London travel+parking, Sickpup/hellkat other londoners?

[Pie-Roe]

Hi all,

Right, I live in whitstable, a small town kent. My experiences of heavy traffic pretty much go as far as gridlocked 6 mile town roads. I'm a competant rider and filter safely whenever possible.

My ladyfriend has just moved to well st hackney, and I'm considering riding (or driving but more riding for ease) to get there.

Firstly what sort of differences is it riding in london compared to, well, not london? obviously theres a heavier trafficness and stuff, and a lot of people getting into the space you occupy currently.

Secondly, parking.
My father (of bethnal green) informs me that even leaving a strange car there would be a bad idea, but it's been years since he lived anywhere close.
There is parking designated for the halls she's in, both out the front and at the back, (back is locked gates at night but working as a chef limits my hours of travel) but there are bicycle parking bar things both front and back. I have an alarm, datatag, a dual disc lock, a big fuckoff lock and another one. Can take + leave a cover at hers.

What do you reckon on the odds of it being nicked while parked + chained overnight, and do you have any tips?

bike is a zxr750 if that makes any odds.


Cheers
Pyro
____________________
Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[instigator]

Imo, much like any other city except there are a lot more distractions, an awful lot more stupid pedestrians, taxi's wanting to do u-turns and people who indicate at the last minute.

I found it a bit nerve racking to begin with but after a few weeks, it becomes second nature. I'm just glad I don't have to use some of the busier routes for my commute to work and don't have to battle for a parking space. Otherwise, I'd probably take the fucking tube.

Re: hackney, no idea - I'm an NW boy me.

But for security, using a bike cover is always a good idea, chain it to something solid if you can and always try and make sure the chain is not lying on the ground at any point. To be honest, zxr750 is old hat these days so probably not the bike of choice to get lifted but take any precautions that you can.

[neil.]

Expect to see very poor standards of driving in Hackney/Dalston way, lots of stupid kamikaze cyclists, C90 pizza folk, peds etc. Every bit of available road space swallowed up by a vehicle, having to fight your way out of junctions and getting abuse from whoever is behind if you don't... Courtesy from other road users is quite rare in East London, but it sometimes happens. I notice it a lot more in the country. You'll harden to it soon enough although it'll initially be a shock to the system!
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Paivi]

[MinhDinh]

small world.

i live in hackney, and work in an opticians in well street lol.

well street is a funny place. we get so many weird people coming in for eye tests. basically it's like every fucked up person in hackney has moved to well street.

i park my bike at work, along with either 2 cbr 125's or a hornet and a cbr 125. (depends on whose working).

at first there were black kids that use to touch my bike, but a datatool system 3 took care of that. then if they took the piss i would get angry and bollock them. basically i'm aggressive as hell and have taken my baseball bat out before. if you change your bike, then you won't get any trouble. if you have a good aalrm, then even unlocked will be okay during the day.

as for commuting, well you may see a lil rs 125 red and black zing along it depends where you are from now, but when you get into london, always do a life saver. always be aware a cunt could walk infront of a bus and infront of you. filtering wise, i love it. sometimes it's tough, but i find it like a game. infact when i'm in a shit shit shit mood i'll deliberately filter than overtake because it's more exciting. so yeah up your game in terms of can i fit or not.

what bike do you ride? and where abouts on well st is she? maybe i'll see you around sometime.
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[MinhDinh]

ok i've just read your psot again. you basically have all that is needed to not get it stolen lol.

oh and i'll look out for your bike.
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[Bendy]

The key to London (or any big city) riding is to know where you're going - it's so much easier to cope with all the chaos if you know all the little arsey bits, which lane you want to be in for where, weird junctions etc.

So while it might be a pretty gnarly trip first time, it will get easier the more you do it. Other than that - be ballsy, own your space and don't let folk bully you.

[neil.]

[sickpup]

So shes in the halls of London Met then.

