Cycling into (near) covent garden - how long does it take you?

[Convex]

considering a switch to cycling into central London.

am relative beginner so will do lessons first i think... but how long does it take for someone taking it fairly easy? websites seem to suggest 45mins, is this realistic!?

[katanita]

More like 40min or under taking it easy (my last journey that way took 35 minutes at around 17kmh, not very speedy). Could definitely do it in a lot less at full pelt. Usually I go via back streets to Elephant, then over Waterloo Bridge and up Wellington Street. Let me know if a full route would be helpful.

[James Barber]

I cycle almost every day and takes me 35mins. UP over Greendale, Camberwell, E&C cycle bypass, Waterloo Bridge, backstreets. It's only 5 miles. So even with over 30 traffic lights etc. it doesn't take long. I've not found any quicker public transport and buses typically take 45-60 mins.

[bawdy-nan]

I do it lazily and it takes me under 40 mins ....I go - down crystal palace onto adys, nutbrook, maxted, bellenden, chadwick, lyndhurst way, cross over Peckham Road onto Kelly Avenue, Commercial Way, Chandler Way, across Burgess Park to Portland Street to Brandon Street, Content Street, Rodney Road, Rodney Place, pavement cycle path to crossing to Meadow Row, Rockingham Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Gt Suffolk Street, Webber St, Cornwall Road, Upper Ground, up onto Waterloo Bridge and over it to Lancaster Place, cross onto the cycle cut through to Wellington Street and you're there.

[Convex]

thanks everyone. seems mad not to try it!

[aquarius moon]

45 mins is not realistic at all if you're a beginner.

You have to plan the route and get used to it which takes time.

Allow at least an hour and a half to begin with then the time will reduce once you gain confidence.

[bawdy-nan]

you could see if you could buddy up with someone the first time you try ...

[Convex]

bawdy-nan Wrote:

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> you could see if you could buddy up with someone

> the first time you try ...

yes good idea. i think i will try it on a weekend first.

[katanita]

Shout if you need a guide! Happy to ride in and show you the route if am free.

[Applespider]

Take advantage of the council free cycling lessons. When I had mine, my instructor helped me find a suitable route, showed me how to ride at tricky junctions and gave me great advice on riding assertively. Really well worth it.

45 minutes isn't unrealistic unless you are totally unfit currently. Do remember to allow a little time to get changed at the other end and lock up your bike.

Cycle commuting is awesome. It's one of the best bits of my day...

[James Barber]

I'm happy to guide to or from Covent Garden. Mon or Fri best for me - no school run.

[Medley]

Seconded on the free cycling lessons, mine were awesome (and I'd been cycling for a number of years in London every day by that point).

1h30 as a scouting route is way too long - allow an hour max to work out a way, and then 45 mins genuinely door to door after that. Take up one of the guiding ride offers!

[oimissus]

husband does Peckham to Strand in about 30 mins door to desk (going over Westminster Bridge and avoiding the traffic hell that is Lancaster Place), though he has managed it in 16 very sweaty minutes. Back in the day I could do Peckham to Bloomsbury in about 35 minutes, and I'm not very fit at all, an hour and a half sounds a lot, even factoring in that Peckham's about a mile closer.

[aquarius moon]

I suggested an hour and a half because the OP said they were a beginner.

That means that they may not be a confident enough cyclist to race along in & out of traffic. And they may not know the route too well.

I find it best to allow way more time than needed & have a relaxing journey rather than allow too little & stress about being late.

[camberlou]

COnvex - you can request a fully subsidised cycle session here:

http://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/southwark/

I'm a cycle instructor and often ride people's commute ride with them. The sessions are pitched at your level and we go at your pace.

We also do training with professional drivers - HGVs, vans, taxis etc. The more cyclists on the road who do what they are expected to do and the more drivers who understand why cyclists are doing what they are doing the safer the roads are likely to be.

[Kes]

Are there any group courses in the area? I've looked at Camberlou's link but can only find ones for Newham/lambeth or Westminster?

[Blackcurrant]

Melbourne Grove near ED station to Aldwych is 18 minutes at full tilt on main roads, 25 mins normal pace on back streets, 30-35 pootling. No need to use any main roads until Waterloo roundabout. There are very quiet routes through Walworth and cycle routes that bypass Elephant, going past South Bank University. After you get used to the back streets, main roads really lose their appeal.

[bawdy-nan]

don't even to use main roads at the roundabout as you can come up from upper ground

[OutOfFocus]

aquarius moon Wrote:

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> 45 mins is not realistic at all if you're a

> beginner.

>

> You have to plan the route and get used to it

> which takes time.

>

> Allow at least an hour and a half to begin with

> then the time will reduce once you gain

> confidence.

I agree with that. When I am new to a route I have to go slower so I don't overshoot turns.

Something I found useful was an "armchair buddy". There is a point on my route that you have to carefully position yourself to make a turn. It was easier describing this on paper away from the traffic.

[leenorris78]

Buy a big, loud bell. You will need it for the pedestrians who seem to not notice cyclists. Traffic can be loud and its the only way they will hear you.

[dulwichdiscoclub]

NO WAY i'm to am considering switching to peddle power to get into covent garden. However i'm using a unicycle, am i right in thinking that this would take me twice as long?

[camberlou]

There are group sessions in Southwark at the moment I'm afraid.

You can have training in the borough where you live, work or study. So, for example if you work in Lambeth, you could go to the sessions Clapham Common, where there are bikes that you can borrow.