Ride London 2016

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Comments

  • antonyfromoz
    antonyfromoz Posts: 482
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?

    Ignore the 1% with their tales of harsh climbs and terrible weather. I am shit at cycling but would not call Newlands a Hill. Leith is hard but not that long and just needs positivity and manning up. Box is for posing.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?

    Funny you should say that, I've swapped to Trekker pedals, with an SPD side, and a flat platform side, on the bike I'm using this year, having been skittled on Leith hill ( twice ) :shock:. I'm going to the flat side when it gets 'busy' up there this year.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    Surrey Commuter wrote:
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?

    Ignore the 1% with their tales of harsh climbs and terrible weather. I am shoot at cycling but would not call Newlands a Hill. Leith is hard but not that long and just needs positivity and manning up. Box is for posing.
    Make sure you don't get your cape caught in your spokes there Clark.
  • Cliveyp
    Cliveyp Posts: 173
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?

    This is similar to how I feel! :lol:

    As for cleats....I only have one choice of pedal, so for me if I have to walk I have to walk. I'll be taking the cleat covers though!
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • capt_slog
    capt_slog Posts: 3,974
    Cliveyp wrote:
    [q

    This is similar to how I feel! :lol:

    As for cleats....I only have one choice of pedal, so for me if I have to walk I have to walk. I'll be taking the cleat covers though!

    Cor!

    I always thought they would be a good idea, but I didn't know they existed :lol:


    The older I get, the better I was.

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    re pedals - did think about it - but have no intention of walking - can't be as conjested as the Tour of Flanders I rode earlier this year and I did that in road cleats (wrecked them though)
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,166
    Running up the hill is this year's thing.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Ah - so should we take CX shoes with the spikes in?
  • deejaysee
    deejaysee Posts: 149
    It would appear i've lost my registration form, the magazine states you must bring this to Excel.
    I have an email with my rider number on etc.
    Will i be ok to turn up without the form?
  • capt_slog
    capt_slog Posts: 3,974
    deejaysee wrote:
    It would appear i've lost my registration form, the magazine states you must bring this to Excel.
    I have an email with my rider number on etc.
    Will i be ok to turn up without the form?

    Doubt it.

    But don't waste time asking on here, get onto the RideLondon people.


    The older I get, the better I was.

  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    deejaysee wrote:
    It would appear i've lost my registration form, the magazine states you must bring this to Excel.
    I have an email with my rider number on etc.
    Will i be ok to turn up without the form?

    If you know your rider number, and you have photo I.D. that's good enough, they have a set of manned desks, each one is for a range of numbers, which are clearly marked. If you go to the correct desk, they will sort it out. If you get onto the ride London people in the meantime, they will send you a new form.
  • deejaysee
    deejaysee Posts: 149
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    deejaysee wrote:
    It would appear i've lost my registration form, the magazine states you must bring this to Excel.
    I have an email with my rider number on etc.
    Will i be ok to turn up without the form?

    If you know your rider number, and you have photo I.D. that's good enough, they have a set of manned desks, each one is for a range of numbers, which are clearly marked. If you go to the correct desk, they will sort it out. If you get onto the ride London people in the meantime, they will send you a new form.

    Cheers buddy.
  • antonyfromoz
    antonyfromoz Posts: 482
    Cliveyp wrote:
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Good luck to everyone on the weekend! I am feeling hopelessly undertrained but my aim is to stay rubber side down and not walk - which should be fine if I don't go too hard too early and I manage to avoid the walkers/happy wanderers and those who simply stop and/or fall off.

    Has anyone resorted to changing from road pedals to something with a recessed cleat to help if you do have to join the walkers?

    This is similar to how I feel! :lol:

    As for cleats....I only have one choice of pedal, so for me if I have to walk I have to walk. I'll be taking the cleat covers though!
    Aha, I had forgotten about them! I have always found them okay for walking on flat ground but I'm not sure how they will be walking up a hill. Overall though, the thought of doing that might be enough to keep me barging a path through the walkers like an Icebreaker making a push for open water - and if that fails then at least my cleats will live to ride another day...
  • Cliveyp
    Cliveyp Posts: 173
    Just as a matter of interest for those that have done it before...what can we expect at the Excel show when we register? Much in the way of discounts on clothing/accessories or freebies?
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Just as a matter of interest for those that have done it before...what can we expect at the Excel show when we register? Much in the way of discounts on clothing/accessories or freebies?

    Loads of free energy gels / bars / samples / much cheapness, free bottle and stuff with your kit bag, and very good discounts on kit and caboodle. I picked up a pair of GP4000SII tyres for a sight less than I could get them on line, and lots of odds and ends / tools / tubes / lights and various other things, much cheaper than usual. There's also a sports massage area, and interesting things going on.
  • Cliveyp
    Cliveyp Posts: 173
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Just as a matter of interest for those that have done it before...what can we expect at the Excel show when we register? Much in the way of discounts on clothing/accessories or freebies?

    Loads of free energy gels / bars / samples / much cheapness, free bottle and stuff with your kit bag, and very good discounts on kit and caboodle. I picked up a pair of GP4000SII tyres for a sight less than I could get them on line, and lots of odds and ends / tools / tubes / lights and various other things, much cheaper than usual. There's also a sports massage area, and interesting things going on.

    This makes me happy!

    Although I won't be allowed much time to get round it with the wife and daughter in tow, but I'll have a quick mooch!
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    I didn't find any freebies the last 2 years. Free samples of gels and bars, but you had to consume them there. I won a Skoda bison, that was about as good as it got other than the bags of swag you get for entering (Ride London plus 3 x free cycle bags for me and the kids!)

