Spotted...

@BMMF: It's not just the nodders tho', it's a lot of riders... From roadie-douchebags to fixie-skidders to Brompton-folk... 99% of people on London's roads are twats, doesn't matter what mode of transport they choose... I try very hard to let it wash over me now... Agree with wools, time to hit the backstreets...
BTW I know, Bike Radar's over there... >>>

The often-perceived dichotomy between 'main streets' and 'back streets' is a bit of a red herring, though. People typically travel by the high streets and former roads into London because they are easiest to 'read' and have the longest history as major alignments. Other streets are often derived from field boundaries, from old alignments that have become obscured by time and building activity, or fairly modern residential settlements that weren't built with vehicular through traffic in mind.

With better knowledge of London, a rider will easily work out routes that aren't on main streets, but happen to be preferred by them--it can be factors such as wanting to see a tree you like, or a particular building, or something else that gives you a feeling that this is the way that you want to travel. It'll generally be a mixture of 'back streets' and 'main streets', and you can vary your route depending on how the mood strikes you.