Cycling London to Southend

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AnythingButVanilla

AnythingButVanilla

Über Member
Location
London
I'm thinking about going from Clapham to Southend this weekend and was wondering what people's opinions are on it. I've been told that the route is quite flat but my version of flat is completely different to others and I'm having trouble to anything more than a gentle incline at the moment to due my knee and lower back playing up (that and I really hate hills). Am I mental for even considering it or should I be ok? Is it easy enough to get a train back to London if needs be?
 
Becs

Becs

Veteran
Location
Old Hatfield (it's nice honest!)
It's flat even by my standards (anyone will tell you that I hate hills!). Perhaps not the most scenic of routes though . . .
 
dellzeqq

dellzeqq

pre-talced and mighty
Location
SW2
If you want flat it's Aldgate, Stratford, Ilford, Dagenham East, A1112, A1306, Lodge Lane, Wood View, Linford Road, Muckingford Road, Stanford-le-Hope Station, Cottingham Road, Lion Hill, Fobbing, B1464, Pitsea, A13, Tattershall Gardens, Leigh-on-Sea station, Leigh High Street. the Cinder Path, the Esplanade, and on to what is, possibly, one of the most miraculous buildings in the history of the universe.................

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=WRSrq_HvdFw

There are four trains an hour from Southend Central, and two (slightly more expensive) trains an hour from Southend Victoria
 
Sittingduck

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
I did it myself 2 years ago with a few from here. There were some nice parts, eg. Rainham Marshes but a lot of the route isn't pretty... it IS South Essex, afterall :whistle: :evil:


Why not head South / S-West and jump on a train home (direct to CLJ)? Head for Brighton or something and see how you fair... There are hills to be climbed in the early stages, to get out of the M25 but even I can get over the North Downs, without toooo much trouble and I look like a balloon!
 
OP
OP
AnythingButVanilla

AnythingButVanilla

Über Member
Location
London
I quite enjoyed it and thought it was well organised but it was also my first big event thing so I've nothing to compare it to. Everyone that I spoke to was pissed off at the fact it started from Ally Pally and the first stop at 15 miles was at Clapham Common and I felt that there was no need for that. Why not just start it at Clapham instead of knackering people out before you even leave London? The second stop was at 35ish miles at Outwood and the last one I think was just before Turners Hill. I was disappointed with the food at the meal stop and nearly broke my teeth on the burger but I was glad of the portaloos and especially the bike mechanic as my chain couldn't decide if it wanted to double up on itself or just completely come off. I spent far too much time covering myself in oil and muck :angry: Ending the ride at Brighton Racecourse was unfair too, making people go up that steep hill. Nobody liked that either.

ETA - I think there was a total of about 240 people in all, although this may be wrong. I overheard a couple of the marshalls talking about the numbers.
 
Sittingduck

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
AnythingButVanilla said:
I struggle to get up Silverthorne Road at times, shamefully :blush:
Click to expand...

:huh: I used to live on Silverthorne Rd... that's not a hill! :laugh: Not the greatest of surfaces and you get lorries spilling gravel all over the road though. Try staying on Queenstown Rd. At least you get a breather at the lights by Sainsburys.

The route to Southend on the link you provided would probably be ok, once outside of the M25. Mid/North Essex is much nicer :smile:




Oh, and what's wrong with vanilla?!
 
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