RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2017) Anyone?

[Deleted member 35268]

Box hill had a fab selection of CAKE and FIZZY DRINKS (both not free as they were run by some old ladies for a charity)
The other feed stations will probably have fruit (bananas), usually some Haribos or similar and some nutri bars or oat cakes.

I'm sure if you ask on the Facebook area they will tell you if you are worried.

Water is the main commodity at the feed stations.

 

[iLB]

Anyone know about the tracking app for this year? Ta!

 

[mjr]

Anyone know about the tracking app for this year? Ta!

http://results.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/2017/

 

[PaulSB]

Can anyone who has done the ride before remember what sort of edibles there were at the feed stations?

I can't answer the question but you might be interested in my strategy. I don't intend to use the feed stations as my expectation is these will be rammed.

Keep in mind I would usually make a cafe stop on a ride of this distance.

I'll set off with two bottles of electrolyte on the frame and two bottles of water in a very old bag - these second pair will be used mineral water bottles so I can throw them away. I'll drink these early on. I'll also carry electrolyte tablets which I'll use later in the day when I stop to buy water.

I'll carry two or three energy bars plus 4 gels. Around 70/75 miles I'll be sick of gels and energy bars. I'll have nuts and dried fruit from there on with the remaining gels and bars kept for emergencies.

 

[smutchin]

I like Clif products, so if that's what they're dishing out at the feed stations, I'll use them. Even if the feed stations are busy, I can spare a minute or two to stop when I need to. I don't anticipate needing to stop more than twice during the ride, so it's not going to have a serious impact on my time - not that I care that much about my time anyway.

I will very likely want something savoury during the ride as well, though, so I might carry an emergency cheese sandwich in my pocket.

Electrolyte tabs are a good idea as well.

 

[mjr]

I'll also carry electrolyte tablets which I'll use later in the day when I stop to buy water.

ISTR that the drinks stops aren't as rammed as feed stations and that the layout of one of the earlier feed stations is particularly rubbish.

Found it! It's Newlands Corner which has a bad reputation:

Newlands was like a refugee camp last year, Box Hill, and Dorking were better, I even stopped for a burger, just outside Dorking.

Last year I stopped at the Hampton Court hub (26 miles) and there was about a minute wait to use the loo, but no queue to fill up water bottles - probably spent about 10 minutes there all told. At the Leatherhead hub (75 miles) I queued around two minutes to get to the food/water, but was on my way fairly quickly afterwards. I did also use the stop at a village just outside Dorking, but didn't actually need any of the facilites - I had to phone my sister who was waiting to cheer me on at Box Hill to tell her I was an hour ahead of schedule (mainly due to Leith Hill being closed). But as far as I could see, the queues there were also fairly short. It's only Newlands Corner that you have to avoid like the plague.

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.

 

[smutchin]

Just reading the programme that was emailed out a few days ago - there's detailed info about the feed stations on page 14.

 

[steverob]

Anyone know about the tracking app for this year? Ta!

http://results.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/2017/

I was about to say to not bother with the tracking app as it was next to useless last year. The timing points were so far apart (about 20-25 miles at some places) that my mate who I was trying to track, kept on leaping back and forth across map almost randomly; as the app had so little data to work on, it had to assume he was travelling at the same speed it last saw him at, which meant at one point he suddenly went from being just past Box Hill to back before Newlands Corner! Possibly this was cause he was held up behind a crash, but also because one of the timing points didn't trigger him going over it.

However, looking at the map, it looks like there are many more timing points this year - I count 16 in total, although it's really only 11 as the start and finish are two and a further three are only triggered if you take the shortcuts at Hampton Court, Abinger Hammer or Box Hill. That's still an improvement on last year's 4 or 5 from recollection, so hopefully it'll mean an increase in accuracy.

 

[srw]

There was something in the blurb (which I haven't read properly) about them changing the timing method, and removing the frankly hazardous timing humps. A couple of years ago there was one timing chip to attach to handlebars; this year you have to attach one each to handlebars and seatposts. I don't think they've quite worked out what you're supposed to do when you've got two sets of handlebars and two seatposts....

 

[Simontm]

hope the agencies do a decent job on the roadworks just before Parliament Square but I suspect with the usual patchwork it will be a tad pogoing there

 

[Nomadski]

I was about to say to not bother with the tracking app as it was next to useless last year. The timing points were so far apart (about 20-25 miles at some places) that my mate who I was trying to track, kept on leaping back and forth across map almost randomly; as the app had so little data to work on, it had to assume he was travelling at the same speed it last saw him at, which meant at one point he suddenly went from being just past Box Hill to back before Newlands Corner! Possibly this was cause he was held up behind a crash, but also because one of the timing points didn't trigger him going over it.

However, looking at the map, it looks like there are many more timing points this year - I count 16 in total, although it's really only 11 as the start and finish are two and a further three are only triggered if you take the shortcuts at Hampton Court, Abinger Hammer or Box Hill. That's still an improvement on last year's 4 or 5 from recollection, so hopefully it'll mean an increase in accuracy.

It works differently this year. You as a rider download the app too, put in your reg number and surname and then start the app when you ride. Other none riders use the app to livetrackyou. If you prefer people not to see you location you can either not use the app, or send a link from it to specific people where they will use a website link to track you.

 

[rugby bloke]

Off over to the Excel Centre in a minute to register

 

[mjr]

this year you have to attach one each to handlebars and seatposts. I don't think they've quite worked out what you're supposed to do when you've got two sets of handlebars and two seatposts....

If you put the chips on the pilot's seatpost and stoker's handlebars, will it think you're travelling backwards?

hope the agencies do a decent job on the roadworks just before Parliament Square but I suspect with the usual patchwork it will be a tad pogoing there

It only goes through there on the approach to the finish so I expect they will find a smooth line through it, especially as the race may be lining up for a sprint by then.

It works differently this year. You as a rider download the app too, put in your reg number and surname and then start the app when you ride. Other none riders use the app to livetrackyou.

That seems like a bad idea when the mobile networks in the area overload and randomly boot people off already. It's not as bad as it was during the Olympic road race, but still not exactly reliable and I don't think a live-tracking app is going to reduce the load, is it?

 

[rugby bloke]

Fully registered, pretty much the same set up as previous years. With the closure of Custom House DLR station you have to go onto Prince Regent, which is not a problem apart from having to schlep the whole length of the Excel to get to the bike show. You will also go past the Lego Live show, which looks a lot more fun to be honest ! Prudential water bottles (same as previous years) and Conti tyre levers (nothing special by the looks of them) are being offered as freebies.

As part of my pre ride routine I have bought my new cycling shorts, which will actually co-ordinate with my jersey this year.

 

[mjr]

With the closure of Custom House DLR station you have to go onto Prince Regent, which is not a problem apart from having to schlep the whole length of the Excel to get to the bike show.

#betterByBike

As part of my pre ride routine I have bought my new cycling shorts, which will actually co-ordinate with my jersey this year.

New shorts for a ton? Brave!