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

[benb]

@Ian at fleet if I can do it, so can you.

 

[srw]

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.

Within the last few weeks you've done three consecutive rides of nearly 80 miles, on your hybrid rather than your road bike. There were no hills you failed to get up, and you were never at the back of the group. On the last day we were going at a steady 15mph and couldn't keep up. I think you'll be fine.

I've recently come across the veloviewer segment profile viewer:
http://veloviewer.com/segment/615597/Leith+Hill,+northbound

I want to try and find some of the French hills for comparison.

 

[srw]

http://veloviewer.com/segment/6272446
http://veloviewer.com/segment/3476530
The second of those is the long, steep, windy one up through the forest on day one. @mmmmartin's video has us dismounting at the bottom to find our grany ring.

Paging @rvw!

 

[sleaver]

I've recently come across the veloviewer segment profile viewer:
http://veloviewer.com/segment/615597/Leith Hill, northbound

That makes it look worse than it is. I though the second steep section was the worst but thats saying it is the first.

Just got to remember what comes once up the top. A nice decent followed by a mainly downhill, with a few lumps, run into Dorking and to the bottom of Box Hill.

 

[Rupie]

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.

DONT PANIC, there is a lot of bravado on chat forums, most posts are by experienced confident people, who are looking to do the 100miles in under a certain time, if you have done some 100kms then you should be fine. Whatever you do don't rush, because you think you will get picked up. Just take it steady, relax and enjoy. One reason people eat early is because they just like to eat a little often and don't want to leave it too late. If you compare this event to the people you see running the London Marathon, there are some who had never ran 5 months ago, and like their equivalent cyclists, they get to the end.

 

[rvw]

http://veloviewer.com/segment/6272446
http://veloviewer.com/segment/3476530
The second of those is the long, steep, windy one up through the forest on day one. @mmmmartin's video has us dismounting at the bottom to find our granny ring.

Paging @rvw!

Reporting in! But I think you've labelled those the wrong way round - the second ain't windy or forested. And we're going to have to get used to finding that granny ring without getting off (though the idiot in the 4x4 yesterday certainly didn't help us).

 

[Beebo]

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

I dont like the sound of narrow.
I've just read in the commuter forum that the bridge currently has a very narrow path, less than 1 metre wide, which is causing lots of problems. It will have to be at least 5 metres wide to get everyone through safely, especially as there is a race with a professional peleton coming through in the afternoon.

 

[sleaver]

I dont like the sound of narrow.
I've just read in the commuter forum that the bridge currently has a very narrow path, less than 1 metre wide, which is causing lots of problems. It will have to be at least 5 metres wide to get everyone through safely, especially as there is a race with a professional peleton coming through in the afternoon.

The link says that they are going to lay a narrow temporary surface so I wouldn't worry yet

 

[michaelcycle]

Has everyone had their Final Instructions magazine? I haven't received mine yet with my rider number so am wondering if it has got lost in the post...

 

[anyuser]

Yes, got mine. Perhaps you should call the helpline and ask them what to do as you need that form to pick up your bag and stickers etc.

 

[michaelcycle]

Yes, got mine. Perhaps you should call the helpline and ask them what to do as you need that form to pick up your bag and stickers etc.

Cheers.

Have checked with them and apparently they are still despatching throughout this week. I was advised to call back mid next week in the event it has still not been received ( if anyone is in the same situation.)

Now I can just go back to bricking it that I won't make it round...

 

[philinmerthyr]

@Ian at fleet if I can do it, so can you.

I'm over 20 stone and I completed it in well under 8 hours last year. I'm riding again this year. It's a superb day, it will be great. Hopefully we'll have the same weather as last year.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I've just finished my test ride, 113 miles in the end, Tunbridge Wells - Hastings - Rye - Lydd - Canterbury - Lenham - Maidstone - Wateringbury. Up the South Downs, Up both sides of the North Downs so 1,639m of climbing and a 23.7kmh average, which is fast enough for government work. I've been back to riding a little over two years and this is my first 100. So I'm happy.

What I did notice was my test route included a lot of horrible little lanes, covered in shite and gravel thanks to the rains last night. When I got on to the larger stuff my average increased (I actually upped my average speed from Hawkhurst to Fairlight vs Tunbridge Wells to Hawkhurst which must have been due to the nicer, wider roads 'cause it couldn't have been all the climbing!) the Ride London route doesn't do proper tiny lanes. The area around Leith Hill being the closest exception (and maybe Box) but even then, two cars wide. This plus the closed roads and the other people around to ride with is going to speed you up, so don't panic.

The hundred miles came up after 6 hours 53 of riding time, but a lot more of actual time because my stops were terrible. Partly this was just bad planning on my part, I ended up having to use Pubs for drink stops (J2O, tee total here) which just slowed everything down, partly I just wasn't disciplined enough, this will change for the event, I will have to watch out for just nattering to people at the stops though.

 

[RussellZero]

Has everyone had their Final Instructions magazine? I haven't received mine yet with my rider number so am wondering if it has got lost in the post...

Not got mine yet either, I'll ring them if its not here by next weds

 

[philinmerthyr]

I've just finished my test ride, 113 miles in the end, Tunbridge Wells - Hastings - Rye - Lydd - Canterbury - Lenham - Maidstone - Wateringbury. Up the South Downs, Up both sides of the North Downs so 1,639m of climbing and a 23.7kmh average, which is fast enough for government work. I've been back to riding a little over two years and this is my first 100. So I'm happy.

What I did notice was my test route included a lot of horrible little lanes, covered in ****e and gravel thanks to the rains last night. When I got on to the larger stuff my average increased (I actually upped my average speed from Hawkhurst to Fairlight vs Tunbridge Wells to Hawkhurst which must have been due to the nicer, wider roads 'cause it couldn't have been all the climbing!) the Ride London route doesn't do proper tiny lanes. The area around Leith Hill being the closest exception (and maybe Box) but even then, two cars wide. This plus the closed roads and the other people around to ride with is going to speed you up, so don't panic.

The hundred miles came up after 6 hours 53 of riding time, but a lot more of actual time because my stops were terrible. Partly this was just bad planning on my part, I ended up having to use Pubs for drink stops (J2O, tee total here) which just slowed everything down, partly I just wasn't disciplined enough, this will change for the event, I will have to watch out for just nattering to people at the stops though.

Well done on the ride. It's best to natter while you are riding as well as eating and drinking when you are riding. Use the stops to top up the bottles and grab some grub. I take my own grub (gels and oat bars) and high 5 zero tabs to add to water.

I did the 100 miles in 7:40 last year. Less than half hr was stop time.