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

[benb]

Current forecast is 80% chance of rain.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Current forecast is 80% chance of rain.

I might even put my mudguards back on then http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/mudguards-on-mudguards-off-mudguards-on.155392/

 

[zizou]

Weather last year was ideal - warm but not too hot, dry and a tailwind for the last 30 miles. Most strange of all i dont remember there being much of a headwind on the way out either!

More of the same please!

 

[stephenb]

I'm in the last bunch to start (in deference to my years presumably) so have "booked" (FWIW) on the 05.48 from Richmond, though without any great optimism that it will run or that I'll get on it!

 

[sleaver]

Anyone know if and where you can watch the riders warm up for the Grand Prix races on the Saturday like you can with the mens race or other mens races?

 

[laurence]

Anyone know if and where you can watch the riders warm up for the Grand Prix races on the Saturday like you can with the mens race or other mens races?

possibly horseguards. the freecycle route doesn't go down there, so it could be used for warm up. i can't remember where any team cars or riders were last year.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I don't remember seeing any, the men's teams were in hotels by Excel because we saw them doing day before rides around Docklands.

 

[srw]

@srw I'm going to the Premier Inn at Stratford but on the Saturday rather than the Sunday. If I do ride there I could go down Whitechapel Road (A11 I think) or is there a more bike friendly way?

The A11 is an ok road to ride, very wide,lots of room but busy, keep your wits about you and you'll be fine.

The direct route from London Bridge station is over London Bridge, half right onto Gracechurch Street, then right up Fenchurch, right round the Aldgate gyratory and straight up the A11. I'd be perfectly happy to do it. Saturday will be awkward because of the RideLondon pootle, which is shutting down most of the city - look at the map. On the downside you'll need to take account of the implicit one-way system. On the upside traffic in most of East London is likely to be quieter than usual.

 

[Beebo]

What is the safest route to excel from the city?
I can get to Canary Wharf, but the last bit from Canary Wharf to Excel looks a bit hairy?

 

[sleaver]

@srw Just had a look at the road closers and depending on what they actually do at cross roads, it could be a nightmare cycling from London Bridge. Anything north of the bridge is either closed or looks like it may be closed. It seems to be dependant on Gracechurch St.



Had a look at Google Maps, and if I can get through that lot, it has suggested a route via Bethnal Green past/through Victoria Park and through the Olympic Park. Would that be better than the A11? Having had a closer look, can you even cycle some bits, especially going into and through the Olympic round the back of the stadium?

https://goo.gl/maps/Dt5N1

 

[zizou]

@srw Just had a look at the road closers and depending on what they actually do at cross roads, it could be a nightmare cycling from London Bridge. Anything north of the bridge is either closed or looks like it may be closed. It seems to be dependant on Gracechurch St.

View attachment 52555

Had a look at Google Maps, and if I can get through that lot, it has suggested a route via Bethnal Green past/through Victoria Park and through the Olympic Park. Would that be better than the A11? Having had a closer look, can you even cycle some bits, especially going into and through the Olympic round the back of the stadium?

https://goo.gl/maps/Dt5N1

I was staying near Tower Bridge last year so just along from London Bridge and went along the A11, it was busy with cyclists making their way along to the start. Once on the A11 you just continue east then go towards the Olympic park at Warton road (roughly south east of Olympic stadium), then a right on Loop Rd which takes you past the Acquatics centre - there were marshals directing people from there onwards, and also a steady stream of cyclists to follow too.

 

[laurence]

What is the safest route to excel from the city?
I can get to Canary Wharf, but the last bit from Canary Wharf to Excel looks a bit hairy?

DLR?

if you're going on saturday it will be fairly quiet on the roads in docklands. i've only ridden around there a couple of times and i seem to recall the roads are fairly wide and new. i think there may be a bike path along the waterside to excel too.

 

[laurence]

@srw go over Tower Bridge instead. the freecycle route turns on Tower Hill, so no road closures after Tower Bridge

 

[w00hoo_kent]

We cycled from the Freecycle to Excel last year, following the bike paths was a bit of a mission in places and involved some guesswork, but the roads were pretty empty.

 

[srw]

http://www.prudentialridelondon.co..../2014+Routes/PRL_FreeCycle_Route_Map_2014.pdf
The official freecycle route goes under London Bridge, so Gracechurch will be open. Fenchurch is officially closed for about 50 yards, but I suspect that is "closed" as in "easily navigable on a bike".

@rvw has the afternoon off tomorrow, so is registering for both off us.