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Same as reluctant Londoner for me....I'm out...after applying every year so far unsuccessfully
not in this year.
never mind - I might join in anyway.
Commiserations for me. 3rd entry. 3rd failure.
Will do spannering again I think!
That's another annoyance - some people get in every year, others never get in.
Can't help thinking they should prioritize newcomers.
Rejected.
I said I wouldn't be too bothered after doing it for the last 3 years but I was gutted when I saw the magazine last night.
seems like a lot of people on here didn't get places - guess the application numbers are getting bigger and bigger...
That's another annoyance - some people get in every year, others never get in.
Lady friend of mine has got a ballot place every year. Two X chromosomes seem to help your chances, from what I've seen.
She might not do it this year - 2 weeks after an iron man. 100 miles probably doesn't fall into the category of "recovery leg-stretcher"!
I've applied every year and not been successful, as have at least 4 of my friends each and every year.
Agree with others, when people know you enjoying riding, it's hard to ask for sponsership when it's something that whilst challenging, is doable and something you enjoy.
and also if you're just going for a decent time, rather than trying to get round at all - when I did the Dragon ride I raised quite a bit, but was comfortable asking as I wasn't sure I'd actually get round!
just had a text from a mate.
he didn't bother entering the ballot this year after three knockbacks but just got an acceptance letter...
That must be the key to success - play hard to get 😆
didn't bother entering the ballot this year after three knockbacks but just got an acceptance letter
How does that work then?
How does that work then?
that's what he's wondering.
Commiserations for me (0/1).
Last year I failed the ballot but got a charity place with Shelter.
This year I failed the ballot but have just got a charity place with UNICEF.
Both years I ticked the 'donate your entry fee and if you miss the ballot we'll send you a natty riding top'. This year's top actually fits 🙂
Don't you just wait until a month beforehand and then take up someone else's place when reality hits home/they realise they haven't done any training etc.?
I'm sure there's been people trying to give away entries here before and on other forums (yes, they do exist)/in the workplace etc.
I was a spectator last year. there were plenty crossing the finish line without numbers on.
I've also done the London double this year, with rejections for the marathon and the ride.
I'm going to do the Manchester marathon and the Salford triathlon instead.
Just wait, they'll come crawling back next year!
Matt
Much to my surprise, I'm in. Even bigger surprise is that my better half managed to get in as well. Now do I ride with her at a pace that I will find painfully slow or do I do it at my own pace and suffer the consequences!
when I did the Dragon ride I raised quite a bit, but was comfortable asking as I wasn't sure I'd actually get round!
I wouldn't do it for charity.
0/4 🙁
Will be submitting the BC Club challenge again this year. Might ride for a charity too (Winston's Wish). Hoping for sub 4 hrs.
njee20 - Member
when I did the Dragon ride I raised quite a bit, but was comfortable asking as I wasn't sure I'd actually get round!
I wouldn't do it for charity.
?
£58 😯
Rejected
I'll probably being doing my own event...
"Who gives a sh*t about London 100"
100 miles of quiet Sussex lanes, with a pub stop half way (sausage, mash and a pint will be less than £56)
😉
Yep, ì got a place, which is a shòck as i dont recall ever entering?!? I have missed out the previous 3 years though when i defo did enter. Now for the pain in the balls of finding accomodation, parking etc. Im beginning to wonder if its actually worth the hassle.. Are there any campsites in the vicinity of the start? Or perhaps a Premier Inn/ Travel lodge type place?
theflatboy - Member
I wouldn't do it for charity.
when I did the Dragon ride I raised quite a bit, but was comfortable asking as I wasn't sure I'd actually get round!
?
Just have a bit of a thing about asking for sponsorship for something that isn't a challenge and that I want to do.
Yep, ì got a place, which is a shòck as i dont recall ever entering?!? I have missed out the previous 3 years though when i defo did enter. Now for the pain in the balls of finding accomodation, parking etc. Im beginning to wonder if its actually worth the hassle.. Are there any campsites in the vicinity of the start? Or perhaps a Premier Inn/ Travel lodge type place?
