[Closed] 2015 Prudential ride 100

In future years, at dinner parties when people start talking about cycling and how they've done the Ride London event, you'll be able to say 'ah yes, but did you do it the time that Hurricane Bertha rolled through town?'

Those DP's had better HTFU then, there's not many years left on this calendar. 👿

Only 1/4 success rate according to the mag. Someone be smart and organise a rival sportive for the same date!

....and make sure it's the the New Forest 😈

I'm in. Got an email today

how is everyone planning on getting to the start line on the day?
I'm relatively local, but short of getting a hotel within striking distance the night befotre, I can't see how to make it work.

Ideally i'd like to drive to the start, but there doesn't appear to be any parking facilities - is this correct??

my sister dropped us off in a 'drop-off' zone just south of the river, rode through the blackwall tunnel and then just followed the mass of bikes through the traffic chaos.

To be honest, one of the least pleasant aspects of last year's (ignoring the weather, ) was the dickheaded behaviour from some of the tour de france fantasists/ straight up dickheads. If more women mean there's less of that, then I reckon it's the right thing to do. Even if I'm not riding. Pfff.

Likewise, from having done the tech support virtually all of the rudest people of the day were women.

If more women [s]mean there's less of that[/s], then I reckon [s]it's the right thing to d[/s] the view will be tremendously enhanced.

Ideally i'd like to drive to the start

I did a cheap hotel nearby last time and cycled the 7 odd miles to the start.

Cheap hotel link, please.

Bump.

Cheap hotel link, please.

Try this for a start

http://www.booking.com/landmark/gb/olympic-park1.en-gb.html

A few single rooms for £40 odd, not 5* though 😉

Last year you could book and pre-pay for a place in a car park (they asked you to confirm your travel arrangements a month or two before the event). We ended up in an NCP near mount pleasant then had to ride with masses of others out to Stratford at silly o'clock - on a tandem, highly entertaining.
Even more entertaining was trying to find the thing again after the event! Hadn't taken the booking confirmation with us on the ride and couldn't remember the address. Note to self, must make sure I know my way back or put a route in the GPS.

I'm not in. Did it last year and thought it was great, despite the weather. I stayed in a hotel in Shoreditch and rode to the start - it was a bit surreal riding past the clubbers going home at 5.30am. I pre-booked the Stratford Premier Inn for this year so there will be a room available there when I can be bothered to cancel.

So, I'm now in with a charity place for Shelter (the Mrs got a ballot place)

We've got a room at a Premier (or maybe Holiday) Inn in Docklands. Not that cheap, but has parking and is basically midway between the start and finish.

The rain MADE the event last year.

Quite, it was an amazing ride ESP when battling those elements.

I experienced no bad riding, or dickheads, just lots of people riding and cheering.

Missed out on a space this year and not sure I can raise the sponsorship which is a shame as I have some great memories from 2014.

Viking hotel on the Romford rd is near and has motel style rooms out back where you can park and take bike bikes into rooms easily.

Quite, it was an amazing ride ESP when battling those elements.

I experienced no bad riding, or dickheads, just lots of people riding and cheering.

this.

I only had one sketchy moment on the descent off newlands when someone going a lot slower than me moved across into my path. It was odd though, I spent most of my time riding on the right hand side of the road, most people seemed to have a natural aversion to it and it was much clearer...

I'm looking to book accommodation for my wife and me for this.

Do we need to be there the day before to sign on?

Cant find info on their website about where we need to be and when...

mrjmt - you need to collect your ride numbers and bag for kit thurs-saturday before event. you wont be able to park anywhere near so unless you are local have to be dropped off about 5 miles away and ride in (as if 100 isnt enough!!)

all info will be sent out in next month or so...
good luck... was hoping to get in and try it in the dry this year...

Great, thanks for the info.

Wife got a place in the ballot, I'm doing it for Mind.

You can write a letter authorising someone to pick up your starter pack on your behalf. My sister picked mine up for me.

Quick question - does anyone know if there is an official link for a GPX of this year's route?

What are people's start times?

Mine is to be there between 05:15 and 05:47 for a 06:27 start 😯

I'm starting at 8:12. I think I'm in the "don't get in the way, fatty" wave.

I'm get there pre-6:30ish for a 7:09 start. Early doors then!

I've got to be there between 6.15 and 6.45 for a 7.21 start.
Parking space booked at the O2, which is approx. 30 min drive from my house. looks like a 5am alarm call. ;o(

I'm dreading it to be honest - I've not done enough training (mostly due to working away from home without my bike) and have really suffered on a couple of rides in hot weather over the last couple of weeks.

The longest ride I've done this year is 65 miles/3300ft of ascent, and that was a tough day.
I've done quite a few 40 mile rides, but not sure how much value they'll add.

Going to do 50 miles on Thursday, and another similar one at the weekend, and that might be about it.

I need a strategy for the big day, but don't know where to start.
I'm heavy (100KG) so crap at climbing, but can tack along on the flat at a good pace - I'm thinking a strategic walk up Leith Hill might be worthwhile...

Have this horrid feeling that I might be getting a lift home on the broom wagon.

