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Just reading the news about this, Mollie has taken 11 hours to ride 100km and is very sore.
Am I being ungracious in thinking that she’s only riding at 6 mph and that someone of her age should be able to do this quite easily, or does this define the general fitness of the state of the nation.
Got any links?
I suspect it’s a lot of stop-start work.
to her credit though, 11 hours, even if not in the saddle for all that time, is an exceptionally long battle…and with 4 more days to do, she’s putting herself through it
Energy wise she should be able to easily do it, but if these not used to using her legs like that it will be really tough. I don't run, and couldn't try to jog a marathon without being destroyed afterwards, but I can cycle for hours on end. Do the London to Brighton with a non serious cyclist and you'll see how tough 100km is for most people
i listen to the show
she basically hasn't ridden a bike on the road until a few weeks ago
for some reason they opted to get her clipped in....
and the pics of said bike looks to be a very basic commuter spec bike
but yes, massively slow going
Am I being ungracious in thinking that she’s only riding at 6 mph
Perhaps. Remember most keen riders when talking of higher average speeds are talking about a moving average, not elapsed time average speed as you would use in an audax. If she's stopping regularly as a less saddle-conditioned rider will her elapsed average vs moving average will be very different.
60 miles a day for 5 days is a big ride for a non-cyclist.
Meh, for non cyclists it will seem like a respectable challenge. For roadies, or anyone else that's done L2P or similar prob not so much.
Ahhh wasn't sure if she was clipped in, as her shoes looked like normal trainers to me.
We had a super fit friend, took him on a 4 hour mtb ride and he really suffered in certain areas. I'm guessing she's fit and young, but not bike fit. It's also stressful being on the road, even with 'event backup'.
Call me cynical but surely it's advantageous if she's seen to struggle and that the challenge is really challenging.
TBH I think most reasonably healthy people could knock out 100km in a day, the difficult bit is doing it 5 days in succession. I know my advice would be to take is slow and steady as all that's important is finishing the challenge
it’s advantageous if she’s seen to struggle and that the challenge is really challenging.
Definitely do not underestimate the amount of careful scripting, filming and editing. Anyway, who has ever been in a hurry to get to Hull?
I still vividly remember that weekend way back in the mid-late nineties when I hadn't ridden a bike in anger for several years, but I was a regular gym-goer so considered myself fit. I got together with a group of friends for a weekend mountain biking and thought I'd smash it. We did the Karrimor on the Saturday, which I managed fine. I got up on Sunday morning to do the Red Bull and my legs would simply not work nor could I sit in the saddle. I gave up after about 5 minutes and went home. Therefore I can fully appreciate how this challenge may effect Mollie – so good luck to her.
I used to have a commute longer than that. It's hard work trying to do it every day even as a "serious" cyclists I never managed more than 3 days in a row. And f*** doing it in the rain.
Speed wise, as above it's average not moving speed. If you do an audax it looks easy on paper, but add in 2 cafes, a lunch, a couple of information controls, a puncture, some faff, waiting for a different mate on each hill, your on your winter bike with mudguards, etc and suddenly that 11hour cut off for 200km is surprisingly looking tighter than you'd like.
Also, anything involving a TV crew is slow, I should know the guy doing the camera work is a coleague 🤣
What's the elevation gain from day 1's 100km?
Like others above have said, if you ride a bike regularly like (some of) those on the forum it shouldn't be too difficult but this challenge isn't there to inspire or motivate us. My commute to work is 23km each way, there are people genuinely amazed that I cycle sometimes. My sister recently got a bike to cycle the 3 miles to work and admitted that she struggles, she's just not used to it. It's for the general public and I don't really have any problem with that. Just because we could do it doesn't mean it's a big feat for the majority of people out there and something they can't fathom anyone doing. And it's for charity so who cares providing it raises some money
Commuter spec, from S-Works?
