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

[sleaver]

Just to add to the info on Putney Bridge, is is from a latest email:

Planned Road Repair Projects

There are several planned road repair projects on the event route before the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.

Repairs to Putney Bridge mean it will close to all vehicle traffic from Monday 14 July. The programme of works has been scheduled to accommodate the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey events on Sunday 10 August. On Ride Day, Putney Bridge will be open for riders in the event so you can cross the Thames on the way to the Finish.

Southern Gas Networks is carrying out a mains replacement project resulting in the closure of the A244 through Oxshott and has also planned the timing of these repairs to accommodate the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.

Surrey County Council is carrying out programmed repairs at Newark Lane which remains closed until 28 July, and the Ockley Road (B2126) at Forest Green has a full road closure due to emergency road repairs and is scheduled to re open prior to the event.

As a result of these road repair projects, you will not be able to cycle the entire 100-mile route before Sunday 10 August. We have not, therefore, created a GPX file of the route.
We would like to remind all cyclists to plan rides before the event accordingly and to respect the road closures that are in place.To find out about additional planned road repair projects in your area, check your local authority website.

 

[PK99]

Chatting to a mate last night who rode last year.... avoid using the hubs if you can, they were soooo busy and ate time just to buy a spare tube after punctures. the water stops are a different matter - bowsers and loads of taps, simply top up and go.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

That's useful to know, especially with the numbers up by 6000 this year. I'd heard rumours that the feed stations weren't good for queues. I'll probably carry the basic food stuffs and consider buying from the WI if I find myself needing variation.

 

[David_66]

It's a bit hidden, but I rode the hills last weekend and if you click here it'll take you to the post about it. Everyone was telling me how the hills would be 'no problem' but I needed to see them myself. Everyones abilities differ, but it might be of some use.

Thanks very much, a nice read ty

 

[EltonFrog]

Chatting to a mate last night who rode last year.... avoid using the hubs if you can, they were soooo busy and ate time just to buy a spare tube after punctures. the water stops are a different matter - bowsers and loads of taps, simply top up and go.

That's useful to know, especially with the numbers up by 6000 this year. I'd heard rumours that the feed stations weren't good for queues. I'll probably carry the basic food stuffs and consider buying from the WI if I find myself needing variation.

The hubs do get busy, but are well manned, you can be in and out in a matter of minutes if you choose, or hang around and enjoy the spectacle.

This year I will be taking my own food mainly because all the food last year was sweet and sticky, it got a bit boring, so I'm gonna take my own, it'll save time. too.

 

[benb]

Don't forget suntan lotion!

 

[Flyingfox]

I did 80 miles yesterday which included Newlands & Boxhill, (I'm leaving Leith for another day!) and whilst there were a lot of unexpected smaller hills, I found these 2 easier than I had imagined (maybe my hill training is paying off). Admittedly I used my smallest gear (30:28) and took it slow but at least I didn't have to get off. Not sure how easy it will be with all the traffic on the day though.

 

[sleaver]

For anyone worried about Leith Hill, I would very much suggest that you try it before the day if you can because from my experience, it help the second time I tried it.

I find that when you look at inclines, they look steeper than they actually are and when you have got up the first ramp, when you are faced with what looks like the "North face of the Igor", it doesn't help. But, if you know what is coming, you know it isn't as bad as it looks. You'll also know when it ends, for example, when you are going around a bend you know it flatters out and when you get to a junction you know you are almost there etc.

 

[Ian at fleet]

Hello everyone, woe is me! I have done several 100km rides this year but I am starting to panic about this ride. I average 15mph usually including hill work, I always try to find a hill to pedal up. I am physically capable of completing the distance but I now know that things like food intake and water are going to be my downfall unless I can discipline myself to stop and eat and drink regulary. Looking at Youtube videos today I notice some riders scoffing after the first 10 miles, in the past I would do twice that before falsing myself to stop and eat. I am 47 bloke 95kgs, hoping for some morale lifting tips please.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Sounds like it should be fine for you. 15mph average including hills should get you home comfortably before the cut off and everyone says this event rides faster anyway thanks to the road choice and them being closed to traffic. This is my first sportive but from the rides I've done so far my intention is to stop properly at Newlands Corner and somewhere between Box Hill and Wimbledon. I'll probably take a couple of gels and maybe a bit of energy bar now and then before that. I drink a lot anyway and have added an electrolyte drink to supplement the water in my hydration pack.

