Ride London 2014

paul2718

And if you don't have a local 100m or so climb then simply doing 10 minutes at full power, recover and repeat will be good enough. Just ensure that 'full power' is 'hard'.

Paul

birdie23

Rich_E wrote:

If people have to walk, they have to walk, and as a non-professional mass event that has a heavy focus on charity, its to be expected.

When I did it last year, there were a number of walkers on Sawyer's Hill, but given that its quite wide, this didn't cause too many issues, even though the road was heavily congested at that early stage.

Leith is different though, because of the fact that its a narrow road. I'm no climber, but even I found that I had to try and get around walkers, which makes keeping your cadence to spin up the hill a little troublesome. The other aspect that I encountered was that when the route gets out to Surrey and the hills, the number of accidents goes up. While I was making my ascent, an ambulance and two other vehicles responding were also trying to make their way up which resulted in people having to stop all together because they can't move to the left with all the walkers.

I didn't make it in this year, but I did say after last year that it would be good if the magazine, which has lots of info about how to ride in a group, should also just have a little piece on that if you have to walk, stick to the left and go single file.

Should I be practicing shouting "move to the side" while climbing for my rides next week?

Giving room to those who are still on their bike and riding at 10mph or so should be common sense.

Anonymous

Was it very congested lat year? Did not think it was too bad from what I have heard said.

There are more people doing it this year. Think the 'no shows' will be less and there are more entrants anyway.
The other thing is that it will probably get different types of riders (less capable?) than last year as a lot more people know about it.

I do not think it can afford to become clogged up like L2B does, and I hope the organisers do whatever they have to to prevent this happening.

rich_e

ChrisAOnABike wrote:

Rich_E wrote:

it would be good if the magazine, which has lots of info about how to ride in a group, should also just have a little piece on that if you have to walk, stick to the left and go single file.

It would, but if people are too thick and/or inconsiderate to figure it out themselves, a little paragraph in the mag is going to make sod all difference.

Just like the way the mag said (and says again this year) not to drop litter, the road was completely covered with gel wrappers.

Basically, a lot of people don't give a damn.

Hey, I'm not saying I agree with it!
I'm just pointing out that because of how big this event is, you are going to get unexperienced people and those who haven't done the training. This is very much being billed as similar to charity events like London to Brighton, which has exactly the same problem.

You also have to remember that this got a huge amount of publicity, with closed roads and national tv coverage.... along with Boris Johnson completing it in shorts and a t-shirt, saying that pretty much anyone could do it because he did. So you are bound to have loads of people who don't do the training and then think that if Boris can do it, they can do it easily. I even have a friend who after I did it last year said they were signing up, despite the fact that he only rides a mountain bike every now and again.

I agree there is no excuse for not having some common sense though.

Carbonator, in my experience of last year, starting roughly half way through the start times, I don't think that it was too congested. The only two areas I felt were quite busy were the ones I mentioned. Richmond Park was busy on Sawyer's Hill and then once you get to the top of it and are on the downhill section, despite being a closed road, I wasn't getting to go the kind of speed I would when the park is open. Leith Hill was really the only problem part and the water stop that came just after it at the village hall, as everyone wants to stop and it was too small.

The roads on the route last year are for the most part fairly wide, not to mention you have the entire road to use, which it struck me that some people seemed to forget at times.

Anonymous

Well, it is what it is.

Last week of training. Hope everyone is up to speed

Fingers crossed for some good weather like last year.

sherer

Carbonator wrote:

Well, it is what it is.

Last week of training. Hope everyone is up to speed

Fingers crossed for some good weather like last year.

Training has been ruined by a broken arm still getting a bit of pain on longer rides. Only managed 35 this morning will go slower and aim for a longer 80 miler on sun

ajh18

Rich_E wrote:

The only two areas I felt were quite busy were the ones I mentioned. Richmond Park was busy on Sawyer's Hill and then once you get to the top of it and are on the downhill section, despite being a closed road, I wasn't getting to go the kind of speed I would when the park is open.

