Ride London 2014

Slo Mo Jones

Carbonator wrote:

Box Hill is just a long slope upwards.

So is Ventoux you gimp

Anonymous

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Box Hill is just a long slope upwards.

So is Ventoux you gimp

Really???? So Ventoux isn't that tough then

Whats your point?
Have you been up Box Hill? Was it tougher or easier than you anticipated?
I have never ever heard anyone say it was tougher than they thought it would be.

Its well overrated and easy compared to Leith Hill if you bother to stay in context (maybe quote all of my paragraph next time) to the post I was replying to.

mrfpb

12 weeks to go and I still haven't managed a fifty miler this year. Got to 45 miles a week and a half ago (53 miles intended) and visited by the puncture fairy. Had a tube and patch kit but no tyre levers!

Been ill since then, nausea, dizziness, no appettite, losing weight, haven't shaved for a week. On the bright side I suppose I could audition to be a Rapha model.

How's everyone else doing?

Vandiesel

Pretty much the same!
Work and a very poorly Dad has not motivated me much!
L

Rodu

I was aiming for 45M on Sunday but managed 38, I think the heat, dehydration and lack of carbs did me over. Or I just simply am not ready to do that in one hit.

Sometimes, the training plan and progression is not always a straight line, sometimes we go backwards a little, but ultimately, we will get there. The journey will be wind and turn a little, snaking along. but come the day, we will be ready and we will dig deep and we will cross that line! :-)

Slo Mo Jones

Carbonator wrote:

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Box Hill is just a long slope upwards.

So is Ventoux you gimp

Really???? So Ventoux isn't that tough then

Whats your point?

My point is clearly that your description doesn't help - what information does it give? All you've done is given a 5 year old's description of any hill. You didn't even say whether it was easy or difficult, which I think was meant to be your point.

I go up box hill and leith hill every weekend you plum.

markhewitt1978

Not sure where there is an obsession with Box Hill? Is it the only hill in the South East? Or is it because there's probably a dozen hills just like it within a dozen miles of my house?

marcusjb

For whatever reason, it is a very iconic climb. It's one of the few climbs in the UK that features an alpine style zig zag (though only for a couple of bends).

It's not a particularly challenging climb on a bike - but it rewards you with some great views.

charlie_potatoes

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Not sure where there is an obsession with Box Hill?

It's in Surrey

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Is it the only hill in the South East?

No

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Or is it because there's probably a dozen hills just like it within a dozen miles of my house?

Probably not.

HTH

drlodge

I think Box Hill has become iconic due to the fact its a steady, Alpine like (5-8%) climb, with hair pins and a great view all the way up. Compare that to the other "big" hills in Surrey which are generally steeper, straighter and surrounded by trees. Box Hill is unlike all other climbs in Surrey I can think of, only Staple Lane comes close and that's dead straight.

charlie_potatoes

It's always an enjoyable climb for me. I prefer some of the more challenging hills such as Whitedown or Barhatch but Box is great for interval training, has good tarmac and views. Oh and a cake stop at the top

Anonymous

marcusjb wrote:

For whatever reason, it is a very iconic climb. It's one of the few climbs in the UK that features an alpine style zig zag (though only for a couple of bends).

It's not a particularly challenging climb on a bike - but it rewards you with some great views.

Alpine style

Its a nice enough cycle for sure and I know what you mean but that description is a bit OTT.

Anonymous

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Box Hill is just a long slope upwards.

So is Ventoux you gimp

Really???? So Ventoux isn't that tough then

Whats your point?

My point is clearly that your description doesn't help - what information does it give? All you've done is given a 5 year old's description of any hill. You didn't even say whether it was easy or difficult, which I think was meant to be your point.

I go up box hill and leith hill every weekend you plum.

It seemed to get the point across to me. Anyone else find it difficult to understand what I meant or just plebs?

It was only to say it was less of a challenge than Leith anyway if you read the full post.
Its actual difficulty was irrelevant and there was no reason to pick holes in the description :roll:

No point in saying if I find it easy or difficult because that would be about me and not the hill.

Der Kaiser

I see they are after volunteers to help out.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... ght-41122/

bikergirl17

one incentive would be to give volunteer a big discount and guaranteed entry the next year ... at the gym at my office, they haven't had any takers for the corporate relay ... perhaps because it is UK200 per 4 person team, each member who rides 25 miles. so that comes to UK2 per mile!

Anonymous

Corporate relay sounds pants. How do you get to/from the start/finish point of each section?
Do not see the incentive of doing that even if your company pays for it (which I imagined was the idea).

Unless you are the first one and just don't stop 8)

bikergirl17

it is neufield gym with the entry forms, hoping that rich employees at the corporate gyms they manage will do it (and i guess for whom 25 miles is a challenge). i vaguely recall last year somehow each person had to get to the hand off spot a few hours ahead and wait. whole thing sounds ridiculous to me too.

Anonymous

Guy I spoke to last year at the start was doing it. He looked younger, fitter and lighter than me (and I am GFA ;-) )
I remember getting to 25 miles and thinking that his ride was over :shock:

Just noticed they do a business peloton this year (as well as the business relay).
The four people start at the same points, but all keep going to the end, so the first person to start does 100 miles, second 75, and so on.

That sounds quite good if you have four people of differing abilities, and you all get to ride into London and down The Mall.
Especially if your firm pay the entry.
Its got to be cheaper and probably more effective than a lot of team building things they could send people on.

sednihp

I signed up to ride this for the BHF as a challenge to keep me motivated and riding. I only got a bike last summer (and a Carrera TDF at that :oops: ) but training is going remarkably well considering I can only get out once a week. I completed my first metric century on Saturday and didn't actually feel totally dead afterwards.

