Ride London 100 Training/Estimated Time

Anonymous

I had a vague idea of doing the Ride London in under 6 hours (forgetting about traffic for purpose of thread) but with few hard facts to base that on.
Only sportive I have done was 60 miles in 3 and a half hours which roughly tallies with doing 100 in under 6 hours.
Did a bit of hill training today and was pleased with doing a hilly 20 mile loop at an average speed of 17 mph
Am not 100% sure of assent as my edge 500 shows it as 1300ft, but my forerunner said 2200ft when I did it a week or so ago!
Long way to go but glad specific training has started now. Aim to get hilly loop done in an hour and also start some endurance work.

Anyone else looking at similar finish time and started training, with some results to form a realistic foundation for it?

KateF

I reckon bike traffic and not fitness is going to be the main limiter of time on this sportive. From what I've seen, they're trying to set off 75,000 bikes in 2 hours - or more than 10 per second, which to me sounds quite a lot and I reckon will completely clog the roads.

Not sure the staggered start time (i.e. faster riders setting off first) will work either as the majority of people I've spoken to who are doing it have vastly exaggerated what they'll likely be able to do - a lot of people saying 5 - 5 1/2 hours when I doubt they'll be anywhere near that. I had signed on saying I'd finished in 6 1/4 hours, but have pulled out as I'm not convinced about the whole thing. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical though.

Anonymous

Carbonator wrote:

(forgetting about traffic for purpose of thread)

Did you miss or choose to ignore this bit then lol

Ok, forget its for Ride London, or pretend it will all work out. Loads of people will still be training for it and I just wanted to compare training experiences with people of similar ability also doing their first 100 mile sportive.

I agree with you about the traffic/muppets etc. but for me its more a cycling goal and cool event.
I will better know what I am capable of nearer the time and if its really pants (in terms of traffic) just enjoy the day and sprint down the mall

Will have done an 80 mile sportive prior for training, and either do a 100 afterwards, or possibly do that before as well :P

So back on topic, anyone got some training stats?
Is 17mph avg speed good for a 20 mile hilly circuit?

KateF

Sorry, completely missed it

moscowflyer

KateF wrote:

I reckon bike traffic and not fitness is going to be the main limiter of time on this sportive. From what I've seen, they're trying to set off 75,000 bikes in 2 hours - or more than 10 per second, which to me sounds quite a lot and I reckon will completely clog the roads.

Not sure the staggered start time (i.e. faster riders setting off first) will work either as the majority of people I've spoken to who are doing it have vastly exaggerated what they'll likely be able to do - a lot of people saying 5 - 5 1/2 hours when I doubt they'll be anywhere near that. I had signed on saying I'd finished in 6 1/4 hours, but have pulled out as I'm not convinced about the whole thing. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical though.

There's only 20,000 taking part.

KateF

MoscowFlyer wrote:

There's only 20,000 taking part.

Ah, that's more manageable then. Still reckon it'll be super busy though!

moscowflyer

It'll be just like the L2B, so an early start time is essential if you want to give it your best shot. I think they start rolling out every half an hour from 6:30, so anything 7:30 onwards will be a struggle with traffic.

Anonymous

I put down 6 hours on my original failed ballot entry, but I think I too will go for 5 1/2 now when I have to do it again.
It's not like the extra half an hour is going to hold anyone up and the organisers are hardly doing a good job of organising (from what I can see) so its become a bit of a bun fight!

KateF If you had a place and a decent realistic finish time, why not just get an early start and shoot off for a great ride?
Was thinking there were nearly 4 times the amount of people doing it (than actually are) the main thing to put you off?

KateF

Carbonator wrote:

KateF If you had a place and a decent realistic finish time, why not just get an early start and shoot off for a great ride?
Was thinking there were nearly 4 times the amount of people doing it (than actually are) the main thing to put you off?

It was part that, part being worried about how many people would be setting off and part wondering how to get to East London for about 5:30am! Didn't really think it through when I entered the ballot as I assumed the chances of a place were low seeing as everyone seemed to be entering (I think being a girl helped out here, as every female I know who entered got a place). The race calendar also seems to be pretty packed around that time of year, so I've already got lots of events on around then. So, quite a few things that have added up really!

moscowflyer

Start times are allocated by the organisers, you can't choose. Not sure if you can change on the day like L2B though.

KateF

MoscowFlyer wrote:

Start times are allocated by the organisers, you can't choose. Not sure if you can change on the day like L2B though.

I think they're allocated according to estimated time to ride though, so I'd have thought anyone saying they can do it in less than five hours will be first, and then five and a half, a little later, and so on

moscowflyer

Or with the pros setting off in the afternoon, they may think it's a good idea to do that a*se about face, which would cause havoc.

