Chertsey super highway

Chertsey Super Highway

Starting and finishing in Richmond Park, this route traces the north bank of the Thames all the way out to Staines before looping back.

It's the kind of ride you reach for when time is tight or the legs are still complaining from the day before. With minimal climbing and smooth tarmac for much of the way, it's equally good as a recovery spin or a full-gas group effort where someone always seems to want to prove a point by the time you hit the dual carriageway stretch. The riding along the river is genuinely pleasant - quiet paths give way to open roads, and you get glimpses of the Thames throughout. Don't expect wilderness, but there's something quietly enjoyable about watching the water on a grey morning when everywhere else feels like an effort. Café stop: The cafés on the south side of Hampton Court Bridge are perfectly timed - you'll hit them with most of the miles already banked. Good coffee, and a reasonable excuse to sit down before the final push back through the park.