Ride London 2014
Comments
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I'd echo what others are saying - there were quite a lot of shitforbrains types who had somehow got the idea that it was all a competition for squeezing through the greatest number of gaps, with extra points for achieving the minimum possible clearance as they passed.
The weather was amazing. I started at 7.22, just as it was starting to rain at the Olympic park, and it wasn't too bad until somewhere along the road to Walton. Then every time I thought the rain couldn't get any harder, it proved me wrong. For a while I couldn't see cos my glasses had got steamed up, and when I took them off I couldn't see because the horizontal rain stung like buggery.
I just tried to keep out of people's way since I wanted to finish in one piece - I could have gone quicker for much of the first three hours, but only by riding like an arse, as many were.
Never ridden in conditions like that before, it was quite interesting in many ways, but not sure I want to again
I was very relieved not to get a puncture - I felt really sorry for the huge numbers that did.
Fantastic support from the people that came out. Great marshalling, and it seemed very well organised although I didn't use any of the hubs, or the drinks stations.
Question - should I worry about my bottom bracket? It got submerged once or twice in the flooded bits.Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
I really enjoyed the day. Generally, the standard of cycling was okay. I started at 8.10 and found that as I got closer to the finish, the quality of rider improved.
SURELY, it would be a good idea for the organisers to promote / set as a 'rule': slower riders ride on the left, faster riders ride & overtake on the right. On a few of the uphill 'bumps' picking a route through high volume (slower) traffic was 'unnecessary' if the above rule was applied.
The free beer at the finish was great (in terms of need ((not taste)) and my daughter was well chuffed with 'her' medal and sweets from the goody bag.0 -
Good communication was important. A few calls of 'hold your line' and 'passing on your right' informed those concerned. It is possible that some may have interrupted these calls as 'bossy' / scary etc...? But such calls were only made if the space was there in the first place. Not ' you are in my way, move' but, 'just letting you know I am here'.0
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After reading all the posts about the weather, here are a couple of videos I took during the day. Unfortunately, I did not manage to record the largest river wading sections, or traversing the sewage, nevertheless, I think they communicate the conditions!
http://youtu.be/wrjO6RE96aA
http://youtu.be/6iP-URLunIQ
I suggest viewing in 1080p for the full experience!0 -
The rain was bad but the spray was just as bad, especially when the speed got up to 40km/+ so we backed off a bit - I didn't see too much bad riding considering, but I'm not prepared to risk riding in a pack with people I don't know in conditions like that. It's not a race after all... They definitely made the right decision to cut out those hills as the descents would've been a nightmare. Glad it was warm as had it been only a few degrees colder I suspect there would have been real problems for some people....
Pleased that the conditions were good for the first hour so got to smash it through and out of London which was a real buzz. It wasn't a challenge in the riding sense, but as an experience it totally works and would be something I'd do again. With better weather you could imagine the numbers of spectators on the course would have been significantly greater and the atmosphere pretty special. The spectators who did turn out deserve medals themselves!0 -
marcusjb wrote:
There was some real proper flooding and the speed some of the water was running across roads was amazing.
Everyone kept smiling and seemed to be having fun though.
That's before they see the bill for bottom bracket, headset and hubs bearings replacement...
left the forum March 20230 -
They already tell slower people to stay on the left but just like on the motorways where people stay in the middle lane with no one on the inside you get the same on cycling events.jonathan2 wrote:I really enjoyed the day. Generally, the standard of cycling was okay. I started at 8.10 and found that as I got closer to the finish, the quality of rider improved.
SURELY, it would be a good idea for the organisers to promote / set as a 'rule': slower riders ride on the left, faster riders ride & overtake on the right. On a few of the uphill 'bumps' picking a route through high volume (slower) traffic was 'unnecessary' if the above rule was applied.
The free beer at the finish was great (in terms of need ((not taste)) and my daughter was well chuffed with 'her' medal and sweets from the goody bag.
Worse times was on the descents where some got scared and road slowly in the middle of the road blocking the roa up.
Great marshalling though and I stuck to what they told me, if they said slow I did.
Think some people need to realise you can't take a racing line through every corner. I only did this once, and before the corners I looked in front and behind to make sure I wasn't getting in people's way or causing them to change line. Looking behind is a great invention0 -
Where is Carbonator? has he dissolved in the rain?left the forum March 20230
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I was in one of club chain gangs in the first couple of waves. Started off fine as it was a few of us staying off on the right, but got much messier as more people kept cutting in to join and dragging it back over to the left.
Despite a lot of calls to stay over to the right there were a lot joining in didn't have a clue and coming off the front would drop all the way left to the side of the road where everyone else was.
I ended up having a go at 2 people that dove straight in from the right hand side and then slowed down before pushing it over left again. Lo and behold a minute later someone else did the same thing and took down a club rider and someone else who had joined us for the ride.
