Richmond Park is full of surprises

Mice Log Star Date 124  26.63 miles, ave speed 9.3,max speed  29.5mph albeit down a hill on the Marin in 2hrs 50 minutes.

A meeting in East Sheen followed by a pootle into Richmond Park. The change in the weather has encouraged a visible increase in the number of people out on their bicycles which is fantastic.

With its maximum speed limit of 20mph and its varied terrain in terms of hills, Richmond Park is a popular venue for people on bicycles.  Some are speedsters pushing themselves as much as they can, some are riding in groups, some are just pedalling through it on their way to somewhere else and some are just families having a day out.

I like cycling there as a form of physical exertion - central London is somewhat flat and can create a bit of a hill phobia! I have been round the park on the Brompton and the Marin - with and without cleats. 

Apparently if you can do three laps (it's seven miles in circumference) in an hour - that is really, really good going.  I am not that fast - I do a lap in about 20 minutes so it is definitely something to work at.

And it's very therapeutic as it's very pretty with clusters of deer scattered about. It is also worth reiterating that some cyclists pass others far too closely without any thought that the person they are overtaking might wobble or swerve to avoid glass, potholes or other road issues.  

Other than that - and my pet hate of people passing me on my left hand side - it is a great venue for a bike ride.

Always, always take a lock - and silly though this sounds - use it!  A friend of mine was with a group of cyclists and even though he had left his bike with his friends who were standing by the bikes, someone just walked up and went off with his bike.  

The park has several cafes, various loos, a couple of routes which are shared use for both pedestrians and cyclists which means you can pootle gently through if you don't feel like doing the whole circuit.   A very good spot indeed!