Richmond Park...again

percusski
percusski Posts: 41
edited January 2009 in Road beginners
Am i right in thinking that the consensus is that anti-clockwise is easier? I went round the other way today and swear that clockwise is easier.

Comments

  • NWLondoner
    NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    i so far have only gone anti. That Broomfield Hill looks like a killer to go up :shock:
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Depends on the wind. Anti-clockwise you're just less likely to be interrupted on the corners and it's a little shorter. If it's wet I'd rather go up Broomfield Hill than down it....
  • Rich-Ti
    Rich-Ti Posts: 1,831
    James_London wrote:
    Depends on the wind. Anti-clockwise you're just less likely to be interrupted on the corners and it's a little shorter. If it's wet I'd rather go up Broomfield Hill than down it....
    +1
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  • percusski
    percusski Posts: 41
    NWLondoner wrote:
    i so far have only gone anti. That Broomfield Hill looks like a killer to go up :shock:

    Yes it's short and sweet though, I found the long drag upto Richmond Gate going anti harder.
  • NWLondoner
    NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    Ahh the lovely Sawyers Hill :D
  • lucyintheskywithdiamonds
    lucyintheskywithdiamonds Posts: 37
    Sorry to drag this post back up to the top - I was just wondering if anyone had been into RP when it's 0 degrees or less, i.e. freezing temperatures, in the evening/morning - how good are the park guys at salting the roads?
    I was quite keen to pop by this/tomorrow evening at about 7pm but don't want to get caught by ice, especially in the dark!

    Thanks in advance!
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    It's wet - I expect it'll be sketchy today despite salt yesterday
  • snakehips
    snakehips Posts: 2,272
    lucyintheskywithdiamonds wrote:
    I was just wondering if anyone had been into RP when it's 0 degrees or less, i.e. freezing temperatures, in the evening/morning - how good are the park guys at salting the roads?
    !
    I imagine that there are bits where the sun never shines in Winter , where it will remain icy at times like these. I am not going there to prove or disprove this theory though.

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  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    one would have to assume that there will be ice around, while it's warmer than days before the snow will melt and then freeze. if i had a day off i'd ride around the park, but i'd have ice in mind.
  • lucyintheskywithdiamonds
    lucyintheskywithdiamonds Posts: 37
    May give it a miss for a couple of days to make sure then as I can't really get there until 7pm on weekdays - sad :-(
  • NWLondoner
    NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    lucyintheskywithdiamonds wrote:
    Sorry to drag this post back up to the top - I was just wondering if anyone had been into RP when it's 0 degrees or less, i.e. freezing temperatures, in the evening/morning - how good are the park guys at salting the roads?
    I was quite keen to pop by this/tomorrow evening at about 7pm but don't want to get caught by ice, especially in the dark!

    Thanks in advance!

    i was there saturday at 7.45am at -2. They do salt/grit many sections.

    I deciced to go clockwise as i thought it would be safer to climb broomfield hill. Mind you i was careful going down dark hill just in case.
  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    And how was the ice?
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    I rode sunday morning in the park it was still sub zero at that time- no worries with ice or anything. Having said that there wasnt any standing water about to have frozen either, so I may end up eating my wordds on a different occasion.

    in fact I was slightly annoyed as I did park laps so that if I had a mishap which required getting home by alternate means, I would ant have too much problem getting home. As it turned out there wasnt much ice anywhere out in the Surrey Hills so all the people who went farther afield were justly rewarded.
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  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    I did Sunday mid-day and there was no obvious ice, but there was certainly black ice on some roads and the was frozen.

    It was my first time and I chose clockwise, while overwhelming majority of road bikers go anti.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    i always go clockwise as i tend to arrive at ham/kingston gate and just seems the right way around i tend not to go around and around though as i get bored. and avoid busy days if i can help it.
  • NWLondoner
    NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    just watch out for those damn deer.

    Grazing and crossing the road just at the bottom of Broomfield Hill is not something i want to run into :shock:
  • gbs
    gbs Posts: 450
    percusski wrote:
    NWLondoner wrote:
    i so far have only gone anti. That Broomfield Hill looks like a killer to go up :shock:

    Yes it's short and sweet though, I found the long drag upto Richmond Gate going anti harder.

    V interesting comment - pl reveal (1) lowest gear ratio used on the two pitches (2) yr athletic performance generally ie fast twitch sprinter or medium/long distance endurance performer
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  • derekwatts
    derekwatts Posts: 107
    Whether you go clockwise or anticlockwise it's still 350ft of climbing. But the gradient of Brromfield Hill probably hurts some more than others and perhaps takes longer to recover, affecting the overall lap time. I actually think the prevailing westerly wind favours clockwise because there's generally more shelter when you are heading into it i.e. in the lea of Broomfield Hill, and up the chuf descending Sawyer's Hill.

    The difference in distance of the two is obvious yet I had never even considered it... Maybe that accounts for a few seconds...
  • percusski
    percusski Posts: 41
    gbs wrote:
    percusski wrote:
    NWLondoner wrote:
    i so far have only gone anti. That Broomfield Hill looks like a killer to go up :shock:

    Yes it's short and sweet though, I found the long drag upto Richmond Gate going anti harder.

    V interesting comment - pl reveal (1) lowest gear ratio used on the two pitches (2) yr athletic performance generally ie fast twitch sprinter or medium/long distance endurance performer

    The long drag, I think probably large chain ring and 3rd gear from bottom, Broomfield was small chainring and probably a similar rear gear depending on where on the hill, standing up for the steep bit. Last time I did it the bloody sunglasses I had on steamed up just as someone in front gave up the ghost and stopped - I only just missed him! :lol:
    In terms of athleticism I'm probably more of a sprinter than long distance, used to do a lot of martial arts so fitness geared around that.
    Am i right in thinking that others prefer that long drag over the short climb?
  • gbs
    gbs Posts: 450
    James_London wrote:
    If it's wet I'd rather go up Broomfield Hill than down it....

    What ratio do you use going up the B****** Hill?

    I am trying to decide if my inability to climb any steeper than 15% with a 1.7 (39/23) ratio is something that I should work at or should I spend money and change the gearing. All comment appreciated.
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  • percusski
    percusski Posts: 41
    Sorry not technically minded, please explain 39/23 ratio??
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    39/23 is 39 chain ring (at the front) and a cassette of ? - 23

    i used to have a low of 42/24 now have a 34/27 not for the park but for the hills nr my folks that are a lot steeper and bigger
  • percusski
    percusski Posts: 41
    I see, mine are 34/50 front and 11-25 cassette.
  • NWLondoner
    NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    percusski wrote:
    I see, mine are 34/50 front and 11-25 cassette.

    Thats what my new bike will have.

    Going from my triple to that may be fun (or not)

    Hopefully find out next Sunday

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