M4 commuters?

Just wondering if anyone on the forum commutes regularly on the M4 at the London end? I currently drive from Reading to Hammersmith every day. Hoping to do it on the bike once I'm a bit more experienced. I see a few SV650s going by. Anyone that does it got any useful info that I really should know before I try it?

Every day!!

How new are you to biking?

I run the M4 route into and out of London. What do you want to know?

Passed my DAS in the middle of July and only been doing much riding for a couple of weeks!
I'm not expecting to start commuting for a while, but just wondering if there are any particular problems or useful tips, like around the bus-lane and stuff.

Some people tell me not to commute until next Spring... other say that if I don't filter, I'd be fine commuting straight away!

Maybe you're one of the guys who goes past me. If you spot a (currently very dirty) dark red 306 trying to give you as much space as possible, give me a wave

Originally Posted by stevehaskew

Passed my DAS in the middle of July and only been doing much riding for a couple of weeks!
I'm not expecting to start commuting for a while, but just wondering if there are any particular problems or useful tips, like around the bus-lane and stuff.

Some people tell me not to commute until next Spring... other say that if I don't filter, I'd be fine commuting straight away!

Maybe you're one of the guys who goes past me. If you spot a (currently very dirty) dark red 306 trying to give you as much space as possible, give me a wave

Use the bus lane!! Bikes are allowed! You'll see me going past at 90 ish except past the cameras.

Only probs I can see are at the end of the bus lane where the M4 narrows to 2 lanes. You need to get from the bus lane into the middle of the 2 lanes to start filtering. That can get a bit hairy as the cars like to cut you up.

Other than that it's just straightforward filtering. Just keep an eye on your mirrors for faster bikes coming up behind you and remember to filter at a pace you are happy with.

Couriers/Ex couriers tend to filter fast and it can be a bit intimidating trying to keep up with them.

HTH

[KnightRider]

I am very new to biking (had my license since May) and started commuting this week from Junction 9 of the M4 all the way into London (Tower Bridge). Would be happy to meet up one morning if you wanted someone to ride with.

To be honest it isnt that bad. I seem to have gotten into the filtering thing fairly quickly but am trying to hang back a little more than I have been cause I am starting to realise that there is no point in rushing!

The main highlights as I see it:
Junction 9 to the bus lane - easy
Bus lane - some go fast others hang back (I can never remember where the cameras are so I stick to the limit!)
A4 after bus lane - filtering between the cars (lots of room but I go slowly)
Hammersmith flyover - more filtering
Post flyover - move in between traffic and traffic lights. Lots of cameras so keep your eyes open!

Takes me 1hr.

That's useful. I might try commuting for the first time towards the end of next week. What time do you generally travel? Probably earlier than me, as I go to Hammersmith (turn off first left after the flyover) for 9am. Do you tend to find most cars helpful, indifferent or angry? An hour from J9 to Tower Bridge sounds pretty good. Let me know how long it takes you to get from J9 to Hammersmith Flyover!

lol, you'll be lucky to see me filtering through anything except completely stationary traffic at the moment. I've started filtering up at traffic lights when I'm riding around Reading, but still not past anything that's moving. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to practice at filtering through slow-moving traffic soon, before I try and commute.

[Red ones]

The tips I was given a few years ago were:

1. Dont follow couriers - they are nutters
2. White van on side of road - speed camera

Seems to be right too!

Coming in, use the bus lane, but lifesave to the left when the bus lane ends and lane 2 merges in. Carefull when you see the A406 sign if you are filtering. Dont filter if the traffic is doing more than 15mph-ish.

Coming out, be very careful at the M25 exit as often cars bunch up there and the sign for the m25 filter lane is very late (at that speed). I often see cars changing lanes very quickly to head for the M25 filter lane and on one occasion have been boxed in and nearly taken off by a BMW that didnt think indicators existed and turned at the last minute. I'm pretty new to riding too btw.

Just ride safe and dont filter until you are happy.

Originally Posted by stevehaskew

lol, you'll be lucky to see me filtering through anything except completely stationary traffic at the moment. I've started filtering up at traffic lights when I'm riding around Reading, but still not past anything that's moving. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to practice at filtering through slow-moving traffic soon, before I try and commute.

What kind of bike are you on, an sv I presume?

If you see an srad in blue and white making an awful lot of noise, say hello as it's me. Live in central reading and commute to my work every day. (not far away at all)