Sketchley. Seems like getting there might not be too hard, but finding my way around the complex to find somewhere to lock the bike up might be more of a challenge

There's lots of parking at the ExCel centre, motorcycles are free they may have bike facilities., http://www.excel-london.co.uk/visitors/travel/parking might be worth giving them a call and asking what's there.

itboffin

i hope u have a good selection of locks and very PF proof tyres

rjsterry

itboffin wrote:

i hope u have a good selection of locks and very PF proof tyres

Hmmmm, maybe I'll ride into work and then take one of the Bromptons - I don't fancy sitting through several hours of seminars worrying about my bike.

rjsterry

Well I did it. The Highway was fine. CS3 is a bit weird, especially the contraflow bit on Narrow Street - not like CS7 or CS8 at all - much more winding and less obviously direct. Lower Lea Crossing: there is a cycle path on the southern side, which I didn't find until the return leg :roll:. Riding over a steep dual carriageway bridge with a heavy bag was not much fun even with the light traffic. Oh, and Excel claims to have lots of cycle parking, but f*** knows where it is. Nice little tour of three of the Hawksmoor churches as well.

Koncordski

Good stuff, if you're ever that way again ignore CS3 as it turns right at the Narrow pub (heading west into the contraflow) and go straight on. You'll come out back on the highway at a ped crossing right by the limehouse tunnel exit. Much easier and you don't have to use that shared path over the footbridge.

rjsterry

Koncordski wrote:

Good stuff, if you're ever that way again ignore CS3 as it turns right at the Narrow pub (heading west into the contraflow) and go straight on. You'll come out back on the highway at a ped crossing right by the limehouse tunnel exit. Much easier and you don't have to use that shared path over the footbridge.

I think I did this without realising. I found CS3 much harder to follow than the two I'm used to.

rebs

Commercial Road is scary. You'll see cars flying out of side turnings all the way down. Not so bad once you've ridden it afew times. But beware.