London Ride 100

Kieran_Burns

Just to point out I did my first ever 100 mile ride (sportive) on the back of the usual 12 mile each way commute with a couple of 40 mile loops out.

spasypaddy

i just withdrew

keyser__soze

rubertoe wrote:

I'll meet you in the first pub that is open on the route Veronese.

Now that's a plan. An enforced pint stop (minimum one proper pint) lasting no less than 45 minutes at four nominated pubs en-route. Would make comparing overall times far more "roleur"-friendly and should offset the natural advantage the spindly-legged climber types have. Only problem is Rick Chasey would have to remember to take ID else he wouldn't get served.

veronese68

First 'rest' stop at the Albert just after Kingston Gate? Mind you it won't be open at that time. How are we going to recognise each other? Drunk and weaving?

rubertoe

It might be open by the time I get there...I'll be the one that is leaving a trail of destruction... either that or follow the bottle tops trail that i'll leave

veronese68

Duvel rattling away in the bottle cages?

msmancunia

Don't forget, if you see some woman riding around with a bottle of dry white wine on a Trek smoking a Marlboro menthol*, that will be me.

*I haven't started again, I just had a couple of lapses :oops:

rubertoe

Veronese68 wrote:

Duvel rattling away in the bottle cages?

I might just fill my camelback with it. although it will get flat and warm

The stopping idea sounds best...

veronese68

msmancunia wrote:

Don't forget, if you see some woman riding around with a bottle of dry white wine on a Trek smoking a Marlboro menthol*, that will be me.

*I haven't started again, I just had a couple of lapses :oops:

We'll be outside a pub by the sound of it.

msmancunia

Veronese68 wrote:

msmancunia wrote:

Don't forget, if you see some woman riding around with a bottle of dry white wine on a Trek smoking a Marlboro menthol*, that will be me.

*I haven't started again, I just had a couple of lapses :oops:

We'll be outside a pub by the sound of it.

So I see. Southern amateurs. You should rendezvous outside one of those pubs near Smithfield Market that open about 3am for the traders and have a pint before you set off :-)

keyser__soze

I expect to see scenes like this on Leith Hill:

PBo

spasypaddy wrote:

i just withdrew

Withdrew!! Withdrew?? You'd better have a good excuse....
.....like, I don't know, ....a ruptured tendon?

Eh? ....oh.....

veronese68

msmancunia wrote:

So I see. Southern amateurs. You should rendezvous outside one of those pubs near Smithfield Market that open about 3am for the traders and have a pint before you set off :-)

What's your start time? We could be in real trouble by then.

spasypaddy

PBo wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

i just withdrew

Withdrew!! Withdrew?? You'd better have a good excuse....
.....like, I don't know, ....a ruptured tendon?

Eh? ....oh.....

daddy0

Up until April I was in the best shape I've ever been in, even averaged 20mph on a 160 mile ride.

TBH I'm not sure where I'm at at the moment. I'm commuting 25 miles each way, but can't seem to get my average speed back in to the 20s. Permanently tired due to long commute, working hard and looking after the family.

But my speed is the least of my worries. SWMBO is ready to pop out our second son - due date is Monday... If he's a no show come Sunday gawd knows what I'm gonna do??? I've been having visions of being half way up Leith Hill and getting the call.

On top of that I'm still trying to raise funds. If any of you have a spare tenner for the MNDA then please help me out:
https://www.justgiving.com/mlccpru100/

veronese68

spasypaddy wrote:

PBo wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

i just withdrew

Withdrew!! Withdrew?? You'd better have a good excuse....
.....like, I don't know, ....a ruptured tendon?

Eh? ....oh.....

Did you manage to get it deferred?

spasypaddy

yeah but you dont get a refund and you have to pay for next year in october. so basically just means a guaranteed place

elbowloh

Veronese68 wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

PBo wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

i just withdrew

Withdrew!! Withdrew?? You'd better have a good excuse....
.....like, I don't know, ....a ruptured tendon?

Eh? ....oh.....

Did you manage to get it deferred?

