Turbo Club - Meet Ups / Events

[Breedon]

Ride London 100 is that the one where you tag along or sign up to

 

[<Tommy>]

Thanks mate I'll have a think. Might just stick with what I've got and MTFU though!

After I posted last it occurred to me that chainrings are simple to swap over but are quite pricey.

 

[<Tommy>]

Ride London 100 is that the one where you tag along or sign up to

You have to enter a ballot system Dean. I think you’ve got about a one in four chance of getting in. I’ve only got in once. Bob hasn’t ever got in. But Martin has done it four times. It’s closed roads and it goes though London to the Surrey hills and then back to finish in front of Buckingham palace. I had a brilliant time but it gets mixed reviews.

 

[bridgy]

You have to enter a ballot system Dean. I think you’ve got about a one in four chance of getting in. I’ve only got in once. Bob hasn’t ever got in. But Martin has done it four times. It’s closed roads and it goes though London to the Surrey hills and then back to finish in front of Buckingham palace. I had a brilliant time but it gets mixed reviews.

How did it compare to the TOC? Pros, cons?

 

[CXRAndy]

I had a brilliant time but it gets mixed reviews.

It will be what you want from the event. If you want to set a quick time but get put in a late start pen, then you'll complain it's too busy. It's a great event on closed roads, very congested in places

 

[<Tommy>]

This turned into a ramble very quickly. Sorry in advance...

Pros: it’s a better route. Maybe this is more so for me being a Londoner. But generally it’s a bit more interesting. You go though London streets with closed roads. To be honest I didn’t really notice it as much as I thought I would. You’re so focused on the guy in front’s rear wheel you miss a lot. But it’s a real buzz going though London like that. Even just the ride to the start was pretty amazing. Because I live in central London pretty much as soon as I left my house I joined a stream of bleary eyed cyclists heading to Stratford. I bumped into people I knew from the park and I was really pumped from the get go. You feel like you’ve won the lottery just getting into the event so it feels special.
The start times are organised in military fashion. Times are more closely policed. I exagerated my capabilities so was given I really early start time which worked out well. I think I set off in the 3 or 4th wave. All the guys around me where really quick so I found myself in a fast group without having to battle through a throng first. You don’t do the sights of London. You basically go down the bank of the Thames until you high West London so that’s a shame I guess.

When you start heading out of London through Richmond that’s special. Then the Surrey hills which are very picturesque and also offer a variety to the course that Cambridge doesn’t have. In the back of your head you’re aware of the hills coming up so it means you have to think more about your effort. In Cambridge it was basically pick a speed you thought you could bpuff for 80 miles. In London if you go out too hard it’s a painful journey back in after the hills.

The roads are better than the Cambridge route. Wider and better tarmac. And the rides better supported. Food stops are well signed and there’s an army of volunteers.

Cons: I think generally the standard of riding was better in Cambridge. Or maybe it’s just because there were less people on the course. In London I had a few close misses when guys pulled off d!ck moves. It felt more aggressive at times, and I saw the aftermath of an accident where a guy was lying sparked out and there was lots of blood. It affected me for a bit afterwards on the ride. Generally people were great but I think I had my defences up more than in Cambridge and I guess that’s down to instinct based on what’s going on around you.

Cycling exploded in the last few years as we know. And I have a feeling that Ride London attracts more d!ckheads than other events because of its standing and location. Cambridge being a little more remote won’t be as attractive to your average city boy w@nker whoose just swapped his golf clubs for a pinarello.

Cambridge was brilliant because I did it with you guys and met Randy, Martin and Lars. Also I knew it was possibly the best chance ever to put in a big speed number over a long event. I blew up near the end of ride London so I had something to prove to myself too.

If you’re thinking of applying to ride London one thing you should know is that you have to go to a bike exhibition in the docklands to pick up your ride pack. It’s complete bollox really. Crap exhitibion and a pain in the arse even if you do live in London. Let alone if you don’t...

