Ride London 2016

milemuncher1

You have to bear in mind that it's primarily for the signing on for the Pru (s ) and for the free cycle, and not the bike show. Wiggle normally have a load of stuff for sale at good prices, and if you go round and have a good look, there are some people giving promo stuff away. Don't go expecting to lig the hell out of the place, you'll be disappointed.

Thigh_burn

Has anyone got any tips on strategy for riding a century. Perhaps a bit late in the day to be asking this, but the longest I've done is 64 miles a couple of weeks ago.

My thinking was to stop at the hubs, which are at miles 27, 48, 75 and 85. With a relatively brief stop at 27, about 20mins at 2 and then shorter stops at the last two.

Do the hubs get insanely busy? Am I better off targeting the drink stations between the hubs?

mattsaw

If you've done 64 then 100 should be manageable, as long as you sensible.

Don't get over-excited at the start. Start slow and speed up after the hills if you're feeling good. Its easy to get carried away, hanging onto a too fast group until you're blowing up by Richmond Park.

Try to get in a group of a similar speed which will make the whole ride a lot easier if you're taking turns on the front.

Keep you wits about you. I saw lots of crashes last year basically caused by people not shoulder checking and veering off their line unexpectedly. Call out dangers to others and call which side you're on when you're passing slower riders.

Make sure you eat and drink enough. You should be eating small amounts every 15 minutes and drinking well before you're thirsty.

The hubs are very busy, if you are just stopping for water then you're much better off taking all the food you can and then only stopping at drinks stations.

chrisaonabike

A polite request to those that end up walking up Leith Hill:

SINGLE OUT AND MOVE OVER TO THE F***ING LEFT.

Please.

Don't be like the brainless and inconsiderate pieces of sh1t that saunter up, two abreast with bikes next to them, chatting away and causing the mother of all tailbacks, like the first year I did the ride.

If you ride past people doing this, shout at the fukkers and tell them to single out.

And if you're riding up, don't cause mayhem by weaving dangerously past the slower wobbling riders.

And don't go crazy on the descent. There was a very nasty accident on the Leith descent in 2013. Ambulance, neck brace, single file past the poor bastard. Don't be the cause of one like that by being a complete kunt.

I did the ride the first two years, my lady is doing it for the first time this year, and I really want her to come back in one piece.

Ta

itboffin

Thigh_burn wrote:

Has anyone got any tips on strategy for riding a century. Perhaps a bit late in the day to be asking this, but the longest I've done is 64 miles a couple of weeks ago.

My thinking was to stop at the hubs, which are at miles 27, 48, 75 and 85. With a relatively brief stop at 27, about 20mins at 2 and then shorter stops at the last two.

Do the hubs get insanely busy? Am I better off targeting the drink stations between the hubs?

really dont stop for 20 mins at one stop, just fill up with whatever you need water / food etc then move on, your body will thank you. Anyway four food stops in 100 miles is quite a lot especially as the last two are that close together. You should take enough with you for at least the first two stops anyway and only top up, as has been said eat and drink a little often, i have my garmin set to beep every 3 miles as a reminder.

Anonymous

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Wiggle normally have a load of stuff for sale at good prices

They won't this year apparently 8)

Anonymous

No one has asked if there are timing mats at the feed stations this year lol

Thigh_burn

itboffin wrote:

really dont stop for 20 mins at one stop, just fill up with whatever you need water / food etc then move on, your body will thank you. Anyway four food stops in 100 miles is quite a lot especially as the last two are that close together.

Thanks. Just to clarify the stops were for a breather, not to get food, I plan on carrying enough with me. But I can see that if I take it a bit easier up front it may not be that much of an issue. As I looked back over my post, I thought 4 read like quite a lot. I should leave one of the last two.

stu227

graememacd wrote:

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

I wouldn't bother parking on streets around there - Newham are both strict and devious in their issuing of parking tickets, and the restrictions operate at all times exactly because the Excel and City Airport are nearby. Unfortunately. Took me 6 months to get my last parking ticket cancelled when I tried that on a street that didn't even look like it had restrictions, luckily the adjudicator agreed with me. DIdn't stop Newham pushing their luck though.

stu227

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

milemuncher1

Are there timing mats at the feed stations? I'm proper pro you see, and I don't think it's fair that we should have our times skewed by stopping at the feed stations / hubs. It's not fair. Not bloody fair.

milemuncher1

stu227 wrote:

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

Well said. Too many people forget this, it's irritating to have a superhero yelling "ON YOUR RIGHHHHHT" when all you want to do is make some money for charity, and enjoy a closed road 100 miler, with bits you can't normally ride a bike on ( Blackwall tunnel ) thrown in for good measure.

Anonymous

Milemuncher1 wrote:

stu227 wrote:

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

Well said. Too many people forget this, it's irritating to have a superhero yelling "ON YOUR RIGHHHHHT" when all you want to do is make some money for charity, and enjoy a closed road 100 miler, with bits you can't normally ride a bike on ( Blackwall tunnel ) thrown in for good measure.

