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A few weeks ago I managed a 70 mile ride & then 85 miles a week later. Although I had covered the distances previously, on these occasions I had significantly improved times and still felt good at the end - albeit 30 & 15 miles short of the 100 respectively.
Last week I could only do a short ride, 60 miles at an average speed of 16.3mph when I've usually pottered around the 14mph mark.
The plan was to do something similar this weekend, but yesterday, a text from my mate saying he managed a 90mile ride in 6 hrs has got me thinking......
I've been scuppered by a mixture of work, other things going on and apathy!
Was planning to do a 50 after work, but the forecast today is biblical.
Gotta work tomorrow morning, but might try to do something in the afternoon - again, forecast isn't great.
I'm sure it will be OK on the day, probably!
Oh, long range forecast currently predicting 12 - 21 degrees temp, so a cool start for the early departers. Light wind from SSE (6mph gusting to 13mph)and sunny intervals. Slight chance of rain from 1pm.
Obviously, that's all going to change and will no doubt either be like last year or a proper scorchio heatwave!
interesting, i might do a couple of hours of swains lane ascents then for some final strength/power practice... 🙂
Sorry flatboy - just sent it - been away (actually mountain biking in the Lakes by way of preparation for Ride London... ???!!!!)
I'll be doing 80 miles tomorrow, then nothing all next week. So far the furthest has been 55, and quite a few 20ish. I want to get a longer one in the bag more for the psychological benefit of knowing I can...
How did it go IHN?
I did a solo 70 in some rubbish winds, apart from my knackered knees aching it was OK. I did learn that my Jelly Babies to Miles to Insulin Pump settings were bang on, which was a relief. This that's me ready. Probably....
I'm in the 8:15 start.
I'm doing it on my Gryphon with slicks fitted and 1x10 (36 x 11-36)!
Not exactly the tool for the job, but it's what I'm used to.
Anyone else doing it on a suitably inappropriate bike?
[I]How did it go IHN?[/i]
Alright ta. Took a while, just went really steady, averaged about 14.5mph, wanted to get round rather than set a time. Pretty sure now that 100 will be fine, and at a quicker pace.
No jelly babies though, just cheese sandwiches, wine gums and a slice of Friday night's pizza 🙂
I've only rode it once in 2013 but despite all the warnings in the literature, the start is very informal. Just roll up and find a queue, the marshals are relaxed about people joining when they can though they will expect yellow numbers in the yellow start area etc they are not fussy about whether you are in the allotted start wave, just whether you are in the right area. Its a lot less formal than the documents suggest.
I've got a 7:27 start time, really looking forward to it although must admit I'm a bit nervous. Oh well what's the worse thing that can happen?
Forgot to add, if you are really concerned, just hide in the middle of the starting pen and squash up to the other riders so no one can see your number. You honestly dont need to be there 30 minutes in advance and if you miss your wave, you can join the next one. Its worth getting there early and joining an earlier wave though.
As others have said, the first 25 miles is super quick and we covered it in little over an hour and a quarter despite not really pushing it. Find a big group and hold their wheels, jump onto any groups that pass. Leith Hill is narrow and busy but its short so batter it and push past the plodders. Box Hill was narrow too but the field had massively spread out by this point. Then its flat to the finish bar the short, sharp climb in Wimbledon. The finish is ace, the left turn under Admirality Arch is great. I filmed the finish rather than choosing to sprint my mate (he would have beaten me!) but it was nice as the crowds were forming for the elite race behind us.
Anyone else doing it on a suitably inappropriate bike?
Hmmm maybe! I don't own a road bike and have never really ridden road - all my kit is likewise decidedly unsuitable for skinny tyres! My option is to borrow a cheap road bike off a neighbour (some kind of BTwin type) or use my rigid Niner with slicks (36 x 11-36).
I like my own bike and it could be a novelty, but the wind resistance and low gearing could make the whole thing miserable... In a later wave start anyway, so won't be holding others up at least!
Oh well what's the worse that can happen?
Probably a puncture. If you can do 50 miles on a bike you can do a 100, all you need to remember is "food/fuel". Always take enough with you and never run out, whatever it is, gels, biscuits, bananas, sweets, etc.
On a long distance ride always aim to finish it with at least one item of food left over. I did Croydon to Brighton and back yesterday, 98 miles, I've got one energy gel left over from the ride.
Personally I also like to take caffeine pills with me in case I feel I need the sort of boost a cup of coffee gives, but obviously that's not necessary and some gels/bars contain caffeine anyway.
Poor bike fit over many hours can show up problems which shorter rides don't, so get that right - fore-aft adjustments to the saddle, change stem, etc.
