Regents Park & Richmond Park?

willhub

Hi.

Rather than getting out of the city I find these places might be of interest for me to do some training like interval and TT training for some fun, but I want to know, is it dangerous thrashing it round these parks? I notice the KOM for Regents park is almost 28mph but is it not going to be busy? Is there certain times only it is safe to cycle round? Same for Richmond Park.

Does any fellow BR posters loiter around these parks?

okgo

Richmond Park is a far better prospect I would say.

Its longer, more open, has less people, traffic etc (depending on time of day, its very busy saturday and sunday around midday).

And yes, I would imagine a huge number of people that post on here use the parks, but as I say, Richmond is probably the best bet, it also isn't pan flat, which is nice.

willhub

I'd probably plan on riding there on a Sat or Sun.

What's it busy with? Other cyclists? Is there really a 20mph speed limit? No speed cameras or police around is there? I do intend on speeding :oops: if it's safe.

izza

I do both as part of my training.

Most Regents Park cycling activity is achieved early Saturday and Sunday morning. The only thing getting in your way at those times are the traffic lights. It is pan flat and therefore it is TT/cadence type workout.

Richmond is longer, more inclines and a thus a more varied work out. Just look out for Fenton.

sungod

as above, regents park is good early or late, the gates are closed overnight (1900-0500 i think are the closed hours) - although there is a route in/out for the residents so there can be cars at any time

daytime it can be ok, but driving standards plummet at some times, weekends are dodgy during zoo visiting hours, also it can be bad if it's a special day at the mosque, and the current frieze art fair is probably the worst time of all

Duffer65

As previously mentioned Richmond park does have some short steep (depending on your ability) sections, there is a speed limit and police do patrol it. Although I've never seen a cyclist pulled over by them only drivers. I usually go there earlyish on a Sat & Sun morning and it's not too busy then, but if it's sunny (less likely now) there can be a fair amount of people pedalling around - I wouldn't consider it to be dangerous though. Give it a try and see if it suits your TTing.

chrisaonabike

As a beginner, Richmond Park is where I ride most frequently, and I like it a lot. How fast you can go depends a lot on traffic, and on whether you're happy to overtake lines of cars in the face of oncoming traffic - the road is pretty much exactly two cars wide plus a bit all the way round. Lots do, but I'm too chicken.

The other hazard that slows the traffic down quite abruptly is deer crossing the road. They amble across and bring the traffic to a stop frequently. Just something to be alert for.

There's also a traffic-free path with a good surface through the middle of the park, which opens up several figure-of-eight route combinations for variety. No cars, but on a sunny weekend day, it has hordes of slow bikes, including little kids, and pedestrians, so often very unsuitable for much in the way of speed.

Great park though - good surface, and as others have said, excellent early in the morning before most people get there.

nickellis

Duffer65 wrote:

there is a speed limit and police do patrol it. Although I've never seen a cyclist pulled over by them only drivers.

I got told off by the Federals, I decided to go past a line of cars that were driving bang on the speed limit. One of which was a fed car. As I passed he shouted out "Its 20 for you too you know", very clever officer, I could have been startled, and fallen off. Instead, I just looked back at him, then carried on.

If he tried to stop me I would have claimed all sorts of discrimination, as I was at the back of a line of about 15 other cyclists going much quicker than I was.

But to the OPs question. Richmond Park is miles better than Regents Park. Just watch out for the deer!

willhub

I'm thinking of going on Sunday morning if I've not got a cold, what time is best.

If you or anyone is there, just say hi, doubt there will be anyone else in Manchester Wheelers kit :P

chrisaonabike

willhub wrote:

I'm thinking of going on Sunday morning if I've not got a cold, what time is best.

If you or anyone is there, just say hi, doubt there will be anyone else in Manchester Wheelers kit :P

I'll try and go round a couple of times at about 8am. If you go past someone on a black Defy going very slowly (and nearly falling off, probably, at the top of Kingston Gate Hill :oops: ), and you just about hear them say Hi from a long way back, it'll be me

il_principe

Richmond Park is chocca with cyclists these days. I'd suggest going as early as possible otherwise it gets very, very busy.

lawrences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2oymHHyV1M

yeah mind the deer.

hstiles

London Dynamos hold Saturday morning sessions in the Park, so at around 9:30, it's pretty busy. That said, it's a big park, and there's plenty of room for everyone.

The Park is quite lumpy. Someone who prefers riding on the flat, would be better off heading out of the Park towards Windsor. The profile of the park is quite different clockwise versus anticlockwise. I suggest starting anticlockwise.

Duffer65

In an effort to appear 'badass' I always take the clockwise route which incorporates the slightly steeper side of Broomfield Hill. However, I invariably just make myself look 'bad' (as in not good) :oops: .

desweller

Will's from Manc-land. Compared to what he's used to, Richmond Park is flat as a witch's tit.

If you have decent lights and you know the layout you can get a good clear run in after dark, when the park's been closed to motor traffic.

dmclite-3.0

hampstead Heath is also quite good, Will. Go at twilight, take some lights and flash them on and off to meet up with other riders.

okgo

I would imagine 6am/7am is fine in the park, and it was pretty good when I did my 3 lap challenge at 8.45pm -9.45pm back when it was light at night because there were no cars and you could still see where you were going

willhub

Gone to all that effort of bringing my bicycle to London and I get a pissing cold, I've had it since Wednesday, god knows when I'll be fit to ride. And I won't be fit enough to get any KOM's.

okgo

Unless you're very very quick I think most of the KOM's in the park are safe! As most of them were set by very strong riders either on time trial bikes or in chain gangs.

Duffer65

Bit misty today :shock:

kleinstroker

Duffer65 wrote:

In an effort to appear 'badass' I always take the clockwise route which incorporates the slightly steeper side of Broomfield Hill. However, I invariably just make myself look 'bad' (as in not good) :oops: .

ha! Me too... it's my dream to one day be fast enough to be able to post on the "3-laps of Richmond Park" post over in the training forum I think.

willhub

What do you have to do to post on this 3 laps of richmond park thing

okgo

Nothing, just do 3 laps take not of the total time and post, anti clockwise with a wind blowing from the East is generally accepted to be the fastest, but I've heard others say that a totally still day is the best, but they're pretty rare

willhub

Windows hardly ever comes from the east tho.

I'm tempted to ride there tonight but I might end up doing myself in if I push hard.

I'm also scared of the roads around London lol, it seems you have to go on massive roads to get anywhere, it's so hard to plot a route, I thought I'll plot a route to Richmond Park, I think I plotted it down the A13 or something, looked on Street View and it might as well have being a bloody motorway it was 3 lanes to hell with riding on that thing O_O :shock:

okgo

Where are you coming from?

kleinstroker

willhub wrote:

What do you have to do to post on this 3 laps of richmond park thing

here's the post I was talking about it was in Sportives not training... my bad!

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40007&t=12829490&start=160