Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2019) Anyone?
- Thread starter Dogtrousers
- Start date
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OP
OP
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I'm quite the opposite. In the unlikely event of me ever getting a ballot place and doing this I would want my medal! I'd treasure it for hours. Maybe days. Then I'd lose it.
Racing roadkill
Guru
I’m glad I got an early start now.
Low Gear Guy
Veteran
- Location
- Surrey
Travelled up on Saturday afternoon to stay in a hotel in East London. The trip to East London was enlivened by passing an EDL march closer than I would like and witnessing a minor car prang.
Arrived at wave on Sunday morning with minutes to spare after underestimating how long it takes to get around the Olympic Park. Started on time just after eight.
The first part of the ride went well with a quick trip through Docklands. This year I took the ride through Central London more leisurely to see the sights. On across Richmond Park (no deer seen) to Hampton Court to seek out a bike pump at the hub.
The ride went smoothly to Pryford where there was a queue for the narrow bridge. First injured rider seen at Ripley. There was then a very long slow moving section to West Horsley but it wasn't obvious why.
Had a lunch break at Newlands Corner before a high speed spin down the hill. Reached Abinger on time but Leith Hill had been closed. On to Dorking and Box Hill. The road up was very crowded. Stopped for a cup of tea at the top. After Headley I witnessed two women collide on my left and further on someone was being put in an ambulance. There was a queue through Leatherhead before speeding on to Kingston. There had been a crash at Kingston and two men were lying on the ground being treated.
Final ride into London arriving approximately half past four with no medals available. My riding time was over eight hours but I had several stops and got caught in some big stoppages. As said above there seemed to be a lot of crashes due to the number of riders. I saw very little bad riding.
Arrived at wave on Sunday morning with minutes to spare after underestimating how long it takes to get around the Olympic Park. Started on time just after eight.
The first part of the ride went well with a quick trip through Docklands. This year I took the ride through Central London more leisurely to see the sights. On across Richmond Park (no deer seen) to Hampton Court to seek out a bike pump at the hub.
The ride went smoothly to Pryford where there was a queue for the narrow bridge. First injured rider seen at Ripley. There was then a very long slow moving section to West Horsley but it wasn't obvious why.
Had a lunch break at Newlands Corner before a high speed spin down the hill. Reached Abinger on time but Leith Hill had been closed. On to Dorking and Box Hill. The road up was very crowded. Stopped for a cup of tea at the top. After Headley I witnessed two women collide on my left and further on someone was being put in an ambulance. There was a queue through Leatherhead before speeding on to Kingston. There had been a crash at Kingston and two men were lying on the ground being treated.
Final ride into London arriving approximately half past four with no medals available. My riding time was over eight hours but I had several stops and got caught in some big stoppages. As said above there seemed to be a lot of crashes due to the number of riders. I saw very little bad riding.
I was a very early start 5:56 and I think the 3rd starting wave. I saw quite a few people with punctures and a couple of places where riders looked like they had crashed, but nothing looked serious as far as I could tell.
I have to say the standard of riding that I saw was very good this year.
I have to say the standard of riding that I saw was very good this year.
oldgreyandslow
Guru
- Location
- Farnborough
Agree with a lot of the posts about the number of incidents, hold ups and pillocks. It was a bit hectic getting to the start too. I was in wave E so a fairly early start (06:20) and why people had to try and push through the starting area to get to the front amazes me, your time starts when you cross the line anyway. Saw one rider by the side of the road after Newlands being treated by a paramedic on a motorbike, didn't look good and held after box because of one lad having had a big off and had to wait for the ambulance to arrive. Also saw a rider fall off going up Box (that took some doing!) plus a couple of stops, Leatherhead and the embankment, to allow pedestrians to cross, so ended up with 5:22 which was not as good as I'd hoped for, but the delays were no excuse. Leith kicked me in the butt, and I was slower on Box. I may have to admit it, age is catching me up! Like Nomadski says "This is my last one.....although i said that last time"
Amazes me the difference in experience from an early to later start time. Had a 5.52 start and saw nothing but decent and quick group riding. No delays and almost empty roads in places... until the next peloton arrived.
Didn’t see any crashes but a lot with punctures right near the start.
Didn’t see any crashes but a lot with punctures right near the start.
bonker
Guru
Best tale from the day was getting to the start. I had stayed at a mate's house in Lewisham so cycled through the Greenwich foot tunnel to get to the start. Although I had worked a route out and printed it off but a guy in the lift at the tunnel said he had a route on his Garmin so everyone followed him. As we went along more people followed us.... you can guess the rest. He got totally lost and took us on a grand tour of east London.
On the ride I saw about five people down, mainly on the A25 oddly. One looked serious. Otherwise there was the usual bad riding and loads of dropped kit. Also seemed half the field had bought a new bike to do the ride. I don't think times should be posted for this events. I get the impression people were spending all day hiding in the wheels, so what's the point of posting a time?
The only moan I would have was the stewards. Mainly kids, many appeared to be sleeping, not interested in the race or calling people out for bad stuff like littering. I also saw a car on the course, driving against the flow, somewhere around Wimbledon.
I also don't see the point of a medal. I'd much rather have a cap, arm warmers, towel, mussette or something I might use.
On the ride I saw about five people down, mainly on the A25 oddly. One looked serious. Otherwise there was the usual bad riding and loads of dropped kit. Also seemed half the field had bought a new bike to do the ride. I don't think times should be posted for this events. I get the impression people were spending all day hiding in the wheels, so what's the point of posting a time?
The only moan I would have was the stewards. Mainly kids, many appeared to be sleeping, not interested in the race or calling people out for bad stuff like littering. I also saw a car on the course, driving against the flow, somewhere around Wimbledon.
I also don't see the point of a medal. I'd much rather have a cap, arm warmers, towel, mussette or something I might use.
Racing roadkill
Guru
Up front it wasn’t too bad.
Racing roadkill
Guru
5 hrs 13, it easily could have been sub 5 hrs, but for the messing around trying to get my sensors working properly ( turns out it was flat batteries).
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Holloway55
Active Member
You realise you haven't blurred your name at the top of the page.
'Edit:removed quote'
'Edit:removed quote'
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Racing roadkill
Guru
Oh well, never mind
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Last edited:
Racing roadkill
Guru
Oh well, never mind
