Sometimes I love London

[ianrauk]

I'm just sharing my experience.

Cycling from A-B for a short distance is not an experience worth sharing.

I once went to Sheffield, for a football match, and from that experience, I can tell you that the whole of Sheffield is completely rubbish.

See what I did there?

 

[Frood42]

Cycling from A-B for a short distance is not an experience worth sharing.

I once went to Sheffield, for a football match, and from that experience, I can tell you that the whole of Sheffield is completely rubbish.

See what I did there?

I lived in Sheffield for about 6 yrs
It ain't that bad
.

 

[dellzeqq]

Monday evening. Southwards on Kennington Road. About 20 bikes at each light. We all start off, the streetlights illuminate the golden leaves on high arching London Planes, the tarmac is smooth and we, the gatherings of one red light, roll down toward the Oval in no rush whatsoever. Conversations litter our little peleton.

And then, the right turn on to CS7. More bikes than you can shake a stick at. 30 to 40 bikes at each light. I watch out for Susie behind and keep a steady, rolling pace. There's no aggravation, no unpleasantness, just a whole load of people forming a river of bikes south to Clapham. As we rise toward Clapham North the lights thin out a bit as the group stretches - and then collect again in the traffic down to Clapham Common Station. Susie and I turn south and in to the quiet, close roads around Clapham Park. For this time, if only this time, our cares are forgotten.

 

[ianrauk]

Monday evening. Southwards on Kennington Road. About 20 bikes at each light. We all start off, the streetlights illuminate the golden leaves on high arching London Planes, the tarmac is smooth and we, the gatherings of one red light, roll down toward the Oval in no rush whatsoever. Conversations litter our little peleton.

And then, the right turn on to CS7. More bikes than you can shake a stick at. 30 to 40 bikes at each light. I watch out for Susie behind and keep a steady, rolling pace. There's no aggravation, no unpleasantness, just a whole load of people forming a river of bikes south to Clapham. As we rise toward Clapham North the lights thin out a bit as the group stretches - and then collect again in the traffic down to Clapham Common Station. Susie and I turn south and in to the quiet, close roads around Clapham Park. For this time, if only this time, our cares are forgotten.

Careful.. your prose might make some people think that cycling in London is actually very nice sometimes.

 

[Maz]

Cycling from A-B for a short distance is not an experience worth sharing.

I once went to Sheffield, for a football match, and from that experience, I can tell you that the whole of Sheffield is completely rubbish.

See what I did there?

Yes, you made the mistake of going to Hillsborough.

 

[Pale Rider]

I could - but I enjoy Hyde Park, and pretending to be a tourist around Buck House and Parliament. It's a journey I do once a week at most, and I don't particularly care about the odd minute or two - there's a train every 15 minutes at the other end - so I'm not too bothered about the wait.

I doubt the routes I suggested going further east through the heavily built up areas would be any quicker - too many lefts, rights, and straight on junctions.

It's the sort of journey you could spend years refining.

 

[Wobblers]

[QUOTE 2789719, member: 1314"]My commute in pics...love it.
This year from Sept 15th until this morning. All in rush hour.

View attachment 33153 View attachment 33154 View attachment 33155 View attachment 33156 View attachment 33157 View attachment 33158 View attachment 33159 View attachment 33160 View attachment 33161 View attachment 33162 [/quote]

Lovely pictures there, CoG. But there's this ghastly dull grey fixed gear bike in many of those photos that spoils the view...

 

[Wobblers]

London...certainly wouldn't be high on the list of must do cycling destinations.

The whole place is just a scrum

I rather like cycling in London. It's surprisingly pleasant - and with some fantastic views to boot. Not to mention that the traffic, though appearing scary, is much less aggressive than just about any other city I've cycled in: it certainly beats Birmingham by a long way.

Linford, you've told us about how Cheltenham's so wonderful with its 24 hour Tesco... somehow I suspect you weren't being quite serious! I've been there, I know there's lots of fantastic Regency architecture, it's not in the slightest bit unpleasant so why not post a few pictures of your favourite spots of Cheltenham for us to admire?

 

[Maz]

Cycling from A-B for a short distance is not an experience worth sharing.

Sorry, I didn't realise there was a minimum distance before being entitled to sharing a cycling experience.
If you let me know what that distance is, I can avoid this problem in the future.
Thanks

 

[ianrauk]

Sorry, I didn't realise there was a minimum distance before being entitled to sharing a cycling experience.
If you let me know what that distance is, I can avoid this problem in the future.
Thanks

Not when you diss a whole city based on it - no.

 

[theclaud]

Not when you diss a whole city based on it - no.

I once cycled through Yate for at least ten minutes. That was definitely a sh1thole.

 

[Linford]

I rather like cycling in London. It's surprisingly pleasant - and with some fantastic views to boot. Not to mention that the traffic, though appearing scary, is much less aggressive than just about any other city I've cycled in: it certainly beats Birmingham by a long way.

Linford, you've told us about how Cheltenham's so wonderful with its 24 hour Tesco... somehow I suspect you weren't being quite serious! I've been there, I know there's lots of fantastic Regency architecture, it's not in the slightest bit unpleasant so why not post a few pictures of your favourite spots of Cheltenham for us to admire?

My phone is in the menders for another week..I'm also off the cycle for what may be 2 or 3 weeks under doctirs orders, so chances of getting pics of my bike strategically placed around the town are slim for the time being.

It isn't the views in particular which define the town as a nice place, but the feel of it. I've noticed this when returning from London. It is so much quieter on the streets and roads.

 

[User482]

I rather like cycling in London. It's surprisingly pleasant - and with some fantastic views to boot.

I agree: having previously cycled in London perhaps once or twice in my life, the FNRttC was something of a revelation. And given a post-ride tendency to consume one or two yellow/ brown beers, I've cycled rather more of London than intended...

 

[Pale Rider]

I like cycling in London, not least because I can generally keep up with the traffic, even on a Boris bike.

Distances in the West End/City are tiny, so I can also afford to splurge my limited amount of fitness to get where I need to go.

The number of cyclists has risen massively since I lived there in the 1980s.

Motorists are more cycle aware in London than anywhere else I've been, which must be because they encounter lots of them.

 

[theclaud]

I agree: having previously cycled in London perhaps once or twice in my life, the FNRttC was something of a revelation. And given a post-ride tendency to consume one or two yellow/ brown beers, I've cycled rather more of London than intended...

But possibly not quite as much as @TimO after Look Mum No Hands. Cycling round London somewhat plastered is a particular joy.