Ride London 2014

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Comments

  • onemoresolo
    onemoresolo Posts: 372
    Certainly wouldn't advise Gatorskins for extra grip.

    Maybe if the ballot wasn't so biased to London postcodes, fewer folk would be pulling out because of some forecast drizzle. Deary me.
  • HertsG
    HertsG Posts: 129
    sy1975 wrote:
    Loving the banter the rain is drawing however Serious question.

    I am running conti gp4000 s currently would anyone advise gator skins for extra grip, puncture resistance?
    I asked a guy on the Conti stall at the show - he reckoned the tyre of choice was the Grand Prix but the GP4000SII wasn't too far behind.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    Wish we had more events on a sat perfect weather today
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Vittoria Pave' or any tyre designed with wet cobbles in mind. 25 mm minimum, Max tyre pressure at 90 PSI, the highest possible TPI count... a flashing rear light annoying enough to avoid having people wheelsucking you...

    We want to see those Aksium back on the road! :mrgreen:
    left the forum March 2023
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    sy1975 wrote:
    Loving the banter the rain is drawing however Serious question.

    I am running conti gp4000 s currently would anyone advise gator skins for extra grip, puncture resistance?

    I run GP4000S year round in all weather. Not had a single puncture yet (touch wood)
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    Tell what is not a lorra fun on a bike: the Limehouse Link Tunnel....
    Got drenched riding back from Excel to south-west London last night - and it was I have to say, a little chilly. Especially if you stop and go and do 10 mins shopping in an M&S food place where the ambient temp is about 10 degrees, but that was my own fault.
    Riding at 9am this morning the air temp felt definitely a couple of degrees down on anything it has been since about May.
    Just as a point of order - is there actually a good reason why the whole registration process for events like this can't be done online and numbers etc sent out in the post?
  • narbs
    narbs Posts: 593
    KnightOfTheLongTights wrote:
    Just as a point of order - is there actually a good reason why the whole registration process for events like this can't be done online and numbers etc sent out in the post?

    I imagine it's so they can put on the accompanying exhibition and say to potential exhibitors that they can guarantee 20000 visitors over three days.

    I'm very surprised they allow you to register without at least walking through the stand area. If I'd paid to exhibit I'd certainly be asking that question.
  • JDinho
    JDinho Posts: 16
    How would they check IDs without registration happening in person?

    Whether you agree with the health & safety and liability insurance reasons for checking the entered rider is the person registering that is the reason why it has to be done in person.

    Same for the Marathon organised by the same team.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    Can't believe we have a perfect day today followed by rain and howling wind.

    Still seems to be some uncertainty on the course of the storm though.

    I do agree it was cooler this morning
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    sherer wrote:
    Can't believe we have a perfect day today followed by rain and howling wind.

    Still seems to be some uncertainty on the course of the storm though.

    I do agree it was cooler this morning

    Well, according to the BBC it's all already begun one day ahead... just joined the crowd!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-28713464
    left the forum March 2023
  • DHA987S
    DHA987S Posts: 284
    Email just now hints at an enforced shortened route using the two shortcuts to miss out Leith Hill and Box Hill.
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    DHA987S wrote:
    Email just now hints at an enforced shortened route using the two shortcuts to miss out Leith Hill and Box Hill.

    This must be some kind of joke. It's a flat route as it is, never mind with those two lumps out of the equation. I'll be pretty annoyed that I've spent £60+ of my hard earned on this if they enforce the diversion.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    birdie23 wrote:
    This must be some kind of joke. It's a flat route as it is, never mind with those two lumps out of the equation. I'll be pretty annoyed that I've spent £60+ of my hard earned on this if they enforce the diversion.

    The organisers only care about safety and their share of liability should things go pear shaped on a grand scale... I don't think they give a toss if you miss out on the climbs, to be honest...
    With 24,000 cyclists of unknown ability on the roads and a forecast for a very wet morning, things can easily escalate
    left the forum March 2023
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    birdie23 wrote:
    This must be some kind of joke. It's a flat route as it is, never mind with those two lumps out of the equation. I'll be pretty annoyed that I've spent £60+ of my hard earned on this if they enforce the diversion.

