Ride London has been cancelled
Discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gzn3k2kz9o
Well that's a load of rubbish. Whilst the route wasn't the best, the fact that I don't know of any closed road events in the UK anymore is a really sad thing.
Well that's a load of rubbish. Whilst the route wasn't the best, the fact that I don't know of any closed road events in the UK anymore is a really sad thing.
'Organisers said the RideLondon Classique would be paused in 2025 so they could "design a new concept which will engage more riders of all ages and abilities".'
I thought ride London was always over-subscribed? Sounds like fixing something that isn't broken in the name of virtue-signalling.
I thought ride London was always over-subscribed? Sounds like fixing something that isn't broken in the name of virtue-signalling.
I'm not sure what "design a new concept which will engage more riders of all ages and abilities" even means, it's all a bit vague.
What is the underlying issue? The only people I know who do it are my mates who are MAMILs, they all apply every year and only a few get it. Are they saying it is elitist in favour of that type of rider?
If you get more 'lesser' riders and kids involved surely it just becomes a slower procession, much like the (dangerous, in my view) London to Brighton Bike Ride where you get loads of riders of mixed abilities and the inevitable crash where speed demons meet slower moving riders.
What is the underlying issue? The only people I know who do it are my mates who are MAMILs, they all apply every year and only a few get it. Are they saying it is elitist in favour of that type of rider?
If you get more 'lesser' riders and kids involved surely it just becomes a slower procession, much like the (dangerous, in my view) London to Brighton Bike Ride where you get loads of riders of mixed abilities and the inevitable crash where speed demons meet slower moving riders.
t anyway. Daveyraveygravey said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Get your name down for the Fred Whitton.
I like your thinking but it's not a similar ride!The Etape Caledonia (aka the 'big ring sportive') is a relatively similar level of difficulty, and is a great event to do on closed roads with spectacular scenery and great local support. It is a long way from London though, and the logistics used to force you into staying in or near Pitlochry on the day before (registration) and the day of the race (super-early start).
Velo Birmingham did 2 iirc in 2017 and 2019.
It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Edited by Downward on Friday 13th September 13:58
Downward said:
Velo Birmingham did 2 iirc in 2017 and 2019.
It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Similarly my experience of Velothon Cardiff was amazing, despite prior press reports of locals angry as they were unable to get to B&Q or whatever for a few hours. It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Edited by Downward on Friday 13th September 13:58
I even had a guy running (well ok probably walking) alongside me up Caerphilly climb shouting encouragement as I wheezed up.
Robertb said:
Downward said:
Velo Birmingham did 2 iirc in 2017 and 2019.
It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Similarly my experience of Velothon Cardiff was amazing, despite prior press reports of locals angry as they were unable to get to B&Q or whatever for a few hours. It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Edited by Downward on Friday 13th September 13:58
I even had a guy running (well ok probably walking) alongside me up Caerphilly climb shouting encouragement as I wheezed up.
They're not NIMBYs or "pathetic people" or just people going to B&Q, they're just people trying to get on with the normal lives.
I think it was The Ride Surrey Event, Sunday morning.the A25 over Newlands Corner was shut at 6 am, anyone living in the villages all the way to Dorking were blocked making it difficult for people to get to/from work.
The A24 through Dorking was shut around the same time, and what time did the event start, 9.00 am in Central London.
Then it takes ages before the road are opened again as you have to allow for the slower riders.
And before you start calling me anti-cycling, you're wrong, I've got a Specialsed Hybrid and a Brompton
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 15th September 01:31
lancslad58 said:
Robertb said:
Downward said:
Velo Birmingham did 2 iirc in 2017 and 2019.
It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Similarly my experience of Velothon Cardiff was amazing, despite prior press reports of locals angry as they were unable to get to B&Q or whatever for a few hours. It was met with bile and sabotage.
Locals here were having kittens because the road was closed for a few hours. Like a scene out of war of the worlds.
Saying that there were loads of people supporting and watching. A unique experiance
We passed through towns and villages where the local support was awesome. Going through Bewdley town centre, in particular, was loud and packed. It gave a feeling of what it’s like for pros as they blast through a town.
Edited by Downward on Friday 13th September 13:58
I even had a guy running (well ok probably walking) alongside me up Caerphilly climb shouting encouragement as I wheezed up.
They're not NIMBYs or "pathetic people" or just people going to B&Q, they're just people trying to get on with the normal lives.
I think it was The Ride Surrey Event, Sunday morning.the A25 over Newlands Corner was shut at 6 am, anyone living in the villages all the way to Dorking were blocked making it difficult for people to get to/from work.
The A24 through Dorking was shut around the same time, and what time did the event start, 9.00 am in Central London.
Then it takes ages before the road are opened again as you have to allow for the slower riders.
