Ride London 2016

paul2718

Milemuncher1 wrote:

But for the reasons of safety / risk assessment, the organisers can't release slower riders first. It would be like a reversed grid, in a motoring event, but with people who aren't racers. A risky manouvre at best. Plus you would exacerbate bunching on the climbs.

I'm sure that they don't take start times seriously from a safety point of view. I rode in a club team last year, 6.06 start, we all got round in less than 4h45. Same again this year, but starting at 7.38. Not expecting to enjoy it so much but we'll see. It's a significantly faster team...

Last year it seemed that the clubs all started early, which I thought made sense. You take a big bunch of the riders who are likely to know how to ride in a group, and separate them from the less likely. Which reduces the chances of differing expectations of behaviour leading to accidents. Perhaps it's all an experiment.

Paul

'sans souplesse'?

slowbike

Cliveyp wrote:

You're doing better than me! My longest ride this year has been about 45 miles, thats all. I was hoping for more, but have been off the bike for the last couple of weeks due to injury. This weekend I'l'be starting back off steadily on the turbo, but I think i'll be pushing it if I can get in any more than a 50 by the weekend before......and thats only if my knee doesn't argue about being used again! I'll be rolling out steady until at least Leith is out of the way, then hopefully i'll have enough after Box to give it full beans until home. :?

I like to spend the weekend with my little boy - he's 1 now ... I don't get to see him much during the week - So that's my reason for not going further or doing more training.... I won't get any real mileage in before the ride either - not that it'll make a lot of difference now.
Fortunately I already know how to pace myself (past experience) ... and your plan of easy till leith seems a good plan ... it will be my first time up Leith and Boxhill - but I doubt they're any easier/worse then the hills around here - so not worried

drlodge

To give you an idea as to how much faster you might go on RLS100:

My typical average is 16-17mph, I might manage 17mpg on a long ride if its fairly flat, so lets assume I can average 17mph over the RLS100 course.

I actually achieved just under 5 hours in 2013 and 2015, each of the rides within 1 second of each other! So that's an average of 20mph - 3mph faster than normal.

slowbike

that'll do me ...

capt_slog

Thigh_burn wrote:

zebulebu wrote:

...if you stick with a group you'll be around 3mph faster than your usual rides

I'd just come to ask exactly this question. I keep seeing everyone saying you'll go faster in a group, but wondered how much.

I assume rather than a fixed mph faster, it's actually a % you'll go faster, but if 3mph is a rule of thumb, that's helpful.

It would depend on the group

slowbike

Capt Slog wrote:

Thigh_burn wrote:

zebulebu wrote:

...if you stick with a group you'll be around 3mph faster than your usual rides

I'd just come to ask exactly this question. I keep seeing everyone saying you'll go faster in a group, but wondered how much.

I assume rather than a fixed mph faster, it's actually a % you'll go faster, but if 3mph is a rule of thumb, that's helpful.

It would depend on the group

just ensure it's not a group where you're the engine room!

Cliveyp

Leith is my only real concern at this stage, as long as this weekend doesn't kill my knee again. There's nothing local to me that i've ridden which is comparitive - i've ridden steeper gradients for less time or shallower gradients for longer - just nothing that I can put my finger on which is the same. I'm still planning on taking it easy at least til that one is out of the way, and I will just sit myself towards the left and spin up it in my own time if things dont go exactly my way.

Same with Box. Never ridden before, and probably never will again, but my understanding is that its not steep, just a long steady climb......profile looks very similar to a climb here, so i'll use the same theory with the sit and spin up it.

As for the rest, i'll try to find a group at the pace i feel comfortable with quite early on, otherwise sit on my own until a group forms - which sounds likely to happen - then try and hide mid-pack for a bit to save myself. Should the group disband later on, hopefully i'll find another later that can drag me across the line!

slowbike

Just looked up the Leith Hill segment on Strava - got a few friends who have been up it so I can gauge my potential from their effort.

Cliveyp

Slowbike wrote:

Just looked up the Leith Hill segment on Strava - got a few friends who have been up it so I can gauge my potential from their effort.

Hopefully you've got the same impression as me.....it'll be a workout, but nothing too hideous!

drlodge

Lets hope we don't have another heart attack victim this year on that climb.

