Kingston upon Thames to the City

Gmaps pedometer reckons it was 17 miles to one of the houses I liked. Ow.

I did it on my road bike which I had not ridden for quite a while. It's a late 80s/early 90s tight, light, 753 handmade full-on road racing frame so it should feel whippy and smart but boy did it feel flabby and unresponsive compared with my fix gear bikes.

Well 34 miles per day would see you fighting fit in no time at all.

17 miles each way seemed pretty decent, someone told me that if you cycle steady and comfortably, you'll eat miles like there's no tomorrow, but if you sprint/race, you'll tire yourself out.

True. I would take about 2 hours to get to bloody work though :-)

He took the A3, and it nearly killed him!

Fuck you! ;-). I love that road, the only reason it nearly killed me was because I was to hungover or stupid drivers. Man up quinny!

Currently buying a house in Hampton Hill. Work in the City. Commute is looking at increasing from current 6 from Clapham, to 13.5 miles each way. Looking at the thread, it seems most people who live in the area advocate the Twickenham-Richmond-Chiswick route. Anyone take the Richmond-Putney-Embankment route, which was my initial thought? Which one seems smoother in terms of traffic flow, less stop start route? Advice much welcomed.

which motorcycle do you have?

Heh. Fair point, post edited slightly to remove ambiguity.

3 days on bike and 2 on motorcycle perhaps?

heck thats a long way to easts every weds !

Get the train.

Become a weekend warrior like me.

Huzzah!

If you want to take the train, Teddington station is better for bike parking, covered on both platforms. You can go through Bushy Park from Hampton Hill and pop out just up from the station. Get the train in the direction of Wimbledon.

Kingston station has the proper secure bike parking with an access card and isn't far either.

I'd imagine Twickenham/Richmond/Chiswick route is flatter, and at some stage (not that the blue paint is magic or anything), from Hounslow thru Chiswick to Hyde Park Corner will be a CS9 in 2013.

I used to commute fixed Cobham - City via Esher, Kingston, Petersham, Richmond, Barnes, Putney, Chelsea .. across Central varied, preference to track North to Hyde Park, across park and then east from there along various routes.

Turn left instead of climbing up to Richmond Park and go through Richmond centre and the whole route is flat. It's a fast route once you know the specifics and danger points.

I live in Walton-on-Thames and cycle to Chiswick. Bushy Park, Twickenham, Richmond. Those for the city go Putney while I carry on down the A316.

When coming back from Richmond Park I often go over Putney Bridge, then along through Chelsea, past Buck Palace, along the Mall, then Strand or Hipster Highway, and finally drop down through the city.

It's quite pleasant.

Of late the local authority appear to have recognised my status, resurfacing the road in places, building a stand for spectators to watch me as I pass Hampton Court and now putting banners up proclaiming that I'm an inspiration to a new generation.

Ill be cycling from Esher to the city for Uni from September. Fastest route looks like Esher-Kingston-over Kingston hill to A3 - through Clapham to Waterloo then over there.

Not the best way?

considered getting a jetski? that would be so awesome

avoid A3, as riding on the road is a bit risky (esp the bit where ASDA is its just 2 lanes with no real road divider) and if not on the road then the footpath is too slow as some WAC pedestrian/cyclist will come in your way.

I'd rather go flat and speedy and a bit further than A3 i.e. the chiswick way ..

Ill have to experiment with the routes then :) West London is not an area i am familiar with. Thanks.

And jetski would be fantastic :D

If Hounslow to Hyde Park is going to be CS9, there must be significant cycle traffic already taking that route to make it worthwhile. That's assuming that sort of thing is in any way accounted for by the powers that be...

Jetski commuting. Interesting. Will have to look for that forum.......

Hounslow - Hyde Park route not very interesting and reasonably busy. Tried various routes to Chiswick and when I venture beyond. Must admit that the Hampton Court, Bushy Park, Twickenham, Richmond route is attractive and offers plenty of bike shops en-route just in case... As per my previous comment, there is a split between those going local like me, and those going further afield who take the Putney route. If you carry on down the A316 you end up 'enjoying' the A4 and a trip round Hammersmith unless the flyover appeals.

i ride through kingston on my way to the west end.

the time is totally doable: my 16 mile trip takes about 50 - 55 mins, faster than almost any other method. the distance is totally doable too. just keep an emergency snickers or similar with you during the first couple of weeks ;)

as for the route... i did the A3 for the first couple of months thanks to a total fucking excess of derp. i switched to Richmond Park and my life is approximately a billion times better. fuck the A3, fuck it thoroughly... i'd rather get off and walk up the steep hill in the park. there is a cut through past White House which is gentler on the knees if you really can't hack it.

my preferred route: bushy park > kingston gate > richmond park > barnes > putney > chelsea > embankment. quite a few folk go on to the city this way :)

congrats on nearly buying a house!

Kingston, richmond park, roehampton, putney, worlds end, embankment is the nicest pedal. The A3 (particularly stopping for a few laps of the putney roundabout) is best on a mobike.

I ride from Addlestone to Fulham and when I first did it went up the A3...don't. It is horrid. Avoid Kingston Hill and go through Richmond Park, or go over the hill and then enter the park to avoid the A3. Then go through Putney, Fulham and along Embankment. Easy.