Riding the Canals, ever do it?

i cycled along the canal today because i had time to spare before i was meeting someone at kings cross, i took this photo on my trip...
http://richarddetrich.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/embera-nikki-150.jpg

How long does the towpath follow the Lea Navigation going North from Victoria Park?

Adrienne has the day off tomorrow, it's supposed to be absolutely lovely (20 and sunny), and we want to go for a ride. Was thinking of just heading straight North up Kingsland and see where it takes us, but a ride along the canal/through the marshes sounds much nicer.

I've been as far as lee valley park - it's nice, but in parts the canal path is a bit rough - potholed and gravelly. And that was before winter, although I suppose they may have improved it since then. You can go quite far north along that route I think - isn't it part of the NCN?

You can go for miles bro I'd reccomend heading out to Waltham Abbey and checking out the abbey. Pass by the boat when you're going foo.

Ha, I was just saying to Adrienne we may go by your boat. You in the same place?

And yeah, was thinking around Waltham Abbey and back (as long as the pace along the towpath isn't too slow).

I won't be back at the boat till after 12 brother man.

Might see you on the way back then.

Or this could be the answer?

If I could have a flute playing sidekick as standard with a pedalo I'd definitely consider it.

Re canals... tried it on the road bike for the first time this evening and will not be doing it again any time soon. I'm by no means speedy but my god it was slow, and added a significant amount of time to my journey.

I love walking along regents, and it's rather enjoyable on the sit up and beg to the pub, but definitely not practical for commuting.

Don't cyclists always have to give way to pedestrians on the towpath?
And maybe have a permit too....

Don't cyclists always have to give way to pedestrians on the towpath?
And maybe have a permit too....

Officially a permit yes, but no-one ever checks, but yes you have to give way, and to be fair it's not unreasonable.

Horatio, you can go up the Lee all the way to Hertford (maybe beyond, it's as far as I've got), it's a nice ride, and then the train back at the end of the day.

Also I did it on my fixed with skinny tires last summer. Most of it is gravel or paving slabs, rather than tarmac, but it's fine. I was actually thinking about organising a social ride there at some point.

The only thing you have to watch out for is a few sections where they put rows of bricks standing up in the tow path in to stop you cycling, there is one somewhere after victoria park, and one just after Lee Rowing Club in Stamford Hill. You can ride over them, but they will fuck up your wheels.

How long does the towpath follow the Lea Navigation going North from Victoria Park?

Adrienne has the day off tomorrow, it's supposed to be absolutely lovely (20 and sunny), and we want to go for a ride. Was thinking of just heading straight North up Kingsland and see where it takes us, but a ride along the canal/through the marshes sounds much nicer.

East London to Waltham Abbey is a nice ride. It's 10 miles from the Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road to Waltham Abbey. Obviously it's flat all the way, but the path gets a little bumpy in places, nothing major though. I've done it on 23c Armadillos, but it's a more pleasant trip on my mountain bike with 1.5 slicks.

I was actually thinking about organising a social ride there at some point.

Good idea. I'd be up for it.

East London to Waltham Abbey is a nice ride. It's 10 miles from the Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road to Waltham Abbey. Obviously it's flat all the way, but the path gets a little bumpy in places, nothing major though. I've done it on 23c Armadillos, but it's a more pleasant trip on my mountain bike with 1.5 slicks.

I did that route daily for about 10 weeks, its ace.

This field was my favourite bit, just between waltham abbey and cheshunt.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=London+E2+9NL,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.690889,-0.012639&spn=0.009444,0.027874&t=h&z=16

Good idea. I'd be up for it.

Cool, I'll do it. I'll find a weekend that's free in the calendar.

Did Ware to Limehouse last year, much of it is rough track and gravel, I used the mountain bike and was glad of it.

http://www.bikemap.net/route/281004

i did limehouse to brouxbourne with dicki and john dropout last year
it was great

Don't cyclists always have to give way to pedestrians on the towpath?
And maybe have a permit too....

No permits necessary in London (according to British Waterways), but you do outside? They're free, anyway.

Well, I live on a canal boat, and I have to say I think riding on towpaths is rubbish if you want to get anywhere.

My experience is a bell is the best way to avoid pissing pedestrians off, but nothing really works.

East London to Waltham Abbey is a nice ride. It's 10 miles from the Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road to Waltham Abbey. Obviously it's flat all the way, but the path gets a little bumpy in places, nothing major though. I've done it on 23c Armadillos, but it's a more pleasant trip on my mountain bike with 1.5 slicks.

Hmmmm... I've got 23c racing tyres on right now. Maybe I'll swap for some Armadillo Roubaixs I've got.

Well, I live on a canal boat, and I have to say I think riding on towpaths is rubbish if you want to get anywhere.

My experience is a bell is the best way to avoid pissing pedestrians off, but nothing really works.

The middle of a Tuesday, hopefully it'll be okay. And we're in no rush. Just want to enjoy the weather, get some miles in, and avoid the traffic.

The middle of a Tuesday, hopefully it'll be okay. And we're in no rush. Just want to enjoy the weather, get some miles in, and avoid the traffic.

Well, it'll be excellent then.

Should you pass a boat called Malliard of Joy, stop and say hello. (:

Canals?

Nice in principle in a Pevsner kind of way.

But better as an excursion rather than regular commute. Bike set-up irrelevant. Willingness to deal with pedestrians and moody hoods an asset.

Leave it to the boaters, walkers and joggers. Let's be fair, it is a more pedestrian kind of pursuit. Plus it pisses me off when cyclists come flying along, ringing the goddam bell and there's a quicker road above. No real need for it, it's pleasant because of the lack of bikes or cars

Yeah, I take the gf up the canal (ooh nurse) and don't expect to travel fast.. it's a 10-20kph cruise depending on other people and I always give peds their right of way, no matter how ignorant, deaf, stupid, etc they are. It's basically like riding on a footpath. Nodders that treat them like the A40 can get fucked.

Yeah, I take the gf up the canal (ooh nurse) and don't expect to travel fast.. it's a 10-20kph cruise depending on other people and I always give peds their right of way, no matter how ignorant, deaf, stupid, etc they are. It's basically like riding on a footpath. Nodders that treat them like the A40 can get fucked.

Got to agree.