London Roadies - Bow/Leytonstone Area

Skeletor_LDN

I moved to London about a year ago from the vegetated lands of Oxford and have tired of lone rides and occasional chance chainganging out of the city.

I usually head out towards Epping and having exhausted the online resources looking for clubs, I thought I would do what I usually do, and simply look for individuals with a shared issues.

I'm not unfit, but I am out of condition at the moment, building back up to a trip to the Alps this summer. Here's my Garmin info for the alps last year if it helps gauge fitness at all - http://connect.garmin.com/profile/Skeletor_LDN

I usually ride around the 17mph average and cruise the flats at around 20-22mph.

Any advice, offers or introductions would be great.

Thanks in advance!

goonz

Hello mate and welcome!

There are a few riders in and around east, I live in Barking and tend to head out into Essex, did a return to Southend last sunday.

Also London Dynamo is a CC that gets together on saturdays in richmond park if they are more your thing...

Tom Dean

Out of interest, what are you looking for in a club? I'm surprised you couldn't find any suitable. Where did you look?

Skeletor_LDN

Thanks for the info and the welcome, Goonz.

Yeah Richmond is a bit of a trek as I'm sure you can imagine, and I like the options that riding on 'real' roads offers when you want to extend/change it up.

Essex is almost exclusively where I end up heading...through, around Epping forest and out towards Harlow, exploring various roads, routes. Still very fresh to the area so exploring with trepidation and uncertainty.

Just becomes rather dull riding alone so looking for some company...

Skeletor_LDN

Tom Dean wrote:

Out of interest, what are you looking for in a club? I'm surprised you couldn't find any suitable. Where did you look?

I've looked at a few which start their rides from further out of town, around Epping/Walthamstow area, but that ads a guaranteed 20 miles to the round trip, hence looking for a small group or individuals closer to home to head out with...

Which clubs came to mind, Tom?

goonz

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

Thanks for the info and the welcome, Goonz.

Yeah Richmond is a bit of a trek as I'm sure you can imagine, and I like the options that riding on 'real' roads offers when you want to extend/change it up.

Essex is almost exclusively where I end up heading...through, around Epping forest and out towards Harlow, exploring various roads, routes. Still very fresh to the area so exploring with trepidation and uncertainty.

Just becomes rather dull riding alone so looking for some company...

Well if you are interested I can let you know when I may be going out on a ride?

I am also planning a trip to box hill with a couple of colleagues from work in the next month or so. Cycle there, do a few laps and then cycle back, should be a pretty full on ride.

Skeletor_LDN

Cheers Goonz. I'll message you my Mob number...

NewTTer

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Skeletor_LDN

NewTTer wrote:

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Again, I had looked at them, but felt a 16 mile addition was just excessive...maybe I'm just soft!?

I've always enjoyed riding with people I've met through forums and offline. It's always how I've found long term riding partners. I tried a club once and had such a shocking experience it kind of tainted the idea for me... My last group in oxford was formed by a shared frustration with a local club not getting back to any of us with details. I think they're now a group of 5-8 or so, all through word of mouth and on the road meetings...

Ben6899

Hi mate,

I'm in North London and also looking for anyone who fancies a ride out now and then. I'm not in super form although I'm going okay (Strava below although I don't upload everything). I could battle over to East London or you could fight your way to the North and we can share a few routes.

Welcome, btw!

Ben

Skeletor_LDN

Hey Ben, thanks for the welcome. North London should be ok, and makes sense to get closer to the edge of town to start with. Where are you more specifically?

I'm not in great form but looking to improve and to be honest, I just like being out on the bike, whether it's suffering or striding...I'm happy.

Ben6899

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

Hey Ben, thanks for the welcome. North London should be ok, and makes sense to get closer to the edge of town to start with. Where are you more specifically?

I'm not in great form but looking to improve and to be honest, I just like being out on the bike, whether it's suffering or striding...I'm happy.

I'm in Kentish Town so I head up through Barnet and into Hertfordshire. I generally set off fairly early to beat the traffic on the A1000 and I am currently researching a better route back for later in the day when everyone else is out of bed!

Skeletor_LDN

Ben6899 wrote:

I'm in Kentish Town so I head up through Barnet and into Hertfordshire. I generally set off fairly early to beat the traffic on the A1000 and I am currently researching a better route back for later in the day when everyone else is out of bed!

