Cycling in London

I have been a cyclist in London now since last May (May 2014) and I do not miss taking public transport one bit.

Yes, vehicles can become irate with us, and yes, in a collision we will always come off worse. But these risks offset by the pleasures and benefits of cycling. I am, or at least feel, healthier – bar breathing in all that smog… -, I get around town quicker than I would otherwise by tube, and as strange as it sounds, I feel more relaxed.

An added bonus is getting to know the city better. One starts to own the spaces between the tube stations rather than being a passive commuter.

I thought I would share my favourite routes, both for leisure and getting that heart rate going and legs burning:

• Regent’s Park – For a good tear around, Regent’s Park before work (7am onwards) is great. There is normally a good community of cyclists who you can draft behind, that is as long as you return the favour!
• Hill circuit around Swain’s Lane, Highgate West Hill and Dartmouth Park Hill – combine these three hills and you’re in for a good workout. From memory, Swain’s Lane starts at 9% gradient and rears its head at 14% towards the top before decreasing again. It is only a short climb (around 0.3 miles) but combined with the other two hills in that areas makes for an excellent hill circuit.
• Richmond Park – it almost goes without saying that having a park like Richmond Park on your doorstep is a London cyclist’s dream. There are a few good climbs and flat sections, with bonus deer spotting.
• Embankment – if followed from Westminster to just after Battersea Bridge, the road provides a good opportunity for some full throttle cycling on a relatively smooth surface. If you’re cycling with some mates at a good time of the day – early morning on a weekend – then it’s a good opportunity for some drafting and high speeds.
• Wapping – maybe not the most obvious of locations to cycle, but I enjoy going round St Katharine Docks and the small roads around that area. The Town of Ramsgate pub is a homely venue and worth a visit.
• London parks – goes without saying, and it’s rather obvious, that Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, Battersea Park, Clapham and other green areas, are fun to cycle round although I would classify these as all leisure rides rather than anything serious.
• Epping Forest – a bit like Richmond Park, Epping Forest is a great place for London cyclists to exit the smog and cycle around what feels like countryside. There are some great routes with some killer climbs (can’t remember any names at the moment, but will update at a later time).

I cannot recommend cycling in London enough!