L2B bike ride

markkwj
markkwj Posts: 44
edited June 2011 in Road beginners
Hi i'm riding London 2 Brighton in a couple of weeks and was wondering if i should change my peddles back to cages. I've heard theres lots of walking due to the amount of people riding. Anyone got a view on this i would like to hear it.
Thanks

Comments

  • Crispybug
    Crispybug Posts: 58
    If you leave early enough, i.e 6 - 6.30 am, then the roads should be clear enough to not have to put your foot down, leave after 8 am then you're walking up Ditchling Beacon............the choice is yours!
    Mad as a box of badgers
  • mattward1979
    mattward1979 Posts: 692
    This is my third year.. First year, I was unprepared on a heavy MTB, left at 7:30 and walked the Ditchling beacon...

    Second year, 6:30, rode up the DB with a lot of foot traffic to my left!

    This year, 6:00 sharp, planning to smash 20 miles in the first hour, then ease off so I have a clear run at the big hill.

    TBH, I wouldnt worry about changing shoes from SPD to cages, but if you are off with the main crowd, SPD-SL to SPD might be an idea, as you will most likely get caught up in the throng of people walking up hills.
    exercise.png
  • ric7481
    ric7481 Posts: 103
    Good tip with swapping out the SPD-SL's for the SPD's :D ...Unfortunately, as said you really can't look at doing the L2B in a sensible time unless you get away in the first or possibly second waves..........with lots of the hills, even the tiny lumps - many tend to walk with absolutely no consideration for anyone else.......it's a shame that some of the hills - ie the beacon, aren't marshalled more to encourage the walkers to stay left... I just view it as a nice day out now, if people allow me to climb the hills, great - if not..oh well. :lol: If you're searching for a point to point time - don't do it with 27,000 other people !.......Looking forward to it though and got a 6:30am start so fingers crossed :)
  • MattK81
    MattK81 Posts: 7
    I'm doing L2B too and the guys I'm doing it with have gone for an 8am start, so we're screwed in that sense. I did it two years ago with a similar start time and there were a couple of occasions where we were literally stuck for over 20 minutes waiting for the hordes of bikes in front of us to start moving again- usually when coming up to a 'hill'. Luckily the weather was great so it wasn't the end of the world.

    SPDs are fine- would say safer than cages/toe clips.

    DB's a bit of a mare as others have said- you can barely see the tarmac for bikes and people pushing bikes, all over the road- forces you to go so slowly that you can barely stay upright. Just enjoy the day out I guess!
  • markkwj
    markkwj Posts: 44
    Thanks i'm off at 7 . I've got a week to make my mind up.

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