London - Brighton 2008
Discussion
Of you are even moderately fit, it's a surprisingly easy 65 miles. I've enjoyed it all the times I've done it.
As the previous poster says - if you want to do it quickly, make sure you leave as early as possible, i.e. 6.00am, to avoid being caught up in the big jam of people at the start.
Ditchling Beacon (the highest climb) which everyone worries about is perfectly do-able on your granny ring, but beware at the bottom of any incline there is a big jam of people slowing down and people hopping off their bikes to walk. After that is a 12 mile descent into brighton - try and set off the 40mph speed camera on the way down!
There are usually a lot of crashes, caused mainly by people going too fast and cycling like tw*ts, so just take it easy and enjoy the company and the scenery!
As the previous poster says - if you want to do it quickly, make sure you leave as early as possible, i.e. 6.00am, to avoid being caught up in the big jam of people at the start.
Ditchling Beacon (the highest climb) which everyone worries about is perfectly do-able on your granny ring, but beware at the bottom of any incline there is a big jam of people slowing down and people hopping off their bikes to walk. After that is a 12 mile descent into brighton - try and set off the 40mph speed camera on the way down!
There are usually a lot of crashes, caused mainly by people going too fast and cycling like tw*ts, so just take it easy and enjoy the company and the scenery!
I woudldn't worry about what sort of bike you are riding - there are all sorts, and they all seem to do ok. BMX, tandems, old Miss Marple bikes, penny farthings, roller bladers, and quite a few bikes which have clearly been bought for the occasion, ready to be put in the shed for another 12 months without being taken out again.
My advice is just pump your tyres up as hard as you can and enjoy!
My advice is just pump your tyres up as hard as you can and enjoy!
I'll be there at 06:00 and im doing it with mates who arent cyclists so will be using XC bikes so my question is do i take my road bike or my Orange 5.
Never used my road bike to ride anywhere only train on and so push myself when ever im on it (no more than 20 miles at a time). So what would it be like to sit up and take it easy over 65 miles or should i use my 5 and lock it out with semi road tyres on it?
Never used my road bike to ride anywhere only train on and so push myself when ever im on it (no more than 20 miles at a time). So what would it be like to sit up and take it easy over 65 miles or should i use my 5 and lock it out with semi road tyres on it?
dubbs said:
Done the speed camera :-)
2.5 HOURS?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?! If you did the whole course from Clapham in that time that is very good going... I was ahead of a couple of the London Dynamos posting a 2hour 50min time and that was non stop with gels and energy drinks all the way.
I was at the time training around 800-1000 miles a week (one of the main reasons I flunked A-levels is I was never at school) and did the ride on a Dale R600. 2.5 HOURS?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?! If you did the whole course from Clapham in that time that is very good going... I was ahead of a couple of the London Dynamos posting a 2hour 50min time and that was non stop with gels and energy drinks all the way.
Clocked well over 50mph on the Ditchling downhill and also had a very early start to avoid any crowds.
TBH it was prbably more like 2hrs 50ish but still a very good time.
Used to train with a couple of pro riders at the time (Annie Mahoney & Darren Barclay to really test memeories) which helped!
Fourmotion said:
CooperS said:
my question is do i take my road bike or my Orange 5.
If you're riding well within your fitness, then the 5 has to be the better option. It will be much more comfortable, and you won't be as sore in the morning. Did this in 06 and thought it was a good event.
As others have said, recommend earlier the better for setting off if you want to miss the congestion on the hills and set a time.
Personally i was suprised how much 28,000 cyclists can fill 65 miles of road so get used to riding in lots of traffic.
Keep your eyes peeled for all sorts at all times, i nearly got wiped out near the speed camera on the descent into Brighton by somebody to busy talking to their mate at 30ish (mph not words per minute!!)to notice me trying to pass.
Also watch out around the "service" stops (one approx every 10 miles IIRC). Lots of traffic slowing down to go in and lots of traffic trying to speed up after a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea.
Only other thing i would mention from personal experience is if you have the hard soled racing shoes then take some spare footwear.
I got to the end and left my cycling shoes with the road bike when it went on the lorry back to the race-course.
I thought i'd be alright but after a bit of walking up and down the seafront, catching the bus to the reace-course etc my feet were buggered with blisters. They were the only things that hurt on Monday morning!!.
Have fun.
Cheers.
As others have said, recommend earlier the better for setting off if you want to miss the congestion on the hills and set a time.
Personally i was suprised how much 28,000 cyclists can fill 65 miles of road so get used to riding in lots of traffic.
Keep your eyes peeled for all sorts at all times, i nearly got wiped out near the speed camera on the descent into Brighton by somebody to busy talking to their mate at 30ish (mph not words per minute!!)to notice me trying to pass.
Also watch out around the "service" stops (one approx every 10 miles IIRC). Lots of traffic slowing down to go in and lots of traffic trying to speed up after a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea.
Only other thing i would mention from personal experience is if you have the hard soled racing shoes then take some spare footwear.
I got to the end and left my cycling shoes with the road bike when it went on the lorry back to the race-course.
I thought i'd be alright but after a bit of walking up and down the seafront, catching the bus to the reace-course etc my feet were buggered with blisters. They were the only things that hurt on Monday morning!!.
Have fun.
Cheers.
CooperS said:
Fourmotion said:
CooperS said:
my question is do i take my road bike or my Orange 5.
If you're riding well within your fitness, then the 5 has to be the better option. It will be much more comfortable, and you won't be as sore in the morning. I've ridden l-b a couple of times this year for fun and it is a fairly easy 65 miles. As mentioned, ditchling beacon is the only real test
Have a think about how you'll get back - unless you've got a generous mate/partner who can pick you up in the car, you'll have to get one of the coaches as the trains don't take bikes any more. Bikes get piled up on flatbed lorries instead. If you'll be getting picked up, arrange to meet somewhere a few miles away as Brighton is a nightmare for traffic anyway, without all the L2B people too.
A colleague used to solve this by riding into London for the earliest start, hammering down to Brighton, stopping there for breakfast before turning around and riding back home again in time for lunch. Nuts.
A colleague used to solve this by riding into London for the earliest start, hammering down to Brighton, stopping there for breakfast before turning around and riding back home again in time for lunch. Nuts.
Yeah I have been thinking about it, riding there and back in one day would be nuts!
I may drive down the day before (with the missus following)and dump the car somewhere. Unfortunately for me her car is a matchbox on wheels (Yaris) and doesn't fit a rack on it or even a bike with the seats down so really this is only option.. There are three of us doing it and my car will fit the rack, 3 bikes and 3 knackered men easily.
My plan is to arrive as early as I can on the day and then party till midnight, bonfire on the beach!!!!!
I may drive down the day before (with the missus following)and dump the car somewhere. Unfortunately for me her car is a matchbox on wheels (Yaris) and doesn't fit a rack on it or even a bike with the seats down so really this is only option.. There are three of us doing it and my car will fit the rack, 3 bikes and 3 knackered men easily.
My plan is to arrive as early as I can on the day and then party till midnight, bonfire on the beach!!!!!
If your pick up drives down later on in the day and hangs around to the East of Brighton, then comes in on the coast road when you arrive, it's not too bad. The only prob is the possibility of the cellphone network falling over due to demand which has happened several times. This can delay the setting up of an RV.
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