RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2016) Anyone?
- Thread starter Nomadski
- Start date
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JuanLobbe
Über Member
- Location
- Sale, Manchester
Yeah I might well. only the 9 miles...
dan1502
Well-Known Member
i really have no idea what pace i will set, hopefully i wont get to carried away and burn myself out early.
Start Area: Green
Wave: E
Does that mean there are A B C D E waves from green?
What would happen if someone was sucked into the wrong wave from their section? Would they still receive an official time?
Would it be possible to enter into an earlier wave if you were there early? Or would this be extremely difficult?
Wave: E
Does that mean there are A B C D E waves from green?
What would happen if someone was sucked into the wrong wave from their section? Would they still receive an official time?
Would it be possible to enter into an earlier wave if you were there early? Or would this be extremely difficult?
rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
From my experience last year it all seemed to run pretty smoothly so that you found yourself at the start line in the correct wave. I would imagine you could go through on an earlier wave, although of course if everyone tried this there would be chaos ... so we are all under an obligation to be in the right place at the right time.
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
There'll be far more waves than that. I was in Orange "M" last year and while I was towards the back, there were plenty more people behind me - definitely an N wave and possibly even an O or P, plus it was similar for all the other colours as well. By contrast, E is quite near the front already.
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
To get "sucked in" to an earlier wave, i.e. it happens by accident - I'd say no, it's not easy to do. To deliberately do it by turning up extra early and just queuing up wherever you can in your colour's start area - then yes, that's quite easy to do and I'm sure a lot of people do.
However, I personally wouldn't do it - not because you'd get caught (you won't, none of the marshalls care), but because the organisers have gone to great lengths to try and space out the field so that everybody doesn't hit the big climbs/narrow roads bit all at the same time. And I know you'll say I'm just one person and it's not going to make a lot of difference going an hour early, but as soon as everybody says that, it does make a big difference and the climbs are busy enough as it is already.
Having said that if you do want to start early, your official time is solely based on the timing chip that activates when you roll across the start line and finish line and has nothing to do with what wave you started in (or were supposed to start in), so there's no worries there.
However, I personally wouldn't do it - not because you'd get caught (you won't, none of the marshalls care), but because the organisers have gone to great lengths to try and space out the field so that everybody doesn't hit the big climbs/narrow roads bit all at the same time. And I know you'll say I'm just one person and it's not going to make a lot of difference going an hour early, but as soon as everybody says that, it does make a big difference and the climbs are busy enough as it is already.
Having said that if you do want to start early, your official time is solely based on the timing chip that activates when you roll across the start line and finish line and has nothing to do with what wave you started in (or were supposed to start in), so there's no worries there.
rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
I don't see the problem with a later start. I started at 8.50 ish last year, which meant I could get up at a relatively civilized time and eat a decent breakfast. The pace at the back was easy and I as able to slowly work my way past riders. Plus as has been said above - the organisers have split up the riders for a reason, if everyone decides to chose a different start time the whole thing will be chaos.
Your start time last year is the same as i've been given this year. Can you give me an idea of how busy the hills are and the likelihood of small groups still forming? And, of course, the feed stops.....although i'm not planning on stopping much, i'm imagine i'll probably hit one hub along the way just for a top up. Are they manic and is there still plenty of stuff left?
rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
I did not stop at the hubs last year, they looked pretty busy but people I've spoken to said there was no problem filling up water bottles. By all accounts the one to avoid is the Newlands Corner hub. The traffic was generally fine, I missed out on Leith Hill due to the closure, the traffic around the re directed route was manic for a few miles but Box Hill was no problem. Plenty of space to find your own line up the hill. I was amazed to find I was overtaking people, but I was able to go up at my speed without being blocked.
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
Yes, this isn't like London to Brighton where if you don't get an early time, it's chock-a-block all the way round or something. I departed at 8:39 and can only recall two points where it felt busy on the route - like Rugby Bloke above, there was when we had the diversion around Leith Hill and the other was in Richmond Park, but that was because a lot of people had stopped near the top of the climb and that narrowed the road considerably (to be fair I think it was due to a rash of punctures/mechanicals). For the rest of the course there was plenty of room to overtake - or in my case, be overtaken!
The hubs are fine except Newlands Corner as previously mentioned, but if you are worried about crowds, just go to the normal drink stops - they've got exactly the same stuff there as the hubs and generally less people. Just take a look at the course map and make a mental note of where they are, as I found the gaps between them were odd - you'd get a few fairly close together, then the next would be another 10-15 miles away, which catches you out if you've just gone past the last one in a set and are expecting the next one to be as close.
The hubs are fine except Newlands Corner as previously mentioned, but if you are worried about crowds, just go to the normal drink stops - they've got exactly the same stuff there as the hubs and generally less people. Just take a look at the course map and make a mental note of where they are, as I found the gaps between them were odd - you'd get a few fairly close together, then the next would be another 10-15 miles away, which catches you out if you've just gone past the last one in a set and are expecting the next one to be as close.
vickster
Legendary Member
If the hubs are busy there are plenty of shops and garages along the way, just take a small lock. I had a late start, didn't really see any small groups other than a couple of small club groups also with a late start
Had a hold up in Dorking and another between box hill and leatherhead, probably lost 45 mins as a result
Had a hold up in Dorking and another between box hill and leatherhead, probably lost 45 mins as a result
sarahale
Über Member
Does anyone ride this without really training? I've done a few long rides but as I'm not fussed about my time I haven't pushed myself hugely.
I'm pretty fit generally I cycle 120 miles a week and run about 10. My aim is just to get round ideally without walking the hills!
A month ago I did a 70 mile hilly ride in 5 hours but since then I've slipped and only done a couple of 50 and I think 3 35 miles, but I cycle every day.
On the day I'm planning on cycling 130 miles as have to pedal home, bit worried now that I won't make it.
I'm pretty fit generally I cycle 120 miles a week and run about 10. My aim is just to get round ideally without walking the hills!
A month ago I did a 70 mile hilly ride in 5 hours but since then I've slipped and only done a couple of 50 and I think 3 35 miles, but I cycle every day.
On the day I'm planning on cycling 130 miles as have to pedal home, bit worried now that I won't make it.