From that point it was obvious it was never going to work and we just split up with no more than 2 together and didn't bother doing any rotating.
Barring that it was a good day. I was gutted when I heard they cut out Leith and Box, but justified in the end given the conditions. Many thanks to the marshals who managed to keep smiling through the rain!
@ChrisAOnABike - if it's pressfit might be worth taking out the cranks, cleaning and regreasing. My BB86 bike always needs that after it's been under water or it starts' creaking horribly from the next ride.0 -
I know you can see the timed results, but is there a away to generate rankings from the results page? Using a tablet at the minute, so not sure if you can strip all the data out into a spreadsheet? I know ranking isn't important for this event, just curious to know, I'm a statistics junky!Big Red, Blue, Pete, Bill & Doug0
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VmanF3 wrote:I know ranking isn't important for this event, just curious to know, I'm a statistics junky!
What a better opportunity to get over your issue?
If you really are a statistics junkie, I am sure you have heard of Excel... if you can insert the data ion Excel, then you can do all sorts of statistics...
Look forward to the standard deviation of finish time per age group!left the forum March 20230 -
VmanF3 wrote:I know you can see the timed results, but is there a away to generate rankings from the results page? Using a tablet at the minute, so not sure if you can strip all the data out into a spreadsheet? I know ranking isn't important for this event, just curious to know, I'm a statistics junky!
Give this a try, I didn't create it and can't load it on my tablet, probably too big!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing0 -
I was spannering at Newlands Corner, in the red EZ-Ups, it was mental! First guy came in at 8:10 with a broken Di2 rear mech, then it was non-stop until 1. Queues of 10+ riders at times.
We sold over 400 tubes. Must have seen at least 50 broken mechs. I've never bodged so many repairs - cutting broken spokes, insulating tape to hold bar tape together, heaving STIs back into position, utter carnage!
Good effort to all who finished.0 -
...perfect opportunity for the ultimate tyre/puncture survey!!..
fwiw, I was on Conti 4 Seasons 25mm, about 1k miles on them - no punctures0 -
Still here baby ;-)ugo.santalucia wrote:Where is Carbonator? has he dissolved in the rain?
Watched the pro race finish from the VIP stand then went out on the raz.0 -
I changed a lot of Specialized tyres, which surprised me. Quite a few Schwalbes - Duranos and Ultremos, a couple of sets of Gatorskins. A couple of Michelins, and various non descript ones! No 4Seasons or GP4000s! My thumbs are bloody sore today.
Several people bought new tyres just because they were so sick of repeated punctures, mainly because they'd not actually checked their tyres I suspect. I was pulling loads of grit and glass out of tyres.0 -
anyone else get stuck behind the accident close to the exit at richmond park? i think this only affected the late starters but was there for 25 minutes doing an average 1mph... and guess when the worst of the rain came through!!0
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Mikey23 wrote:anyone else get stuck behind the accident close to the exit at richmond park? i think this only affected the late starters but was there for 25 minutes doing an average 1mph... and guess when the worst of the rain came through!!
Yes, I was there. Any idea what became of the individual who was hurt and taken away by the ambulance?0 -
njee20 wrote:I changed a lot of Specialized tyres, which surprised me. Quite a few Schwalbes - Duranos and Ultremos, a couple of sets of Gatorskins. A couple of Michelins, and various non descript ones! No 4Seasons or GP4000s! My thumbs are bloody sore today.
Several people bought new tyres just because they were so sick of repeated punctures, mainly because they'd not actually checked their tyres I suspect. I was pulling loads of grit and glass out of tyres.
That's interesting, considering there must have been countless people on 4Seasons or GP4000s. I'd have thought they are more popular than Schwalbes for example. I was on Michelin Pro4s and got through without a puncture, although I was super careful to avoid obvious dangers like manhole covers. In fact I found the whole thing a test of concentration trying to take care in such foul conditions around so many other cyclists.
Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster0 -
deswahriff wrote:...perfect opportunity for the ultimate tyre/puncture survey!!..
fwiw, I was on Conti 4 Seasons 25mm, about 1k miles on them - no punctures
I was on Vredestein Fortezza tricomps. zero punctures and astonishing amounts of grip, never once even had the slightest slip, even on the white lines or drains. Gutted that they don't seem to make them anymore, may have to stock up on some before everywhere sells out!0 -
njee20 wrote:I changed a lot of Specialized tyres, which surprised me. Quite a few Schwalbes - Duranos and Ultremos, a couple of sets of Gatorskins. A couple of Michelins, and various non descript ones! No 4Seasons or GP4000s! My thumbs are bloody sore today.
The (pretty new) GP 4000s got me through puncture free. Have suffered just the one puncture over the last five sportives.0 -
Carbonator wrote:
Still here baby ;-)ugo.santalucia wrote:Where is Carbonator? has he dissolved in the rain?
