My Ride

My route broadly follows the London Cycle Network Route 22 & 23. It is about a mile longer than if I use the proposed Superhighway. Much of it is off road on cycle paths etc. which is much more pleasant and less threatening. It avoids the hideous climb over the top of Crystal Palace. In due course I will add some distance points along the way. It is almost exactly 12½ miles.

Beckenham/Sortlands - Start

• Downsbridge Rd j/w Bromley Rd - North
• Left into Albermarle Rd - West (past Beckenham Junction Stn) into Rectory Rd - continue West
• Right into Blakeney Rd - continue North West
• Left into Bridge Rd - West
• Right into Kingshall Rd - North
• Left into Lennard Rd - West
• Right onto the foot/cycle-path following the river and railway - North
• Straight onto Kangley Bridge Rd - North passing Lower Sydenham Stn
• Right Fambridge Close - North East
• Straight across Southend La and onto the foot/cycle-path following the river and railway - North
• Pass Halfords at Catford and through foot/cycle tunnel at Catford Bridge Stn - North
• Continue Adenmore Rd towards the old Catford Dog Track - North
• Left under railway bridge onto foot/cyclepath through Ravensbourne Park - North
• Into Ewhust Rd and pass the Prendergast School - North-West
• Cut through to Sevenoaks Rd - North-West
• Across Brockley Rd into Eddystone Rd passing CIU Social Club - North-West
• Across foot/cycle bridge over railway into Brockley Way - North-West
• Brockley Way becomes Mertin's Way becomes Iverton Rd - North-West
• Left into Surrey Rd - West
• Right into Rye Rd - North
• Left into Stuart Rd and pass the Ivy House which is the ½ way point - West
• Right into Peckham Rye - North-West
• Right into Rye La - North
• Across Queens Rd and across the shared pedestrian/cycle path to join the Surrey Canal Tow Path - North
• Right off the Tow Path and across Trafalgar Av into Burgess Park - West
• In Burgess Park 1/2 right towards the Albany Rd - North-West
• Left into Albany Rd - West
• Right into Portland St becomes Brandon St - North
• Right into Larcom St then left into Rodney Rd - North
• Right into Rodney Pl - North
• Left onto the cycle path alongside Old Kent Rd SE1 [the A2] - West
• Right Meadow Rw - North
• Left Rockingham St - West
• Cross Newington Causeway into Keyworth St- West
• Right Borough Rd - East
• Left Lancaster St – North
• Left Webber St – North West
• At the back of the Old Vic straight on into Cornwall Rd - North
• Left into Exton St – West
• Right into Waterloo Rd and onto Waterloo Bridge – North
• Becomes Lancaster Pl then Bow St – North
• Right onto the newly authorised cycle lane in Long Acre becomes Great Queen St – North East
• Right Wild St – South East

Arrive 12½ miles

Off We Go

I have returned to cycling after giving up for nearly 20 years following an accident in which I was NOT badly hurt but which frightened me and in particular my new wife. She asked me to give up and I did.

About five years ago I found a bike in a skip which I had rebuilt and started to use. My wife did not object too much so I have picked up my interest again. Until the Cycle Friday Project in London I was just doing weekend leisure rides.

Since September 2009 and the Cycle Friday scheme I have been commuting from Beckenham to Holborn (12.5 miles on my route; basically the LCN routes 22 & 23 which avoids most of the main roads) twice a week.

Because of the snow and cold weather in early January 2010 I have mostly left the bike at home and stuck to public transport. However in the second fortnight of the month I have managed five cycle commutes.

I aim to achieve 2-3 cycle commutes per week for the year. This is the log of my progress.

Odometer: 13144