Getting to the RideLondon start, by bike frm inner London

DawesOrion

With so many posted road closures, I'm wondering if anyone has a planned route from central London out to the Olympic park? I live in Southwark (Elephant) and will prob go over Blackfriars or Waterloo. And I admit, I'm crap with maps. :oops:

nellie72

Interested to hear responses. I'll be going from Bishopsgate.

binkybike

Looks like the A11 will be your best bet from central London, from Elephant, you can either Cross the River over London Bridge or through the (Closed to Traffic) southbound Blackwall tunnel. Though the tunnel option will close at 6 i think

Wrath Rob

My plan is to ride up the A11 all the way to Warton Road, which is marked as the entrance to the park in the pack that was sent out. From Southwark, just rode over Southwark, London or Tower Bridge and then out on the A11.

binkybike

Wrath Rob wrote:

My plan is to ride up the A11 all the way to Warton Road, which is marked as the entrance to the park in the pack that was sent out. From Southwark, just rode over Southwark, London or Tower Bridge and then out on the A11.

Southwark and Tower Bridge will be closed

andyeb

I was tearing my hair out over this, but then had a flash of inspiration - ride to one of the "drop off" zones, which have signposted routes to the start. One hopefully assumes the signposted route takes into account road closures?

Only thing I can't find is details or even lengths of the routes to the start from the drop off zone, so I don't know how much time I need to leave. I can guess, but I'd rather not have a nasty surprise, should it take us all on an unexpectedly long diversion.

Wrath Rob

binkybike wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

My plan is to ride up the A11 all the way to Warton Road, which is marked as the entrance to the park in the pack that was sent out. From Southwark, just rode over Southwark, London or Tower Bridge and then out on the A11.

Southwark and Tower Bridge will be closed

London it is then. I'm lucky as I'll be north of the river, not that it helps the OP.

The drop off zones look like they're inside 5 miles to the stadium. Map: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid= ... 478f&msa=0

Slo Mo Jones

I live in Putney and am getting dropped off at the drop off near Bermondsey station. From there there's a 5 mile signposted route to the start, which will be needed as you'll have to cross the race route. Presumably it's going over London Bridge (as its one of the few bridges to remain open and it also bridges the route (Lower Thames Street) on the north of the river) or through the Rotherhithe tunnel.

It would be helpful if they published those routes beforehand, so I don't double back on clog up roads more than necessary by trying to get right to the drop off point rather than being dropped off somewhere along the signposted route.

binkybike

Wrath Rob wrote:

binkybike wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

My plan is to ride up the A11 all the way to Warton Road, which is marked as the entrance to the park in the pack that was sent out. From Southwark, just rode over Southwark, London or Tower Bridge and then out on the A11.

Southwark and Tower Bridge will be closed

London it is then. I'm lucky as I'll be north of the river, not that it helps the OP.

The drop off zones look like they're inside 5 miles to the stadium. Map: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid= ... 478f&msa=0

Tower Bridge might not be closed to cyclists i guess, but i wouldn't bet on it

Yes, using the drop off zones as a starting point is a good idea if you don't know the way as you'll be signed to the start, the best one for the OP would be Jamaica Road i guess. but i can't find out whether they are you going to send you back to London Bridge or onward to the Blackwall tunnel.

I'm coming from Balham so London Bridge - A11 seems the best option, but The Inner Child in me quite likes the idea of Cycling through the tunnel

DawesOrion

binkybike wrote:

Looks like the A11 will be your best bet from central London, from Elephant, you can either Cross the River over London Bridge or through the (Closed to Traffic) southbound Blackwall tunnel. Though the tunnel option will close at 6 i think

Thanks very much!

nellie72

A11 it is then!

DawesOrion

Thanks for making me feel better everyone. I don't want to be babied but as this is the first time for many of us (riding a sportive) and with such a big event, it seems sensible to me to have the organisers include more detailed info on getting to the park. See you on the A11 I guess. Thanks again!

binkybike

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

I live in Putney and am getting dropped off at the drop off near Bermondsey station. From there there's a 5 mile signposted route to the start, which will be needed as you'll have to cross the race route. Presumably it's going over London Bridge (as its one of the few bridges to remain open and it also bridges the route (Lower Thames Street) on the north of the river) or through the Rotherhithe tunnel.

It would be helpful if they published those routes beforehand, so I don't double back on clog up roads more than necessary by trying to get right to the drop off point rather than being dropped off somewhere along the signposted route.

Whoops, I forgot about Rothehithe ( i have never been through it, in my defence) that is another option.

TommyEss

Pretty sure Rotherhithe Tunnel is out of bounds to bikes - if it isn't, it should be - horrible, narrow, full of fumes. Get overland to cross the river and continue once north of the river if you're thinking of heading out that way.

andyeb

TommyEss wrote:

Pretty sure Rotherhithe Tunnel is out of bounds to bikes - if it isn't, it should be - horrible, narrow, full of fumes. Get overland to cross the river and continue once north of the river if you're thinking of heading out that way.