I could at worst overground it to Kentish Town from Whitechapel at least...saves the 8 mile schlep through town!

Ben6899

Mate, if I came to East London I would be doing the exact reverse!

Skeletor_LDN

Ben6899 wrote:

Mate, if I came to East London I would be doing the exact reverse!

So I'm not being judged for exploiting the virtues of public transport when I could be exercising on perfectly good equipment?

Ben6899

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Mate, if I came to East London I would be doing the exact reverse!

So I'm not being judged for exploiting the virtues of public transport when I could be exercising on perfectly good equipment?

Certainly not by me. Now if you caught a train North and were waiting for me in Potters Bar eating an ice cream...

NewTTer

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Again, I had looked at them, but felt a 16 mile addition was just excessive...maybe I'm just soft!?

I've always enjoyed riding with people I've met through forums and offline. It's always how I've found long term riding partners. I tried a club once and had such a shocking experience it kind of tainted the idea for me... My last group in oxford was formed by a shared frustration with a local club not getting back to any of us with details. I think they're now a group of 5-8 or so, all through word of mouth and on the road meetings...

Leytonstone to walthamstow is not 16 miles!

MountainMonster

NewTTer wrote:

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Again, I had looked at them, but felt a 16 mile addition was just excessive...maybe I'm just soft!?

I've always enjoyed riding with people I've met through forums and offline. It's always how I've found long term riding partners. I tried a club once and had such a shocking experience it kind of tainted the idea for me... My last group in oxford was formed by a shared frustration with a local club not getting back to any of us with details. I think they're now a group of 5-8 or so, all through word of mouth and on the road meetings...

Leytonstone to walthamstow is not 16 miles!

8 miles each way?

goonz

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Mate, if I came to East London I would be doing the exact reverse!

So I'm not being judged for exploiting the virtues of public transport when I could be exercising on perfectly good equipment?

Why would you jump on public transport? If you leave early enough its really quiet in the city and it would be a short journey up to north london. not more than 10 miles I reckon.

iPete

A little less time investigating online and go out and ride with a few clubs only way you'll know whether it is for you..

For reference I ride 10 miles to the start of the Sunday run, worth it for the right group.

JD1968

http://app.strava.com/activities/50056785

Plenty of good clubs near you including Lea Valley who I often ride with, see above for Sunday's longer than usual club ride. Leytonstone is right next to Walthamstow by the way 5-10 mins on the bike so not sure where you get the 16 miles from!
If you fancy it Sunday let me know, I usually meet them at High Beech, Epping Forest at 9.45. It's a real mixed bunch and usually splits into a longer, faster ride and slower, shorter ride.

NewTTer

MountainMonster wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Again, I had looked at them, but felt a 16 mile addition was just excessive...maybe I'm just soft!?

I've always enjoyed riding with people I've met through forums and offline. It's always how I've found long term riding partners. I tried a club once and had such a shocking experience it kind of tainted the idea for me... My last group in oxford was formed by a shared frustration with a local club not getting back to any of us with details. I think they're now a group of 5-8 or so, all through word of mouth and on the road meetings...

Leytonstone to walthamstow is not 16 miles!

8 miles each way?

No more like 2 -3 miles each way, not sure what thus guy is on about to be honest seems very odd

Skeletor_LDN

NewTTer wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Skeletor_LDN wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Have you tried Lea Valley their Club Runs start at Walthamstow

http://leavalleycc.co.uk/clbrun1.html

Again, I had looked at them, but felt a 16 mile addition was just excessive...maybe I'm just soft!?

I've always enjoyed riding with people I've met through forums and offline. It's always how I've found long term riding partners. I tried a club once and had such a shocking experience it kind of tainted the idea for me... My last group in oxford was formed by a shared frustration with a local club not getting back to any of us with details. I think they're now a group of 5-8 or so, all through word of mouth and on the road meetings...

Leytonstone to walthamstow is not 16 miles!

8 miles each way?

No more like 2 -3 miles each way, not sure what thus guy is on about to be honest seems very odd

Well firstly I don't live in Leytonstone, I live in Bow. Leytonstone is simply en-route so thought it appropriate.

Secondly...I had googled Waltham rather than Walthamstow... #Error! *Hangs head in shame*