The Twickenham CC blue train will be out in force again this year. I'm in the fast team at about 6:00, but I don't think I'll last to Newlands Corner in that group! 4:20 was be my target time, but I'll be at least 20 minutes slower based on current fitness and (lack of) training.
I like my own bike and it could be a novelty, but the wind resistanc
36-11 isn't that low at all. Hands either side of the stem, bend your elbows and get on with it.
Of my 24 rides up Box Hill the one on my mtb (with 2.25" Rons at 25psi) is the fastest! People over estimate the difference.
I'll be there at Newlands Corner fixing punctures again!
BP - that's really useful about the start times, ta. I would be happy getting there and underway sooner rather than later so hopefully I can do that.
Any idea of what the weather will be doing?
Currently forecasting:
5:00-6:00am
12 degrees, sun/clouds, no rain, 2mph wind from the south gusting to 7mph
12:00 - 13:00
21 degrees, sun/clouds, no rain, 6mph wind from SSW gusting to 14mph
16:00 - 17:00
21 degrees, sun/clouds, no rain, 6mph wind from SSW gusting to 15mph
So, looking like a nice day as things stand at the moment
Thanks piedi di formaggio, most helpful. 🙂
Back to dig out my thread on viewing places.
njee20 - MemberI'll be there at Newlands Corner fixing punctures again!
I'll pop in and say hi.
In fact, come to think of it, why don't we ALL pop in and say hi to njee?
I will try! (where's Newlands Corner?!)
Newlands...
about the 50 mile mark.
Hi all - thought looking forward to the weekend, had a go at the Surrey Hills section on the weekend and it wasn't too bad, fairly confident that the stretches in and out of London won't be too bad.
Really interested to know about start times, my girlfriend and I are both doing the Ride London but I'm starting at 7 and she is starting at 8:30. What are the chances we'd be able to squeeze into the same start time, are they quite strict or will it be easy to hide within the 25,000 other people?
Can we encourage njee to meet us at the 40ish mile mark and do uplifts?
[i]Can we encourage njee to meet us at the 40ish mile mark and do [s]uplifts[/s][b]lifts back to the Mall[/b]? [/i]
I'm in
Anyone else absolutely bricking it?
I've not done enough training, due to work/family commitments. I've tried to get out 3 times a week, but it hasn't always happened.
The longest ride I've done this year is approx. 68 miles, with quite a few 20/30/40 mile rides.
I've just got this creeping sense of foreboding, and can see myself doubled up with cramp somewhere in the Surrey hills.
The only good thing I have noticed is the weather forecast - high teens/low 20's is perfect for me. I did a 35 miler a few weeks back when it was 34 degrees and it made me quite ill.
I'll just be glad to complete it.
Freeagent - I did the Surrey Hills section over the weekend and feel much more comfortable.
I think the best way to look at the route is break it down into sections, the first 1 being London into the Surrey Hills, this is fairly flat, I've done it before with cars on the road and felt it really easy.
The Surrey Hills are the challenging bit, but I think the three big hills actually get easier, Newlands Corner is a long hill, Leith Hill is steep and short, Box Hill is a fairly long but gentle gradient.
I haven't done any of the route after Box Hill but sure it will be much easier/quicker as you'll be on the way back to London
watch out for the short sharp nasty in wimbledon. after that its a 10 mile TT into the finish.
Freeagent - you sound like you've done about the same as me training wise. I was a bit nervous too, but I did 80 miles on Saturday and it was fine. I won't be particularly quick, but I'll get round the 100.
Thanks folks - I'm sure I'll be fine, I'm more nervous about this than any previous ride.
I think it is because I've never done 100 before (longest ride I've ever done is a flat 86 miles last September) and never done this much climbing in one go (most was 3300ft last month on a 65 mile ride)
I normally ride at 13-14mph when I'm out on my own, am planning to complete this at 14-15mph - 15mph is around 6hrs 40...
Anyone else absolutely bricking it?
I came very close to filling in the injured/ill withdrawal form at the weekend!
I keep flipping between "it'll be fine, there are other underprepared numpties" and "you've barely ridden in the last 6 months, are you out of your mind?".
Think the weather will decide. If it's a pleasant day as per current forecast I'll just get on with it. Rain = feigned illness and a guaranteed place next year which I'll try to do any preparation for.
[i], am planning to complete this at 14-15mph - 15mph is around 6hrs 40... [/i]
Can't see me being massively faster, that was the pace of the 80 at the weekend.
I've got to do it though, I didn't get a ballot place so got a charity one, so I've got the best part of a grand's worth of sponsorship for Shelter riding on it...
You will all be fine!!.....remember your not on your own...thousands will be riding with you...just find a pace your comfortable with ..top tip....save your legs on the downhills!!
