Discussion
Type R Tom said:
I quite enjoyed the rain in a perverse way, once you were wet through it didn't matter any more and all the expensive waterproofs didn't help. Had to smile at all the skinny cyclist shivering away and struggling, being heavy was of benefit that day!
Yes it was a bit bizarre, even as a diver you don't stay wet for hours and hours on end, I remember stopping around mile 75-ish when the sun came out to sprint the last 10miles with my rain jacket off but everything was so wet I could hardly unstick the layers. My phone was wet in its wateproof cover, I had water inside my frame! (found when took seat out on Monday morning to put it in the car to drive home) I had a energy bar in a wrapper and somehow that had got wet, there was water in my pump too.Out in countryside section the rain was so hard it was hitting me in the face having bounced up from the ground- it was like being in a cold version of those multi-jet showers :-)
To add insult to injury I was half way back to the hotel (luckily I rode as it got me over the missed 100 for the day) when the heavens opened for the late afternoon thunder storm, had to hide in a bus stop in a less salubrious part of east London to redress in my wet rain gear.
I'm in on my third attempt. I really hope that it doesn't hammer it down on the day. I have a Castelli Race Cape and its good for a brief shower, but that's it. It has huge vents under the arms, which eventually let a lot of water in.
I did a a Sportive in the New Forest about 4 years ago and it rained for pretty much every one of the 66 miles and when I returned I had to push my car and others out of the waterlogged muddy field. It was chaos and even the AA's Defender was stuck,
I did a a Sportive in the New Forest about 4 years ago and it rained for pretty much every one of the 66 miles and when I returned I had to push my car and others out of the waterlogged muddy field. It was chaos and even the AA's Defender was stuck,
scubadude said:
Out in countryside section the rain was so hard it was hitting me in the face having bounced up from the ground- it was like being in a cold version of those multi-jet showers :-)
Peak wet for me was taking a drink from my water bottle to find about a litre of water sitting in my sleeve which just poured all over me inside my clothes as I raised my arm, while it was still raining hard outside my clothing too.walm said:
scubadude said:
Out in countryside section the rain was so hard it was hitting me in the face having bounced up from the ground- it was like being in a cold version of those multi-jet showers :-)
Peak wet for me was taking a drink from my water bottle to find about a litre of water sitting in my sleeve which just poured all over me inside my clothes as I raised my arm, while it was still raining hard outside my clothing too.
walm said:
Peak wet for me was taking a drink from my water bottle to find about a litre of water sitting in my sleeve which just poured all over me inside my clothes as I raised my arm, while it was still raining hard outside my clothing too.
Brilliant :-)I felt abit sorry for the genuine first timer, noob charity riders plodding along at 10mph while streams of carbon warriors roar past is crushing enough but for it to be raining cats and dogs was cruel when they where looking at scraping under the cut-off.
I must admit I sat up and pootled through the worst of the rain for fear of some moron knocking me off but got the hammer down and passed 1000's in the last 20miles of people who'd all hit the wall.
scubadude said:
Brilliant :-)
I felt abit sorry for the genuine first timer, noob charity riders plodding along at 10mph while streams of carbon warriors roar past is crushing enough but for it to be raining cats and dogs was cruel when they where looking at scraping under the cut-off.
I must admit I sat up and pootled through the worst of the rain for fear of some moron knocking me off but got the hammer down and passed 1000's in the last 20miles of people who'd all hit the wall.
I know what you mean. When I was heading back into London through Kingston where those on the way out on one side and those on the way in on the other I looked across at those plodding along who had another 60 or so miles to do and thought "you poor bI felt abit sorry for the genuine first timer, noob charity riders plodding along at 10mph while streams of carbon warriors roar past is crushing enough but for it to be raining cats and dogs was cruel when they where looking at scraping under the cut-off.
I must admit I sat up and pootled through the worst of the rain for fear of some moron knocking me off but got the hammer down and passed 1000's in the last 20miles of people who'd all hit the wall.
ds". The first year was by far the best but 2014 was fun as once soaked you couldn't get any wetter and it was warm so apart from the standing water it wasn't that much of an issue.
Fourth knock back for me 
What does niggle is the ballot system, when someone i know got a place but didn't bother because of the weather, then gets selected again the following year....
They could do with adding a weighting to the selection process reducing your chances if youve done it before.
Moan over - i'll appreciate it even more when i do get selected
What does niggle is the ballot system, when someone i know got a place but didn't bother because of the weather, then gets selected again the following year....
They could do with adding a weighting to the selection process reducing your chances if youve done it before.
Moan over - i'll appreciate it even more when i do get selected
I got rejected for the 2nd time. Last year I predicted 6.5 hours... This year I predicted 4.5 as I am faster and gave my new out of London address hoping that both changes would make a difference.
I would recommend anyone who got rejected and hasn't ridden on a closed road event to sign up for the tour of Cambridgeshire. It was one of the most fun things I've done on a bike and you don't need to nag your family and friends for sponsorship.
I would recommend anyone who got rejected and hasn't ridden on a closed road event to sign up for the tour of Cambridgeshire. It was one of the most fun things I've done on a bike and you don't need to nag your family and friends for sponsorship.
I found you get more chance of selection if you are a bit liberal with the truth about club/British cycling membership.
A friend got refused twice then this year said was not in a club or a BC member and Lo and behold this year got accepted.
It appears they give more preference to encourage non cyclists to get into the sport.
A friend got refused twice then this year said was not in a club or a BC member and Lo and behold this year got accepted.
It appears they give more preference to encourage non cyclists to get into the sport.
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