Bike choice aside, looking out my window the weather is crap and if it's her first time out in ages it'll be a mission so all credit to her.
different bike to what i saw the other day, maybe that was a training bike, and clearly not clipped in anymore
TBH I think most reasonably healthy people could knock out 100km in a day, the difficult bit is doing it 5 days in succession. I know my advice would be to take is slow and steady as all that’s important is finishing the challenge
stand at the bottom of ditchling beacon (90km into 100km of london to brighton) and see how the "reasonably healthy people" are getting on. They'll get up the hill for sure, but you wouldn't call it "knock out" - its a real struggle for most - I'd say 80% of the attendees walk the hill
good free advert for Restrap
It will be tough day two or three when her non-conditioned muscles and backside soon complain. For a seasoned cyclist it's easy, bit unpleasant if chucking it down. She's going to hate the roads and close passes, unless there is a support vehicle following.
Good on her and best of luck with her challenge.
Hopefully will contribute to a good overall amount raised for people who really need some assistance.
Anyway, who has ever been in a hurry to get to Hull?
Most of the inhabitants of Grimsby?
unless there is a support vehicle following.
I'd have thought that was a given.
I'm sorry, but who the eff is she? C list? D list? Celebs just ain't what they used to be, but good luck to her. I looked out of the window this morning, and couldn't even be bothered to walk in the wind and rain to the garage to get on the turbo trainer.
member of one of the biggest pop groups of the noughties and co-host on a prime time radio show, also wife of an english (ex?) top cricketer
I’m sorry, but who the eff is she? C list? D list? Celebs just ain’t what they used to be
She's quite famous really - you are just not her target audience.
Good on her and best of luck with her challenge.
Just this.
I did the bay cycleway over the weekend with my (running fit) partner. 30 not very hilly miles first day and 40 the next. if I'd suggested another day of the same I'd be sleeping in the spare room.
being bike fit and bike confident make a huge difference - carry speed through hills and corners, judging traffic so you don't slow, generally being efficient with cadence etc, etc all make a massive impact.
Looking at the last time I did the bay cycleway I was cycling , on average, for an hour less each day compared to this weekend and that just down to going a bit slower everywhere to keep pace with a less experienced person.
Good luck to her. It will be tough. Bitd when I toured, I always did back to back big days in prep, and even then the first 4 days would feel very hard. After that though I would get used to it and it became a pleasurable way to spend a day, just riding, eating, looking at the scenery and then finding somewhere to camp. So a 5 day challenge sounds like 4 hard days and 1 nice one to me.
member of one of the biggest pop groups of the noughties and co-host on a prime time radio show, also wife of an english (ex?) top cricketer
Yes, but apart from all that, what have the Romans Mollie ever done for us?
member of one of the biggest pop groups of the noughties and co-host on a prime time radio show, also wife of an english (ex?) top cricketer
Also ex GB team level sports person, so likely no stranger to pushing through some tough times.
To repeat what a couple of others have said .... Good luck to her.
She's stepping out of her comfort zone to do something that the vast majority of the public would see as a quite a challenge to earn a good chunk of money for all of the good causes that Comic Relief supports.
I'd suggest that even a large number of the people on this site would find 60 road miles x 5 days in crap weather and all of the media focus not a particularly easy ask.
Perhaps those who believe it isn't much of a challenge could try raising some money by being sponsored for staying up on their high horses?
Be a nice introduction to the joys of riding on super smooth tarmac we have here in England. Plus the nicest , most polite drivers in the world.
Just watched a clip on the beeb website of her amazing ordeal. Heading along an A-road with two ridealong guides and motorcycle outriders and cars with flashing lights following at 6mph. The queue of cars behind stretching as far as the eye could see was lovely to see too, so many people coming out to enjoy the spectacle and offer their support.
TBH I think most reasonably healthy people could knock out 100km in a day, the difficult bit is doing it 5 days in succession. I
Plenty cyclists even/especially on here would struggle with it that I'm sure of.
@trail_rat I reckon most haven't realised that it doesn't have a electric motor.
I defy anyone that's ridden themselves into oblivion to look at the thousand yard stare in this photo and tell me she's faking it for the cameras.
Been there, done that. 😳
Sounds like a decent challenge, even more so for someone who hasn't been cycling long. I certainly wouldn't fancy it in the current weather conditions and I suspect that many people on this forum would fail to complete it.
Anyway, to the OP, yes, you are.