It’s the same as Cambridge in most ways apart from the nit picking I’ve just done. The main one being the happiness I get from cycling along at high speed in a large bunch of cyclists on closed roads. I know I used the word euphoric more than once in Cambridge... but it really is for me. I won’t bore you with the fairly long list of things I’ve indulged in at one time or another. But that feeling you get on those rides is incredible. It lasts a lot longer and doesn’t have the comedown afterwards!!

I think on balance if you offered me a choice of either ride I’d probably choose London. But mostly for reasons that you won’t share such as being on my doorstep. But like I say it is a nicer course in general. Having said that getting an early start time is vital. There’s god knows how many thousands of people doing it. It must be dreadful if you have to weave though people the whole way round.

 

[<Tommy>]

It will be what you want from the event. If you want to set a quick time but get put in a late start pen, then you'll complain it's too busy. It's a great event on closed roads, very congested in places

If you put down that you expect to do it in a fast time you’ll get an earl start time I think mate.

 

[berty bassett]

only thing that puts me off is its a lottery - i would be narked if everyone got in and not me but then again i would be narked again if i done it on my lonesome
i didn't realise you had to attend a meeting before hand which would also be a pain and i guess getting there on the day if i did get in wouldnt be much fun either so all in all for me i think the negatives win this time
on a cheerier note - i have just done a high speed Bob ! and scattered myself over a wide area of tarmac after hitting a pot hole at 25 mph !
knee took the brunt of it followed closely by back of already wonky shoulder , elbow and at sometime during the commando roll i took a handlebar in the ribs !
been bending rear hanger straight again but brake lever , tape and derailleur took a beating but think they will have to add character to the bike at the moment ! Sorrento is a good place to kiss goodbye to any excess funds you might have !

 

[CXRAndy]

@berty bassett

What you've crashed again, oh no!! I hope you're not too beaten and are able to cycle in a few days

 

[berty bassett]

@berty bassett

What you've crashed again, oh no!! I hope you're not too beaten and are able to cycle in a few days

going out tomorrow if it kills me ! the old garmin 705 went out in style !
its either neville holt or there is a local 71 miler only 10 mile away

 

[CXRAndy]

I'm at a bit of a cross roads, I've been struggling on and off for a number weeks with periods of tiredness, have been stressing over our new house project a bit. But I still feel lethargic in periods. I might drop HIT and do less riding for a few weeks and hope to recover a little for the alps.

 

[Whorty]

only thing that puts me off is its a lottery - i would be narked if everyone got in and not me but then again i would be narked again if i done it on my lonesome
i didn't realise you had to attend a meeting before hand which would also be a pain and i guess getting there on the day if i did get in wouldnt be much fun either so all in all for me i think the negatives win this time
on a cheerier note - i have just done a high speed Bob ! and scattered myself over a wide area of tarmac after hitting a pot hole at 25 mph !
knee took the brunt of it followed closely by back of already wonky shoulder , elbow and at sometime during the commando roll i took a handlebar in the ribs !
been bending rear hanger straight again but brake lever , tape and derailleur took a beating but think they will have to add character to the bike at the moment ! Sorrento is a good place to kiss goodbye to any excess funds you might have !

Couldn't find a 'not like' button! Flippin 'eck Lee, take it easy mate ..... even cats only have 9 lives

 

[bobinski]

@berty bassett
Please, please, pleassee, ride behind me in the Pyrenees Only kidding given there’s not much chance of that. Hope the knee/shoulder etc are not too sore.

@CXRAndy
Sounds like an idea to rest a bit. Stress etc takes a toll especially if it impacts rest, sleep and recovery.

@TurboTommy
“Blah blah blah...euphoria” there, fixed it for you
Mate, You’ll write a book one day but I doubt I will read it

Happy safe cycling everyone

 

[bridgy]

This turned into a ramble very quickly. Sorry in advance...