Anonymous

MoscowFlyer wrote:

Or with the pros setting off in the afternoon, they may think it's a good idea to do that a*se about face, which would cause havoc.

I would not put anything past them, but assuming you were not joking, why would they think that a good idea and how would that help the pro ride?

It makes sense in an odd way though. Their logic was not to set the pro ride off in the morning :?

Think thats one of the many things that will change next year

moscowflyer

Carbonator wrote:

MoscowFlyer wrote:

Or with the pros setting off in the afternoon, they may think it's a good idea to do that a*se about face, which would cause havoc.

I would not put anything past them, but assuming you were not joking, why would they think that a good idea and how would that help the pro ride?

Because if you start the slower riders at the later times, they're only going to be halfway around the route by the time the pros set off, so starting them earlier increases the chances of them being towards the end of the course when the pros start. Otherwise you run the risk of the pros catching up with them.

KateF

Carbonator wrote:

It makes sense in an odd way though. Their logic was not to set the pro ride off in the morning :?

Suspect that was to please the television and advertisers

I was wondering what would happen if some of the slower riders got caught by the pros. You'd have to get them off the course for when the pros came past, but would they let people back on the course again, or tell them to make their own way back?

moscowflyer

All I know is there's an 9 hour time limit, so I'm guessing they average this out and sweep up the slower riders at certain points if they're not on to complete in that time.

Anonymous

MoscowFlyer wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

MoscowFlyer wrote:

Or with the pros setting off in the afternoon, they may think it's a good idea to do that a*se about face, which would cause havoc.

I would not put anything past them, but assuming you were not joking, why would they think that a good idea and how would that help the pro ride?

Because if you start the slower riders at the later times, they're only going to be halfway around the route by the time the pros set off, so starting them earlier increases the chances of them being towards the end of the course when the pros start. Otherwise you run the risk of the pros catching up with them.

Maybe I need to look at the routes again then.
I though everyone needed to be out of the way for the pros, and starting everyone in perfect order (if we pretend that could be done) of finishing would be the best way to acheive that (ie no hold ups).
What if a muppet has a good day and sprints from the back, or someone got the wrong wave time, or some one at the front had a puncture, or.........

A two hour start window is not going to make much difference in finish times for some people I fear!
If the slow riders start first there are going to be some of them at every point on the coarse at any given point imo.
I thought they would start last (ideally) and get swept up if in the way.

thegreatdivide

Clearly the organisers of this huge event haven’t taken any of these potential issues into consideration...

Anonymous

thegreatdivide wrote:

Clearly the organisers of this huge event haven’t taken any of these potential issues into consideration...

I didn't think anyone had suggested that the organisers did not know who is going where on the day, just that they have not said and people on here are questioning it.

I assume faster first, MF is saying maybe the other way around.
Whats your theory?

moscowflyer

I'm not saying it 'will' be faster last, I hope it's faster first. Just saying I doubt they'll have the stragglers going out too late.

thegreatdivide

For closed road events it's fastest first. It's a tried and tested way of doing it. Having the slower groups going first would result in carnage and if you don’t make the cut off time you’ll be removed from the event.

islwyn

Absolutely it will be fastest first, and many will want to go quicker so they can get back to watch the Elite race on TV/On Route.

My ballot failed so I'll be heading down to the Surrey Hills to watch elite race. Don't forget it's a closed circuit so the only traffic will be bikes, however I would definitely aim to set off in 1st or 2nd group, if you drop back so be it - much better than having to dodge people.

Your 17mph avg isnt bad if you can maintain that for 100 miles, just keep riding and you'll increase quickly.

Anonymous

Cheers Islwyn, not least for being the first to mention training on this thread

I know the distance and fatigue is my main problem (at least any traffic will give me a breather!).
I am sure I can get the hilly 20 I did down to an hour so average 20mph. I was pleased with having done it at 17mph the first time as that showed I can maintain the average I need for my time goal even when hilly.

Am toying with a trip to the Surrey hills to confirm average on that 20 mile section of the actual route.
If I can do that well it should just be a case of improving stamina and hoping for a sunny day and minimal traffic.

Am doing a 64 mile sportive shortly and plan to do at least one other longer one prior to the event.

pashda

I think your ave speed will be fine. I havent started training yet but have been doing plenty of running over the winter so just need to get the bike legs back and then build the long rides up. I have a 50 mile sportive on 5th May and will look for a couple of others between 75 and 100 miles before August. I have put 6hrs on my form and will expect to be under but I think it will be like the marathon where everyone puts 4hrs down so its too crowded to run at the start. The first 20 miles will be a bit dangerous and there will be crashes so I will look to ease into it gently and then hammer it once the traffic thins out a bit. Cant wait