I've donated, link here for others that wish to...
https://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday/challenges/mollie/
stand at the bottom of ditchling beacon (90km into 100km of london to brighton) and see how the “reasonably healthy people” are getting on. They’ll get up the hill for sure, but you wouldn’t call it “knock out” – its a real struggle for most – I’d say 80% of the attendees walk the hill
Thanks- I got persuaded to sign up for L2B off-road last week. Best get riding and doing some hills
I defy anyone that’s ridden themselves into oblivion to look at the thousand yard stare in this photo and tell me she’s faking it for the cameras.
She's thinking, "why didn't we put some bloody mudguards on!"
L2b off road doesn't go up the beacon . It's a tough hill as it ramps up as you get into it.
I rode it after doing Brighton to London to Brighton so had about 100 miles on my legs at that point .
That hurts but I made it .
What I don't get is these jollys are planned months in advance . You can build fitness in a few months at her age.
TBH I think most reasonably healthy people could knock out 100km in a day, the difficult bit is doing it 5 days in succession.
+1, even a distance that a person finds relatively easy becomes a big challenge when it has to be repeated several days on the trot.
I’d suggest that even a large number of the people on this site would find 60 road miles x 5 days in crap weather and all of the media focus not a particularly easy ask.
Very much this. I would struggle even tho i rode 3000 miles in 4 months 18 months ago. I only did 60 miles in a day occasionally on that trip and not on consecutive days. 45 miles a day is about what i could sustain
I've done ride leading on guided events not dissimilar to Mollie's ride and it's amazing how many people (who have signed up months in advance and been given detailed training plans/advice) struggle to cope with distances like that.
Or they may be able to do the distance but they've never ridden in bad weather or traffic or groups.
Counter-intuitively, many people can sort of struggle through 100km; you just have to look at the average London - Brighton or similar charity ride. But doing it day after day is a different prospect.
Local rag has something on it cos she's due to finish in Salford today. I also had no idea who she was before seeing this thread and the story but good luck to her! £100,000 raised so far apparently.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eppgfx/live/c38wrz
Plenty cyclists even/especially on here would struggle with it that I’m sure of.
Waves! My commute is only seventy miles a week and I need supplements for it🤣
Great to see so many people getting behind her!
a joke so funny you repeated it ?
She's been really struggling today, totally zapped by the sounds of it on her radio catch ups
presumably this is just for a particularly busy section of road (could they not have found a better route though?) and not for all of it (which would be pretty crap if it were the case!)Great to see so many people getting behind her!
presumably this is just for a particularly busy section of road (could they not have found a better route though?) and not for all of it (which would be pretty crap if it were the case!)
The issue is that there's a car behind her, doing the same speed as her which is generally regarded as a pretty terrible idea cos it really does create a traffic jam. However, under these circumstances (novice rider, unused to riding on roads, plus the whole celebrity / fund raising thing), I guess it's essential to avoid her suffering close passes or too much aggression.
Routing is a tough one - do it on tiny narrow lanes to get less traffic but it'll be more hilly, more rough roads and if there is any traffic (like a tractor or something), it'll be even more of an issue.
Sometimes you just need some bigger roads to increase the average speed a bit, make it marginally easier, allow eating and drinking on the move etc.
I’ve done ride leading on guided events not dissimilar to Mollie’s ride and it’s amazing how many people (who have signed up months in advance and been given detailed training plans/advice) struggle to cope with distances like that.
Or they may be able to do the distance but they’ve never ridden in bad weather or traffic or groups.
I think on our L2P we had close to 5% dropout rate on day one - but all the others completed it across 4days. One guy I remember, turned up on a £200 MTB and hadn't ridden a bike since he was a child.... The other 4 multi day charity events I've taken part, no one dropped out but they were more specialised so only established riders would have signed up.
Cirtainly day three always seems the most difficult when doing multi days imo.
Cirtainly day three always seems the most difficult when doing multi days imo.
Yep - the LEJOG ride I've worked on sets Day 3 as the "easiest" for that very reason. In training, most people should have done back-to-back rides but that's usually a weekend then they go to work on Monday....