Listening to the doomy tales of participants treating the event as part-bike, part-hike, I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I'm going to need to go like a bat out of hell for the first 20 miles in a bid to beat the strollers to the Park. I don't expect to get an overall time that'll set the world alight, but as going upwards is pretty much the one thing I do reasonably well, it'd be a shame to be forced to get off and jog round people whenever the grade goes over 4%.

So, if you see a thin bloke sprinting over Chiswick Bridge for no obvious reason at about 815, that'll quite likely be me.

Mikey23

London marathon is the same. Takes miles to get into stride because of getting through the plebs and the walkers. No point in even trying to get a quick time. Start off too near the front and set off too quick and you will blow well before the end. Ive got no real expectation but there seems to be loads of places where you can ride pretty quickly and places where it might be a tad frustrating. Im there on a charity place, i aint racing and if i average 15 i will be chuffed

veronese68

I agree with Mikey.

DHA987S

Leith Hill is fully open again according to someone in my cycling club. Not had chance to check yet but probably will tomorrow.

elbowloh

I did Leith Hill yesterday, but coming from Dorking. So up Coldharbour lane, along Abinger Road and down Leith Hill Road. That was open. There was a sportive coming up Leith Hill Lane (then down Leith Hill Road), so that was open too.

kevinr24

One of my Surrey News colleagues has made a video about how to survive the three toughest RideLondon climbs with the Nuun-Sigma cycling team. If you're taking part next month and fancy getting a cyclist's eye view of the climbs at Newlands Corner, Leith Hill and Box Hill, I'd recommend it. The link is http://bit.ly/1o5FjLl

surrey_commuter

I really don't get how you can enter a 100 mil bike ride with 1,300 metres of climbing with months to prepare and then end up walking up Sawyers after 20 miles. That suggests that they have not got on a bike in several years. It is irresponsible to themselves and others and should be removed from the course

I cycle round RP a lot and can only think of one occasion when I have seen somebody walking up Sawyers

Slo Mo Jones

paul2718 wrote:

If people have to walk, they have to walk, and as a non-professional mass event that has a heavy focus on charity, its to be expected.

Really, it's not to be expected. It's disrespectful to the event to be so unprepared. The climbs are not hard in any absolute way, and not hard to practice for (or even on). It's inexcusable. On Sawyers beyond belief.

Paul

No-one was walking up Sawyers last year. Someone's made that up.

sherer

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

paul2718 wrote:

If people have to walk, they have to walk, and as a non-professional mass event that has a heavy focus on charity, its to be expected.

Really, it's not to be expected. It's disrespectful to the event to be so unprepared. The climbs are not hard in any absolute way, and not hard to practice for (or even on). It's inexcusable. On Sawyers beyond belief.

Paul

No-one was walking up Sawyers last year. Someone's made that up.

The trouble is unless you watched the hill for 5-6 hours you can't say for sure.

Didn't even know there was any named hills in the park. Never ridden through it before and thought of it more as just a lump to be honest.

davep1

ContrelaMontre wrote:

Looking into transport options from Hertfordshire. The parking still available are NCP around the City for £15. This seems a bit pointless to me when I could park on the street in London on a Sunday in a bay or on a single yellow line for free. I have done this before on Bank Holidays with no problem, but not sure if people have found the on street parking very busy or an issue because of the road closures. Anyone got any thoughts on doing this?

I would think it is possible, especially as you will probably arrive very early in the morning. I've gone for the London Bridge car park, I know if I have any problems getting to the start I will panic and I don't want to be hunting around for a place to leave the car I think is safe. I know the official car parks are not guaranteed safe, but it's one less thing to think about. Getting up at 2 am for a 6.17 start, so I'm keeping it simple! Last year I went for the car park at Surrey Quays, and got to within about 1/4 mile of it but couldn't find it. Went round the block a few times, eventually the penny dropped, and I only lost about 10 minutes, but it made the heart rate go up until I got to the start.

marcusjb

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

paul2718 wrote:

If people have to walk, they have to walk, and as a non-professional mass event that has a heavy focus on charity, its to be expected.

Really, it's not to be expected. It's disrespectful to the event to be so unprepared. The climbs are not hard in any absolute way, and not hard to practice for (or even on). It's inexcusable. On Sawyers beyond belief.