The climb as far as Abinger Road isn't too bad, and you sigh with relief as you think its all over. Then you have another bit of a climb to the top which is utterly unwarranted part Tanhurst Lane. Its never that steep, I can stay seated all the way, but it depends how hard you pushed yourself in the first half...

slowbike

Cliveyp wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Just looked up the Leith Hill segment on Strava - got a few friends who have been up it so I can gauge my potential from their effort.

Hopefully you've got the same impression as me.....it'll be a workout, but nothing too hideous!

Despite my username I'm not a slouch ... ok, I'm not hugely fast either - but I've ridden a few 15-17%ers recently and raced up a 14% on my TT bike - the hills are not going to bother me

surrey_commuter

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

It is difficult to describe how flat the first 50 miles are

Yeah, the climb out of Richmond, after less than 20 miles, pffffft, nothing. The climb up Newlands Corner, pffffft, 'tis but a speed hump :roll:

I assume you mean up to Richmond and that is probably about the same profile as the bridge over the M25 outside Byfleet. How far is Newlands Corner? It must be close to 50 miles, if slightly under I apologise.

surrey_commuter

Milemuncher1 wrote:

zebulebu wrote:

Definitely so!

Newlands is a bit of a lump to get over, but warms the legs up for Leith - which is a little more challenging - but is the only real 'climb' on the route (Box Hill isn't much of a challenge). Sawyers takes about three minutes. You won't even notice a bump until Newlands, if you stick with a group you'll be around 3mph faster than your usual rides

I was in my 'pen' with someone who was ( loudly ) proclaiming how "easy and flat" the first bit was, last year. He was the archetypal water cooler warrior / FPKW type. I took a mental note of his number, and off we went. He was flapping his legs around ( avant Suplesse) like a goodun, really going for it, like a true 'pro'. When we got to the Richmond park climb, no prizes for guessing who was off the bike, pushing it up the hill . I imagine it was a major 'mechanical' or something :roll:. Much as I wanted to, I didn't stick with him to see how he dealt with the rest of the "flat / easy" ride. 8)

Nobody is dissing the course, merely being encouraging. The only hill that might cause difficulty is Leith. I am a long way from being a bike snob but would seriously question whether somebody should continue if they have to ride up Sawyers.

surrey_commuter

Cliveyp wrote:

Leith is my only real concern at this stage, as long as this weekend doesn't kill my knee again. There's nothing local to me that i've ridden which is comparitive - i've ridden steeper gradients for less time or shallower gradients for longer - just nothing that I can put my finger on which is the same. I'm still planning on taking it easy at least til that one is out of the way, and I will just sit myself towards the left and spin up it in my own time if things dont go exactly my way.

Same with Box. Never ridden before, and probably never will again, but my understanding is that its not steep, just a long steady climb......profile looks very similar to a climb here, so i'll use the same theory with the sit and spin up it.

As for the rest, i'll try to find a group at the pace i feel comfortable with quite early on, otherwise sit on my own until a group forms - which sounds likely to happen - then try and hide mid-pack for a bit to save myself. Should the group disband later on, hopefully i'll find another later that can drag me across the line!

After Newlands you have a lovely swoop back down then flat until a sharp right turn. For me this is when you need to stay calm as it is the approach to Leith and is a bit undulating/lumpy. After Leith it is a nice roll to Box Hill which is steady wide and smooth. It also gets less steep after each corner.

After Box there is a 27 miles to go marker which will allow you to do the maths on what is needed for a target time.

If you do not have a group in front of you will find that you are the strong man of your very own peloton and no amount of elbow flicking will get anybody past.

Cliveyp

Surrey Commuter wrote:

After Newlands you have a lovely swoop back down then flat until a sharp right turn. For me this is when you need to stay calm as it is the approach to Leith and is a bit undulating/lumpy. After Leith it is a nice roll to Box Hill which is steady wide and smooth. It also gets less steep after each corner.

After Box there is a 27 miles to go marker which will allow you to do the maths on what is needed for a target time.

If you do not have a group in front of you will find that you are the strong man of your very own peloton and no amount of elbow ******* will get anybody past.

Hopefully i'll have a group in front of me then!

