Prudential Ride London 2015

[Gruffy]

I thought the ToC Gran Fondo riding was a very decent standard. Only one chap in my bunch of 200 or so that needed some discipline. He got it too. The more experienced riders weren't shy about dishing it out where needed, which I approve of.

[Gruffy]

The incident on Leith Hill turned out to be even more serious than people may have feared. A rider collapsed and died on the lower slopes of the climb.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pru...

[Gruffy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've done three events like this now and each time there have been a small percentage of riders putting turns in at the front. With bunches of 200-300 riders you notice the guys who DO put turns in but not the other hundreds who just hang on. Fair enough. Usually, I suspect, the guys hanging on are literally hanging on and wouldn't really contribute too much to the speed of the bunch anyway. It takes constant vigilance and continued efforts to stay at the front of a bunch but it also takes constant efforts to be further back, where the standards are lower and the speeds through the corners are slower, meaning you have to add the power to re-group with the front.

In a smaller race I'm sure it'd be a thing, but on an event like this I have no problems with people sitting at the back. I really enjoy taking turns at the front and feeling like I'm earning my place. There was a moment on the Tour of Cambridgeshire where we'd formed a really well disciplined group of 30-40 riders going through and off to try and pull back the front group who started on the gun. We didn't manage it but it was amazing to be a part of.

So the short answer to your question is: You don't have to do any time on the front. Nobody will notice anyway and nobody is likely to mind either. Unless you sprint past them on The Mall.

[Gruffy]

That's not a bad one. I quite enjoyed the run through Kingston.