Paul

No-one was walking up Sawyers last year. Someone's made that up.

I saw people walking up there with my very own eyes as I spent some time between cancellara corner and the sheen gate roundabout. Great atmosphere, even the walkers were smiling. As long as they reach the end (even if they get diverted down the short cut) and have a good time, no harm done (though I agree there should be marshals shouting at them to keep left). Plenty of folks walk lots on the London marathon.

Disrespectful to the event? Do me a favour.

More bums on seats, more money raised, more smiles. The 4-5 hour riders who enjoy swinging their dicks against each other are such a small part of this event in reality. Those for whom 100 miles is a challenge are the real heroes who need support not ridicule.

poppit

We'll be riding from our hotel near the excel centre to the start, can anyone suggest the best route to take as I don't know the area at all.

Thanks

Anonymous

marcusjb wrote:

Disrespectful to the event? Do me a favour.

More bums on seats, more money raised, more smiles. The 4-5 hour riders who enjoy swinging their dicks against each other are such a small part of this event in reality. Those for whom 100 miles is a challenge are the real heroes who need support not ridicule.

I think it's somewhere in between personally, but have always said that its a tough ask to be both a big fundraiser and olympic legacy.

100 miles is not L2B pub crawl territory IMO and it is disrespectful to get in peoples way and not be able to finish the full course.
If you think it is a 'turn up and have a bash' type event/distance then how far/hard would an event have to be before you felt people should take it a little seriously?

You are right, the event is very much for people that would find it a challenge (either a challenge to finish or a challenge to do a quick time), but its not for people who do not train properly for the challenge, do not ride the course properly and do not have much hope of finishing.

No one minds walkers that much if they stay on the left in single file. Seems a reasonable ask to me.

You are ridiculing people that see the fast time as a challenge which is odd as everyone single person in the olympics that made this an olympic legacy was after a fast time :?

martinperry

poppit wrote:

We'll be riding from our hotel near the excel centre to the start, can anyone suggest the best route to take as I don't know the area at all.

Thanks

If you head towards Royal Albert DLR station, (next East after excel, past the Travelodge) There is an official drop off point by the roundabout - it was cleary signposted from there last year.

marcusjb

Carbonator wrote:

You are ridiculing people that see the fast time as a challenge

I am sure they can handle it, they are the hard men of our sport.

However, those who are going to have to walk a hill or two and will take the full time allocation to do the ride, they need support and encouragement, not redicule.

Really doesn't matter if someone has to walk up a hill, as long as they enjoy their day, some will raise lots of money, some may have been encouraged back into cycling and are more likely to continue in the future if they are applauded for their efforts.

More bums on saddles - it's all good.

Leesykoi

poppit wrote:

We'll be riding from our hotel near the excel centre to the start, can anyone suggest the best route to take as I don't know the area at all.

Thanks

I rode up from the Ibis Excel Styles hotel last year and had the same concern. Went down the road turned left and was joined by literally hundreds of others cyclists heading to the start (I was off at 7.30am last year).

This year i'm off at 6.15am so hope there are still a few to follow but I've got a fair idea on the way now !!!

birdie23

Carbonator wrote:

No one minds walkers that much if they stay on the left in single file. Seems a reasonable ask to me.

You are ridiculing people that see the fast time as a challenge which is odd as everyone single person in the olympics that made this an olympic legacy was after a fast time :?

Exactly! I'm taking it as an opportunity to see how quick I can do 100 miles on closed roads. I know I won't be the quickest and I won't be racing anybody but I will be racing the clock and myself to get the best time I can.

If someone holds me up on Leith or Box Hill because they are walking alongside another walker than I won't be best pleased. I don't mind people walking but they should have some respect for other riders and the event by keeping single file.

paul2718

Those for whom 100 miles is a challenge are the real heroes who need support not ridicule.

They pick the easiest possible 100 mile ride as their challenge, and then don't prepare for it. Given the 60000 disappointed would-be-riders and the significant disruption this event causes to the public, I think it is disrespectful. Especially on Sawyers. Walking up a gentle rise 20 miles into a 100 mile ride?

