Best route for sprint laps near East London with minimal cars?

Hi all

I'm looking for route suggestions for doing laps without or minimal cars/traffic. I know many do Richmond Park but it's a bit far coming from Canonbury/Hackney area as I only have an hr or two in the weekends to get a good workout in.

I could do Regents Park but wondering if there is anything closer or even further East?

Thanks all in advance.

Finsbury Park is the only place I can think of with a decent lap length and not too many people bumbling all over the place - bonus hills too.

Thanks both - went to 3 parks today - Regents park to do my normal laps, was fairly congested and loads of cars parking etc - always afraid someone is going to open the door on me (!)

Went to Finsbury Park and whilst the loop is rather small, there are a couple barriers which stops a non-stop loop. Pls there were quite a few pedestrians and the pavement wasn't that smooth.

Went to Clissold Park as well since it was near by - paths aren't suitable for speed laps.

Wondering if there is somewhere in/near Stratford/Olympic park to do laps without pedestrians and fairly smooth pavement?

Cheers

You can do a circle in the Olympic park, it's nice and wide (but very short lap), not many people around, but there are security guards who might start whinging at you.

Orient way runs between ASDA and Lea Bridge road. It's straight, pretty long, has a wide off-the-road cycle lane, and there's nobody there. But it's just a straight road.

And the Eastway replacement cycle circuit should be open soonish.

April fourth I think.

What kind of distance are you after? Redriff rd / Salter rd in rotherhite is a useful stretch that you can ride repeats on. It is usually reasonably quiet and isn't particularly narrow so cars can pass easily enough.

Would be good to have a loop, even 1-2 miles, just on a quiet road. Looks like I'll try the olympic park next wknd. what is the Eastway replacement cycle circuit? can't find anything about this doing a google search for the new circuit - where will it be?

http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/velo-park/

And this is what part of it looked liked this afternoon.

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The only place I can think of is Regents. Fingers crossed there will be something decent when the Olymipc park opens for public.

http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/velo-park/

Thanks - saw this and can't believe you have to pay to cycle the circuit - probably will be heaving with people as well.

The new RP. Not sure if it'll be open yet though. You can get in the White Post Lane entrance now, by the Crate.

Sometimes do Viccy park which is about 3 miles
starting at the royal Inn, down Grove road then Old ford road then cadogan terrace then back along viccy park road

I did vicky park for a while. Always people trying to overtake me in the 20 zone when Im doing more than 20. Annoying.

Orient way runs between ASDA and Lea Bridge road. It's straight, pretty long, has a wide off-the-road cycle lane, and there's nobody there. But it's just a straight road.

+1

Orient way runs between ASDA and Lea Bridge road. It's straight, pretty long, has a wide off-the-road cycle lane, and there's nobody there. But it's just a straight road.

Lots of evenly spaced lamp posts so good for intervals too.

the cycle lane has a nasty dip and kerb.

...and roundabout at one end, so makes it easier to turn around.

You can trainspot too if you're that way inclined...

It's a good question, a colleague introduced me to Manor Road as his preferred faster/fewer lights way home.

It goes from opposite Canning Town DLR, past Star Lane DLR and West Ham DLR before hitting New Plaistow Road. It's 1.4 miles and has two sets of lights, one near the top which are normally green, so you could do up that and back down for a 2.8 mile loop. Normally fairly quiet but people do tend to drive quite fast (it is an A road).

Thanks both - went to 3 parks today - Regents park to do my normal laps, was fairly congested and loads of cars parking etc - always afraid someone is going to open the door on me (!)

Try Regents when it's closed to cars (something like midnight - 6am). Perfect.

City airport should be closed to planes at night. Perfect ?

The new RP. Not sure if it'll be open yet though. You can get in the White Post Lane entrance now, by the Crate.

Thanks - this is what I was thinking however waiting for the weather to dry up before heading out there.

Looking forward to VeloPark to open in March...indoor cycling could be fun!

Thanks all for the continued suggestions

Try Regents when it's closed to cars (something like midnight - 6am). Perfect.

After the evening rush, somewhere around 7, Regent's is very pleasant. Still a few movements but not many.

What about going around Hackney marshes, starting at the River Lea just on Homerton Road, north up the towpath and looping around just before the filter beds and follow the path back to the new changing rooms and back along Homerton Road to the River Lea. Or continue north up the road from Asda under Lea Bridge Road onto Argyle Road with wide cycle road to the roundabout and back. There's loads of quiet paths/cycle routes around the River Lea from the M25/Waltham Abbey to Limehouse and back :)