    Maybe there were decent offers on kit but I didn't spot any.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    BigMat wrote:
    I didn't find any freebies the last 2 years. Free samples of gels and bars, but you had to consume them there. I won a Skoda bison, that was about as good as it got other than the bags of swag you get for entering (Ride London plus 3 x free cycle bags for me and the kids!)

    Maybe there were decent offers on kit but I didn't spot any.

    Which day did you go? Obviously not whilst they still had stuff to give away ( Thursday and Friday are best).
  • Cliveyp
    Cliveyp Posts: 173
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    I didn't find any freebies the last 2 years. Free samples of gels and bars, but you had to consume them there. I won a Skoda bison, that was about as good as it got other than the bags of swag you get for entering (Ride London plus 3 x free cycle bags for me and the kids!)

    Maybe there were decent offers on kit but I didn't spot any.

    Which day did you go? Obviously not whilst they still had stuff to give away ( Thursday and Friday are best).

    This makes me not so happy.....I can't get there until Saturday. :(

    Ah well, i'll look forward to catching up with what you guys manage to pick up as i'm sure you'll post on here when you've registered!
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    I didn't find any freebies the last 2 years. Free samples of gels and bars, but you had to consume them there. I won a Skoda bison, that was about as good as it got other than the bags of swag you get for entering (Ride London plus 3 x free cycle bags for me and the kids!)

    Maybe there were decent offers on kit but I didn't spot any.

    Which day did you go? Obviously not whilst they still had stuff to give away ( Thursday and Friday are best).

    Thursday evening. Obviously I didn't look hard enough - will try harder this evening! It was a Skoda bidon by the way, a bison would have been a lot harder to take home on my bike.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    BigMat wrote:
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    I didn't find any freebies the last 2 years. Free samples of gels and bars, but you had to consume them there. I won a Skoda bison, that was about as good as it got other than the bags of swag you get for entering (Ride London plus 3 x free cycle bags for me and the kids!)

    Maybe there were decent offers on kit but I didn't spot any.

    Which day did you go? Obviously not whilst they still had stuff to give away ( Thursday and Friday are best).

    Thursday evening. Obviously I didn't look hard enough - will try harder this evening! It was a Skoda bidon by the way, a bison would have been a lot harder to take home on my bike.

    I thought you'd just use a spare inner tube, looped around the ring in it's nose and tied to your seatpost to lead it home ... no need to carry it! ;)
  • graememacd
    graememacd Posts: 386
    Heading to the excel saturday to pick up numbers. Does anyone know a nearby carpark with no height restrictions as we're travelling in a tall van?
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    graememacd wrote:
    Heading to the excel saturday to pick up numbers. Does anyone know a nearby carpark with no height restrictions as we're travelling in a tall van?

    We also operate an additional tariff for our lorry and coach park areas and these are charged as follows:
    Transit Vans up to 3.5T/Mini bus £20.00
    Coach £30.00
    Vehicles over above 3.5T/Lorry £35.00
    (costs based on 24 hour durations)

    or you could look at local streets - I am guessing most parking restrictions will be Mon-Fri or have a max wait of a few hours
  • graememacd
    graememacd Posts: 386
    Surrey Commuter wrote:
    graememacd wrote:
    Heading to the excel saturday to pick up numbers. Does anyone know a nearby carpark with no height restrictions as we're travelling in a tall van?

    We also operate an additional tariff for our lorry and coach park areas and these are charged as follows:
    Transit Vans up to 3.5T/Mini bus £20.00
    Coach £30.00
    Vehicles over above 3.5T/Lorry £35.00
    (costs based on 24 hour durations)

    or you could look at local streets - I am guessing most parking restrictions will be Mon-Fri or have a max wait of a few hours

    Thanks for the reply, i'll look into that
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,166
    Well there should be a good surface on Portsmouth Road in Kingston. Closed overnight for emergency resurfacing.
  • Thigh_burn
    Thigh_burn Posts: 489
    Just came back from registering, there were very few freebies, other than from the charities and some tasters from all the sports nutrition companies.

    There were some good deals from Evans on a range of parts and clothing, I got a Gabba 2 jersey for £95.

    Frankly, I thought Excel was disappointing. Had hoped to see more bike companies there, I think there was only Cannondale and GT.
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518
    KingstonGraham wrote:
    Well there should be a good surface on Portsmouth Road in Kingston. Closed overnight for emergency resurfacing.
    Not if the current way of resurfacing (throw fifteen tons of gravel on the road and get it superficially rolled in by two blokes in workboots) is anything to go by... :evil:
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • rich_e
    rich_e Posts: 389
    Thigh_burn wrote:
    Frankly, I thought Excel was disappointing. Had hoped to see more bike companies there, I think there was only Cannondale and GT.

    That already sounds like more than the first year then!

    From what I remember, there were no manufacturers on show and Wiggle didn't have any of their bikes either, just clothing and consumables. The only bikes really were a bunch of pro ones which were on display and not for sale.

    I had thought it might be something that would grow and grow, but I suppose from a manufacturers perspective, if you are turning up to collect your numbers for a cycle event, you would think that most are already taken care of on the bike aspect. So really the only sales would come down to somebody deciding on a whim that they are going to buy a new bike there and then for the event, which is probably quite slim.

    From what I recall from when I went on Thursday of 2013, most of the freebies I got were pistachio nuts and a good handful of things from Muc-Off, infact I'm still using their little samples of lube, as they gave me so many of them.
  • Thigh_burn
    Thigh_burn Posts: 489
    Rich_E wrote:
    I suppose from a manufacturers perspective, if you are turning up to collect your numbers for a cycle event, you would think that most are already taken care of on the bike aspect.

    But they're also a pretty committed crowd who might be quite susceptible to buying something shiny and new.

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