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@dooks
for four months i used a cunning "shortcut" from kilburn to southwark (NW6 to SE1) that avoided maida vale and edgeware road by cutting along residential streets, up past lords and cutting though regent's park, down oxford street, the strand and over waterloo bridge.
then a couple of weeks ago on a whim i went back to most obvious as-the-crow-flies main road route of: maida vale - edgeware road - marble arch - park lane - hyde park corner - buckingham palace - green park - westminster square - westminster bridge and along upper ground. not only is it at least 15 minutes quicker than the "shortcut" but there are far fewer pedestrian crossings and traffic lights and (this is the crucial bit) it's way more fun.
i initially thought i wanted to avoid the traffic but the thing with a commute is that even with occasional variations it's still the same basic route day in day out. i was starting to get bored with racing the same traffic lights on the same nearly empty roads day after day. there's definitely something to be said for spinning down park lane at full pelt changing lanes with the busses and cabs as opposed to slogging round the outer circle chasing down nodders on their bromptons.
been riding the new old route for about three weeks now.
if i think of any decent genuine nuggets of wisdom i'll pass them on though. i'm sure i've plenty, it's just hard to visualise them from a desk.