London 100 2017

bmxboy10

I have the opportunity to do this ride and I am pretty keen as I have never done a centuary and like the thought of supporting a local charity who I know from first hand experience do great work. Can anyone give feedback on the pros and cons of this particular event please? I am particularly interested in the logistics of getting to the start point as this for me is a potential sticking point.

Brakeless

I'm not sure anyone can advise on getting to the start without at least knowing where you're coming from. In terms of the ride it's easy as far as riding 100 miles is easy. No need to slow for junctions or stop at traffic lights and plenty of wheels to draft. On the downside there's a lot of sketchy riding from both quick and slower riders who haven't got very good group riding skills.

Thigh_burn

I did it last year and really enjoyed it.

Pros

• You get to ride places that are normally chocker full of cars
• The atmosphere was amazing along the route. I expected locals to be pi$$ed off that their routes were closed for two days, but many of them seem to be having a great time, cheering us on, bbqing etc
• You get to ride 100 miles (although obvs you don't need to do this ride to achieve that)

Cons

• There are some loons trying to replicate the TdF but you just need to be on your mettle for them.
• The sheer scale of it. It can be dangerous and it means that bottlenecks are caused very easily. I don't remember the exact amount of time, but I think last year I spent 3.5hrs either standing still or walking the bike. The sheer weight of numbers was a massive problem up Leith Hill. There were some country roads that couldn't handle so many people so again came to a total standstill. Also, there were two very serious accidents and again these caused major tailbacks.
• If you go back through comments on here, you'll see a lot of people are a bit sniffy about it, it's too commercial, too many people etc.
• Do everything you can to get an early start time. I left at 0830 which felt pretty late, especially given the aforementioned stoppage, by the end of the ride I was getting close to being picked up by the broom wagon.

I thought about doing it again this year because I enjoyed it so much, but in the end decided I didn't want to go down the sponsorship route and didn't get anything in the lottery. I did also have second thoughts re the safety of the numbers - I think if I'd won a lottery place I would have gone ahead and ridden.

To your question about getting to the start - where are you coming from? I am London based. I couldn't be bothered cycling to the start, so put my bike in the back of a cab and got it to drop me at one of the designated drop off points. I then cycled the last few miles, which was fine and there were loads of other bikes on the road.

As it happens, I could have got the cab to drop me much closer than the drop off point, the roads weren't closed, but this is just a minor point. My cabbie mentioned that there were loads of jobs that morning doing the same thing as me.

If you're not London based, I'd suggest staying in a hotel overnight and not being sucked into being too close to the start. It's really not necessary, you can just do what I did. But if you're thinking of public transport, check your timings as it can be difficult doing it in time.

bmxboy10

Travelling from Gatwick. Car parking an option but with the road closures not sure about this? Also don't want to pay loads to park the car. Also after the ride will need to get back to the East side of London which seems a PITA. Have no idea about trains at this stage either as I am not sure how I transport my bike from Central London to the QE Olympic Park.

surrey_commuter

solboy10 wrote:

Travelling from Gatwick. Car parking an option but with the road closures not sure about this? Also don't want to pay loads to park the car. Also after the ride will need to get back to the East side of London which seems a PITA. Have no idea about trains at this stage either as I am not sure how I transport my bike from Central London to the QE Olympic Park.

ride it!!! it is seven flat miles and you will have a long rest before setting off

mrfpb

Surrey Commuter wrote:

solboy10 wrote:

Travelling from Gatwick. Car parking an option but with the road closures not sure about this? Also don't want to pay loads to park the car. Also after the ride will need to get back to the East side of London which seems a PITA. Have no idea about trains at this stage either as I am not sure how I transport my bike from Central London to the QE Olympic Park.

ride it!!! it is seven flat miles and you will have a long rest before setting off

and if they close Leith Hill and reduce the length of the route (as they did when I rode it) then you will still have done 100 miles.

Thigh_burn

solboy10 wrote:

Travelling from Gatwick. Car parking an option but with the road closures not sure about this? Also don't want to pay loads to park the car. Also after the ride will need to get back to the East side of London which seems a PITA. Have no idea about trains at this stage either as I am not sure how I transport my bike from Central London to the QE Olympic Park.

It's a Sunday so parking is easy in central London. Park on a yellow line bearish to the end and cycle to Olympic stadium.

wolfsbane2k

I've just been given the same opportunity for a sponsored ride, and am really considering it, but I've never done that mileage, and training time to build up to the miles would be a problem ( but riding 10mile each way stints for commuting 5 days a week would help.)

Ditto access to the Olympic Park - lots of things to organise...

Thigh_burn

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

...training time to build up to the miles would be a problem...

The ride is 12 weeks this Sunday. If you can find the time for at least one long ride a week, where you build up your mileage, plus regularly shorter rides mid-week you'll be fine.

I started with a 20 miler, then moved to 50 miles, then a couple of 60s. I'd intended to do an 80 before the ride but never managed to - because I bonked badly on one of the 60s and learned an invaluable lesson on nutrition and drinking.

I'd ride 3 times mid-week for about an hour each. I tried to make sure these were relatively intense rides or where I was trying to improve my skills, even if that skill was eating and drinking on the move.

mike1-2

I parked at the official car park last year, short ride to the start through the Blackwall tunnel (I think?)
I had a early start and didn't have to stop once for traffic or hold ups. One benefit of the big groups of cyclists is you can tag onto a decent group and smash out your fastest 100 mile time without even trying. Think my avg HR was about 20bmp lower than normal and I avged 20mph. Decent ride but I wouldn't be in a rush to do it again as logistically it's a pain in the arse.

