Well, the weather's been in and out this summer, my last in the UK after six years. During the winter months of December-March , my daily ride goes east from Kensington and back. Otherwise, I go west and head out to Richmond Park.

It's about 6:20 and my daily rider, Colnago Tecnos, is ready to go on a beautiful morning.

Very peaceful at this hour. In about 90 minutes it will be choked with traffic.

Also known as the A4, 3 lanes each way going West and 2 lanes each way going East. White van man, the scourge of biker's is busy making his deliveries while chatting on his mobile to his mates and reading the Sun.

It's been undergoing renovation for the better part of 3 years now. This whole area used to be grazing land and farmers markets once upon a time.

Going the other way, you head into Chelsea and South Kensington. From this view, Stamford Bridge, home of the Chelsea FC is off on the right. Now owned by Siberian mogul Roman Abramovich who spent a ton on players last year. New coach, new season, Premiership Champions????

This is Putney Bridge, crossing the Thames. Nice and quiet but soon to be jammed with commuters and buses heading into town.

Going up Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge Restaurant. Nice place, good views and food although a bit pricey. Good for explaining to your wife why you just spent £1,500 on a carbon fiber frame.

Despite the name, they're a Rugby Union club. This is the view up Priory Lane towards the Richmond Park. Up the road, the Roehampton Golf Course is on the left and the Bank of England's Sport Grounds are on the right. The latter have great facilities, provided you can get in with an invite. Just before the Sport Grounds is the Priory Hospital, where the people with eating dis-orders, coke problems and the like go to get sorted out.

This is what I like to see. The Gates are closed. The Queen's Parks are only open to motor traffice from sunrise to sunset. Pedestrians and bikes can access the park 24/7. The police come by in the morning and open the gates (6 of them), one at a time.

I'm heading South, clockwise for those who do laps around the Park, heading towards the Robin Hood gate. Richmond Park Golf Course is on the left. The only thing moving is other cyclists, some runners, deer and rabbits.

My first ride ever in London was into the park when looking lost, a fellow rider told me to follow him and took me on a ride out to the park. I've ridden here at night in the winter when the deer are rutting. You can hear the bucks clashing antlers and you have to watch out for deer on the road. I used a Light and Motion Solo Logic for those rides. This is probably the only place in London where there's no broken glass on the road.

Well, most riders go in the counterclockwise direction so you can scream down Broomfield Hill. I don't go that way as I don't like the long drag up to the Richmond gate, worsened by the prevailing headwind.

Broomfield Hill isn't long but at this hour, I generally take the last part out of the saddle in either a 42/21 or 42/23. During the weekend when I'm more rested, on a lighter bike and chasing somebody like fellow poster CeCinquanta, I'll go up in a 42/18.

Of course, there are the Queen's deer in the meadow watching the bikies go by.

Looking back and to the East.

Nice rolling road out towards the Kingston Gate. On the weekends, I'll go out of that gate towards Kingston, Bushy Park, Hampton Court and beyond.

Now on Sawyer's Hill, between the Richmond and Roehampton Gates. Generally there's a tailwind and it's nice and fast. That being said, there is a roundabout along the way and I've been knocked off by some jerk in a Land Rover coming from Sheen Wood that didn't give way.

In the short time I've been in the park, all the previously empty roads are now jammed with traffic. Bikes too. From the Putney Bridge, the New Kings Road has a bike lane which is full with people commuting into the city. This is the intersection of Warwick Road and Brompton. Cars parked on either side and two lanes of traffice where there's only room enough for one and one-half lanes.

Within literally spitting distance of where I totaled my Corrado last December.

Total distance of 18.5 miles. Shower and then off to work in the City. The excitement of riding in traffic always wakes me up and the park in the summer is a great place for early morning or late evening riding.

The mansion block I live in, built in 1901, is one of three which were the first specifically built in Kensington the be rented, not owned. The lifts (elevators) in the building used to be pneumatically powered from the central power station and there were porter lifts on the outside of the buildings for the staff to send up groceries and the like to each flat. Mine has three bedrooms and is to the right of the front entrance, raised ground floor location. The rent is not to be believed but as an expat for the last 6 years, I've not had to come out of pocket so life is good.

Thanks for the report and the great pics. Very much enjoyed.

Great report and photos. I had been in London as a student for a year almost 30 years ago. I returned to London/England for holiday a few year ago with my wife and son. I always feel that I should go for a bike tour in London/Europe, but the expensive cost of hotel/B&B in London make me hesitate.

A ride report from somewhere I have never been that makes me want to go there (and ride).

Thanks.

Good stuff. Thanks.

i've lived in london in 1990. that's where i began commuting, where i got in touch w/ bike culture on a serious way... boy, i miss london in the spring. and summer. and autumm. winter is miserable!
kensington is posh, baby. i was in notting hill. then kilburn, swis cottage. down to elephant and castle then... don't even remember anymore.
i was doing everything on the bike. no underground for me. no car either. no bus. just the bike w/ a rack. a gt mtn bike w/ 1.5 baldies.
the most cosmopolitan city i've ever been to. at the same time, it works like the small village: great concept.

I lived in England every summer during the 80's and 90's and one thing I had to do at least once every summer was go to Taco Bell right by Earl's Court underground, it was the only one in Europe. I don't think its there anymore. The thing I always missed the most when there was Mexican food. Spare me the Taco Bell isn't Mexican Food rant.

If I could find a job there I'd move in a heartbeat.

Good pics - the park looks like a great place to ride.

thank you - great visual diary. what a great idea.