London canals

[john_p]

Thinking of cycling the Grand Union from West Drayton over to Regents Park this weekend -

What's the surface like ? Will I hate life on a slightly-spring hybrid running 80psi City Jets ?

I assume it's cycleable the whole way through - seems OK on Openstreetmap but you never know

Does it have those infernal motorcycle barriers all the way in ?

[HB17]

Hi,

I have done the West Drayton to Hayes section part and the surface is fine (mostly packed gravel/ parts muddy). There are quite a few motorcycle barriers on the way though.

[john_p]

As a follow up, on Monday I did Uxbridge to Regents Park

Uxbridge to Bulls Bridge is mostly gravel with the odd concrete / tarmac section. A couple of 'bike through' barriers.
Bulls Bridge to Greenford is a bit more unmade, two barriers
Greenford to Kensal Green mostly gravel
Kensal Green through to Paddington is paved but has lots of barriers and people, and is no-cycling for a bit

I then did the Regents Canal bit, paved but VERY busy !

Nice day out though. Apart from the dead deer in the canal

[R2FU]

Interesting, thanks. I have considered occassional commuting via this route. Would it be possible to keep up reasonable pace or would pedestrians/the nature of the path make it difficult? Do any bits of it feel a bit dodgy from a security perspective? I read somewhere about a cyclist being mugged for their rucksack/laptop along one stretch.

[john_p]

There was nothing terrain-wise along the way that was a problem for a MTB, but as I got further in, it did get a bit busier and there was a lot of overtaking slower cyclists / groups of walkers etc.

Obviously Monday was lovely and I guess lots of people were out, during morning / evening it's probably quieter.

I'd guess the unmade bit gets quite churned up when the weather turns.

You do go past some dodgy estates! I'd be hesitant at night.

[TheTardis]

Evening
Bike makes no difference there in my opinion, it is the scrotes between Westbourne Park and Lisson Grove you want to look out for.