Ash_SLR

I'm doing the ride this year with several colleagues from work. We are staying a crappy looking bed and breakfast because you have to go down the day before at the latest to register etc (or at least as far as I believe you do!). We are going down from Derby.

kammybear

Did it last year, loved it. Never done a sportive before or since.

Due to the road closures I only did 76 miles but had a pleasant email this year offering me a space and snapped it up immediately.

Will consider a charity place next year.

kentphil

I parked in the official car park at the O2 and they close one side of the blackwall tunnel for you to ride to the start. Its about a half hour ride. There's loads of other riders so just follow the crowd. As said previously get there early. I think I parked my car at about 6.30am.

wolfsbane2k

Thigh_burn wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

...training time to build up to the miles would be a problem...

The ride is 12 weeks this Sunday. If you can find the time for at least one long ride a week, where you build up your mileage, plus regularly shorter rides mid-week you'll be fine.

I started with a 20 miler, then moved to 50 miles, then a couple of 60s. I'd intended to do an 80 before the ride but never managed to - because I bonked badly on one of the 60s and learned an invaluable lesson on nutrition and drinking.

I'd ride 3 times mid-week for about an hour each. I tried to make sure these were relatively intense rides or where I was trying to improve my skills, even if that skill was eating and drinking on the move.

Cheers, for the advice. I ride 10 to 15 miles morning and night commuting 5 days a week, have done for a year and a bit now, so my basic fitness is pretty good, it's the comfort, drinking and nutrition I'm scared of the most.
Didn't manage anything this week due to real life stuff, will be starting again next week with a structured plan of longer morning rides I think.

DavidJB

Make sure your private health care is up to date...you'll need it.

wolfsbane2k

DavidJB wrote:

Make sure your private health care is up to date...you'll need it.

Care to elaborate?

Dorset_Boy

I've done it the last two years and even with early starts there are far too many people, and far too many who haven't a clue how to ride in a group (eg the morons that have tried taking selfies whilst in a train travelling at close to 30 mph) or those who are incapable of removing a bottle from a cage and drinking on the move etc, etc. Personally i think it is an event to do once and if you get away with it then great, but the excessive number make it dangerous. I believe that every year they have failed to enable everyone the opportunity to ride the full 100 miles.

The course is easy enough with Leith Hill being the only challenge, but obviously you have to build the endurance to be able to ride 100 miles.

The atmosphere is however excellent especially the run in to central London from Kingston on, and places like Dorking really get in on it too.

imafatman

Dorset Boy wrote:

those who are incapable of removing a bottle from a cage and drinking on the move etc, etc.

The more I hear about these big events the more I'm thinking about ditching the official London2Brighton right and instead just doing it with a friend one Sunday morning. It's always been on my list of things to do but now that I'm doing 200-300km a week it no longer feels like a challenge. I already decided I'd go there and back, might as well just do it without all the faff and risk being taken out by an idiot who can't drink from their bottle without swerving into me.

slowmart

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

DavidJB wrote:

Make sure your private health care is up to date...you'll need it.

Care to elaborate?

I'm not sure what the posters thoughts were but I would politely suggest you need more miles in your legs and your body needs more time on the bike to adapt to what could be 7 plus hours on a bike. 100 miles isn't that hard and most people could accomplish the ride in a day as it's more mental than physical strength but its more about smiles per mile rather than grinding the miles out.

futureslay

I was planning to do this last year, but ended up pulling out due to real world issues and having to follow up on that. I was riding for charity as well (luckily, I had someone take my place!). I ended up taking part in the Tour de Mon in North Wales in the end - that was gruelling, but mainly because I had a little while to relax from not doing this one and then it's hilly and windy!

Good fun, but tough. As said above, it's more mental than physical! Good luck!

dombo6

Thigh_burn wrote:

solboy10 wrote:

Travelling from Gatwick. Car parking an option but with the road closures not sure about this? Also don't want to pay loads to park the car. Also after the ride will need to get back to the East side of London which seems a PITA. Have no idea about trains at this stage either as I am not sure how I transport my bike from Central London to the QE Olympic Park.

It's a Sunday so parking is easy in central London. Park on a yellow line bearish to the end and cycle to Olympic stadium.

No. Central London is hard-closed to traffic that day so you won't get near it in a car. As others have said, either park in an official spot, further out and ride to the start, or get a friend/partner whatever to drop and collect you as close as possible.
Well worth it whatever you do as it's a great day on the bike.

stevie63

imafatman wrote:

Dorset Boy wrote:

those who are incapable of removing a bottle from a cage and drinking on the move etc, etc.

The more I hear about these big events the more I'm thinking about ditching the official London2Brighton right and instead just doing it with a friend one Sunday morning. It's always been on my list of things to do but now that I'm doing 200-300km a week it no longer feels like a challenge. I already decided I'd go there and back, might as well just do it without all the faff and risk being taken out by an idiot who can't drink from their bottle without swerving into me.

Why don't you do the Ditchling Devil 200k Audax. For your £16.00 (well £18.00 for non auk members) you get Bacon Butties, pasta, home made cakes and all other sorts of proper food. Entrant numbers are typically around 350 riders and the speed range of 15k-30k tends to attract riders who don't think they should be racing pro-tour.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-888/

meesterbond

In fairness, although it's been a good few years since I've done it but I remember L2B being quite a challenge. A challenge to get out of London in less than two hours. A challenge to cycle up Ditchling Beacon while avoiding hundreds of people walking. A challenge to get home before midnight as the lorry with all the bikes takes hours to get back to Clapham Common etc etc.
It can be a fun day out but don't consider it a bike ride... more of wheeled fun run.