Pros: it’s a better route. Maybe this is more so for me being a Londoner. But generally it’s a bit more interesting. You go though London streets with closed roads. To be honest I didn’t really notice it as much as I thought I would. You’re so focused on the guy in front’s rear wheel you miss a lot. But it’s a real buzz going though London like that. Even just the ride to the start was pretty amazing. Because I live in central London pretty much as soon as I left my house I joined a stream of bleary eyed cyclists heading to Stratford. I bumped into people I knew from the park and I was really pumped from the get go. You feel like you’ve won the lottery just getting into the event so it feels special.
The start times are organised in military fashion. Times are more closely policed. I exagerated my capabilities so was given I really early start time which worked out well. I think I set off in the 3 or 4th wave. All the guys around me where really quick so I found myself in a fast group without having to battle through a throng first. You don’t do the sights of London. You basically go down the bank of the Thames until you high West London so that’s a shame I guess.

When you start heading out of London through Richmond that’s special. Then the Surrey hills which are very picturesque and also offer a variety to the course that Cambridge doesn’t have. In the back of your head you’re aware of the hills coming up so it means you have to think more about your effort. In Cambridge it was basically pick a speed you thought you could bpuff for 80 miles. In London if you go out too hard it’s a painful journey back in after the hills.

The roads are better than the Cambridge route. Wider and better tarmac. And the rides better supported. Food stops are well signed and there’s an army of volunteers.

Cons: I think generally the standard of riding was better in Cambridge. Or maybe it’s just because there were less people on the course. In London I had a few close misses when guys pulled off d!ck moves. It felt more aggressive at times, and I saw the aftermath of an accident where a guy was lying sparked out and there was lots of blood. It affected me for a bit afterwards on the ride. Generally people were great but I think I had my defences up more than in Cambridge and I guess that’s down to instinct based on what’s going on around you.

Cycling exploded in the last few years as we know. And I have a feeling that Ride London attracts more d!ckheads than other events because of its standing and location. Cambridge being a little more remote won’t be as attractive to your average city boy w@nker whoose just swapped his golf clubs for a pinarello.

Cambridge was brilliant because I did it with you guys and met Randy, Martin and Lars. Also I knew it was possibly the best chance ever to put in a big speed number over a long event. I blew up near the end of ride London so I had something to prove to myself too.

If you’re thinking of applying to ride London one thing you should know is that you have to go to a bike exhibition in the docklands to pick up your ride pack. It’s complete bollox really. Crap exhitibion and a pain in the arse even if you do live in London. Let alone if you don’t...

It’s the same as Cambridge in most ways apart from the nit picking I’ve just done. The main one being the happiness I get from cycling along at high speed in a large bunch of cyclists on closed roads. I know I used the word euphoric more than once in Cambridge... but it really is for me. I won’t bore you with the fairly long list of things I’ve indulged in at one time or another. But that feeling you get on those rides is incredible. It lasts a lot longer and doesn’t have the comedown afterwards!!

I think on balance if you offered me a choice of either ride I’d probably choose London. But mostly for reasons that you won’t share such as being on my doorstep. But like I say it is a nicer course in general. Having said that getting an early start time is vital. There’s god knows how many thousands of people doing it. It must be dreadful if you have to weave though people the whole way round.

Thanks a lot for that Tommy, and thanks for going into so much detail - that actually makes complete sense what you've said and is really helpful. Probably summarised by saying London is less mellow, and more full of w@nkers, but also a bit more special and more exciting for it - which basically sums up London in general, right?!

Edit: You'd laugh at my 12 year old who's just returned from a week-long school trip to London. Basically a group of wide-eyed country bumpkin 12 year olds seeing all the major sights of London plus shows etc in the evenings. The highlights for my son though were: a) seeing police and soldiers with REAL GUNS; b) Crazy deranged people on the underground; c) witnessing a police chase of joyriders. They've lived a sheltered life...

 

[Breedon]

Bloody hell lee what's happening with you, i think it's best you use the broom wagon coming down the mountains with us , get well soon mate.

Ride London sounds great untill the part about the rider pack would of been a pain getting there as it was.