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Wondering whether to actually pay and do it
I hate sportives. Cycling with a load of other people is hell; I go out to relax (by myself or with mates). It'd be lovely with twenty mates/acquaintances etc. A Michael Jackson might have said 'I'm a pootler, not a racer'.
Coupled with the whole faff of getting to Excel. Then getting there on the day, etc.
On the flip side, at least I can say i've done it.
On the other flip side I cycle that far anyway reasonably regularly, with a lot more climb (was shocked to see it's only about 450-500m over 100 miles. That's not a lot of climbing).
Maybe I should just find an Audax, and do more for less.
@petec - that's the conclusion I've come to. No longer tempted to enter any events with 1000s of other people, as one of the appeals of cycling is getting away from it all.
If you (or anybody else) is within range of it, I can offer a suggestion for a very quiet 100 mile (ish) route, that takes in glorious Sussex/Surrey countryside - even including a very pleasant country pub lunch stop just over half way.
https://strava.app.link/6TrH39KziU
was shocked to see it’s only about 450-500m over 100 miles
According to where? Just looked at my Strava for the ride last year, and I did 1319m, and that didn't include Box Hill after the delays due to the incident on Leith (but I've done Box loads of times and that would have added maybe another 150m)
Are you sure you didn't miss a 1 off?
I mean; it's still not 'hilly' but it isn't 450m flat.
Definitely type 2 fun last year. really busy but quite a good vibe throughout.
However, the run back into London isnt that great. Due to the crappy weather we were slower that anticipated and merged with the riders doing the shorter loop. it was very busy with both fast and slow riders, not a good combination, add to that the frequent stops to let pedestrians cross!
The last couple of miles with no interruptions were great mind.....nearly made up for it 🙂
~1600m according to Strava on my phone.
According to where
According to a couple of strava segments I found. One was Ride london part 1 and then part 2. That adds to a total of 423m difference.
No idea if they're 100% accurate or the current route etc
I've made a route along the back roads from me to Stonehenge and back. 173km, 2000m of climb. I can start when i want, take as long as i want, deviate if it's busy etc.I could even make myself a medal for the equivalent of a £70 entry fee...
That (or an audax) is not more for less, it's something completely different. RL isn't just a ride (at least not for me), it's a whole "thing". I did the 46 on the first year & have finally been lucky enough to get a place on the 100 this year. Cycling past all the iconic landmarks on closed roads is awesome, and the fact that there are thousands of people cheering/waving etc on the way round really made it for me. (Let's be frank, normally people are somewhat less enthusiastic towards cyclists! 😀) Yes, it's expensive/a ball-ache but it's defo worth it as far as I'm concerned. Obviously if you just want to do a ride with mates, or get your head down & smash out the quickest century possible, YMMV.I’ve made a route along the back roads from me to Stonehenge and back. 173km, 2000m of climb. I can start when i want, take as long as i want, deviate if it’s busy etc.I could even make myself a medal for the equivalent of a £70 entry fee…
I’ve made a route along the back roads from me to Stonehenge and back. 173km, 2000m of climb. I can start when i want, take as long as i want, deviate if it’s busy etc.I could even make myself a medal for the equivalent of a £70 entry fee…
But you may struggle to get the roads closed and I am not sure the crowd would turn up and cheer you on. Also not sure you'll see many of London's landmarks down that way...
If you take it for what it is, it is a fantastic event.
oh I'm not decrying any of the atmosphere, whole event etc. I've done the Sky Ride, and the latter family events, and done the shorter distances. It's great.
I guess I've just reached the stage of life (old age alert coming up) where my idea of a good cycle isn't cycling with 25k others, it's more pootling down country lanes at my own pace.
Similarly got no desire to run the london marathon. It would just be ticking off a check box
God, I'm now old. 🙂
According to a couple of strava segments I found.
erm.... they've only got max and min elevation of those segments and the difference between them. Which is relevant for what it was really designed for - ie a segment of a few km that in the early days of Strava was pretty much a climb (hence why you get a KOM/QOM for a flat or even downhill segment). It's not relevant for half of a hundred mile ride that goes up and down several hills in between.
It's like I always say about the local XC race series. People wonder how it can be hard when there's only a max elevation difference of about 40m across the whole area, but if they send you up that 40m difference repeatedly they can get 400m climbing into a 5 mile lap.
difference between them
you are of course right, and I am of course a muppet!
however, here's a complete ride. Quick look, and all seems okay with the activity.
Still only 700m
Looks like that was the one where they shortened the route (taking out Leith and box hill) due to weather and accidents, storm Bertha I think it was.
Random search finds this one, looks complete.
https://www.strava.com/activities/359547045
yep - missed the southern loop over Holmbury and Leith and also Box.
fair enough - seems more acceptable!
Think a few of the ones i found mentioned biblical rain
550 odd meters of elevation according to my Garmin 520 from last years ride, I was diverted around Leith Hill so a bit lost there, I did go up Box Hill though.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1735780161
LOL @petec it sounds like entering the ballot was a complete waste of your time in the first place 😀 (N.b. I am not criticising your views on mass participation events and had several years avoiding any kind of organised rides and lonely wilderness rides are still my favourite).
@funkybaj - I think your Garmin is wrong. Box Hill cracks 200m (confirmed by contour lines) but your height says 150m
Here's my profile, which at least matches contour lines at the main peaks
Entering the ballot was a default thing; i've done it every year, and never got in.
I guess now I have, and thinking about it properly, it's not filling me with immense feelings of anticipation. It would really just be a tick in the box.
I'd rather someone who actually wanted it had it
do it once, then decide if it was worth it or not.
I guess I’ve just reached the stage of life (old age alert coming up) where my idea of a good cycle isn’t cycling with 25k others, it’s more pootling down country lanes at my own pace.
You can still do that - and the country lanes will be closed! No hooting or close passes or wondering if there's a horse around that blind bend.
You won't be with 25,000 others; there'll be a few hundred others at most anywhere near you for the vast majority of the ride.
Yes the admin can be a bit of a pain but the ride is well worth it. Even in the monumentally shit weather of Storm Bertha when we got absolutely drenched, it was still a really fun ride.