My understanding (based on RideLondon 100 website) is the southbouth tunnel will be closed to traffic to allow cyclist through northbound.

TommyEss

Nice!! If that's the case, do it! I've driven it, but a rare opportunity to ride it is too good to miss!

andyeb

andyeb wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

Pretty sure Rotherhithe Tunnel is out of bounds to bikes - if it isn't, it should be - horrible, narrow, full of fumes. Get overland to cross the river and continue once north of the river if you're thinking of heading out that way.

My understanding (based on RideLondon 100 website) is the southbouth tunnel will be closed to traffic to allow cyclist through northbound.

Sorry - my bad. It's the Blackwall Tunnel not the Rotherhithe Tunnel which is closed southbound to allow cyclists through northbound, but only until 0650.

davep1

I'm parking at Surrey Quays (official car park) which is by Rotherhithe Tunnel and I thought there would be a sign posted route through it?

kr445

It looks like the Rotherhithe tunnel is completely open and it passes underneath the route so I expect that is where you would get signposted from south of the river.

Perhaps those local to that area can keep us informed of any signage being put up in the area later on this week

pots

hi.can someone local or has a knowladge of the area, advice on the best route to cycle to the start from the docklands travelodge.
it looks to me that the hotel is right on the route so i assume i will not be allowed to use the course.thanks

Leesykoi

The routes from the drop off points would be useful ? I'm staying at the Ibis Styles Custom House so trying to pick up the signposted route from Drop Off A

andyeb

Leesykoi wrote:

The routes from the drop off points would be useful ? I'm staying at the Ibis Styles Custom House so trying to pick up the signposted route from Drop Off A

I've been trying to get the route for Drop Off B out of the organisers with no luck. I've tried explaining I need to know the route, so I can work out the distance and therefore how much time to allow. But they just keep telling me it will be sign posted and to get the distance from Google maps. Don't understand why they are being so obstructive

I just what to do what it takes to get there on time, without fail and they are making it harder than it needs to be. I'll have to get up at 3am to have enough contingency spare. :twisted:

kentphil

Had an email today saying the Temple Mills entrance to the QEOP won't be available on the day, if this affects anyone? Signs will be to an alternative entrance I think.

bikergirl17

has anyone figured out a route from sw1-10 -- or those coming from putney ? i live in what appears to be a total exclusion zone, between the outbound and return routes so i have closed street signs ringing my neighborhood. given the closures, i can't figure out how to get into central london since embankment is shut down and going through pimlico takes me straight into another set of closed off roads.

adam0bmx0

Im cycling from Elephant and Castle, looks like London Bridge then A11, should be easy then to get to either blue or black start area coming from that road.

kr445

From Putney outside of the race course I would head south of the river and cross at London Bridge (over the course).

From Putney inside of the race course go up to Hammersmith Bridge then onto Hammersmith Road via Hammersmith Broadway (under the course which uses the flyover).

No idea what is 'legal' in the SW1-SW10 except 'reversing' up to Hammersmith.

Is the entire route barriered off with manned crossing points for 'pedestrians'? I guess it depends what time these get enforced as to whether you can cross the route with a bicycle to head to the start.

Really amazed they don't have more detail on this sort of thing on the website.

andyeb

kr445 wrote:

Really amazed they don't have more detail on this sort of thing on the website.

Agreed. You email them and get a response saying they don't answer email. You phone them up and then line is perpetually engaged. You tweet them and they tell you everything you need to know is in emails they already sent you or on the website :roll:

rich_e

kr445 wrote:

Is the entire route barriered off with manned crossing points for 'pedestrians'? I guess it depends what time these get enforced as to whether you can cross the route with a bicycle to head to the start.

Really amazed they don't have more detail on this sort of thing on the website.

London is likely to be yes. They said there would be barriers and I've seen evidence of that with tons of barriers sat waiting in car parks.

The barriers and road closures will be active from 5am, so I would expect you will be able to cross the route at pedestrian crossings, though who knows where these will be and how frequent. Don't expect to be able to ride along the course itself though.

mbthegreat

pots wrote:

hi.can someone local or has a knowladge of the area, advice on the best route to cycle to the start from the docklands travelodge.
it looks to me that the hotel is right on the route so i assume i will not be allowed to use the course.thanks

If it's the one I think it is you are practically on top of the tunnel, so there should be a route signposted for you.

Wrath Rob

GPX routes from all car parks to the park here:

http://www.garmin.com/uk/ridelondon/cyclingroutes

andyeb

Wrath Rob wrote:

GPX routes from all car parks to the park here:

http://www.garmin.com/uk/ridelondon/cyclingroutes

Perfect - gold dust info. Thanks for sharing - from this I can both figure out what the route is likely to be from Drop-off B and how I can also get back across the Thames after the event.