RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2014!!!) Anyone?

[Markymark]

If anyone is staying near the ExCeL on the Saturday night, I'll be having dinner and maybe one or two pints at the Fox.
Would be good to have some CC company.

Sorry to butt in but as an ex-resident of that area there's a Fox pub at either end so I'd clarify if I were you!

 

[benb]

Sorry to butt in but as an ex-resident of that area there's a Fox pub at either end so I'd clarify if I were you!

Thanks. This one:
http://goo.gl/maps/LmkTa

 

[Notsototalnewbie]

I'm in Wave G, Black area, leaving 7.47.

I'm worried about traffic on Leith Hill. A couple of weeks ago I rode out to the Surrey Hills from my flat in Stockwell, and myself and a friend tackled the various hills. I got up Leith, slowly, but my lowest gear is not so low (38/26) so if people are walking it/stopping I may have to stop too - I need to keep going!

We also did Box Hill at the beginning and end of the ride, which was fine (maybe it was the promise of cake at the top!?), Coldharbour, which I got up but needed to stop for a small rest halfway, and White Down, which defeated me utterly about halfway up and I walked the rest of it. Then I cycled back to Stockwell.

The hills slow me down considerably, unfortunately. I'll be gutted if I end up being too slow and get disqualified.

 

[EltonFrog]

I'm pretty sure I saw that too, close to outside edge as you descend, and it did get dark there too not sure I'd want to do it with sunglasses on, although it was gone 6 before I got there.

http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/hazard/106023?key=740cb5f752

That was there last year, I had a blow out hitting that bastard on the day at about 35mph.

 

[EltonFrog]

I'm in Wave G, Black area, leaving 7.47.

I'm worried about traffic on Leith Hill. A couple of weeks ago I rode out to the Surrey Hills from my flat in Stockwell, and myself and a friend tackled the various hills. I got up Leith, slowly, but my lowest gear is not so low (38/26) so if people are walking it/stopping I may have to stop too - I need to keep going!

We also did Box Hill at the beginning and end of the ride, which was fine (maybe it was the promise of cake at the top!?), Coldharbour, which I got up but needed to stop for a small rest halfway, and White Down, which defeated me utterly about halfway up and I walked the rest of it. Then I cycled back to Stockwell.

The hills slow me down considerably, unfortunately. I'll be gutted if I end up being too slow and get disqualified.

You won't be so slow that you get disqualified, rest easy young Padawan, get in the low gear and just keep pedalling, there will be a lot of people on Lieth, but there's plenty of room.

 

[Stedman]

I'm in Wave G, Black area, leaving 7.47.

I'm worried about traffic on Leith Hill. A couple of weeks ago I rode out to the Surrey Hills from my flat in Stockwell, and myself and a friend tackled the various hills. I got up Leith, slowly, but my lowest gear is not so low (38/26) so if people are walking it/stopping I may have to stop too - I need to keep going!

We also did Box Hill at the beginning and end of the ride, which was fine (maybe it was the promise of cake at the top!?), Coldharbour, which I got up but needed to stop for a small rest halfway, and White Down, which defeated me utterly about halfway up and I walked the rest of it. Then I cycled back to Stockwell.

The hills slow me down considerably, unfortunately. I'll be gutted if I end up being too slow and get disqualified.

If you can ride up Leith Hill on a 38/26, you certainly won't slow enough to be disqualified!

 

[Flyingfox]

Anyone here have any info on the closure of Putney Bridge and how it might effect the return back to the Mall? It closes this Monday for 4 months and cyclists have been told they will have to dismount and walk across with the pedestrians. When I rang the Ride London 100 to enquire whether the return route will be altered they couldn't give me any real information, only that 'the organisational team would have been liaising with the council'.

 

[EltonFrog]

Anyone here have any info on the closure of Putney Bridge and how it might effect the return back to the Mall? It closes this Monday for 4 months and cyclists have been told they will have to dismount and walk across with the pedestrians. When I rang the Ride London 100 to enquire whether the return route will be altered they couldn't give me any real information, only that 'the organisational team would have been liaising with the council'.

