RideLondon 2016
Comments
-
As mentioned, no interest in the RL ballot but will take a team place (not many pandas in the front wave). Might look at other events like the Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo but not really interested in Sportives,
rest assured, plenty of competitive events ahead, going for Cat 2 next year and will try and get over to the Tour of Sussex.
There's lots of other stuff out there, I'm just not going to knock people who find the RL100 fun.0 -
It's good to see cycle snobbery towards new riders is still alive and well. How dare they enjoy themselves..
Well said0 -
As mentioned, no interest in the RL ballot but will take a team place (not many pandas in the front wave). Might look at other events like the Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo but not really interested in Sportives,
rest assured, plenty of competitive events ahead, going for Cat 2 next year and will try and get over to the Tour of Sussex.
There's lots of other stuff out there, I'm just not going to knock people who find the RL100 fun.
Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo was good this year, on closed roads too which is a massive bonus0 -
So have you ridden in the RL or not?
Correct me if I’m wrong Ugo, but am I right in thinking that you haven’t even done the RL sportive?0 -
In for the ballot again. Being male and in my 40s, I suspect that my chances of getting a place are limited! I am 3 out of 3 for rejections. My wife, on the other hand, is 2 out of 2 for getting a place (female in her 30s - exactly the demographic they are keen to increase).
She converted her entry to a tandem one in 2014 and that was a hoot. This year, I wasn't so keen to ride it only a couple of weeks before the main event of a 4 year cycle in long distance riding (PBP) - of course, she was a bit pissed off when I then entered the Brompton World Championships (500 riders on a 2 km crit circuit)! But I escaped without injury so off to Paris this week.
If she gets a place, we will try for a tandem place again. In all my years of riding, the 2014 Ride London stands out as one of the most memorable days on a bike. Of course the weather was a stand out feature, but just so many other memories and it was a great day out. I was very jealous watching from the side lines this year.
Fingers crossed!0 -
Realistically there is only one event in the country where you can ride 100 miles without putting a foot down. And it only costs £58. That seems pretty good to me. I rode with my club this year, I'm in the ballot again for next and if that fails and the club offers, I'll take it. A fast 100 miles is excellent fun.
The problem, IMO, is with the beginners for whom this is the first 'sportive' they do, and it then becomes the last. That doesn't seem a good way to build the base, chicken costumes or not. If you scrape around RL100 then go and do a Wiggle 100 miler you are likely to get a real shock at how much harder it is to ride 100 miles on open minor roads with hills.
If I were the RL100 organisers I'd be talking to the UWCT about putting a 'Gran Fondo' at the start, it could be a future world championships with rainbow jerseys presented on the Mall. And 20000 'leisure' riders. Win/win.
In the meantime the difference in feel between the ToC and RL100 is night and day. The ToC are responding by catering better for non-racers, it would be interesting to see RL100 cater more directly for racers.
Paul0 -
I agree with Ugo on a lot of what he says..
I tried to get in to this year race, and had to make sure I DIDNT give my money without getting a place. Im not against a charity wanting money, not at all, but be upfront about it, don't try blagging money off people for not giving them anything in return…oh sorry, I got a nice shiny booklet telling me i was a reject, but then explaining to me how to train for the event I had been refused entry into!!! The issue I have with most big charities is that you never see their top brass living in just normal homes, driving normal cars, they are always in BIG houses, and top of the range Audis etc. I once read an article by a very respected journo who claimed that 75% of all big charities spend 70% of their donations on admin/staff etc, leaving very little from donations to go to the actual thing you donated to..and thats why I never give to the big "chuggers".Had the NSPCC at my door last week at 930pm! @ young lads..looking very smart, but basically looking for sign ups for long term DD payments, they weren't even asking for cash! My mum bless her would have let them in made tea, and probably signed up, how can that be right?!!
So when you click the donate regardless box for next years RL, think on..you are helping to fund the VIP area at the finish, the execs who live high on the hog, all the little "extras" that charities spend on themselves!!
Better to enter a small locally run sportive looking to raise money for a new school roof or a new village green, you just know the dosh is ALL going the right way..rant over!!!0 -
I agree with Ugo on a lot of what he says..
I tried to get in to this year race, and had to make sure I DIDNT give my money without getting a place. Im not against a charity wanting money, not at all, but be upfront about it, don't try blagging money off people for not giving them anything in return…oh sorry, I got a nice shiny booklet telling me i was a reject, but then explaining to me how to train for the event I had been refused entry into!!! The issue I have with most big charities is that you never see their top brass living in just normal homes, driving normal cars, they are always in BIG houses, and top of the range Audis etc. I once read an article by a very respected journo who claimed that 75% of all big charities spend 70% of their donations on admin/staff etc, leaving very little from donations to go to the actual thing you donated to..and thats why I never give to the big "chuggers".Had the NSPCC at my door last week at 930pm! @ young lads..looking very smart, but basically looking for sign ups for long term DD payments, they weren't even asking for cash! My mum bless her would have let them in made tea, and probably signed up, how can that be right?!!
