London pedaling

Dear Londoners friends,

I´m an argentinian that is trying to visit in London for a week in March. Of course I´ll take my bike.

I´d like to know how to move there, i mean:

Left side or right side of the street?
Are there Bike Lanes? Obligatory?
Red traffic lights? Obligatory? (Wouldn´t like to pay some ticket for this)
Bikes on trains? (I know theres a post of this, but is old)
Helmet?

Anything will be appreciated. Just understand that pedaling there might be very different from Buenos Aires.

Thanks a lot! (see you there, I´ll try to catch any ride there)

*Left side or right side of the street? *Left.
Are there Bike Lanes? Obligatory? Yes. No.
Red traffic lights? Obligatory? (Wouldn´t like to pay some ticket for this) Yes. Yes.
Bikes on trains? (I know theres a post of this, but is old) Yes, a lot of the time.
Helmet? Yes. Not obligatory but recommended.

*Left side or right side of the street? *Left.
Are there Bike Lanes? Obligatory? Yes. No.
Red traffic lights? Obligatory? (Wouldn´t like to pay some ticket for this) Yes. Yes.
Bikes on trains? (I know theres a post of this, but is old) Yes, a lot of the time.
Helmet? Yes. Not obligatory but recommended.

Thanks! Any other advice will be welcomed.

Helmet? Yes. Not obligatory but recommended.

Why recommended? starts helmet debate :)

Martin, the UK Highway Code is here:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/highway-code

It's not law, but a set of advice partly based on legislation. The things in it that are glossed 'You MUST' or 'You MUST NOT' are mandatory, while 'You SHOULD' indicates advice. Bear in mind that many UK cycle campaigners disagree strongly with some advice.

Obviously, there are plenty of small specific differences in how traffic regulation works here, but you'll get used to those easily enough.

Bikes on trains? (I know theres a post of this, but is old) Yes, a lot of the time.

Don't forget rush hour where bike are not allowed (and not allowed in deep level tubes except for certain section).

Thanks friends!

Must and must not, readen.

Something important. Where to inflate the tubes? I mean, I´m not strong enough to put 8 bars with a hand pump. Gas stations? Tire reapair shops?

Dang son, how heavy are you to need 8 bar in your tyres?

Any bicycle shop have a pump for customer and a decent hand pump can easily do 8 bar, but you don't need to go that high if you're of average weight, 6 and a half bar is usually enough.

Ok, I usually use 7 bar, less than that is a flat tyre for sure (too much holes in Buenos Aires streets). And my arms are strong enough just for 5 :) . So here we use to take an adapter for presta to inflate in gas stations or tyre repair shops, there are many of them and just a few bike shops.

higher pressure tyres does not make it less likely to get puncture, in fact it increase the chance.

There's a huge number of bicycles shop in London, sometime usually every 5 minutes ride in Central.

Ed, not talking about punctures, don´t know how you name it but it´s when you hit on a hole and the rim souns... we call it "llantazo", and if the tire hasn´t the minimum pressure it produces the "snake bit". That´s why the minimum for me is 7 bar. Thanks fo the info!

^Snake bite is exactly what we call it

Ah yeah, otherwise known as pinch puncture, fair enough.

There are loads and loads of bike shops here so you shouldn't be too far from one at any time like Ed says. Lots of them will let you use their track pumps for free. The ones that don't are douchebags, so just find one that does :-)

P.S. never pay 50p to use a track pump.

Thanks for all guys! I hope to find some of you there to ride and maybe have a beer!

Check Compass Beer (on top of header), go to the nearest one to where you're staying, and make yourself known first in the thread.

P.S. never pay 50p to use a track pump.

One near me does this (for each wheel) it's madness