Ride London Ballot Results

i wonder if i will have double luck next year then, failed in ballot twice now

BUZZBUZZBUZZ wrote:

How legit is this method of checking you got in or not? Has anyone who's 'approved' also got the magazine? I don't want to get my hopes up!

Totally Legit.

Marvelous work. Too legit to quit!

evo111 wrote:

A further idea for the future on this... Folks that perhaps have entered and find that they no longer wish to ride (as perhaps they are the only rider) should be able to 'hand back' their ticket for redistribution.

Nuff said - i will stop now. Good luck to those that are in, it will be a fabulous event.

I think you can

You can do it two ways
1) Pay for your entry when you go into the ballot. If you get in and can't do the ride your entry is deferred to the next year and your entry for this year goes back into the pot
2) Don't pay up front and if you're successful and can't make it - just don't pay. That way your entry is cancelled and your place goes back in the pot. You don't get a deferral to next year though.

I'm assuming there will be a second draw once all everyone who got in has decided whether to ride or not?

Me and Mrs VeloPeo have both had to decline our places as we can't make it.

allez neg wrote:

Ho hum. I love the way they let me know by the cheap and immediate and eco friendly medium of an email and didn't go to the expense of printing a glossy magazine to tell me I was unsuccessful, wrap it in plastic film and post it to me - that would just be stupid.

Yes - a ludicrous waste of money and resources.

cidermart wrote:

Got the patronising commiserations magazine this morning.

+1 though the free hiviz (or Dayglo as it was called in the olden days) jacket was a nice softner. I'll try to get a charity place though already am doing a few charity rides this year aready.

Well done to those that got in... Commiserations to those who weren't lucky

farrell wrote:

If you just turned up and rode the route, what could they do?

Quite a lot i suspect, not that i'd be really bothered but I suspect a lot would... ; )

andycoventry wrote:

Quick poll undertaken at the weekend, 5 male entries and 3 female entries, all around the same age group (25-35) and time (5 hours ish).....

All three women got a ballot place, all 5 male entries didn't.

Does not sound like a random and unbiased ballot to me.....

Think they were open last year about being selective to the extent they are trying to get as much of a balance as they can across genders, age groups and target times. There were probably a lot more men entering the ballot putting that sort of time down on paper than women. That won't make you feel any better about losing out but my point is I don't think they ever have said it's a completely random ballot.

farrell wrote:

If you just turned up and rode the route, what could they do?

I doubt there is much they could or would do about it when you're on wheels but you might generally be considered a knob.

spin sugar wrote:

farrell wrote:

If you just turned up and rode the route, what could they do?

I doubt there is much they could or would do about it when you're on wheels but you might generally be considered a knob.

Laminate a wee card up saying PRESS and stick that on your handlebars, that's bound to make the 1 day stewards think twice about questioning you.

I've done a few of these things that were full up with friends who couldn't get in joining the course a few miles in, and peeling away before the end.

spin sugar wrote:

farrell wrote:

If you just turned up and rode the route, what could they do?

I doubt there is much they could or would do about it when you're on wheels but you might generally be considered a knob.

Interesting.

And whats your thinking behind deciding that someone who wants to join in a group ride on public roads is a knob?

johndonnelly wrote:

Everyone I know who said they could send the money to charity if they didn't get in, didn't get in. 2 years running. This could still happen randomly, and I don't doubt there's a random component. I looks bad though, and it does seem increasingly likely, to me, that donating money from missed ballot places excludes you from getting in.

I think that's pretty cheeky, and I'm really glad I didn't apply this year.

I was unemployed for a while until April 13, so couldn't donate to charity when I signed up. I won a place in the ballot and landed a job in time to confirm my slot. Having heard all the comments about donations and charity slots (and the jerseys received for an event you don't get to ride) I didn't donate again this year, and I have got another slot. I've paid now so the money ends up in the right place, but it does see a bit odd you can keep paying and loosing out. Third time lucky.

farrell wrote:

spin sugar wrote:

farrell wrote:

If you just turned up and rode the route, what could they do?

I doubt there is much they could or would do about it when you're on wheels but you might generally be considered a knob.

Interesting.

And whats your thinking behind deciding that someone who wants to join in a group ride on public roads is a knob?

Its not a 'public' road, it is a closed road event with an entry fee to provide marshaling, mechanical support, timing, food and water stations and baggage transfers. If you want to ride 100 miles on an open road with traffic you can do that any time. Will said 'knobs' be stopping for free water and gels?

It requires explanation? I had intended to leave it as the witty one-liner it is and move on, but ok I'll bite...(briefly) IMHO people should respect the ride, the effort that goes into organising events like this and that fellow cyclists have paid hard earned cash to pay the fee to get in. I saw plenty of people who joined the course without bar numbers last year - left them to it because I am not generally a spoilsport but I reserve the right to believe they are knobs. Don't disrespect the ride! *Dismounts soapbox*