What is Richmond Park Cyclists?

We are a partnership representing all types of cyclists – young or old, commuter or competitive, able-bodied or disabled – to the highest level of Richmond Park’s authorities and stakeholders.

The park is run by The Royal Parks. This charitable body regularly consults with stakeholder groups that represent the diverse types of park users, and the Metropolitan Police. These meetings, which we attend, help shape the way The Royal Parks runs Richmond Park.

Our organisation is currently run by Paul Harknett (former chair of London Dynamo), James Heath (former trustee of the London Cycling Campaign), Tim Lennon (leader of Richmond Cycling Campaign), Belinda Scott (Bela Velo women’s cycling club) and Chris Campbell (co-founder).

How can I support Richmond Park Cyclists?

Simply sign up here to our free popular monthly bulletin, which details our efforts to make the park an even better place to ride your bike. It’s free – and the more subscribers we have, the bigger our voice.

What should I do if I am involved in a road traffic incident in the park?

If it is an emergency, call 999; if not, dial 101. We strongly recommend filing a report and submitting any evidence you may have – witness statements or videos or photos – on the Met Police’s online portal (the link is also included in the bio attached to our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages, so follow us to make sure you have it to hand on your phone). 

Can you recommend clubs or groups to ride with in Richmond Park?

Many rides regularly take place in the park throughout the week, and there are also rides to Surrey or Windsor that meet in the park. Most have groups which are suitable for beginners as well as more experienced riders. The following list is by no means exhaustive, but all of these rides are well-established, and we have ridden some of them ourselves. Please contact the clubs directly for more information and minimum requirements.

Bella Velo

Women-only club offering rides from the park to a range of destinations, departing from Colicci cafe at around 8am. Details of routes and speed groups posted on the StackTeamApp a week before. See website.

Chain Gang Cyclists

Diverse club, founded in lockdown, offering a ride on the third Saturday of every month followed by brunch at The Dynamo cafe. Two to three laps, with groups split according to pace. They also have regular bun runs from the park to Windsor, as well as rides to Surrey. See the full list of current rides on Strava or check out their Instagram account.

Forge London

Winter park rides from October to March, meeting Thursdays at 6.30pm at Kingston Gate. Two or three laps depending on the group, followed by drinks at the Norbiton pub. See website.

Hampton Wick Cycling Club

Saturday morning laps starting from Colicci cafe, Roehampton Gate, at 10am. During British Summer Time, the club runs Wednesday evening pretzel laps (which encompass the park’s inner roads as well as the outer roadway) beginning at Kingston Gate at 6.30pm. See website. 

Kingston Wheelers

Wednesday night social laps, followed by drinks at the Queen’s Head pub. See the club’s handbook for more details.

London Dynamo

The park’s longest-running ride, held every Saturday morning since 1997. Groups of six to eight ride four anticlockwise laps in rotating, two-line formation. Meet at Pen Ponds cafe. Newcomers’ ride takes place on the first Saturday of each month. See website for start times, which vary throughout the year.

Rapha Cycling Club

Members-only ride, meeting at 7am on Tuesdays (6.30am during the summer) in the Roehampton Gate car park for two or three laps followed by coffee. Default pace is social, focussing on group riding skills, with additional faster groups if numbers permit. There are also rides to Surrey or Windsor on some weekends, also leaving from the Roehampton Gate car park. See calendar for more details.

Richmond Park Rouleurs

New member rides take place on the first and third Saturday of every month in Richmond Park at 10am, along with Wednesday evening training laps in the Summer at 7pm. See website to find out how to sign up.

Richmond Park Velo

Two laps of the park, meeting Wednesday at 6.20pm throughout the summer. Groups are split into five levels, from steady to advanced. Post-ride coffee at Colicci, or drinks at a local pub. See website for more details.

Are dogs permitted off leads?

All dogs should be on leads at all times during deer birthing season, which is from May 1 to July 31. 

If a dog causes you to crash, make sure you ask for details of the owner and any witnesses, as both could be vital in court or in an insurance claim. Call 101 to report the incident, or 999 if the injury is serious. Similarly, dial 101 if you see a loose dog that appears to endanger cyclists.

Any failure to control a dog could be an offence under three sections of the park’s regulations which the police actively enforce. One – Section 3(5) – would apply if an officer asks the person with the animal to place it on a lead; the other two state that a visitor to the park should not “intentionally or recklessly interfere with the safety, comfort or convenience of any person” (Section 3 (1)) or “cause or permit any animal or bird of which he is in charge to chase, worry, or injure any other animal or bird” (Section 4 (21)).