So in the real thing, Day 3 always comes as a shock as the body is like "hang on a minute, not done this before!"
It's very wet in Manchester now, and she's still over 20 miles away from stopping at Salford Quays ! I can't quite work out where all the 'hills' are, unless she's been routed through the Peaks rather than Cheshire/Staffs - is there a route anywhere ?
It’s very wet in Manchester now, and she’s still over 20 miles away from stopping at Salford Quays ! I can’t quite work out where all the ‘hills’ are – is there a route anywhere ?
Not a map but a rough approximation of it.
It's deceptively not flat around there, especially going in and out of Leek. Lots of big long rollers rather than "proper hills" but it's really sapping. It's worse if you're going slowly cos you're never on top of your gears, you never make the most of any momentum from a descent.
It's an impressive challenge she's taken on, the weathers shit today, I'd imagine she probs pretty sore, and the routes pretty lumpy as well.
TBH I think most reasonably healthy people could knock out 100km in a day,
Perhaps your definition of "reasonably healthy" and mine is quite different but I think if you just went and took some random people off the street who perhaps do park run regularly, play some five a side and do a gym class of some sort (so actually fitter than most!) and chuck them on a bike in the rain wearing loose fitting waterproofs then after 100km they'd be pretty done in. Why, if you knew you were going to be doing that, you've not trained is another question: perhaps she asked some cyclists who laughed and said "500km/5days - what will you be doing in the afternoons".
Equally, if you take a roadie used to cycling 100km days, and said lets go run an ultra marathon (in waterproofs and the rain!) they might end up going a lot slower than you think. Even if you take a "pure" roadie used to 4-5 hr big rides and chuck them on an MTB ride thats within the their technical ability for 1/2 the distance they'll be knackered as it involves using different muscles and moving weight etc.
I've no idea who she is but 100k isn't shabby for a complete novice. My first one nearly ruined me. Doing it 5 days in a row is tough. Especially on typical British roads at this time of year.
Before I was a 'regular' cyclist, I once did a charity bike ride from Wetherby to Scarborough (which was 60 miles and almost completely flat apart from a climb into Scarborough at the end) and I couldn't sit on a bike for weeks and weeks afterwards.
Before I was a ‘regular’ cyclist, I once did a charity bike ride from Wetherby to Scarborough (which was 60 miles and almost completely flat apart from a climb into Scarborough at the end)
Before I was a regular cyclist, I did a 35 mile charity ride from Crystal Palace to Penshurst Place in Kent. I think I was about 15, I was on a Dawes Audax 10sp bike, downtube shifters. I had no water bottle (all my rides up til then had been round the park or up to the woods with a stop at a cafe if required).
Thankfully it was a lovely sunny day and there were a couple of feed stations but it was a long day out. I had to walk some of the final steep climb at the end. And I got a lift home, the family met me down there. My Mum actually asked "do you think you could have ridden home?" and I was like - ooh, not sure about that!
The first time I did Dunwich Dyanamo (200k), I was about 17 and that wrecked me for 2 weeks afterwards.
So yeah, hats off to her, especially in this weather. I'm not riding anywhere in these conditions - I mean I would do if I absolutely had to but not voluntarily.
My first long road ride was the ride of the falling leaves that went out into the Surrey Hills and finished at Herne Hill stadium. I was broken for quite a long time after that 🙂
Where's Femke Van den Driessche's bike mechanic when you need them? 😉 That support rider is going to be cold at that pace. Good luck to her, she'll be bike fit by Day 3 and that's a great image. Pothole dodging in the rain. BTW I have no idea who she is, but I'm guessing she's not a road cyclist.
Maybe a STW big hitter could do a sponsored 500k of hate-likes?
I would use my meagre qualification of once having trained for and ridden 275km of Liege-Bastogne-Liege sportive in middling conditions only to comment that if I was riding a considerable distance this time of year I’d dress for the event itself with careful consideration to warmth and aerodynamics. She’s probably even tougher than she knows. The baggy clothing in those photos makes me wince.
The baggy clothing in those photos makes me wince.
