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I'm swaying towards HSK, if only as a poor exchange for my habitual spin down the Kings Road. Plenty of cafés too. Sadly tho Aroogah, I'm kinda on the fuzzes side re. RLJ, mainly cos I appreciate the rest. Spot me: tatty red/yellow chrome bag, tatty '06 Wangster, tatty blue helmet.

Villa-ru, I really like the idea of taking in the Broadway in HP. 2 london parks on my old route, so all equal.

Arvy - good work! Nice little detour round hammersmith and the kinda ducking and diving I like.

Edit: as per Aroogah's observsation below.....

Thanks brett. My start is a mile west of Ham Gate, so I'll stick to crossing/lapping the park still. Like the idea of taking in Hammersmith and Shepherds bush.

...and Villa-ru, yeah....I see I'll have lots of opportunities to vary my route and even have a variety of bridges to use....I might even head back down fulham Palace road and over Putney bridge for ole-times sake. Or if I'm in a rush (very unlikely!) I can take a straighter line over chiswick bridge.

I do have a weakness for café stops that I think I be a problem around Hammersmith > Paddington, ie too many of them?

I've chiselled a rutted path through Richmond Park, over Putney Bridge and up the Kings Road to Regent Street for the last 7 years. Alas, as of Monday my company will be in Paddington Central, a new, tall, glassy developement squeezed between the Station and the A40 Westway. Entrance for cycles has to be via Harrow Road, from the north.

Anyone doing a similar ride? I'll start by using Hammersmith Bridge, skip round Hammersmith one-way, up Kensington High Street, then I start to struggle....Hyde Park? then into a maze of one-way streets.....then head over Bishops Bridge road onto a tasty looking gyrotary system that is Harrow Road. I ride early, 6.30am in, 4pm out....when I can't get away sooner!

Any tips most appreciated.

I always head west to shoreham and then wind northwards on the lanes to Horsham...always get lost though! its nice and quiet after manic cycle massed downward leg, no real hills until Dorking/Leatherhead area. Good idea to avoid the official start, i might do the same as I have no sponsorship problems this year. Have a good ride.

I knew I was in trouble when I realised I was in start gate 7......no way could I 8 minute/mile.....a solid wall of joggers in front.....and then it started to get hot too. I hit the halfway at 01:57 and kinda gave up struggling for a sub 4. By mile 22 I'd been on my feet way longer than I'd ever imagined.....and I was surprised to see that the race organisers had installed the GATES OF HELL at Blackfriars!! Shuffled in 04:21:31. Disappointed, but my position in the race reflects a slightly different story...started approx. 26000, finished 15700 ish, so worked my way thru the field a fair bit. It was pure absolute hell though for 4 miles, way, way worse than my previous 03:36:24 5 years ago. AND I did have to stop and WALK FFS! Never before have I been so exhausted - my running shoes felt like bricks. I too said NEVER AGAIN an awful lot....but entered the ballot the next day, and I've entered the Kent Coast on 6th September.
Thrilled to have actually done London, the atmosphere was terrific. My old right knee injury has vanished, I can still run, walk and cycle - which is a relief. AND I saw Peter Andre and Katie Price - wot more could I ask for. Annoyed that Ronan Keating beat me, but he is 15 years or so younger than me.

Well done Lebowski - did the 'ONLY 385 yards to go' piss you off too?!

Kingston Breakfast Run 16 miler = 02:05:15, much quicker than I'd hoped as I've something in my chest that no amount of coughing and spluttering will shift. It was glorious though! Commuted with gears today though, as legs are just a little weary.

show us your tits Paul.

i doubt they have bras on.

have you quit LD David?

....that white bartape will show every little mark.....

Take a look here Clive:- http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycle_to_work_scheme.php
As for the commuting angle, yes you are correct, 50% of journeys should be made on the purchased bike. I commute in everyday from Richmond (on my £400 Wrongster!) and see plenty of full carb/titanium/custom steel bikes. Besides, whose employer is going to check what bike the employee rides to work on?

OFT LICENCE
The Office of Fair Trading has issued a group consumer credit licence to cover employers implementing Cycle to Work schemes. The ceiling via these licences is £1000. Download info from here. If companies already have a Consumer Credit Licence there is no £1000 ceiling.

EDIT: beat me too it Andy (coz I'm so old and fat?!!)

Bernard - I'm still very much favouring Colnagos Master X lite.

another Fail. Many companies offer tax-free incentives for there emplyees - its free!
Sainsburys wont do it tho.

Only bikes under a grand are tax free, don't think you can get the cycle to work scheme on bikes over a grand. The carbon bike porn these guys are buying are going to cost far more I expect.

Fail. I'm in the process of purchasing a £4000 cycle to Work scheme bike.
Employer has to apply for licence to exceed standard £1000 limit.

Thanks Andy. Could I suggest that >75 = ancient?

I'd much rather see more Cervelo's on the road than Harley Davidsons.

Remember lots of these more expensive bikes are sold TAX FREE. Cycle to Work scheme = 48% reduction in price.

Now you can hate them.

when is middle-age?

Thank the Lord (metaphorically speaking though, I don't want to start a debate) I lived long enough to own my red SMEG.....and to see my children almost grown-up.....and that one of my bikes is fixed gear.

If only each of us lived as if today were our last day eh? It'd be utter chaos.

poll?

Nah, Platini and Fiddy could be 5 and fruitbat could be 200.

how about a poll ?

I often think this too, but then I am reminded of all the cab drivers who presumably did their knowledge on a Honda cub and still drive like the rest of the world doesn't exist.

Careful though.....not ALL the black cabbies are bad.
My old bro (poor soul that he is) drives one of these things all day......he swears ALL cyclists jump red lights.

Edit: he hasn't knocked any cyclists off yet......but I always keep an eye for him.

1. Shinscar
   
2. Object
   
3. kipsy
   
4. PicKle
   
5. Doolittle
   

we need more practice shin!!

1. Shinscar
   
2. Object
   
3. kipsy
   

"There are cars coming and going in every direction and people are rushing to work so they skip the lights."