RideLondon - Surrey 100 anyone?

[Payneys]

I'm riding for Beating Bowel Cancer and have had the transport questionnaire and my start time.

Likewise received transport confirmation and start times and now waiting for a brochure that gives all the final details apparently

 

[Longshot]

Its a pretty poor showing from the various transport authorities tbh. You would think with this being planned as an epic annual event that TFL would have got extra services planned for particapants.

Indeed, especially as the event is being pushed hard by Boris the Mad.

 

[Nig mtb]

These Charities do seem to vary in there mode of operations, one could argue that they are putting all there resources to the good work and not spending money on showers and transport back to the start. Perhaps the more benefits the charity provides the more participants they will attract. Or the another view is they are just very disorganized and are leaving each fund raiser to their own devices with no visible means of support.

 

[Longshot]

These Charities do seem to vary in there mode of operations, one could argue that they are putting all there resources to the good work and not spending money on showers and transport back to the start. Perhaps the more benefits the charity provides the more participants they will attract. Or the another view is they are just very disorganized and are leaving each fund raiser to their own devices with no visible means of support.

To be fair, this isn't the charities - it's the overall event organisers.

 

[Stedman]

anyone riding through a chartiy got any information through yet? i'm riding for Bliss and all i've had is my registration has been accepted and payment taken.

cheers

I am riding for the National Autistics Society and I have found that they have been very supportive from helping us with fund raising ideas, ensuring that we have up to date information from the organisers, providing jerseys, newsletter through to organising a special reception at the end of the ride for us.

 

[Nomadski]

These Charities do seem to vary in there mode of operations, one could argue that they are putting all there resources to the good work and not spending money on showers and transport back to the start. Perhaps the more benefits the charity provides the more participants they will attract. Or the another view is they are just very disorganized and are leaving each fund raiser to their own devices with no visible means of support.

I think like @Longshot said, the overall organisation is in the hands of RideLondon themselves, the charities can offer external benefits (like CRUK with the post race shower facilities and massages etc) that would, like you say, attract more participants who will in turn raise more money for their charity.

I have to say in all my dealings with them, CRUK have been excellent. RideLondon on the other hand have much to learn. I know this is the inaugural year, but they have decades of experience with the Marathon to have at least had a head start, they seem to be a bit clueless when it comes to people with bikes. And annoyingly seemed more focused on securing sponsorship and corporate dealings than with sorting out and clarifying details for riders, many of whom may live in other countries, let alone outside London.

I'm sure it will be much smoother next year, I guess we are the year one guinea pigs.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

Re Worthing (and anyone else S of London):

http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/cycle-policy/bike-ride/

Well at least they have recognised the event, unlike South West Trains, who seem blissfully unaware of the event or the fact that there may just be a few folks wanting to bring a bike on one of their trains on the 4th.

"Thank you for your email of 26 June 2013. The services that you travel on
spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis, we cannot guarantee to accept
cycles please see South West Trains website for more details of the cycle policy.
(http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/cycle-policy.aspx)"

 

[Nig mtb]

Longshot, I am talking about the charity side of things, I have paid for my jersey as I do not want to ware the free running singlet going to be given to me.
Not that impressed with my charity so far, this is my first fund raising event and sportive, training and fund rasing's going well though.

 

[Nomadski]

Longshot, I am talking about the charity side of things, I have paid for my jersey as I do not want to ware the free running singlet going to be given to me.
Not that impressed with my charity so far, this is my first fund raising event and sportive, training and fund rasing's going well though.

I guess not all charities have the same budget to cover things like cycling jerseys. I know the CRUK one is great with back pockets and everything else you would expect from a cycling jersey, but they are one of the biggest UK charities so I guess they have the biggest resources. They may also have bigger requirements for joining up, I know riding for CRUK requires you to raise minimum of £650.

Which charity are you riding with @Nig mtb?

 

[Nig mtb]

I am not sure I want to say in case they monitor these boards.

 

[philinmerthyr]

I'm riding for beating bowel cancer. They have been excellent. Good communication and they arranged some local press coverage for me. There is a reception snd cheer points for supporters. One of the other riders got sponsorship for cycling shirts so we will all get an event specific shirt sponsored by BP through their Olympic legacy scheme.

 

[philinmerthyr]

With just over 4 weeks to the ride, I would welcome some advice on training. Through June I focused more on climbing. I did lots of climbing up the South Wales valleys. I did get 37 mile and 46 mile rides with nearly 3,000 feet of climbing each but I now need to put in a few longer rides.

I plan to do a 65 mile ride on 6th July, 75 miles on 13th July and 80 miles on 20th July. I will also do a couple of 15-20 mile rides during the week. 1 up hills and 1 flatter and faster. I will also do a short recovery ride each Sunday.

On Saturday I plan Merthyr to Cardiff and back. The return is all uphill which should help with the Surrey hills after a long flat start. The route is here - http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_3270929.html

I'll need to use these long rides to make sure I get the eating and drinking right. I've done a lot of riding since October. I am nearly down to 20 stone and hope to be close to 19 stone by the ride. (I was 23 stone)

Does this seem a sensible approach. I would welcome any advice from those of you more experienced.

 

[Nomadski]

@philinmerthyr - I don't really think I have much experience, but knowing your rides from the other thread I would say you already have a decent enough level of fitness, and any distance work you can put in would only stand you in good stead.

If you use gels and electrolyte tablets, use the guide @Reece posted about, as its got a good amount of info for pre ride, the ride and post riding which seems relevant to the distance work we are doing.

http://highfive.co.uk/high5-faster-and-further/road-cycling-nutrition-guides/sportive

Well done on the weight loss, but dont worry too much about that, so long as your core fitness is good (which it seems to be judging by your strava rides) cover your bases with 70-80% of the distance, like your planning, and the elevation, which you've already nailed. Somebody said to me once if your doing a long endurance event, always make sure you can comfortably do 75% of it, and the rest will follow naturally on the day.

But yeah, I think your plan is good. I plan to do 1xMC, 1x80 miler, a few 20milers with hills and quite a few 20 mile trips into town , the flat way, with rest days of course. The last week I'm just going to do short spinning trips.

Take from the above what you want, but I know your a regular climber living where you live, so the base is all good. What time is your start?

 

[philinmerthyr]

@Nomadski

I've got a late start at 7:56 so no leeway on the 9 hrs.

I got a high 5 sportive pack from Wiggle and am going to follow their guide on the weekend. It gives e a couple more weeks to experiment if I struggle with maintaining energy levels. I got cramp on the recent South Wales bike ride but don't think I drunk enough.

 

[Nomadski]

Cramp is due to dehydration apparently, as you said. Drink more, especially electrolyte drinks (High 5 Zero tablets are good, the pack you bought also contains their 2:1 electrolyte tablets too).

Yeah experiment with everything you plan to use before the big day, dont do anything for the first time on the day. I am experimenting with quick n easy porridge as I will be in a hotel the morning of the ride so wont have access to pans and cookers!