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Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
Evening all,
I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. Thanks, tom -- WHO REPLACED THE CLIENT FILES WITH TEQUILA.. ALFONZ?? |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
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Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_m...ard_facilities |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
th.li... Evening all, I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts snip Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. Thanks, tom Just be prepared to put up with some hard looks! MaxB |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
"Batman55" wrote in message
... Just be prepared to put up with some hard looks! I doubt anyone would be selfish enough to even attempt it. Ian |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson
wrote: Evening all, I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. If joining the train at Charing Cross, get on near the front, the bike won't be a problem. If getting on at London Bridge there will be more room at the front, but not much! The exit at Hither Green Station is right at the back of the train. I live minutes from Hither Green. I can suggest two cycling routes, one largely motor traffic free, and an express route. The traffic free route will take up to an hour; the express route up to 40 minutes. 1. From London Bridge pick up the Thames Cycle Route, generally well signed as NCR4. Follow the route almost all the way to Greenwich. At Deptford Creek, before crossing the River Ravensbourne, follow NCR21 to Lewisham. At Lewisham follow the cycle route through the Town Centre to Lewisham Library, then Limes Grove, right College Park, left Dermody Road, right Eastdown Park, ahead Leahurst Rod, arrive Hither Green. 2. From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On 14 May, 08:05, Tom Crispin
wrote: On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: Evening all, I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. If joining the train at Charing Cross, get on near the front, the bike won't be a problem. *If getting on at London Bridge there will be more room at the front, but not much! *The exit at Hither Green Station is right at the back of the train. I live minutes from Hither Green. *I can suggest two cycling routes, one largely motor traffic free, and an express route. The traffic free route will take up to an hour; the express route up to 40 minutes. 1. *From London Bridge pick up the Thames Cycle Route, generally well signed as NCR4. *Follow the route almost all the way to Greenwich. *At Deptford Creek, before crossing the River Ravensbourne, follow NCR21 to Lewisham. *At Lewisham follow the cycle route through the Town Centre to Lewisham Library, then Limes Grove, right College Park, left Dermody Road, right Eastdown Park, ahead Leahurst Rod, arrive Hither Green. 2. *From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Route 2 ain't so bad really. Even the apparently terrifying roundabout at Rotherhithe is surprisingly easy. The only really horrible bit is trying to turn right into Deptford Church Street, where you can't get into the right lane. It might be avoided by using Deptford High Street and Giffin Street (no market that time of day). Also, once in Brookmill Road, you can pick up cycle routes through Lewisham and continue with route 1. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
In ,
Tom Crispin tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us: 2. From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. Tooley Street is currently closed for a burst water main, and if the last time this happened was in any way typical, will re-open shortly before Christmas... -- Dave Larrington http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk I have always maintained that one can never have too many pictures of cats playing table tennis. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson
wrote: Evening all, I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. Cycle to her house in the morning - lock up bike and leave there. Take public transport in to work. Take public transport back in the evening. Have a pleasant evening. Cycle home -- "Primary position" the middle of a traffic lane. To take the "primary position" : to ride a bike in the middle of the lane in order to obstruct other road vehicles from overtaking. A term invented by and used by psycholists and not recognised in the Highway Code. Highway Code Rule 168 : "Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass." |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On May 14, 4:40*am, MIG wrote:
On 14 May, 08:05, Tom Crispin wrote: 2. *From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. Route 2 ain't so bad really. *Even the apparently terrifying roundabout at Rotherhithe is surprisingly easy. *The only really horrible bit is trying to turn right into Deptford Church Street, where you can't get into the right lane. *It might be avoided by using Deptford High Street and Giffin Street (no market that time of day). Ditto. I used to cycle something very like this route to work on a regular basis. It's easy and mostly fairly flat. And I agree with the diversion via the market -- that makes life easier. (That said, I was cycling this route 1992-1994; things may have changed a bit, though I don't think they've changed all that much.) But with all that said, I'd be tempted to just leave the bike at Hither Green (or Lewisham) station in the morning. Or just not cycle that day. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Alistair Bell wrote:
