Ride 100 2018

[Usget]

You've left it a bit late unless you're made of money!

I'd recommend the Moxy if you don't mind the hipster vibe. I'm a fan, they don't suit everyone but at least they're a bit different. It's also cheaper than the IBS, sorry, ibis, and I know which one I'd rather stay in!

[ALawson]

Name: Alex Lawson
Rider Number (Bib Number):
Start Area: Blue
Wave: B
Wave Load opening time: 04:40:00
Wave Load closing time: 05:20:00
Start Time: 05:52:00

Not sure if this is earlier than previous years, targeting the Mall by 10:15, not done that much this year so wheel sucking will be the plan.

Staying at a mates in Putney and his wife is dropping us off.

Chap at work may defer so I will see if his place is available.

[stybar]

I’m in the “black” starting area, wave loading 06:12 to 06:52 start at 07:32.
Don’t have a clue what time i estimated but will be happy with a sub 6, see what the traffic is like.
Driving down to london on the saturday morning from north-east england so early start for me!

[Rich_W]

Went and did the 3 hills this morning. Newlands, Leith and Box.

Seems I wasn't the only one doing a recce.

[gl20]

Rich_W said:

Went and did the 3 hills this morning. Newlands, Leith and Box.

Seems I wasn't the only one doing a recce.

So what did you make of them then? I was planning to do the same but out of time and it would be a bit of a trek anyway. I've tried on Zwift without much bother but imagine the real thing feels tougher.

[gl20]

Various posts further up this thread re the hassle of needing to come in to London to register ahead of the event itself. Was just reading the e-magazine that came with the start time and it says the following which may be of help to some people at least...

While preferring you to register in person, we recognise that in some cases this may not be possible, so you can nominate someone to collect your rider documents for you. The person you nominate must have the following: a letter written and signed by you, authorising that person – by name – to collect your rider documents. You must PROVIDE THEM WITH A CLEAR PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE OR PASSPORT SHOWING YOUR NAME AND SIGNATURE.

[Rich_W]

gl20 said:

Rich_W said:

Went and did the 3 hills this morning. Newlands, Leith and Box.

Seems I wasn't the only one doing a recce.

So what did you make of them then? I was planning to do the same but out of time and it would be a bit of a trek anyway. I've tried on Zwift without much bother but imagine the real thing feels tougher.

I've done them all previously numerous times. But for those that haven't

Newlands is pretty even bar a steep bit around 1/4 in.
Leith is the toughest, though about 2.5-3K ish. I wonder how it will cope with lots of riders at the same time. Log jam I fear and some less able may just walk it causing congestion for those who can ride it.
Box is nothing to worry about,

[Marcellus]

Rich_W said:

I've done them all previously numerous times. But for those that haven't

Newlands is pretty even bar a steep bit around 1/4 in.
Leith is the toughest, though about 2.5-3K ish. I wonder how it will cope with lots of riders at the same time. Log jam I fear and some less able may just walk it causing congestion for those who can ride it.
Box is nothing to worry about,

Agree with you there albeit Newlands & Leith will be in the shade no matter what time riders get there but Box won’t be after about the first third.

[addey]

Rich_W said:

Went and did the 3 hills this morning. Newlands, Leith and Box.

Seems I wasn't the only one doing a recce.

nearly 1500 people rode Box Hill today according to strava

[ALawson]

The only major issue (even if leaving very early) is that Leith will have walkers who have either over cooked it on the 80km generally flat first part of the course. Not only do they walk but it the middle of the road despite plenty of people all shouting at them to move to the left.

Fingers crossed this weather holds and that there are no serious accidents.

[Usget]

Do people really walk it? 130m of climbing at 6.4%? My local British Heart Foundation family friendly type event had a 130m, 9% ramp within the first few miles. Perhaps they were trying to drum up business.

[Marcellus]

Usget said:

Do people really walk it? 130m of climbing at 6.4%? My local British Heart Foundation family friendly type event had a 130m, 9% ramp within the first few miles. Perhaps they were trying to drum up business.

I guess it's the 1.3miles of climbing at the average of 7% that takes its toll.

