The Richmond Park 3-Lap Challenge

i see the competition is pretty active this year too

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12603098&start=440

some good times being laid down

i must have a go myself one evening soon!

I did 61:30 yesterday going anti-clockwise - 44_15 gearing, so around 77 inches which worked pretty well.
Hoping to get that beat in the coming weeks...

Anyone going to be at Richmond Park tomorrow?

I've got approx one month to get fit enough to not humiliate myself in Italy, so need to get some high speed miles in.

Did 5 laps on the Wilier on Saturday (all between 24:xx laptimes) to test out the PowerTap hub and give me an idea of my power output on an easyish 2 hour ride.

Hoping to get back to sub-20 minute laps after a month or so of getting fit again (hadn't been on the bike for 2 months at all).

after a three week gap in my training schedule

3 laps in 64mins this morning (7.40am)
solo, windy and cold, on my winter road bike
little traffic, plenty of cyclists out though for a sunday..
and deer jumping all over the place..
from roehampton gate:-
first lap clockwise..
then two laps counter-clockwise..
i don't know why i do it that way
and no drafting did see a coupla dyna-rods out
with a wannabe try out past me just before
sawyers hill climb on my first lap, the wannabe
didn't last long after that.. hahaha..

35min warm up from swiss cottage to richmond park (10miles) helps i think..
i couldn't do that every week, chilterns and king of the downs over the next two
weekends, the summer better come back..

Often heard that the fuzz sit out with radar guns doling out fines for cyclists breaking 20, especially on the fast descent down to Roehampton gate, but I've never seen them.

Anyone ever been caught?

Often heard that the fuzz sit out with radar guns doling out fines for cyclists breaking 20, especially on the fast descent down to Roehampton gate, but I've never seen them.

Anyone ever been caught?

They are there quite regularly, and I would think that they would have no qualms in catching bikers. Its the only place that i've seen them actually watching in the park

Several first hand reports of FPNs being given out over on BikeRadar.

I've also seen them lurking on the bit between Broomfield Hill and Robin Hood Gate (which is where I usually go significantly more than 20mph).

Thanks to the Royal Parks Act the 20mph on-road speed limit in RP applies to all vehicles, including bicycles. There's a 10mph speed limit on the off-road track too, but I've never heard of that being enforced. Ignorance of your speed is no defence although you might be able to talk yourself into just a friendly warning if you don't fail the attitude test.

In my experience they don't bother with the people freewheeling down the hill at something between 20mph and 25mph. They're more likely to pull over someone pushing hard to do 30mph+. Fixed descending may make you look like you're trying to push it down the hill.

I already freewheel down there at 30mph+.. are you calling me fat, pig?

That kind of attitude? :)

If you kept riding you'd probably be out of the park by the time they turned their car around and followed you.

One day the cops are going to realise half the riders out there are gathering self-incriminating GPS data they could probably use to get a conviction ;)

deletes 20.01mph average laps Mytracks file from Android phone

does anyone fancy going for a ride (gears or fixed) on an evening after the gates are shut some time this week(end)? I don't really know anyone who rides road bike round here :(

ooo just seen that london dynamo go out on a wednesday night. anyone ever ridden with 'em?

Was there yesterday morning, in 26 degrees. Blimmin hot!

Did 5 laps in 1:48, or 21.6 mins per lap average. I'm happy with that considering the number of times I had to brake or coast for cars, peds, cyclists, deer, ambulances (!) etc.

Had my first crack at this on Saturday morning. Did 3 laps clockwise with gears in a few seconds under the hour (59.58!). It looks like you would save a bit of time going anticlockwise, as you might not have to give way as often at the roundabouts.

Good fun, and pleased to dip under the hour.

Next time I will try it anti clockwise.

Good work. Anticlockwise FTW for sure.

57.35 on Sunday morning anticlockwise, it was really windy which made it feel like harder work, but I guess what it costs you in one direction you must get back going around the other side.

22.05 SS
20.22 geared
Both Anticlock, starting at Richmond gate
I'm not as fit as some of you young whippersnappers, but still reckon I could get those times down....

@sasmon I was there on sunday morning going anti clockwise, did 3 in under an hour, didn't get passed by anyone.

what bike were riding?

67 minutes yesterday on my geared steel Concorde. My excuse is I ate a lot on holiday.

Haven't timed myself doing this yet, maybe next time

I'm going for under 48mins ;-)

Haven't timed myself doing this yet, maybe next time

I'm going for under 48mins ;-)

For one lap? I think you should manage this - just.

Start your stopwatch on lap 2 and you should hit that

edit - beat by clive

For one lap? I think you should manage this - just.

If he can just make it past that pesky cafe without stopping. One day..

That cafe is ludicrously expensive. But it is a brief and occasional respite from howling winds and driving rain and I suppose one has to pay for that.

Anyone fancy a monthly winter evening ride followed by beer at Kingston Gate? You know it makes sense!