RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2019) Anyone?

[172traindriver]

I did it in 2016 for prostate cancer uk but have nether got in through the ballot.I will try again but getting a bit blase with it now.
It annoys me that so called celebrities can just do the ride without going through a ballot.

.......and also just roll up to the start and end up at the front of their start pen

 

[PK99]

Can I ask why bother entering the ballot? It simply takes away from someone else’s opportunity.

I’m in again and very much hope I get a place.

MrsPK and I applied in the Monsoon year.

As I put it at the time. "I was lucky and got a place. MrsPK got one too!"

For me, 100miles was not much of a stretch over the regular riding and sportives I did. For MrsPK, it was a major stretch and major training was needed. so I understand the posts you were querying.

 

[Beebo]

Seriously: If I get a place, good. But I'm not really bothered/desperately keen. I ride a lot of centuries anyway so it's not a huge deal. It's easy for me to get to the start so it wouldn't be much different to an ordinary cycling day out. I've heard so many stories of the route being clogged up, crashes, people riding like lunatics that means I'd approach it with some trepidation.

I've won the ballot twice, never managed a full 100miles due to weather and crashes.
Riding the closed roads is fun, but I wont be bothering to enter again, the number of riders means that if something very small goes wrong the whole thing grinds to a halt.
The same people operate the london marathon, and they have never had to shortern the course for weather or injuries or stop the race for 2 hours, and they have more participants, who all start at the same time. The ride london start is spread over 4 hours but they still get big problems. I can only conclude that bikes and mass participation doesn't mix well. Stick to smaller more manageable rides.

 

[ianrauk]

I've won the ballot twice, never managed a full 100miles due to weather and crashes.
Riding the closed roads is fun, but I wont be bothering to enter again, the number of riders means that if something very small goes wrong the whole thing grinds to a halt.
The same people operate the london marathon, and they have never had to shortern the course for weather or injuries or stop the race for 2 hours, and they have more participants, who all start at the same time. The ride london start is spread over 4 hours but they still get big problems. I can only conclude that bikes and mass participation doesn't mix well. Stick to smaller more manageable rides.

Only money is the motivation for the company, not the bike ride or welfare of the participants. .

 

[172traindriver]

I have entered the ballot twice, and was lucky to get an entry this year, however the weather deciding to turn during the particular weekend made it a bit more difficult, so I have tried my luck once more, hoping I get an entry and a nice day next time. However judging on others comments I reckon I was lucky to get in this year, but if you don't buy a ticket for the raffle etc.....
I was also lucky getting a start just after 6am but even forgetting the weather my personal thoughts of trying to route '000's of people up and down Leith Hill is surely a logistical problem once you get more riders on the roads and the congestion that is going to occur there. It is a narrow road so won't cope well with the numbers and riders of different abilities, but then the climbs are part of trying to make it an iconic event.
A similar situation also occurs on Box Hill once mass numbers start to hit it.
Those were just a couple of observations that I made during my ride, but I would not want to criticise the organisation of the event and even though I got soaked and punctured descending Leith Hill I still thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

 

[philk56]

I've won the ballot twice, never managed a full 100miles due to weather and crashes.
Riding the closed roads is fun, but I wont be bothering to enter again, the number of riders means that if something very small goes wrong the whole thing grinds to a halt.
The same people operate the london marathon, and they have never had to shortern the course for weather or injuries or stop the race for 2 hours, and they have more participants, who all start at the same time. The ride london start is spread over 4 hours but they still get big problems. I can only conclude that bikes and mass participation doesn't mix well. Stick to smaller more manageable rides.

Having also done the 100 twice with exactly the same experience, I have to agree with your observations. I did the 46 this year mainly because some friends were also doing it, and enjoyed riding with them, but even then we were cut short. I haven't yet completed the post-ride survey but will be putting forward similar viewsa although I doubt they will be considered.

 

[mgs315]

Yep in the ballot. Missed this years due to the small matter of getting married. Hope I’ll get in. Failing that I’ll try get a team place with my CC (we got another 12 in this year) or start raising some dosh for Shelter and end up cycling around with the club members anyway!

 

[Freds Dad]

I've entered for the 4th consecutive year and I'm looking forward to my rejection magazine to add to the other three.

 

[Freds Dad]

I've been given the opportunity to be a VIP rider.

The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Club 200 VIP experience includes:

• The chance to ride with a partner starting in the same Start Wave from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• Pre-ride hospitality in the famous Velodrome in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with a hot and cold breakfast with drinks
• Bag drop service and mechanic for last minute adjustments at the Velodrome
• Fast-track loading at the Start as you and your partner skip the queues and are escorted to the front of your Start Wave
• VIP hospitality and changing facilities at the Finish where your kit bag will be waiting for you
• Enjoy plenty of food and drink and the chance to watch the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on TV before cheering the pro riders on the final sprint down The Mall from the prime position of the VIP hospitality
• Designated area at the Cycling Show registration to collect your ride packs
• Specialist cycling rucksacks (valued at £90) for you and your ride partner

The price of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Club 200 package is £500 for each pair of riders (£250 per rider). This includes two guaranteed entries for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 and all the benefits outlined above.

Also can the OP change the title to "Ride London" from "RideLondon" to make the search for this topic easier to find.

 

[Sniper68]

I've entered again,4th time and will probably get the rejection magazine(again) followed by the guaranteed entry via the Charity Team I was a member of

 

[rugby bloke]

Ridden it 3 times now and to be honest I've moved on. Did not ride it last year as I was focusing on a 5 day tour of Northern Spain instead. We are going back to Spain again so again this will be my training target.

RideLondon is a great experience and an excellent way to bag your first 100. There are certainly concerns around numbers and congestion - climbing and descending Leith Hill is not pleasant. This is a real shame, having climbed Leith hill this year on a quite day its a great challenge. Best of luck to all those who have applied, I hope Lady Luck shines on you.

 

[lazybloke]

In 2016 I got held at the bottom of Leith Hill for well over half an hour to allow congestion to clear.

That left a completely empty road - romped up there and got a personal best to the top... haven't been within 30 seconds of that time since!

 

[PaulSB]

I was surprised to receive an email yesterday suggesting I encourage a friend to enter the ballot which closes on January 4th. Clearly fewer than 80,000 entrants to date.

 

[PeteXXX]

Is there an upper age limit?

 

[lazybloke]

I was surprised to receive an email yesterday suggesting I encourage a friend to enter the ballot which closes on January 4th. Clearly fewer than 80,000 entrants to date.

Is that unusual? I think I've seen a similar email in a previous year or years.