Ride London 2026?

[NaePasaran]

I know this is asking people to predict the future, but after this years cancellation, which they had to refund people for so they were obviously originally expecting it to go ahead, do we think it will make a come back or we thinking that's it done?

I noticed they're talking about a new concept, i'm taking that is a new route after bowing to anti-cycle pro-car lobbyists?

It's a toss-up between Ride London and Etape Loch Ness next year. I'd need to heavily train for both but the former will need plans, trains and hotels booked while the Highlands could be done in a day hence it would be good to know.

(PS i know i could message them but don't think they'd be forthcoming with information if nothing official yet, hence wondering what peoples thoughts are on here

[outnumbered]

I can't see it restarting in the original form. It was originally an Olympic legacy thing, but we're well past that now, and cycling isn't as popular as it was a few years ago. So the goodwill required for all the disruption it causes isn't really there.

[S100HP]

Surely this is a no brainer? A potential ride around London....boring....or Loch Ness with the majestic views and wide open countryside in the rolling Highlands. I know which I'd choose!

(I'm aware ride London goes out to the Surrey hills but still....)

[troc]

S100HP said:

Surely this is a no brainer? A potential ride around London....boring....or Loch Ness with the majestic views and wide open countryside in the rolling Highlands. I know which I'd choose!

(I'm aware ride London goes out to the Surrey hills but still....)

Hasn’t been to Surrey for years, last few events have been around Essex. Still fairly pretty to be fair.

Would be a shame if it died away as it was a great day out with 18,000 other cyclists.

(Reminds me I need to do the serpentine swim to get my London classics medal)

[BunkMoreland]

troc said:

Hasn’t been to Surrey for years, last few events have been around Essex. Still fairly pretty to be fair.

Would be a shame if it died away as it was a great day out with 18,000 other cyclists.

(Reminds me I need to do the serpentine swim to get my London classics medal)

I got an email about Swim Serpentine this week saying Entries open. (I did it in 2017) It did occur to me that with no RideLondon anymore, why would non swimmers bother to do it if they cant get the enormous (and satisfyingly weighty) Classics medal


EDIT
Part of the reason of the demise of RL100 was the organisers (London Marathon Events) making it a ballot with the view that this would push people to do charity places. So they could then crow on about how much money they've made for charity. Inevitably people didn't want to commit to raising a grand so they just didn't bother. Then the stupid organisers allowed wky e-bikes to be used to try and fill the places of people that decided not to do it.

Its exactly what they did to the Marathon when Hugh Brasher (son of founder Chris) took over and changed the mindset from "performance" to "charity fundraiser"

The other issue was that they didn't change the route. So do it once why do it again? I always thought they missed a trick by not having a North (ot to Herts and back), East (Essex), South (surrey) and West (Berkshire) routes so it encouraged people to do it at least 4 times. And to minimise road closures (which irked many people) rotate those 4 routes annually.

Also having roads that are not fully closed but segregated with barriers keeps locals onside. (as we see with in places on London to Brighton) They could fully close some roads completely such as the bigger hills. (Newlands, Box and Leith)

They always banged on that it wasn't a race, (thought if you ever saw the guys at the sharp end it patently was!) so having places where the bikes need to stop briefly to allow the nimby's of this country to go about their lives might have kept them on side. But to keep the speedy guys happy. Only introduce those stop points (with marshals) after 9am

Edited by BunkMoreland on Saturday 24th May 12:41