So when you click the donate regardless box for next years RL, think on..you are helping to fund the VIP area at the finish, the execs who live high on the hog, all the little "extras" that charities spend on themselves!!
Better to enter a small locally run sportive looking to raise money for a new school roof or a new village green, you just know the dosh is ALL going the right way..rant over!!!
That opens a whole new debate, which is probably off topic. However, I agree, I was happy to pay 50 quid to enter the Etape du Dales as the charity associated to it is a real charity and not a money spinning machine with high flying executives. AFAIK the Dave Rayner fund is totally run by volunteers and has virtually no costs. The cause is also worthy, because it goes to fund something that is not and should not be funded by taxpayer, rather than something that should be.
In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the air ambulance or RNLI should be funded by government or rely on good will? I am always speechless when I hear that an essential service relies on donations. IMO everyone should stop funding these essential services, so that the goverment moves the responsability onto the taxpayer as it should be.left the forum March 20230 -
Whole new argument and totally off topic ... but I disagree that the RNLI should be government funded - governments have a nasty habbit of creating more red tape and messing things up - put the RNLI in their hands and it'd either cost tripple the amount it does now or (more likely) the service would degrade.In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the air ambulance or RNLI should be funded by government or rely on good will? I am always speechless when I hear that an essential service relies on donations. IMO everyone should stop funding these essential services, so that the goverment moves the responsability onto the taxpayer as it should be.
The RNLI is predominantly manned by volunteers - the cost is in their training & kit.0 -
Whole new argument and totally off topic ... but I disagree that the RNLI should be government funded - governments have a nasty habbit of creating more red tape and messing things up - put the RNLI in their hands and it'd either cost tripple the amount it does now or (more likely) the service would degrade.In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the air ambulance or RNLI should be funded by government or rely on good will? I am always speechless when I hear that an essential service relies on donations. IMO everyone should stop funding these essential services, so that the goverment moves the responsability onto the taxpayer as it should be.
The RNLI is predominantly manned by volunteers - the cost is in their training & kit.
A charity spends a disproportionate amount of money in fundraising, if you remove that cost, even if running the service becomes significantly more expensive it might end up costing the same or less, like for like...left the forum March 20230 -
I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
A similarly sized event in Belgium, namely the Tour of Flanders, manage to get the same number of people along much smaller roads, without all that faff... no interminable queues, no start set at an allocated time slot, no need to enter 12 months in advance via a rip-off ballot. There are unavoidable bottle necks up the narrow steep cobbled climbs, but that's it...
I struggle to understand why in this country very few seem to be able to organise a bicycle ride without major cockups, while in the rest of Europe anyone seem to be able to do a sterling job with half the budget. I think there is the general assumpion that these people know their job, while I suspect they don't
THIS
I havent done Ride London but even the handful of smaller scale sportives i have done in the UK were a rip off for what you actually get. I wont be rushing to enter anymore
I rode Flanders this year and even with the dreadful weather the experience was amazing. Had to walk the Koppenberg and Paterberg which was to be expected. it cost me 30 euros and i would happily pay twice that0 -
Whole new argument and totally off topic ... but I disagree that the RNLI should be government funded - governments have a nasty habbit of creating more red tape and messing things up - put the RNLI in their hands and it'd either cost tripple the amount it does now or (more likely) the service would degrade.In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the air ambulance or RNLI should be funded by government or rely on good will? I am always speechless when I hear that an essential service relies on donations. IMO everyone should stop funding these essential services, so that the goverment moves the responsability onto the taxpayer as it should be.
The RNLI is predominantly manned by volunteers - the cost is in their training & kit.
If government funded they'd probably have to meet performance targets, have each local station be placed in a league table, and spend 50% of their income paying management bellends who do nothing remotely useful.Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0 -
Have to agree about the cost & character of sportives and organised events changing in recent years, but it's inevitable I guess as the sport/passtime becomes more popular. Supply & demand. Why does the RFU charge upwards of £80 a ticket for one England match - basically because they are a commercial venture, they can & they'll still be oversubscribed. Until interest wanes and events become old hat or too expensive in the opinion of the majority so sales suffer, it is what it is. There are still decent less commercial events out there if you want them, they just get lost in the other "noise".