    The organisers only care about safety and their share of liability should things go pear shaped on a grand scale... I don't think they give a toss if you miss out on the climbs, to be honest...
    With 24,000 cyclists of unknown ability on the roads and a forecast for a very wet morning, things can easily escalate

    Let's not call them climbs.

    It's the RideLondon-Surrey 100. Enforcing it to be less than 100 miles makes it pointless imo. That's assuming the diversion doesn't add distance to keep it at 100 miles.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • Grantmk
    Grantmk Posts: 39
    When was that email sent? I've not seen that but with the met advising branches could be brought down it wouldn't surprise me one bit - the organisers wouldn't want to risk someone being hit. If it happens it would be disappointing but understandable imo.

    My dilemma is whether to switch from Pro 4's to Gatorskins.
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    edited August 2014
    JDinho wrote:
    How would they check IDs without registration happening in person?

    Whether you agree with the health & safety and liability insurance reasons for checking the entered rider is the person registering that is the reason why it has to be done in person.

    Same for the Marathon organised by the same team.

    well that had crossed my mind - but it doesn't stack up: I could now give my race number etc to anyone, as could anyone else. Are there checks on the day to prevent that?
    Pre-event registration makes passing on numbers easier - the only way you stop it happening is on-the-day reg with photo id.
    With 24,000 riders that might be impractical - but they cannot pretend that the system as it is is about security / H&S...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    birdie23 wrote:
    It's the RideLondon-Surrey 100. Enforcing it to be less than 100 miles makes it pointless imo. That's assuming the diversion doesn't add distance to keep it at 100 miles.

    OK, so there is a weather warning, the organisers decide to plough ahead with plan A... three cyclists get severely injured and require assistance from the air ambulance, which cannot fly because of the weather conditions... things turn out badly and the insurance has to dig in their pockets to pay hundreds of thousands in compensation... then of course there is the damage to the reputation of the event...
    left the forum March 2023
  • Grantmk
    Grantmk Posts: 39
    The Leith Hill diversion reduces the distance to 92 miles, the Box Hill diversion reduces it to 94 miles, both diversions together would reduce it to 86 miles.
  • DHA987S
    DHA987S Posts: 284
    Grantmk wrote:
    When was that email sent? I've not seen that but with the met advising branches could be brought down it wouldn't surprise me one bit - the organisers wouldn't want to risk someone being hit. If it happens it would be disappointing but understandable imo.

    My dilemma is whether to switch from Pro 4's to Gatorskins.

    1410 was when it arrived in my email. I guess with 24000 emails to send they might not all arrive at the same time.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    The email says they may reduce the distance on the day.

    Still a bit of panic in there but if it's safer to ride ride leith and box I'll just have to accept it.

    I've crashed once this year already
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    birdie23 wrote:
    It's the RideLondon-Surrey 100. Enforcing it to be less than 100 miles makes it pointless imo. That's assuming the diversion doesn't add distance to keep it at 100 miles.

    OK, so there is a weather warning, the organisers decide to plough ahead with plan A... three cyclists get severely injured and require assistance from the air ambulance, which cannot fly because of the weather conditions... things turn out badly and the insurance has to dig in their pockets to pay hundreds of thousands in compensation... then of course there is the damage to the reputation of the event...

    Injuries don't just happen in the wet. I did the Etape Pennines and at least one person left in an ambulance and several crashed out, cycling carries risks. I don't think the risks on Leith and Box Hill are any different to the rest of the course.
    Grantmk wrote:
    When was that email sent? I've not seen that but with the met advising branches could be brought down it wouldn't surprise me one bit - the organisers wouldn't want to risk someone being hit. If it happens it would be disappointing but understandable imo.

    My dilemma is whether to switch from Pro 4's to Gatorskins.

