3 Parks Challenge
I was supposed to be doing the London to Cambridge bike ride this morning. I got up at 6.30 ready to cycle the 25 miles across London to reach the start. Found I had a flippin p*n**ure so was late setting off, and then it started pissing it down and my motivation started flagging and then I got to High St Kensington and thought what the hell.
At least I didn’t turn back though, I carried on and came up with a new route – henceforth known as the 3 Park Challenge. Its about 44km or 27 miles and really quite a nice circular route.
Detailed maps available from the route archive site – 3 Parks Challenge.
Starting in Mortlake as per usual, I head off down to Kensington Gardens and use the cycle path to cross into Hyde Park, round the cycle path there and head up Edgware rd then Marylebone Rd to circle Regents Park. Then its back down to Hammersmith Bridge and upto Roehampton Gate where i did a clockwise circle of Richmond Park and then out of Sheen Gate and home.
Hyde Park is lovely place to cycle so long as you get there early enough to avoid the crazy tourists who just love to wander into the cycle lanes. I was there about 7.45 on a sunday morning so was sharing the park with cyclist, joggers and dog walkers, all of whom were very well behaved.
Regents Park is just a big roundabout as far as cyclists are concerned, you don’t actually get into the park, just circle around the perimeter. It tends to be fairly clear though so you get a good run and it seems f=very popular with the triathlon style cyclists among us.
Richmond Park is the tops as far as cycling around London is concerned. What a joy! It’s an absolute haven for road racers and mtb’ers, I look forward to the day they stop the cars coming in as well. You have lovely views here and some decent climbs to ensure you get a bit of training in. I tried the clockwise route today and found it to be a bit tougher because of the short but steep climb upto Kingston Gate. I was wheezing like a trooper.
The cross hatch on the profile is indicating the top of the lung imploding hill.
