RideLondon-Essex 100 (2022) Anyone?

[PaulSB]

Mate stop over thinking things, get down there, enjoy the day and the ride. You'll be fine!

No overthinking. Honest. Just reading some of the remarks made me wonder if I was missing something. I couldn't understand where the comments about climbs were coming from. This is just an easy, fast century.

I've got the Fred in four weeks, now that is a ride. 🤣

 

[PaulSB]

The vagaries of route mapping software.
Of course according to Veloviewer Leith Hill is only 1.3 miles and an average of 6.4%. So why does everyone go on about that ?

I've only ridden that once and it was so crowded I was at 2/3 mph. I would say under normal circumstances it would be a tough climb. I was up Newlands before I knew I was on it and Box Hill was a great spin.

 

[lazybloke]

Leith Hill is only 1.3 miles and an average of 6.4%. So why does everyone go on about that ?

Because it was the tallest/steepest challenge on the otherwise gentle old route.

The real question is why people go on about Box Hill

 

[mjr]

The real question is why people go on about Box Hill

Because hairpin climbs are awesome and I only know two near London.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The vagaries of route mapping software.
Of course according to Veloviewer Leith Hill is only 1.3 miles and an average of 6.4%. So why does everyone go on about that ?

What's your point? That sounds to me to be a reasonable description of Leith Hill - which I've ridden a fair few times - Or a bit longer and a bit shallower, or shorter and steeper depending on where you start measuring and which side you are talking about.

Nor do the "vagaries of mapping software" underestimate the small amount of climbing in this route. There's a bit of an uphill drag getting out of London near Epping, and a few minor lumps and bumps. It's vaguely similar to the Great Escape 200k Audax (especially around the London entry/exit) which I did a couple of times. That was flat.

No overthinking. Honest. Just reading some of the remarks made me wonder if I was missing something. I couldn't understand where the comments about climbs were coming from. This is just an easy, fast century.

I've got the Fred in four weeks, now that is a ride. 🤣

You're not missing anything

 

[bikingdad90]

@mr_cellophane I complete agree, I did the entire ride London in the big ring, 50 tooth and only ever got as far as 28 on my 32 tooth cassette.

 

[PaulSB]

You're not missing anything

Thank you. Hope you have a lot of fun on the day.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The vagaries of route mapping software.
Of course according to Veloviewer Leith Hill is only 1.3 miles and an average of 6.4%. So why does everyone go on about that ?

Depends how hard you go. Climbing a 3% hill at 20 mph is tougher than a 25% hill at 3 mph I would posit.

 

[PaulSB]

Depends how hard you go. Climbing a 3% hill at 20 mph is tougher than a 25% hill at 3 mph I would posit.

I would have to disagree with this one. On a fast rolling ride while I doubt I could do 3% at 20mph I don't think it would be hard to ride at say 15/16. A 25% is for me doable but extremely hard and I doubt I'd be above 2.5. I know on the 35% section of Hardknott I've been below 2.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I would have to disagree with this one. On a fast rolling ride while I doubt I could do 3% at 20mph I don't think it would be hard to ride at say 15/16. A 25% is for me doable but extremely hard and I doubt I'd be above 2.5. I know on the 35% section of Hardknott I've been below 2.

To ride a 3% hill at 15/16 mph you would need to be outputting 315 watts, to ride up at 20 mph you’d be need to be putting out 402 watts. To maintain 3 mph up a 25% hill you’d need to be sustaining 274 watts. Thus the 3% hill at 20 mph represents an additional 47% effort. Plus 25% grades are never sustained and over fairly quickly, where as 3% hills can go on for much longer. Somewhat harder at the higher speed on the 3% grade and beyond most of us for any length of time.

 

[PaulSB]

To ride a 3% hill at 15/16 mph you would need to be outputting 315 watts, to ride up at 20 mph you’d be need to be putting out 402 watts. To maintain 3 mph up a 25% hill you’d need to be sustaining 274 watts. Thus the 3% hill at 20 mph represents an additional 47% effort. Plus 25% grades are never sustained and over fairly quickly, where as 3% hills can go on for much longer. Somewhat harder at the higher speed on the 3% grade and beyond most of us for any length of time.

That's interesting, thank you.

 

[mr_cellophane]

I imagine the route will have chemi-khazis all over the place.

We call them trees in Essex.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Most of you are replying to my point about long slopes from a personal perspective. I mentioned them because riders who can maintain 20mph are only a small percentage of the 20,000. I'm sure a very large proportion will be chugging along at 12 mph and thinking that are smashing it. When the 100 milers meet the 60 milers at 78/48 miles respectively and they are going up at 8 mph on Hook Lane (possibly one of the narrowest roads on the route), you will realise why I said "it is not flat, as such"

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

There are a few hills in essex which would catch people out if they were unprepared and just thought they were going to have a flat ride but they are not on the RLE route.
I know there probably not the same as "up north"but just saying.
Hopefully it's going to be a nice day on closed roads so lets just enjoy it.

 

[Holloway55]

Do we have any indication on when we would expect start times to be released etc?