Ride London 2016

Grahamsjz

Start time 08:17, Garmin Move Time 5:28, Garmin Ride Time 6:55. Only stopped to fill up bottles once, caught in queues from accidents, queues from roads narrowing and too many cyclists, queues waiting to go up Leith (people walking two abreast chatting to each other - the only time I heard angry shouting all day).

I did not get diverted, enjoyed the crowds at the side of the road, rode with mixed feelings, clearly there had been serious injury. Rode cautiously amongst very mixed abilities, finally got to empty legs in last ten miles, where riders thinning out and roads were wider.

I will apply for ballot again, unlikely to get a better day weather wise and as someone earlier said, the medal was awesome.

Riding on closed roads and running red lights, going the wrong way round one way systems, not having to slow for junctions was really enjoyable, but the real fun factor was the crowd in party mood, towns we went through having street parties with music pumping.

Special thanks to the kind people in Purford for coming out with huge jugs of water for us when we were trapped in the sun.

I hope the riders who went down recover fully and quickly.

chrisaonabike

Must admit, my OH did really well. She finished in about 7 hr 15 official, so pretty much 6 hours moving, given her hour and a quarter in the snarl-up at Pyrford.

Better than my time in 2013, and no technicals or punctures.

The closest she came to an accident was when the Kingston Wheelers peloton carved her up - the back end of that cut right across her front wheel as they blasted past forcing her to brake suddenly to avoid getting wiped out.

So to them from me.

Having done the ride twice myself, listened to my OH's account of her observations, and read the comments from people here, I'm firmly of the conclusion that it's the experienced club member TdF wannabees that are very much the trouble-makers, much less the inexperienced. Doubtless not all of them, but there it is.

cremator

This was my first 100 or should I say 92 done it in 5.48 not bad seeing I did only 3weeks training before hand still done it now may do it again next year was a good day

Brakeless

A lot of the posts on here seem to think that being told 'on your right' is some form of harassment. It's not, it's just information as you don't have eyes in the back of your head. One of the biggest problems is riders changing line without looking over thier shoulders, if I'm about to overtake a rider who looks like they may move right I'll let them know I'm there, it's not aggressive, it's not an order, it's for everyone's safety. I told people I was on thier right and I got told by others that they were on my right. If you're on an event with thousands of others there needs to be communication and there will be the odd close pass, getting the ump with people going much quicker than you is a bit pointless as there's probably people slower who think the same about you.

defride

iPete wrote:

defride, are there team results posted somewhere then?
I'm pretty sure I was in your group, Wave A 3:59.

I haven't seen a result as yet but we were sent one at the club a few days after the event last year

Must have ridden with you, I thought it was still a pretty large group over Box but didn't look around until heading down into Putney and was shocked there was no one behind me, moved up after that.

surrey_commuter

optrexeyedrops wrote:

I'll throw in my two-pence worth.

I started in Yellow, Wave B at 6.42am. Second time I've done the event, the last time was in the biblical weather of 2014, so any weather would have been better than that year.

My ride went well, but like a lot of others on here, the only two times i had aggro was with so called 'i-think-im-a-pro-cuz-im-in-a-club-ars*holes' going too fast or thinking they could barge anyone else out of the way with speed or shouting.

For me, i did it with a ride time of 5hrs 46mins, with an official time of 6hrs 12mins. My 'proper' time should really have been about 5hrs bang on, but at the last possible minute, my nephew got a charity place and wanted to ride along with me. Bearing in mind I've done a full year of training/Zwifting/local rides for this and he had done 'one 30 minute Wattbike session at the gym in March' I could have been really p*ssed off but I wasn't, its an event, a sportive-not a race. I know what I'm capable of but i was happy to help him round. For me i have other sportives lined up where i can "smash it" if i want to for my own timing pleasure.

We stopped 3 times, mainly for water for my nephew, which was the difference between the ride time and official time and also by the last 30-40 miles he was suffering with cramp etc and i really did have to nurse him through the last third of it, often slowing right down to let him catch up. But here's the rub with the so called 'pro rider wannabes"...

