Regardless of the title of this web site, I haven’t written about any particular sportives for a very long time. Peak District biking occasion critiques kind a reasonably slender area of interest.
However RideLondon has wider enchantment, at the least within the UK. My coaching for the primary RideLondon was ‘necessary matter’ that kicked off the creation of this web site (as a weblog).
So right here’s a publish concerning the NEW RideLondon 100 format that rebooted in 2022.
What Is RideLondon 100?
RideLondon, or particularly the RideLondon 100, is a 100-mile closed roads sportive in and round London.
Beginning in 2013 within the warm-wee-in-a-wetsuit afterglow of the London Olympics slash Wiggins Tour de France triumph, the occasion provides 20,000 riders the chance to smash it across the roads of London and adjoining counties, for pictures and goggles, and the prospect to set PBs on Strava.
I rode the unique London Surrey model in 2013 and 2018, and returned, like an impressive velo-god, to overcome the RideLondon Essex reboot in 2022.
On this publish, I’ll cowl:
- My expertise of the occasion: what I appreciated and what was a bit meh
- My ideas on the route, together with if there are any climbs it is advisable fear about. Spoiler alert: no.
- And eventually my ‘efficiency’, if we are able to name it that.
Let’s. Crack. On.
Right here’s My YouTube Video On The Topic
My RideLondon 2022 Expertise
My RideLondon expertise kicked off 18 hours earlier than, and 137 miles away, from the beginning.
For me, and just about each different non-London-residing participant, RideLondon is a faff.
The day earlier than, Saturday afternoon, I drove down from the Midlands to my mate’s home in south west London, dropped off the automobile, after which took the practice into central London with my bike and a backpack of package.
After years of Workforce Ineos-style marginal features evaluation, the perfect pre-event prep is, I’ve discovered, three hours in a automobile, half-hour on a practice, 20 minutes spent sharting your self using by way of London site visitors, 12 hours in a windowless resort room and a Chipotle.
After attaching my rider numbers and timing chip, I settled all the way down to sleep, questioning if two danish pastries and a tepid double espresso in a can was very best RideLondon breakfast gas.
Too late now. Sunday arrived and my 5am alarm kicked me into movement. Fortunately the consumption of stated canned caffeine did the identical for my bowels.
A brief trip by way of quiet London streets and I joined the RideLondon huge, heading for the beginning.
The Begin
The doorway to the beginning space was on the nook of Parliament Sq., turning up Whitehall. From this level, till the beginning, we’d be pushing our bikes.
There have been giant banks of bogs in entrance of the international workplace, giving my second morning constitutional a frisson of political pleasure. Extra importantly there have been no queues and the overall space felt secure to depart your bike for a few minutes.
While there have been bogs, and mechanics tents for pre-ride tune-ups, this 12 months there was no bag drop-off, which was a little bit of a ache.
After the occasion was over I’d need to return to my resort, in a single route, earlier than turning round and using again to the station. Ho hum.
The final vibe was very chilled. After strolling up Whitehall for a bit, we turned down one of many aspect roads that took us to the Embankment and the queue for the beginning.
Not like earlier occasions the place there have been extra obviously-defined begin waves, this model had a rolling begin. We progressively shuffled alongside till we out of the blue discovered ourselves on the beginning line, mounted up and have been off.
There didn’t appear to be a lot checking of whether or not riders have been within the appropriate wave however to be sincere I didn’t care. The climate was good, I felt fairly match and, most significantly, I’d achieved my deux each day dumps.
Anyway, we have been off and rolling… and now could be an excellent time to clarify the route.
The RideLondon-Essex 100 Route
As you’ve most likely picked up, the brand new RideLondon-Essex route begins in Central London.
The course follows the Embankment because it turns into Higher and Decrease Thames Road, skirting the southern fringe of the Metropolis of London. Good large and largely flat roads so that you can settle into the trip.
Then its previous the Tower of London and out east by way of Docklands.
