RideLondon - Surrey 100 anyone?

[oldgreyandslow]

I'm ignoring the weather forecast until nearer the time, they always seem a bit hit and mss this far out.

On another subject, has anyone any idea if there's an official car park/drop oiff point near the Excel? I'm staying at the Excel Travelodge and am trying to plan my route in, I thought if there's an official drop off nearby the route to the park would be signposted. Basically I'm being lazy and trying to avoid finding my own route (aka geting lost).

 

[TimeyWimey]

There's a drop off (A) pretty much at the Excel.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=212031949687909346769.0004e23e58d484757478f&msa=0

Meanwhile I had a dreadful ride today. Only an hour 'spin' but legs felt like lead all the way round. Mind you, I didn't have the best night's sleep & I've a sore hamstring that better clear up in the next couple of days. But I am worried that my last 'big ride' (75 miles) was some 9 days ago now and I'm obviously not getting another in now. Is that too long a [unplanned] taper?

 

[Nomadski]

Just checked the weather forecast for Sunday. Cloudy, temperature range 21-25C, with an 11mph south westerly (so tail wind on the way back) to London. Should be just about perfect conditions!!

If true, even better, slight tailwind up Leith Hill!

There's a drop off (A) pretty much at the Excel.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=212031949687909346769.0004e23e58d484757478f&msa=0

Meanwhile I had a dreadful ride today. Only an hour 'spin' but legs felt like lead all the way round. Mind you, I didn't have the best night's sleep & I've a sore hamstring that better clear up in the next couple of days. But I am worried that my last 'big ride' (75 miles) was some 9 days ago now and I'm obviously not getting another in now. Is that too long a [unplanned] taper?

Maybe not the biggest expert on this, but if your legs are feeling a bit tired you will benefit more from resting them at this stage than worrying about tapering. Don't do anything strenuous, load up on energy carbs from Wednesday, get yourself into a sleeping pattern of early nights early mornings.

 

[SquareDaff]

I'm ignoring the weather forecast until nearer the time, they always seem a bit hit and mss this far out.

On another subject, has anyone any idea if there's an official car park/drop oiff point near the Excel? I'm staying at the Excel Travelodge and am trying to plan my route in, I thought if there's an official drop off nearby the route to the park would be signposted. Basically I'm being lazy and trying to avoid finding my own route (aka geting lost).

I'm staying at the Excel Ibis and will be working out the route to the park on Saturday. Start time on the day is 07:10 so if you're anywhere near that you're more than welcome to join me.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

There's a drop off (A) pretty much at the Excel.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=212031949687909346769.0004e23e58d484757478f&msa=0

Meanwhile I had a dreadful ride today. Only an hour 'spin' but legs felt like lead all the way round. Mind you, I didn't have the best night's sleep & I've a sore hamstring that better clear up in the next couple of days. But I am worried that my last 'big ride' (75 miles) was some 9 days ago now and I'm obviously not getting another in now. Is that too long a [unplanned] taper?

Thanks for the link, looks like an easy spin to find the route in from that drop off location. No need to worry now then.

As for your "concerns" don't worry about it. If you can manage a couple of light, and by that I mean really light, spins of no more than an hour before the big day with the last one on Thursday or Friday do those. If not don't concern yourself that much, just eat and sleep well as mentioned elsewhere. Training less will lose some fitness but you won't be as fatigued so it'll all balance itself out.

I'm staying at the Excel Ibis and will be working out the route to the park on Saturday. Start time on the day is 07:10 so if you're anywhere near that you're more than welcome to join me.

My start time is 06:58, arrival time at QEP is 05:58 so will probably be heading there around the same time I expect. I'm sure it'll be quite hectic, so if you see a slightly overweight old bloke with a Mind cycling top on a boradman say hello!

 

[benb]

In the pack, they say that they will give you a "drawstring bag" which you can put stuff in and they will take it from the start to the finish for you.
That's excellent, as I'm staying the night before in a hotel nearby, so will have a few bits that I don't want to lug for 100 miles with me.
But does anyone know how big the bag they supply is? They have said they will only take the bag, so if your stuff doesn't fit, you're stuffed.

 

[Nig mtb]

But does anyone know how big the bag they supply is? They have said they will only take the bag, so if your stuff doesn't fit, you're stuffed.