You can get a ruptured tendon deferred?

msmancunia

Veronese68 wrote:

msmancunia wrote:

So I see. Southern amateurs. You should rendezvous outside one of those pubs near Smithfield Market that open about 3am for the traders and have a pint before you set off :-)

What's your start time? We could be in real trouble by then.

Haha - if I see a load of half-cut layabouts outside one of the pubs I'll assume it's you lot.

No idea what my start time is yet - we got given a couple of very last minute team entries for supporting the ride so we've had to cobble together our teams based on who isn't on leave. All I know so far is that I'm doing it :shock:

asprilla

So, I've got a pass to the VIP tent in the morning; tea, coffee, juice, sausage and bacons sarnies. Oh and I don't have to go through the load period so I can stay in bed a bit longer.

Go me.

I believe that the Bliss tent at the finish line also has a masseuse for Bliss riders.

This charity lark has it's benefits.

Applespider

So is anyone meeting anywhere afterwards? The Morpeth isn't that far from the Mall...

Although having also had most of the planned training fall by the wayside, I'm not entirely sure what time I'll be doing it in! At the moment, having ridden the commute bike more than the 'fast' bike this year, I'm seriously thinking about doing on that - despite the rack, mudguards and disc brakes just for the comfort factor!

rolf_f

Never has so much been written by so many about such an average sportive!

Good luck to you all with it.

veronese68

Rolf F wrote:

Never has so much been written by so many about such an average sportive!

Good luck to you all with it.

Take a look at the thread in the road routes section. :shock:
There are some people taking it way too seriously.

veronese68

Applespider wrote:

So is anyone meeting anywhere afterwards? The Morpeth isn't that far from the Mall...

Great idea, but it's on the route to the finish so will probably be really busy. Any other pubs around there we should meet at?

menthel

Is the route going up or down Ranmore common road from westhumble? The road is a right bloody state. There are repairs going on at the moment (the road is closed but they didn't mind a cyclist going up today). The repairs didn't look all that comprehensive and going down it at speed in a group would be treacherous as it stands.

sketchley

Gutted to not be doing this year... At least I have a place for next year sorted.

For the meet up at the end, can I suggest you all leave your bikes in the very well run secure bike parking provided at the mall, they give you a wrist band with a number and an identical one for the bike and it worked well last year, and then meet in the fan park towards green park station that way people can join as they finish. There is a Sainsbury's or something similar at green park that sells beer or you could do what I did and have the wife meet with a four pack and a hip flask*. There are also big tents you can change in once you pick up your kit bag so you can be fresh!

*Please note that I am in not why condoning the user of beer or spirits as recovery following a 100 mile bike ride......

mpdouglas

If anyone hasn't yet decided how they're going to get to the start area, the following might be an option for you.

Last year, I had the wife drive me up the A3 and drop me off just near the OXO tower. I then cycled the last few miles to the Olympic Park (easy cycle and lots of people doing it - crossed at London Bridge).

I have an earlier start time this year and I don't think the wife will be persuadable to get up sufficiently early.

As it happens, there is an APCOA carpark on Cornwall Street (a couple of hundred yards from Waterloo Station) that is open and manned 24 hours a day (http://www.apcoa.co.uk/parking-in/londo ... -road.html). It's only £20 for 24 hours.

And it should be an easy getaway after the event too (being south of the Thames).

I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to do. But note to self - car park has height restricting barriers - do not use roof rack for bicycle!

antfly

For anyone who is worried about being late, I did it last year and I am doing it again this year and there is nothing to stop you going in a later wave if you are late. Ignore the advice about getting there an hour earlier, you will be standing around for ages. Also, it was pretty cold last year at 5 am so maybe take a lightweight jacket or something.

rubertoe

A couple of Questions for the un prepared.

When do i need to pick up my bits from Excel? (assuming it is excel)
When is the actual ride?
Anyone else heading down from High Barnet area want to stop me from getting lost?

veronese68

I'm going to Excel on Thursday evening to pick up my stuff. I did a bit of training last night, a short ride followed by a couple of pints.
The ride isn't for ages yet, plenty of time to prepare and do training type stuff.