I was living up in Stoke Newington when I was in London (N16 7AJ repreSENT!), and that's under 10 minutes to the Lea River and Regent's Canal, both of which are fantastic cycling routes. The Grand Union is also delightful, especially with Little Venice right after Paddington basin.
I'll admit, though, that my commute was pretty easy, just straight on the A10 through Shoreditch/Dalston. If you see yourself using a bike to shuttle to mass transit, get a folding bike, they're awfully convenient; if you see yourself using a bike as a main means of transit, stay with a full-size city bike.
I'll admit, though, that my commute was pretty easy, just straight on the A10 through Shoreditch/Dalston. If you see yourself using a bike to shuttle to mass transit, get a folding bike, they're awfully convenient; if you see yourself using a bike as a main means of transit, stay with a full-size city bike.