London Waterloo to Huntingdon, Cambs

[dand_uk]

Hi guys,

I'm considering a ride from London Waterloo to Huntingdon Cambs, my first go at a route is here: My link

Anyone know this area much? Any suggestions on a more direct route? Other route could be A10 to Seven Sisters, A1010, B176, A1170 to Ware, B158, B1368 to Royston, A1198. Anyone recommend against any of these roads?

 

[redjedi]

Hi dand

A few of us rode to Cambridge last weekend. You can find the route we took on this page in the first post.

It was a very good route if it had been a bit drier, and could help you get most of the way to Huntingdon

 

[dand_uk]

Hi thanks for the route, I might amend my route to follow similar.

I noticed on your thread you have two routes leaving/entering london, one via Barnet, one via the A10.
Which way would you think is preferable?

 

[redjedi]

I think the A10 route is probably faster if you're in a hurry but it's a main road out of London, so best to hit it early. Some of us did this one last summer and it was fine early on a Saturday morning.

The Barnet route would probably be a calmer/picturesque route to take though.
I'm pretty useless at routes though and I tend to just follow the rest of the group

 

[Greenbank]

I think the A10 route is probably faster if you're in a hurry but it's a main road out of London, so best to hit it early. Some of us did this one last summer and it was fine early on a Saturday morning.

The Barnet route would probably be a calmer/picturesque route to take though.
I'm pretty useless at routes though and I tend to just follow the rest of the group

If it were me I'd do this:-

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/493922

Out of Waterloo and along The Cut then Union St to Borough High St, over London Bridge.

Bear right at Monument and up the A10 past Liverpool St station.
By Shoreditch High St Tube bicycles (and buses) can go straight on, so you don't need to do that loop down Bethnal Green Road/Arnold Circus.
Blat along the A10, go straight on (right lane) by Bruce Grove station to go onto the A1010.
Up to Waltham Cross (you can go straight on through the shopping centre if you're early enough, I do this if I'm there before 8am).
Carry on along the B176 to Cheshunt.
Left onto Church Lane and cross the A10 (there are lights).
First few lumps as you climb up to Wormley, Brickendon and into Hertford.
Out of Hertford to Bengeo, small section of the not so nice A602.
Whempstead, Burn's Green, Benington, Walkern, Cromer, Rushden, Wallington.
Cross the A505 (quite easy to do), Ashwell, Guilden Morden, Wrestlingworth, Potton, Gamlingay, Waresley, Croxton, Graveley and into Godmanchester and then Huntingdon.

The route up to Ashwell is pretty much the same route I followed on my 3 day London to Edinburgh ride (before doing the London-Edinburgh-London Audax):

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/266092

 

[Cardiac]

The A1198 (almost on my doorstep) is quite a switch-back from Royston to Godmanchester (just before Huntingdon) with quite a few blind summits. My only advice would be to avoid poor light and to be very visible. Although there's a 60mph limit, many drivers get up to 70 or 80 in places to make up for the spots where they can only do 40. It's also a little narrow in places (for speeding cars). There are some nice villages if you get the time to explore.

(Oh, and I can recommend the hospital at Papworth Everard... )

Edit - just saw the post above - through the villages to the west of the A1198 would also be my preference.

 

[dand_uk]

Thanks everyone for the great advice, I think I will follow greenbanks route with a few minor tweaks e.g. taking the A119 and passing thru Watton At Stone to avoid the A602 trunk road.

Now all I gotta do is psych myself up for the first time riding in London!