Cycling

You can find here a list of my bike rides completed in the past few years. All maps can be downloaded as .gpx or .kml files by clicking on the maps links below. You can also amend the maps, if you like.

Completed Bike Rides:

Bromley to Cowden

Date: 05/08/2018

Distance: 90km

Climd/descent: 910/910

Company: -

Other: -

Description:

I managed to get on my bike again and what a fun it was! I cycled from Bromley South Station to Cowden and back via Ide Hill, Sundridge and Knockholt. My plan was to do a route that is slightly longer than the previous ones I did earlier this year but at slower pace. I was looking for inspiration from local cycling clubs and bumped into bigfootcc.co.uk website. They publish plenty of different routes around Bromley area and I borrowed one of them. Thank you Big Foot CC!

The route is very diverse. A fair chunk of it cuts through forests or follows countryside lanes. But a large bit of it also goes through many different towns of which there are plenty in this area. Most of the time there was not much traffic, but there are bits that are quite heavy on weekend traffic. Most of the time, however, it felt very rural, which I was surprised to discover so close to London. It really feels good that only a few train stops from London you can have such a great cycling experience.

I would definitely recommend stopping at the Ide Hill community cafe. This place is amazing and serves delicious flapjacks. Included in the price of the flapjack is the view from the cafe which is really great. If you're not a fun of flapjacks, they have other stuff too. Besides, the cafe is at the end of a climb and so, it offers a natural resting point.

There are three major climbs on this route. One starts right after you leave the station and culminates about 15km down the road. The second one, is the aforementioned climb before Ide Hill. The final one, and to my opinion the best, is the climb beginning just after Chevening and ending in Knockholt. To an inexperienced rider like me, they all felt manageable and satisfying.

Enjoy!

Cycle Route 4574782 - via Bikemap.net

New Cross to Brasted

Date: 27/05/2018

Distance: 67km

Climd/descent: 630/630

Company: -

Other: puncture

Description:

This was a great ride! Weather was perfect and the route was very interesting. The ride began in Greenwich and lead me south through Blackheath to Westerham and then north again from Brasted. Before Westerham, the route is going up, but the proper climb is just after Brasted. It is one of those climbs where you can really test yourself, but it will not knock you out.

I really recommend that route, if you want to get some enjoyment out of cycling, looking for occasional challenges.

NB: This route should be done by going first to Westerham and then to Brasted. Otherwise, you will run the risk of being hit by a car on the London Rd north of Westerham.

Cycle Route 4448118 - via Bikemap.net

New Cross to Westerham

Date: 20/05/2017

Distance 60km

Climb/descent: 590/640

Company: -

Other: -

Cycle Route 4435722 - via Bikemap.net

Orpington to Four Elms

Date: 08/07/2017

Distance: 77km

Climb/descent: 800/800

Company: -

Other: -

Cycle Route 4091304 - via Bikemap.net

Matlock to Hope

Date: 23/04/2017

Distance: 60km

Climb/descent: 1040/980m

Company: -

Other: -

Cycle Route 3959927 - via Bikemap.net

Beeston to Asfordby Valley

Date: 12/03/2017

Distance: 91km

Company: -

Comments: -

Cycle Route 3902011 - via Bikemap.net

Shoreditch to Reading

Date: 15/01/2017

Distance: 111km

Company: alone

Other: puncture

Description:

This time I followed National Cycle Route 4 that goes from Greenwich to Wales. As this is a long-distance route, I cycled only a small part of it. It was very sunny in London and if it were not for headwind, which was particularly strong and cold in early hours, the weather would have been perfect for cycling. I didn't begin the ride in Greenwich because it would add extra 15 km to the total distance. Instead, I joined the route around the London Bridge.

The ride which began before sunrise was really nice and the route passed by on many interesting places such as Royal Hospital in Chelsea, Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace, Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle and Eton to name only a few. This makes the route unlike any others that I undertook in the past.

Part of the route passed through Chelsea and South West London which I haven't visited before. Apart from historic places, I have seen a good chunk of Thames River which is very versatile and picturesque as viewed from some places. Also, the off-road parts of the route were really nice. I really liked Great Windsor Park and the area west of Maidenhead.

Having said that, I think the creators of the route could have chosen better paths. Some parts were simply too wild and quite difficult to ride on a road bike.

To sum up, if you're not dogmatic about riding on the road all the time and want to see historic places while cycling, this is route is definitely made for you.

Shoreditch to Blackmore

Date: 21/08/2016

Distance: 92km

Company: alone

Other: -

Shoreditch to Chigwell

Date: 14/08/2016

Distance: 40km

Company: alone

Other: -

Bristol to Cheddar

Date: 24/06/2016

Distance: 120km

Company: alone

Other

Beeston to Burton Marina

Date: 12/06/2016

Distance: 133 km

Company: alone