Hello + Visiting London

[Brenchen]

Hi all,

I've just signed up here, thought I quickly introduce myself, and followed by a question.

I'm a roadie from Australia, currently in France undertaking some studies. I haven't been riding for long, but when I do go back to Aus, I'm aiming to get into competitive cycling. My favourite discipline is TT (ITT or TTT doesn't matter). I am a climber (or training to be) but may start doing some crit races first.

I am planning to visit London at the end of this week, and I would like to know can anyone suggest any good locations/landmarks/POIs/bike shops/etc. worth visiting during my stay? I am not planning to ride in London because I am not coming alone, but should be able to make it to some of those places.

Thanks in advanced.

Brendan

[gbnz]

In tems of landmarks, I'd suggest catch a train/tube to central london and start walking. You'll find landmarks appearing evey other inch or so along your route.

In terms of bike shops, Evans Cycles, though a google of their website will provide the best/largest stores

[Brenchen]

Oh sorry I missed it out a little. I meant landmarks/POIs etc regarding cycling. Like local crit or track or somewhere cyclists gather and things like that. Of course I know Big Ben, London bridget etc., but it's the other cycling related places I'm interested to visit also.

[iandriver]

The only truely historic cycling site I can think of is Herne Hill Velodrome. The only remaining venue from the 1948 Olympics. http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/

Most the racing is over for the year, I think you'll miss the cyclocross as well:

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/racin ... clo_cross/

I'm not sure it's worth a visit (of if you can visit) when nothings on, but you might be able to book a track taster session.

[Russcoles]

If you like vintage bikes, remember to look at ebay while you're here. I believe that in the UK, you can pick up a lot of stuff that would either be unavailable or extremely expensive in Oz.

[Vorpal]

http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/con ... velo-park/

Besides the recent history, velopark is on the site of the old Eastway Cycle Circuit, which was the first purpose-built road racing venue in Britain. Many top cyclists competed there over the years.

[andymiller]

In tems of landmarks, I'd suggest catch a train/tube to central london and start walking. You'll find landmarks appearing evey other inch or so along your route.

In terms of bike shops, Evans Cycles, though a google of their website will provide the best/largest stores

'every inch' is laying it on a bit thick.

The best bet for getting around and seeing London is actually a bike (although there's not much in the way of climbing). If the person you are coming with is up for it, and the weather is OK, you could hire a couple of 'Boris Bikes' - built to live a hard life rather than speed. Otherwise kit yourself out with a Travelcard or visitor Oyster Card and take to the buses.

http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help-cent ... -help.html (there should also be information on the tfl site about the bike hire).

Places and attractions? (I admit these are very much biased towards south and east London.

- Borough Market on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday;

- Tate Modern and the South Bank

- Tower Bridge

- London Eye

- National Gallery

- British Museum

- Covent Garden, Bloomsbury

- St Paul's Cathedral

- boat trip to Greenwich

- walking tour these can be cheesey but they can be very good - taking you to places you might not find on your own or would be closed

- Brixton market on a saturday;

- curry in Brick Lane

For somewhere more unusual there's Dennis Severs' house: http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/.

You might also be interested in going to the top of 'The Shard' - Western Europe's tallest building (for the moment at least). At £25 it's pricey but it will probably be memorable http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/

London's parks can be beautiful in Autumn.

Bike shops. well maybe Condor on Gray's Inn Road or Brick Lane Bikes (who aren't actually on Brick Lane).

[eileithyia]

I believe a few london based cyclists meet and train in Richmond Park.

You might want to check out http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... howforum=2 as a lot of other cyclists chat on there and it is timetrial based.

[Russcoles]

If Boris bikes don't appeal, there's also the option of hiring bromptons from some of the main railway stations.