London weekday bike racing opportunities

One of the joys of being a London cyclist is that once the weather is good enough, there’s a good choice of weekday racing a short pedal from your doorstep.

Tuesday night is the big night with a choice between Crystal Palace and Hillingdon. Palace starts this week (Tuesday 20 April) while Hillingdon started a week earlier. Here’s a brief overview of what’s on offer.

Crystal Palace

  • South London, in the middle of the historic park- the one with the Victorian dinosaurs, athletics stadium and remains of an historic motor racing circuit.
  • Run on tarmac park pathways
  • Brake, corner, accelerate, repeat
  • Separate E/1/2 and 3/4 races
  • A test of handling, legs and lungs – one for the strong
  • Offers women’s racing

Hillingdon

  • West London, just past Southall on a windswept piece of parkland.
  • Purpose built road circuit
  • Nothing technical, barely even need for braking
  • Separate E/1/2/3 and 4 races
  • Ideal introduction to racing and good exercise in bunch racing – 4th Cat race almost always ends in bunch sprint

The Hog Hill summer league gets under way on Thursday 13 May and there’s also LVRC racing available for those who qualify as a “veteran”.

If you’re looking for more information Londoncyclesport is the indispensable guide to all things that involve bikes and racing in London. And John who runs it is a top bloke.

You’ll probably find me hanging about the 4th Cat bunch down at Hillingdon, continuing the longest losing streak in cycling – no points since I started racing in 2006. If I move up to 3rd Cat I’ve promised I’ll treat myself to a trip down to Crystal Palace.

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