[Rich_W]

Just looking at the Strava segment

"Official 100 Climbs no 17 Leith Hill"

It does peak at 15% after Leith Hill Place (the old house)

I get that people like to make out it's really easy. But its the sort of hill that gets your attention, and if, as said above you've gone mad for the first 80K you'll suffer.

ETA

Even the best person in the Pistonheads Strava club only went up it at 19.6kph!

Edited by Rich_W on Monday 16th July 19:49

[Gruffy]

It's not that Leith is particularly crazy but it is quite narrow. In a thick bunch it only takes one rider to suddenly slow down and you can see how it might lead to unclipping. Once that happens they're an obstacle and other struggling riders are now weaving around them. You can see how it snowballs. It's not super steep but in those conditions I can imagine many people will struggle to clip in again.

Edited by Gruffy on Monday 16th July 21:29

[Daveyraveygravey]

Leith is quite a long climb, the narrow part is roughly half way up just before the farm buildings. The lead up to the buildings starts gradually but the gradient increases, and you can't see beyond the farm, so I think this is what gets folks walking. They are on a steep part, don't know where it ends and have 80 kms behind them, probably its hot and sunny...because the road is narrow if two people are walking side by side that's half the width gone, assuming they stay left, and then there just isn't room for everyone else.
After the farm, the gradient backs off a bit, the road curves left and right and gets a bit steeper.
Leith is the hardest of the three. I hadn't done Newlands before the event so it caught me out a bit, and the feed stop at the top was jam packed and if you are trying for a good time I would avoid it. Boxill I know very well, the gradient is almost a constant 5%, it's very smooth and the views are amazing.
Nobody mentions Wimbledon, which on a normal Sunday ride wouldn't be hard, but it really made me suffer. It's less than half a mile but I had nothing left by this point.

[mattb46]

Anyone got any tips re where to park? Will be driving in for around 4.00am. A previous year I got away with sticking the car on a side road and got way with it. I have had a look at Stratford International Car Park but that maybe too close and affected by some of the road closures.

Thanks

[okgo]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Leith is quite a long climb, the narrow part is roughly half way up just before the farm buildings. The lead up to the buildings starts gradually but the gradient increases, and you can't see beyond the farm, so I think this is what gets folks walking. They are on a steep part, don't know where it ends and have 80 kms behind them, probably its hot and sunny...because the road is narrow if two people are walking side by side that's half the width gone, assuming they stay left, and then there just isn't room for everyone else.
After the farm, the gradient backs off a bit, the road curves left and right and gets a bit steeper.
Leith is the hardest of the three. I hadn't done Newlands before the event so it caught me out a bit, and the feed stop at the top was jam packed and if you are trying for a good time I would avoid it. Boxill I know very well, the gradient is almost a constant 5%, it's very smooth and the views are amazing.
Nobody mentions Wimbledon, which on a normal Sunday ride wouldn't be hard, but it really made me suffer. It's less than half a mile but I had nothing left by this point.

In the 'front group' last year Leith sorted the men from the boys, but the final selection (as it were) was actually made on Box Hill, the group that went clear from there were never caught.

That said, Newlands does gap most of the crap, I think I was on the front up there and did some ok watts, and I remember looking back and it looking a bit stringy, then Yanto gunned it over the top for a solo attack, cheeky bd.

Kingston Wheelers use that ascent of Leith as their HC each year, its not rock hard, but its far more taxing than the other two hills, far more.

[Sk00p]

mattb46 said:

Anyone got any tips re where to park? Will be driving in for around 4.00am. A previous year I got away with sticking the car on a side road and got way with it. I have had a look at Stratford International Car Park but that maybe too close and affected by some of the road closures.

Thanks

I parked in Queens Gate next to the Natural History Museum a couple of years ago. About 12 miles to the start across Hyde Park and up Oxford Street but usefully very close to the finish

[Sk00p]

I remember Leith Hill nearly broke me, not so much the climb but the descent, it was quite busy so involved a lot of coasting, went to start pedaling again at the bottom and everything cramped up.. result of going out too fast at the start probably and not fueling enough, took a good while to get going again properly.

[Harpoon]

Once the wave load window closes, are you meant to just stand there for 30 to 60 minutes waiting to ride? Can you wonder off for a toilet break and sit down?