Taking a breather on the rise to Wimbledon Common, just about a different matter....

Paul

Spatulala

"No one minds cyclists that much if they stay on the left in single file. Seems a reasonable ask to me.

I take driving as an opportunity to see how quick I can get to B&Q and back. If a cyclist holds me up because they are riding alongside another cyclist then I won't be best pleased. I don't mind people cycling but they should have some respect for cars by keeping single file."

There, fixed that for you. Sorry, couldn't resist.

swj1

marcusjb wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

You are ridiculing people that see the fast time as a challenge

I am sure they can handle it, they are the hard men of our sport.

However, those who are going to have to walk a hill or two and will take the full time allocation to do the ride, they need support and encouragement, not redicule.

Really doesn't matter if someone has to walk up a hill, as long as they enjoy their day, some will raise lots of money, some may have been encouraged back into cycling and are more likely to continue in the future if they are applauded for their efforts.

More bums on saddles - it's all good.

This ^^

Anonymous

Spatulala wrote:

"No one minds cyclists that much if they stay on the left in single file. Seems a reasonable ask to me.

I take driving as an opportunity to see how quick I can get to B&Q and back. If a cyclist holds me up because they are riding alongside another cyclist then I won't be best pleased. I don't mind people cycling but they should have some respect for cars by keeping single file."

There, fixed that for you. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Think you are on the wrong forum mate. Try petrol heads or max power.

Bit odd when someone (presumably a cyclist?) on a cycle forum thinks that cyclists have to ride single file on the roads.
Of course cyclist should ride single file if there is not room to pass, but it sounds like you think they should do it all the time like so many ignorant tw4t drivers do.

You would not walk along pushing your bike up a hill two abreast normally, so why do people think its ok to do it on an event.

veronese68

Carbonator wrote:

Think you are on the wrong forum mate. Try petrol heads or max power.

No, he's just changed a couple of words from a post above. Funny how when you change it from a cyclist saying he doesn't want to be held up by slower cyclists to a car driver not wanting to be held up by cyclists it's wrong. The sentiment is the same "Get out of my way I'm more important than you."
I completely agree with Marcus a little further up. We all start somewhere and people should be encouraged to cycle more, not lambasted for not being as fast as somebody else.

ugo.santalucia

marcusjb wrote:

I saw people walking up there with my very own eyes as I spent some time between cancellara corner and the sheen gate roundabout. Great atmosphere, even the walkers were smiling. As long as they reach the end (even if they get diverted down the short cut) and have a good time, no harm done (though I agree there should be marshals shouting at them to keep left). Plenty of folks walk lots on the London marathon.

Disrespectful to the event? Do me a favour.

More bums on seats, more money raised, more smiles. The 4-5 hour riders who enjoy swinging their dicks against each other are such a small part of this event in reality. Those for whom 100 miles is a challenge are the real heroes who need support not ridicule.

I'll shortlist this for post of the year...

Anonymous

Veronese68 wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Think you are on the wrong forum mate. Try petrol heads or max power.

No, he's just changed a couple of words from a post above. Funny how when you change it from a cyclist saying he doesn't want to be held up by slower cyclists to a car driver not wanting to be held up by cyclists it's wrong. The sentiment is the same "Get out of my way I'm more important than you."
I completely agree with Marcus a little further up. We all start somewhere and people should be encouraged to cycle more, not lambasted for not being as fast as somebody else.

The two things are completely different.

There is nothing wrong with a car driver being held up by slower moving bikes (as long as they are riding correctly), any more than being held up by a horse ,or milk float, or funeral cars.

No one is saying 'get out of my way, I am more important than you'. They are saying get out of my way because you are blocking the road you stupid muppet.

As I said, you would not walk up a normal road on a normal day two or more abreast blocking the road, so why do it when you know people are trying to cycle up it in an event you all entered. Its plain ignorant and rude.

Edit: "We all start somewhere" ? Maybe a shorter distance with less hills would be a better starting point :roll:
I certainly am not having a go at anyone for being slower or starting out, but just have some common courtesy for people around you as you should in any situation in life.