cyclists out there in London? -route advice?

Goose -

I suggest there are several options:

1. Go to Richmond Park. Pretty simple to get to, very nice to ride around, assuming the weather is good and you don't mind lots of exotically attired people on very expensive road bikes charging around. Not much fun on a windy day, however, as you're really exposed to headwinds.

2. Kingston has a horrible (and 'challenging') one-way system. The best thing to do is get through it on the way to somewhere else. If you go across Kingston Bridge, turn left, ride through the road through Bushey Park, there's Hampton Count on your left. If you turn right you can go through Sunbury towards Walton and Weybridge - that's a nice ride.

3. The problem with trying to get out of London and the suburbs to the proper countryside is that you don't really get out for quite a way. If you want to do a 50 mile ride it's nice to ride through Kingston and Esher, turn left towards Oxshott, through Leatherhead to Box Hill, up the hill and then back via the Epsom Downs.

4. Alternatively, one bit of real, proper countryside is around Shere and Friday Street. The first leg of my standard training ride takes me out that way, via Esher and Cobham, through some nice country roads. You ride through Esher, straight along that road (Claremont Drive?) that goes to Cobham, turn left at the roundabout at the end and then right by the supermarket. Follow that road for about a kile until you see a pub (The Cricketers?) on the right. Go down that road and you're pretty much in the countryside.

Happy to meet up and show you any of these at the weekend if you like.

Tim

quote:

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Originally posted by Goose:
Any of you guys live in S.London and know of good routes out to some countryside? Perhaps a 30 mile round trip Goose

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from the south-east, the answer is not really. You'd be better off putting the bike in a car or train to get some distance into Kent 'cos all the access roads (A20, A2, A21) are evil.

Cycling down the river from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier is fun but hardly far enough. I think the doc's right, goose. Stick the bike on a train to somewhere like Hildenborough and then cycle round some of kent - places like Chiddingstone, Penshurst - some very nice pubs round there, eg. Spotted Dog.

Alex,

There's a gruesome hill up to the Spotted Dog, are you sure you cycled it?

David

Thanks for the advice all..I think the bike on the train / in the car is a winner..!

I know Kingston area -ish so I'll start at Richmond park and go for it!

Perhaps I'll pop into Alex S's for a sherbet afterwards
haha

CHeers
Goose

David, come to think of it, I'm certain I didn't cycle it and never will! But its a lovely view once you've made it.

Goose, sherbets on me any time you like - I might even threaten you with joining in a cycle-fest one day.