    Stick with the Pro 4's, you'll want grip.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    I'm with Birdie on this - heavy rain should not see organisers scrambling to alter the event.
    It shows they don't have faith in the capabilities of those taking part - in which case well, don't hold the event!
    If very heavy winds and / or lightning were expected, well then they might have reason.
    We aren't in the Pyrenees, it's Surrey for pete's sake.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    The vast majority of the route is along large roads with few trees around. Leith hill, in particular, is surrounded by trees. I don't think it is the rain they are concerned about, but the risk of falling trees.

    If the weather is severe to cause the diversions etc., I think all those who finish (and those that pack) will have enough war stories in 86 miles than riding 100 miles with a couple of climbs on a nice sunny day.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • deswahriff
    deswahriff Posts: 310
    Grantmk wrote:
    When was that email sent? I've not seen that but with the met advising branches could be brought down it wouldn't surprise me one bit - the organisers wouldn't want to risk someone being hit. If it happens it would be disappointing but understandable imo.

    My dilemma is whether to switch from Pro 4's to Gatorskins.


    ..Gatorskins have a bad reputation in the wet, have a google...... I've swapped my PRO4 SC's for Conti 4 Seasons, and fitted a pair of Koolstop Salmons to the front caliper as my token gestures....
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    I haven't seen reports of winds anywhere near high enough to cause that kind of bother but oh well!

    Regardless, still looking forward to it. Original target of 5 hours is now scrapped, all about just enjoying the suffering. Did a 90 miler in a storm in June so think I have the right practise behind me.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    KnightOfTheLongTights wrote:
    I'm with Birdie on this - heavy rain should not see organisers scrambling to alter the event.
    It shows they don't have faith in the capabilities of those taking part - in which case well, don't hold the event!
    If very heavy winds and / or lightning were expected, well then they might have reason.
    We aren't in the Pyrenees, it's Surrey for pete's sake.

    You fail to understand the point.

    Events only go ahead if they are covered by an insurance. Insurance companies only take calculated risks, not gambles, that's another industry. There was probably a clause in the contract. Ignoring a weather warning which specifically mentions outdoor activities as hazardous can be seen as negligence in court and can be very costly.
    The bigger the event, the bigger the risk.
    Cutting the hills might spoil your fun, who cares...
    left the forum March 2023
  • Chastise1943
    Chastise1943 Posts: 40
    Met Office yellow warning. 'Outdoor activities may be dangerous'. Sorry, the forecast is horrendous and it needs to be cancelled now. What's the point in getting soaked for hours on a shortened route?
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    Frattonise wrote:
    Met Office yellow warning. 'Outdoor activities may be dangerous'. Sorry, the forecast is horrendous and it needs to be cancelled now. What's the point in getting soaked for hours on a shortened route?

    why cancel is when it can go ahead on a shorter and safer course ?

    I think part of the issue is the surface of the road in certain sections.

    As I said above the e-mail says MAY
  • DHA987S
    DHA987S Posts: 284
    Having just ran through the local forecasts the worst of the rain (rated as heavy) appears to be on the southern part of the loop between 0400-0700. Nearer the start it is rated as light showers/moderate rain.

    Between 1000-1300 there is a risk of thunderstorms again on the southern part of the loop, mist likely when most will hit the climbs*, but the rain at these times is actually limited to less than 1cm over the 3 hour window.

    The return to London looks like showers.

    Winds do switch round about 0900 onwards from a South Easterly direction to a stronger South Westerly wind, but that will help the final stint!

    It looks like they now anticipate the bulk of the storm to be south of the projected tracks that were available yesterday, which is a good thing.


    *feel free to change this rating to speed bump if that is your feeling.
  • Grantmk
    Grantmk Posts: 39
    deswahriff wrote:
    Grantmk wrote:
    When was that email sent? I've not seen that but with the met advising branches could be brought down it wouldn't surprise me one bit - the organisers wouldn't want to risk someone being hit. If it happens it would be disappointing but understandable imo.

    My dilemma is whether to switch from Pro 4's to Gatorskins.


    ..Gatorskins have a bad reputation in the wet, have a google...... I've swapped my PRO4 SC's for Conti 4 Seasons, and fitted a pair of Koolstop Salmons to the front caliper as my token gestures....

    I was more concerned with punctures than grip.

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