At one point, whilst going up Leith Hill, i naturally moved to the left. Im a big lad, 6ft 2 and weigh about 19 stone, so i know my strengths and weaknesses and naturally, hill-climbing isn't one of them. Don't get me wrong, I've never walked up any hill, I'm good at pacing myself for the effort required and often find I'm going past people, but I'm no Chris Froome either, dancing on the pedals like a lightweight dandy. So on Leith i naturally moved left to let the faster hill climbers go right, and ground my way up, my nephew by my side (who's 4 stone lighter!). Then what do i hear? 'mind out!! on your left'..wtf??!!! what do you mean 'on my left??..im on the bloody left (right next to the grass) when this nobhead in full team kit comes dancing on the pedals up the inside of me with plenty of space on the right, simply because he was racing his other nobhead team mate who had gone the other side of my nephew. Forced me right, into the path of my nephew who hit the brakes nearly offing the bloke behind him. All because this 'Contador Wanabee' wanted to knock 20 seconds off his hill time. Tjt.

Then, further along when my nephew was suffering, i was pulling ahead without knowing it and naturally looking back, so again, i would pull off to the left near the kerb along the flat sections, slow down, look back, when at one point this f*cktard and his 2 mates come whizzing past, no warning and bomb past with about an inch to spare to my right. I hear the guy nearest me say to his mate as he went past 'bloody amateurs weaving all over the road..'. i was fuming. Amateur? Ive been riding since i was 5 sunshine, Ive done numerous sportives across the country and i know the road etiquette of signalling despite never been racing. But this c*cknobber thought he was the dogs bollox because he thought he was more experienced, simply because i was looking back for my nephew. The irony of this is that I'm built like a rugby player, I'm not fat f*ck, I've worked as a doorman and in security with ex-military personnel and if i had caught him I would have left him with his rear derailleur shoved up his arris, little prick.

Apart from those two f*ckwits, the event was great, well organised and generally the riding was good from everyone. You're always going to get the odd n0bjockey like those two, but thats life. But in my experience of the ride it was the 'racers' who were causing a lot of the fear and unease in the rest of the surrounding 'peloton' so to speak.

I am intrigued how your nephew got such an early start time.

Mind you if he only sat on any sort of bike for 30 minutes all year and did 6 hours 12 minutes then chapeau to him.

defride

Omar Little wrote:

Was in wave A again this year and missed all the problems that others experienced. I thought the riding standard at the front this year was high - better than last year and considerably higher than any road race ive done recently (this season has been the worst i can remember in this regard). The start was pretty rapid at over 28 mph for the first 20 miles, so i guess most of those who were still in the group after that would be used to fast paced group riding. I got dropped on Leith Hill, it looked like a group of about 15-20 got away then it was a series of smaller groups trying to chase back...dont know if any of them managed it, i certainly didnt!


Regards club entry and starting wave - it is seeded based on what the slowest rider on the team estimates. So if 3 of you put down for 4 hours and the 4th puts down for 6 hours then 6 is what they use.

It came back together between Leith and Dorking as far as I could make out, don't think anyone was away going into Box. A dozen or so then got away over Box and our chasing group had a halfhearted attempt at organising a chase through to about Leatherhead, not enough strong legs left. The breakaway put 2 minutes into the 40-50 of us that followed on.

itboffin

Exactly on your right isn't bullying its giving a clear indication that you intend to pass on the right faster than you BUT only if there's a safe space to do so, its not telling you move out of my way I'm coming through, which I believe might be the way it was being used.

surrey_commuter

A lot of casual acceptance of lapsed time and riding time... Usually there is a good argument to be had. I am impressed by the introduction of time I would have achieved if had trained more.

anybody who chose to stop is having a laugh by adjusting their time.

DeVlaeminck

Normally I'd agree but if you were held up for an hour through no fault of your own then I have some sympathy with people giving the time they actually spent on their bike.

Ben6899

I'm shocked to read that people were pushing up Sawyers.

That must have been a long day in the saddle.

surrey_commuter

Ben6899 wrote:

I'm shocked to read that people were pushing up Sawyers.

That must have been a long day in the saddle.