I have no problem with nodders and newbies doing these events, it's actually great to see more people out enjoying themselves and the more of us there are cycling, the closer we get to a critical mass where almost everyone (inconsiderate arrogant motorist dimwits included) knows someone who does ride & so may actually no longer see us as some sort of out group. In fact when I first did sportives several years ago (back when I were t'newbie) it was mainly cliquey club riders looking down their noses at anyone not in club kit and generally being a bunch of unwelcoming d*cks (maybe my choice of events, who knows) - that seems to have changed now, you get a friendlier if significantly more inexperienced populous and with it a range of riding abilities (much like commuting on a tube strike day!). Aside from the fact we all love a moan hence we're here in the first place, ultimately, there's no point moaning about it, it's reality. We have choices - don't like it, don't ride it. Vote with your feet/pedals/cleats (wallet)...whatever
Either way, I did RL this year having deliberatley avoided it previously for most of the reasons cited above, got a place through my work's charity hook up, so cost me a tenner and some tin rattling to meet the (reasonable) sponsorship requirement for a bloody good cause. Set off in a wave at 6.30 & thoroughly enjoyed it - closed roads was a new experience for me and it was brilliant. 4h34 and not a banana or panda on a steel framed MTB in sight. So in the end I guess I was cutting off my own nose with regard to the experience, that said, won't be entering the ballot for 2016. Same as the (significantly cheaper and still well organised) RVV for me - done it now so will look for some new experiences.CS7
Surrey Hills
What's a Zwift?0 -
^ Agree with all of that!0
-
I feel it is well organised and getting better as they learn lessons from each year. I have no issues with beginners (I am one) but feel they have a responsibility to train and not lie about their expected time. By this I mean people walking from the bottom of Newlands who must have stated a time of 5 hours. It works for many people but if it is not for you just don't do it.0
-
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19678096#p19678096]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:If government funded they'd probably have to meet performance targets, have each local station be placed in a league table, and spend 50% of their income paying management bellends who do nothing remotely useful.
Have you worked in Local Government too?
0 -
...0
-
I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
A similarly sized event in Belgium, namely the Tour of Flanders, manage to get the same number of people along much smaller roads, without all that faff... no interminable queues, no start set at an allocated time slot, no need to enter 12 months in advance via a rip-off ballot. There are unavoidable bottle necks up the narrow steep cobbled climbs, but that's it...
I struggle to understand why in this country very few seem to be able to organise a bicycle ride without major cockups, while in the rest of Europe anyone seem to be able to do a sterling job with half the budget. I think there is the general assumpion that these people know their job, while I suspect they don't
THIS
I havent done Ride London but even the handful of smaller scale sportives i have done in the UK were a rip off for what you actually get. I wont be rushing to enter anymore
I rode Flanders this year and even with the dreadful weather the experience was amazing. Had to walk the Koppenberg and Paterberg which was to be expected. it cost me 30 euros and i would happily pay twice that
I agree, the whole Flanders experience is far better than RL. its priced adequately, you get to ride a properly tough course, and the locals enjoy it and its generally more sociable! of course there are always complete and utter n.o.b. heads that treat it as a race or a team timetrial, but that is a given with all sportives.
This year the areas of surrey that have hills in them have been saturated by cyclists. around 13/52 weekends are sportive related or triathlon related. that is too much.0 -
Realistically there is only one event in the country where you can ride 100 miles without putting a foot down. And it only costs £58.
Paul
Apart from any 100m TT or 12 etc.
Or the closed roads events elsewhere.0 -
Realistically there is only one event in the country where you can ride 100 miles without putting a foot down.
It's just a shame about who you have to share the road with...0 -
[quote="FenixApart from any 100m TT or 12 etc.
Or the closed roads events elsewhere.[/quote]
Well 100m TTs and 12 hour TTs are both rare and very specialised. I thought it would be obvious they weren't really comparable.
The other closed road events in the UK are shorter, regardless of their individual merits, which are many.
Paul0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19678884#p19678884]Simon Masterson[/url] wrote:Realistically there is only one event in the country where you can ride 100 miles without putting a foot down.
It's just a shame about who you have to share the road with...
Indeed, but this notion that the cnuts on two wheels only crawl out of the woodwork on the RL100 weekend is simply b0ll0cks.
I live in Twickenham. I ride, mostly on my own, in Richmond Park, and around the Surrey hills. I signal, I keep my line, and I stop at red lights.
More times than I could shake a stick at, and in fact more often than by cars, I get cut up by cyclists. Usually it's the self-absorbed club members out for a super-swift willy-waving exercise for whom a little consideration for lone riders slower than themselves is simply beneath them.
I'm a product of the 2012 cycling boom - before then my ignorance was complete, and I hadn't even heard of Bradley Wiggins or Lance Armstrong.
