123456789
Über Member
- Location
- Quite near Saarfend innit
Well my 2016 goals are enter a proper sportive and crack the imperial century. 2 goals in one day - provided I make the ballot
RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2016) Anyone?
- Thread starter Nomadski
- Start date
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vickster
Legendary Member
There are always plenty of charity places if unsuccessful
jefmcg
Guru
Good goals - but it may not work out even if you get in. The Ride London 100 was shortened the last 2 years. 2013 for bad weather, and this year for many riders after a fatality on Leith Hill. So you better book in a fall back sportive
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
Unless you arrive at the start in your helicopter, you've probably clocked a few miles by the time you line up. They all count.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I've always fancied this but cant work out how to just enter for myself...or how much it costs, or what happens if I am not selected (do I loose the money?)
the info on the page is pretty poor and when I enter the ballot it asks for my payment details without any confirmation of how much...or what the conditions of the ballot mare.
Can anyone save me from trawling the sites "information" and summarise please.
the info on the page is pretty poor and when I enter the ballot it asks for my payment details without any confirmation of how much...or what the conditions of the ballot mare.
Can anyone save me from trawling the sites "information" and summarise please.
vickster
Legendary Member
Enter by filling in the application form, you don't pay anything until the ballot is drawn, you get a place or not. Even if you get a place, you can choose not to take it, and then nothing to pay.
You can also choose to donate your £58 to charity if you don't get in regardless...this *may* increase your chances or it may not
The ballot is a ballot, 24000 or so are selected from the 80k or so who enter. There probably is some sort of algorithm to ensure a mix of riders, what that is you can guess
You can also choose to donate your £58 to charity if you don't get in regardless...this *may* increase your chances or it may not
The ballot is a ballot, 24000 or so are selected from the 80k or so who enter. There probably is some sort of algorithm to ensure a mix of riders, what that is you can guess
vickster
Legendary Member
We took the leith hill detour (we chose to but it was probably closed by then anyhow) so 92 miles on closed roads. With the ride to the start from the hotel in Barking and from my local station home, I did around 101 miles in all. Also pushed the bike from the end oto Victoria, so if desperate could have ridden that last mile too!Unless you arrive at the start in your helicopter, you've probably clocked a few miles by the time you line up. They all count.
jefmcg
Guru
I've just had a play with it, the site is a teensy bit broken. On the main page where you fill out most of your details, there is a hidden box about donating you fee. When you get to that page, hit submit without filling in all the fields. Then the page will redraw with most of the boxes highlighted in red. You'll also now see the "I want to donate my entry fee" button, which is checked. Uncheck it and then you can enrol without it asking for your credit card.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Thanks.
You would imagine that for something so popular, it would be a little clearer...or perhaps this is a test
That I have failed.
Maybe its not for me.
Unless you arrive at the start in your helicopter, you've probably clocked a few miles by the time you line up. They all count.
True - I did 118 miles in total on last year's event.
123456789
Über Member
- Location
- Quite near Saarfend innit
^^This - Pall Mall hill repeats
sleaver
Veteran
Does the imperial century have to be part of a sportive? The reason being as mentioned already, even if you do get in and start, your not guaranteed of 100 miles. Also, depending on which start funnel you are in at the beginning, they take slightly different routes and while my GPS showed over 100 miles, some who were in the other start funnel showed less.
If it doesn't have to be part of a sportive, just get out on your bike early one weekend morning in the summer with a pre-planned route of 100 miles, or longer
If you have to travel and stay in London Saturday night, it will save you quite a bit of money.You could also have a look at Wiggle sportive's. They tend to be cheaper and as they are held all over the country, there may be one more local to you (assuming you don't live close to London). Some of those also have routes over 100 miles but not closed roads. Depending on which one, the routes also seem a bit more challenging and make the Surrey Hills look like speed bumps
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
Obviously not. But having said that, the RideLondon is a relatively painless way (apart from the cost) of getting your first 100-miler under your belt. Closed roads, lots of other riders to tow you along and a mostly flat course.
123456789
Über Member
- Location
- Quite near Saarfend innit
Does the imperial century have to be part of a sportive? The reason being as mentioned already, even if you do get in and start, your not guaranteed of 100 miles. Also, depending on which start funnel you are in at the beginning, they take slightly different routes and while my GPS showed over 100 miles, some who were in the other start funnel showed less.
If it doesn't have to be part of a sportive, just get out on your bike early one weekend morning in the summer with a pre-planned route of 100 miles, or longer
You could also have a look at Wiggle sportive's. They tend to be cheaper and as they are held all over the country, there may be one more local to you (assuming you don't live close to London). Some of those also have routes over 100 miles but not closed roads. Depending on which one, the routes also seem a bit more challenging and make the Surrey Hills look like speed bumps
No my 100 doesn't have to be part of a sportive and I agree there are probably better and more challenging rides out there, in fact I wouldn't mind cracking the century before the Ride London 100 but having said all that I just really fancy doing it just for the fact that I can say I did it. I got in via my club on the first one but picked up an injury and had to pull out, so it's always been in the back of my mind on a wish list.
I'm not too far from London and I could always ride home or part of the way home if I need more miles (if I am capable doing so after it)
sleaver
Veteran
I've found that unless you find a group going at your speed AND knows what they are doing AND are willing to work together, it is quite hard to follow just random people on a sportive.
Over 100+ miles during RideLondon this year, I think I was in a group for more than you couple of hundred meters only four times. Once on the ride from the hotel but only because everyone was taking it easy, second on the way into Kingston, then once along the Thames. Oh, I forgot the fourth...........going up Leigh Hill as I had no other choice
Compare that to Velothon Wales where it was once along the flat bit around Newport. I also had someone who was going at the same speed as me but while happy to sit in my wheel, wouldn't let me sit in his
