Cycling in South London, rock climbing and everything in between.

I used to be a pretty dedicated rock climber for years, but stopped around the pandemic. Since then it has been a mix of minor injuries, low motivation, and honestly just falling out of the habit. I have definitely gained some weight and lost a lot of my old form. I joined a gym at one point but never really got back to the level I was at, probably not helped by eating and drinking a bit too much.

Recently I picked up a gravel bike and it has completely changed my mindset. I feel motivated again and want to start building up to longer rides. Planning to start with routes around London and then gradually go further.

I am based in South London and would really appreciate any advice on good routes to get started, especially ones that are beginner friendly but still interesting. Also curious about which apps people use to find and plan rides, and whether there are any local cycling groups worth joining.

Longer term, it would be great to find some kind of community that mixes cycling and climbing, if that exists.

Any tips or suggestions would be very welcome! Cheers.