A/ Stay on the left/allow people to pass then.
B/ Sit in a bath of beans or shave your head bald.
C/ Allow other people to also enjoy a 100 mile closed road event.

Not all of those fcukmuppets are raising money for charity, and I am guessing some lied about their expected time to be in front in the first place!

Stu: I find people saying "on your right" annoying too sometimes, but they rarely 'scream' it, and what would you suggest as an alternative?
Weave all over the place to pass? Say nothing and everyone ride at 10mph?

You seem a reasonable person, with a reasonable request, and yet you highlight an extreme (and exaggerated) example.

In my experience its often the person thats being asked to move over that is the arse. Not because they are slow or inconsiderate for being in the way, but because they react badly to a reasonable request.
I am guessing because they are embarrassed about being asked (told) and annoyed people are faster/fitter than them.

I am pretty quick but still find myself in front of people on the right sometimes.
They are just letting me know they are there/want to pass, and I move over.

capt_slog

itboffin wrote:

Thigh_burn wrote:

Has anyone got any tips on strategy for riding a century. Perhaps a bit late in the day to be asking this, but the longest I've done is 64 miles a couple of weeks ago.

My thinking was to stop at the hubs, which are at miles 27, 48, 75 and 85. With a relatively brief stop at 27, about 20mins at 2 and then shorter stops at the last two.

Do the hubs get insanely busy? Am I better off targeting the drink stations between the hubs?

really dont stop for 20 mins at one stop, just fill up with whatever you need water / food etc then move on, your body will thank you. Anyway four food stops in 100 miles is quite a lot especially as the last two are that close together. You should take enough with you for at least the first two stops anyway and only top up, as has been said eat and drink a little often, i have my garmin set to beep every 3 miles as a reminder.

I've found that a stop of a few minutes is a great refresher, but then it takes me a while to get going again But I think it's the best way of getting the most out of any food. Eating as often as you mention had never occurred to me, I don't think I could do that, but I will try something similar to remind me to drink more regularly.

A tip that I'll pass on is to take a couple of ibuprofen 'fast melt' capsules with you. I'm not suggesting that you should mask it when your body is telling you it's getting too much, but a small niggle that is starting to spoil your progress soon becomes all you can think about. For me it tend to be shoulder pains from an injury nearly 20 years ago, but it also helps the 'gooch'

milemuncher1

Carbonator wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

stu227 wrote:

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

Well said. Too many people forget this, it's irritating to have a superhero yelling "ON YOUR RIGHHHHHT" when all you want to do is make some money for charity, and enjoy a closed road 100 miler, with bits you can't normally ride a bike on ( Blackwall tunnel ) thrown in for good measure.

A/ Stay on the left/allow people to pass then.
B/ Sit in a bath of beans or shave your head bald.
C/ Allow other people to also enjoy a 100 mile closed road event.

Not all of those fcukmuppets are raising money for charity, and I am guessing some lied about their expected time to be in front in the first place!

Stu: I find people saying "on your right" annoying too sometimes, but they rarely 'scream' it, and what would you suggest as an alternative?
Weave all over the place to pass? Say nothing and everyone ride at 10mph?

You seem a reasonable person, with a reasonable request, and yet you highlight an extreme (and exaggerated) example.

In my experience its often the person thats being asked to move over that is the ars*. Not because they are slow or inconsiderate for being in the way, but because they react badly to a reasonable request.
I am guessing because they are embarrassed about being asked (told) and annoyed people are faster/fitter than them.

I am pretty quick but still find myself in front of people on the right sometimes.
They are just letting me know they are there/want to pass, and I move over.

Wow, you sound like you'd do well in the Classic.

cruff

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

stu227 wrote:

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

Well said. Too many people forget this, it's irritating to have a superhero yelling "ON YOUR RIGHHHHHT" when all you want to do is make some money for charity, and enjoy a closed road 100 miler, with bits you can't normally ride a bike on ( Blackwall tunnel ) thrown in for good measure.

A/ Stay on the left/allow people to pass then.
B/ Sit in a bath of beans or shave your head bald.
C/ Allow other people to also enjoy a 100 mile closed road event.

Not all of those fcukmuppets are raising money for charity, and I am guessing some lied about their expected time to be in front in the first place!

Stu: I find people saying "on your right" annoying too sometimes, but they rarely 'scream' it, and what would you suggest as an alternative?
Weave all over the place to pass? Say nothing and everyone ride at 10mph?

You seem a reasonable person, with a reasonable request, and yet you highlight an extreme (and exaggerated) example.

In my experience its often the person thats being asked to move over that is the ars*. Not because they are slow or inconsiderate for being in the way, but because they react badly to a reasonable request.
I am guessing because they are embarrassed about being asked (told) and annoyed people are faster/fitter than them.

I am pretty quick but still find myself in front of people on the right sometimes.
They are just letting me know they are there/want to pass, and I move over.

Wow, you sound like you'd do well in the Classic.

I don't get what you're trying to do here. The above post seems perfectly reasonable, yet you seem to want to dig out anyone who isn't interested in pootling a pan flat course in seven hours?