And that’s 99% of the ‘vacationer’ London a part of RideLondon accomplished, until you contemplate the twin carriageways of East London a vacationer attraction, through which case do I’ve a deal with for you.
After a wiggle by way of West Ham and Stratford, and a twin carriageway loop across the Olympic Park, the place earlier RideLondons have began from, it’s out into Essex.
Essex occupies a little bit of a black gap in my geographical biking information, presumably for good cause. In fact I jest, stout velomen of Essex!
Anyway, the route follows a kind of squished diagonal determine of eight, out by way of Epping Forest to Chipping Ongar, the place we had the primary feed cease. This was the place the 60-milers cut up from the imperial centurions, with the latter doing a further 40-mile loop as much as Nice Dunmow and again by way of the outskirts of Chelmsford.
The second welfare cease, because the organisers known as it, was at a college in Felstead. The third and remaining one was again at Chipping Ongar, albeit in a special place to cease one.
After a protracted drag again to Woodford, the place we rejoined the outbound route, we then kind of adopted the identical roads again by way of East London, plunging as soon as once more into the Limehouse Hyperlink tunnel earlier than a pointy left handed took us onto Tower Bridge and the end.
In order that’s an outline of the route, how about…
The Climbs Of RideLondon-Essex
Of which there are exactly zero.
One in every of my earliest weblog successes was a publish analysing the climbs of the previous Surrey-based RideLondon route.
No comparable evaluation is required for the Essex RideLondon route. The elevation profile solely seems a bit bumpy cos they’ve stretched the y axis and compressed the x.
Even I, extra spinner than grinder, besides on the dance ground, spent a lot of the trip within the huge ring.
There was the odd low gradient drag. The street by way of Epping Forest could have nudged 2 or 3%… perhaps. The ultimate schlep as much as the flip at Woodford was a chore on drained legs.
However there have been undoubtedly no correct climbs to fret about or to contemplate strolling up.
You’ll be able to determine whether or not you need climbs or not on an occasion like this, however for me, Leith Hill and Field Hill within the Surrey model have been a spotlight of the trip.
So no climbs to talk of then, however what about the remainder of the…
Surroundings
Nicely, the Peak District it ain’t…
As an alternative it was central London, then city, then suburban then flattish agricultural surroundings, with the odd prosperous city or village right here and there, all while traversing large A-roads and twin carriageways
As I say, I don’t know Essex. I’ve seen feedback from native riders that there are extra enticing roads to trip within the county and I don’t doubt them.
However you don’t come to RideLondon for the surroundings – definitely not the agricultural surroundings. Climbs apart, the Surrey model wasn’t radically completely different within the aesthetics division.
It’s advantageous, we have been all head down, making an attempt to publish our fastestest ever time on closed roads, weren’t we?
So what about these…
Closed Roads
I’ve achieved three closed street occasions now, all of them RideLondons, and the fun of using roads with none vehicles and lorries is as sturdy as ever.
There’s no stopping for site visitors lights and junctions. Like Iggy Pop, we trip and we trip. Herds of roaming cyclo-beests migrate throughout the Essex grasslands. Squint – briefly – and you’ll virtually think about your self within the professional peloton.
To be clear, it’s not pure biking nirvana. The absence of motor autos doesn’t take away threat. Giant teams of cyclists, at completely different speeds, with weaving, overtaking and overcooked cornering, is inevitably going to result in riders being lower up and the odd crash.
Descending a hill at prime velocity and listening to some wild-eyed loon going even sooner behind your proper shoulder may be disconcerting, even to an skilled rider.
And eradicating vehicles doesn’t take away arseholes. In 20,000 folks you’ll all the time get a couple of. Giving somebody a motorbike does not the arsehole take away.
In reality, give a person an aero bike and a set of deep part wheels and an arsehole he does change into.
As soon as once more I jest…
However however the odd little bit of lairy biking, closed roads using is nice.
