Prudential Ride London - start times
Discussion
I am one of the "lucky" ones who has secured a place on this most hallowed of sportives.
I have been training quite hard (for me) so that I will be able to draft behind my faster team mates and hold onto their wheels in desperation.
However, my start time is 40 mins later than said team-mates. There is no way they are going to hang around and wait for me.
I called PRL who said, "eff off we can't change 24,000 start times".
I pointed out I just wanted to change one, not all of them but this appeared beyond their comprehension.
Apparently I could have let them know a month and a half ago that I was a lot faster than when I first applied.
Really? News to me sunshine.
So, I said that I would simply join the race beyond the start.
They claim this won't be possible owing to the marshals preventing it.
I am not sure I want to kick off a worthy charity ride with a fight with some poor volunteer who will no doubt be dealing with angry motorists all day whinging about closed roads they pay for etc....
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Is the start that draconian - could I just rock up early and force my way through unnoticed?
Would the marshals really try to stop me if I join half a mile down the road?
I have been training quite hard (for me) so that I will be able to draft behind my faster team mates and hold onto their wheels in desperation.
However, my start time is 40 mins later than said team-mates. There is no way they are going to hang around and wait for me.
I called PRL who said, "eff off we can't change 24,000 start times".
I pointed out I just wanted to change one, not all of them but this appeared beyond their comprehension.
Apparently I could have let them know a month and a half ago that I was a lot faster than when I first applied.
Really? News to me sunshine.
So, I said that I would simply join the race beyond the start.
They claim this won't be possible owing to the marshals preventing it.
I am not sure I want to kick off a worthy charity ride with a fight with some poor volunteer who will no doubt be dealing with angry motorists all day whinging about closed roads they pay for etc....
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Is the start that draconian - could I just rock up early and force my way through unnoticed?
Would the marshals really try to stop me if I join half a mile down the road?
What he said, its not a race and if your mates are nice, they will wait, there was a bunch of people waiting 200m after the start last year for friends to come through, marshals were cool about it providing we were on the pavement not the road.
You could try and start with them because the start wasnt that strictly monitored but dont be annoyed if you are caught and sent back to your alloted time.
If your mates arent prepared to wait, find new mates en route.
You could try and start with them because the start wasnt that strictly monitored but dont be annoyed if you are caught and sent back to your alloted time.
If your mates arent prepared to wait, find new mates en route.
Live with it. Look at it from their point of view if they accommodated everybody who wanted to change their start time. I'm 50 minutes after my GF. Last year she was 50 minutes before me. We both had a good ride even if we didn't meet up.
You'll find a group of suitable speed.
If you want to try and guarantee starting with some mates, enter via your club through the British Cycling path next year. Then at least groups of four of you will be able to start together if you get team slot(s)
You'll find a group of suitable speed.
If you want to try and guarantee starting with some mates, enter via your club through the British Cycling path next year. Then at least groups of four of you will be able to start together if you get team slot(s)
pablo said:
You could try and start with them because the start wasnt that strictly monitored but dont be annoyed if you are caught and sent back to your alloted time.
OK that's helpful.Worth a punt.
Since I am catching a lift from home with them I will be there anyway.
I just have to hope they hang around after they finish (or catch them up...).
I was in the last but one group to start last year, and there were plenty of people to join up with. The problem I found was after my first stop after 45 miles, not so easy to get in a bunch and I spent a while not really on my own but not in a group. There were also plenty waiting just after the start. Remember the start gates are at Olympic Park, but the official start gate is 2 miles further on.
Having said all that, it is not a problem being on your own. I got such a buzz off the crowd as well as the groups I was with, it's almost better to be solo; all you have to worry about is how long you can keep the pace of the group you are with, not what your mates are up to.
Having said all that, it is not a problem being on your own. I got such a buzz off the crowd as well as the groups I was with, it's almost better to be solo; all you have to worry about is how long you can keep the pace of the group you are with, not what your mates are up to.
Excellent, thank you chaps.
I am now feeling a lot more positive.
Firstly, it sounds like "manning up" could be a lot of fun.
