[Closed] Prudential Ride 100 quandry

I've done it twice now, and the atmosphere is pretty special.

When we did it, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Limehouse. They have parking (although I'd get there early, the car park fills up), it's a doddle to get the DLR to the Excel for the registration, there's a fantastic Italian nearby for a meal the night before and it's an easy 20 minute pedal to the start. It's also an easy half hour pedal back from the finish.

Watching with interest as I'm having exactly the same thoughts as the OP.

It looks like a fantastic day, but an expensive one with lots of faff - is the time / money better spent elsewhere or is the day really special enough to make it worthwhile?

Two days to decide before the deadline to pay up...

So, you entered as you fancy doing it, get in and now decide it is too much hassle? Give the entry to someone who does actually want to do it or such it up and go enjoy the ride!

"Quandry? "

Is that a bit like "laundry"?

I'll happily buy a place from you should they be transferrable. I've entered every year, and failed to get in every year.

I did the monsoon year too and absolutely loved it. Did it solo and just flew around in the slipstream. I was back in my flat in Greenwich by 11am.

The following year I did it with a couple of mates who faffed around at the beginning meaning we then got stuck behind a bad accident and the whole thing just turned into a bit of mission. Sort of wish I’d just left it after the first time.

I've done it twice. It's a superb event. I'm not really a roadie but the chance to ride closed roads around London was something I didn't want to miss out on. Both times I stuck slick tyres on my CX bike. The atmosphere is superb and the support from the side of the road is something else. Finishing on the Mall being cheered by loads of people is something I won't forget for a long time.
Chilling out in Green Park post ride while watching the elite race on the big screen was a good way to spend the rest of the day.

We stayed at the Limehouse Holiday Inn and probably ate at the same Italian as IHN. It's not that much faff, let's be honest. There are plenty of people who go into meltdown on Twitter when they don't get into the ballot.

If you've got a place, my advice would be to do it.

Did it the monsoon year and done it in glorious sunshine, enjoyed both but now I've done it I'm not fussed about doing it again. It is a great day out though.

Loads of folks in my club are doing it, and loads more complaining about not getting in. For some reason though I'm just not interested in entering cycling events - not really sure why though as I did I've done closed roads running races (including in London) and enjoyed those well enough.

I also did the monsoon year. Lived in North London, so rode to the start and back from the finish. Got away early, ahead of all the stoppages, got to Newlands corner before the wind really started up. Good day, but I was trying to do it as fast as I could and it hurt. I'd imagine I'd do the same even if it was sunny.

But I live in Surrey now, and the prospect of going into London to ride out to Surrey and back into London, then travel back out to Surrey again seems a bit perverse. Plus the money.

"it feels like I have unfinished business" I don't!

The fun bit was riding through London on closed roads. I can't imagine a non-Bertha ride being anything like the experience that Bertha added. I can ride the Box, Leith any time, but they're about 40 mins away and if I do go over that way, I'll see my mate Tom and ride trails.

"will I swing my leg over my mountain bike on the day and go on an awesome ride locally without the grief?" Sounds good to me!

markwsf, If you've not done it before, do it. It's pretty special.

I've done it three times, and with each time i've done it i've enjoyed it less, whilst there is something special about bombing round London on closed roads, especially final few miles round House of Parliament and down The Mall, the numbers doing it have vastly increased and the standard of riding has dropped i think.

Last time, i had to get off and walk part of Leith Hill purely because you would get groups who would all get off and then span the road, or if you tried to get off the brakes on any of the descents people just veering into your way and stopping.

The number of serious accidents i've seen too has gone up too, people riding in to barriers and traffic islands left right and centre.

There are much nicer sportive challenges in UK and France for a lot less money, easier to park and get to with a standard of riding where you can enjoy riding your bike and not constantly look over your shoulder.

(Can you tell i'm grumpy today.....)

Do it! I did it a couple of years ago with a mate and it was awesome. I live in Redhill, so we rode from my house to the start, did the ride, then rode back - my longest ride ever at 237km. Still did the Ride London bit in under 6 hours - it much faster and easier than it initially sounds - I'd second Nedrapier about doing it, and that it's special

[i]probably ate at the same Italian as IHN[/i]

To be homest, I'd do it again just to eat there. It's a chuffing brilliant restaurant.

It is a faff and the costs add up unless you live nearby but it is brilliant fun riding around London on closed roads with a crowd cheering you on.

Just enjoy it, you cant take your money with you 😉

Done it a couple of times - once with my better half and once on my tod. Enjoyed it both times for different reasons. I know going up before and for eeh ride is a faff. We live in Hampshire, so it means leaving home at stupid o'clock, paying for the privilege of parking and spending hours getting home (as the A316 is closed).

Would do it again if I could.

Did it on a tandem, good laugh. Wouldn't do it solo unless I knew I had a 6am start.

Thanks all.

I think nedrapier sums it up nicely:

But I live in Surrey now, and the prospect of going into London to ride out to Surrey and back into London, then travel back out to Surrey again seems a bit perverse. Plus the money.

It'll be my second time doing it solo too. I've entered every year but never got tickets on the same year as my mates! If I had a friend to travel up with and share some costs then it would be a no brainer.

So I'm definitely edging towards a 'no' for this year. Unfortunately the places are not transferable and you have to have photo id when you register, so no pulling a fast one. Evidently I can defer my place for a year but will have to pay full price this year and next! Nice....

I think what I might do is work out a lovely mtb route for the day which will cross over the course a couple of times and involve a pub lunch somewhere. I can ride it with a couple of mates and with the money I'm saving I won't feel guilty about the lunch.

Or maybe I'll just pays my money and ride around London.... Bugger it, I dunno!

I [i]think[/i] what I would do in your position (with mates you want to ride with also in) is pay, go up and register, and if another one of your mates is really keen, you can pass your pack to them for what it cost you.

Warm feelings around, you're not telling your mates you can't be arsed to ride with them, and you get a lie and a day out on the trails. And the option of watching telly if it's it's pissing down 🙂

I like your thinking but i don't have any mates riding it this year. I suppose I could ask about, but none of them were even that bothered about the ballot as they've mostly ticked the Ride 100 box in previous years now.

Thats not a quuandry .
Try having an Oxfam charity entry .
" Hi. I am riding my bike round London for a few hours, which I do most weekends anyway. Can you give me some cash I can fwd to Oxfam so they can support prostitution in impoverished areas ?"
No, thought not.

I have done it and its not a cheap day out , but well worth it. Find a train with well drilled riders , let thyem know your not an idiot , and crack on at warp speed.

tbn - mates - must have read someone else's and thought it was yours.

sounds like you want someone to tell you it's OK to sack it off.

It's OK!

stm - good luck with that!