Ride London 2019 anyone?

fenix

Bugger - but chicks dig scars and at least you'll have nice new tape for the ride. It'll be like a new bike !

As to the expo - not done Ride London but its the same people as the Marathon - no problem with anyone getting into the expo there- they want the footfall so you buy stuff. I'd assume this is the same.

elbowloh

Rear gear cable snapped last week, inside the shifter so a bugger to get the cable end out. Still haven't gotten round to sorting it as it looks like i'll need to take the shifter apart.

Must do it this week!

RossoCorso34

Fenix wrote:

Bugger - but chicks dig scars and at least you'll have nice new tape for the ride. It'll be like a new bike !

As to the expo - not done Ride London but its the same people as the Marathon - no problem with anyone getting into the expo there- they want the footfall so you buy stuff. I'd assume this is the same.

Thanks, I assume it's accessable by bike? It doesn't mention that on the website, but I'm hoping it is.

elbowloh

theboyfold wrote:

Fenix wrote:

Bugger - but chicks dig scars and at least you'll have nice new tape for the ride. It'll be like a new bike !

As to the expo - not done Ride London but its the same people as the Marathon - no problem with anyone getting into the expo there- they want the footfall so you buy stuff. I'd assume this is the same.

Thanks, I assume it's accessible by bike? It doesn't mention that on the website, but I'm hoping it is.

It is, I've ridden there before for the expo, but you're coming in from London the roads aren't the nicest for cycling imo.

There was a bike park outside the front/main entrance with some staff overlooking it.

RossoCorso34

elbowloh wrote:

theboyfold wrote:

Fenix wrote:

Bugger - but chicks dig scars and at least you'll have nice new tape for the ride. It'll be like a new bike !

As to the expo - not done Ride London but its the same people as the Marathon - no problem with anyone getting into the expo there- they want the footfall so you buy stuff. I'd assume this is the same.

Thanks, I assume it's accessible by bike? It doesn't mention that on the website, but I'm hoping it is.

It is, I've ridden there before for the expo, but you're coming in from London the roads aren't the nicest for cycling imo.

There was a bike park outside the front/main entrance with some staff overlooking it.

I'm fine with riding in London, it's my bike being there when I come out that bothers me!

jimjames9165

pitcaig wrote:

MTB-Idle wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

pitcaig wrote:

I see that they are not doing any drop off areas this year.

Does anyone know if the Blackwall Tunnel will be open to cyclists coming from the South as it has been in previous years?

I'm staying in the Abbey Wood area and when I did 2016 I got dropped off just south of the Tunnel. Does anyone have any suggested routes to the start if I can't use the Blackwall tunnel again?

Thanks

Graeme

Greenwich foot tunnel?

Can't ride through it, and it'd be a hell of a walk in cleats...

quite possibly altho hundreds of cycle commuters use it on a daily basis (mainly walking)

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will use the Woolwich tunnel. Walking won’t be an issue as I use SPD pedals with the metal cleats

Cheers
Graeme

Hi,

I live in the local area and you can often cycle straight through it even though you are not meant to, just be really considerate and most people are fine. Although on ride 100 day I would be worried about police just slapping fines on anyone who does it.

daniel_b

Checking the hills via strava segments, am I correct in thinking newlands and leith are around a mile long?

Couldn"t quite work out box hill (several options), anyone know?

cruff

Daniel B wrote:

Checking the hills via strava segments, am I correct in thinking newlands and leith are around a mile long?

Couldn"t quite work out box hill (several options), anyone know?

Newlands is nothing more than a lump - steady gradient of about 7% til about halfway up when it drops to 3% for the rest. Just over a mile long.

Leith is the only 'real' hill on the ride, it's longer than Newlands, and steeper, with 14% sections at a few points and a few changes in gradient making it hard to get into a rhythm

Box isn't even a hill - it's a gently rising road with a couple of switchbacks. Average 4% pretty much the whole way. About a mile and a half in total

There is a nasty little bump in Wimbledon about 10 miles from the finish that might catch you unawares, but that's it

daniel_b

Thanks Cruff, none of that sounds like too much to worry about - will be taking part with a smallest gear of 36\28, but IF I do have any strengths, ascending inclines is one of them, as both me and my bike are fairly light.

I have heard about the Wimbledon bump!

joe_totale-2

Daniel B wrote:

Thanks Cruff, none of that sounds like too much to worry about - will be taking part with a smallest gear of 36\28, but IF I do have any strengths, ascending inclines is one of them, as both me and my bike are fairly light.

I have heard about the Wimbledon bump!

Cruff is right about the hills. Leith is the only decent climb but 36/28 is more than enough to get up it.

Ben6899

There aren't any hills to worry about. You'll be fine.

EDIT: people will stop right in front of you on inclines - be ready for that!

joe_totale-2

Ben6899 wrote:

There aren't any hills to worry about. You'll be fine.

EDIT: people will stop right in front of you on inclines - be ready for that!

Yep, even if you're as far as possible over on the right hand side there'll be people who are clearly no good at climbing there either jumping off their bike or crawling up the climbs.

