United Kingdom - London to Epping?

Can anyone recommend a route from Heathrow Airport in London to Epping Upland? I'll be moving to epping in July and I'd like to get from the airport to my new home using my touring bike.

I've never been to the UK before but I do quite a lot of cycling, figuring it'll be about a 40 mile trip, no sweat, but I'd prefer quiet roads, bike lanes, cycle paths, want to stay away from big smelly cars, especially while I'm learning to ride on the left side of the road.


PS: anything I should worry about as far as getting to and out of Heathrow with my bike? You guys are pretty bikey over there, right? I'm not crazy, am I?

thanks!

1) Yes, you are mad. Jet lag + left side of the roads + airport traffic + roundabouts (are you familiar with them?)

2) Transport for London's bicycle pages are getting better and better. Start here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11598.aspx

or visit http://tinyurl.com/26m6q64 and click the search button.

I'm sure others will give you more specific advice.

I've just been googling for myself, and found some things you may find useful.

http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/routes/london-cycle-routes/ and in particular from there:

http://london.cyclestreets.net/journey/145697/
(it rightly describes my commute as "hostile")

thanks for the tips! Just what I needed.

I probably am mad, but we've got a roundabout here that I commute through every day, though it's only one lane.. I've been in multilane roundabouts in Martinique and Kenya, they don't seem so bad... I know I will be tired, but I think this will be fun anyway. The roads all look reasonable, even the ones marked as busy. Not as crazy as some stuff around here, for sure!

My only worry is that it plotted a really confusing route. I think I'll get it, though.
Any more thoughts are greatly appreciated!


http://london.cyclestreets.net/journey/145959/

One more thing for you:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/cycling/cycle-guides-request.aspx

As you can see, they won't post them to the US, but you can collect them at travel information centres. Click the link: there's one at Heathrow.

Oh man, those look awesome. Any firsthand experience with 'em? It looks like I can just pick it up at a Travel Information Center, right? I don't have to request one in advance?

PS: Why do you guys have all those transport websites and these maps? Is it, like, a civilized country over there? We don't mess with this kind of stuff 'round these parts.