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Today I had a day off from work after being in all weekend. Too far for me to go home (cheshire) for one day, so i thought I'd ride over to Richmond Park and do a few laps.
Now the only bike I have down here is my commuter hipster wagon
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It wasn't exactly busy being a Monday lunch time, but what a bunch of miserable so and so's the other road bike riding cyclists were, out of the 10 or so that I saw only one returned my hello/nod of the head/small wave.
Is it the bike, or the fact that I had a peak on my helmet?
Saying that, one guy riding a very nice Colnago, rode past me on the flat slip streaming a scooter at bang on 20mph (I pootle at about 17-18mph on above bike - 42:16 gearing) but he slowed a bit on the biggest hill, so having no option other than to go past him I did, mentioning how gears would be handy on the flat bits in a jovial manner.
Subsequently we rode together for the next 1/2 lap or so until I stopped for a drink, and even he said how in general the other riders are a bunch of miserable so and so's.
What is their problem I ask you?
Richmond? near London? To posh to smile I guess...
More than likely 😀
Either that or they were putting so many watts into the carbon uber bikes, one lift of the hand would ruin their lap time 
Rich-mong park lives up to it's name yet again.
A "Richmond Parker" is an insult in my circles....
@ leggy blonde, thats funny.
I did like seeing the deer though, very scenic 🙂
I've been told on Bike Radar it may well be that everyone is just trying to get round as quickly as possible, or it may well be my garish wheels
So no only are they grump in the park but on t'interweb too
Probably more to do with fat city boys on expensive plastic bikes with gears being overtaken by an Single speed.
TBH in Richmond Park there are so many cyclists that if you did wave at each one you'd never get anywhere. You'd be better off concentrating on avoiding all those motorists determined to stick it to the man by driving above the 20mph limit.
@ aP, there were only about 10 riders out, not the nicest of days.
@ Chunky, I did think that, but I'm going to blame the wheels 😆
They mostly stand around the cafe with hands on hips looking at their [insert expensive carbon road bike here]. With belly's stretching the lycra out.
Richmond Park is VERY popular with riders training and with club runs. It's a common tactic of a lot of riders to try to maintain a 20mph average or similar round there and as a result, most of them don't acknowledge anyone.
Besides, if you waved at every rider round there, you'd never get anywhere.
Enjoy the scenery, forget the other people there.
Maybe being in a cosmopolitan world city Londoners aren't amazed at the sight of another cyclist, and hence don't feel the need to wave at other ones 🙂
Sounds like a horrible place.
Who cares? Are you that in need of validation?
Sounds like you're the one with a chip on your shoulder about the bike you/they were riding, not them.
say hello to you with those rims....
also on a serious note the run over the top is car free and very nice plus there is a snack hut in the middle bit
It is not the norm to say hello there, only god knows why. It also includes bus stops, supermarket queues, pub etc.
Around Richmond is a magic area to buy second hand / VERY little used bikes 🙂
A few outings and time to change ones bike.
p.s. I like the area, nice part of Londonshire. (Apart from people don't speak.)
Stuey01 - Member
Who cares? Are you that in need of validation?Sounds like you're the one with a chip on your shoulder about the bike you/they were riding, not them
'Validation' are you serious, just thought it might be nice to say hello.
Couldn't give a monkies what they were riding if I'm honest, I mean I ride a Raleigh road bike FFS 😆
All you can do is spread the love and if they don't smile back that's their loss.
I got a great hello from some roadies while I was on my way to some off road stuff from my house yesterday. Maybe it's a London thing?
steve_b77 - I live right next to the park and coming from up north I was shocked first few times I had a blast round the park!
You were lucky you didn't try riding off road round the park.. the amount of abuse you get!! def the London type.. sorry to say
I've never had abuse from cycling round off road in the park.
I cycled through on my way to a meeting at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago on my folding Cadenza and got the piss ripped out of me by two city arseholes.
And then I dusted them both. And frankly, if folk are having to work hard to get a 20mph average around Richmond Park on a bloody road bike, then they're just shit.
Sounds like a horrible place.
It is. Don't ever come here. It's terrible. 🙁
I've never had abuse from cycling round off road in the park.
I'm sure I abused you that time we had a ride round there? Hmm. I'll have to try harder next time...
And frankly, if folk are having to work hard to get a 20mph average around Richmond Park on a bloody road bike, then they're just shit.
😆