I think you get the bag when you register at the weekend

 

[benb]

I think you get the bag when you register at the weekend

I'm registering on the Saturday so I'd quite like to know beforehand how big it is!
I'll only have what I'm wearing up there on the Saturday, so won't be loads of stuff. Hopefully it will be OK.

I'm staying at the Novotel right by ExCel, so if anyone wants a beer on the Saturday night give me a shout. I'll be there from 4:00, as I need to register by 5:00 when it closes, so will be twiddling my thumbs for a bit.

 

[TimeyWimey]

They said on Twitter that the kit bag will be 60cm x 52cm.

Thanks for the link, looks like an easy spin to find the route in from that drop off location. No need to worry now then.

As for your "concerns" don't worry about it. If you can manage a couple of light, and by that I mean really light, spins of no more than an hour before the big day with the last one on Thursday or Friday do those. If not don't concern yourself that much, just eat and sleep well as mentioned elsewhere. Training less will lose some fitness but you won't be as fatigued so it'll all balance itself out.

Maybe not the biggest expert on this, but if your legs are feeling a bit tired you will benefit more from resting them at this stage than worrying about tapering. Don't do anything strenuous, load up on energy carbs from Wednesday, get yourself into a sleeping pattern of early nights early mornings.

Thanks, yeah, just would have liked another 70+miler over the last weekend for peace of mind but never managed to get out which is just frustrating. Hopefully the sore hammy (from gym work!) will sort itself out and I won't feel so lethargic on Thursday (my last ride before Sun).



On a completely unrelated note, what are those staying in hotels doing for breakfast? Possibly a silly question. I've never really looked beyond porridge or something like scrambled egg & toast but I don't think the breakfast buffet will be open at my hotel at 5am Sunday morning.

 

[benb]

They said on Twitter that the kit bag will be 60cm x 52cm.

Great, thanks for finding that out for me. That should be fine then.

On a completely unrelated note, what are those staying in hotels doing for breakfast? Possibly a silly question. I've never really looked beyond porridge or something like scrambled egg & toast but I don't think the breakfast buffet will be open at my hotel at 5am Sunday morning.

Fry up, obviously!!

 

[SquareDaff]

I'm just taking a pair of canvas bottoms, a t-shirt and some straw soled shoes. Will have a disposable razor and a travel tooth brush and paste for the Sunday morning/Saturday evening. For breakfast I was thinking of getting one of those "all in one" cereal pots. Other than that I'll have my race snacks (i.e. shakes, bananas, honey and grain bars).

Going light then if anything goes missing it doesn't really matter.

 

[Nomadski]

They said on Twitter that the kit bag will be 60cm x 52cm.

Thanks, yeah, just would have liked another 70+miler over the last weekend for peace of mind but never managed to get out which is just frustrating. Hopefully the sore hammy (from gym work!) will sort itself out and I won't feel so lethargic on Thursday (my last ride before Sun).

On a completely unrelated note, what are those staying in hotels doing for breakfast? Possibly a silly question. I've never really looked beyond porridge or something like scrambled egg & toast but I don't think the breakfast buffet will be open at my hotel at 5am Sunday morning.

Quick and easy Oatsosimple Instant Porridge x2. Just add hot water!

 

[philinmerthyr]

I'm ignoring the weather forecast until nearer the time, they always seem a bit hit and mss this far out.

On another subject, has anyone any idea if there's an official car park/drop oiff point near the Excel? I'm staying at the Excel Travelodge and am trying to plan my route in, I thought if there's an official drop off nearby the route to the park would be signposted. Basically I'm being lazy and trying to avoid finding my own route (aka geting lost).

We are at the Excel Premier Inn. They told me there is a long stay car park close to the hotel. The drop off nearby is at the O2 so further away than the Excel. I plan to ride in from the hotel.

 

[philinmerthyr]

Quick and easy Oatsosimple Instant Porridge x2. Just add hot water!

Another vote for 2 instant porridges

 

[oldgreyandslow]

We are at the Excel Premier Inn. They told me there is a long stay car park close to the hotel. The drop off nearby is at the O2 so further away than the Excel. I plan to ride in from the hotel.

As TW said earlier this is the nearest drop off
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=212031949687909346769.0004e23e58d484757478f&msa=0
Should be easy