RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2016) Anyone?

[mjr]

To leave them lying around and expecting some poor sod on the minimum wage to pick they all up - sorry but that is unnecessary and selfish, you lazy scruffy b@stards. Rant over !

To be fair, some of the riders riding away through Hyde Park as I rode in about noon looked as though they were too tired really. They looked zoned out, blank behind the eyes. I rang my bell a few times to get them to look up, move left and not ride straight into me (and it would have hurt them far more than me on my folding tank). They would probably have forgotten their bike if it wouldn't cause a problem cycling home.

 

[mjr]

I think if they want to maintain the 46, they'll need to cut the numbers for the 100

Why will they? Most of the serious crashes seemed to be after the 46ers had turned off the 100 route or after the merge point after most 46ers had passed, as expected by the timings. I can see an argument for reducing the numbers for the 100 anyway because of the congestion in Dorking holding up the pro race, but I don't see how the 46 caused any more problem. I think the 46 route would be safeguarded for use as an emergency diversion anyway, like a few others.

 

[EltonFrog]

The one thing that did really annoy me was the sight of 100s of discarded goody bags in Green Park. Either don't get one - they are not compulsory or take it home to bin. To leave them lying around and expecting some poor sod on the minimum wage to pick they all up - sorry but that is unnecessary and selfish, you lazy scruffy b@stards. Rant over !

Totally agree, I think the goody bags are unnecessary and should be scrapped, it's mostly a load of old tat anyway.

 

[Beebo]

My best spot was a couple dressed as Mr and Mrs Impossible, riding a tandem.

they finished just in front of me, they were flying down Whitehall at well over 20mph.

 

[rugby bloke]

they finished just in front of me, they were flying down Whitehall at well over 20mph.

We must have finished around the same time then, as they were pretty much alongside me when I finished.

 

[mjr]

Totally agree, I think the goody bags are unnecessary and should be scrapped, it's mostly a load of old tat anyway.

Several riders seemed to like having the extra snacks and water in the bag immediately available, rather than having to queue up and pay in Green Park.

 

[philk56]

Did you miss the bit about it being a ride not a race? Why can't people 'dodder' (I expect your perception of what dodder is, for me, 15-17 mph is fast and adequate to complete the ride in the allotted case) along in that case?

If I do the ride again next year I've been thinking about putting a sign on my back "Enjoy the ride, it's not a race"

 

[philk56]

Several riders seemed to like having the extra snacks and water in the bag immediately available, rather than having to queue up and pay in Green Park.

But you could just have a table full of water bottles and snacks in the location where they are handing the bags out.

 

[rugby bloke]

And as for the carpet of gel wrappers on Box Hill yesterday evening.

Amen to that - so many discarded gel wrapper around the whole course. No consideration to anything or anyone but themselves.

 

[Justinslow]

I think Strava is still struggling with the volume. My ride eventually uploaded but many of the segments are showing me as having my third best time on them when I'm pretty sure I've only ridden them once before (on last year's ride)! If I try to select just my times nothing happens. I'm sure it will sort itself out eventually...

Yep it's showing mine as "2nd's" and I've never ridden them before?

 

[Beebo]

And as for the carpet of gel wrappers on Box Hill yesterday evening.

They are just copying the pros, how many times do you see them chuck gel wrappers and bidons on tv.
Very sad isnt it. I managed to get all my rubbish back into my pockets, it isnt hard.

 

[Justinslow]

Did you miss the bit about it being a ride not a race? Why can't people 'dodder' (I expect your perception of what dodder is, for me, 15-17 mph is fast and adequate to complete the ride in the allotted case) along in that case?

I think if they want to maintain the 46, they'll need to cut the numbers for the 100

You misunderstand me, I hope I wasn't a "nobber" but it's laid out before you start about road positioning etc, I passed a lot of people and in turn got passed by a lot of people! Not everyone rides at 16 mph.

 

[benb]

Chucking gel wrappers is completely unacceptable.
I get that it's a pain to hang on to them, but that's what you need to do. Or do what I did and buy a couple of these. Bonus, you don't need to fiddle around trying to rip the wrapper open.

 

[mjr]

Chucking gel wrappers is completely unacceptable.
I get that it's a pain to hang on to them, but that's what you need to do. Or do what I did and buy a couple of these. Bonus, you don't need to fiddle around trying to rip the wrapper open.

And then throw it on the floor for some poor rider to crash over?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well, if they copied the pros properly they'd hang on to their wrappers until they got to a "rubbish zone" or whatever they're called. You often see the pros doing a mass pocket-empty in such zones.

Rather than copying the pros I think they are just nasty unthinking litter louts.