ZONE 1: MAY 19th, 2006

[Starkey7]

I didn't find it too difficult to plan a nice circular route, only repeating three stations. However the rubbishy Queensway business is a right pain in the neck. Am I going to be thought of as a little bit crackers if I decided to run from Bayswater to Notting Hill Gate?

[tubeguru]

Mine repeats 5 stations, including two stations you double back to after getting the fiddly ones out of the way.

I can't see a circular route which doesn't involve doubling-back. Trying to avoid it just makes the route very slow and twisty.

Don't forget - last year we started at St. James's Park and most people went straight to Sloane Square and doubled back.

[Senji]

Most of the rest went to Vauxhall and then doubled back (I carried on to Waterloo)

[Starkey7]

What if the starting station were Bayswater, and I wanted to finish by passing through Queensway (as the last station on my planned route)? When would I stop the clock?

[Senji]

When the doors opened at Notting Hill Gate was the answer from last time, I believe.

[tubeguru]

Good point.

Mr Presswell - any ideas.

I can think of two or three solutions to that, including removing Bayswater as a starting point.

[TheFatBuoy]

I didn't find it too difficult to plan a nice circular route, only repeating three stations. However the rubbishy Queensway business is a right pain in the neck. Am I going to be thought of as a little bit crackers if I decided to run from Bayswater to Notting Hill Gate?

Well mine involves 8 duplications - 7 different stations, but it doesn't seem *too* bad - theoretical 3h06m, allowing decent amount of times for changes.

Must try harder.....

[TheFatBuoy]

Mine repeats 5 stations, including two stations you double back to after getting the fiddly ones out of the way.

I can't see a circular route which doesn't involve doubling-back. Trying to avoid it just makes the route very slow and twisty.

Maybe that's where I'm going wrong, then.

[tubeguru]

Well the proof is in the 275 world record.

Geoff and I doubled back a few times during the record run.

[TheFatBuoy]

I've got some mean strategic walks planned though, that I thought were really good. Perhaps they're not that great in the grand scheme of things. I really do fancy having a crack at all 275 before the end of May though - i.e. before stuff like Regents Park temporarily closes, and Shoreditch closes for good, etc etc., so I can at least have a proper crack at the old method. My route doesn't even theoretically break records, but it comfortably gets me into Upminster *well* before the last train, and has been planned (as I may have mentioned once or thrice) with a walking speed of 3mph in mind, so would completely avoid running!

[tubeguru]

I think most people's routes tomorrow will involve two runs, if not three.

[Starkey7]

Erm, sorry about that. I've recounted and I'm actually repeating seven stations ... and I study maths. As for runs, my route involves three or four of them, depending upon the Bayswater situation.

[tubeguru]

Well the way to look at it is that we're all in the same boat re: Queensway to Bayswater.

So we're still on a level playing field!

[TheFatBuoy]

I think most people's routes tomorrow will involve two runs, if not three.

My initial route involves three, but I'm trying to plan a different route where runs are parallel to bus routes, so could be potentially made quicker if a bus turned up (depending on exactly where it is - ISTR reading that Knightsbridge to High Street Ken isn't recommended by bus), and I'm also hoping to take advantage of more cross-platform interchanges.

BTW - how many CPIs are there in Z1? Is it just Oxford Circus?

[tubeguru]

I think someone mentioned that CPI's take more time than doubling back in some cases.

I have three line changes inside and not including stations on the Circle line.

Nice easy ones too