My guess is that - as with many of these celeb challenge things - the clothing was donated by the likes of Decathlon and is a wardrobe of low-end / own brand kit. Seen it many times, in fact every time the BBC does some sort of "look at this amazing cycling challenge!", they seem to acquire a wardrobe of badly fitting bright yellow stuff.
Quite a few years ago there was some outdoor programme did an "epic" cycle route in the Peak District. Park at the top of Broken Road. Descend the gnarr-core Broken Road, yelping and screaming at the radness of it all. Ride to the bottom of Winnats Pass. Cycle up the Pass, yelping and gasping at how insanely steep it is.
The End.
Total distance, 3.5 miles. This was their epic ride. They were dressed in badly fitting yellow crap throughout it.
Well done Mollie, I've sponsored you.
Wonder why she needs the bar bag when she's got a support vehicle.
With 5 days on the trot.and no cycling experience, the poor gal is going to have a horribly sore arse by now. Irrespective of how good her kit is (just even worse if not good). Enough time to be really knackered and stiff, but not long enough to 'ride herself into it'.
(See Eddie Izzard when he did back to back marathons. He got into it after about 3 weeks or so).
I recall a great interview with Mike Hall a few years ago who sort of said similar and that after maybe a week (I may miss quote here) you'd get back into it. And that's with years of doing insane distances.
I must admit my first thought was ‘this should be relatively easy for a young healthy person who’s put in some training’
then I thought, how often have I ever rode 300 miles in 5 days? think I’ve only done it once (albeit very hilly miles) in Majorca. in glorious sunshine
As a reasonably fit club cyclist, could I do it. Absolutely. Would I enjoy it, absolutely not, and it would without doubt be tiring by the end
that said, I’m sure I’d be going much faster, and my tactics would be to bookend the days with a couple of centuries and then recover with 3 x 30 milers inbetween
either way, it’s a decent effort. Not up there with the likes of Eddie izzard, but none the less impressive for a ‘non cyclist’. I echo the sentiments about her cycling jacket however. That’s costing here about 30% of her power right there……
I’m happy to see they hit the road early this morning. When you look at the blog on the beeb you can see she has done a ton of radio and TV guff (drives the fundraising more than riding the bike) every day so far and didn’t hit the road until 10.30 yesterday. It’s a solid effort without putting in a couple of hours performance on camera before turning a pedal.
Just thought, this is the Festive 500 in 5 days rather than the 8 days of the Rapha challenge. And the weather isn't any better right now.
Actually decent enough weather for the last run, 13 degrees and a 15mph tailwind.
I've done 90 or so miles in the last 3 days and I was happy enough to jump in the car and to drive into work this morning.
Just ticked over a million quid.
Impressive.
Yep, impressive.
A huge achievement.
The issue is that there’s a car behind her, doing the same speed as her which is generally regarded as a pretty terrible idea cos it really does create a traffic jam.
The alternative would be to let her loose into the madness that is cycling on British roads. The indifference to her safety by drivers, the lack of awareness, the aggression, the regular verbals from someone safe in their locked box and, if she's really lucky, a roadside scuffle. That would make awesome TV! 😀
The alternative would be to let her loose into the madness that is cycling on British roads. The indifference to her safety by drivers, the lack of awareness, the aggression, the regular verbals from someone safe in their locked box and, if she’s really lucky, a roadside scuffle. That would make awesome TV! 😀
It'd maybe make for a more balanced "war on motorists" C5 special if one of these events showed the reality of doing 500km in the UK with someone from the media who's not a paid up member of the #bloodycyclits club.
She could be riding with cyclingmikey.!
Could she not at least be towed along by a couple of big track lads. Sit On someone's wheel equipped with a power meter and instructed not to go over say 150watts.
Take all the effort out and Joe public isn't going to understand the aero advantages
Be a pish easy ride , as long as the guys up front use mudguards
The car thing creating traffic hold ups is bogus considering that car drivers are supposed to give vulnerable road users like cyclists as much room as a car so the only way its easier to overtake a cyclist is inbreach of the highway code
bloodycyclits
Was that a typo?
Was that a typo?
It was, but if anyone ever gets annoyed enough with cycling books to use it I'm claiming copyright 😂