Congestion - London to Brighton charity ride

hobbescp · June 2007

Maybe I'm being a grumpy b@stard but I really didn't enjoy the L2B ride yesterday at all.

My missus requested 09.30 start times so we left Clapham with every fcuker and his brother. It soon became apparant that the organisers have allowed this event to become completely over-subscibed.

I travelled 15 miles in 3.5 hours. Much of this time was spent walking my steed up and down every single undulation (not out of choice but because the road ahead was completely congested and impassible). Ruined my cleats in the process. Then I spent 45 mins stationary in an enormous crowd for god knows what reason..

I know this thing is for charity etc and that it raises the profile of the event if the organisers can say 30,000 people did it this year (a x% rise from last year etc) but some consideration needs to be given to the participants. I didn't expect this to be a cyclosportive but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be able to actually cycle the L2B "Bike" ride.

They can raise the same revenues by capping the number of entrants and increasing the minimum donations - there is obviously no problem with demand. Alternatively, if it's logistically possible, select an alternative route with wider roads to address the congestion better.

Good on the organisers for raising lots of cash for a worthy cause. All the rest of the day was impeccably organised and the transport home was great.

This was my first and last time riding this though, came so close to going "off route" and urineing off back to London.....

ChrisLS · June 2007

...only ridden it once, never again, also given up on the London to Cambridge...too many people without road sense, a very bad advertisement for cycling...

robgul · June 2007

Not ridden but seen it a couple of times - and they reckon that in addition to the 30,000 or so entrants about another 5,000 ghost it without paying. Just too many people to be safe or enjoyable, but the (commercial) orgnaiser must just love it.

... try the MacRide in Stratford for a really good event where 95% of the money from entries and 100% from sponsorship goes to the cause www.macride.org.uk

Rob

MacRide 2007 - 9 Sept at Stratford-on-Avon - raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support - 25/50 miles - & for 2007 MacRide 100Km (Audax style) Details: www.macride.org.uk

Rides at Stratford-on-Avon : www.shakespokes.org.uk - trivia at www.beewee.co.uk
----
FGG 3726

markpbeaumont · June 2007

Mate at work said exactly the same thing - not enjoyable. He went slowly with his girlfriend, set off at 7am and still got held up.

To be fair though, what proper cycling enthusiast is going to enjoy it? It's a bit like driving a formula one car down a windy road packed with tractors and caravans.

BentMikey · June 2007

You mustn't approach it in the sense of a conventional cycle ride. If you expect to cruise slowly, have plenty of rest stops, and a big social, that's more like it, and a lot more fun.

Although my impression is quite different doing it on speed skates, because we could easily get around or through all the traffic jams. I'm sure I would get frustrated if I did it on my bike.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

Paul-B · June 2007

I don't think the organisers have "let it" become too big. I remember doing it back in the late 70's and it was just like you described even then, though no official organisation, you just turned up and rode as AFAIK.

firsthippy · June 2007

Raise you money, get a start stamp, time-trial it all the way down the A23, get finish stamp. Job done.

hippy 1029 4312

Fab Foodie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BentMikey

You mustn't approach it in the sense of a conventional cycle ride. If you expect to cruise slowly, have plenty of rest stops, and a big social, that's more like it, and a lot more fun.

Although my impression is quite different doing it on speed skates, because we could easily get around or through all the traffic jams. I'm sure I would get frustrated if I did it on my bike.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm with you Mikey.
It's 27,000+ people and bikes on 1 road to Brighton, you gotta expect it to be slow and take it for what it is. There are other rides where you can zip along, but none are like this for sheer scale.
The numbers are capped anyway, it makes no difference. You just gotta enjoy being part of the experience...use-the jams as an opportunity to meet new people!

If you want an easier day, you gotta either start very early and be away from the start by 0730 latest, to have a reasonably gentle ride to the coast, any later and it gets like you describe.

Otherwise, use firsthippy's method...bit lonely though.

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

sithebike · June 2007

Very busy and very slow day.. the 45 minutes you spent stood.. was this about 12 miles from London? if so this was caused by an accident and the rider had to be taken away in an ambulance. We were on the front of that group waiting. The ambulance had to reverse down the hill

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa11 ... C01488.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa11 ... C01487.jpg

Unknown · June 2007

If you want ride fast go out now, go out whenever you want, ride wherever you please. This is not a bike ride in the sense of a few people going ot to do 50 miles, it is an event.

