This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Balham to Kings Cross. What I'd really like is a slightly less hideous bridge to go over (I do Blackfriars), but also not to immediately get caught up in a massive clusterfuck getting from the less hideous bridge to Kings Cross, so I can rule out Southwark and Waterloo bridges right off the bat. Battersea or Albert Bridge might be alright, but that'd mean going through Chelsea every morning which is surely worse.

No, it isn't. Loads of quiet side streets. I used to go over Battersea Bridge and on up to Portobello Road but I also know a quiet route from the Portobello Road area to Farringdon. Put those together and there's quite a pleasant route from Battersea to Kings X: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4845403