It’s the primary cause I enter the poll every year. And the USP of RideLondon is, after all, that the closed roads are within the London.
However the factor to pay attention to about RideLondon, definitely the brand new model, is that…
It’s Not Really Very Londony
The central London content material of the trip, with landmarks recognisable to non-residents of Poplar, is low. As I’ve already stated, it’s closely skewed to the jap a part of the town, primarily the outskirts.
The earlier route was good as a result of it began out east on the Olympic Park then headed west previous quite a lot of London highlights.
For an hour and a half you had the Metropolis, the West Finish, the luxurious bits using previous Harrods and the Victoria and Albert Museum, then on to Richmond Park and Hampton Courtroom.
On the finish of the trip, you had half-hour of Wimbledon, Fulham and alongside the River Thames earlier than Trafalgar Sq. and the end on the Mall.
On the threat of sounding like a south west London apologist, the earlier route felt a bit extra London-y and, consequently, higher.
In case you’re gonna trip roads closed to motor site visitors, higher that they be well-known central London ones fairly than a random overpass in Leytonstone.
Bringing us onto…
The End
Which, regardless that it’s on Tower Bridge, is a bit underwhelming.
The ultimate strategy to the road is a bit too brief and a bit too slender.
Having given it a spuds-out effort by way of the Limehouse Hyperlink Tunnel, and a full hammer drop on The Freeway, I used to be as excited to complete with a flourish as your grandparents on annual intercourse day.
(I stated annual).
On the Tower we rounded the tight left-hand nook, after which… that’s it.
The end line was solely a few hundred metres away. Marshalls have been shouting for everybody to decelerate. Damp squids dropped from the sky. Not this 12 months grandpa.
Tower Bridge isn’t large sufficient for giant volumes of riders to complete at any kind of velocity.
You could possibly barely cross the end line on the bike as a result of the street was so crammed. Some riders have been even dismounting earlier than the road itself.
The earlier end on the Mall was loads higher.
The extra London-flavoured run in featured the Homes of Parliament, Whitehall and Trafalgar Sq., all on good large roads.
Turning onto the Mall, the street broadened much more, making it secure for riders of all speeds to offer some fuel to the end.
The long term off afterwards stored everybody unfold out and moved completed riders shortly out of the best way.
Look, it’s not a significant factor. I used to be delighted to finish 100 miles. The end on Tower Bridge, even at strolling tempo, seemed fairly cool.
And I bought a finisher’s medal, which in 2022 was a cool, and presumably eco-friendly, wood one.
However like grandad, one remaining romp to inform the youngsters about would have been good.
In order that’s the route, what concerning the facilities, and the people, on stated route?
Let’s begin with the…
Feed stops
The feed stops had a faint sense of humanitarian catastrophe response. Comprehensible I assume, given the variety of riders.
Meals was plentiful, albeit the choice was restricted. Excessive 5 provided the vitamin, with a great deal of gels obtainable in any flavour you needed so long as it was orange. Volunteers have been additionally available to replenish your water bottles and plink plonk in a type of salty hydration tablets.
The second cease, the most important, additionally had bananas and crisps. The lunch of champions.
There have been lengthy queues for the bogs on the predominant feed stops. As ordinary I picked the slowest. I didn’t thoughts the break off the bike however you may wish to crack on extra shortly.
Twop twip then if you happen to RideLondon sooner or later: use the smaller portaloo stations in between the three giant pitstops.
There have been a great deal of them, unfold across the route, and have been quieter and faster for the gent wishing to empty the lizard and go.
Marshalling
I’m positive it’s a reasonably tedious job, however among the marshalling was a bit lacklustre.
There have been some good examples of marshalls loudly alerting riders about upcoming tight bends. However there have been additionally a lot of them stationed on or close to site visitors islands in the midst of the street simply stood there quietly.
While the marshalls did put on excessive vis, a whistle and a flag and a bit extra coaching would have been simpler.