I'm a little bit concerned about the hills as the lowest gear on the TDF is a 39x26 and there's only one hill that's of any size near me to train on (North Hill just outside Chelmsford). But after a few ascents the last few weeks even that's getting easier so I'm a bit more optimistic than I was. I keep toying with the idea of converting the TDF to a compact to make things easier but I'm unsure if the investment is worth it.

Omar Little

sednihp wrote:

I signed up to ride this for the BHF as a challenge to keep me motivated and riding. I only got a bike last summer (and a Carrera TDF at that :oops: ) but training is going remarkably well considering I can only get out once a week. I completed my first metric century on Saturday and didn't actually feel totally dead afterwards.

I'm a little bit concerned about the hills as the lowest gear on the TDF is a 39x26 and there's only one hill that's of any size near me to train on (North Hill just outside Chelmsford). But after a few ascents the last few weeks even that's getting easier so I'm a bit more optimistic than I was. I keep toying with the idea of converting the TDF to a compact to make things easier but I'm unsure if the investment is worth it.

Will be cheaper just putting a bigger cassette on - 11-28 (or12-28) which should fit without needing a new rear mech. Doesnt quite get you the compact gearing but not that far off for alot less expense!

charlie_potatoes

sednihp wrote:

I signed up to ride this for the BHF as a challenge to keep me motivated and riding. I only got a bike last summer (and a Carrera TDF at that :oops: ) but training is going remarkably well considering I can only get out once a week. I completed my first metric century on Saturday and didn't actually feel totally dead afterwards.

I'm a little bit concerned about the hills as the lowest gear on the TDF is a 39x26 and there's only one hill that's of any size near me to train on (North Hill just outside Chelmsford). But after a few ascents the last few weeks even that's getting easier so I'm a bit more optimistic than I was. I keep toying with the idea of converting the TDF to a compact to make things easier but I'm unsure if the investment is worth it.

You need to keep in mind that Leith Hill will be a fair bit more challenging than Little Baddow.
As mentioned by Omar an 11-28 cassette is probably the way to go.
For training I suggest that you try not using the 26 gear on North Hill. If you can get up there on 23t then Leith should be okay on 28t.
Good Luck.

drlodge

Last year Leith Hill was full of riders, some walking, and its was quite a job to get through them as I roared up the hill

The steep bit towards the top isn't that long and with so many people you actually get a bit lost as to how far up the hill you are. I couldn't believe it when I got to top and thought "where was the steep bit? Oh past it..."

charlie_potatoes

It's all relative though. Leith is easy compared to some of the neighbouring hills like Whitedown or Barhatch but for a relative novice training on our Essex 'speed bumps' it will be a challenge.

There were a fair few taking the walk of shame last year. I passed one guy who was bashing the wall with his fists. Not sure what was up there. I left him to it

Anonymous

Yes, its all relative.
Found Whitedown a toughie when we did a recce there last year, but easy peasy compared to Bushcombe Lane in Cheltenham which I still have not made it up in one go

Its not just about gearing though. Technique and resolve will play as big a part in getting up Leith.
That said its a fair way into the ride so I would stick a bigger cassette on as insurance against walking shamefully.

philbar72

Carbonator wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

you know it's not a race don't you ... ?

Closed roads = Race :P

Training ride surely..... I'm saving it all for the sprint down the Mall. Will be doing my best Simon Gerrans impression (wheelsucking all the way)....

sednihp

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

You need to keep in mind that Leith Hill will be a fair bit more challenging than Little Baddow.
As mentioned by Omar an 11-28 cassette is probably the way to go.
For training I suggest that you try not using the 26 gear on North Hill. If you can get up there on 23t then Leith should be okay on 28t.
Good Luck.

It's hard to comprehend just how different Leith Hill is when there's absolutely nothing comparable anywhere near me to ride up. I'll look into a 28t cassette to make life easier as well. Thanks for the training idea, I'll give it a try and see if I can make it up in a higher gear the next time I'm out.

sherer

I know we are all different but I managed to get up Leigh Hill fine and I am the sort of rider who usually has to do the walk of shame. It wasn't that long and the only issue for me was having it soon after Newlands Corner.

mrfpb

I'm out. Deferred for health reasons.

Do you think the mods will give me a "sticky" for RideLondon 2015.

Stedman

sednihp wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

You need to keep in mind that Leith Hill will be a fair bit more challenging than Little Baddow.
As mentioned by Omar an 11-28 cassette is probably the way to go.
For training I suggest that you try not using the 26 gear on North Hill. If you can get up there on 23t then Leith should be okay on 28t.
Good Luck.

It's hard to comprehend just how different Leith Hill is when there's absolutely nothing comparable anywhere near me to ride up. I'll look into a 28t cassette to make life easier as well. Thanks for the training idea, I'll give it a try and see if I can make it up in a higher gear the next time I'm out.

Last year I went up with a 38 x 23 combination quite easily . The top 1/3 ramps up on 3 to 4 occasions, however it is also worth doing a recce on this particular hill so that it does not spook you on the day.

mrfpb

Stedman wrote:

Last year I went up with a 38 x 23 combination quite easily . The top 1/3 ramps up on 3 to 4 occasions, however it is also worth doing a recce on this particular hill so that it does not spook you on the day.

Wow, where do I get a 38 cassette.