Did 90 miles on Sunday before last and have just been doing quick-ish 20 milers in Richmond park since then. Feeling pretty good for it.
It's going to work out at around 130 miles all in on the day though, so I could well be struggling by the end. If I didn't have to get there and back is be confident of a good time.
I'll probably puncture to pieces though 🙁
In fact, come to think of it, why don't we ALL pop in and say hi to njee?
Aaw, yes, I actively encourage this! IRL I answer to Nick if you don't want to go asking strange people their forum pseudonym... I'll be in the Spesh EZ-Up! Hopefully it'll be drier than last year and I'll have a bit of spare time, rather than a queue of folk with broken bikes 10 deep!
I fear getting my car onto the course to offer lifts could prove a problem!
So... Anyone else lost their registration form? The one that they tell you NOT TO LOSE in the magazine, and without it you cannot register at excel?
Not yet...
Just me then. 🙁
Email the organisers ...tell them you never got sent one!!...it's worth a try
I'm starting to feel a bit more confident having done a few 75 milers over the last few weeks and survived. I'm hoping a combination of adrenaline and drafting will get me the last 25 miles. A mate did it in 2013 and was amazed how quick the last ten miles were, with everyone starting to wind it up. Recons he averaged 25mph once onto the embankment.
Anyone who has ridden over 100 km recently will be fine. It's a fast course with plenty of drafting. Find a group moving at a pace you can keep but not hold a conversation (Endurance pace). Take the food offered on the drag up Norbury Hill, and you'll be OK on the final climb up onto Wimbledon Common. Then it's a fast downhill and a tow along the embankment. I love the last 10 miles. Under Big Ben as it strikes 11 and a sprint down the Mall.
Hope you all enjoy it.
PS I released 5 twin rooms at Premier Inn Docklands I was holding, so if anyone needs to book last minute accommodation then call 020 7540 2240
[I]Under Big Ben as it strikes [s]11[/s] [b]4[/b]and a sprint down the Mall.[/I]
Let's not get ahead of ourselves...
I'll come along and wave atcha', I'm staying in Town this w/e riding with Buddies out North but will pop on over to see lots of exhausted, but happy, faces..
Enjoy it, riding bikes is fun after all.
8)
Mr Woppit - Member
In fact, come to think of it, why don't we ALL pop in and say hi to njee?
With camera phone to hand...
Just in case anyone else is stupid enough to loose their form - call the helpdesk on 02079020212 with your rider number and they will email one through.
For anybody not riding we (Bike Track People) are going to be in the Green Park Festival zone on Saturday with our Forest track (portable north shore) and bikes. For kids old and young. We are then at Pyrford Cricket club on Sunday.
Looks like the weather is set to be good, light winds (from SE rather than the normal SW for this part of the world), no rain and temps up to 24ish degrees by late afternoon.
Will see if I can 'go to check on something in another site' later to pick up my number, etc.
Apart from picking up an extra spare tube and some Park Patches, a lube of the drive-chain and fine tune of the gear cables, I think I'm ready.
Found this interesting article from last year as well
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/11018027/7-things-no-one-tells-you-about-RideLondon-100.html
I see that there is a rider tracker available in an iPhone app for the event. Anyone know if this feature will be available on the website as well?
Don't really know why, but a bit nervous about it now!
Registration day for me today too - pain it's so far away, I rode in as slowly as possible and then have to head there, then to my sister's in Stratford to drop my stuff off prior to the weekend - hope I haven't forgotten anything!
That's me registered. Feel a bit better now as there's all shapes and sizes there. Everything from racing snake to pending coronary
That's me registered. Feel a bit better now as there's all shapes and sizes there. Everything com racing snake to pending coronary
Ha! That has made feel a bit better - my 'Homer Simpson in Lycra' look should blend in just nicely...
Just established I'll be doing 17 miles of riding today - I like the way their guide says "don't do any riding for the last few days", then they say "please ride to Excel to register on Thursday - Saturday"! 😆
Does anyone know when you get your 'official' jersey if you ordered one when you originally applied? Staff at Excel said 'when you've finished the ride', but can find no mention of it on the website anywhere
Does anyone know when you get your 'official' jersey if you ordered one when you originally applied?
No idea but last year you could simply buy them at registration from the Wiggle stand.
Yep, they are available in the Wiggle shop this time as well. Shame they didn't say this at application time.
Anyway £10 for an Endura 'seconds'* was much more appealing
*not that I could find the fault with it
having had to fill in the deferment form following a mtb crash and injury a few weeks ago I shall sadly not be riding. Weather looks perfect not like the deluge last year.
I shall be out on my normal MTB route instead which crosses the Ride100 route in a few places near boxhill so will be stopping to shout encouragement/run alongside the riders in my mankini/throw cups of wee in their faces*
*not true
Mate, I'm likely to be well thirsty by box hill so a cup of wee would go down a treat. Can you chill it?