Freeagent; your training sounds much like that of me and MrsIHN (we're both doing it), so at least you'll have someone to chat to in the broomwagon 😳

LoL - If you are starting at 8.12 you'll have caught me by mid-morning, as will everyone else in your start wave.

Sounds like my training. Been getting a couple of 40 milers a week in and did a 30 & a 50 in at the weekend, but no big runs yet and can't see when I'm going to get them in before the day either!. Felt rubbish after the 30 on Saturday, but OK after the 50 on Sunday. Really not looking forward to the hills.

Not sure how I got such an early start, but at least it gives me longer to complete before the roadsweepers clear the way for the Pro race!

Sounds like they're gonna need a bigger broomwagon 🙂

^Yep..

I think a bit of strategic walking in the Surrey hills will be my only hope.
all I want to do is complete it - and not come last.

[quote=freeagent ]I've got to be there between 6.15 and 6.45 for a 7.21 start.
Parking space booked at the O2, which is approx. 30 min drive from my house. looks like a 5am alarm call. ;o(
I'm dreading it to be honest - I've not done enough training (mostly due to working away from home without my bike) and have really suffered on a couple of rides in hot weather over the last couple of weeks.
The longest ride I've done this year is 65 miles/3300ft of ascent, and that was a tough day.
I've done quite a few 40 mile rides, but not sure how much value they'll add.
Going to do 50 miles on Thursday, and another similar one at the weekend, and that might be about it.
I need a strategy for the big day, but don't know where to start.
I'm heavy (100KG) so crap at climbing, but can tack along on the flat at a good pace - I'm thinking a strategic walk up Leith Hill might be worthwhile...
Have this horrid feeling that I might be getting a lift home on the broom wagon.

you'll be fine. it was one of the easiest long rides I've ever done.

Even in last years tropical conditions..

piedi di formaggio - Member

Not sure how I got such an early start

Because like me, you were slightly over-ambitious with your predicted completion time on the application form??

[i]and not come last.[/i]

To be honest, if I'm going to be right at the back, I want to be [b]right[/b] at the back. Coming in 25000th out of 25000 is kinda cool 🙂

I set off at 7:30 ish, booked a hotel about 6 miles from the start so all set on the logistics front.

The training is a slightly different matter. The date seems to have crept up on me a bit and the longer weekend rides I had planned haven't happened. I have done plenty of short rides and MTB rides but I think the lack of hours on the road bike may cause me issues in the 2nd half of this ride 😳

Because like me, you were slightly over-ambitious with your predicted completion time on the application form??

Can't remember what I put, but seemed sensible at the time. Mind you, that was a long time ago now!

Logistics is a PITA too. I've ended up on the Travelodge at Aldgate the night before (I really hope they remember the long chat I had with them about me having a bike with me!!) and plan to get there during the evening before. Will bring something for an early brekkie then set out for a gentle spin to the start. Hopefully it will still be light that time of the morning so won't need lights.

Reckon the hardest bit (aside from the hills) will be cycling back to Liverpool Street to get a train home after finishing. Reckon I'll have legs of lead by then!

piedi di formaggio - Member

Because like me, you were slightly over-ambitious with your predicted completion time on the application form??

Can't remember what I put, but seemed sensible at the time. Mind you, that was a long time ago now!

I don't remember mine either, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the 6.5 - 7 hours I'm currently looking at...

a 15mph average will bring you home in about 6 hours 40 I think and that seems sensible to me.

A mate who did it last year said he was surprised how quickly he went. I guess lots of other riders and closed roads helps quite a bit

Yeah that is what I'm looking at.
My normal road rides are at 13.5-14mph (yes - I know) and everyone says you go a bit quicker on Ride London due to closed roads etc, so 15mph looks like a good (realistic) target.

Reckon the hardest bit (aside from the hills) will be cycling back to Liverpool Street to get a train home after finishing. Reckon I'll have legs of lead by then!

Managed to dodge that - my plan is train home with bike from Charing X (short walk from finish) then 2 miles flat ride home from Orpington station.
I've managed to convince my Dad to run me back to the O2 to pick my car up later that afternoon... ;o)

Reckon the hardest bit (aside from the hills) will be cycling back to Liverpool Street to get a train home after finishing. Reckon I'll have legs of lead by then!

Yeah, we'll have a car parked at the Holiday Inn in Docklands, 7.5 miles from The Mall 🙁

piedi di formaggio - Member
What are people's start times?

08:33

Staying overnight at a mate's gaff, handily...

Yeah, we'll have a car parked at the Holiday Inn in Docklands, 7.5 miles from The Mall

Plus there will be all the road closures round there to contend with as well!

Ludgate Hill will probably feel like Mont Ventoux!

🙁

[edit]just checked, the roads will be open again by then (at least in the East End[/edit]

piedi di formaggio - Member
Ludgate Hill will probably feel like Mont Ventoux!

You could stop at the sweet shop halfway up for a breather 🙂

Oh yeah, Leith Hill Place. I've been training and my final day is 80 miles on Sunday around the SH and I did this on my second run of 60 miles.

Don't worry about it. It's a bit steep but it doesn't last for long. Just get down on the first gear, drop your heels at the bottom of the stroke and breathe and take it real steady. You'll be fine. It's not all it's bigged up to be.