Sat myself on the turbo for a bit last night to gauge the following pain from the knee, and have been presently surprised. OK, standing climbs are a no-go (although this may be partly to do with having the bike clamped upright in the turbo. It may be different if I can flick the bike over a bit), but spinning seated climbs seem OK. Sat myself on a steady 5% gradient for 15 minutes and didn't have too many problems - but do have a bit of an ache this morning. Going to give it some proper time this evening and see how I feel tomorrow but if it's anything like today then i'm happy to at least give it a go. Do you really need to be able to walk the following day??

bearman3784

Does anyone have an idea of the total elevation for the ride?

milemuncher1

bearman3784 wrote:

Does anyone have an idea of the total elevation for the ride?

4200 ft, according to my tracker from last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/35943 ... 1438522714

j_mcd

Milemuncher1 wrote:

bearman3784 wrote:

Does anyone have an idea of the total elevation for the ride?

4200 ft, according to my tracker from last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/35943 ... 1438522714

Odd, it seems that I did 500ft more climbing that you! That'll account for my times then, rather than the fatness!

https://www.strava.com/activities/359441898

Newlands, definitely a hill, made worse last year but some whippet thin guy standing on the side of the road shouting "Come ON! It's Surrey not the BLOODY ALPS" continually.

Like many others have said, Leith Hill is definitely the worst of the bunch, and it also gets very busy which makes it more annoying. It's best just to plug your way up it. And for anyone who's new to the route, when you get to the top, it's not really the top, there are a couple more climbs to go!

Box Hill is easy, just a gentle climb that's not even that long. Don't bother stopping at official stop at the top though, it's chaos!

I would caution the perceived benefits of the group as well. If you are in one it's probably fine but I started at about 7ish last year and found myself riding alone for the vast majority of the ride, there were always people in front that you were catching up but no one really riding at the same pace at the same place. I'm heading off a lot earlier this year (5ish) so it might be different.

sherer

group riding is good but I found my average wsa higher purely from not stoping at lights and junctions rather than actually going much quicker. That really does take it's toll on the average speed

capt_slog

(nearly*) Always having the "right of way" is something I'd not considered. I suppose it must make a difference, and not constantly having to worry what's coming up behind you.

*crossings

slowbike

Capt Slog wrote:

(nearly*) Always having the "right of way" is something I'd not considered.
*crossings

& emergency vehicles - which may also come up behind you ...

Plus - overtaking others - you're give way ...

mrfpb

sherer wrote:

group riding is good but I found my average wsa higher purely from not stoping at lights and junctions rather than actually going much quicker. That really does take it's toll on the average speed

I didn't find it made much difference, as stopping at junctions always gave me a chance to catch my breath and set off quicker. Trying to go for hours without stopping does wear you out eventually. I didn't ride in a group,but did go much faster than my usual rides. I think the quality of the road was the biggest difference. I found, to my amazement, I was going at 20mph on Millbank 2-3 miles from the end when I felt exhausted.

sherer

mrfpb wrote:

sherer wrote:

group riding is good but I found my average wsa higher purely from not stoping at lights and junctions rather than actually going much quicker. That really does take it's toll on the average speed

I didn't find it made much difference, as stopping at junctions always gave me a chance to catch my breath and set off quicker. Trying to go for hours without stopping does wear you out eventually. I didn't ride in a group,but did go much faster than my usual rides. I think the quality of the road was the biggest difference. I found, to my amazement, I was going at 20mph on Millbank 2-3 miles from the end when I felt exhausted.

Same with me.. very quick run in at the end.. seeing the crowds gives you a second wind and very good surface at the end.

milemuncher1

J_MCD wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

bearman3784 wrote:

Does anyone have an idea of the total elevation for the ride?

4200 ft, according to my tracker from last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/35943 ... 1438522714

Odd, it seems that I did 500ft more climbing that you! That'll account for my times then, rather than the fatness!

https://www.strava.com/activities/359441898

Newlands, definitely a hill, made worse last year but some whippet thin guy standing on the side of the road shouting "Come ON! It's Surrey not the BLOODY ALPS" continually.