Watched the pro race finish from the VIP stand then went out on the raz.
What do you mean? You didn't ride? :shock:left the forum March 20230 -
ContrelaMontre wrote:njee20 wrote:I changed a lot of Specialized tyres, which surprised me. Quite a few Schwalbes - Duranos and Ultremos, a couple of sets of Gatorskins. A couple of Michelins, and various non descript ones! No 4Seasons or GP4000s! My thumbs are bloody sore today.
Several people bought new tyres just because they were so sick of repeated punctures, mainly because they'd not actually checked their tyres I suspect. I was pulling loads of grit and glass out of tyres.
That's interesting, considering there must have been countless people on 4Seasons or GP4000s. I'd have thought they are more popular than Schwalbes for example. I was on Michelin Pro4s and got through without a puncture, although I was super careful to avoid obvious dangers like manhole covers. In fact I found the whole thing a test of concentration trying to take care in such foul conditions around so many other cyclists.
I suspect there's a link though between self sufficiency and tyre choice - most of those with more upmarket tyres like 4Seasons and things would likely have been able to fix their own punctures, rather than queuing for 30 minutes so I got the pleasure! I suspect the volume of Spesh tyres was due to the volume of Spesh bikes being ridden!0 -
njee20 wrote:We sold over 400 tubes.
Wowsers!
Not a surprise though.
Sorry to say we did get a flat on 4 Seasons (they are a tyre I really do trust and use them year round on the commuter and Audax bike, so I am not overly bothered, tandems are tough on tyres even when it's a light team like ourselves (120kg combined)).
Loads of people punctured on the run into Stratford, in the starting pens (possibly after having ridden along some of the gritty paths? I pushed the bike as I had a coffee in my hand! ), on the big dual carriageway at the start - and that was before the weather really kicked off!0 -
The standard of riding I saw was generally good (much like last year) although I was one of the first waves. Some of the chaingangs did pass a little close given how much road we had available...
My ride was scuppered by a puncture ~40mi in. Between that and the worsening weather, I decided to settle in for an easier (but still fast enough) ride back in with a decent size group. Once again impressed by how well the event was ran and indeed how high everyone's spirits were.
And for comparison:
2014 Berlin Velothon (which I did in May), wet but not as wet, ~3,500 finishers of ~13,000 potential starters
2014 RideLondon 100 (86), rivers and bow waves, >20,000 finishers of ~24,000 potential starters
Rule number 9
Tyres: I fitted some spare Schwalbe Luganos 25c. Felt good grip wise and I could only put my puncture down to the pinch as I couldn't find anything penetrating. I was feeding just before so may have clobbered something while distracted.0 -
Conti 4 Seasons and no punctures, but like others I avoided most of the manhole covers, debis and other stuff in the road.
Whilst I enjoyed the event, some basic riding skills would be nice, being overtaken via a 6 inch gap on the inside between me and the kerb is not good riding. The number of times some idiot tried to "undertake" really surprised me, its not like I was in the middle of the road or going that slowly. I'm used to people coming by close but that was stupid. When I did venture over to the right, then most people seemed to appreciate a "passing on the right" just to let them know you were there.
There did seem to be a lot of crashes, I hope the lady who crashed on the stratford flyover is OK and the people on Sawyers. The organisation and ambulance support seemed very good.
I may not be the fastest rider, 5hrs 24mins to get round but will have to go back next year as I feel there is unfinished business.0 -
peteb0 wrote:
And for comparison:
2014 Berlin Velothon (which I did in May), wet but not as wet, ~3,500 finishers of ~13,000 potential starters
2014 RideLondon 100 (86), rivers and bow waves, >20,000 finishers of ~24,000 potential starters
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They lost the war after all... two of them, in fact... left the forum March 20230 -
njee20 wrote:I suspect there's a link though between self sufficiency and tyre choice - most of those with more upmarket tyres like 4Seasons and things would likely have been able to fix their own punctures, rather than queuing for 30 minutes so I got the pleasure! I suspect the volume of Spesh tyres was due to the volume of Spesh bikes being ridden!
That's true enough, especially as any serious cyclist will probably use a CO2 can these days.
I should add I was very impressed with the grip on my Pro4s. In spite of the weather I felt like I was in perfect control. As I say it took lots of concentration, but I didn't feel like the bike was working against me.
Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster0 -
That's true enough, especially as any serious cyclist will probably use a CO2 can these days.
Yeah, think we sold at least 100 of those too!0 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:Carbonator wrote:
Still here baby ;-)ugo.santalucia wrote:Where is Carbonator? has he dissolved in the rain?
Watched the pro race finish from the VIP stand then went out on the raz.
What do you mean? You didn't ride? :shock:
Yes rode but not at home so did not think I could post on here and have not had much time.
Worked out how to log on from phone now though.0
