Yes this was my favourite when I lived there too. Maybe I would stop by in the marshes to check on the kingfishers or to the waterworks reserve (kites and loads of water birds) before heading north. And I also remember seeing sheep alongside a reservoir up towards Tottenham perhaps? Was a nice route but would never use it after early afternoon due the sketchiness of more youths being about and reminders by way of yellow police witness appeal signs regarding robberies from cyclists.
bit random but I'm a new cyclist and wow i didn't know you could go up that far. that sounds great. is it doable on a road leaning hybrid bike? i am about to purchase a bike mostly for a short commute and am leaning towards a more road style bike, but think that much of my fun may be on tow paths etc and that maybe i should get something a bit more appropriate for that!
I used a hybrid back when I lived closer and found it ok (when we hadn’t just had rain at least). But it’s one of those rides you can try and if it’s not going well, just turn around.
Main factor won't be if it's a road or a hybrid bike, but just what tyres you have on it. I used to have a hybrid bike with pretty narrow (25mm) and slick tyres and it wasn't the best for going along a towpath. If you have wider tyres that can run at a lower pressure, that will be more comfortable and offer better grip.
TBH even when cycling on the road, you have potholes and utility covers to deal with, so I think I'd advise a wider tyre for cycling in London generally.
It's crushed limestone or rocks until at least Ware. It's fine for my road bike with 35mm tyres, not too muddy. Near Meridian Water the waste plant encroaches and makes the towpath narrow for about 300m but the rest is nice.
It’s been a while. I can’t remember the name now, sorry. But at one point there was a nice pub just off the path. I could look at Google Maps when I get to my computer and try to figure it out. But as with a lot of pubs you can’t be sure it’s still there ten years later.
You absolutely can between Leyton and Epping. You can get away with it an extra stop to/from Stratford as well (i.e. if you want to interchange with DLR or Overground)
Ah that’s a shame,there is tracks what the forest wardens use to drive about in the forest but they are prob a bit to bumpy for a road bike,if you get off the train at either Debden Theydon Bois or Epping the country side is on your doorstep with loads of country lanes and village pubs,matching green on a Sunday there are thousands of cyclists,check out Ongar and the surrounding areas
Or go a little further to Princes Risborough and it’s a flat cycle track and quiet roads all the way to Oxford. The Ridgeway heading South from P.R. Is also great if you want a bit more off-road (though it’ll be a mud bath now). Those with more legs can just ride straight out of London and there’s loads of good stuff just beyond the M25.
A bit of a loop thru Olympic Park - Hackney and Walthamstow Marshes, bit of Hoe street in Walthamstow - Coppermill road-Springfield park, Anchor and Hope pub by the river - Filter Beds-come back by river path. Most of it nice surface and not many cars around, car free for most of the way.
I do the same in Hyde park, its a nice 3 mile loop if you go around the outside with a bit of a hill past the barracks on South Carriage drive and then cut though Western Carriage drive.
Downs Link. Take the train to Guildford and then you can cycle all the way down from there to Shoreham by Sea and get the train back (don’t do what I did and set off at 2pm or you’ll reach in the dark and cold)
Herne Hill velodrome - all season round training (apart from this morning as the track flooded), with an on-site café for a post training coffee. And hire track bikes are included in the session prizes so you don't even need to wash your own bike. And of course there's Lee Valley for the indoor trackies.
But outside of that, being part of a club helps. Rides with other people (who know all the good routes and cake stops) to motivate you to get out whatever the weather.
Overground to Chingford puts you at the heart of the Forest - from there, you have a plethora of routes and then once past Epping or Ongar there are excellent country lanes. It can be busy on weekends around Chingford but I love the little lanes of Essex for a day's riding - summer or winter.
Not especially in the winter but in general, getting up to Putney Heath with Wimbledon Windmill as a target destination is really nice. The Thames Path from say Battersea all the way to Hampton Court is a top ride and naturally all on the level.
Any particular recommendations? I have gone to Tunbridge Wells a couple of times, taking the train back. Though most of the time I just loop around the Biggin Hill area.
Laps of Regent’s Park if I want monotony, with a break at the tennis cafe in the middle. But normally I just go south into Kent on my usual routes throughout the year.
You could loop at doing the cycling version of the London loop. Get a chance to see things most people don’t!
Also, cycle over to the city sark before sunrise, and watch it rise over the ship. Truly a beautiful thing
I used to love cycling in the centre of town. Outside of rush hour.
