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Accidentally hopped onto the A1055 this morning. Was as described, and I quickly scrambled back onto Hertford Road. Definitely quicker than the river, but also less actual cycling and more sitting at lights. Good luck on Monday. You'll be simultaneously svelte and muscular in no time.
Marron-
Haha thanks, I'll need all the luck I can get, if all goes to plan my weekly mileage will be increasing from around 100 to about 280...
And yes, all the lights on the old A10 are a shame, also the road surface isn't great and there's not much in the way of bike lanes or separation from traffic until you hit the bus lanes inside the north circular (if I remember correctly).
How did you find the river route? How much slower was it? Would it be do-able on a roadie with 28c tyres? Are there a lot of other people/cyclists/dogs etc using it?
TurtleRecall
I haven't started the long commute yet, on holiday this week so I'm going to be starting it fat and out of shape on Monday. :)
My plan currently is down through Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross then onto the old A10 (Hertford Road?) through Ponders End and Tottenham. I've tried the A1055 parallel to it, but found that it's either massive lorries speeding past or total gridlock and boring filtering. Less traffic lights though and having done it at night it can be quite a quick route.
I think the London end will be over seven sisters towards Holloway Road, up Camden and through Regents towards Victoria.