Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Richmond Park Time Trials. Entries open.

London Dynamo are promoting two of these perfect little races again in 2014.

Entry is via RiderHQ.

22nd June: http://www.riderhq.com/events/67526/richmond-park-tt-1/enter

6th July: http://www.riderhq.com/events/67527/richmond-park-tt-2/enter

10.4 mile TT, wholly within Richmond Park and run with the blessing of The Royal Parks and under the authority of Cycling Time Trials. The intention is to encourage novice racers. The sharp end of the field is usually very competitive. Course record by Michael Hutchinson.

Six categories: Lady Road, Lady TT, Men Road, Men TT, Junior, Para.

Start at Robin Hood Gate. ACW to Kingston gate. Turn and return to Robin Hood. Turn right and finish at Penn Ponds car park. Fun course.

Prizes are from Sigma Sport.

Entries opened at about 10 last night and TT1 is currently 35% full, TT2 25% full. Hurry hurry.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

25 comments

Avatar
Nick T | 10 years ago
0 likes

You also need another mate at the roadside holding a deer ready to release it into your path.

Avatar
Scoob_84 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Some 'country boys' at work were telling me it's illegal to take away your road kill for food consumption. The way around this is to have a mate follow you in a car/bike to do the picking up bit for you.

Avatar
quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes

You need to be early for a decent ride in the Park. But I don't want to encourage anybody because I enjoy having the place to myself.

Freespirit1: i couldn't agree more. I find it a struggle not to shout "This is not a f##@ing safari!" at those who stop to point. To be fair, it's very beautiful in the Park and people don't see wild deer much, so you can't really blame people (muppets) for stopping and pointing.

On the venison question, I'm pretty sure that any cyclist who hits a red deer stag hard enough to kill it and then carries it off for dinner gets a round of applause and a medal. Better check the actual wording of the law with Royal Parks.

Avatar
bikebot replied to quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes
quickerbybike wrote:

I'm pretty sure that any cyclist who hits a red deer stag hard enough to kill it and then carries it off for dinner gets a round of applause and a medal. Better check the actual wording of the law with Royal Parks.

Awesome, I've also got a great idea for a set of aero bars...

Avatar
freespirit1 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Be careful if dog walkers are about, you could meet on old YouTube favourite!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRSbr0EYYU

Avatar
freespirit1 | 10 years ago
0 likes

I've always found when I drive to Richmond Park that it is easier to see the animals after I have parked up in a car park.

Avatar
arfa | 10 years ago
0 likes

Hi Martin,
Many thanks for your detailed answer. I am sure it is only a residual risk and the event is very well run. Richmond park is a great run of tarmac and not having the cars around makes it even better.
The reason for my question is that I used to do some night training in there and very nearly came a cropper when a herd spooked as I descended Sawyers hill. Somehow I managed to manoeuvre between them but it was far too close for comfort and it brought an end to my night training ! I suspect that in a collision with a stag I would pick up a prize for second place....
Of course in daylight it is far less of a risk and the marshals presence makes alot of sense.
Maybe I'll give it a go some time.

Avatar
Nick T | 10 years ago
0 likes

You need written permission from the landowner.

Avatar
farrell | 10 years ago
0 likes

If you do end up having a high speed mix up with a deer what's the legality of helping yourself to some left over venison?

Avatar
quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes

Hello arfa

It's a good question.

The Event Information says this: "There are some 650+ deer grazing in Richmond Park and they may cross the course. Riders are responsible for their own safety and the safety and wellbeing of the surrounding wildlife and must therefore be vigilant while riding."

The event breaks even. We are not allowed to, and do not want to, make a profit.

There is certainly no budget for 20 miles of fencing, so riders must be aware of the deer.

We do post marshals on the fastest section down Sawyers Hill whose job is to scare deer away from the course.

But there is certainly some residual risk of interruption and even of injury.

If you compare this event with all other TTs (except those on closed circuits like Hillingdon and now Thruxton) the opportunities for being held up or for having a dangerous accident are far fewer because of the absence of cars (for most of the competitors). I am sometimes held up by cars in open TTs.

I have raced the event many times and have never had an issue with deer. However I have crossed the park on my bike many hundreds of times and I know that deer will wander out and don't give a stuff about cars or riders.

All the best. Have a good race.

Martin

Avatar
ashfanman | 10 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

sh*t! After booking the 6th of July, I've discovered I'll be spectating up in Yorkshire that weekend D Oh FML

I got all the way through to the payment stage before realising the same. Shame - looks like a fun event.

Avatar
northstar | 10 years ago
0 likes

Your welcome, on a side note those barriers at ride london and the london surrey "classic" etc were more to do with keeping people watching away, as you know the deer gravitate away from us humans at normal times mostly.