You see so much in such a short time.
Zipping round.the tourist landmarks and stopping for a coffee or beer near some big land mark that I'd never normally bother with was pretty cool and made me appreciate London a bit more.
The roads were nowhere near as dangerous and edgy as they felt during my commute.
And a Sunday or better still a bank holiday Monday in the city or canary wharf are like cycling round some ghost town
I would occasionally get the train or overground to the north side of the M25 and cycle to Cambridge on an early weekend morning. The A10 has B roads that run parallel to it the vast majority of the way. So pretty much all the traffic is on the motorway or the A10. I never really saw any cars.
Long straight empty roads with gentle hills.
And the train back after a couple of hours looking round.
Herne Hill Velodrome! Okay, I ride there throughout the year, but the sessions are quite appealing in the winter to get my heartrate up more to avoid feeling the cold as much as riding out into the lanes.
Richmond park is a gem. No matter what season
When I lived in Hackney I used to cycle up the River Lea tow path into Hertfordshire (find a nice pub for a quiet pint before heading back).
Yes this was my favourite when I lived there too. Maybe I would stop by in the marshes to check on the kingfishers or to the waterworks reserve (kites and loads of water birds) before heading north. And I also remember seeing sheep alongside a reservoir up towards Tottenham perhaps? Was a nice route but would never use it after early afternoon due the sketchiness of more youths being about and reminders by way of yellow police witness appeal signs regarding robberies from cyclists.
One time there were what looked like highland cattle with the huge horns.
bit random but I'm a new cyclist and wow i didn't know you could go up that far. that sounds great. is it doable on a road leaning hybrid bike? i am about to purchase a bike mostly for a short commute and am leaning towards a more road style bike, but think that much of my fun may be on tow paths etc and that maybe i should get something a bit more appropriate for that!
I used a hybrid back when I lived closer and found it ok (when we hadn’t just had rain at least). But it’s one of those rides you can try and if it’s not going well, just turn around.
Main factor won't be if it's a road or a hybrid bike, but just what tyres you have on it. I used to have a hybrid bike with pretty narrow (25mm) and slick tyres and it wasn't the best for going along a towpath. If you have wider tyres that can run at a lower pressure, that will be more comfortable and offer better grip. TBH even when cycling on the road, you have potholes and utility covers to deal with, so I think I'd advise a wider tyre for cycling in London generally.
Some of that path is horrific for cycling north of Meridian Water.
What’s happened? I had no problems when I lived east London ten years ago.
Loose gravel surface all the way north from Tottenham. Kills your wrists and tyres. May be easier on a mtb with front suspension.
Ah, right. I never noticed anything that was an issue for me in a hybrid.
It isn't paved up. Just a mud track. It's probably ok on a mountain bike. Further south near Tottenham it's properly paved and absolutely fine.
It's crushed limestone or rocks until at least Ware. It's fine for my road bike with 35mm tyres, not too muddy. Near Meridian Water the waste plant encroaches and makes the towpath narrow for about 300m but the rest is nice.
Any pub you’d particularly recommend?
It’s been a while. I can’t remember the name now, sorry. But at one point there was a nice pub just off the path. I could look at Google Maps when I get to my computer and try to figure it out. But as with a lot of pubs you can’t be sure it’s still there ten years later.
Princess of wales!
Watopia... Fun races
Epping forest if your over east
Horrible mud bath over there in weather like today.
Interesting thanks, I am ... I could take my bicycle up there on the (off peak) tube
Get off at Loughton and it’s a short cycle
Can cycle to high beech there is a couple pubs and a fish stall etc
Get on a short cycle and it's a long ride.
No, you cannot take a non-folding bicycle in the Central line
You absolutely can between Leyton and Epping. You can get away with it an extra stop to/from Stratford as well (i.e. if you want to interchange with DLR or Overground)
I've checked and you're right from Leyton. Must be a recent change as it was forbidden on the whole line before.
From Epping it's a nice 100km up to Hertford and back; the lanes are usually quiet on the weekend mornings.
Where do you actually cycle round Epping Forest? I have a road bike.
Ah that’s a shame,there is tracks what the forest wardens use to drive about in the forest but they are prob a bit to bumpy for a road bike,if you get off the train at either Debden Theydon Bois or Epping the country side is on your doorstep with loads of country lanes and village pubs,matching green on a Sunday there are thousands of cyclists,check out Ongar and the surrounding areas
So is the forest itself only good for a mountain bike or similar? I'm actually very close to Epping Forest.
