How much fun is cycling in Richmond Park?

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Hi,
My best friend just moved to East Sheen and we've discovered Richmond Park is just down the road.
So, silly question really, but is cycling fun in Richmond Park or subject to many restrictions/people getting in the way/vicious park traffic/vicious park cyclers? It's been a while since I've cycled and so although I'm looking forward to it I'm still a bit skeptical/nervous/cautious... I would never cycle in the part of London in which I live!!!
So, fun thing to do or waste of time?
Gx

― George C, Monday, 13 March 2006 13:55 (twenty years ago)

sounds good. try and jump over the deer if you have BMX.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 13 March 2006 14:01 (twenty years ago)

It's excellent. I do it a lot. You can either go on the roads, which is fine as the speed limit is only 20mph and a lot of decent cyclists use it, or you can go on the paths that run round the perimeter of the park (which I prefer even though I have a road bike which struggles with one or two of the less coherent surfaces).

If you go at peak times on nice days, there'll be a lot of pedestrians, but the perimeter paths are specifically for cycles AND people, so you get used to it. Unless you're in a massive hurry it's not a problem having to slow down occasionally (and watch out for toddlers and dogs veering into your path) cos it's such a pretty place to be.

A circuit has a nice number of slopes and flat sections, and takes between 25-45 mins, depending on your fitness and whether you go on the roads or the path. My record on the paths is 30 mins 15 seconds - let me know if you beat it :)

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 13 March 2006 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Every now and then the police hang out in the park with radar guns and stop any over-enthusiastic triathletes who are breaking the 20mph limit, so watch out for that.

And don't forget that walkers/runners/dogs etc might not hear you coming, so don't start screaming abuse if someone wanders into your path while staring at deer...

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 13 March 2006 14:32 (twenty years ago)

I used to commute to Kingston College through it, and it was always grand, even in winter.

― Zora (Zora), Monday, 13 March 2006 14:34 (twenty years ago)

I prefer my rides a bit more XXXTREEM these days but for a pleasant and not too taxing weekend ride it's definitely worth it.

― ledge (ledge), Monday, 13 March 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Wow! there's some great advice already, thanks guys...I wonder where I can look up the route of the "A" circuit etc. I took a look on the Royal Parks website and there's not a great deal of information available. I live near Hampstead Heath and they produce a users' guide you can pick up at various spots, I wonder if there is a similar guide for Richmond Park....???
And Markelby, I doubt I'll be beating you anytime soon, I'm a fat b******!!!
Gx

― George C, Monday, 13 March 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

What is an A circuit? All you have to do is look at a map of the park - the roads are clearly marked and the perimeter path runs, by and large, just outside the roads. I think cycling is verboten in most other areas of the park.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 13 March 2006 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Last week's Cycling Weekly (sister publication of Cycling Strongly) had a little piece about it in the Rides feature.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 13 March 2006 15:28 (twenty years ago)

Mark I think you typed "A circuit" up there rather than "The circuit" hence confusion :)

I also cycle in Richmond park but only in nice weather. The deer just sort of look at you as you pedal a few feet away, but yeah make sure your bike has a loud bell, people on the shared path are often oblivious to cycles approaching from behind. The surfaces aren't always even--there can be some very sandy bits (enough to make you get off the bike and push if you are me) and some very bone-jouncing bits as well as paved bits, but there's a good mix of steep and flat and everything is well signposted, and if a section of the path gets bad, they seem fairly prompt about repairing it.

― sgs (sgs), Monday, 13 March 2006 19:42 (twenty years ago)

"A circuit has a nice number of slopes and flat sections"

Sorry! I thought you were talking about "A" circuit as in "A" circuit, "B" circuit, "C" circuit. I was imagining some cycling wonderland split into abilities.
But, I think you've all convinced me to get that bike out and into the park... many thanks!!! :):):)

― George C, Monday, 13 March 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

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