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

[Ginger]

I've read some reports from last year and it says the start is a couple of miles down the A12.
Is this where the chip timing starts? Is it clearly signed? Suppose it's to get a fast moving start? Doesn't everyone start their GARMIN/Strava etc on the first start line?

 

[vickster]

For anyone not riding but wanting to be involved, the organisers are looking for volunteers around the route for varying tasks. Opportunity to get close to the action for the Classic...which Cav was to be riding (may / may not happen now of course, they don't yet know)

https://volunteers.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/

 

[beermonster]

I've read some reports from last year and it says the start is a couple of miles down the A12.
Is this where the chip timing starts? Is it clearly signed? Suppose it's to get a fast moving start? Doesn't everyone start their GARMIN/Strava etc on the first start line?

First couple of miles is neutralised and official timing starts on A12 clearly signed, this is where you should start your garmin etc.

 

[Beebo]

I've treated my bike to a new chain and cassette for the big day.

 

[Ginger]

Bit of a newbie cyclist having been an athlete for many years and was hoping to get by with my general fitness..... (And my have I underestimated the challenge)!!

Going to do Leith and Box Hill tomorrow to assess how I'm doing.

Because of my work been doing a lot on my Wattbike-my idea is that if I do say an hour on the Wattbike is an hour continuous pushing etc but on the road an hour could be say 15minutes easy freewheeling etc.
Any thoughts on that?

 

[Beebo]

Because of my work been doing a lot on my Wattbike-my idea is that if I do say an hour on the Wattbike is an hour continuous pushing etc but on the road an hour could be say 15minutes easy freewheeling etc.
Any thoughts on that?

Yes, you do get to freewheel on a real bike, but the one thing an exercise bike doesnt give you is the general bumping and vibrations from the road, which after 100 miles will start to hurt your hands and bum. Good gloves and shorts will help, plus keep your hands moving around the bars.
It's like running on a tread mill compared to the roads, similar, but not the same.

 

[PK99]

I'm planning to take Mrs PK on Saturday morning on the section from the entry to Richmond Park along the route (with a few minor adjustments to avoid traffic) finishing on Wimbledon Hill (well actually at the Hand in Hand for pint and late lunch).

Someone mentioned a closed road coming off Leith Hill is that still the case?? Where is it??

 

[michaelcycle]

I'm planning to take Mrs PK on Saturday morning on the section from the entry to Richmond Park along the route (with a few minor adjustments to avoid traffic) finishing on Wimbledon Hill (well actually at the Hand in Hand for pint and late lunch).

Someone mentioned a closed road coming off Leith Hill is that still the case?? Where is it??

It was closed off at the bottom of Leith Hill Lane for roadworks when I turned off Ockley Road when I rode pretty much exactly the same route last Sunday (although I wish I had ended the ride with a pint & lunch at The Hand in Hand or Crooked Billet rather than sloping off home in a sweaty mess...)

That said it is possible to get around both barriers and there were no roadworks on the ascent or descent. Quite a few people were doing it when I was there.

There are also closed road signs on Church Lane / Newark Lane if I recall correctly but its the same deal and there are just signs rather than barriers.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

That's much better than when I did it three weeks ago then, the barriers were padlocked solid and completely across the road with no way to get a bike round. Things must have moved on. The detour I ended up taking was around 5 miles I'd guess.

 

[User33236]

As Leith Hill is a little bit far away from Manchester for a training ride I was wondering if there is anything in Greater Manchester that is a similar challenge to Leith Hill that we and the Mrs can include in a ride or two before the event.

 

[Ginger]

Peak District?
Try Curbar Edge or Rowsley Bar - if you can get up those you'll get up anything!

 

[Longshot]

Good luck to you all. Have a great day. I'm gutted that I didn't get in this year.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

As Leith Hill is a little bit far away from Manchester for a training ride I was wondering if there is anything in Greater Manchester that is a similar challenge to Leith Hill that we and the Mrs can include in a ride or two before the event.

There are write ups on it which might give you an idea, from memory it's around 1.5 miles long and odd gradient shifts but nothing in double figures, I don't remember much in the way of flat on it, which was the biggest thing for me, nowhere to recover. There's probably a lot around you that is worse, so you'll probably have no trouble. Find a 2 mile climb with a decent gradient and it'll do the job.

 

[User33236]

There are write ups on it which might give you an idea, from memory it's around 1.5 miles long and odd gradient shifts but nothing in double figures, I don't remember much in the way of flat on it, which was the biggest thing for me, nowhere to recover. There's probably a lot around you that is worse, so you'll probably have no trouble. Find a 2 mile climb with a decent gradient and it'll do the job.

Thanks I'll get looking. There are plenty of short steep hills not too far away and long gradual inclines.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

In fact, you could do worse than start here - http://sportivecyclist.com/ultimate-guide-to-ridelondon-2014/