These people should be given a cup of tea and told to turn left at Hampton Court. Further up somebody reported seeing somebody walking up out of Limehouse Link

Anonymous

Surrey Commuter wrote:

A lot of casual acceptance of lapsed time and riding time... Usually there is a good argument to be had. I am impressed by the introduction of time I would have achieved if had trained more.

anybody who chose to stop is having a laugh by adjusting their time.

I blame starva lol

'time I would have achieved if had trained more'
This is a mouthful. It needs a shorter title. Ideally two words i.e. .......... time.
Any suggestions?

Its not too bad when people tell you both as you know whats what and that they are a bit odd for mentioning ride time.
Its most annoying when people will just give their 'ride time' without mention of it being that, and not mention finish time at all (if they are different).

The other annoying thing with the acceptance of this situation is that if someone asks your time, when you tell them, you feel like saying "that was my official time, not my ride time...... and I didn't stop" lol

Just don't mention times if you are not going to say the real one.
The event having to be stopped kind of means event over (if time is important to you), but I can see why ride time is noted when this happens as you have no real grasp of what you have done otherwise.

capt_slog

ugo.santalucia wrote:

alexgeorge wrote:

ps is ugo a professional antagonist

Only of this event...

I've put in more than my twopence worth on this thread I know, but I was thinking about this on the drive in this morning.

I'm 57 now, but in 2011 I realised that i wasn't going to be fit enough to carry on living into old age unless I did something about it. I was given a spin bike and 'rode' it for half an hour or so in the evenings, outside on the yard, often in the dark.

I felt like I was getting the hang of it, so I bought a bike off Ebay, a nail of a Viking which I repaired and started riding. I had to stop at the top of any incline to get my breath back, and if I was managing to hold 14mph around my 6 mile loop I thought I was doing really well.

I carried on, stuck with it, went further, faster and got a better bike. Did a 50 mile sportives, and a personal 100, and eventually I got to last weekend.

Despite all the problems (and there were a lot) this was the biggest thing I've ever done on a bike and might be the biggest I'll ever do. I can safely say it was the best day I've ever spent on my bike, I've still got the grin I had through a lot of the day.

I suppose the point is, how you came to do the RideLondon colours your perception of it.

marcusjb

^ and that is what it's all about.

I couldn't really give a monkeys about people who ride regularly and can do it in 4-5 hours, amazing though that is.

But inspiring people to tackle something so beyond their comfort zone is exactly what RL should be about.

Chapeau Capt Slog!

cruff

optrexeyedrops wrote:

I'll throw in my two-pence worth.

I started in Yellow, Wave B at 6.42am. Second time I've done the event, the last time was in the biblical weather of 2014, so any weather would have been better than that year.

My ride went well, but like a lot of others on here, the only two times i had aggro was with so called 'i-think-im-a-pro-cuz-im-in-a-club-ars*holes' going too fast or thinking they could barge anyone else out of the way with speed or shouting.

For me, i did it with a ride time of 5hrs 46mins, with an official time of 6hrs 12mins. My 'proper' time should really have been about 5hrs bang on, but at the last possible minute, my nephew got a charity place and wanted to ride along with me. Bearing in mind I've done a full year of training/Zwifting/local rides for this and he had done 'one 30 minute Wattbike session at the gym in March' I could have been really p*ssed off but I wasn't, its an event, a sportive-not a race. I know what I'm capable of but i was happy to help him round. For me i have other sportives lined up where i can "smash it" if i want to for my own timing pleasure.

We stopped 3 times, mainly for water for my nephew, which was the difference between the ride time and official time and also by the last 30-40 miles he was suffering with cramp etc and i really did have to nurse him through the last third of it, often slowing right down to let him catch up. But here's the rub with the so called 'pro rider wannabes"...

