Pedals Over the Piccadilly Line: My Winter Ride in London

I’ll admit it: choosing the coldest day of winter so far to hop back on my bike might not have been my finest idea, but I’d had enough of trying to get on the tube during rush hour. And as soon as I pushed off, fingers frozen around the handlebars, I remembered why cycling in London is the best way to get around.

There’s a certain magic about the city from the saddle of a bike. The endless crush of bodies on the Tube at rush hour—elbows jostling, overheated faces buried in phones—feels like a world away when you’re pedalling along the Thames as I did this morning. The air, crisp as it may be, wraps you in a kind of icy exhilaration. Crossing Waterloo Bridge and looking across at Big Ben on the left and St Paul’s on the right gives a real sense of belonging to this magical, historical city and all the potential it holds.

Of course, London doesn’t give anything for free, least of all an easy ride. Pedestrians and bus drivers alike seem to have a particular hatred of cyclists and go out of their way to either try and run you over (I swear the drivers get paid a bonus every time they brush past terrifyingly close) or blindly stepping out into the traffic with a death wish! Then there’s braving the rain (and potential snow this evening), and praying your chain doesn’t fall off halfway up an unforgiving incline. But every challenge brings its reward: the thrill of cutting through quiet backstreets and that smug, just-cycled grin when you coast past stationary traffic on the Strand and arriving at your destination with plenty of time to spare

Best of all, cycling turns every trip into a mini adventure. There’s something empowering about being the captain of your own little two-wheeled ship. And let’s be honest—what sounds more appealing: feeling the rush of wind as you pedal past the Southbank, or being wedged under someone’s armpit on a packed Jubilee Line train? And these days, with an electric bike waiting for you on nearly every street corner, there’s no better time to jump on and explore!

So yes, while my ears may be numb and my coffee still hasn’t thawed me out, I can confidently say this: London was made for exploring on two wheels, and I wouldn’t trade my frosty ride for anything. Well, maybe a pair of warmer gloves.

Daniel Studholme