Commute from Surbiton to London Waterloo

[bedrock]

I'm moving to Surbiton and will need to do a daily commute to London Waterloo. I could take the bus/train but I'd much rather save some money and get the exercise. I'm not familiar with the area (or the route) and am wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I have no problem about the distance (about 18 km each way) and am mostly interested to know what the journey would be like and whether any cycle routes/lanes exist.

Thanks!

 

[ianrauk]

Hi Welcome to the forum.
Ping Sittingduck of this parish.
He lives not far from Surbiton and commutes to St Paul's daily.

 

[bedrock]

Hi Welcome to the forum.
Ping Sittingduck of this parish.
He lives not far from Surbiton and commutes to St Paul's daily.

Thanks for the friendly greeting and suggestion.

I'll see if I can work out how to "ping" someone...

 

[Twizit]

Am near Surbiton too, but am currently West End based for work, so I use Richmond Park - Castlenau - Hammersmith - Kensington High Street - Hyde Park.... Obviously not the best for you.

There's a few guys from my cycle club go Berrylands - New Malden - east of Wimbledon Common up to West Hill into Putney / Wandsworth - then follow South of the river through Battersea - Vauxhall right up to Waterloo

That's certainly the way I'll probably go when I move jobs onto the South Bank in the late summer - although have to confess I've not yet tried out the route they take through New Malden to cross the A3 - think it goes down a few back roads that will need some practice to find!!

 

[bedrock]

Am near Surbiton too, but am currently West End based for work, so I use Richmond Park - Castlenau - Hammersmith - Kensington High Street - Hyde Park.... Obviously not the best for you.

There's a few guys from my cycle club go Berrylands - New Malden - east of Wimbledon Common up to West Hill into Putney / Wandsworth - then follow South of the river through Battersea - Vauxhall right up to Waterloo

That's certainly the way I'll probably go when I move jobs onto the South Bank in the late summer - although have to confess I've not yet tried out the route they take through New Malden to cross the A3 - think it goes down a few back roads that will need some practice to find!!

Thanks for the info. I don't know the area at all--this will be the first time I've lived in or around London--so I'll have to get a map!

 

[Twizit]

Google maps is your friend

You can also plot routes on something like bike toaster (google it) - so you can check out ride length, climbing required etc!

To be honest the route into London from around that area is pretty flat, with the exception of Kingston hill, or getting up to the top of West Hill if you go that way into Putney. Neither are killers though!

Also as someone on here once told me.. follow the river.... they're usually pretty flat!!

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 1442987"]
I live in Surbiton and cycle through Waterloo 3 or 4 days a week. Am happy to accompany you first time. I leave home at 7am. Just PM.
[/quote]



Don't listen to User1314.. you don't wanna be cycling with him, really.. he's horrible piece of work, rides a fixed, always waggles his bottom in the air trying to trackstand badly and he doesn't even know what a red light it.

Only joshing of course

.. take up COG's offer, you couldn't get a better riding companion.

 

[bedrock]

[QUOTE 1442987"]
I live in Surbiton and cycle through Waterloo 3 or 4 days a week. Am happy to accompany you first time. I leave home at 7am. Just PM.
[/quote]

Excellent! Thanks very much. I'll take you up on the offer when I (hopefully) move to Surbiton towards the end of August. I say hopefully as I still have to find somewhere to live--just looking for a room somewhere to tide me over--and I'm currently in on extended hols in Thailand.

 

[bedrock]

Seems like I've already solved one question, so on to the next:

For those of you guys who cycle in to the city, would you recommend riding in on an old wreck that no one would pinch, or do you favour trusting a big lock and chain on a semi-decent bike? This might seem like a stupid question to some, but where I used to live many people didn't even bother to lock their bikes. The other option I've been considering is getting a folding bike before I return to England.

There's a shop here selling Yeah!, which are rebranded Dahon bikes, for about £160. At that price I wouldn't worry about it too much and it would give me the option of getting on transport if required -- something I may have to do as I'm going to be working at / visiting various schools during the coming year.

 

[bedrock]

Don't listen to User1314.. you don't wanna be cycling with him, really.. he's horrible piece of work, rides a fixed, always waggles his bottom in the air trying to trackstand badly and he doesn't even know what a red light it.

Only joshing of course

.. take up COG's offer, you couldn't get a better riding companion.

Used to train on fixed when I lived in the Cotswolds, and it was good fun going up and down those hills!

 

[jonny jeez]

Seems like I've already solved one question, so on to the next:

For those of you guys who cycle in to the city, would you recommend riding in on an old wreck that no one would pinch, or do you favour trusting a big lock and chain on a semi-decent bike? This might seem like a stupid question to some, but where I used to live many people didn't even bother to lock their bikes. The other option I've been considering is getting a folding bike before I return to England.

There's a shop here selling Yeah!, which are rebranded Dahon bikes, for about £160. At that price I wouldn't worry about it too much and it would give me the option of getting on transport if required -- something I may have to do as I'm going to be working at / visiting various schools during the coming year.

Hey Bedrock. welcome

I'm fortunate in as much as I can bring my bike into my office all day but I do favour riding an older lower value bike. Not just for security but for the level of wear. I am in the last offings of ordering a luxury ride for weekends (I just need to overcome the guilt at spending the cash, should take about 3 more days) and occasional dry commutes but I would never consider riding this every day (or every day I ride) as it would run it into the ground.

I prefer to have a "hack" bike for day to day stuff (riding in rain, carrying stuff like lights, panniers mudguards etc). I ride in on a mountain bike witj front shocks (and city tyres)... it does the job perfectly (the engine could do with a service tho!!)

Jonny

 

[bedrock]

Thanks for the greeting and advice, Jonny.

This seems to be a very helpful and friendly place to be.

 

[jefmcg]

1) Also check out the TFL route planner. It's improved a lot since I first used it (suggested the A4 was the best route into London!), and may offer some good suggestions. I often check this when I am cycling to a new place.

2) What is bike parking like at your new workplace? Last two places I've worked, I'd happily leave an unlocked bike there. Good, secure parking. If you will have the same, get any bike you like. Personally, I have a folder and it feels easier to fold it and carry it than to wrangle 2 locks are remove all lights etc from my bike every time I stop in London.

 

[Twizit]

[QUOTE 1442994"]
I do Berrylands, New Malden, across A3 though I did cycle along the slip road onto Wimbledon Bec one time when I was feeling brave(er), Raynes Park, Wimbledon town centre, then either Tooting or Southfields, Clapham South, Stockwell, Kennington, Imperial War Museum. I've met Sitting Duck en route a few times.

No hills at all on that route.

[/quote]

Oooo, sounds like I might be the one in need of a ride along to see a better route come late summer once I'm heading Waterloo way

Goes off to check map.....

 

[bedrock]

1) Also check out the TFL route planner. It's improved a lot since I first used it (suggested the A4 was the best route into London!), and may offer some good suggestions. I often check this when I am cycling to a new place.

2) What is bike parking like at your new workplace? Last two places I've worked, I'd happily leave an unlocked bike there. Good, secure parking. If you will have the same, get any bike you like. Personally, I have a folder and it feels easier to fold it and carry it than to wrangle 2 locks are remove all lights etc from my bike every time I stop in London.

I won't know about the parking situation until later this year. I will be studying at university part of the time and for the remainder, working or visiting London schools (locations currently unknown). For various reasons I favour a folding bike for the daily commute, although to be honest I've never ridden one any distance.