I have done a few lengthy rides on my own before and they were pretty tedious, but I guess it is different with 24k riders to keep you company and crowds and whatnot.
Secondly, if I fail to sneak in at the start, I could just head down the track a little.
I am now feeling a lot more positive.
Firstly, it sounds like "manning up" could be a lot of fun.
I have done a few lengthy rides on my own before and they were pretty tedious, but I guess it is different with 24k riders to keep you company and crowds and whatnot.
Secondly, if I fail to sneak in at the start, I could just head down the track a little.
They were closed with fences through putney last year, which is a fair old way out.
I heard (i.e. am not 100% certain) that the first 2 miles is 'demilitarised' - the timing doesn't start at the start, in which case no harm in your mates waiting. Otherwise, as everyone else said, there's 24k people on the course. You'll find someone to ride with.
I heard (i.e. am not 100% certain) that the first 2 miles is 'demilitarised' - the timing doesn't start at the start, in which case no harm in your mates waiting. Otherwise, as everyone else said, there's 24k people on the course. You'll find someone to ride with.
Have a good look at the first mile of the route, I checked on google maps and I'm 99% sure the start gantry was on Waterden Road which immediately looped on to the A12 however the area around the A106 (Eastway) and the slip road onto the A12 wasnt fenced off, closed to traffic but no barriers etc.
So avoid the start area, the queueing pens etc and make your way over to the A12/A106 junction which is about 200m from the start and where we are congregated last year to meet up with people starting later. If you have your numbers etc on you wont get stopped and will look like you should be there so just wait for your mates there. I guarantee there will be others around doing the same thing albeit haveing started through the gantry.
Sure you wont get a chip time but if you are really organised, one of your mates can carry your chip over the line when they start but i cant remember if it was a sticker chip on the helmet or on the back of the number?!?!?
There was a neutral secton actually, pretty sure the actual start timing mat was someone on the A12 near the Blackwall tunnel, remember going over it and thinking it was debris at the time!!!
So avoid the start area, the queueing pens etc and make your way over to the A12/A106 junction which is about 200m from the start and where we are congregated last year to meet up with people starting later. If you have your numbers etc on you wont get stopped and will look like you should be there so just wait for your mates there. I guarantee there will be others around doing the same thing albeit haveing started through the gantry.
Sure you wont get a chip time but if you are really organised, one of your mates can carry your chip over the line when they start but i cant remember if it was a sticker chip on the helmet or on the back of the number?!?!?
There was a neutral secton actually, pretty sure the actual start timing mat was someone on the A12 near the Blackwall tunnel, remember going over it and thinking it was debris at the time!!!
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd July 13:21
Chip was on the back of the front facing number.
However, the start pen loading was pretty relaxed from what I remember, I'm sure a quick word with one of the organisers (pick a friendly looking one) and they will let you join in with your team mates.
You also have to remember that a large amount of people who entered never turned up, or turn up late, so there is some leeway.
However, the start pen loading was pretty relaxed from what I remember, I'm sure a quick word with one of the organisers (pick a friendly looking one) and they will let you join in with your team mates.
You also have to remember that a large amount of people who entered never turned up, or turn up late, so there is some leeway.
upsidedownmark said:
I heard (i.e. am not 100% certain) that the first 2 miles is 'demilitarised' - the timing doesn't start at the start, in which case no harm in your mates waiting.
That certainly was the case last year - 2 miles of riding from the pens to the start line along the A12 and plenty of groups waiting on the hard shoulder for various reasons.So what time is everyone starting?
I'm supposed to be in a wave starting at 7:22, Orange, M... (that'll make sense to those with a start time.)
I shall be resplendent in my PH Jersey weather permitting, not looking to set any records but I don't hang around, so if anyone wants to form a PH chain say hello :-)
I'm supposed to be in a wave starting at 7:22, Orange, M... (that'll make sense to those with a start time.)
I shall be resplendent in my PH Jersey weather permitting, not looking to set any records but I don't hang around, so if anyone wants to form a PH chain say hello :-)
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