Like all sportives, there will be people who want to ride in a fast (or reasonably fast) time, and people who will be happy to just get round. Most of the faster folk will be in the first few waves anyway, and will be riding in bunches - I think there are problems being invented that don't really exist here.

slowbike

Thigh_burn wrote:

Has anyone got any tips on strategy for riding a century. Perhaps a bit late in the day to be asking this, but the longest I've done is 64 miles a couple of weeks ago.

I did my first 100 on the back of a few 10 mile TTs. The advice I was given (by an ex pro and another chap) was to keep my cadence higher and keep my heart rate down - I kept my cadence up where I could at >80rpm and my heart rate down to below 150 (max 185) - again where I could - as it was a hilly 100 there were a few climbs where my cadence was down and heart rate up!
It worked and whilst I was knackered at the end I didn't bonk or have to walk up the final hill. IIRC I even managed a mini sprint over the finish line - just because!

Eating and drinking is also key - keep drinking - preferably iso drinks - keep eating - 100 miles is a long event, you'll get sick of sweet stuff all day and you'll miss a meal - I'm carrying mini sausages and fig rolls - on top of that I'll have some energy sweets that I'm used to eating.
I'm only aiming on one stop to top up a bottle - but I'll play it by ear.

mattsaw

I'm not really sure what he has said that is that unreasonable.

No matter what your speed, fast or slow, the biggest danger when riding in groups is a lack of communication and awareness.

The more you can communicate to people where you are and what you intend to do then the safer everyone is.

Calls when passing aren't instructions or demands, they information. If everyone communicated more and held their lines then everyone will get around safely.

*I would still advise that you assume everyone is out to kill you however, just to be on the safe side

slowbike

Milemuncher1 wrote:

stu227 wrote:

I don't know if I've said this before - but I'm guessing most people on here are reasonably experienced - so we probably ought to show a bit of consideration to those for whom RL will be their first long-distance event. Let's try not to scream "ON YOUR RIGHT" and expect those awful amateurs to immediately understand what you mean, and let's all be patient with those folk who've never experienced a corner before!

Enjoy the day, and I hope everyone has a great, relaxing time

Well said. Too many people forget this, it's irritating to have a superhero yelling "ON YOUR RIGHHHHHT" when all you want to do is make some money for charity, and enjoy a closed road 100 miler, with bits you can't normally ride a bike on ( Blackwall tunnel ) thrown in for good measure.

yup - understand some of your frustrations - there are some right ejits who ride around like they have the right to the whole road.
But equally - there will be those wanting to enjoy a closed road 100 miler with bits you can't normally ride a bike on at a fast pace - because they enjoy going quickly and not having motor vehicles to bother about. Isn't it just good manners for the pootlers and speedsters to ride considerately - the speedsters will be overtaking the pootlers and a call of "on your right" is good manners if you think you may otherwise shock the pootler.

Basically if we can all ride a steady course and speed - ie no sudden changes in either - then we'll all have a safer and more enjoyable ride.

kingstongraham

Thigh_burn wrote:

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.

But also fairly pissed off about having to go all the way across London just because someone wants to sell their presence to a bunch of companies. And really just want to go home.

That might just be me.

johngti

Anyone else planning on forgetting to put the ridiculously big helmet sticker on?

mattsaw

I'm planning on heading over at lunchtime today to register. How busy has it been for those that have registered already?

mattsaw

johngti wrote:

Anyone else planning on forgetting to put the ridiculously big helmet sticker on?

I didn't bother last year. I think only a couple of them are mandatory.
The handlebar and jersey ones if I remember rightly?

iPete

can't say I'm going to buy any of the photos so will likely not, although you might get aero gains if it's that big

denkfaul

johngti wrote:

Anyone else planning on forgetting to put the ridiculously big helmet sticker on?

Not mandatory, so I'd rather not block any cooling vents with a pointless sticker.

johngti

Mattsaw wrote:

I'm planning on heading over at lunchtime today to register. How busy has it been for those that have registered already?

It stayed pretty quiet for most of the day yesterday. No great bargains to be had (although I was tempted by a pair of pro lite wheels for £289) but a few bits and pieces for sale.

slowbike

they don't make it easy to get there to register ...

Just want to pop up - register then go away again ...

carpark at excel is said to be £15 flat fee for 24hours ... !! trying to find somewhere I can park for an hour for a more reasonable price ...
Either that or get a mate who is going and staying to register for me ...

capt_slog

Yup, it's tricky. I'm dropping the car at a parking spot near the hotel in Shoreditch and then getting the tube and DLR to the Excel. That seems to be the easiest way. :roll:

deejaysee

I totally get why it has to be this way but this registering at the Excel before hand is a right pain in the arse

slowbike

right - going to get a mate who is staying up there to do it for me ...
quite frankly - if it was postage cost that's the issue then I'd pay extra for postage - cos driving to anywhere near Excel will take me 2 hours each way - getting public transport even longer. It's not even though we're that far from London - perhaps that's the problem - because I can get to the ride without having to stay over.
We were going to do the freecycle but have decided not to this year - otherwise I would've ridden over from that.