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

[Deleted member 35268]

Bike cleaned, chain lubed, tyres checked, puncture kit checked, ready to go.

The wife just collected the numbers from Excel, six trains to get there. SIX FECKIN TRAIN! Why the feck buggering hell do they make folk go all the wat to arse hole end of the feckin world to get the tickets?

I know I may be stating the bloody obvious here, but I going to to say it anyway. If it does rain hard on the day, please be careful at the bottom of the hills where the grit and gravel will gather, and the roads will be slippery after the dry weather.

I decided to replace my bottom bracket last night as it has some lateral play. Second that on the descents, shame I won't be able to better my speeds last year on the downs, so I will have to better my climbs instead!
Are we in for a proper full on soaking? , the weather reports are just not being definitive still.

I will be getting a 7 am train to make it for 9am tomorrow. I will have a quick look around to see if I can see Laura Trott. If I don't see her, I may stay all day until I do.

 

[Bike_Me]

Completely agree with you Carl, ExCel is such a PITA to get to.

Looks like I'll be cycling in to Stratford, as the chartered train service will get there late and I'll miss my cut off time. That being said, as the route will effectively close off the A12, will cyclists be able to use the overpass to get into Stratford?

 

[EltonFrog]

Light rain showers @ 7am, then heavy rain showers from 10am right through to 4pm.

 

[Globalti]

Definitely going to fit those Crud guards to the bike then, there's nothing worse than cycling with a wet bum.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Yay, heavy rain just as I'm working on the big hills. Still, might take my mind off of them and will deter me from standing around too long at the food stop...

We positive we can't give this to the French?

 

[Beebo]

Definitely going to fit those Crud guards to the bike then, there's nothing worse than cycling with a wet bum.

I am going to leave that decision as late as possible, maybe about 9pm on saturday when i do my final checks.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I may or may not fit my guards. I will leave it until Sat PM to decide. Wet arse is worst.

 

[jefmcg]

hi all, I managed to get a 6:55 start, have got a cheap hotel booked near glouster road station, tried using the tfl route finder to work out how to get to the start and it just keeps saying road closed...wonder why?! lol in all seriousness...any suggestions on how to get to blue wave m for 5:55 from glouster road station? (about 10 miles i think) don't know London well enough and this'll be the first time cycling round/through it.

I was going to try to be helpful, and suggest you cross the river, and go along the south side, and then join the riders parking at Southwark, and cross with them. This is the official GPX route http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3144076

But that's through the Rotherhithe Tunnel, which I believe is very unpleasant to cycle in, and doesn't appear to be closed on the day - so it will have more traffic than usual going through it. but I gess not a lot at that time of the morning.

 

[PK99]

I was going to try to be helpful, and suggest you cross the river, and go along the south side, and then join the riders parking at Southwark, and cross with them. This is the official GPX route http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3144076

But that's through the Rotherhithe Tunnel, which I believe is very unpleasant to cycle in, and doesn't appear to be closed on the day - so it will have more traffic than usual going through it. but I gess not a lot at that time of the morning.

Rotherhite is cycles only till 7am and is the official route from the london bridge car park

 

[freewheelwilly]

I did this ride last year and am on it again this year. Such a shame that the weather looks to rain on our parade but going by last years atmosphere we should all soon forget about it and just enjoy it for what it is.
A few tips, i was going to say that whatever your take is on weight weenies i would really advise that you bare this in mind. Its harder now that we know we need to pack a rain coat and perhaps overshoes but i saw a lot of folk carrying unnecessary stuff such as bags full of clothing, locks, lights with huge batteries and so forth. I think adding your crud guards is only going to delay the wet bum scenario on a very wet day but perhaps in showers it will do the job.
There are a lot of riders who will be treating this like a race and although most are early starters there will be some throughout the course. As it is wet pay special attention to the other riders and those taking risks around you and as has already been said the downhill sections will be very dangerous so again be alert and stay in a straight line. The descent from Leith Hill is in the cover of trees so will be dark and even if it has stopped raining will still be wet and greasy.
You will be at the head of a chain gang at some point even if you dont want to be so make sure you steer your gang over a safe passage avoiding tose pot holes and manhole covers in good time.
Food and water, I had 2x1 ltr bottles in my cages and didn't need to stop for a refill. A few generous locals provided cups of water enroute to help reserve mine. I also carried enough food with me in my pockets to last the course. Gels were being handed out towards the end of the ride last year and it was an absolute mess around these stations as riders dropped and discarded the litter on the road. Again, not cool and another hazard in the wet.

Anyway, looking forward to it immensly. Good luck

PS anyone worried about finding there way to stratford needn't as you will bump into riders before you know it all heading to the same venue. No other fool will be out at 5am in the rain on a Sunday will they?

 

[freewheelwilly]

I was going to try to be helpful, and suggest you cross the river, and go along the south side, and then join the riders parking at Southwark, and cross with them. This is the official GPX route http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3144076

But that's through the Rotherhithe Tunnel, which I believe is very unpleasant to cycle in, and doesn't appear to be closed on the day - so it will have more traffic than usual going through it. but I gess not a lot at that time of the morning.

If you go through the Blackwall tunnel you pop out right by stratford pretty much

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I did this ride last year and am on it again this year. Such a shame that the weather looks to rain on our parade but going by last years atmosphere we should all soon forget about it and just enjoy it for what it is.
A few tips, i was going to say that whatever your take is on weight weenies i would really advise that you bare this in mind. Its harder now that we know we need to pack a rain coat and perhaps overshoes but i saw a lot of folk carrying unnecessary stuff such as bags full of clothing, locks, lights with huge batteries and so forth. I think adding your crud guards is only going to delay the wet bum scenario on a very wet day but perhaps in showers it will do the job.
There are a lot of riders who will be treating this like a race and although most are early starters there will be some throughout the course. As it is wet pay special attention to the other riders and those taking risks around you and as has already been said the downhill sections will be very dangerous so again be alert and stay in a straight line. The descent from Leith Hill is in the cover of trees so will be dark and even if it has stopped raining will still be wet and greasy.
You will be at the head of a chain gang at some point even if you dont want to be so make sure you steer your gang over a safe passage avoiding tose pot holes and manhole covers in good time.
Food and water, I had 2x1 ltr bottles in my cages and didn't need to stop for a refill. A few generous locals provided cups of water enroute to help reserve mine. I also carried enough food with me in my pockets to last the course. Gels were being handed out towards the end of the ride last year and it was an absolute mess around these stations as riders dropped and discarded the litter on the road. Again, not cool and another hazard in the wet.

Anyway, looking forward to it immensly. Good luck

PS anyone worried about finding there way to stratford needn't as you will bump into riders before you know it all heading to the same venue. No other fool will be out at 5am in the rain on a Sunday will they?

This fool will be on his bike at 5am.

 

[PK99]

. The descent from Leith Hill is in the cover of trees so will be dark and even if it has stopped raining will still be wet and greasy.
?

It can be VERY dark along there - best to take off the dark sun specs!

 

[Beebo]

I can confirm that the organisers have already put up loads of big yellow signs pointing the way to the start.
I saw these on my commute this morning in Woolwich and Rotherhithe.

 

[jifdave]

I know I may be stating the bloody obvious here, but I going to to say it anyway. If it does rain hard on the day, please be careful at the bottom of the hills where the grit and gravel will gather, and the roads will be slippery after the dry weather.

also watch for people behind you, after seeing the state of some of the bikes people were on yesterday... one in particular on the emirates crossing back to the o2 that the pleasant young ladies bike seemed to be held together with tape....