But with all that said, I'd be tempted to just leave the bike at Hither Green (or Lewisham) station in the morning. Or just not cycle that day. I don't understand this idea - which morning? Are you suggesting i should have cycled there this morning (from Finsbury Park) before work, then got the train from there to work today, and then back again this evening, followed by riding back to Finsbury Park tonight? Or that i should stay the night (which her husband might find sightly surprising), leave it there tomorrow morning, and then go back for it by train some other time? tom -- Nullius in verba |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote:
On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. If joining the train at Charing Cross, get on near the front, the bike won't be a problem. If getting on at London Bridge there will be more room at the front, but not much! The exit at Hither Green Station is right at the back of the train. Humm. I'm finished at work, so i have plenty of time to get to CX before seven, i suppose, although it seems slightly mad to do so given that i'm just up the road from LB. I live minutes from Hither Green. I can suggest two cycling routes, one largely motor traffic free, and an express route. The traffic free route will take up to an hour; the express route up to 40 minutes. 1. From London Bridge pick up the Thames Cycle Route, generally well signed as NCR4. Follow the route almost all the way to Greenwich. At Deptford Creek, before crossing the River Ravensbourne, follow NCR21 to Lewisham. At Lewisham follow the cycle route through the Town Centre to Lewisham Library, then Limes Grove, right College Park, left Dermody Road, right Eastdown Park, ahead Leahurst Rod, arrive Hither Green. 2. From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), So far, a route i've done - that's how i got the bike home from Decathlon, at Surrey Quays, where i bought it! Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. That looks good. I would normally just do this, but am put off quite a lot by the fact that i haven't got a map - i just didn't have room in my bag to pack my A-Z, and that part of London being terra incognita to me, i've never ordered cycle guides for it (well, not until five minutes ago, but in horse - stable door terms, that doesn't count). Actually, i tell a lie - i've just looked at the ancient second-issue sheet 11, and the route just clips the corner - the bottom left corner is roundabout Honor Oak Crematorium, which means it covers the route from Surrey Quays, not to Hither Green station, but to my destination halfway down Lee High Road. Right, the Wheels of Aluminium, rather than Steel, it is! Even though the air is grotesquely humid and i have a suit jacket ... tom -- solvilvitur ambulando. copy a diamond shape, recording angel. .. .. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On 14 May, 18:23, Tom Anderson wrote:
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote: On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. If joining the train at Charing Cross, get on near the front, the bike won't be a problem. *If getting on at London Bridge there will be more room at the front, but not much! *The exit at Hither Green Station is right at the back of the train. Humm. I'm finished at work, so i have plenty of time to get to CX before seven, i suppose, although it seems slightly mad to do so given that i'm just up the road from LB. You must be nearer to Cannon Street than Charing Cross then. It would work just as well from there, ie the train starting there. Departures to Hither Green at 1836 (actually a fairly quiet train because same route as the 1822), 1918, 1922, 1948. Still, I expect it's all over now. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009 18:23:02 +0100, Tom Anderson
wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote: On Wed, 13 May 2009 23:19:31 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: I want to visit a friend who lives near Hither Green (or thereabouts - not totally sure what the closest railway station is yet) tomorrow evening. I'll be going from work, which is (not quite) in the City. It strikes me as a bit far to cycle, especially as i don't know the area. So, i want to take the train from London Bridge, and take my bike with me, so i can cycle from the station to her house, and then from London Bridge home later on. I understand that Southeastern don't take trains on London-leaving trains before 1900, which is fair enough. Does anyone happen to know if my understanding is correct? Moreover, is it realistic for me to think i will be able to get on a train with my bike soon after that? I have this terrible vision of the evening peak being standing-room-only and not conducive to bikes for hours on end. If joining the train at Charing Cross, get on near the front, the bike won't be a problem. If getting on at London Bridge there will be more room at the front, but not much! The exit at Hither Green Station is right at the back of the train. Humm. I'm finished at work, so i have plenty of time to get to CX before seven, i suppose, although it seems slightly mad to do so given that i'm just up the road from LB. I live minutes from Hither Green. I can suggest two cycling routes, one largely motor traffic free, and an express route. The traffic free route will take up to an hour; the express route up to 40 minutes. 1. From London Bridge pick up the Thames Cycle Route, generally well signed as NCR4. Follow the route almost all the way to Greenwich. At Deptford Creek, before crossing the River Ravensbourne, follow NCR21 to Lewisham. At Lewisham follow the cycle route through the Town Centre to Lewisham Library, then Limes Grove, right College Park, left Dermody Road, right Eastdown Park, ahead Leahurst Rod, arrive Hither Green. 2. From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), So far, a route i've done - that's how i got the bike home from Decathlon, at Surrey Quays, where i bought it! Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. That looks good. I would normally just do this, but am put off quite a lot by the fact that i haven't got a map - i just didn't have room in my bag to pack my A-Z, and that part of London being terra incognita to me, i've never ordered cycle guides for it (well, not until five minutes ago, but in horse - stable door terms, that doesn't count). Actually, i tell a lie - i've just looked at the ancient second-issue sheet 11, and the route just clips the corner - the bottom left corner is roundabout Honor Oak Crematorium, which means it covers the route from Surrey Quays, not to Hither Green station, but to my destination halfway down Lee High Road. Right, the Wheels of Aluminium, rather than Steel, it is! I will be interested to learn how accurate my estimate of 40 minutes was. Even though the air is grotesquely humid and i have a suit jacket ... tom |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009 18:00:02 +0100, Tom Anderson
wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009, Alistair Bell wrote: But with all that said, I'd be tempted to just leave the bike at Hither Green (or Lewisham) station in the morning. Or just not cycle that day. I don't understand this idea - which morning? Are you suggesting i should have cycled there this morning (from Finsbury Park) before work, then got the train from there to work today, and then back again this evening, followed by riding back to Finsbury Park tonight? Or that i should stay the night (which her husband might find sightly surprising), leave it there tomorrow morning, and then go back for it by train some other time? I've no idea what they were thinking. It is interesting to note that soon there will be an almost motor traffic free cycle route from Lewisham to Finsbury Park. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote:
On Thu, 14 May 2009 18:23:02 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote: 2. From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), So far, a route i've done - that's how i got the bike home from Decathlon, at Surrey Quays, where i bought it! Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. That looks good. I would normally just do this, but am put off quite a lot by the fact that i haven't got a map - i just didn't have room in my bag to pack my A-Z, and that part of London being terra incognita to me, i've never ordered cycle guides for it (well, not until five minutes ago, but in horse - stable door terms, that doesn't count). Actually, i tell a lie - i've just looked at the ancient second-issue sheet 11, and the route just clips the corner - the bottom left corner is roundabout Honor Oak Crematorium, which means it covers the route from Surrey Quays, not to Hither Green station, but to my destination halfway down Lee High Road. Right, the Wheels of Aluminium, rather than Steel, it is! I will be interested to learn how accurate my estimate of 40 minutes was. Computer said 35 minutes, and 7.1 miles (i think). It only counts rolling time; going by what i remember of the time, i probably spent another five minutes sitting in traffic and looking at the map, so your estimate was actually extremely accurate. Even though i started somewhere else (Spitalfields) and finished somewhere else (just of Lee High Road, near where Manor Park goes off). Some of the roads had absolutely shocking surfaces - Brookmill Road i think was the worst. tom -- When they finally drop the bomb, the only survivors will be cockroaches and Marathon Pluses. -- Mark T, uk.rec.cycling |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On Thu, 14 May 2009, MIG wrote:
On 14 May, 08:05, Tom Crispin wrote: 2. *From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green.- Hide quoted text - Route 2 ain't so bad really. Even the apparently terrifying roundabout at Rotherhithe is surprisingly easy. Yes, i've been through that a few times and it's nothing special. But then my commuting route as of a few months ago went through Highbury Corner and Old Street, so i've very much got my roundabout wings! The only really horrible bit is trying to turn right into Deptford Church Street, where you can't get into the right lane. When i went through it, there was naff all traffic, and i had no trouble, but i do remember being struck by just how much width of road i had to cross to get into the right position. The worst bit, i thought, was where Deptford Church Street crossed New Cross Road: the road on both sides was too narrow for a car to pass me safely (or at all, really), there was no ASL, and drivers certainly came at it with the intention of going much faster than i was able to, so the departure from the lights was a bit stressful. And the surface! My god! Have the RAF being dumping their old cluster bombs there or something? Needless to say, i didn't take this Tooley Street closure seriously enough, and rode right into it. Away from the actual closure itself, it was great - there was no traffic, and the road was entirely usable. But at the closure, to was on the north side of the road, and had to push round some immense detour. Possibly i would have done better on the south side. Also, once in Brookmill Road, you can pick up cycle routes through Lewisham and continue with route 1. I spotted the signs pointing to those (near the railway bridge?), but didn't take the risk! The most educational bit of the ride was getting behind some fairly petite, slightly dumpy girl who was riding the same way at the top of Lower Road, idly deciding to make her my pace rider, and then being highly chastened to find that i had to pedal like the absolute clappers to keep up with her! I was a bit relieved when i had to stop and look at a map, and she rapidly vanished into the distance ... tom -- When they finally drop the bomb, the only survivors will be cockroaches and Marathon Pluses. -- Mark T, uk.rec.cycling |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday evening?
