I’ve just picked up a 2nd road bike, but given that I live in the inner east of London I need to figure out where to ride it to have fun, get fitter and escape at least some of the main roads.

A shiny new Garmin will be arriving for my birthday, so how do I make the most it to discover routes?

Thanks.

Lovely book of routes, mostly in london or s short train ride away.

http://thebikeshow.net/lost-lanes-shop/

I’ve found googling gpx london road routes (N/E/S/W, hilly, green, quiet, pubs, whatever) pulls up a fair bit of route-sharing chat from various forums.

Have fun!

You don’t road ride for fun, you do it for the glory of suffering.

/Rapha

When I lived down that way, my route out was the Lea valley towpath to Epping Forest, then out into Essexshire. Avoided A road madness or endless 1930s suburbs. This was pre GPS so I joined a club to find the best routes; nowadays you could try Strava etc but I have my suspicions it will be clogged up with suburban commutes, you’ll have to study it to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Edit ^^ that book looks ace, wish I’d had a copy.

+1 Epping forest and Essex. Lots of lovely quiet lanes and little villages out there…

Join a club, a wealth of knowlage of quieter roads and cafes. And at least in a group you take up a car sized space in the traffic which makes it a bit safer/more fun.

The London Classic routes are ok if done early on a weekend – depends how ‘urban’ (and how many cobbles) you want:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/London-Classic-route
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2294101
http://www.thelondonclassic.org/

umop3pisdn – Member
You don’t road ride for fun, you do it for the glory of suffering.

/Rapha

Love that quote.