I Rode London

[vernon]

I've pedalled from Kings Cross to Waterloo a couple of times when changing train services. I enjoyed mixing it with the traffic and did not find it intimidating.

I've got Kings Cross to Liverpool Street station to look forward to this year.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've only cycled 120 sq miles of London's roads so, with about another 500 sq miles to go, it's too early to make a fully reasoned judgement about cycling in London. But as what I've done has taken about 19,000 miles, and new roads don't happen until I've ridden at least 7 miles, it'll probably take over 50,000 miles to get anywhere near finishing it. As it is, I'm more tired of life than tired of cycling London.

 

[srw]

It's a wicked city to cycle in. Hammering it down the Embankment with a tailwind

I got my route wrong this evening (set off for work from Waterloo rather than home) and did the Embankment for the first time in ages. It was ... invigorating to be the slow guy in ordinary clothes on the Brompton among all the lycra girls and boys. The Porsche that carved me up from the left as I was holding the lane to turn right up to Trafalgar Square was a nice touch, I thought.

I'm glad I usually do Holborn!

 

[classic33]

I used to ride around it for fun occasionally, I'd get the train up and spend the day seeing the sites. That was in the early 90's when I was young and invincible.

I'd happily still go and ride around London.

Given your answer, a question. London or Dublin for cycling in.

 

[Lanzecki]

Does Northern Ireland use km too?

Nope they are same as the UK. And still fighting over religious intolerance. I spent some time up there recently, TBH some of them will argue over anything.

 

[Lanzecki]

Given your answer, a question. London or Dublin for cycling in.

London, London, London, London, and.... London. Drivers are cyclist aware in london. In Dublin (and Ireland) we are considered a target. Even in the 30kph zone in Dublin centre it's dangerous. The old lines of "You are holding up traffic", "You don't pay road tax", "Get on the pavement", "Use the cycle path" and so on. Taxi's are just lethal. There is a radio presenter on a national station that regularly spouts anti-cyclist propaganda. Actually he spouts anti everything he doesn't do propaganda.

Heck I got stopped at a police check point recently. The copper (Garda) wanted to breathalise me until his mate pointed out that there is no drink cycling law. The 1st cop then went on to lecture me about riding on such a fast road (60kph/40mph) "Go and ride somewhere where you don't hold traffic up". I just rode away shaking my head.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

London, London, London, London, and.... London. Drivers are cyclist aware in london. In Dublin (and Ireland) we are considered a target. Even in the 30kph zone in Dublin centre it's dangerous. The old lines of "You are holding up traffic", "You don't pay road tax", "Get on the pavement", "Use the cycle path" and so on. Taxi's are just lethal. There is a radio presenter on a national station that regularly spouts anti-cyclist propaganda. Actually he spouts anti everything he doesn't do propaganda.

Heck I got stopped at a police check point recently. The copper (Garda) wanted to breathalise me until his mate pointed out that there is no drink cycling law. The 1st cop then went on to lecture me about riding on such a fast road (60kph/40mph) "Go and ride somewhere where you don't hold traffic up". I just rode away shaking my head.

No Sean Kelly legacy then?

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

The thought of cycling in London is a very scary thought indeed to me but then I haven't got much city cycling experience. If & when I go for a bimble in London for the first time I'd quite like to have someone bimble around with me; that way they can point and laugh at the soft southern nancy boy

 

[Lanzecki]

No Sean Kelly legacy then?

Nope. Hopefully Kelly junior will help.

There are more and more cyclist around. Things are getting better as we are being seen around more = less of a shock.

 

[Aperitif]

The thought of cycling in London is a very scary thought indeed to me but then I haven't got much city cycling experience. If & when I go for a bimble in London for the first time I'd quite like to have someone bimble around with me; that way they can point and laugh at the soft southern nancy boy

Sort out a Friday Night Ride for a brief taster (but longer contact with folk) or, better still, a Sunday London one which, among the nucleus, is still regarded as 'a commute without going to work' - not a fiesta. Last week, we could have circled round, chatted here and there, and still have found plenty of visual amusement in a very compact orbit. Playing with pedestrians in The Mall is one of the most calming things to be done on a warm Sunday morning/afternoon.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

The thought of cycling in London is a very scary thought indeed to me but then I haven't got much city cycling experience. If & when I go for a bimble in London for the first time I'd quite like to have someone bimble around with me; that way they can point and laugh at the soft southern nancy boy

I'm an old puffer and I managed that first ride OK. Young whipper snapper like you (I assume) should be fine

 

[Aperitif]

Some nice pubs in London too, as Crock will tell you. (Endlessly...) This morning, rummaging through my old digital albums, I happened upon this welcoming pub lunch where the locals turned out to regale our 'never knowingly unfolded' London cyclist, @Origamist.

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

Sort out a Friday Night Ride for a brief taster (but longer contact with folk)

Attending a Friday night ride will be a good reason for taking the day off work on Saturday

 

[Lanzecki]

Hang on, I'm sure there is a rule about calling the rules that :0

 

[ComedyPilot]

Yes folks . I took my bike from deepest darkest Worcestershire on the train to Paddington ..............................Blah, blah, blah......Would you ride London?

No