On Fri, 15 May 2009 01:35:12 +0100, Tom Anderson
wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009, MIG wrote: On 14 May, 08:05, Tom Crispin wrote: 2. *From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green.- Hide quoted text - Route 2 ain't so bad really. Even the apparently terrifying roundabout at Rotherhithe is surprisingly easy. Yes, i've been through that a few times and it's nothing special. But then my commuting route as of a few months ago went through Highbury Corner and Old Street, so i've very much got my roundabout wings! The only really horrible bit is trying to turn right into Deptford Church Street, where you can't get into the right lane. When i went through it, there was naff all traffic, and i had no trouble, but i do remember being struck by just how much width of road i had to cross to get into the right position. The worst bit, i thought, was where Deptford Church Street crossed New Cross Road: the road on both sides was too narrow for a car to pass me safely (or at all, really), there was no ASL, and drivers certainly came at it with the intention of going much faster than i was able to, so the departure from the lights was a bit stressful. And the surface! My god! Have the RAF being dumping their old cluster bombs there or something? Primary position at that crossing is a necessity. I've done it so many times, I have forgotten how tricky it was first time. For the past 10 weeks, the A2 southbound has been closed across Blackheath and traffic diverted onto the A20, Lee High Road. Brookmill road took much of the A2's traffic. There is an excellent motor traffic free route from New Cross Road to Lewisham. As always, however, it takes about 50% longer to ride. Needless to say, i didn't take this Tooley Street closure seriously enough, and rode right into it. Away from the actual closure itself, it was great - there was no traffic, and the road was entirely usable. But at the closure, to was on the north side of the road, and had to push round some immense detour. Possibly i would have done better on the south side. Also, once in Brookmill Road, you can pick up cycle routes through Lewisham and continue with route 1. I spotted the signs pointing to those (near the railway bridge?), but didn't take the risk! The most educational bit of the ride was getting behind some fairly petite, slightly dumpy girl who was riding the same way at the top of Lower Road, idly deciding to make her my pace rider, and then being highly chastened to find that i had to pedal like the absolute clappers to keep up with her! I was a bit relieved when i had to stop and look at a map, and she rapidly vanished into the distance ... That sounds like Katie, coordinator of Lewisham Cyclists. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On 15 May, 01:19, Tom Anderson wrote:
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009 18:23:02 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: On Thu, 14 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote: 2. *From London Bridge, follow the A200 [Tooley Street (bus/cycle lanes), Jamaica Road (bus lanes), Lower Road (bus lanes), So far, a route i've done - that's how i got the bike home from Decathlon, at Surrey Quays, where i bought it! Evelyn Street], then right Deptford Church Street (nasty junction, bus lanes), ahead Brookmill Road, ahead Thurston Street, left Loampit Vale, ahead Lewisham High Street (nasty roundabout, bus lane), left Lee High Road, right Manor Park, right Staplehurst Road, arrive Hither Green. That looks good. I would normally just do this, but am put off quite a lot by the fact that i haven't got a map - i just didn't have room in my bag to pack my A-Z, and that part of London being terra incognita to me, i've never ordered cycle guides for it (well, not until five minutes ago, but in horse - stable door terms, that doesn't count). Actually, i tell a lie - i've just looked at the ancient second-issue sheet 11, and the route just clips the corner - the bottom left corner is roundabout Honor Oak Crematorium, which means it covers the route from Surrey Quays, not to Hither Green station, but to my destination halfway down Lee High Road. Right, the Wheels of Aluminium, rather than Steel, it is! I will be interested to learn how accurate my estimate of 40 minutes was. Computer said 35 minutes, and 7.1 miles (i think). It only counts rolling time; going by what i remember of the time, i probably spent another five minutes sitting in traffic and looking at the map, so your estimate was actually extremely accurate. Even though i started somewhere else (Spitalfields) and finished somewhere else (just of Lee High Road, near where Manor Park goes off). Some of the roads had absolutely shocking surfaces - Brookmill Road i think was the worst. tom -- When they finally drop the bomb, the only survivors will be cockroaches and Marathon Pluses. -- Mark T, uk.rec.cycling- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Nearly every road in the area has had sewers done in the last couple of years. This may explain some of it. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On Fri, 15 May 2009, Tom Crispin wrote:
On Fri, 15 May 2009 01:35:12 +0100, Tom Anderson wrote: The worst bit, i thought, was where Deptford Church Street crossed New Cross Road: the road on both sides was too narrow for a car to pass me safely (or at all, really), there was no ASL, and drivers certainly came at it with the intention of going much faster than i was able to, so the departure from the lights was a bit stressful. And the surface! My god! Have the RAF being dumping their old cluster bombs there or something? Primary position at that crossing is a necessity. I've done it so many times, I have forgotten how tricky it was first time. Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. The most educational bit of the ride was getting behind some fairly petite, slightly dumpy girl who was riding the same way at the top of Lower Road, idly deciding to make her my pace rider, and then being highly chastened to find that i had to pedal like the absolute clappers to keep up with her! I was a bit relieved when i had to stop and look at a map, and she rapidly vanished into the distance ... That sounds like Katie, coordinator of Lewisham Cyclists. Well if it was, don't tell her i called her dumpy. tom -- We need a higher electric field, a higher polarisation product, a longer storage time and more neutrons. -- NEDM |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
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Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursdayevening?
