Need help, South London Road Knowledge

Never thought I would be asking a question like this on here..

I need peoples help in locating a road within the South Circular which is between 4-5KM in length with no major intersections.
Something with a couple KM stretch and a nice left-hander (not light-controlled) that runs off another KM or two would also work.
Also interested in safe short circuit that could be used for laps to make up the difference.

This would be for the south edition of TTT, a social ride with a fixed 500M sprint, a steep hill climb and a longer test at the end. Previous races can be read about here and here.

I have a few roads in mind, even thought about using Richmond Park/ other south parks but need to ask the forum what they think.

2017/2018 were kind of chaotic for me and with a new kid I have not had time to go out and do proper road research.

I would love to organise at least one more of these events, the last two were amazing.

Thanks!

4-5KM in length with no major intersections.

This is quite a tough criterion.

Have you got a North version I could compare with, to get some inspiration?

I'm wondering if something around the toll road at Crystal Palace would be a decent place to start.

Are RLJs allowed?

Ah, I see, you did the inner ring at Regent's.

What about the loop of Peckham Rye that gets some love on here? I think there is a thread about it, but I CBA to UTFS!

edit

OK, OK: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/203647

Or, obviously, do laps of Richmond Park. But it's a bit rural.

North edition used the 1KM loop of Regents Park, east used a closed road at the Olympic Park.

It is a tricky one. Considered Crystal Palace but there is a massive hill that wouldn't be fair to competitors having them repeatedly climb it. Quiet pedestrian crossings and lights are manageable but I don't want any cross traffic.

I have been obsessing over this for years :D

Was considering parks but I don't know enough about south London ones (what is safe for peds/what I could get away with..).

Bit further out, but Featherbed Lane?

Great ride up to the White Bear, clear, quiet and a fair road that suits all riders. That finishes at a pub

Failing that you can loop around Peckham Rye using Colyton Rd > Homestall > Peckham Rye (or footpath in park which is quiet in the dark) > Stalkers > short bit of path (or long bit) > B238. Then you have the Ivy House near by

Shorter but quieter and clearer loop is ‘Velodrome in the Sky’ which is LipHook Cresent and Ringmore Rise looped together.

We cover the last two on Tuesday Hills if you want to recce

There’s also a loop in SE1 at the back of Millwall - Silwood Street > Bolina Road > up onto to Q1 path, left into ‘Dog Alley’ left back on to Silwood. I used to do that one for work as it was the perimeter of an old site

Sure there is more, just need to think about it

Why is having a hill unfair? Quite a lot of actual TTs involve hills.

If you added some side bits to the route you might get away with only climbing it once.

You could then make the hill climb short but brutal steep. I know the perfect footpath. Rock Hill. It has the advantage of being right next to the TT course.

e.g., do this route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7347566

It is 3.5 miles long, only climbs the hill once and descends it once. No traffic lights, but it does have two roundabouts that could hold rides up.

Or, I've just found Broad Walk, near Kidbrook. Looks like a mile long of dead flat and no intersections. You could do 2,3 or 4 repetitions? If you start in the middle then you can do an odd number and end up back at the start.

it's a bit out of the way, but it is near hills for the hill climb section. Picnic in Greenwich Park.

Was considering parks but I don't know enough about south London ones

They do crits in Crystal Palace park, on a ring of road near the top.

There's also Wimbledon Common, which has some nice wide & flat cycle paths. Gravelly rather than tarmac, but no traffic at all, and sure a loop is achievable.

The one I have already checked out in there is a solid up then down. Too many marshals required for ped safety, not really fair on competitors.

Calling @6pt to the thread

My initial thought was Kent Gate Way/Addington rd, rdbt to rdbt. Not really a pleasant road but ok if you're fast enough. Also quite far out.

I think Mashton's suggestions look good. There are a couple of long roads in Beckhenham, The Avenue for example just south of Beckenham Place Park.

Also the Surrey Quays / Salter Rd loop has been used by some Regents Park hosers in South London. @Hovis knows more about the loop.

Yep Salter Rd back into Rotherhithe St is was the first course I looked into.

Does anybody think I could get away with this (whatever that paved traffic-free road through centre of RP is)?

https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/m/?r=7347593&rf=1

Nah, if you did that I think you'd get shut down pretty quick.

Much depends on time of day in RP but I'd go with no for that particular section, plenty of walkers along there. Other configurations could work..

For 500m sprints, you could make the stretch that runs Attenborough's Pond to Martin's pond a go, slight uphill but less bike/car traffic than the outer lap.

Broomfield is ideal for a steep hill climb.

The TT could run something like below but is a bit short, some of the roundabouts will be a challenge and pedestrians could be an issue in the middle roads if it's peak weekend hours.
https://www.strava.com/routes/17401398

Thanks for that^, makes sense to have the last section a climb along possible ped roads.

I have sprints and a hill covered, just need a safe place for a 4/5KM run.

It's a good hill to finish. Vehicles coming into the park from Roehampton gate are going to be the biggest issue with that route.

Thanks everybody.

Next sunny day I am going to ride out and take a look.

Shorter but quieter and clearer loop is ‘Velodrome in the Sky’ which is LipHook Cresent and Ringmore Rise looped together.

This is a pretty good loop. There are cars, but mostly parked-up. You'd have to do quite few laps to make it to 5KM. You could include Westwood Park to make it longer, but it is steep.

Good suggestion. This is one of the most popular hills in South London. Wide and quiet. No traffic lights. If you go bottom to top, the mini roundabouts are two left hand turns that you normally don't need to stop for.

Yeah it does look good.

Do wonder if we'd get any grief from the Dulwich college toll-road controller?

And it is close to Canopy tap room.