That stated, the entire volunteers and the marshalls, at the beginning, the end and throughout the trip, appeared useful, pleasant and in an excellent temper.
And I used to be comfortable to take all of the constructive vibes I may get.
Lastly then, speaking about folks and stating the bleeding apparent, RideLondon has…
A number of Riders
About 20,000 of them. Which is each an excellent factor and a nasty factor.
On the constructive aspect, it feels like a giant occasion.
Let’s face it, you want a trip of this scale to warrant closing down all these roads.
Seeing different riders, and the tempo they’re going at, little doubt spurred me on to sustaining an honest velocity at the same time as my legs flagged.
On the draw back, accommodating giant volumes of riders means the route had to make use of wider, much less picturesque roads.
Even with the large roads, there can be crashes. Some can impression riders in a roundabout way concerned.
We had a 10-minute halt as a consequence of a rider up the street needing therapy. By the point we start-stop-restarted, hundreds of rides had bunched up. It took one other 10 miles or so for the sector to skinny out and we return to full velocity.
To be clear, this isn’t to complain. This stuff occur. However if you happen to’re going to RideLondon, be mentally ready in your trip, and the time you file, if that’s necessary to you, to be impacted by different folks.
And speaking about instances brings us neatly on to…
My Efficiency
As I’m positive you’re not determined to listen to about.
I accomplished the 100 miles in 5 hours 45. This was 40 minutes faster than my earlier two RideLondon instances
For the file, I rode alone like a friendless saddo. There was most likely some draft profit from different riders usually being round, however the time largely mirrored my very own efforts.
A part of the time enchancment was as a result of flatter course. The brand new Essex route had 200 fewer metres of ascent and there have been no steep hills to burn matches on.
Partly it was as a consequence of higher using circumstances. The temperature was reasonable and there was no rain.
My health degree was a little bit of an unknown amount.
On the one hand, I did a structured indoor coaching plan at the beginning of the 12 months and adopted this with common exercises on the brand new KICKR. Strava advised me my health degree was good, at the least for me.
On the opposite, I hadn’t achieved many longer outside rides – solely three rides longer than 3 hours, with the final one a disheartening 4 hour mixture of neck ache and bonking.
So I used to be happy to maintain an honest effort over the total 100 miles. My velocity was fairly constant, averaging 28.5 km/h (or 17.7mph).
Most significantly, I felt good all through, each bodily and mentally.
Primarily based on my common coronary heart fee and the time in every zone, I rode inside my health degree.
I ate repeatedly, at feed stations and on the bike, plus I consumed numerous bottles with hydration tablets in them. Not like prior lengthy distance occasions, I suffered no leg cramps.
Weirdly, regardless of it feeling simpler than a lo t of earlier rides, I recorded my second highest endure rating on Strava. Which perhaps proves the purpose that I went in fitter.
So all in all I used to be happy. It appears that evidently using sensibly and specializing in the straightforward issues: consuming, consuming, and never blowing your self out on each little incline, is a recipe for a strong trip.
Who knew…?
What would I do subsequent time?
I’ll preserve it transient.
To get a greater time, I’d do two issues, aside from the plain ‘practice tougher’.
Firstly, in my coaching, get a greater sense of my health degree over longer distances so I knew how a lot I may push myself. I may most likely have given it a bit extra beans at instances.
Secondly, I’d trip the occasion with others at an analogous health degree and work collectively to tug one another alongside. Extra velocity, faster time, identical quantity of effort.
Conclusion
I used to be planning to offer some extra pink sizzling RideLondon suggestions however I’m working out of wordjuice.
Hopefully you’ll have inferred some useful hints within the guff what I’ve been speaking about.
When you have questions on RideLondon or need extra element on any specific bit, let me know within the feedback under.
Monty out.
The post Is The NEW RideLondon-Essex 100 Nonetheless Value It? appeared first on lickscycles.com.
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