On May 14, 1:00*pm, Tom Anderson wrote:
On Thu, 14 May 2009, Alistair Bell wrote: But with all that said, I'd be tempted to just leave the bike at Hither Green (or Lewisham) station in the morning. Or just not cycle that day. I don't understand this idea - which morning? Are you suggesting i should have cycled there this morning (from Finsbury Park) before work, then got the train from there to work today, and then back again this evening, followed by riding back to Finsbury Park tonight? Pretty much, yes. Of course, you didn't tell us where you were starting from. (And it's not like Fin Park is the back of beyond.) Personally, I'd probably have just left the bike at home. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
In article . li,
(Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. -- Colin Rosenstiel |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
wrote:
In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. The performance of a human-propelled vehicle is somewhat dependent on the performance of the propellor. |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
On 16 May, 18:17, "John Rowland"
wrote: wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. The performance of a human-propelled vehicle is somewhat dependent on the performance of the propellor.- I think the discussion was of the approach to the junction at Deptford Broadway. You have to come off the small roundabout by Creekmouth and get into the right lane in order to go straight ahead at the junction. But then the trouble is that the lanes are very narrow. To be on the left side of the right lane, you have to block that lane for 100 yards or more. The other option is to be on the right of the left lane, but that's risky if there is left-turning stuff overtaking. The left- turning lane will often be moving while the straight ahead lane on the right is slow or stopped, because of the filtering sequence. There's no particular problem if you are at the front at the junction when the lights clear. I wouldn't fancy nipping in from the left to squeeze between the traffic island (between left filter and straight ahead) and a moving car though. Luckily, the lights are green for such a short time that this is rarely necessary, |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
In article ,
(John Rowland) wrote: wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. The performance of a human-propelled vehicle is somewhat dependent on the performance of the propellor. Human standing start performance is much better than an ICE with a ton of metal for most values of human power. And that's all you need to get out of the way starting at lights. -- Colin Rosenstiel |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
On Sat, 16 May 2009, wrote:
In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. And do you then, having queue-jumped in front of them as would have been the case in this situation, stay ahead of cars trying to do 40 mph down a narrow road with neither effort nor prayer? I could have done it, by taking the primary position and riding at a normal pace, but that would have been stunningly antisocial. tom -- Model 706-8073-421, Robot Sonic |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
On Sat, 16 May 2009, wrote:
In article , (John Rowland) wrote: wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. The performance of a human-propelled vehicle is somewhat dependent on the performance of the propellor. Human standing start performance is much better than an ICE with a ton of metal for most values of human power. And that's all you need to get out of the way starting at lights. Ah, so you hadn't bothered to read my description of that junction, then. tom -- Model 706-8073-421, Robot Sonic |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
In article . li,
(Tom Anderson) wrote: On Sat, 16 May 2009, wrote: In article , (John Rowland) wrote: wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. The performance of a human-propelled vehicle is somewhat dependent on the performance of the propellor. Human standing start performance is much better than an ICE with a ton of metal for most values of human power. And that's all you need to get out of the way starting at lights. Ah, so you hadn't bothered to read my description of that junction, then. I thought I had, including your comment that you chickened out. -- Colin Rosenstiel |
Taking a bike from London Bridge to Hither Green on a thursday
In article . li,
(Tom Anderson) wrote: On Sat, 16 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: On Fri, 15 May 2009, wrote: In article . li, (Tom Anderson) wrote: Ah, i'd shamelessly filtered to near the front, and then found that i couldn't take a secondary position, and chickened out of scooting out in front of the head of the queue to take primary. In the end i just pedalled like mad and prayed. I find I have no problem getting away at the front at lights and my bike is pretty ordinary. How is that relevant? No pedalling like mad or praying required. And do you then, having queue-jumped in front of them as would have been the case in this situation, stay ahead of cars trying to do 40 mph down a narrow road with neither effort nor prayer? I could have done it, by taking the primary position and riding at a normal pace, but that would have been stunningly antisocial. I take advantage of being in front to get to the side of the road by the time I have crossed the junction. These days there are times when I walk across the line and start off before the signals change if it is safe to do so, to be sure, I must admit. -- Colin Rosenstiel |
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