Who rides the Grand Union Canal?

Used too as my commute on my SS Charge Duster.
Changed to a Gazzetta and stopped enjoying it. Dog walkers, pedestrians and other cyclists meant couldnt really get a decent pace going on my faster bike. Was doing the stretch from Alperton to Ladbroke Grove. Also, fairly uncomfortable for me on a track frame compared with a MTB and the grippy tires. On my bike now, feel everything. Not fun!
Having said that, it is pretty down there

And going in the direction towards slough or uxbridge is lovely as is brenffield. Nice day out cycling.

We were pretty lucky with the weather and very little fishermen and dog walkers.

Yeah went past Uxbridge and then the Paddington branch. Agreed, cracking days cycling if your arse is up to it!

nice report ... good to have the conditions out that way confirmed
having done off roaders to dartford and down the river lee many times recently would be good to try a new water based off roady route
weather for next week isn't looking too good so far but maybe if we get a sunny day i might attempt the ride

hmmm rain sunday through weds on the 5 day currently not looking good

Only one puncture and we saw a couple of gypsies fighting.

I've seen this too - around the north circular area. Did you stop to inquire as to what the ruckus was about?

fight club ?

although we shouldn't talk about it

Cheers dicki. Definitely all about the weather and conditions. You can find a thread on the net from a bloke on Singletrack.com. He did the ride on an MTB hardball with pikes and 2.4 tyres. He had rain and mud. Loads of mud. He said that parts of it were hell. Especially the 6 mile bit over fields and grass! I can imagine.

So yeah, wait for a dry week before giving it a bash!

I've seen this too - around the north circular area. Did you stop to inquire as to what the ruckus was about?

Haa, did I walk up to a group of pissed up fighting gypsies, with my semi-expensive titanium bike and demand they explain themselves??? No.

On a different section of the ride though I did stop for wee by this area of waste land. I noticed a load of flat bed transits, caravans, scrap metal, etc. Standard. One van drove passed me on the other side of the hedge. I watched him drive up along a dusty track and straight on to the hard shoulder of the M25, and off!