To try and avoid them on Leith I'd advise not stopping until after you've been over it.

cruff

Yeah - if you're light, the hills will be no problem whatever gearing you use. For reference, I'm 77kg and on a standard, so my biggest gear is 39/25

As highlighted above, if you're not out in the first few waves, expect the hills to be chaos. I started at 6:21 when I did it a few years ago and got to Leith at about half eight - there were already people walking up it then. If they're all over the road, shout before you get to them and tell them to move to the left

daniel_b

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

Tashman

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

I'm 99kg currently so will be a slow moving rolling road block by the time I get there. Not off til 08:04 so expecting it to be chocca

cruff

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

If you get with a working group you'll be fine. Try and find a group of about 10/15 riders who are taking turns. No guarantee they won't be choppers - but at least you'll get to Leith quicker

cruff

Tashman wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

I'm 99kg currently so will be a slow moving rolling road block by the time I get there. Not off til 08:04 so expecting it to be chocca

Concentrate on not donating any more skin! Hope your road rash isn't too bad by then

Hopefully it doesn't turn into WalkSurrey like it has in the past

daniel_b

Cruff wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

If you get with a working group you'll be fine. Try and find a group of about 10/15 riders who are taking turns. No guarantee they won't be choppers - but at least you'll get to Leith quicker

:oops: What's a chopper?

Tashman

Cruff wrote:

Tashman wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

I'm 99kg currently so will be a slow moving rolling road block by the time I get there. Not off til 08:04 so expecting it to be chocca

Concentrate on not donating any more skin! Hope your road rash isn't too bad by then

Hopefully it doesn't turn into WalkSurrey like it has in the past

I'm aiming for 100 miles of rubber side down and keeping the bike and myself n 1 piece. Rash has all dried reasonably now so should be fairly well healed by then. Might take the MTB for a spin this evening just to keep the legs moving.

cruff

Daniel B wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Wowsas, all good info, thankyou all.

I'm not off until an hour later than you Cruff, so it may be quite a traffic jam by then - will have to see if I can wend my way through.

Not planning on stopping til post Leith.

If you get with a working group you'll be fine. Try and find a group of about 10/15 riders who are taking turns. No guarantee they won't be choppers - but at least you'll get to Leith quicker

:oops: What's a chopper?

People who can't ride in a group, pull out without looking, can't follow a wheel and generally ride dangerously

daniel_b

Got ya! Will keep my wits about me.

Ben6899

When we rode it last year, me and one other mate were in a ~8am wave and the rest in one at ~7am. So between Stratford and Kingston, we worked as a pair* to catch the other lads.

*I sat at 300W with my mate in the wheel. Then, tbh, we just cruised around and enjoyed the lovely weather.

cruff

Ben6899 wrote:

When we rode it last year, me and one other mate were in a ~8am wave and the rest in one at ~7am. So between Stratford and Kingston, we worked as a pair* to catch the other lads.

*I sat at 300W with my mate in the wheel. Then, tbh, we just cruised around and enjoyed the lovely weather.

You caught them up an hour after they started? What were they doing, walking it?

Ben6899

Cruff wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

When we rode it last year, me and one other mate were in a ~8am wave and the rest in one at ~7am. So between Stratford and Kingston, we worked as a pair* to catch the other lads.

*I sat at 300W with my mate in the wheel. Then, tbh, we just cruised around and enjoyed the lovely weather.

You caught them up an hour after they started? What were they doing?

Not 300W.

handful

I need to get from Chiswick to the start and i'm supposed to be in the Green area from 05:28-06:08 with an official start time of 06:56. I wanted to try and book the special overground train from Richmond (only 3 miles instead of 16 miles) but the early trains are booked up. I panic bought the last ticket on the 05:45 train which gets into Stratford at 06:35 which is clearly a bit late really! What is likely to happen, will I allowed to effectively filter to my start group and leave almost immediately, be shunted back to a later start time or will I be kicked out? What toher options could I look at if I sacrifice my £10 without cycling all the way to the start? Thanks!

joe_totale-2

It's a flat ride from Chiswick to Stratford and at that time of day the roads will be quiet. I'd ride to the start, just take it nice and easy.

daniel_b

I have a couple of carrots to chase - mate\colleague of mine who I have been riding with a fair bit, and in group rides in starting 16 minutes before me.
I believe I have abit more power than him, we're similar uphill but I can drive it along a touch more on the flats.
He's aiming to get in a big roup as well though, so may well never see\catch him.

Small matter of some 2000 riders inbetween us too, and of course whether I see him anyway should I stumble upon him.

Cousins other half is also riding, but starting nearly an hour before me, so even less likely to catch him up, I wish I could put 300w out for a decent length of time, think 220 (with an eye to finishing) would be more around my limit.

handful

Joe Totale wrote:

It's a flat ride from Chiswick to Stratford and at that time of day the roads will be quiet. I'd ride to the start, just take it nice and easy.

I know that's an option but I'd rather save my energy for the ride if I can. I've not done a century before so I'm a bit cautious about over exerting myself, especially if it's as hot as it is at the moment!

Tashman

handful wrote:

especially if it's as hot as it is at the moment!

Forecast at the minute is showing 25deg with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze. Fingers crossed they have that right

daniel_b

Tashman wrote:

handful wrote:

especially if it's as hot as it is at the moment!

Forecast at the minute is showing 25deg with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze. Fingers crossed they have that right

Yep saw that, fingers and everything crossed, would be pretty much perfect.