Avatar
arfa | 10 years ago
0 likes

So there is a risk of deer interruption. Thanks, that's all I wanted to know.

Avatar
northstar | 10 years ago
0 likes

Well having seen these TT's in action in the past i can assure you they do not put up any fencing and most of the riders have their heads up to check now and again, i know i would...

Avatar
arfa | 10 years ago
0 likes

Well for ride London they fence them in as such so they can't cross the route. I'm very aware of the deer in the park thanks and would have thought that heads down time trialling with roaming animals might carry additional hazards as I recall it is near the time when they warn punters to steer clear of the young deer.
My question was directed at those that have participated in previous time trials in the park.

Avatar
northstar | 10 years ago
0 likes

What do you expect them to do? herd wild animals in their own home?

They do nothing as far as i'm aware, deer will do what they do, you've just got to be wary of that, i can testify from first hand experience.

Avatar
arfa | 10 years ago
0 likes

Quick question - what do they do about the deer ? If a herd crosses the road I'd imagine it's pretty hazardous !

Avatar
quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes

Hello Scoob

First rider is off at 06.00, last rider off at 07.00.

It's an early one and no mistake.

If you can't make it, just go to Rider HQ and pull out. You'll be refunded.

Enjoy the Tour (I'll be there too).

Martin

Avatar
Scoob_84 replied to quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes
quickerbybike wrote:

Hello Scoob

First rider is off at 06.00, last rider off at 07.00.

It's an early one and no mistake.

If you can't make it, just go to Rider HQ and pull out. You'll be refunded.

Enjoy the Tour (I'll be there too).

Martin

Thanks Martin,

Just applied for my refund. A real shame as belting around Richmond park with little to no traffic would be loads of fun!

Avatar
bikebot replied to Scoob_84 | 10 years ago
0 likes
Scoob_84 wrote:

Just applied for my refund. A real shame as belting around Richmond park with little to no traffic would be loads of fun!

I've always found traffic that suddenly stops to look at the deer to be much more dangerous than the deer themselves.

I had a great one this week where a car overtook me descending Sawyers hill, and the driver then immediately hit the brakes right in front at me whilst pointing to the left. At first I thought I had some "get in the gutter" looney, but it was just some mum pointing out the animals to her children completely unaware that I'd almost joined them in the back seat!

Avatar
Scoob_84 replied to bikebot | 10 years ago
0 likes
bikebot wrote:
Scoob_84 wrote:

Just applied for my refund. A real shame as belting around Richmond park with little to no traffic would be loads of fun!

I've always found traffic that suddenly stops to look at the deer to be much more dangerous than the deer themselves.

I had a great one this week where a car overtook me descending Sawyers hill, and the driver then immediately hit the brakes right in front at me whilst pointing to the left. At first I thought I had some "get in the gutter" looney, but it was just some mum pointing out the animals to her children completely unaware that I'd almost joined them in the back seat!

I had the bright and clever idea of heading there a few weeks ago for the first sunny Sunday of 2014. That turned out to be a mistake, never again!

Considering how many cyclists flock there, it really isn't the place to go for your weekend ride.

Avatar
bikebot replied to Scoob_84 | 10 years ago
0 likes
Scoob_84 wrote:

I had the bright and clever idea of heading there a few weeks ago for the first sunny Sunday of 2014. That turned out to be a mistake, never again!

Considering how many cyclists flock there, it really isn't the place to go for your weekend ride.

Don't do it! Slightest sign of sun on a weekend and Richmond Park is a nightmare. The Police will often have a car parked up at the foot of Sawyer's or Dark Hill as well.

I'm local(ish) so often cut across on the way to somewhere else, or a quick lap for lunch if I've been sitting on my bum working from home. At the right time of year, best time to catch it for a training ride is at dawn when you get a window before the gates are opened to traffic.

Avatar
Jimbonic replied to bikebot | 10 years ago
0 likes
bikebot wrote:

I'm local(ish) so often cut across on the way to somewhere else, or a quick lap for lunch if I've been sitting on my bum working from home. At the right time of year, best time to catch it for a training ride is at dawn when you get a window before the gates are opened to traffic.

And, at dawn, you can get some really lovely scenery: mist, deer, trees, and - oh, the mercy - silence!

Avatar
Scoob_84 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Just entered....it says start at 6am? Is this a general start or my specific start? im not much of an early riser, especially on weekends!  20

*EDIT*
sh*t! After booking the 6th of July, I've discovered I'll be spectating up in Yorkshire that weekend  40 FML

Avatar
quickerbybike | 10 years ago
0 likes

Race 1 58% full after 15 hours.

Race 2 42% full.

Latest Comments