Ride London 2016

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Comments

  • deejaysee
    deejaysee Posts: 149
    I wasn't able to get a 100 place so I'm doing the 46.
    Whats not to stop me from carrying on and doing the 100 course?
    Who's gonna stop me?
  • stepdavi
    stepdavi Posts: 135
    ducknumber1 wrote:
    Not long since arrived at the hotel, after driving down from "The North". I'm in full agreement with those above that this is not a cheap do, especially for out of towners, but after doing it last year I also agree that it's well worth it.

    Last time I managed to sneak out with my numbers without doing the show, but sounds like it could be worth it, I fancy a mini cow bell....
    Not wrong 500 mile round trip 1 night near excel 3 nights in Greenwich and whatever £££££ spends , £600 before spending penny in London! Hope it's worth it
    2016 diamondback heist 2.0
    2015 giant propel advanced 1
    2015 Genesis day one disc ss
    2014 giant roam 2
  • FeltZ85
    FeltZ85 Posts: 28
    Doing the 46 on Sunday, anyone got any tips on where to park (i left it too late to book the official parking) that's a reasonable distance from the start / finish ?
  • gog555
    gog555 Posts: 63
    Any tips on best route to the Excel after the ride tomorrow?
  • adlopa
    adlopa Posts: 37
    DAZZ_A wrote:
    Is there a Garmin file for the route? I can't spot it anywhere.

    Here's the official Google Maps route: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewe ... rYj8&hl=en

    EDIT: Here's the downloadable TCX based on that Google Map route. Some variations from last year, it seems. The route should be accurate, but the official PDF doesn't quite match the official map (note that loop around Blackfriars...), so I'd stick to watching the marshals rather than starting at your Garmin...

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15472994
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    deejaysee wrote:
    I wasn't able to get a 100 place so I'm doing the 46.
    Whats not to stop me from carrying on and doing the 100 course?
    Who's gonna stop me?

    Interesting point - will they have complete faith in humanity and have no plan or will they have assumed a minority of people are wankers and have a plan. As it is pancake flat around there it will be dicey to be trying to haul cyclist off their bikes. Maybe stand on traffic Islands and try punch them so hard they land on the pavement?
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    gog555 wrote:
    Any tips on best route to the Excel after the ride tomorrow?

    Try and change your arrangements so you don't have to. If that is not possible then Embankment to Tower Hill and then CS3 (cycle superhighway) it is probably signed from there but if not use line of sight navigation to the cable car
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    deejaysee wrote:
    I wasn't able to get a 100 place so I'm doing the 46.
    Whats not to stop me from carrying on and doing the 100 course?
    Who's gonna stop me?

    The crossing point Marshalls will stop you, let the pedestrians across, then ask you nicely to get back to the correct route. The designs and colours of the stickers etc. are different.
  • DAZZ_A
    DAZZ_A Posts: 74
    Adlopa wrote:
    DAZZ_A wrote:
    Is there a Garmin file for the route? I can't spot it anywhere.

    Here's the official Google Maps route: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewe ... rYj8&hl=en

    EDIT: Here's the downloadable TCX based on that Google Map route. Some variations from last year, it seems. The route should be accurate, but the official PDF doesn't quite match the official map (note that loop around Blackfriars...), so I'd stick to watching the marshals rather than starting at your Garmin...

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15472994

    Thanks, managed to sort it last night by using the mapmyride link before driving to London.

    I only want it for the gradient mapping, not the actual GPS directions
  • cremator
    cremator Posts: 99
    HI ALL just been given a garmin 520 for tomorrow do you have to manually start and stop it each time also can i put a map of the route on there think i am out of my depth with this any help would be great please good luck to all for the ride
  • JDinho
    JDinho Posts: 16
    cremator wrote:
    HI ALL just been given a garmin 520 for tomorrow do you have to manually start and stop it each time also can i put a map of the route on there think i am out of my depth with this any help would be great please good luck to all for the ride

    Don't worry about loading a map, you'd struggle to get lost as there are so many participants you won't be alone. If you follow a simple rule where should you find yourself amongst cars and not cyclists you went wrong, everything will be fine!

    As for the Garmin it will have an auto stop start system but for longer rests you could stop it so your time is more representative. Either way it has a moving time, and an elapsed time count.

    Just enjoy it!
  • cremator
    cremator Posts: 99
    hi thank you ok i will leave the map part also should the back light be on all the time or not noticed after 3mins the light goes out
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    cremator wrote:
    hi thank you ok i will leave the map part also should the back light be on all the time or not noticed after 3mins the light goes out

    It is a timed event so you could leave it at home and save a few hundred grams. Probably safer to save the ride as you normally do.
  • specialized_nick
    specialized_nick Posts: 427
    I'm staying at the Ibis styles and slightly worried about finding my way to the start, is it quite easy? Can you just roll up with your bike and jump on the DLR?
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    Specialized_Nick wrote:
    I'm staying at the Ibis styles and slightly worried about finding my way to the start, is it quite easy? Can you just roll up with your bike and jump on the DLR?

    dLR won't be running and don't accept bikes. On the plus side you can just join the wave of cyclists. You will be amazed how many people there are
  • johnsonmoog
    johnsonmoog Posts: 51
    So panic stations. I've just discovered my di2 is on red. I'm reading that's 25%. I think I'm going to run out if juice. Anyone got a charger and staying in or near Tune Hotel Canary Wharf? :-(
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    I'm now in Clapham - no di2 charger though sorry.