Yet now I've found a sport that doesn't give me crippling shin splints, and lets me watch, mesmerised, the elite riders whose endurance and skill I can only imagine.
I've done two RL100s, '13 and '14, had a blast both times, and raised a bit of money for Cancer Research. I loved the closed roads, I loved the atmosphere, and having trained my ar5e off both years to get round in what was, for me, a decent time, it was a real achievement.
Those with the "oo no heritage" snobbery can, frankly, just fcuk right off with their attitude.Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
[quote="FenixApart from any 100m TT or 12 etc.
Or the closed roads events elsewhere.
Well 100m TTs and 12 hour TTs are both rare and very specialised. I thought it would be obvious they weren't really comparable.
The other closed road events in the UK are shorter, regardless of their individual merits, which are many.
Paul
Shorter? I did the Etape Cymru on closed roads, which is 90 miles, so marginally shorter, but because it is lumpy you will spend an extra hour on the road as an average compared to RL... I seem to recall I did it in just under 6 hours.
Etape Caledonia is 80 miles, but you'll probably get around the course in the same time as the RL
Events like the Etape du Dales are on open roads, but you will hardly notice and you will spend 2 x the time you spend on RL on the road (this year the average finish time was 8:30-9 hours)left the forum March 20230 -
Realistically there is only one event in the country where you can ride 100 miles without putting a foot down.
Paul
I did 112 miles the other week without stopping to put a foot down, and that included at least one p155. Loads of Iron distance triathlons and sportives are 100 plus.0 -
OK. You can do Ironman length triathlons and extensive stunt climbs in the peak district and they feel exactly like the RL100 and not completely different at all.
Paul0 -
You're quite right, I can go for a ride on any local dual carriageway and there aren't nearly as many dangerous idiots; it's just not the same.0
-
OK. You can do Ironman length triathlons and extensive stunt climbs in the peak district and they feel exactly like the RL100 and not completely different at all.
Paul
You almost make that sound like a bad thing.
The London Marathon, organised by the same people, in the minds of many non runners is the only marathon. They express surprises that there are other marathons and that they are the same distance. RL100 seems to be heading this way, the only 100 mile ride anywhere.0 -
[quote="FenixApart from any 100m TT or 12 etc.
Or the closed roads events elsewhere.
Well 100m TTs and 12 hour TTs are both rare and very specialised. I thought it would be obvious they weren't really comparable.
The other closed road events in the UK are shorter, regardless of their individual merits, which are many.
Paul
Shorter? I did the Etape Cymru on closed roads, which is 90 miles, so marginally shorter, but because it is lumpy you will spend an extra hour on the road as an average compared to RL... I seem to recall I did it in just under 6 hours.
Etape Caledonia is 80 miles, but you'll probably get around the course in the same time as the RL
Events like the Etape du Dales are on open roads, but you will hardly notice and you will spend 2 x the time you spend on RL on the road (this year the average finish time was 8:30-9 hours)
Sadly from what I gather the Etape Cymru won't be closed road this year. I usually do it as it's an excuse for us to pop up to Nth Wales to visit the M inL but I won't be this year as it will be carnage with cars on those narrow road sections.0 -
[quote="FenixApart from any 100m TT or 12 etc.
Or the closed roads events elsewhere.
Well 100m TTs and 12 hour TTs are both rare and very specialised. I thought it would be obvious they weren't really comparable.
The other closed road events in the UK are shorter, regardless of their individual merits, which are many.
Paul
Shorter? I did the Etape Cymru on closed roads, which is 90 miles, so marginally shorter, but because it is lumpy you will spend an extra hour on the road as an average compared to RL... I seem to recall I did it in just under 6 hours.
Etape Caledonia is 80 miles, but you'll probably get around the course in the same time as the RL
Events like the Etape du Dales are on open roads, but you will hardly notice and you will spend 2 x the time you spend on RL on the road (this year the average finish time was 8:30-9 hours)
Sadly from what I gather the Etape Cymru won't be closed road this year. I usually do it as it's an excuse for us to pop up to Nth Wales to visit the M inL but I won't be this year as it will be carnage with cars on those narrow road sections.
Predictable... the numbers weren't high enough to justify full road closures... the event will probably die out, as the course was not as good as other events that did die out (see Autumn Epic for example). TBH it wasn't anything special, even with the road closedleft the forum March 20230 -
The Etape Cymru has already been cancelled this year:
'We are sorry to announce that we have made the decision to cancel the Wiggle Etape Cymru. It is a significant investment for Human Race to host a quality event on this scale, and at this point we don’t currently have the minimum level of entries we require to continue our ambitious plans. We are reluctant to reduce the standards of participant experience in any way, therefore, after discussions with the partners involved in creating the event, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the event.'0
