The 'Ride London 100' accepted/rejected thread
Discussion
ChrisMCoupe said:
Type R Tom said:
I wonder if there is any correlation between getting a place and how fast you claimed you would ride it in or how often you ride?
I'm going to guess that it didn't have a huge influence in the end, judging by some of the people on my facebook that seem to have got in. I believe one of the status' read something like, 'Got in, better buy a bike now and learn how to ride'. I predict carnage.I've had a brief look at the route and it seems like the main hilly bits are Staples Lane, Leith Hill and Box Hill. Are there any others I've missed?
London424 said:
I would say that's a good assumption. Some of the climbs aren't on particularly wide roads and if people aren't going to take it seriously there will be lots of walking up them.
I've had a brief look at the route and it seems like the main hilly bits are Staples Lane, Leith Hill and Box Hill. Are there any others I've missed?
Shere Rd too. Not Pyrenean, but it's a hill. I've had a brief look at the route and it seems like the main hilly bits are Staples Lane, Leith Hill and Box Hill. Are there any others I've missed?
It won’t be like the marathon where (as far as I know) you can take as long as you like, I think if you don’t get past certain check points within the time you’ll be asked to stop due the professional race starting in the mid afternoon.
I think you need to complete the 100 miles in 9 hours
I think you need to complete the 100 miles in 9 hours
louiebaby said:
It's important to enjoy it as an event, not a race I think.
Indeed. IMHO the people just having a nice day out will be the majority, and whilst that'll be quite irritating I predict most of the problems during the day will be from the pro-looking amateurs taking things more seriously than they should. I don't really understand why the professional race is AFTER the sportive. Surely it makes more sense to do it the other way round. As long as they started setting us off a couple of hours after the pro riders, we would be fine, even if they are doing a few laps of Boxhill. (I don't know if they are or not.)
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I can remember when sportives were £15 for 100 miles including two feed stations and tea & cake at the end. Even the Marmotte was only about £27 when I did it including closed roads (rolling roadblock) and all the fanfare that goes with it.Organisers these days seem to be charging top money for what is effectively something you can do for free the other 364 days of the year.
louiebaby said:
I don't really understand why the professional race is AFTER the sportive. Surely it makes more sense to do it the other way round. As long as they started setting us off a couple of hours after the pro riders, we would be fine, even if they are doing a few laps of Boxhill. (I don't know if they are or not.)
Three laps of a loop including Leith Hill and then once up Box Hill, I understand.anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm with Bedford Rascal on this one. If I was going to do 'something' for charity sponsorship, it'd have to be something outside of my comfort zone, something I hadn't done before, or wasn't particularly good at, or didn't enjoy. Fair play, people get sponsored all the time to do things they enjoy, but to me, 100 miles is tough, but not that tough, and I would rather pay my money for a place on an event. The problem arises, for me, when I start to get grumpy about the 'carnage' others are forecasting. It's a bit hypocritical to say, on the one hand, that charity places should be for those doing something they don't normally do, then on the other hand to get grumpy when those people cause 'chaos' by walking up the hills. The trouble is that Box Hill is semi-iconic, despite not being that tough, so it is one of the attractions of joining the event, then when you get there, it's going to be impossible to cycle up it because it will be thronged with people for whom even walking up it represents a challenge.
#rockandahardplace
Regarding the potential for carnage I believe I read somewhere that, based on the time you predicted in your entry, the start will be graded and you'll be given a start time. If they have any sense they'll send quicker people off first to avoid too much chaos but obviously that would mean it'll be longer before the route is cleared.
yellowjack said:
it's going to be impossible to cycle up it because it will be thronged with people for whom even walking up it represents a challenge.
PMSL - but very true!I had considered signing up and raising money for Cancer Research but £50 entrance plus a min of £650 sponsorship is a bit on the high side!
I raised a shade over £1k for the BHF over the past 12 months doing the L2B and Bath to Bournemouth, and I agree with the sentiment about doing something that represents a challenge - but I decided to raise money for the BHF as a friend suffered and survived a massive heart attack, due in no small part to the massive leaps forward in treatment and diagnosis funded by the BHF.
Difficult one, I don't want others to fund my hobby - but by the same token if I can raise money for a worthy cause while doing something I love then everyone's a winner!