I've not found a direct equivalent hills in Kent yet, although if you climb the downs on your training runs that should be plenty. Newlands and Box Hill are long as much as anything, Leith is steep in places, but probably no steeper than some of the North Downs hills (Boxley for instance) although it is also long.

44 years old and 99kg last time on the scales by the way.

 

[Ian at fleet]

Thank you, I do have to cycle up the North Downs usually, so I will carry on huffing and puffing. Are you carrying a hydration pack rather than bottles? I know I will drink more regulary from my Camelback as opposed to bottles but as you know most riders stick with bottles. Another issue I seem to have is I have recently had SPD fitted although I have done at 250 miles wearing clips on I seem to feel more tired than I did previously. Last year and up until June I had done a couple of thousand miles with no real issues. May be the extra knee muscles needed haven't caught up?

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I would be wary about using me as the 'norm', I've only been back in to cycling for a couple of years and consider myself a bit of a noob, but am happy to share experiences. I fall comfortably in the BSNYC bracket of 'Lone Wolf'.

Anyway, I commute every day with a hydration pack and I'm comfortable with the fact that I sweat like a pig whatever so having a rucksack of any kind on isn't going to make that worse to any obvious degree. Plus I drink little and often and prefer not to wobble around with a bottle.

I have been using a rucksack with a Platypus in and using the rucksack to carry tools and spares but I've recently added a pair of bottle cages to the bike and now have a bottle with electrolyte in it to augment the water and a tool bottle with all my other bits in. I have a camelback which I'll experiment with, it has sufficient room to carry a bit of food (bars and gels), phone, money and credit card. It that works well I'll probably ride with that.

I went to mountain bike shoes with clipless when I bought the Synapse and seem to have moved across to them alright although I swap between flats on a hybrid and clipless on the Synapse fairly regularly. Sounds like it's possible the cleat position isn't right with your SPD's, I paid out for a bike fit with the Synapse and have been pleased with the results (although a lot of it could be done with a mate and a ruler. The bike fit did include adding shims to my shoes to alter my foot position a bit which seems to have been positive although wasn't great initially. Do you have any feel for how your speeds have been with the SPD's? Is it possible that you're feeling more tired because they are encouraging you to put more effort in than before?

 

[Ian at fleet]

Thanks again, I have done enough sportives by now to know the ropes, I'm tempted to go with the camelback simply to carry jacket, food etc unless its going to be guaranteed dry day. I'm planning on doing70- 80 miles this saturday, and I will stop for food breaks.Hopefully this time next week I shall be in a more positive frame of mind.

 

[sleaver]

Just out of interest, is there anyone considering doing the Free Cycle on the Saturday?

Considering I'll probably be arriving at London Bridge with a bike, it makes sense even if it is just for one lap.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I'll be doing the Free Cycle with my family and some friends, we did it last year and it was a laugh if a bit chaotic (OK, a lot chaotic) I'm not sure how much I enjoyed it, loads of other bikes and my 'commuter radar' was on over load but my wife had a hoot so we're going. I'll be riding the other bike though. Partially because we'll probably lock them up for a bit and do the festival zones so there's a chance of theft and partially because I just wouldn't want to risk it being damaged the day before the event. Last year we spent a bit of time chatting to a guy who was riding home from doing his circuits of Richmond Park and just thought he'd come through for the experience. It's a bit of a carnival and would make the London Brighton look like it's full of professionals.

We went across to Excel as part of it to see what it was like, but I wouldn't bother unless you're collecting Rider Packs. It was _OK_ but not particularly worth the extra riding through no mans land to Excel.

We'll probably work out a route in from the Greenwich area, purely because I know it.