🚲 The best way to cycle from Twickenham to Kew without traffic

Ice !!

Ohh I always carried my bike up Twickenham bridge and cycled towards traffic only because I didn’t know about the road behind plus I prefer cycling facing traffic. Just in case a driver comes towards me. It’s like cyclocross for me, carrying my bike up the stairs and also dealing with loose terrain, I naturally have excellent bike handling skills also which goes hand in hand for cyclocross but my tips would be in slippery conditions is to try to stay on the centre of the bike so the centre of gravity allows the bike to corrects itself if you loose a bit of traction which will happen frequently, don’t panic kind of let it pass by reducing power and come off the brakes as it’s usually a second, and I would say as you said don’t turn too sharply and at speed, especially don’t pedal while doing this, don’t make sudden inputs unless you are reacting to a slide be ready to put your inside foot out to keep you upright. But I frequently cycle in mud and gravel so you get a natural feeling for the bike. You get used to your inputs and the bike losing traction. I frequently lock the back wheel on purpose and let it go tail happy as I’m confident I won’t fall off as I’m one with the bike.

Good to see you back in the west. A good route to continue to Kew Bridge is to turn right just past the mysterious "Stop" sign. Left and immediately right over the tucan. Pick up Ennerdale road to Kew Gardens. Right onto Leyborne Park. Tucan over the South Circular. First left along Gloucester Road (avoids all speed bumps). Past Kew pond and over Kew bridge on the shared path.

I loved your route, but an observation from Toronto on icy weather cycling: Some swear by studs. They can (with caveats) be advantageous in some conditions, but they're dangerous on non-icy stretches. Just like on boots, studs on asphalt, but especially on concrete, actually induce slipping. If you feel compelled to ride on icy paths/roads, it's the compound of rubber on you tires that gives maximal grip, not 'off-road' type treads that are effective in snow, but worse than 'all-season' tires on ice.

Frankly, I found your slower pace much better following events on-line. Something to always be aware of is not just losing grip and skidding, but even if you stay upright on a route as shown, chances are very high that you'll skid into an adjacent object, the worst being a pole.

Admittedly at 76 yrs old, I'm more aware of these things than most, but no matter your age, no-one wins against a lamp-post.

I'd love to see this route done in fair weather!

As always though, I love you vids. London grows ever closer.

I like your videos, and I know this route well. One warning is just after the toucan crossing beside that busy road. When passing the rugby grounds on the left, drivers emerge from there, and can turn left, without checking for cyclists coming from Kew. There have been fatalities there. But otherwise a good route.

Hi I really want to cycle in London on a Santander before committing to buying a bike, do you know where I’d be allowed to ‘practice’ in a safe place such as parks, not sure if I’d be allowed or not as it’s electric. Thanks 😊cycling is great for mental health

Thanks for the history lesson, I’m glad the French doctor could stay, as he no doubt helped the forebears of the doctor who removed my appendix in 1980.

Great video of roads I know really well, as I did a stint as a Postman at Twickenham back in the day. If you visit that area again, instead of turning out of Arlington Road towards Park House Gardens, you can proceed forward to Arlington Close. There, you'll see an alleyway which takes you out to the river right next to the arch you passed underneath. It doesn't cut much off time wise, but still a nice diversion. It is pedestrian priority, but I cycle down it a lot, and 9 times out of 10, there's never anyone to be seen.
Love your videos and your no-nonsense delivery👍

I would bicycle from Twickenham to Kew Bridge along the Thames towpath. You do not have to change trains there is a direct service to Kew Bridge Station from Twickenham Station via the Hounslow loop line

The cut-through at Amyand Park Road for a long time was signposted as a cycle cut-through (it said "No Through Road Except Cycles"), but there was a fence in the way that forced you out onto the pavement by the school. Coming the other way, you had to mount the kerb.

The cycle path on Twickenham Bridge is signposted as one-way at the west end and two-way at the east end.

One tip for riding in icy roads – from someone living in Finland – is to get a pair of studded tires. They are just awesome. But I am not sure how much icy days you guys get in the UK, so I'm not sure if it's worth it for you.