Parking shouldn't really be a problem as long as you lock it in such a way that it can't be knocked over.

People are less likely to touch others vehicles in the area as there's more chance of getting shot.

[Pie-Roe]

[hellkat]

Ugh, I hate Hackney, I always get lost. Its a crummy area, only marginally more crummy than where I live ... with one shining beacon of hospitality. I don't know the area well enough to advise anybody, as I always have to get myself to the one place I do know and then look in the A-Z how to get to the rest of it from there. I always get lost coming on or off the A12, and its a horrid one way system and that silly park ... Hackney, hate it.

I was down that way the other night, I've not actually ventured there from my house before ... I think we got there by instinct (or maybe a homing device ) rather than knowledge, and then we got lost looking for where I'd parked the car when we went to go home - took us half an hour at 4am.

Hate Hackney, horrible place. It smells. Poo! All of east London smells, and it smells of poo. Its quite gross really. West London doesn't smell of poo, except for Mogden Lane.

Stay in Whitstable, its much nicer

____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

Although having said that, you're probably quite lucky in that you can come straight through the Medway crossing (?is that what that tunnel is called, and the matching bridge going back to Kent?) and onto the A13, which gets you most of the way there without TOO much traffic. At least you won't have to venture into the centre of London, although it certainly has a great deal of merits over Hackney
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Pie-Roe]

Yeah, I was looking. Google maps reckons 58 miles, but like 53 of them on A roads, which is pretty good, but my dad reckons to get off before that so it's about 9 miles on london roads.

As far as I remember, the last time I was in east london, the whole area smelled vaguely between gone off meat, curry powder and sewage.

Pyro
____________________
Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[hellkat]

It is pretty gross. I don't mind the curry so much, although it gets a bit much riding down Mile End Road sometimes ... but the smell of poo (!) its really unpleasant. I keep checking my shoes or blaming Anita and Mingles for farting.

Take extra security with the bike, mate. Make it as secure as you can.
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Pie-Roe]

[YUN]

Seriously...ride like someone is about to crash into you...for safety measure!!!

London roads are chaos most of the time, and agreed, there's hardly any courtesy on the roads. Look out for lorry/van drivers and taxi's (especially closer to City).
A lot of peeps in East London don't have full licences/insurances and I've been told by police that most peeps there BUY their licences abroad!!!!

As for Hackney....sorry, but I really don't like it. I wouldn't feel safe AT ALL riding there, let alone parking there. I've heard stories that gangs have been seen hanging out in Hackney and Camden area WAITING for bikers to attack and mug!
Best to be on your guard.

Still....I love riding..and no sh1tty roads will stop me!
Enjoy
____________________
Meet the team that will win, Blade, Razor, Blazer and my personal assistant, Michelle and from Romanovia - Fran Stalinovskovichdavidovitchsky
~ * CBT - 13/01/08 --> Theory 24/05/08 --> Squished by lorries, brand new CBR125(2000miles) write-off 04/06/06 --> DAS booked 02-04/08/08 * --> DAS passed 05/08/08 * --> VFR400 (aka 'Mike') ~

[Pete.]

Getting there will be a doddle from Whitstable. Up the A2, through the Blackwall Tunnel and keep going until you pass Old Ford then take the Hackney slip road. You're just round the corner then. Mind the speed cameras.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[MinhDinh]

[sickpup]

Ok this thread has now officially become funny.

[hellkat]

And that would be ... why?

____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Graham88]

[hellkat]

Could be ...

I actually only meant one could smell curry down Mile End Road, but not specially anything *else*

I'm struggling mightily to stay on topic, here, without wandering into my usual inane contemplations ... I expect we should leave the proper answers to Sickpup, though, as he is definitely the local expert on such matters, well, everything really
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[sickpup]

[hellkat]

Olestra the underpant horror stories I've heard!
Wouldn't go near the stuff

Got to admit, the quality of the curry houses over this side is better than Fulham!
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Paivi]