Route advice: W4 to N1

[Evilcat]

Just started a 3 month contract at a company in Islington (well, just north of Old Street tube) and having managed to get the office shower sorted out I'm intending to bike as usual. There are lots of routes from Chiswick to Old Street, and the obvious one is Shepherds Bush - Notting Hill - Paddington - Marylebone Road - Euston - Kings X and up the hill to Angel and down the other side.

Any other ideas? I used to go into the city via Kensington, Trafalgar Square and Holborn, but that's a bit out of my way and frankly the Strand is no fun on the return. The only bit of the direct route that feels a tad iffy is the Euston Underpass: I can go round via a single set of lights going East, but the return is much easier going under than doing the loop round the hospital into Tottenham Court Road.

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks,

EC

 

[Tynan]

bit late for me to imagine that, it sounds like its made of lots of sections of old routes of mine, I used to quite like the Eustom underpass although I only ever did Eastbound in the evening rush hour


I'd have thought if you could stomach Trafalger Square, all of London would be your play thing

apologies for being no help at all

 

[Aperitif]

I don't much like the underpass although it is not too bad when blocked up with metal, nose to tail!
Going up to Camden via Regents Park, then cutting across to Islington around the back of Kings Cross seems a bit 'off beam' - maybe quieter...the Park is lovely in the mornings!
When you say Notting Hill - Paddington EC, do you mean you turn left at Pembridge Road and pass Paddington that way, or continue straight ahead toward Marble Arch and hang a left then right to continue along Sussex Gardens(Paddington on your left), crossing the Edgware Road to join Marylebone Rd? (Which is how I do it...)
Back to the topic and I think the Marylebone Road feels quite 'safe' actually - it is only the lane changing and shuffling that goes on around Kings Cross/St Pancras that has been a bit wierd at times - probably my ignorance as much as anything.

 

[zimzum42]

The route you mention is ideal, and is the reverse of my old commute from Baker St to Osterley.

Do the Sussex Gardens bit.

It's really quite safe. Any alternatives would just be for a better looking view like the park etc....

 

[Evilcat]

Thanks all. Just for extra info I do Bayswater Road, Porchester Terrace, Craven Hill on the way in, although I guess I could go left at Lancaster Gate tube and right up Sussex Gardens. That would be more sensible as roadworks are making the end of Praed Street a get off and walk zone at the moment.

The reverse is a bit of a mare at the end of Sussex Gardens having to cross a few lanes of traffic, so thinking about hanging a right back up to Craven Hill and then left at Leinster Terrace which has lights at the junction with Bayswater Road.

Just got into the office to find the shower has been repainted a fetching shade of blue. A spot more scrubbing the shower pan with limescale and it should be ready for my first commute tomorrow. Happily a few more people have committed to start cycling now that there are 'facilities'... at least I'm having some effect!

EC

 

[Aperitif]

Do Sussex Gardens and crossing the Edgware Road is easy. This leads into Old Marylebone Road and the traffic lights are helpfully phased which allows a comfortable entry into the A40 flow at that bit...

 

[Evilcat]

Will do! All set to sort out the hybrid and a full set of clothes for tomorrow so I can switch to the road bike for midweek before reverting to the hybrid and panniers for Friday.

Thanks,

EC