All entries on a first come first served basis - no ballot any more.
Entries for the 2024 Ford RideLondon-Essex 100 cost £99 and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at ridelondon.co.uk on Tuesday 15 August.
In addition, there are a limited number of 250 VIP entries – also available on a first-come, first-served basis – on offer for the 2024 Ford RideLondon-Essex 100. Priced at £275, the VIP entry gives riders access to hospitality at the Start and Finish, the ability to select their start wave, including choosing to ride with friends, baggage drop and collection, and a VIP feed stop at 50 miles.
i bet the chat in the VIP tent is interesting, ;0)
will need hollowed out saddles
Good that people can just throw money at it if they want to secure a place, I guess. I remember it was very frustrating applying to the ballot year after year before I finally managed to get one! I still think it's a BS event though, aimed at wringing money out of people more than anything else. 😂 Pretty sure it was supposed to be something to do with "olympic legacy" and "cycling for all" originally 🤔 It's a good event to do once, I guess, but I wouldn't bother again for the same reason I choose not to travel on congested roads to a packed beach to sit on one square foot of sand each along with everybody else just because the weather's nice for a change 😂
I was undecided about entering again but I can't seem to do anything on the website anyway.
I've done it once and thought it was bloody brilliant, really enjoyable event. I've barely ridden a bike in the last year but am debating throwing an entry in anyway.
Pretty sure it was supposed to be something to do with “olympic legacy” and “cycling for all” originally 🤔
That's part of the reason that the ballot existed, it allowed them to select to ensure more women, more under-represented demographics and not have it as a full on MAMIL sausage-fest.
I did it a few times on the original Surrey course, always getting a place through work and an early start slot which cut out so much of the later congestion and issues around ride stoppages due to crashes. I did enjoy it a lot although you needed to keep your wits about you, I saw some pretty bad crashes during the times I rode it.
The ballot thing was annoying though, I never once got a place applying for it by myself, it was always through work which felt a bit like special privileges. The whole "sorry, you've not got a place... but by the way you could ride for one of these 15 charities that have all been given 500 places each" smacked of over-commercialisation.
It's like Zwift in real life, bikes everywhere! A 100 mile closed road ride is pretty unique riding experience for those not in pro peloton, enjoyed it but no rush to do it again. If I was local I'd probably get a ticket anyway.
The registration is currently showing as
"you are in a queue, please don't refresh this page"
The ballot thing was annoying though, I never once got a place applying for it by myself, it was always through work which felt a bit like special privileges. The whole “sorry, you’ve not got a place… but by the way you could ride for one of these 15 charities that have all been given 500 places each” smacked of over-commercialisation.
If you think that's bad you should try applying for the London Marathon, which is owned by the same company I think.
The 'new' route is pretty boring tbf. I've did it last year and the feed stations were rubbish, the vibe was terrible and the route was just boring. not flat enough for a flat course, not hilly enough to be a proper climby challenge. just a bit meh
Did the Surrey 100 twice, the Essex 100 in 2022 and the Essex 60 this year.
In my opinion the Essex route is no way as good as the old Surrey route, and the last 2 years the organisation on the day has been a shambles. Plus you seem to get a lot less for your money than i remember getting when Prudential sponsored it. Feed stations giving out crisps and bananas cut in half! I'm sure for the £90 i paid they could have stretched to a flapjack and a decent medal!
I'm sure i'll end up doing it again at some point, but deffo not 2024 as i'll be on holiday.
£99 to ride public roads (OK closed) - nah.
£99 to ride public roads (OK closed) – nah.
The closed road aspect of it is the ONLY reason I would ever consider entering it. Nothing about the route or any feed station stuff, medals etc would get me interested.
But closed roads are amazing to ride on.
I get irrationally excited about having a few longer events in the diary with mates planned for next year. I'm in. 🙂
yeah. talk about missing the point entirely 😂 Public roads yes, but no cars or traffic lights for 100 miles! Only cycling during lockdown came remotely close really.The closed road aspect of it is the ONLY reason I would ever consider entering it.
[I]Although[/I] you do have the danger of thousands of sketchy cyclists potentially taking you out at any given moment, so do have to be on your guard!
The Velo events are/were also very good experiences, cheaper & less standing around waiting than RL! I think only Cambridge is happening next year though? I rode the Birmingham one a few years ago and it was great, even stayed in a Travelodge right next to the start line the night before for a normal amount of money! 😃
But closed roads are amazing to ride on.
You can get that for free by finding some local roadworks though - always a frisson of excitement to whizz past those 'Road Closed' signs on a ride and wonder if they really mean it 😀