And before you start calling me anti-cycling, you're wrong, I've got a Specialsed Hybrid and a Brompton
Edited by lancslad58 on Sunday 15th September 01:31
lancslad58 said:
"Whilst obviously the NIMBYS are basically joyless with nothing going on in their pathetic existences. "
They're not NIMBYs or "pathetic people" or just people going to B&Q, they're just people trying to get on with the normal lives.
I think it was The Ride Surrey Event, Sunday morning.the A25 over Newlands Corner was shut at 6 am, anyone living in the villages all the way to Dorking were blocked making it difficult for people to get to/from work.
The A24 through Dorking was shut around the same time, and what time did the event start, 9.00 am in Central London.
Then it takes ages before the road are opened again as you have to allow for the slower riders.
And before you start calling me anti-cycling, you're wrong, I've got a Specialsed Hybrid and a Brompton
If by Ride Surrey you mean the original Ride London route, it started at 6am for the first riders and at the pace they were going the early riders were getting to the Horsley area by 7:30 - 8ish. They're not NIMBYs or "pathetic people" or just people going to B&Q, they're just people trying to get on with the normal lives.
I think it was The Ride Surrey Event, Sunday morning.the A25 over Newlands Corner was shut at 6 am, anyone living in the villages all the way to Dorking were blocked making it difficult for people to get to/from work.
The A24 through Dorking was shut around the same time, and what time did the event start, 9.00 am in Central London.
Then it takes ages before the road are opened again as you have to allow for the slower riders.
And before you start calling me anti-cycling, you're wrong, I've got a Specialsed Hybrid and a Brompton
Edited by lancslad58 on Sunday 15th September 01:31
Edited by Benmac on Monday 16th September 12:01
BunkMoreland said:
So 1 year you go East from Central London
2nd year South
3rd year West
4th year North
That way, the same "groups" aren't affected every year, but potentially every 4 years. Similarly, whilst you may head East out of Central London on Year 1, On year 5 you can still change the route to spread it out a bit. So whilst the overall direction will be the same you use different roads. Potentially not fully closing all of the route would help. Many years ago I did London2Brighton as my first big ride. I remember coming into Brighton, the road was divided my cones. So traffic could co exist, but the riders got a dedicated lane.
Plus it gives people a reason to do the event multiple times. To "complete the set" and presumably get some sort of extra medal for doing so.
(Many people will have gotten the "London Classics" medal for doing RL, the London Marathon and Swim Serpentine)
I quite like that idea. The Surrey route was good, and the finish into London was great. The Essex route was very forgettable and the route in and out of London was a real slog, and not at all inspiring. 2nd year South
3rd year West
4th year North
That way, the same "groups" aren't affected every year, but potentially every 4 years. Similarly, whilst you may head East out of Central London on Year 1, On year 5 you can still change the route to spread it out a bit. So whilst the overall direction will be the same you use different roads. Potentially not fully closing all of the route would help. Many years ago I did London2Brighton as my first big ride. I remember coming into Brighton, the road was divided my cones. So traffic could co exist, but the riders got a dedicated lane.
Plus it gives people a reason to do the event multiple times. To "complete the set" and presumably get some sort of extra medal for doing so.
(Many people will have gotten the "London Classics" medal for doing RL, the London Marathon and Swim Serpentine)
Gin and Ultrasonic said:
Yeah, a bit like you go to the pet shop to buy a pet hamster and they're out of stock so you get a lion!
The Etape Caledonia (aka the 'big ring sportive') is a relatively similar level of difficulty, and is a great event to do on closed roads with spectacular scenery and great local support. It is a long way from London though, and the logistics used to force you into staying in or near Pitlochry on the day before (registration) and the day of the race (super-early start).
I don't know if it was because of covid special measures in 2021 but that's the opposite of what I found doing Caledonia. They sent out your rider pack and everything you needed before hand so you could just rock up [early AF] on the day, do the ride, then go home.The Etape Caledonia (aka the 'big ring sportive') is a relatively similar level of difficulty, and is a great event to do on closed roads with spectacular scenery and great local support. It is a long way from London though, and the logistics used to force you into staying in or near Pitlochry on the day before (registration) and the day of the race (super-early start).
LochNess on the other hand have always insisted you present in person the day before to pick up your rider pack which does force an overnight stay.
Not going to lie, I've grumbled plenty in the past about the enforced overnight stay in Inverness and the expense of trying to get a hotel room when thousands are all coming for that one night, lets not even get started on the carnage of trying to find somewhere for dinner. However, its probably what makes the event continue to be viable, the benefit it brings to the local economy. Pretty much every hotel and guest house is sold out and with riders coming up from England, its for multiple nights. given they have some much more significant roads that need to be closed than Caledonia, it no doubt makes that discussion a lot easier. There's not much else bringing an extra £3-4m in to the highlands in early spring.
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