RideLondon-Essex 100 (2022) Anyone?

[mr_cellophane]

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

3 weeks before with the start pack

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Interesting Article from Cycling Weekly.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...u-need-to-know-about-the-new-ridelondon-route

 

[mustang1]

I'm not going to draft anyone and neither do I want to be drafted by anyone. If I do get drafted then I'll let them know.

I hope this doesn't mean I'll have to constantly tell ppl to bugger off. (I'm doing the 60 btw).

 

[T4tomo]

I'm not going to draft anyone and neither do I want to be drafted by anyone. If I do get drafted then I'll let them know.

I hope this doesn't mean I'll have to constantly tell ppl to bugger off. (I'm doing the 60 btw).

good luck with that in a mass participation event.
Even at 10-20 meters behind someone you still get a benefit, admittedly less than when sat 1-2 metres behind someone, but still significant enough.

 

[cougie uk]

I'm not going to draft anyone and neither do I want to be drafted by anyone. If I do get drafted then I'll let them know.

I hope this doesn't mean I'll have to constantly tell ppl to bugger off. (I'm doing the 60 btw).

Why would you enter a mass ride then ?

 

[mustang1]

Why would you enter a mass ride then ?

Coz the roads are closed.

 

[mjr]

Coz the roads are closed.

You do realise that it's still not a private event for you only? If someone wants to ride behind you at a safe stopping distance, they can. Even if they ride closer than that, about all you can do legitimately is slow down until they overtake.

 

[mustang1]

You do realise that it's still not a private event for you only? If someone wants to ride behind you at a safe stopping distance, they can. Even if they ride closer than that, about all you can do legitimately is slow down until they overtake.

I agree. Riding behind me at a safe stopping distance is fine but that's not really drafting.
.I have these poles starched to my bike rack at the rear which prevents riders from drafting me.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I rode the route today. Well, I rode my own version of it. Obviously I couldn't use the A12 so I joined and left the route at the Green Man Interchange which is where the ride leaves the A12. I also avoided the A414 East of Epping and West of Chelmsford .

All in all I think I rode about 55% of the actual route.

I's lacking in significant hills but it does undulate so there are some leg sapping inclines - but nothing steep or long, but with tired legs they could be dispiriting. But the payback is some long gentle downhills which are great.

It's not the flattest century I've ever done. The Fridays ride from York to Hull via the super-flat vale of York (with extension to Driffield to make up the ton) had significantly less climbing.

It's obviously designed to be able to handle 10s of 1000s of riders. The roads are all significantly wide, which doesn't make for a great solo ride as this means they are also fairly busy. Not horribly busy, but not the best choice for riding on your own.

I had to hack my own way through central London to Woodford and then back on the return leg. That was not enjoyable in the least, especially on the return leg. Very stressful. I guess that's what closed roads are for!

 

[lazybloke]

Good work, @Dogtrousers, but you've omitted all detail about cake stops!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Good work, @Dogtrousers, but you've omitted all detail about cake stops!

A shocking omission!

I stopped for a coffee and a slice of coffee and walnut cake at The Lordship Tea Room near Writtle

It was OK but the bike stands were those useless wheel breaker ones. I locked my bike to a downpipe.

 

[mustang1]

Why would you enter a mass ride then ?

I hope the drafters don't get annoyed with my antics of slowing down and speeding up etc. I need the sprint training.

Overall I know you and @mjr are correct; I just find drafting to be annoying and dangerous as many people think they can ride better than they really can.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've done a couple of events like this in the past. No one has ever been desperate enough to draft me!

 

[PaulSB]

I hope the drafters don't get annoyed with my antics of slowing down and speeding up etc. I need the sprint training.

Overall I know you and @mjr are correct; I just find drafting to be annoying and dangerous as many people think they can ride better than they really can.

I think it's unlikely you'll be bothered by drafting. I've ridden a few longer distance sportives and not really encountered a problem. In PRL 2018 I did jump on a wheel for a coupe of miles more for pacing than drafting as I sat 3-4 metres back. I had one guy who played silly buggers for miles, he'd sit on my wheel then on a slight descent fly past before slowing on an incline meaning I had to pass him again. After a while I got fed up, put the hammer down on an incline and left him. It was clear he wasn't a club rider and hadn't a clue what he was doing. Also had a guy draft me in the last 10k, he would draft then come along side and chat then drop back again. I ignored the chat, he went away.

In the 2021 Fred I had a point when I was thinking I needed some help. Four guys inched by me and dropped in front of me, I think they thought I should slow, I didn't and enjoyed the tow for 2-3 miles as they had chosen to drop in front of me. I needed a pee so stopped and they obviously left me.

It's the people who don't understand group riding you have to watch out for.

 

[PaulSB]

Hoping for a bit of advice re getting to the Start Entry Point. A bunch of us are staying in Bethnal Green as we anticipated a start at the Olympic Park plus we know the Travelodge is bike friendly, parking is OK, decent Italian round the corner and a cafe nearby for Monday breakfast!!! All from Lancashire and our London cycling knowledge is zero. I've put this route together and would appreciate comments from folk who know the area. It will be early morning, we are not phased by traffic and don't want to get lost. Please don't hammer the choices as I've just tried to pick a direct route which will probably have decent road signage and could pick up direction signs to the event around Monument - I hope!!!!

Bethnal Green >A1209 Bethnal Green Road
A1209 >A10 - I believe there is a Cycle Super Highway here.
South >Monument
Monument >Cannon Street >Ludgate Hill >Fleet Street >Strand >The Mall >Horse Guards Road >George Street
It's 4.9 miles