RideLondon - Surrey 100 anyone?

[oldgreyandslow]

If I was you, I'd go through Coldharbour and down into Dorking that way, after Leith. It's a great descent
Newlands corner is a miserable grind but at least it's short. Leith is the hardest climb there, not least because of the constantly changing gradients and rough surface. Box is no big deal, as long as you spin easy until at least the first steep right-hand hairpin. It levels out a little after that and you can push on along the straight with the graffitti mural on the road. When it kicks up into the right-hander at the end, just dig in and get through the tree section because the cafe / stop is just round the corner! Good luck.

I've tried strava-ing the area and can't work out Newlands at all. From the route it seems to go down not up, and I know that can't be right.
There seems to be several routes around Leith also.
I have a feling your idea of spinning easy may well equate to my balls out efforts

 

[philinmerthyr]

I'm not sure of the gear ratios on my Roubaix but riding in the welsh hills, at times, I have to drop my cadence to around 50 rpm. Strava is showing a gradient of 8% where my cadence dropped on my last ride. Should I consider changing the gearing to cope with this or just stick with it? It will get better as I lose weight over the next 4 months.

Here is my last ride - http://app.strava.com/activities/48041086

 

[Nosaj]

Oh. Change of lunch plans then.

Try sweet potatoes in the jacket slightly lower GI - I actually prefer these now compared to actual potatoes.

Or chip them (the sweet potatoes) and chip some parsnips, throw em in the oven and bake and you have healthy (ish) chips !!

 

[Nomadski]

I've tried strava-ing the area and can't work out Newlands at all. From the route it seems to go down not up, and I know that can't be right.
There seems to be several routes around Leith also.
I have a feling your idea of spinning easy may well equate to my balls out efforts

It goes up then down. Look at my plotted route above, you see Newlands Corner at the 5 mile point.

 

[Spally]

Got a lot of training to get in. 50 miles this morning, the odd incline but not hills. Thigh muscles started cramping 7 miles from the end, struggling to walk now!!

 

[oldgreyandslow]

It goes up then down. Look at my plotted route above, you see Newlands Corner at the 5 mile point.

Thanks for that, I'll try and head that way next weekend, probably about a 25 mile run to get there first though

 

[Sittingduck]

If approached from yonder A246 (or whatever it's called), it's uphill, as it winds South, then in an Eastwood fashion.

 

[line71]

Whats preventing anyone not affiliated with the organisations ballot or charity requirements from just joining in on the ride?

I might just join in anyway,i couldnt get in on the ballot and have no charity,there is no law preventing me from cycling on the same roads at the same time,its a free country

 

[Spally]

you are right, it's a freee country and you can ride this route anytime you please.

however, the organised route, i assume, has the extra help/water stops etc along the route. Unfortunately there is nothing which is free these days so the "entrance fee" goes towards the costs or running this sort of event. Similar to the marathon.

there is a link at the begining of this thread with a whole lists of chartiys which i am sure will be more than happy to accept you as part of their fund raising team.

 

[Nomadski]

Thanks for that, I'll try and head that way next weekend, probably about a 25 mile run to get there first though

Well as I planned a short while back, I took a train from Raynes Park to Horsley and cycled to join the RideLondon route as it headed away from West Horsley thru Newlands Corner, Abinger Hammer, Forest Green, Leith Hill, Dorking and Box Hill and continued to follow it thru its planned route back to Wimbledon. Have now done a significant portion of the 100 mile route save for the central London bits.

Newlands Corner is definitely the first significant challenge, but while it is steep it didn't seem to go on very long, or maybe that was my imagination as it was quite straight. The way down was fun!

Leith Hill is a nightmare! I had real problems here, had to stop halfway and get some refreshment down me. I doubt it will pose too much of an issue to the fit and ready hardcore amateurs, but to those doing this for charity with lesser experience or fitness its going to be the hill which finds them out. There's going to be a lot of walking with bikes here I think. Oh, and the downhill part is epic. I managed 37.9 mph according to Strava, 38.1 mph according to everywhere else.

Box Hill was the lesser challenge of the 3 grade 4 hills IMO. It looks daunting as you approach it from Dorking, but its a pleasant gentle grind. There's a couple of bits which gets a little steep, but having done the other 2 hills plus 25 odd miles by this point I didn't have an issue with Box Hill. Of course I was gently pushing thru it, if I was actually racing like a lot of folk will it may be quite energy sapping.

Had a lovely lunch at the top then carried on the RideLondon route back to Wimbledon, then home.

Strava details here - http://app.strava.com/activities/48970852.

If you want to check out gradients of the most challenging part of the course clicky above.

 

[Sittingduck]

Hmmm, I was out that way Yesterday, although took a wildly different route. So you experienced a few decent Surrey Hills, very nice
The prevailing tailwind for much of the homebound section must have been fun, Today. You came right past my gaff at one point

 

[philinmerthyr]

Great ride Nomadski. It's great to have that info.

I haven't been out since last Tuesday due to a touch of food poisoning (my own fault). I serviced the bike yesterday so its as good as new to ramp up the training. I make it 16 weeks to the ride so its time to focus.

 

[Nomadski]

Has anyone who didnt get in thru the ballot, but did get a place thru a charity been receiving a physical magazine? I heard on another forum someone say they have as there is useful information in there like details on picking up the timing chip and registration prior to the big day?

 

[Spally]

Not me, i ticked boxes saying i didnt want to receive 3rd party information

 

[Nomadski]

There is a competition for a few free places for the RideLondon, just need to enter details to enter. This isnt for charity, no need to raise money etc For those who missed out, or who fancy taking a late challenge -

https://www.futurecompetitions.com/prudentialridelondon/Default.asp

EDIT: Oh, and my Cancer Research UK cycling jersey arrived today, actually better than I expected, even has proper pockets at back!