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I have a few remaining weeks in my job in central London remaining, and I always said I'd ride to work a few times on the Thames path. Living in West Byfleet, I was wondering which is likely to be less painful, cycling to London in the morning, or cycling from London in the evening (yes I know this is not quite cycling TO work...). I suppose I could do both, but I'm probably not up to that yet.
You can follow the canal to Weybridge, then just hit the thames path from there all the way in. The south side has more access.
From a practicalities perspective, cycling home would be nicer (if you're not doing it regularly)
You can change etc at home, and it's light in the evenings now so you can take your time and enjoy it
I train in from a bit further out, and I'll be taking the odd early train out to Weybridge and riding home from there. L2B off road route and a right onto Greensands Way ish.
I'll only be riding home though! Everything benp said... plus I've got the advantage of living outside SWT's cycle restriction zone, so I can pick and choose what I do a bit easier. Although I do need to train out to Weybridge early if I'm doing that, restrictions apply there.
It would be satisfying to ride all the way, and I might do it once. The 8 miles to Putney isn't an appealing start, though.
I always enjoyed walking it from the source to London.
Took me 2 weeks.
Twice.
It is a walking trail and some of it wont be rideable.
The closest place to you is where the R Wey meets the R Thames. You can ride all the way into central London (& beyond) from there. It's pan handle flat but can get quite muddy when wet & if the tide breaches the bank. You get walkers, dogs, runners, kids (the usual) but most have a live & let live attitude. You'll be fine.
From Byfleet you can pick up the Wey either by Mercedes world (that route takes you through the statics homes, Meadowlands?) or you could pick up the Thames by the Minnow pub (Thames St / Walton Lane).
The towpath is pretty empty at 7am in the morning - it is getting busier now in the evenings both ways. Just dont ride at people.....
If you are riding out of london, take into account that the wind is from the south west and can be a bit annoying riding into it along the exposed parts of the river.