I dont know, but I hope it isnt closed on the day, it was coming down the hill from Wimbledon on to Putney High street and over the bridge was one of the high lights of the ride for me.

 

[laurence]

Anyone here have any info on the closure of Putney Bridge and how it might effect the return back to the Mall? It closes this Monday for 4 months and cyclists have been told they will have to dismount and walk across with the pedestrians. When I rang the Ride London 100 to enquire whether the return route will be altered they couldn't give me any real information, only that 'the organisational team would have been liaising with the council'.

i did read, somewhere, that the bridge will be open to the cycling events that day. blimmin' hope so!

 

[laurence]

i am in an orange wave (hoorah) starting at 8:12. this is a slight worry as i am pathetically slow. anyone want to give me a tow to escape the voiture balai?

 

[derrick]

• Start Area: Black
• Wave:L
• Wave Load opening time: 07:32
• Wave Load closing time:08:17
• Start Time:08:17
• Can't wait it's going to be phenomenal

 

[srw]

i did read, somewhere, that the bridge will be open to the cycling events that day. blimmin' hope so!

Will the Ride London bike race event be affected?
No. This popular annual cycling event which crosses the bridge and attracts thousands of professional and amateur riders will go ahead as planned on 10 August 2014. Arrangements have been made to lay a narrow temporary surface across the bridge so that the race can be staged as normal. Transport for London have agreed to fund this temporary measure.

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200083/roads_highways_and_pavements/1789/putney_bridge_repairs/3

 

[laurence]

I work some of the time in Guildford, and took advantage of needing to be offsite for some of today to take a peek at some of the Surrey section on four wheels. Paging @rvw, here's srw's guide to (some of) the hilly bits.

Ripley to Horsley is mostly a long draggy slight uphill - the steepest bit until you get to the houses in Horsley is the A3 road bridge. Usefully there's a newsagent in Horsley for a Mars Bar hit (if 17,000 riders haven't cleaned them out first). In the middle of the village the road starts ramping up more steeply, and that ramp continues once you turn onto the A246. At the top of the ramp the road starts rolling, with some decent downhills to get the momentum up.

You then turn left to start climbing up the A25 towards Newlands Corner and an official hub. That's probably a middle-ring hill, with only one short moderately steep section. Just as you think you've got to the top there's another little ramp to catch out the unwary. Then there's the fastest mile or two of the ride - a smooth, wide piece of road going downhill steeply enough to get up speed quickly but not so steep as to need too much braking. At the bottom the road splits into a dual carriageway, so some care will be needed.

The next section of the A25 is flat. Then you turn right onto the B2126 at Abinger Hammer. This is a long section of road, even in a car. It's a fairly rough, draggy uphill for several miles, going up a valley. Once you get to Holmbury St Mary there's a fairly short steeper section taking you up out of the village before you reach the top and there's a straightish (but narrow and bumpy) downhill.

Then comes Leith Hill. It starts with a fairly gentle section before getting steeper - but with gentler, almost flat sections. Once you get past Leith Hill Place (large brick wall, which seems to be a water stop) the hill gets more serious - but it looks like a straightforward bottom gear spin. There are a few wiggles, and you'll know you've got to the top when you pass the footpath signpost to the tower on the right hand side of the road.

Leith Hill down is long and will be quite fast - but it's narrow (single-track at times), dark (wooded) and there are a few bends, and I'm pretty sure i spotted a pothole on the outside of a sharp right-hander (marked with a chevron road-sign) which could be awkward. There is, unfortunately, a little rise just before you get back to the A25.

If I get around to it I'll pop over to Box Hill one evening.

cheers for this, it's been a few years since i have been out there - from what i remember, from Newlands to Box Hill it is lumpy, there is very little flat, so enjoy the downhills. the road surface around Holmbury is sketchy, i remember almost crashing on the slight downhill section you mention - mainly as i was trying to eat at the time!

Leith is nasty, but short. did i mention nasty? the run is is on 'slow' roads and then it ramps up, luckilt there are a couple of bends, so ride to the next bend! it opens on a bend to the right and in the trees. the descent it quite wooded - a good place to eat a bar or have some gels.

it gets lumpy before you join the main road into Dorking and that is lumpy too, there are a couple of steep bits that will throw your momentum out. From Dorking it's downhill to Box, again, i plan to try and rest here (if i have made the time cut).

