Done it a couple of times - really very straightforward - the whole thing is signed from start to finish and unless you are truly slow you will always have a few people around you. It's a great ride once you get out of London - the first five miles are the worst. The hills out of Chigwell usually claim a few who are surprised to find slopes in Essex but after that it's quite gentle.
i've beaten the hills of chigwell before, but to be honest i can't really see why you'd want to go that way...? (well not for me from clapton anyway)
do you mean there are proper signs outside of organised rides? like, ride this way for a nice trip to southend sort of thing?
Like luka says - you don't need to do it as part of an organised thing, pick a nice morning and just head out and get the train back.
wasn't even thinking about it, organised fun is not normally the one
oh sorry im an idiot, i was talking about brighton.
london to southened is easy if you live in stratford like i did. its like going down the road.
no harm done, i want to do brighton soon as well.
i can get to stratford easy, sounds good as long as there's none of your a-road exploits involved!
but i was looking at this:
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Central_London_to_Southend-Cycle-Route-1332.html
like i said looks like a pleasant route, but a bit complicated. have you been a different way? or is it somehow easier when you're on the road?
thanks guys, info so far very appreciated