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London to Brighton

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  • January 15, 2014 at 9:52 pm #20477
    parksey

    Ok, so I’m toying with the idea of doing London to Brighton this year as part of a small work team.

    I’ve never done this sort of distance, or this kind of mass participation riding before, so just looking for people’s opinions, good or bad, on what it’s like?

    I’m particularly keen to know how challenging the route is, and whether the sheer number of participants cause any problems.

    I guess it’s ultimately a case of whether it’s actually worth doing? The cause itself is of course worthy enough, if not particularly close to my heart personally (no pun intended!).

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  • January 17, 2014 at 1:59 pm #768397
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    Shades

    It’s a doddle; I did it a few
    It’s a doddle; I did it a few years ago in a small team. It was the longest distance I’d done but I was pretty cycle fit as a result of commuting. We didn’t ‘hammer it’ as for some people in our team it was a real challenge; as such it was quite enjoyable as we just went with the flow. Watch yourself for the first few miles but then people start to ‘space out’ more. Loads of refreshment stops so input will definitely exceed output. I did it on a hybrid but I was amazed at people with top-end road bikes pushing them up the hills. No pushing up Ditchling though (short and sharp), and there’s a great downhill run into Brighton. A team meal in Brighton ends things off well. Logistics takes a bit of planning and a support van makes things a lot easier for getting home (make sure you read all the info on this as you can’t take your bike home on the train for example). Only had one ‘loony’ trying to weave through everyone but came up to a bend shortly afterwards to find him sprawled over the road with first aiders round him. The year before I did it I drove the support van and, when I arrived in Brighton after a breakfast stop, the ‘roadies’ were finishing so if you don’t want to hang around then be in an early start group.

    January 16, 2014 at 5:30 pm #768395
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    jova54

    Miles253 wrote:Well enjoy the

    Miles253 wrote:
    Well enjoy the ride, is it June this year? I would recommend Nightrider for a second bike event. 65 miles through the night, very fun.

    I was going to suggest Nightrider too.

    I did it last year and I’m doing it again this year. No transport problems as you finish where you start, either Crystal Palace or Ally Pally. I started training in March last year for the ride in early June. The longest ride I did was 25 miles in preparation and I didn’t really have any problems. I completed it at an average of 10.5 mph so just over 6 hours of riding. There are stops every 20Km or so and you get free cake at the halfway point and a bacon butty and bun at the end. You also get free sweeties and choccy bars at the stops.

    It’s limited to 4,000 people this year and you can get an entry through a charity other than BHF (worthy though it is) for about £40.

    I am 59 and still carrying a bit of excess weight and did it on my 40 year old steel Peugeot with down-tube shifters. This year I’ve got a new MARIN and will be looking to have a great time again and hopefully improve my time.

    January 16, 2014 at 2:38 pm #768393
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    Miles253

    Well enjoy the ride, is it
    Well enjoy the ride, is it June this year? I would recommend Nightrider for a second bike event. 65 miles through the night, very fun.

    January 16, 2014 at 9:56 am #768391
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    parksey

    Thanks all for the input.
    Thanks all for the input.

    Overwhelming consensus seems to be to start very early to enjoy it then, although I’m not sure quite how viable that will be as the team does include some rather more casual cyclists… Not really in the spirit of things if I start at 6am and have finished and left Brighton before they’re even halfway round!

    I guess it will be rewarding to at least say you’ve done it once, hopefully without walking up the Beacon either, and it might then be a platform for other, perhaps even longer, events.

    January 16, 2014 at 8:16 am #768389
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    VeloPeo

    Personally I wouldn’t touch
    Personally I wouldn’t touch the BHF ride with a bargepole – mainly for the reasons stated above

    If you want to do a supported ride with signage, feed stations etc then there’s lots of other smaller events. I got roped into doing this one with work a couple of years ago – much more manageable numbers and much more pleasant. Just note that it goes into Brighton from the Devils Dyke side (also a challenging climb) and not Ditchling Beacon
    http://www.capitaltocoast.org.uk/

    As an aside, the guys from work were all pretty much gym-bunnies boasting how easy they thought the ride they would be and how they’d have no trouble keeping up with me. One guy even showed up with his neighbour’s £8k Specialized. I was first one home by about 1h15 without trying that hard đŸ™‚

    Edit: There’s not usually any restrictions on bikes on trains back to London for the smaller rides. Obviously check with train companies before you go etc etc

    January 16, 2014 at 8:00 am #768387
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    andycoventry

    As everyone else has said the
    As everyone else has said the only real challenge on the route is Ditchling Beacon and that comes close to the end, you have ages till the event so gradually build up the distance in training and you will have no problems.

    Everytime I have done it there has always been a bunch of wannabe sprinters off the start, which normally get passed about mile 10 when it starts to go uphill – start slower and cautiously as its busy then pick up the speed when you get out of London – its too easy to copy everyone else’s pace at mass events like this.

    From experience I would advise to go as early as you can – a 6am start makes it a breeze and you can be in Brighton before it gets busy. The later you start the slower the ride, and the more chance you have of gridlock on the smaller climbs with people walking. Also every year there are crashes on the descents and you stand less chance of being caught up in it.

    If you do start late and are being picked up I would advise cycling a couple of miles out along the promenade towards Hove. Its pretty much flat and its easier to get to by car if you avoid the town and way less busy.