Box hill is og. the first section is the worst. i get bored on this. it is also hard to tell that you are climbing here and your mind starts to go crazy. after the first hairpin it rises up, but is easier - it could be an illusion in that you can actually see you are going up. the 2nd bend is steep and the problem after that is the road drops down to the right - holding a straight line can be tricky. another bend and into the trees for the final bit, opening out to see the cafe! BEWARE - the road still rises, so piffle on comrades. after the lovely view it carries on slowly but surely upwards until after you pass the view and car parks.

the ride along the crest can be bumpy, but i think they have taken out a lot of the potholes. it's lumpy as well and rises as you reach the bend and the turn left to take you to leatherhead. there is another car park ahead and then the road levels.

the drop down towards Leatherhead is tricky - 2 sections of S bend, the 2nd bend tightens, so beware. i have dropped a motorcycle that was following me down there once. the 2nd S bend is FAST, the last bend opening out to a fantastic drop... alas, i know nothing of the rest of the road as i usually turn left to take the road down to the start of Box. i think it rises after the drop and then drops again into Leatherhead...

Further along, from Esher to Kingston is flat and can be fast. the road is a bit bumpy, but should be ok.

beware of the 2 stings - Coombe Hill and Wimbledon. the former is a mile or so from my house, but i rarely go up it. it's a niggly climb and watching there last year a lot of people were in trouble as it was unexpected. the road ramps up by Norbiton station to the traffic lights, then flattens for a bit... rising and then getting steeper towatds the end. last year there was a stop on the right by the school, i'd try and avoid it as the climb is over not far from that, but it could be a welcome respite. it drops down after the New Malden turn off and crosses the A3. then through Raynes Park and up to Wimbledon. from memory it is slightly uphill and by this stage could be tiring.

in Wimbledon there's the turn and the steep climb of the hill. this is nasty at this stage. it's been manya a year since i have ridden it, mainly due to traffic. once up the top it is all downhill.

good luck, everyone, i know i will need it to beat the broom wagon.

 

[Rupie]

Interesting reading other peoples plans, as it would appear the majority of you are based around the London area. I live in between Stratford upon Avon and Evesham.

Transport wise, the pre ride trip to Excel to register, is a massive pain in the arse, and will either cost me a days wages or a nights accommodation, or both, to do. I had a row with the man on the hepldesk phone about it and they say it is for security reasons, which is rubbish. I have also chosen a different accommodation tactic. I am staying near Kings Cross. Parking is easier, its away from the closures and on the morning I will just cycle in, via a drop off point and follow the signs. The best bit is when the event finishes, its just a short ride north to collect my car, and family who will use the tube, and then away, out of town.

As for the hills, I have no chance of getting to them to train. I have looked at heights, times and gradients, and can only conclude that they nothing worse than here. For people doing their first 100mile its a good one to do, lots of atmosphere and nice and flat. Apart from in the east, where its flat, many sportives try to include as many hills as possible to make them tough. The Shakespeare Sportive has 3000ft of climbing,and there are many more worse than that in the Peak District and Lakes. Saying that I have built up climbing muscles, that do not suit the flat, so may suffer in the run into town. Is there a suggestion that some sponsored cyclists get their own feed stations, and do not have to mix with us lot ?

So, in conclusion, from a non Londoner, the logistics of getting there and back cheaply, are much bigger and expensive than the ride itself. And as for the hills, I'm not worried, all you London cyclists are invited to do the Malvern Mad-Hatter, 103 miles 7000ft gain rating 3.5/5. It doesn't finish in front of a palace, and you can't get there on the tube I'm afraid.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

If you can sort things out with a local, say through an Internet cycling forum or some such, to collect your race pack for you, that can be done. There are some hoops to jump through, but it's all achievable. For instance I will be doing the arduous 3 mile trip from work to collect mine on the Thursday evening and will be in London for the Freecycle on the Saturday anyway.

Hills wise you should be fine and I'm sure you'll cope with the flat bits.