With this glorious weather I've several times thought on my way back from work it'd be nice to take a cheeky diversion for an hour or so on my way home, but I don't really fancy sitting in further miles of traffic ... can anyone suggest a quick route out of london (exc motorways!) starting at the A4/A406-ish that isn't going to be rammed with commuters?
Maybe no such route exists, but I'm loving my rides out at the weekends but finding commuting more of a chore than a pleasure so it'd be nice to make it a bit more enjoyable

You forgot to mention where the end of the journey is.

well, A406 is pretty much the end of the journey (Ealing) - I'm travelling out of the centre of London (Victoria), so I guess actually any route that is on the west side of town would suit

You could just head up to the Ace for an ogle at the bikes.

Ah -- someone in my neck of the woods...

If you're looking for a detour, it might be a good option to head off toward Brentford or Kew at Chiswick, keep heading out, and then look to work across toward the A40 to bring you back to Ealing. The futher out you get, there are some nice twisties running across.

Probably worth getting of the A4 ASAP, though -- as you probably know, it just becomes a straight, three-lane road punctuated by traffic lights. And after blasting it away from the first few sets, it all becomes a bit boring...

weird, i never knew so many of you were here, i work in ealing (well, hanwell) and used to live just off northfields avenue - i currently work in leyton, east london and either ride a40/a406 or a40s straight though london every evening.