Bedfont Lakes

Kingston Wheelers are delighted to be hosting Round 5 of the Challenge Tires London & South East Cyclo-cross League at Bedfont Lakes Country Park, in West London. While this is the first time we have held the race in the London and South East League, it has been successfully run since 2017 as part of the Central CX League programme. 

Bedfont Lakes is a beautiful 180 acre country park and nature reserve, with lakes, wetlands, wildflower meadows and woodland as well as a dedicated dog exercise area, and children’s playgrounds. We are indebted to the owners Hounslow Council, and the Park Rangers and Management, to allow us to use this space to hold the races. 

The park has numerous well-maintained pathways, leading to the sign on and start areas from the park entrance on Bedfont Road and these should be easy to find. 

Race HQ, sign-on, food vans, portable toilets, first aid, a double pit area and call up / gridding are all located in the centre of the course. Marshalled crossing points and closed paths will be clearly signed. 

Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead, both to comply with park regulations and to keep them off the course. 

Please note – petrol power washers are not permitted. 

The approximately 2 .7km course is mainly grassland, with c.5-10% hard pack gravel. 15% will be on slopes / up or downhill. Depending on the weather conditions, the course can be fast and dry, or heavier with difficult muddy areas. 

After a straight start, the race crosses the central gravel path before turning and entering a pair of long, wide switchbacks, passing the pits for the first time. The race then crosses the finish line to begin the first lap proper. The course then follows a series of switchbacks, around the grass section of the course, into a set of meandering turns on a slightly sloped section.

After passing the pits for the second time, the course heads uphill (where there is an opportunity for passing uphill if riders are strong) then following a narrower section over the crest of the hill, before a drop back down to a sharp left hand turn and a series of switchbacks, followed by a sweeping turn section into the sloped northern section where the off camber elements can be energy sapping, before turning back and past the original start lane towards the finish line for the next lap.

The U12 course is made from the main course, with a connector section at the eastern end of the pit area creating an enclosed, always visible course with no crossing points. Subject to confirmation we hope to include the northern gravel and grass section that includes the steps up to the ‘castle’ which has seen some interesting approaches over the years. Hurdles are planned for the straight after the return pit lane and will not be included on the U12 course.