Cycle London: ok so I’m about, erm, 15 years too late to the party. I’ve lived in london for 15 years now - longer than I have lived anywhere else infact, but when i moved here I stopped cycling. Prior to that i Cycled everywhere. I Motorbike in london.
Today that changed. I bought a new bike, my old bike (a 1992 kona kilauea) is an out and out mountain bike teeny frame, knobbly tyres, it didn’t play well on london roads.
I wanted a folder for two reasons, I) so i can store it indoors at home/work 2) so i can take it on a train if i need to. I did a bit of hunting on the internet and decided on a Dahon Jack 09. I went for this as it has full size chunky but slick wheels, so it should handle london roads. It’s 7 speed (not 21 like a mountain bike, and I’m not ready for a single speed thanks very much) And its a joy to ride. yes there are better bikes but this was cheap(ish) £340 from fudges in westborne park, I got to test ride it, they set it all up and fixed on the big girls mud guards (I’m ashamed but tough). The other bonus is I got to ride it home. Initially i thought i may chicken out and take the train from london bridge, I’m glad I didn’t it was easy, my confidence came quickly - though I am used to riding in london on a motorbike. Also despite being very unfit, i got home in no time and didn’t feel like death was upon me.
13.8 miles according to google maps ( I went via a meeting in shorditch) , almost one mile for every year I’ve been on motorbikes/trains. But the best thing is it de-mystified the whole cycling in london thing for me.
The initial bit though St John’s Wood was like one of those TfL TV adverts, empty streets, cycling over canals with out a care in the world, then it was the west way along past kings cross, where I got some pedal mojo back. Up the hill to Islington, then a coast down to old st. I stopped off by city hall for lunch then cycled home, i started to feel it a bit at new cross - going up the admittedly very small hill by the amersham arms, but the hill down into Lewisham made up for it and even Lewisham roundabout was an out of the saddle joy.
