Balham or Clapham to Leatherhead

[parkender102]

Hi - starting a new job in Leatherhead and have a choice of taking 2 possible routes from either:

Clapham Junction - South Western Railway - 33 Mins

Balham - Southern - 44 mins

I'm not fussed either way as where I'm staying is between Balham and Clapham but would prefer to have a toilet available for those mornings when the body decides it's not going to follow it's normal routine! I'm sure the South Western Sevices don't have a toilet.

I'll also be travelling with a Full Sized Mountain Bike which shouldn't be a problem as I'll be getting the first service of the day arriving before 07:00 in Leatherhead and leaving after 18:00 and travelling in the reverse direction to the normal restrictions. The plan will be if no other plans on a summer evening I'll just cycle back to Balham / Clapham along some quiet routes.

Are there any alternative routes or options? I have worked in Woking / Farnborough in the past whilst staying in Central / West London and used to cycle to Clapham Junction every morning before taking the train and cycling back in the evening via the Basingstoke Canal / Wey Navigation and Thames Path before ending in Parsons Green / Earls Court / Holland Park. There were always different alternatives depending on weather and how energetic I felt. Sometimes I'd do the full route by bike or could do a combination returning to base from either Weybridge, Surbiton, Wimbledon etc

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I have the journey time (with Southern) direct from Balham to Leatherhead (via Mitcham Junction) as 37 minutes, but the earliest you'll get to Leatherhead on that route is 0700.

Can't see any restrictions on you taking full size bicycles on the 0623 Southern service from Balham, as you'll be travelling against the main peak hours flow.

Not much difference between buying 2 x £7.10 Anytime Day Singles and a £13.80 Anytime Day Return, if you should decide not to cycle all the way back on an evening and take the train instead.

 

[parkender102]

That was the weird thing on the Clapham Junction to Woking or Farnborough Route - there were no Anytime Day Singles if I recall. Only Anytime Day Return or Anytime Day Single and the price difference between the 2 was about £1.00. So I always ending up buying a Return that may or may not have been used on the way back. Generally I used to get the train Farnborough to Woking and Cycle the Basingstoke Canal / Wey Navigation and Thames Path from there as the Farnborough to Woking part of the Basingstoke Canal was a bit boring in the bit past Deep Cut or very muddy a lot of the time.

 

[duncanp]

I would buy a ticket from Clapham Junction, even if you start from Balham.

That way you the choice of SWR or Southern, which could be important if there is disruption.

If you fancied a short cycle ride in either direction, you could always go to Chessington South, which is under 5 miles from Leatherhead.

 

[parkender102]

Woking or Farnborough was the dream cycle route back into London if following the Basingstoke Canal / Wey Navigation / Thames paths as you were never far from a station if the weather changed / puncture etc. You literally follow the train line and can divert to Brookwood, West Byfleet, Byfleet and New Haw, Weybridge, Walton on Thames, Surbiton etc