RideLondon - Surrey 100 anyone?

[Phoenix Lincs]

I am a charity rider

Have you seen this then? Seems like there is a loophole that needs filling for next year. Charities need to get more info out or share details with Prudential

http://www.prudentialridelondon.co....ideLondon-Surrey-100-Spectators$!27-Guide.pdf

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Returning to the subject of softflasks for a second, I ordered 3 of the 237ml Salomon Softflasks from the website I previously linked to, and I got an email saying they had run out, but they had the 148ml ones in stock. I had no real context of size difference so I said go ahead and send me three of them.

When they arrived they looked so small I massively panicked and thought I had wasted my money.

As it was I had 3 spare Energygel's so I poured them in, and was really pleasantly surprised that there was (just) enough room for maybe a fourth.

The bag still has room at the top, and will expand a little more too. It contracts automatically as you drink, so when empty will take up little room in the pocket.

So 3 of these will (hopefully) hold 12 gels, meaning only the last hour will i have to get my fingers sticky! And I maybe will fill one up again at a water stop later in the race.

Will be giving them a test run tomorrow on the bike, although maybe 3 gels for a 10 mile planned ride was a bit overkill...

They DO make you feel like a blood donor, but if Salomon have a presence at the excel cycle show, I would definitely recommend people having a look, if they are carrying loads of gel on board.

Mine haven't arrived yet, but I didn't get an out of stock message so I'm hoping they'll arrive today so I can practice too, but maybe with just one in as I'm only doing an hour too. I hate that sticky fingers/glove combo x

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Quote from Met Office website:

A breezy day with sunshine and showers on Saturday. A warm day with some sunshine on Sunday with the risk of some showers returning for Monday.

Hopefully that means no wind!!!

 

[zizou]

An alternative to gels if you want to avoid sticky fingers is clif shot bloks - they dont work quite so fast but faster than an energy bar and easy to eat and take as you go along.

Although probably a bit late now as you dont want to be trying something new on the day

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Gel flasks? Never heard of them but am interested to know more...

EDIT: Looking into them, I think the issue I would have with them is that the flasks are stiff and I cant imagine how I would be getting as much gel out of there into my mouth without a lot of hassle.

I like the principle though.

Missed this post, but had ordered the stiff ones first, and they arrived today. Will give it a 'road test' and see what happens.

 

[Longshot]

My platypus soft bottles (500ml) arrived today and I'll be trying them out on Saturday.

 

[sleaver]

I know this question isn't about taking part but I would like to watch some of this and see the professional riders as well. I was thinking of either going up to London and going to the festival area they have when it opens later in the day and hopefully see some of the pro start and then maybe go across to The Mall to the finish. Or, get the train to Gomshall and watch the three laps around that are going to be done. However, there will be a lot more people in London so will I really see much but at Abinger I'll just see riders going around three times.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Nomadski]

There is a spectator guide that will give you an idea of times etc for riders, see Phoenix's link - http://www.prudentialridelondon.co....ideLondon-Surrey-100-Spectators$!27-Guide.pdf

Kingston would be a good place to watch too, as you get riders heading down, and back. Its the only point on the route which is the same both ways.

Green Park near The Mall has a screen showing the races, Wimbledon is doing a lot of fancy street party stuff on the day, like you say Abinger / Holmbury will have the riders going past multiple times....

You have a lot of choices, really depends on your travel knowledge. Enjoy it, and hope to see a banner or two!!

 

[Nomadski]

My platypus soft bottles (500ml) arrived today and I'll be trying them out on Saturday.

Given what my 148ml one holds, looks like one of yours would hold all the gels you would need on the day!

 

[Nomadski]

Final instructions in the post? not here, lucky i read that on the web site.
End of training rides now we will see how legs are come sunday afternoon, hopefully not basking in the back of the broom waggon

Have you contacted them? If you didn't get the final instructions, then you wont have received the registration form you need to bring to the excel between now and saturday.

 

[Nomadski]

Mine haven't arrived yet, but I didn't get an out of stock message so I'm hoping they'll arrive today so I can practice too, but maybe with just one in as I'm only doing an hour too. I hate that sticky fingers/glove combo x

I think one gel would be more like it, but I wanted to see how many I could get into one pack.

Which ones did you order @Phoenix Lincs? The platypus ones look great too.

Missed this post, but had ordered the stiff ones first, and they arrived today. Will give it a 'road test' and see what happens.

Aha.

 

[aerobrain]

Thanks again, I'll check that out.

Also just seen this on the website that I missed first time

"You will be able to have your bike transported from Whitehall Court (near the Finish area) to the Copper Box at QEOP, while you make your own way back to east London by public transport. There will be signposts to direct you from the Finish to the bike drop-off point at Whitehall Court. When you drop off your bike, you will receive a map showing you where to collect your bike. No pre-booking is necessary. Vans will depart between 11:00 and 18:30, with bike collection closing at 20.00 at QEOP."

I could just bike back from Stratford to Ilford that way and not have to worry about getting my bike across Central London

I think that unless you selected that option in the transport survey you won't be able to use it. I rang them to clarify that this option was still going ahead before the full details got released and they said that they have me logged as using that method. They might have changed that though and opened it up to whoever requests it on the day but probably worth checking.

Went out for my penultimate ride last night aiming to do a gentle 18 miles over some local hills and ended up beating my pb by 0.7mph :-) Got 19.9mph so aim after the event is to nudge it up another 0.1mph to break new ground :-) Loved it on the flat cruising at around 25mph on a few stretches :-)

Last ride tonight and will force myself to take it easy!! :-)

 

[Nig mtb]

Have you contacted them? If you didn't get the final instructions, then you wont have received the registration form you need to bring to the excel between now and saturday.

I have read them on the web site there is an update to the magazine we got

 

[procel]

Just been out for my last ride. Found it a bit tough since I hadn't been out since Sat. Now heading up to Excel with my reg form, id and a few questions!

 

[aerobrain]

Just been out for my last ride. Found it a bit tough since I hadn't been out since Sat. Now heading up to Excel with my reg form, id and a few questions!

My legs felt awful for the first few miles yesterday as they'd gone a bit stiff!! Might try and do a reccie ride Saturday evening from the hotel to the QEOP to find my barings and keep the legs loose!