Ta.
Hopefully I'll be picking my stuff from Excel tomorrow night, a long as the M2 isn't as bad as it was tonight London bound. Does anyone know of cheaper parking in the vicinity? If I get there at about 6.30 I don't fancy paying £15 to park for only a couple of hrs.
Thanks
Neil
FB-ATB - I went last night and rode out from there to Stratford. There is a little backstreet just across Victoria Dock Road just off Coolfin Road / Murray Square which is literally just over the traintracks from where you need to go in to the centre to register. No parking restrictions, and you would be able to leave your car there for the 20 mins or so it takes to register.
Anyone worrying about the distance - if you are a regularish cyclist and eat enough, you'll be fine. I did it in last year's hurricane/monsoon and was amazed how much easier I found it than I was expecting (Though it was 86 miles without Box or Leith hills!), bearing in mind I'd only done a few 20 milers in preparation during the prior 6 months. You almost can't compare it to a normal ride, as being in a group and not having to stop at all due to the closed roads means you cover distance so much faster than usual. It seemed like we got from Stratford to Richmond Pk in about 20 minutes!
Doing it again on Sunday as I feel I have unfinished business from last year....
Thanks for the parking advice flatboy. Looks like it would have been ideal. However with just over an hour before closing I was queuing approaching the Blackwall tunnel at the O2 junction so decided to park there and get the cable car.
Neil
Registered yesterday.
How many different places do they want you to stick your number!
Only one missing is the one to shove up your ar*e.
makes it easier to identify you for photos and relieve you of your money.
Or match bikes to bodies in the event of a hideously fatal pile up at the bottom of box hill.
Well it looks to be the perfect day weather wise, clear sunshine in the morning , a bit cloudy later but warm
05:00 the temp will be 15C......great news if like me you got to stand around for hour at that time waiting for the off in me sexy Lycra
Good luck people.....it's going to be FUN!!
My weather forecast has the temp at 11C at that time.
I hav to be at the start 05:15 - 05:45. Will aim for 05:30 ish, but can't decide if I'll need lights for the 30 min ride I'll have to the start
Weather looks good! I'll be at the top of Newlands in a Beyond Mountain Bikes gilet, hopefully cheering everyone on!
So is it true that they can't prevent you from starting at a different start time to what's on your form?
Don't know (as I've not done it before), but I'd imagine you wil need to drop your bag off at the correct time/place, otherwise you may well not get it back easily?
PdF
When I've been on my rides, I'm up at 5 and out by 5.30 and for the last month or so haven't needed lights for vision.
At 5 when the alarm goes off its pretty light.
With the bags, I think the lorries are numbered, and possibly you drop the bag off before joining the wave. Got this info third hand, so may not be 100% accurate.
With that start time you must be one of the super quick riders?
Defo not one of the super quick riders!!! Beginining to think I may have cocked up on the expected time when I applied! I usually average 15-17mph on a longer run, but as everyone keeps saying, this should be faster. Pretty sure I said something realistic, but can't remember now!
I'm starting at 06:27, from what I can understand, the proper race whippets are all off by 06:15ish. too late to do anything about it now though!
Given that it looks like good weather, I'm trying to decide where to put my helmet sticker (!!) that won't interfere with the vents. Not sure if putting it on the visor will be visible.
Piedi - I have the same start time, so you won't be alone if everyone takes off at race pace.
Given that it looks like good weather, I'm trying to decide where to put my helmet sticker (!!) that won't interfere with the vents. Not sure if putting it on the visor will be visible.
I didn't bother with the helmet sticker last year.
The marshals were pretty slack at the start last year, plenty of other colours and letters in my stream. You all filter into the same place anyway.
I'm at QEOP already doing some shopping, all the signs are out so you will NOT get lost 😆
Have huge fun.
06:00 start and a Blue A number#. I'll wave as I go by Nick.
You can start in any wave AFTER your own has left. We moved a few up early last year to ride as teams.
All ready, and the errrrrr aero accouterments have been packed. Propel not Defy.
#I was fitter when I applied!
EDIT:
Pied, there will be plenty of club riders leaving at 06:30 (that's a five hour planned finish), find a train that is moving up as you pass through central London
there will be plenty of club riders leaving at 06:30 (that's a five hour planned finish),
interesting, 'cos I certainly wouldn't have put 5 hours on my application!
How many club riders average 20mph over a 100 miles?
The training group of my club would but they represent a small percentage of the total club members.
Rider number on front or back of jersey?
I thought front but wife tells me I'm wrong and nobody in the photos in the magazine have it on the front?!?