    Nice early start tomorrow - even got the lights fitted. :o
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    johnsonmoog wrote:
    So panic stations. I've just discovered my di2 is on red. I'm reading that's 25%. I think I'm going to run out if juice. Anyone got a charger and staying in or near Tune Hotel Canary Wharf? :-(

    If you just need a lead you should ask the hotel as these can be multi-purpose
  • johnsonmoog
    johnsonmoog Posts: 51
    No joy on that. The junction box has a specific connector. Guess I'll be running it as a fixie from some point onwards. Come back cables, all is forgiven. See you on the roads.
  • pmcclure
    pmcclure Posts: 36
    "dLR won't be running and don't accept bikes"
    It accepted bikes last year. I got the DLR from central London to Canary Wharf area after the ride .
  • rich_e
    rich_e Posts: 389
    deejaysee wrote:
    I wasn't able to get a 100 place so I'm doing the 46.
    Whats not to stop me from carrying on and doing the 100 course?
    Who's gonna stop me?

    The first wave of riders in the 100 leaves at 6:00am, where as the riders of the 46 don't get going until 9:00-9:30am.
    The first diversion (which is where the 100 gets reduced to 46) becomes mandatory at 10:50am. The diversion itself opens at 10:20am, so presumably they aren't banking on too many people from the 46 arriving much earlier than that.

    I guess if you are quick, you can blitz past the diversion point. When I did the event, I never saw much in the way of them policing anyone poaching or anything like that, as it would be incredibly difficult to do so.

    I suppose given this is the first year of the 46 running though, they will probably be keeping a closer eye at the diversion point for the opposite reason to yourself.... i.e., somebody who has signed up to the 46 which is already a big challenge probably doesn't want to accidentally end up on the 100 route and tackling the Surrey hills.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Got the route nailed down thanks to the handy top tube stickers. See you out there. :D

    IMG_4942_zps0fjaux6x.jpg
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    What time is this?!
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    Slowbike wrote:
    What time is this?!

    Too blooming early, that's what time it is!
  • chrisaonabike
    chrisaonabike Posts: 1,914
    Idiots causing these accidents.

    My OH has now been held up for an hour in a mass of stationary bikes behind what sounds like a big crash just beyond Pyrford. And reports of another one at Leith.

    Why can't people ride according to the conditions?

    :cry:
    Is the gorilla tired yet?
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    ChrisAOnABike wrote:
    Idiots causing these accidents.

    My OH has now been held up for an hour in a mass of stationary bikes behind what sounds like a big crash just beyond Pyrford. And reports of another one at Leith.

    Why can't people ride according to the conditions?

    :cry:

    It's very unfortunately and the organisers are reporting on facebook that the air ambulance has been called.

    The problem is, first time riders just dont know how to ride in the conditions. If you havent done it before you dont know what is right or wrong.

    Similar incidents happen on London to Brighton too
  • chrisaonabike
    chrisaonabike Posts: 1,914
    sherer wrote:
    ChrisAOnABike wrote:
    Idiots causing these accidents.

    My OH has now been held up for an hour in a mass of stationary bikes behind what sounds like a big crash just beyond Pyrford. And reports of another one at Leith.

    Why can't people ride according to the conditions?

    :cry:

    It's very unfortunately and the organisers are reporting on facebook that the air ambulance has been called.

    The problem is, first time riders just dont know how to ride in the conditions. If you havent done it before you dont know what is right or wrong.

    ...
    Cobblers. It's brainless fucktards being morons that causes it, experienced or inexperienced.

    When I rode RL100 in 2013 it was my first sportive and I'd only had the bike since the previous autumn. I was careful, I rode defensively, I didn't go crazy down the hills, and I didn't even come close to causing an accident.

    The closest I came was when a bunch of dickbrains riding in a team - clearly experienced - were pissing about - and when the one that wasn't looking where he was going nearly hit a central bollard, he veered towards me at the last second, making me jump out of his way.
    Is the gorilla tired yet?
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    There's some poor person receiving CPR on Kingston Bridge too.
  • ooermissus
    ooermissus Posts: 811
    I was standing just past West Byfleet when the accident happened some miles further down the course. Saw police motorbikes and ambulances coming through at speed.

    Stewards were talking in a very relaxed way about the air ambulance coming in and the course being closed, but they let riders go through for around an hour - past the point where the diversion would eventually be opened.

    Impossible for me to know what was going on behind the scenes, but it seemed like a very slow reaction to what had happened to me.

    Also a guy stopped just by me to take a call saying his dad was involved in the crash. Felt awful for him and hope the guy is ok.
  • chrisaonabike
    chrisaonabike Posts: 1,914
    ooermissus wrote:
    Also a guy stopped just by me to take a call saying his dad was involved in the crash. Felt awful for him and hope the guy is ok.
    Yes, if it was just the fucktards that got hurt I wouldn't give a rat's ar5e. Sadly they often manage to create carnage around them and take out the innocent.
    Is the gorilla tired yet?

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