BHF London to Brighton 2016

[danbhardy]

Is anyone else doing this on Father's Day?

I used to watch it as a kid as I lived not far from the route in Sussex, but now I live in the North West I decided to give it a go!

Have started to get all my kit ready, I've a merlin cycles own build cyclocross bike. I've just got some gatorskins to replace the slightly nobbly tyres it already has. I've also bought some spd pedals, shoes and cleats, need to try them as never used them before. Got a co2 pump for laziness and will be getting some spare inner tubes just in case. Can anyone else recommend anything else I might need?

I'm still a beginner cyclist, although I can cycle the 54 miles in a day, but would like to try and do it in under 5 hours! Going to start some training tomorrow and cut down on the fags as well lol

 

[Smokin Joe]

Get to the start as early as possible. If you are not near the front you will spend the first fifteen minutes walking as it is just too congested for anyone to mount up.

 

[rb58]

^^^^^ this.

You'll spend a lot longer than the first 15 minutes walking if you don't have an early start. Most of the hills were walk-fests on the one occasion I did it with a later start.

It's a fun day, but remember a lot of participants are not regular cyclists and don't have a lot of road craft.

You'll need some tyre levers.

And make sure you get some practice in with the cleats.

With an early start and closed roads it can be a really fun day.

 

[danbhardy]

Do they not assign the times? They said they are doing it different this year and limiting the places to 25k.

It's my first experience of anything like this, I've only ever done leisure cycling with my ex so did long miles but took all day to do it.

I've got tools as well, I forgot to mention that bit!

 

[User33236]

The website does state you will be given "your pre-allocated start time based on your cycling ability." Does help the congestion a bit on these mass start events. If you haven't done anything like it befoure you'll likely be surprised at how much of a boost a ride in a large group with closed roads gives you.

Something I'd like to do but not this year as I'll be on my final leg of my L2P ride with my son which, funnily enough, is also raising for the BHF

 

[Lonestar]

Last did this in 1999 and don't plan to do it again.Was too congested last time I did it.

 

[danbhardy]

I'm honestly looking forward to it. My mother lives just off the route in Brighton so I'll be close to the finish line and the coach to get to London in the morning

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is anyone else doing this on Father's Day?

I used to watch it as a kid as I lived not far from the route in Sussex, but now I live in the North West I decided to give it a go!

Have started to get all my kit ready, I've a merlin cycles own build cyclocross bike. I've just got some gatorskins to replace the slightly nobbly tyres it already has. I've also bought some spd pedals, shoes and cleats, need to try them as never used them before. Got a co2 pump for laziness and will be getting some spare inner tubes just in case. Can anyone else recommend anything else I might need?

I'm still a beginner cyclist, although I can cycle the 54 miles in a day, but would like to try and do it in under 5 hours! Going to start some training tomorrow and cut down on the fags as well lol

Unless you're one of the first out of the starting blocks, you'll have a long day .... but that's the point surely? It's a cycling carnival of 50, 000. There's some atrocious riding, people stopping at random, people with no anticipation of inclines and plenty log jams later in the morning. So be it. If you want to ride fast do it another day when the route is empty.
Heed the Mashalls advice. Don't be a nobber.

I'm hoping to be doing it again, but this time on my BSA (with a longer seatpost!):

Been doing it more times than I can recall (since '84) .... last year by Brompton.

Enjoy!

 

[danbhardy]

Is that the bike your doing it on?? Lol

 

[Smokin Joe]

Unless you're one of the first out of the starting blocks, you'll have a long day .... but that's the point surely? It's a cycling carnival of 50, 000. There's some atrocious riding, people stopping at random, people with no anticipation of inclines and plenty log jams later in the morning. So be it. If you want to ride fast do it another day when the route is empty.
Heed the Mashalls advice. Don't be a nobber.

I'm hoping to be doing it again, but this time on my BSA (with a longer seatpost!):

View attachment 125908

Been doing it more times than I can recall (since '84) .... last year by Brompton.

Enjoy!

I did L2B in 1990, there was a guy on a Moulton that was literally falling to bits. He didn't need hi viz as the rust on his chain was so bright it could be seen from Mars.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is that the bike your doing it on?? Lol

Yep.

 

[danbhardy]

Yep.

I'll look out for you on the route

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'll look out for you on the route

Catch me if you can!

 

[danbhardy]

Catch me if you can!

Haha you'll still be faster than me!

 

[PeteXXX]

I've done the L2B quite a few times now and mostly enjoyed it. As has been said, there are lots of riders with no clue on how to ride in groups. Stopping, meandering around, turning right or left without a care in the world is par for the course.
Some treat it as a race and whizz past much to fast for the charity event that it is, so take care.
Apart from Turners Hill and Ditchling, (and one other I can't remember the name of) it's not a particularly hard route if you have a reasonable degree of fitness.

My average speed has been 12 to 13 mph due to walking and waiting a lot because of the congestion, especially getting out of London.

I'm sure you'll have fun though, and enjoy some fish and chips on the beach when you get there!