At one point, whilst going up Leith Hill, i naturally moved to the left. Im a big lad, 6ft 2 and weigh about 19 stone, so i know my strengths and weaknesses and naturally, hill-climbing isn't one of them. Don't get me wrong, I've never walked up any hill, I'm good at pacing myself for the effort required and often find I'm going past people, but I'm no Chris Froome either, dancing on the pedals like a lightweight dandy. So on Leith i naturally moved left to let the faster hill climbers go right, and ground my way up, my nephew by my side (who's 4 stone lighter!). Then what do i hear? 'mind out!! on your left'..wtf??!!! what do you mean 'on my left??..im on the bloody left (right next to the grass) when this nobhead in full team kit comes dancing on the pedals up the inside of me with plenty of space on the right, simply because he was racing his other nobhead team mate who had gone the other side of my nephew. Forced me right, into the path of my nephew who hit the brakes nearly offing the bloke behind him. All because this 'Contador Wanabee' wanted to knock 20 seconds off his hill time. Tjt.

Then, further along when my nephew was suffering, i was pulling ahead without knowing it and naturally looking back, so again, i would pull off to the left near the kerb along the flat sections, slow down, look back, when at one point this f*cktard and his 2 mates come whizzing past, no warning and bomb past with about an inch to spare to my right. I hear the guy nearest me say to his mate as he went past 'bloody amateurs weaving all over the road..'. i was fuming. Amateur? Ive been riding since i was 5 sunshine, Ive done numerous sportives across the country and i know the road etiquette of signalling despite never been racing. But this c*cknobber thought he was the dogs bollox because he thought he was more experienced, simply because i was looking back for my nephew. The irony of this is that I'm built like a rugby player, I'm not fat f*ck, I've worked as a doorman and in security with ex-military personnel and if i had caught him I would have left him with his rear derailleur shoved up his arris, little prick.

Apart from those two f*ckwits, the event was great, well organised and generally the riding was good from everyone. You're always going to get the odd n0bjockey like those two, but thats life. But in my experience of the ride it was the 'racers' who were causing a lot of the fear and unease in the rest of the surrounding 'peloton' so to speak.

You don't come across particularly well for your first post...

surrey_commuter

Carbonator wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

A lot of casual acceptance of lapsed time and riding time... Usually there is a good argument to be had. I am impressed by the introduction of time I would have achieved if had trained more.

anybody who chose to stop is having a laugh by adjusting their time.

I blame starva lol

'time I would have achieved if had trained more'
This is a mouthful. It needs a shorter title. Ideally two words i.e. .......... time.
Any suggestions?

Its not too bad when people tell you both as you know whats what and that they are a bit odd for mentioning ride time.
Its most annoying when people will just give their 'ride time' without mention of it being that, and not mention finish time at all (if they are different).

The other annoying thing with the acceptance of this situation is that if someone asks your time, when you tell them, you feel like saying "that was my official time, not my ride time...... and I didn't stop" lol

Just don't mention times if you are not going to say the real one.
The event having to be stopped kind of means event over (if time is important to you), but I can see why ride time is noted when this happens as you have no real grasp of what you have done otherwise.

How about "entitled time"

If they stop for food and drink they knock all the time off but do not factor in the time gained on the weight saving and being optimally fed, hydrated and a rest. If they get a puncture they don't add on time for not buying tyres with puncture resistance in mind. If their mate has to stop they don't factor in the time gains from having a mate to ride with.

* EDIT: borrowed from above "proper" time
ride time of 5hrs 46mins, with an official time of 6hrs 12mins. My 'proper' time should really have been about 5hrs bang on,

Der Kaiser

My official time was 0ver 9 hours. My Time riding was just over 7. I was delayed for about 2 hours with a further hour of slow walking due to crashes (Pyrford and the approach to Leith Hill to name but a few).

I reckon on a clear road I could have got 5 and a half hours.

But I don't care despite all the negatives the positives outweigh them.

The crowds were fabulous.
Box Hill was actually enjoyable to ride up.
The helpers were great.
The organisation was better than I expected.
The medal was brilliant.
Meeting up with my club mates at a Club Social last night was just brilliant. It was the main subject of chatter.
My wife texting me with 5 miles to go telling me she was in tears at the finish seeing all the people crossing the line.

Strava doesn't measure how much fun you had. It doesn't count how many lovely people you chatted to whilst you waited. It doesn't measure how pretty the Surrey Milf who told me I was "Fucking Awesome" as I went through Kingston.