I enjoyed it enormously, chatted with loads of people, spotted some bike porn and a few wheeled crazies. The sun was out and cars came second, whenever you get that many people together someones gonna be grumpy and someones gonna have an accident but most people had a nice day out.

I watch some good riding and a lot of bad but generally rubbed along with most and had a few beers afterwards, as days go it was a 8 out of 10.

Next year I hope theres 100,000. The only part I would change is the noise, it was too quiet, all along the route people were giving encouragment. the best most cyclist could do was an occasional
"thanks". It should be mandatory to have a bell and ring it all the way, that would give the event a celebration atmosphere. Overall the thing is just a bit of fun. Remember that?

Work
Play

firsthippy · June 2007

Did you miss the bloke with the air horn?

I admit I was quiet. Odd not having any bad drivers to swear at

I did clap and bow on my way towards the finish line, showing my appreciation for the people cheering everyone's arrival.

hippy 1029 4312

BentMikey · June 2007

Can I just saw Ooooowwwwww my legs are sore today? There were a couple of times I half wished I was on my recumbent instead of on skates.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

firsthippy · June 2007

Saw a few skaters. Nice work. Even spotted one guy walking with a sign on his back about forgetting his bike!

hippy 1029 4312

halfords wizzkid · June 2007

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm bike porn, saw a couple of nice bikes
1. cervelo c3 carbon with full campag record[:p]
2. pinarello prince in black with full dura-ace[:p]

and saw a few bog standard carrera virtuoso's but they looked rubbish compared to mine hehe!![;)][:D]

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z241 ... campag.jpg

overmars · June 2007

Admin. Make this a sticky![:D][:D][;)]

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by starseven

If you want ride fast go out now, go out whenever you want, ride wherever you please. This is not a bike ride in the sense of a few people going ot to do 50 miles, it is an event.

I enjoyed it enormously, chatted with loads of people, spotted some bike porn and a few wheeled crazies. The sun was out and cars came second, whenever you get that many people together someones gonna be grumpy and someones gonna have an accident but most people had a nice day out.

I watch some good riding and a lot of bad but generally rubbed along with most and had a few beers afterwards, as days go it was a 8 out of 10.

Next year I hope theres 100,000. The only part I would change is the noise, it was too quiet, all along the route people were giving encouragment. the best most cyclist could do was an occasional
"thanks". It should be mandatory to have a bell and ring it all the way, that would give the event a celebration atmosphere. Overall the thing is just a bit of fun. Remember that?

Work
Play
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I enjoyed it enormously and will be back next year.[^]

________________________
The obstacle is the path

oily sailor · June 2007

Surely no-one goes into L->B hoping for a fast run down to the coast. I pottered down on Sunday and then hammered it back to London yesterday so got the best of both worlds. It was strange cycling through a rainy, deserted Turners Hill yesterday.

d_c · June 2007

I set off at 8am and apart from that hill near Chipstead, at around 12 miles just after the accident, was able to get reasonably clear road throughout.

My biggest bugbear was with the run out of London and the stop-start at almost every other junction - it made me wonder why they can't just close off some more roads. There are after all nearly the same number of people doing L2B as the marathon, and you don't see them being stopped by marshalls every 500m or so.

-> flow with the go ->

hobbescp · June 2007

oily sailor, starseven etc..read the original post.

I didn't expect the L2B to be a cyclosportive-style event nor did I expect to be able to ride it fast (I was with my GF who is just starting cycling) - my point was simply that I expected to be able to ride it, not trash my shoes/cleats walking and standing around for ages (fair point about the crash though Giantscr2).

I did enjoy passing some very expensive bikes being pushed up the Beacon though.

oily sailor · June 2007

Alright son, stay calm. Cleats can be replaced.