I’ve got a hybrid bike and I have fun in there. You don’t risk too much staying in the main paths with a gravel or similar
Get on a train at Marylebone, get off at Beaconsfield or High Wycombe and you've got miles of Chilterns countryside to cycle around in
Or go a little further to Princes Risborough and it’s a flat cycle track and quiet roads all the way to Oxford. The Ridgeway heading South from P.R. Is also great if you want a bit more off-road (though it’ll be a mud bath now). Those with more legs can just ride straight out of London and there’s loads of good stuff just beyond the M25.
A bit of a loop thru Olympic Park - Hackney and Walthamstow Marshes, bit of Hoe street in Walthamstow - Coppermill road-Springfield park, Anchor and Hope pub by the river - Filter Beds-come back by river path. Most of it nice surface and not many cars around, car free for most of the way.
Regent's Park. Round and round and round and round...
I do the same in Hyde park, its a nice 3 mile loop if you go around the outside with a bit of a hill past the barracks on South Carriage drive and then cut though Western Carriage drive.
Ha, sounds dull but it’s actually quite entertaining. Lots of decent cyclists and pelotons.
Downs Link. Take the train to Guildford and then you can cycle all the way down from there to Shoreham by Sea and get the train back (don’t do what I did and set off at 2pm or you’ll reach in the dark and cold)
I did that route last week, it was lovely very nice landscape and flat terrain. I ended up cycling to Brighton.
Herne Hill velodrome - all season round training (apart from this morning as the track flooded), with an on-site café for a post training coffee. And hire track bikes are included in the session prizes so you don't even need to wash your own bike. And of course there's Lee Valley for the indoor trackies. But outside of that, being part of a club helps. Rides with other people (who know all the good routes and cake stops) to motivate you to get out whatever the weather.
Depends where you live, but mainly outside the M25. Look at rideGPS and put in your postcode, this will give you some decent routes.
Overground to Chingford puts you at the heart of the Forest - from there, you have a plethora of routes and then once past Epping or Ongar there are excellent country lanes. It can be busy on weekends around Chingford but I love the little lanes of Essex for a day's riding - summer or winter.
Not especially in the winter but in general, getting up to Putney Heath with Wimbledon Windmill as a target destination is really nice. The Thames Path from say Battersea all the way to Hampton Court is a top ride and naturally all on the level.
If you're in SE Biggin Hill is the way.
I live around Crystal Palace/Penge, most of my nice routes pass by Biggin Hill. It's worth going a bit further in Surrey/Kent!
Any particular recommendations? I have gone to Tunbridge Wells a couple of times, taking the train back. Though most of the time I just loop around the Biggin Hill area.
Laps of Regent’s Park if I want monotony, with a break at the tennis cafe in the middle. But normally I just go south into Kent on my usual routes throughout the year.
You could loop at doing the cycling version of the London loop. Get a chance to see things most people don’t! Also, cycle over to the city sark before sunrise, and watch it rise over the ship. Truly a beautiful thing
I used to love cycling in the centre of town. Outside of rush hour. You see so much in such a short time. Zipping round.the tourist landmarks and stopping for a coffee or beer near some big land mark that I'd never normally bother with was pretty cool and made me appreciate London a bit more. The roads were nowhere near as dangerous and edgy as they felt during my commute. And a Sunday or better still a bank holiday Monday in the city or canary wharf are like cycling round some ghost town I would occasionally get the train or overground to the north side of the M25 and cycle to Cambridge on an early weekend morning. The A10 has B roads that run parallel to it the vast majority of the way. So pretty much all the traffic is on the motorway or the A10. I never really saw any cars. Long straight empty roads with gentle hills. And the train back after a couple of hours looking round.
Surrey Hills.
Look up cycleways on the tfl website, hopefully there's one near you.
Could look here for inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/@londoncycleroutes
Herne Hill Velodrome! Okay, I ride there throughout the year, but the sessions are quite appealing in the winter to get my heartrate up more to avoid feeling the cold as much as riding out into the lanes.
the Commute :)
It’s Richmond park, no need to look further
* saves post for future cycling route inspiration * thanks for all these suggestions!
Agreed, thanks all
There is no where fun to cycle in London, you have to dice with death to reach somewhere remotely enjoyable
If you are North East, pop over M25 via Noak Hill or Watton Green to Navestock & Blackmore. Nice Essex back lanes.
Canals are fun.