RideLondon - Surrey 100 anyone?
- Thread starter Nomadski
- Start date
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Jdratcliffe
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Redhill, Surrey
looking to avg 20mph over the whole 100miles - and as closed roads without having to "go easy " on the descents looking out for cars etc and no traffic or traffic lights stop starting should be all ok good weather providing.
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Nomadski
I Like Bikes
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- LBS, Usually
I would respectfully disagree with your take on Leith Hill. Your clearly a very good rider, expecting a 20mph av over 100 miles is excellent, far better than I expect of my own abilities (sub 8 hr time, could achieve a 14.5 - 15 mph average based on sportive I did few weeks ago). Perhaps your take is different to your level of fitness and how you climb.
IMO, Box Hill is pretty easy going, just about getting into a steady rhythm and going at a constant pace. A gentle grind is how I would describe it. Its certainly the least difficult of the 3 big ones we have on the course.
Leith Hill is MUCH steeper gradient and going up a straight ish road rather than zig zagging it, your forced to feel the full gradient of the hill. Leith is more like a longer, hillier version of Newlands Corner.
Ive cycled the route from Richmond Park thru to Box Hill via the full proper route.
Just did London to Brighton too, and The Beacon is the only hill I found as difficult as Leith.
Speedball
Well-Known Member
- Location
- King's Lynn
About 6 weeks to go and pretty nervous about it (especially Leith Hill). Massive thanks to those who have given a bit more detail on the route. Living miles away from the area means it's not possible for me to get down there and see them for myself (probably for the best) 
The longest ride I've managed so far is 52.7 miles in 3:42. Really need to step up the training but got an issue in the back of my knee (possibly tendonitis) and had to cut short a ride yesterday. Only ended up doing 20.8 miles. Trying to think of the bigger picture and think rest is the best thing to do but can't help panic over losing time on the bike to prepare.
Really looking forward to the event itself and the atmosphere, just not the hills
The longest ride I've managed so far is 52.7 miles in 3:42. Really need to step up the training but got an issue in the back of my knee (possibly tendonitis) and had to cut short a ride yesterday. Only ended up doing 20.8 miles. Trying to think of the bigger picture and think rest is the best thing to do but can't help panic over losing time on the bike to prepare.
Really looking forward to the event itself and the atmosphere, just not the hills
Fair play. I'm hoping for a sub 6hrs but that will be faster than I've ever done a Century before.
What do you normally average on a long ride?
Is this the Leith Hill? http://app.strava.com/segments/645416
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Nomadski
I Like Bikes
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I've done Newlands Corner, Leith Hill and Box Hill as I live just down the road. Leith is far harder than Box Hill which, as described above, is a gentle grind.
OP
OP
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
About 6 weeks to go and pretty nervous about it (especially Leith Hill). Massive thanks to those who have given a bit more detail on the route. Living miles away from the area means it's not possible for me to get down there and see them for myself (probably for the best)
The longest ride I've managed so far is 52.7 miles in 3:42. Really need to step up the training but got an issue in the back of my knee (possibly tendonitis) and had to cut short a ride yesterday. Only ended up doing 20.8 miles. Trying to think of the bigger picture and think rest is the best thing to do but can't help panic over losing time on the bike to prepare.
Really looking forward to the event itself and the atmosphere, just not the hills
Thats a really decent pace actually. Just make sure you pace it right on the day. Dont go flying off like Cav.
I would say go well within yourself until Box Hill. Obviously not so slow you will get picked up by the broom wagon, but slow enough you have plenty in reserve to get you through the 25 miles from Newlands Corner to Box Hill.
There are still a few smaller climbs after Box, but nothing like what has gone before. Quick shout out to the very small climb at Wimbledon up to Wimbledon Village though, its a bit of a leg killer I would imagine after 85 odd miles!
There is also a strange 5 miles between Pyrford and West Horsley (just before you enter the Surrey Hills). It seems like a fairly flat road, it looks that way, but there is a very gradual climb on that bit that wont hurt you, but it will sap quite a bit of energy if your not careful, right before you need it most. General fitness will overcome this, and if you can get miles on the bike, try to do it.
The big 3 from the perspective of a self confessed Mamil
Newlands Corner
Short and sharp. Straight road going up, up, up. High gradient but short distance (strava segment starts about .3 of a mile before I would start it). Nice view at top! THE single BEST descent of the entire 100 miles IMO, it gets WARP speed crazy.
Link - http://app.strava.com/segments/646938
Leith Hill
Any who tells you this is easy is a super fit / experienced cyclist, or a pro! Its not. Its hard. Its a walker for many cyclists on the day I guarantee. I have done it twice and had to stop 2 times on both occasions going up it, haven't yet had to stop on Box Hill or Newlands. There is even a small section of road that climbs before leveling off again just before the segment starts that will knacker a few legs out there!
Unlike the other two hills listed, Leith goes up, flattens, goes up flattens, goes up. Dont be fooled by the average gradient, it hits 8-9% first little bit, 9%-11% second bit, 12.7% third bit and finally, when your legs are well and truly shot, 14.7% on the last stretch!
And for this you are rewarded with no view of the landscape, but the knowledge that everything else is below you, and you have a thrilling ride through the trees to come!
Link - http://app.strava.com/segments/944629
Finally the Olympic superstar of the circuit
Box Hill
Nice gentle upwards gradient. No shocks, just a steady ride. It has no flat bits, it is constant, which is why its gradient is a little deceiving comparing to Leith Hill which has flatter bits giving you hope the hell is over!
Going up is beautiful (hence why its so popular) looking to your side as you rise you get a lovely view of Surrey. Go round the corner from where the segment ends, and you have a gorgeous view to gaze upon. But don't stare too long, you still have 35 miles to go...
Link - http://app.strava.com/segments/627910
I have done these hills twice using parts of the official RideLondon route, once from West Horsley thru the hills and back to Wimbledon via the official route (as posted earlier in this thread)
http://app.strava.com/activities/48970852
And a second time from Kingston / Richmond Park to Box Hill to get a feel on the legs not being fresh when I got there.
http://app.strava.com/activities/55531982
In July I plan to do Kingston>Surrey Hills>Wimbledon using the official route, I will post here when done.
For those not sure of the route (ignore the purple on Richmond Park, that's a joke, it should be a very short yellow) this is the official participants map (still no GPX
)
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Nomadski
I Like Bikes
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- LBS, Usually
The average gradient is incredibly deceiving. Its much harder than Box Hill.
Jdratcliffe
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Redhill, Surrey
normally average 15/18 mph depending on traffic and weather
