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Guru
Location
Powys, Wales
I've applied 3 years in a row and not got a place-so being female isn't the whole answer........!
And yet, my wife Mary applied once, after hours of being persuaded, and got straight in.
It is frustrating. The system of 3 or 4 ballot fails resulting in an automatic next application being successful was a good one. But sadly now the London Marathon gang have even abandoned that.
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
I've applied 3 years in a row and not got a place-so being female isn't the whole answer........!

If you're from a foreign country youre virtually nailed on to get in. Rather than going through the ballot you just apply to enter, from what I understand. It has something to do with encouraging a multi national field amongst other things. So if you have friends/family abroad who's address you can use its a good option.

I've avoided it in the past because I sort of wanted to get in 'fair and square' so to speak. But I think if and when I apply again I'll try it that way.
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
I do know that the Trainer communicates with your PC by ANT+, and not Bluetooth. But that's my lot!

Still beats me by a mile! :wacko:

Guess we're the early birds today Tommy?

Yeah I guess so ad. Morning mate. I've got a bit of time off work so it's going to be a week long fight between decorating our hallway and general work avoidance tactics... It's gonna be a battle!
 

Add

Guru
Location
Powys, Wales
Still beats me by a mile! :wacko:



Yeah I guess so ad. Morning mate. I've got a bit of time off work so it's going to be a week long fight between decorating our hallway and general work avoidance tactics... It's gonna be a battle!
Yes, I have those same personal battles in my free time too. Decorating too hey? Not even a great gig, I loathe painting. It's one of those jobs you assume any mug can do, until you try and do it.
Well good luck mate, plenty of coffee, and Jeremy Kyle ahead I suspect.
 

Roleur1

1st cat roadie back in the day
Location
Newport Pagnell
What's the pull of the ride London? I guess it must be the closed roads around the capital? The one sportive I have ridden was a liability......hopelessly unfit and unskilled mobile chicanes all over the place...it was just an expensive liability. But hey i guess they are having a go. The non closed roads ones appear to be large bike part supplier profit making machine.......I know let's hold a ride on public roads and charge riders 30 quid for a couple of gels and a high5 bottle we might even punt some gear at the trade stands....
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
Yes, I have those same personal battles in my free time too. Decorating too hey? Not even a great gig, I loathe painting. It's one of those jobs you assume any mug can do, until you try and do it.
Well good luck mate, plenty of coffee, and Jeremy Kyle ahead I suspect.

Ha! Thanks for the support :smile:

100% that. I really can't justify paying someone else to do something I can do myself but I find it incredibly tedious...

I've got a voice inside me saying "go on! just tosh it on! Move on to the fun stuff in life!!"

But I know in my heart if I don't do it properly it'll constantly bug me so... Time to get the filler out for round 2 with the skirting boards...
 
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<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
What's the pull of the ride London? I guess it must be the closed roads around the capital? The one sportive I have ridden was a liability......hopelessly unfit and unskilled mobile chicanes all over the place...it was just an expensive liability. But hey i guess they are having a go. The non closed roads ones appear to be large bike part supplier profit making machine.......I know let's hold a ride on public roads and charge riders 30 quid for a couple of gels and a high5 bottle we might even punt some gear at the trade stands....

I think it is the closed roads around London that appeals to me. I know exactly what you're saying. People I know who have done it have mixed experiences depending on their start time and a portion of luck. I've only done the London the Brighton once for similar reasons but I'd like one crack at it I reckon
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
Prudential experience. When arriving at the Olympic Park, walk your bike to the start(especially if it's raining), there are flint paths everywhere. The start is about half a mile from the grouped blocks where you wait. Once you set off the roads encourage you to race back into London. The lanes south of London can be very busy.

The 3 big hills are a firm test. Wimbledon has a surprise for tired legs

The ride back into London is great and the Mall is amazing.

The most impressive aspect is the thousands and I mean thousands of well wishers cheering you on all around the course.
 

kipster

Guru
Location
Hampshire
Prudential experience. When arriving at the Olympic Park, walk your bike to the start(especially if it's raining), there are flint paths everywhere. The start is about half a mile from the grouped blocks where you wait. Once you set off the roads encourage you to race back into London. The lanes south of London can be very busy.

The 3 big hills are a firm test. Wimbledon has a surprise for tired legs

The ride back into London is great and the Mall is amazing.

The most impressive aspect is the thousands and I mean thousands of well wishers cheering you on all around the course.

I had heard so much about Wimbledon before I did the sportive that I was dreading it, but it really wasn't half as bad as people were bigging it up, and Leith was only difficult because of all the people getting off and walking it. The finish at the Mall was great, my second finish there. The first was part of a Help for Heros sportive which started in Tidworth at 2am, great cycling while watching the sun rise.
 

cppatrik

Regular
Location
Norsborg, Sweden
It is really annoying and stupid that Bkool shows the total time including warm/up down unless you go searching in the details of the ride - who cares about the random amount of warm up/down time?! What's even sillier is they seem to know this as they do show the actual moving time within the leagues! (It's also annoying that the time including warm up/down is synced into Strava too :cursing:)
Hi!
I'm new to this forum and stumbled upon this forum. I totally agree with you bridgy. When finished a stage, the the actual riding time is presented but afterwards in stats etc it with warnup and cool down unless one do as you stated. I've suggested Bkool to fix this but don't hold your breath
 

bridgy

Legendary Member
Location
Cheddar
Hi!
I'm new to this forum and stumbled upon this forum. I totally agree with you bridgy. When finished a stage, the the actual riding time is presented but afterwards in stats etc it with warnup and cool down unless one do as you stated. I've suggested Bkool to fix this but don't hold your breath

Yeah, it's not the biggest of issues but is something that really annoys me because of how simple it surely is to rectify - particularly as they exclude the warm up/down times in the league results so clearly know how to do this! I have also emailed Bkool about it and posted it on the thread for making them aware of issues - https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bkool-issues-and-ideas-what-do-you-want-to-tell-bkool.191569/ - which @Bkool have posted on to say they're listening, but it's clearly not a priority. Hopefully if enough of us make the point to them they'll get round to rectifying it at some point....
 
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