    January 16, 2014 at 7:00 am #768385
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    Miles253

    I did the ride a couple of
    I did the ride a couple of years back, it wasn’t the longest i had done to date, but it was very challenging. Not really because of the route, or my fitness, but because of the sheer amount of people. The first 10 miles out of london is carnage, so very slow! I got thrown off my bike by a much heavier cyclist on a really busy incline. He was weaving all over and got tangled with me, sprained a wrist in the first 10 miles!! So be careful. Ditchling would be fine on its own, but with the amount of people, it takes a lot of concentration to get up there without stopping. People are walking on both sides of the road and sometimes getting off in the middle, ruining your rhythm. Overall the ride is a nice achievement and it feels good coming down the final straight, but its far too crowded. If you’re going to do it, make sure you start early!

    January 16, 2014 at 6:40 am #768383
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    baggies2354

    I did the LBR as my first
    I did the LBR as my first long ride, starting at 7am it was still carnage getting out of London. I had my front wheel wrecked when someone fell on it on the first climb. I managed to finish and vowed never to do the event again, I switched to doing the Action Medical rides which are much nicer.
    The train companies will not carry bikes at all on the day of the ride leaving lots of bewildered cyclists at the station. Traffic that day in Brighton is gridlocked and getting home can be a nightmare.
    The route itself is enjoyable except for Ditchling Beacon which is fine to ride up on the day of the event as the road is closed, if you can get to it early enough then there are not too many walkers. At other times when the road is open it is not a pleasant climb because of the heavy traffic and twisting turns result in a lot of impatient drivers. Climb is best done before 10am on a Sunday morning if the road is open.

    January 16, 2014 at 12:01 am #768381
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    MikeOnABike

    We have done the L2B ride for
    We have done the L2B ride for the last 5 years. The first year was a start time of 8 am and the ride getting out of London and on the hills was a nightmare. Now we leave at 6am and it’s a wonderful ride. Thankfully we have somewhere to stay in Brighton overnight, so I can’t comment on how to get back the same day.

    January 15, 2014 at 10:37 pm #768379
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    parksey

    I am keen to do it from a
    I am keen to do it from a personal achievement perspective, but then there are plenty of other organised charity or sportive rides that no doubt have far fewer numbers.

    I do cycle pretty much every day myself, but even so my total weekly distance probably only equals the L2B route distance, so definitely got some training to do! Still, gives me something to work towards.

    Have seen various pics of past events which show a lot of clearly very casual cyclists pushing bikes, but presumably this congestion dies down as the miles go on?

    Logistical side of ending up miles from the car is a possible issue, but I think it can be covered by work. Train operators don’t appear very accommodating though, BHF website suggests Southern don’t allow bikes on trains at all that day!

    January 15, 2014 at 10:32 pm #768377
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    daloriana

    I’ve done it overnight, and
    I’ve done it overnight, and if you’re not used to this kind of distance, it’ll be tough.
    There are a few testing climbs along the route, culminating with Ditchling Beacon. With 50+miles in your legs its is a big ask, but you’ve got plenty of time to get is shape, so go for it! The sense of achievement when rolling down to the coast is great.

    I found this site a great source of information before I set out.
    https://sites.google.com/site/cyclingroutes/

    As for the number of riders, it depends what you want out of the day. If you want to give it your best shot, and challenge yourself on the climbs, then you need a VERY early start time (7am at the latest I’ve been told), as the sheer weight of riders who are walking up the hills will force you to walk too.

    Alternatively If you want a fun day out and aren’t fussed about walking up the hills a later start time will do.

    January 15, 2014 at 10:27 pm #768375
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    Al__S

    I’ve never done it, but I do
    I’ve never done it, but I do know that the numbers cause transport problems. To give an idea of the scale, if everyone, without their bike, wanted to get a train back to London, it would need about 30-40 12 carriage (maximum length) trains, in addition to the rest of the normal service which with it being a busy summer weekend is often packed any.

    January 15, 2014 at 10:27 pm #768373
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    arfa

    London to Brighton is a
    London to Brighton is a lovely satisfying ride whichever way you do it (on or off road). The on road charity rides are very busy from what I hear and you end up walking up the hills due to sheer numbers. I have ridden it several times but never in a mass event (as in general they don’t appeal).
    If you are doing it as part of a small group then it will probably be more fun and in terms of training the BHF website has useful training plans. 60 miles is not a ride you just show up to but 6-8 weeks training should do you proud.
    Enjoy !

    January 15, 2014 at 10:21 pm #768371
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    Claud And I

    London to Brighton was the
    London to Brighton was the first ‘long’ ride I ever did, and I enjoyed it. That said, the reasons I enjoyed it were not really to do with the event itself: it was the sense of achievement of finishing a ride longer than any I had ever done before.

    The huge amount of riders involved is the biggest setback. If you happen to ride, rather than push, up some of the bigger hills – you will have to weave between hundreds of people who are walking their bikes.

    The route itself is not hugely challenging, but if you don’t normally do much cycling then it will be quite hard work! Ditchling Beacon being the famous ‘big’ hill – not easy, even for a seasoned cyclist.

    Basically, it is a well organised event for a great cause, but there are better ways to have fun on a bike đŸ™‚

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