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, which co-sponsors RPC, offering rides from the park to a range of destinations, departing from Colicci cafe at around 8am on Saturdays. 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 in Putney. 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.

Chevaliers

Since 2006, Chevaliers have been hosting Wednesday evening rides in the park between September and April, meeting 6.30pm at Kingston Gate. They accommodate a variety of groups, riding two or three laps, all reuniting for post-ride refreshments in the Albion. See website for more information.

Cycle Exchange

Friday chat laps run by our co-sponsors during July 2025, meeting at Pen Ponds cafe at 7am and finishing at the Cycle Exchange shop in Kingston for coffee and £1 refills. Three scenic, beginner-friendly Ballet loops with enough kick to wake you up and enough chill to keep it social. Bike hire available. See website for more details.

Forge1860

In partnership with Pact Coffee, RPC’s co-sponsor Forge1860 is hosting Friday morning rides in Richmond Park throughout summer 2025. A relaxed, no-drop spin at a conversational pace – perfect for remote workers looking to swap the commute for community, movement, and a “cup of ambition” to fuel a productive day. Two laps meeting at the Roehampton Gate Car Park at 7.30am and ending with a delicious coffee courtesy of Pact, at the Forge1860 shop on Upper Richmond Road.

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

Meet at Colicci cafe, Roehampton Gate, at 9.20am on Saturdays and Sundays. Rides for prospective new members are on Saturdays. In the summer, the club runs an evening laps event, meeting 6pm at Colicci. Beginners accepted, provided they have experience in a compatible sport or a good level of general fitness. More details available here.

Velosport Cycling Club

Wednesday evening laps over summer with groups of varying ability, meeting at Roehampton Gate. Contact the club for details.

Waldy Wheelers

This small and friendly cycling club, which is based in Teddington and co-sponsors Richmond Park Cyclists, runs social club rides on Sundays, departing 8am from the Diana car park in Bushy Park. 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)).