I enjoyed it. That's all I need to know.

specialized_nick

Der Kaiser wrote:

My official time was 0ver 9 hours. My Time riding was just over 7. I was delayed for about 2 hours with a further hour of slow walking due to crashes (Pyrford and the approach to Leith Hill to name but a few).

I reckon on a clear road I could have got 5 and a half hours.

But I don't care despite all the negatives the positives outweigh them.

The crowds were fabulous.
Box Hill was actually enjoyable to ride up.
The helpers were great.
The organisation was better than I expected.
The medal was brilliant.
Meeting up with my club mates at a Club Social last night was just brilliant. It was the main subject of chatter.
My wife texting me with 5 miles to go telling me she was in tears at the finish seeing all the people crossing the line.

Strava doesn't measure how much fun you had. It doesn't count how many lovely people you chatted to whilst you waited. It doesn't measure how pretty the Surrey Milf who told me I was "******* Awesome" as I went through Kingston.

I enjoyed it. That's all I need to know.

Well said!

iPete

marcusjb wrote:

^ and that is what it's all about.

I couldn't really give a monkeys about people who ride regularly and can do it in 4-5 hours, amazing though that is.

But inspiring people to tackle something so beyond their comfort zone is exactly what RL should be about.

Chapeau Capt Slog!

Yes, chapeau but it is and will remain an inclusive event for all, however you like your fun.

I did have a passing thought (and I'm sure the organisers are reading this thread ) but seeing as attending the ExCel is mandatory, why not make it worthwhile and more than an attempt to sell us saddle bags.
A mandatory 5-10 minute video on group riding, communication, being courteous and safe, etc. could be enforced before you can get your number. They could even get Chris Boardman/Halfords to sponsor it for extra monies, everyone's a winner.

I've had to do exactly this before doing track time in the car, go-karting and rider briefings are enforced before every race.

kingstongraham

Like the marathon, the event is different things to different people - and that's OK isn't it? If you are at the front of the marathon, looking to go sub-3, it will be a different atmosphere than if you are looking to do 5 hrs. Neither are exclusively what it "should be about".

johngti

Agree completely with Capt Slog and Der Kaiser. I came back to cycling on the back of the olympics like so many others. It's nearly 4 years to the day when I bought my first bike - a specialized sirrus sport. I rode it around the block, half a mile at best, and my legs were like jelly afterwards!

4 years later and ride London done and I pretty much loved every second. My normal average around north Kent is between 14-16mph, usually involving the short but nasty climbs around here (justifying a slow speed there folks!). Up until Pyrford I'd managed nearer 20 and felt great. Standing around for an hour didn't help my dodgy knees and it was tougher going from there but still fantastic. Loved the crowds and the high fives off kids around the course. Probably could have gone a bit quicker up leith but didn't have the speed to get involved with the fast cyclists so stayed left and took it easy. Box was the end of my comfort zone as I expected but still rode the whole way and didn't get off and push. Very proud of that.

Anyway, my ride time of 6h15m is something I'm happy with, 7h58m in total including the hour long wait at Pyrford so without that I'd have gone around in less than 7 hours.

Not exaggerating to say that cycling has probably added years to my life. Lost over 3 stone, my heart is so much healthier than it was. For me ride London represents that change in lifestyle and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Great experience and maybe next time I can get in under 6 hours total time

Dorset_Boy

Ben6899 wrote:

I'm shocked to read that people were pushing up Sawyers.

That must have been a long day in the saddle.

Probably not much time in the saddle, but a LOT of time walking! :shock:

Personally i think they are trying to make the event too big with waves starting too close together. In the Etape there is 7.5 minutes between each wave. At PRL it it 1.5 mins, though the waves may be smaller.
There also needs to be a great definition between those who want to go for a fast time and those for whom just getting round is the challenge. I think the seeding therefore needs significant improvement.