Best option is to park at the O2 and ride through the Blackwall tunnel (which is closed on the day)
You'll get an email/letter from them about parking etc a few weeks before.
I'll probably being doing my own event...
"Who gives a sh*t about London 100"
100 miles of quiet Sussex lanes, with a pub stop half way (sausage, mash and a pint will be less than £56)
....said nobody who won a ballot place ever 😀
I'm in. 1/3 for me.
Here's an alternative, or a warm up for anyone interested. Beautiful countryside and quiet roads in Hants and West Sussex. Great homemade cake at the stops, if you're lucky, you might get some of my wife's.
We'll be doing the 60 miler again. That was plenty last year. Don't really fancy nearly double the climbing!
Challenge: 60 miles (96.5km) with 4587ft (1398m) of climbing, over the South Downs four times and with two feed stops.
Epic: 100 miles (161km) with 8434ft (2570m) of climbing, eleven climbs and three feed stops.
3 applications.
3 rejections.
Maybe I should have pretended to be a girl.
0 for 3 here as well, and 0 for 6 on the London marathon. Started to get a bit cheesed off!!
Maybe Ride London could introduce a "good for age" category like the marathon... No idea how you'd police it though, mandatory 10 mile TT?? 😈
In at the 4th attempt! Now to sort out some accommodation: any recommendations?
ransos - depends if you want an earlier start and quick finish (i.e. hotel near the mall) or the opposite. I'd reckon it'll depend on your start time.
ransos - depends if you want an earlier start and quick finish (i.e. hotel near the mall) or the opposite. I'd reckon it'll depend on your start time.
I reckon I'd be best off staying nearer the start - I'll have to collect my pack the day before from Excel. I have friends in SE London so I'm going to see if they can put me up, but I don't suppose they'll be too impressed with me getting up at 5am.
I'd probably take being near the start too. I wouldn't fancy riding across London and being sure I could accurately get to the right place on time.
Has the club entry opened for applications yet? Ive been keeping an eye out but cant find anything.
Last year I got dropped off at Blackheath then cycled through Greenwich park, though the foot tunnel (walked) then on to the start. It didn't take that long. On the way home from the finish, I cycled to Battersea park then got picked up from there. All very stress free 🙂
Last year we stayed in the East End, that way it was a 15/20 minute ride to the start (following the hoardes of others) then about half an hour ride back from the Mall. Worked out well, in fact about to book the same hotel again...
Just had my official "hard luck" email, which also says that I volunteered to donate my entry fee their charity and I get a jersey as a reward for my "truly generous gesture". I'm virtually certain I didn't do that! I remember the tick box and remember not selecting it! Anyone else? Not that I don't want to donate the money (although I'd choose my own charity) just feels a bit devious.
Of course my confirmation email of the entry doesn't say anything, so I suspect I've got a fetching jersey that I'll never wear winging it's way to me in a size I've not chosen 😕
Yeah my email thanks me for donating my entry, cant remember if I did or not though. Think it gets you on the waiting list for cancelled places though.
I just got the same email and definitely didn't donate my entry! Free consolation jersey I guess 😉
Meh, I'd sooner have my £60 back and one fewer rag for the garage! One presumes it's an admin cock-up, be interesting to see if they do follow through with it though.
Did one closed road sportive - don't fancy another. More mayhem than Mayhem.
If you feel bad about asking for sponsorship to complete it, do what I did. Pick a target completion time and ask people to donate per minute you come in under. Gives you a reason to train hard and the satisfaction of relieving more people of their money for charity by your graft. Then add a penalty clause saying you'll match donations if you come in over and hope people generously cough up anyway.
Did it last year for the charity that provides therapy for my son. I've been asked by the trustees if I'd do it again this year, but feel it would be hard asking people for donations again......