On the first point, it seems very dependant on how you record the ride (Garmin or Phone, or whatever) I've seen a fair bit of variation in the climb / elevation.
The 'bloke at the side of the road' was doing that, as our lot got up there as well. I shouted "well why don't you Fcuking try it then" .

philbar72

Thigh_burn wrote:

zebulebu wrote:

...if you stick with a group you'll be around 3mph faster than your usual rides

I'd just come to ask exactly this question. I keep seeing everyone saying you'll go faster in a group, but wondered how much.

I assume rather than a fixed mph faster, it's actually a % you'll go faster, but if 3mph is a rule of thumb, that's helpful.

its not an absolute. what you'll often find is that unless you are in a group of people that ride chaingangs or regularly work together you can often go slower, as people are of different ability levels.

I'd say sit in for a bit and when its your turn to pull , do it... but don't blow up, if you are in a decent sized group then you can do a 30 second turn then get pulled along for a few minutes!

The golden rule is not to overcommit to the first 40miles and the run into Ripley/Newlands. once you've done Newlands, have fun down the descent then steady to Leith, then steady to box then work with others to the finish.

that's what i'll be doing...

slowbike

philbar72 wrote:

Thigh_burn wrote:

zebulebu wrote:

...if you stick with a group you'll be around 3mph faster than your usual rides

I'd just come to ask exactly this question. I keep seeing everyone saying you'll go faster in a group, but wondered how much.

I assume rather than a fixed mph faster, it's actually a % you'll go faster, but if 3mph is a rule of thumb, that's helpful.

its not an absolute. what you'll often find is that unless you are in a group of people that ride chaingangs or regularly work together you can often go slower, as people are of different ability levels.

It isn't a given eitherway - finding a group that goes at the right pace for you may be tricky. Too slow and you'll just want to go past them and too fast - you'll blow up too soon.
My plan (best laid plans etc etc) is to go out at a comfortable pace at a HR I know I can sustain then see what comes up - hopefully I'll be with a few others who are around my pace - if not I'll "wait" for a passing group. I'm not going to do what I did on a sportive a couple of years ago - which was to blat around overtaking everything till I couldn't sustain it any longer then slow up ... it was only 30 miles (after dropping the wife off at the shorter route turnoff) and I still did a reasonable pace, but think I could've done better had I not just blatted it! Although it was fun overtaking everyone on the short climbs

Thigh_burn

Anyone doing any of these sportives as a warm-up, this weekend? Am trying to gauge which might be best run/most enjoyable.

Suffolk Spinner
Chiltern Cycling Festival
Evans Ride It Cambridge Sportive
Tour of Cotswolds

milemuncher1

Thigh_burn wrote:

Anyone doing any of these sportives as a warm-up, this weekend? Am trying to gauge which might be best run/most enjoyable.

Suffolk Spinner
Chiltern Cycling Festival
Evans Ride It Cambridge Sportive
Tour of Cotswolds

I'm hoping to get another 150 miler in this weekend. It's called "tapering" I think 8)

johngal

Hi,

Because my friend and I are idiots who don’t read each other’s emails we’ve managed to get 06:39 and 8:59 as start times.
We wanted to travel up and do it together, now we could turn up and try to start early but this could end up with one of us sitting at the start for 2+hrs if not successful.
Apparently you fill in your own rider emergency details which opens the possibility of swapping our times.
Now you’d have to be not bothered about any rider photo/certificates and logistically the swapping could be too much of a pain but would anyone be interested?

PM me your start times if you are and we’ll go from there.

I’m going to say the 06:39 time is the one people want but we’ll swap either.

Cheers
John

surrey_commuter

johngal wrote:

Hi,

Because my friend and I are idiots who don’t read each other’s emails we’ve managed to get 06:39 and 8:59 as start times.
We wanted to travel up and do it together, now we could turn up and try to start early but this could end up with one of us sitting at the start for 2+hrs if not successful.
Apparently you fill in your own rider emergency details which opens the possibility of swapping our times.
Now you’d have to be not bothered about any rider photo/certificates and logistically the swapping could be too much of a pain but would anyone be interested?

PM me your start times if you are and we’ll go from there.

I’m going to say the 06:39 time is the one people want but we’ll swap either.

Cheers
John

If you are both the same colour then go together at the later time.