ride with brad 2013

[a boardman]

local paper reports that Bradley Wiggins will be doing the 100 / 160km cycle event again,

date is August 18 around Pendle and Ribble Valley.

can not find any more details but this should be a popular event.

[Benmac]

Excellent, was a great event last year. Did the 100k last year, it'll have to be the 160 next time.

[Gizmoish]

After the last one it was reported BW said they should make the route easier to encourage more people to take part. Will see...

[Benmac]

Gizmoish said:

After the last one it was reported BW said they should make the route easier to encourage more people to take part. Will see...

The last 15-20 miles were the particularly hard bits IMO. after dropping off the Nick O'Pendle it just went up and down for the last miles with some evil gradients at times and also some of the roads were not much above tracks (grass down the centre type stuff) which didn't help.

[a boardman]

date is August 18.

don't know when registration opens

http://www.ridewithbrad.com/

[Gizmoish]

Wonder if they're going to make the route easier for Wiggins, ho, ho.

[Jimbo.]

Gizmoish said:

Wonder if they're going to make the route easier for Wiggins, ho, ho.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Gizmoish said:

Wonder if they're going to make the route easier for Wiggins, ho, ho.

Apparently some of the tickier descents have been removed

[yellowjack]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Apparently some of the tickier descents have been removed

Surely if some of the 'trickier' descents have gone, then it must follow that some of the climbs to get to them have gone too?

I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. On the one hand it's good that it will open the event up to the less fit/committed cyclists, and those who are new to the sport. On the other hand, if you 'dumb it down' too much it ceases to be such a challenge, and might encourage too many non-cyclists just to 'have a go'.

The RideLondon accepted/rejected thread, and any thread that references the BHF L2B demonstrate that too large a ratio of non/casual cyclists on an event can cause safety issues and delays, and that some of the applicants to larger, better advertised events are complete novices who have not considered just how much of a challenge 60/100 miles can be.

Personally I think there's little need to dumb down the tougher events. These attract committed fit cyclists who enjoy the tough climbs and tricky descents. Those who either know, or suspect, that these tougher events are not for them, can go find a SkyRide or the fun/short routes on an Evans RideIt event. I'm not a sportivist yet, but I've done a number of century rides solo, and keep meaning to sign up for an organised event. I just can't seem to find one that's practical for me to travel to, which also matches with a 'free' weekend.

[ewenm]

[Gizmoish]

ewenm said:

That was my reaction too.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

[Johnny]

Anyone planning on doing this?

Is on 11th August now... Trying to decide whether to do it or not. And if so, 160 or 100km...

[JEA1K]

Yes I booked on this event a few weeks ago. Doing the 160km ride which I know will be very tough. I completed a 160km sportive local to me with a similar amount of climbing (2,600m vs 2,800m on the Ride with Brad) yesterday in preparation ... bloody hard work, so I kind of know what I've let myself in for!