The Richmond Park 3-Lap Challenge

-2 in Forest Hill

I'm still at work (hammersmith) and will be riding past the common anyway, so I guess I'll just be content with a face full of gale.

Cheers for the advice.

I guess I'll just be content with a face full of Gail.

Utter filth...

Freezing today!! I no longer have toes :( did 3 laps in a very unimpressive time.

Anyone know what would be a comparable time/speed over the same distance round the outer lap (clockwise) of Regent's Park?

I shaved a minute off my Richmond time and felt like I'd made more of an effort at the end (moar headwind, proper traffic light stops!) but I dunno if I should have been aiming for a bigger improvement than that?

They're not really comparable. Richmond is bumpier and more exposed. Regent's has lights.

I was, solo, capable of averaging 23.8mph around Regents Park over 22 miles (moving) when I managed that 53:20 Richmond time (20 miles), which I think was a 22.4mph average. So there's an unscientific comparison for you. But yes, that Richmond one was non-stop and the Regents one was with stopping at lights, but I seem to recall that at that speed they're pretty much with you most of the time.
Richmond is more exposed, yes, but I prefer its longer sections of headwind and tailwind vs Regents Park's constant alternating. But overall, Regents wins out for me because it feels faster and there are more people to have fun with.

(this is all anti-clockwise though)

Anyone know what would be a comparable time/speed over the same distance round the outer lap (clockwise) of Regent's Park?

Comparable in what way? If you are doing 1:07 round Richmond Park you may do sub 8:00 with lights permitting round Regents is my best guess, but they are fundamentally different.

Edit: just saw Tom and hippos post. What they said.

hippos.

Autocorrect.

Lulz.

If you're only going to do one lap it's a whole different ball game - I dragged Brave around on a 6:07 lap or something similar at the end of summer, but there's no way I could sustain that for a whole lap of Richmond.

(Yet.)

Cheers for the replies :)

Comparable in what way?

I guess a better way to have phrased the question would have been, if you did each one 100 times - which would you expect to yield the lower average time? Or, should I have been pleased or disappointed to do it a minute quicker?

But you are right, it's apples and oranges really, so a bit of a pointless question. I've just never paid attention to times and speeds before so don't really know what to expect...

Perceived effort is the only meaningful measure for me, if doing complete laps of either. Time only counts in TTs.

Ok, so the fact that I was soaked in sweat, despite it being minus 2, and ready to chunder at the end would appear to be a positive sign. ;)

Srs answer. If that's the level of perceived exertion you were aiming for / had planned, then yes. I wouldn't really bother with that kind of thing in early February, but there you go.

Anyone know what would be a comparable time/speed over the same distance round the outer lap (clockwise) of Regent's Park?

I shaved a minute off my Richmond time and felt like I'd made more of an effort at the end (moar headwind, proper traffic light stops!) but I dunno if I should have been aiming for a bigger improvement than that?

I think if you give it a go, you'll just munch the road.

Anyone been out today? Thinking of going but concerned about ice/snow

I went through it this morning and there wasn't and ice or snow on the road....

Just to add to that, its sunny and there's negligible wind - might pop out there myself; perfect conditions if you ask me :)

I'll be nipping out for 15mph avg laps today 1-2 if anyone fancies it?

tomorrow, 11-12

12-1 instead?

not so much, might keep going round though.

May see you out then.

I'll come out with you guys next week if you go.

out this morning riding with my fireflies family..
3 solid laps was perfect antidote for bereavement
felt like a natural way to ease/share the pain
egg/bacon bagette + tea+chat then rode back to norf london
feeling so much better