tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
My brother used to do there and back in an hour to north end, my oh and I preferred to hydrate at every opportunity possible!
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One tip to improve my cycling?
- Thread starter flossietoo
- Start date
flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
MonkeyB that's brilliant news! I'm so pleased there will be another forumite doing it. That counts as a TEAM.
Yes, there are some normal people, though we were in the minority. You will need Lycra. Anything else will scar over that distance.
What was your predicted time? If you put 8hrs 29 mins (to imply you might just make it back inside the 8hrs 30 mins deadline) then you will probably given one of the latest start times, with me. There are some slightly less intimidating people in those waves. One bloke was sick before he'd even started, which made me feel a bit better.
Have you booked accommodation yet? If not, you need to do so, smartish. I am in the Premier Inn Stratford which has the advantage of being within walking distance of the start. When I booked, they were full for one night stays that weekend but we're still taking two nights. You need to be in London on the Saturday anyway, to register.
What's the worse that can happen?
*remembers someone died last year.
If you want some training ride company, drop me a line.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
People should be aware that @flossietoo and @monkey bidness are currently well into this year's Ride London event - I've been out, so I haven't been able to follow it closely, but I do know that F2 has had a tumble and a subsequent shoulder injury - further info as it comes in.....
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Longest I've ever cycled was about 90 miles, but was over 14 hours and I couldn't walk for days after!
monkey bidness
Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc, I have indeed been in stealth mode, lurking by the telly in ST17. I'm afraid that my attempt on the London-Surrey 100 came to a premature end about 3 weeks ago. I won't go into the sordid details, suffice it to say that when I resume cycling, which I plan to do by the end of this week, I will be 4.5kg lighter, albeit lacking some of the fitness I had built up in my somewhat haphazard training. On the up side, I have a guaranteed (deferred) entry to the 2016 event, a drawerful of Lycra bits and bobs, and a proper (pre-owned ) Road Bike. Onwards & Upwards !
Flo 2, well done! Even if I had gotten to the start line I'm not sure that I wouldn't have chickened out on one or other of the big hills. If you are desperate (or daft enough) to have another go you want an occasional training partner please let me know.
Cheers
MB
Flo 2, well done! Even if I had gotten to the start line I'm not sure that I wouldn't have chickened out on one or other of the big hills. If you are desperate (or daft enough) to have another go you want an occasional training partner please let me know.
Cheers
MB
flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
Sorry to hear you didn't make it to Ride London MonkeyB.
I will happily join you on training rides but there is no way I am entering again.
I was pretty much doomed from the point when I got my start time: 8.51. I knew it would be incredibly hard for me to meet the cut-off points but I couldn't persuade them to let me go any earlier.
The cut-off points were sellotaped into my crossbar and I made them all, by the skin of my teeth. I planned on taking the diversion route round Box Hill which would have taken off the pressure but found it closed. So I cycled all the way up the bloody thing because I was so worried about losing time. I'd already been knocked off my bike and knew I was struggling for pace.
From about 80 miles they were trying to persuade me to stop. I insisted that I had until 4.45 to make the final, 91 mile cut off and had every right to keep going. At 4.45 a motorcycle blocked the road in front of me and I had to climb into a van.
A tip for anyone entering the ballot (which opens next week) for next year: DO NOT BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR ESTIMATED TIME. Tell them you expect to finish in five-six hours. That way you should get an earlier start and will have up to 11.5 hours to finish!
I will happily join you on training rides but there is no way I am entering again.
I was pretty much doomed from the point when I got my start time: 8.51. I knew it would be incredibly hard for me to meet the cut-off points but I couldn't persuade them to let me go any earlier.
The cut-off points were sellotaped into my crossbar and I made them all, by the skin of my teeth. I planned on taking the diversion route round Box Hill which would have taken off the pressure but found it closed. So I cycled all the way up the bloody thing because I was so worried about losing time. I'd already been knocked off my bike and knew I was struggling for pace.
From about 80 miles they were trying to persuade me to stop. I insisted that I had until 4.45 to make the final, 91 mile cut off and had every right to keep going. At 4.45 a motorcycle blocked the road in front of me and I had to climb into a van.
A tip for anyone entering the ballot (which opens next week) for next year: DO NOT BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR ESTIMATED TIME. Tell them you expect to finish in five-six hours. That way you should get an earlier start and will have up to 11.5 hours to finish!
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
Chapeau...
As disappointed as you must be, i am in awe of your awesomeness.
Spare a thought for Van Avermaet in the Clásica San Sebastián - at least it didn't crash into you when on course to victory...
flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
Box Hill makes more sense now I've seen that elevation. I kept thinking I'd reached the top, only to find another climb. I'd call out to the marshals: "Is this the top?" They would just laugh.
flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
Incidentally, the reason I was able to cycle up Box Hill is entirely due to hundreds of reps up what I call Gnosall Mountain. It is a steep climb out of the village in the lane towards Great Bridgeford. I spent hours going up and down it, probably irritating the hell out of motorists.
monkey bidness
Well-Known Forumite
Flossietoo, so sorry to hear about the brutal way they terminated your ride. I hope that the experience has not put you off cycling events in the future. As part of my new training plan I intend to incorporate some of the locally organised Sportives next spring & summer. Maybe you will be up for some of these. I am reasonably certain that they don't use motorcycles to pick off tail-enders! In the meantime, keep on keeping on. Maybe I'll see you on Gnosall Mountain one day.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
It occurred to me later that F2 was using a public highway on a non-prohibited vehicle - I wonder under what authority she might be prevented (or obstructed?) from proceeding along the highway in a lawful manner by a person who was not a constable with reasonable cause?
I am also not sure, @monkey bidness, whether or not to hope that the 4.5kg was merely your wallet......
I am also not sure, @monkey bidness, whether or not to hope that the 4.5kg was merely your wallet......
monkey bidness
Well-Known Forumite
What's a 'wallet'? My minder allows me a daily stipend - provided I have been a god boy and eaten up all my greens. I find that 2/6 is more than enough for my modest needs.