I did it as part of our club team last year in c.4 hrs 30, and this year won 2 entries and was in Yellow Wave A, off at 06.21. Unfortunately I had all my mechanicals in one day! I broke a spoke on just about the first roundabout (never done that before), which I think contributed to getting a puncture just before the exit of Richmond Park and then a second one which split the tyre at the top of the descent to Westcott. I thought that was my day done, and it was about 20 mins before the crash at the bottom of the Westcott descent.
One of the volunteers climbed up the hill to slow riders down and forewarn them. After about 90 minutes she asked why I wasn't riding and then told me about Nirvana Cycles in Wescott. Walked to them to buy new tyre etc and go on my way again to finish in 7 hrs 13.
I had to ride about 65 miles in the wind and my moving time was 4 hrs 39, but am in the top 200 up Box Hill on the Strava Challenge.
Can't say i had a particularly great day, which was capped off by taking 3 hours to get from Canary Wharf to Esher in the car to pick up my son.

I think the organizers need to make quite a few changes if they want to cater for both those keen to get a fast 100 on closed roads and the just getting around brigade.

Great support in many places, but especially Dorking and Kingston.

DeVlaeminck

Carbonator wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

A lot of casual acceptance of lapsed time and riding time... Usually there is a good argument to be had. I am impressed by the introduction of time I would have achieved if had trained more.

anybody who chose to stop is having a laugh by adjusting their time.

I blame starva lol

'time I would have achieved if had trained more'
This is a mouthful. It needs a shorter title. Ideally two words i.e. .......... time.
Any suggestions?

Potential time? Maybe not strong enough, they want something which sounds like it's the most important measurement - something they have achieved rather than something they might.

Maybe "............" adjusted time ? Not sure what could go before adjusted though. Entitled time as above is probably the best shout.

VmanF3

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

A lot of casual acceptance of lapsed time and riding time... Usually there is a good argument to be had. I am impressed by the introduction of time I would have achieved if had trained more.

anybody who chose to stop is having a laugh by adjusting their time.

I blame starva lol

'time I would have achieved if had trained more'
This is a mouthful. It needs a shorter title. Ideally two words i.e. .......... time.
Any suggestions?

Potential time? Maybe not strong enough, they want something which sounds like it's the most important measurement - something they have achieved rather than something they might.

Maybe "............" adjusted time ? Not sure what could go before adjusted though. Entitled time as above is probably the best shout.

How about preferred time - allows plonkers to put the time they want?

One friend sunbathed atop Box Hill for an hour, you've guessed it, Strava was paused and they now claim a sub 5 time. It doesn't mean a darned thing though, so I suppose ultimately all they are doing is fooling themselves that they're better than they are. Bragging rights in the pub or just excuses for a poor 'official' time.

j_mcd

I suspect that the allocation of charity places plays some part in the misplacing of people in the start pens.

I did the ride last year in 5:15. I got a charity place this year and found myself in Blue C. I think it was probably because my charity had a few places in that group and I was one of the faster people that applied to do it with them. Therefore I ended up in the wrong group for my ability. I'd have much rather gone around an hour later with people who were looking to average 20mpg rather than 28!

I think that if they can sort this out then some of the problems might go away.

Still really enjoyed it though (although I have to learn to drink more to prevent cramp)

FeltZ85

I did the 46 and had a great time, i see others points about people riding dangerously as i saw it a fair few times but with that number of people taking part there's bound to be a few dickheads I really enjoyed riding the closed roads around London and had lots of friendly chats and banter with fellow riders along the way, in fact i can't remember smiling as much on a ride before, all in all a good day

fat daddy

I didn't enter the ride at all, so my official time was DNE .. but my potential time was 5 hours because I play zwift and commute to work, but I had had a big night the night before, and had spent the previous day in a soft play with my kid so that's why the potential time was only 5 hours. If I didn't stay up half the night drinking and hadn't gone to soft play I think my potential time would have been 4 hours.

Next year I am hoping for a potential time of 3 hours.

iPete

Might enter the 46 next year with the other half. Should be fairly do-able on a single speed and fixie and keeps me out of the 100.

Anyone know if it was as over subscribed as the 100?

fenix

Not really getting the obsession with times on this. If you want to race - do a race.

Sitting on wheels for 100 miles to get a fast time is only kidding yourself.