You're right about Ditchling though. There were plenty of people with all the kit yet trudging up the hill. And the Beacon is not a hard climb at all. Embarrassing.

ricadus · June 2007

Perhaps they need to do a London-Beachy Head to get the numbers down a bit.

londonphoenix.co.uk

Clefty · June 2007

My first one, and I actually thoroughly enjoyed it, although we had a starting time of 7am which was prob a lot better - was a bit congested on a couple of early hills because of an accident, but overall I would definitely do it again. I'm looking forward to the Southend run next month which seems to be a far more civilised affair from all accounts. Does anyone know about the train situation on the Southend one for getting back to London? I know about the special service in the morning for the Southenders but can't find any info about getting the train back and don't want to get stuck in Southend, so was thinking if it was worth booking a b&b for the night? Any info gratefully received.

chewa · June 2007

Never done L2B (don't go Dahn saff much as I haven't had my innoculations [:D], but in any of the events I do (eg Edinburgh St Andrews), I am always very wary at the start.

There are always a lot of people who maybe ride once or twice a year and then not on roads with traffic.

It can make the initial stage very dangerous.

plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens

halfords wizzkid · June 2007

oily sailor, the first time I did Ditchlin, I had to get off half way up because I found it hard, as I'm sure thousands haven't done hills like that before!! give them a break would you!!

Just because you think your a professional and can climb every hill, it doesn't give you the right to critisise others on their abilities whether they have all the kit or not!!

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z241/ashh2_album/

oily sailor · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by halfords wizzkid

oily sailor, the first time I did Ditchlin, I had to get off half way up because I found it hard, as I'm sure thousands haven't done hills like that before!! give them a break would you!!

Just because you think your a professional and can climb every hill, it doesn't give you the right to critisise others on their abilities whether they have all the kit or not!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I saw someone pushing a œ2.5k carbon bike up the Beacon, puffing like a seal on a rowing boat. I wasn't criticising the mass of people attempting the hill (indeed, it seemed like there were more people riding up than in previous years) but if you have spent that much cash on a bike then at least ride it up the hill. Otherwise it's like spending œ500 on a set of chefs' knives then using them to make a Pot Noodle.

firsthippy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by halfords wizzkid
Just because you think your a professional and can climb every hill, it doesn't give you the right to critisise others on their abilities whether they have all the kit or not!!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, because no one else has ever used the phrase "all the gear, no idea".

At some points though the walking traffic must've been so heavy that riding would be almost impossible. I flew over that hill (relatively speaking) but was almost trackstanding for lots of parts waiting for people to move over or riders to go through..

hippy 1029 4312

cougie · June 2007

I do think its embarassing for blokes to spend 3 grand on a bike and then not be able to get over Ditchling. More money than sense.

Still, good news for the bikeshops I guess ?

firsthippy · June 2007

And the second-hand market.. ebay.. us!

hippy 1029 4312

Robsbc · June 2007

I left Clapham Common start @ 7:40am and was caught up with traffic but started to free up an hour later after passing Fanny's Farm. I did the ride in 3 hrs, first hr's average was 13mph and then next 2hrs @ 20mph.

Dithcling was fine and could ride u pwith no hold ups did notice lots of people on road bikes struggling up.

Rode home to eventually clock up 5hrs in the saddle on Sunday...

BentMikey · June 2007

Here's my mate's video of the ride/skate:

http://www.skatevideoslive.com/inline-s ... -2007.html

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChrisLS

...only ridden it once, never again, also given up on the London to Cambridge...too many people without road sense, a very bad advertisement for cycling...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Got to agree.Last rode the London - Brighton in 1999 and havent done Cambridge or Southend for the last couple of years.Last time I did the Cambridge bloke in front of me dropped his keys then proceeded to slam his brakes on.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

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Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

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il_principe · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cougie

I do think its embarassing for blokes to spend 3 grand on a bike and then not be able to get over Ditchling. More money than sense.

Still, good news for the bikeshops I guess ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm with you on this, I'd feel like a right tw@t walking my Wilier up Ditchling! Mind you I had to politely ask a few people to "walk on the left" as I went up, it's frustrating when you can't get into your usual rhythm. I had a good day aside from the puncture, but won't be doing it again, they really should cap the numbers 'cos being forced to walk is no fun at all. I'm cycling the route of the uk Etape in July with a mate and I'm sure that'll be a far better day.

My Best Bike

Congestion - London to Brighton charity ride

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