Benmac said:
Regarding the potential for carnage I believe I read somewhere that, based on the time you predicted in your entry, the start will be graded and you'll be given a start time. If they have any sense they'll send quicker people off first to avoid too much chaos but obviously that would mean it'll be longer before the route is cleared.
Which would be fine if they sent the pro's off in front of us mugs.Seems a bit arse about face, but I'm still looking forward to riding on closed roads. I won't be the fastest, but I'd be hugely surprised if I'm anywhere near getting chucked off the course.
MadDad said:
Difficult one, I don't want others to fund my hobby - but by the same token if I can raise money for a worthy cause while doing something I love then everyone's a winner!
That's my position too. I'll be sending a mail around colleagues and friends etc closer to the time, but the tone will be very much "I'm doing this because I want to, but lots of people will be doing it for very good causes so give me your money anyway." I was very touched by some of the people I saw and met on the BHF ride last summer - families doing it because Grandad died of heart disease etc.Like I said, fair play to folk who do raise the money, and after all Charity is the reason many of these events exist. Anyone who wants to ride these things 'unmolested' by 'plebs' is welcome to grab a map and a stopwatch and ride it in their own time. You just have to accept with an event like this, much as with life in general, that not everyone shares the same ability/outlook as you. That said, the minimum amounts required by the charities are quite steep.
In the end, each person needs to make their own mind up regarding the merits of guaranteed charity places against taking your chances in the ballot.
I wonder how many people took up the option to pay up front for the event, and take the chance to donate the fee if they didn't get in? I also wonder if you did take that chance, would it weight the ballot in your favour?
In the end, each person needs to make their own mind up regarding the merits of guaranteed charity places against taking your chances in the ballot.
I wonder how many people took up the option to pay up front for the event, and take the chance to donate the fee if they didn't get in? I also wonder if you did take that chance, would it weight the ballot in your favour?
Benmac said:
Regarding the potential for carnage I believe I read somewhere that, based on the time you predicted in your entry, the start will be graded and you'll be given a start time.
This would seem sensible, although now having a charity place, I wonder where I will get put. I believe I predicted something around 6.5 hours.Is anyone else having trouble picturing 22,000 bikes all in one place, it's an astonishing amount. Not to mention how everyone is going to get to the starting location, train?
Without sounding paranoid I think there may be something about the way the form was filled in. Was talking to a mate who says in his office (not a partially large one) 5 people applied and all got a place. Turns out this bunch are all cycle holiday types and ride up the Alps etc. If they filled in the application saying that whereas I and my 3 friends admitted to being relative beginners I wonder if our application didn’t carry as much weight?
I know it sounds like sour grapes but also it’s a massive coincidence!
I know it sounds like sour grapes but also it’s a massive coincidence!
I knew this would happen....my brother and general sportive cycling partner, got in and I didnt!!
Regards riding for charity...I too don't feel like I can ask people for money to complete something that I consider fun. It woul be a bit like asking for donations to go to a Sunday Service.
Regards riding for charity...I too don't feel like I can ask people for money to complete something that I consider fun. It woul be a bit like asking for donations to go to a Sunday Service.
Gizmoish said:
Worth mentioning that you can't take a bike on the Tube to Stratford. So yes - trains or DLR are the options.
I'll ride to the start I expect
Was looking at this yesterday. I'll probably stay nearer central London then either ride out really early or get a cab to get a bit nearer (I know some cabbies can be funny about bikes but a spotless bike at 5:30am on a Sunday morning or no fare will probably mean it's fine). If people are all going on the train or trying to get cars near it'll be carnage, the marathon can be bad enough so factor everyone having a bike with them into the equation and........ I'd assume they'll have thought of this and there will be guidance, hmmmm.I'll ride to the start I expect
The missus is coming along so she can bring my change of gear etc along to the finish. I'm trying to remember now what I predicted in terms of my time. I think it was sub 6 hours which I can do if I get a clear run.
Well, I'm in on a charity place, for Great Ormond Street Hospital, have been since I applied last year in fact... wasn't planning on holding anyone up though, certainly won't be walking any of it, unless due to mechanical failure of course!
Reminds me, best get fundraising and putting some proper mileage training in too!
Reminds me, best get fundraising and putting some proper mileage training in too!
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