I commute in from Northampton every day - I absolutely love it, but I really can’t wait until 6am is not -7 degrees, like it was this morning!
I decided to take the car today, and thank god I did! It was still -5 when I got to work and I daren’t think what colour my fingers would have been after an hour or so in that…
It has it moments although some mornings down the A2 and blackwall tunnel can get a bit challenging.
Can someone explain why when there are three lanes of solid traffic do cagers want to change lanes it makes no sense to me !!!
I’m toying with the idea of moving out to the Kent countryside. If I do I’ll be using the A2 into town- whats it like to use on an everyday basis- is filtering a problem? You didn’t say how far out you live but roughly how long does it take from, say the M25 junction to the tunnel? Much obliged for any advice:)
Enjoy riding to work on occasion, but it’s a 12 mile round trip and riding an R1 around the city is probably the biking equivalent to driving one of those Chelsea tractors about (shut it :laugh: )…A bit excessive…Think I’ll haul it around using a pick up instead :laugh:
Mostly use the tube now in the week as it’s free 
and warm and not too badly crowded the times I use it…Must be getting old.
Still, will probably use the bike everyday again come the sunshine :rolleyes:
I hear you Monkey 
bikerbob.
A2 from the M25 is probably the worst road in S E London to use. You aint gonna post “I enjoy my commute” doing that. It has a real and justified rep.
That stated, it’s all relative. I’d rather do that than any other quarter of London.
Just be careful out there.
Oldguy
**“If you finish last, at least you’ve finished. Some won’t.” **
Remember the quote, can’t remember the source. It’s an age thing.l.
Sorry. My last post was for “lessismore”. (Another age thing?)
Bikerbob: Don 't matter what you riding/driving the Blackwall Tunnel will always be a crock.
Just be calm. Life’s too short to get killed.
Oldguy.
I ride the A2 into London from Kent every day - have done for the last 2 and a half years - ok, it’s not got any corners but the traffic is a little more forgiving than on most roads in and out of London. Compared to every other direction out of London I find people don’t try and kill me as often - well, except maybe this morning, but you just get a sense for it coming.Had to drive in for 2 days the other week, I was not a happy bunny. If I didn’t ride to work I probably wouldn’t go to work.
I’ll actually answer some questions whilst they’re being asked…I live out in Rochester - get to Battersea in just under an hour - used to do Bermondsey in 50 ish, and Central in 1 hr 5. M25 to Blackwall is 15-20 minutes depending on the traffic on the tunnel approach. If you are staying south - avoid New Cross/the end of the A2 - there are better ways through.Filtering is quite easy, very few cars go to the lengths of blocking you and even in the tunnel you can cut through most of the traffic.That said, tonights fog was pretty ridiculous - 10m visibility was interesting to say the least…
Isn’t biking amazing - a whole string of people saying how much they really enjoy their daily commute.
I have been commuting by bike for a year and still look forward to the journey - I used to use the car - the only thing I miss is listening to Radio 4.
My son has IHE (in helmet entertainment) so you can bike and listen to the radio if you want. I don’t like that idea.
Too distracting and you lose some connection with the outside world because of that.
Oldguy
TerryMoto is after some In Helmet Entertainment;)
I have to tell you about todays ride to work.
I was heading to Epsom from Balham on my usual run and I get to some traffic lights in Ewell, im sat on the left hand side of a corsa and the girl in the cora passenger seat puts the window down a bit and lobs two macdonald buger boxes out. right next to me.
I was fuming so i picked them up, tapped on the window with my visor up and as the lights turned green i shoved the boxes back in the car so they landed on the back seat and rode off.
Very satisfying.
I join at Kidbrooke but did use to join at the Danson interchange, it is generally ok up until the Sun in the sands and then it is solid, filtering is treacherous as you can imagine and although I take it easy I have had one minor off and a couple of wing mirrors being clipped.
The main problem seems to be the black Prince (Bexleyheath) which is a bit of an accident blackspot at the moment.
Man, I cannot tell you how much I hate it when people lob crap out of their windows. I especially abhor cigarette butts being thrown out. Why do people think the whole world is their ashtray?
aint it funny. i have been commuting by bike for 12 years, in and out of london, kent and essex from romford and now grays.
i am sick to death of it, the riding in the rain and snow, or conversley sweating my nuts off in the summer in leathers, knob head car and van drivers trying to kill you at any given opportunity , lack of secure parking and rip off spares that have to replaced more frequently.
I am currently looking for a job which will give me a company or lease vehicle, or be local enough to me to be able for me to afford to get a car for the commute.
Im not giving up biking all together, will keep the bike for its original intended purposes having fun!!!
Like I said at some point, I’ve got it easy when it comes to the commute. I’m sorry for you guys that have to hack the worst bits of London.
I used to have the S E London to Hammersmith hack once, thankfully only twice a week. Hated it, sort of, but it was still a whole lot better than being in a car .
Rubbish out of cars. Don’t get me started. I wonder how they would feel if we gobbed in their open windows.
And what gives them the right to…?
Oldguy.
LET’S CALL THIS A DEAD POST FROM NOW.
Thanks folks, glad I’m not the sad old bastard I was beggining to think I was.
Oldguy.
By the way, I stil enjoy my commute and have kinda missed it having been on leave this week.
(What a sad sack!)
