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London to Brighton…

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  • June 16, 2014 at 12:13 pm #21701
    parksey

    So, I managed to complete my first London to Brighton ride yesterday. Finished with a moving time of 4.5 hours but an actual time of more like 6 hours. Definitely the biggest ride I’ve done to date in terms of climbing.

    A few thoughts…

    First few “urban” miles away from the start were hell, literally only turned the first corner to meet the back of a big queue being marshalled out of a junction.

    Surprised by the amount of normal traffic on these early roads too, would have expected more closures, or at least restrictions in place, literally tens of thousands of cyclists plus cars and buses don’t mix…

    Lots of very impatient or aggressive drivers in this part too. Not like they wouldn’t have been aware that this was happening so as to plan their day/journey accordingly.

    Taking three hours to do the first 18 or so miles… So many forced stops, queues and, sadly, walking. Couldn’t ride up any of the first hills due to the sheer numbers of people off and pushing up the narrow roads.

    Lots of clearly once-a-year cyclists, with no particular spatial awareness (or manners, frankly), veering all over the road and stopping without warning, particularly on the hills. A girl I was riding with for a few miles politely called a middle-aged woman out for doing this to her hallway up a hill, just to get a load of abuse in return.

    Stupidly placed rest stops right at the top of hills rather than just beyond, further exacerbating the whole stopping without warning/walking situation.

    So many BSOs, clearly bought just for the event and probably to be resigned to the shed immediately afterwards!

    Never heard so many tortured gear changes or seen so many underinflated tyres! Offered to help a girl riding with an almost completely flat tyre, to which she looked at me like I’d abducted her child…

    Quite a few fat guys in too-close-fitting Team Sky kit!

    A disproportionately high number of upturned bikes at the side of the road, possibly (but I couldn’t be completely sure) linked to the number of BSOs.

    BUT, after that first 20 or so miles the nature of the event completely changed. The numbers thinned out massively, seemingly as less regular riders began to flag, and it became a genuinely enjoyable ride through the Sussex countryside. I got into a good rhythm along with 3 or 4 other riders and the following 20 miles sailed by, including the hills inbetween.

    And then came the Beacon… It was a relentless, 34/30 crawl, but the etiquette between the walkers and the riders was there this time, and I got myself up it fuelled on gels and Star Mix! Really pleased with myself for that as I thought I might crumble at a couple of points.

    The remaining half a dozen miles down into Brighton were a massive high, lots of people out cheering, not least along Madeira Drive itself. Cruised to the finish high-fiving the outstretched hands of the kids in the crowd, to a well-deserved burger and pint a short while later.

    Would I do it again? Not sure yet. The frustration of the first few hours doesn’t ruin the rest of the ride, which is a genuine challenge (to me at least). As has been said on here before, the earliest start time possible would definitely make for more enjoyable riding in the early stages, and an opportunity to a) tackle all the hills properly, and b) set a decent time.

    Still, all for a very worthwhile cause, and the work team I was in have so far raised over 2 grand. That side of it can’t be denied.

    Anyone else do it this year and, if so, what were your thoughts?

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  • June 17, 2014 at 7:49 am #799541
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    andycoventry

    arfa wrote:I know it gets

    arfa wrote:
    I know it gets people on bikes, raises lots of money and if ridden in the right spirit can be alot of fun but cycling really is becoming a victim of its own success. Perhaps time for organisers to spend a little on education/etiquette?

    Personally I think they need to look towards some sort of seeding system, try and group start times by ability. I know its only a ‘fun ride’ but its the only way I can see it working safely without reducing the numbers.

    June 16, 2014 at 9:34 pm #799539
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    parksey

    I have to admit that at no
    I have to admit that at no point on the ride did I feel particularly unsafe, but then I don’t normally when riding. I just kept sensible about it, slowing down when it bunched up and calling out when I wanted to pass, and just constantly checking around me for what others were doing. I appreciate many won’t have been doing this though.

    I like the idea of riding the route “off” the event, many of the roads did seem like they would be fairly quiet the rest of the time, and I certainly passed a few nice-looking pubs and tearooms for a lunch stop. The area is only an hour or so from me, and going in a small group will help on the logistical front too.

    Will perhaps give the sponsored ride another go on an early start next year to see if it does change the overall experience for the better, but may equally look for more challenging charity rides now too.

    Any recommendations?

    June 16, 2014 at 9:10 pm #799537
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    Miles253

    Got knocked off twice a few
    Got knocked off twice a few years back by big guys veering over the road and smashing into me, i certainly wouldn’t do it again if starting later than 6am. Beacon was also awful for me as people are off and walking everywhere in the road and you have to weave through them just to progress! would of been a lovely climb otherwise

    June 16, 2014 at 8:14 pm #799535
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    goggy

    I did it once with a 09h30
    I did it once with a 09h30 start and it was indeed a nightmare, but I guess it depends on your goal. The remainder of the times I have done it (every year since 2010) have been early starts. If you doing it for a day out, with stops for food and drink and socializing then a later start is fine – I encourage you to do the ride as the atmosphere is great.

    If, however, you are planning on doing a fast ride then get an early start time – 06h00 or 06h30. That way you can get past everyone easily, and as stated above after the M25 it clears up nicely. But be patient and courteous – as seen by the accident at Gatton (there are accidents there every year) – I approached it about 30 seconds after it happened but was slowed by shouts coming backwards to slow down which was good) the sheer volume of cycle traffic combined with the steep, windy, fast decent and inexperienced riders is a recipe for disaster. there are plenty of other less dangerous places to open up – don’t use any of them two main descents before the M25.

    Those with Garmin devices – store the ride, and do it later in the summer. Yes, the roads are not closed, but the majority of the section after the M25 is pleasantly quiet on Sundays as most traffic heads down the M23. Take your time, stop at some cake shops (Ditchling Tearooms at the crossing in Ditchling is amazing and welcomes cyclists), have an ice-cream at the top of the Beacon, and enjoy the day. If you are still a keen cyclist looking for some time in the countryside join a local cycling club … you will be amazed at the routes that are available south of London off the beaten track!

    June 16, 2014 at 7:14 pm #799533
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    arfa

    I know it gets people on
    I know it gets people on bikes, raises lots of money and if ridden in the right spirit can be alot of fun but cycling really is becoming a victim of its own success. Perhaps time for organisers to spend a little on education/etiquette?
    I know that descent off gatton park well (I have ridden the route three times this year) and it is a fast sweeping road with some blind spots and in a crowded unclosed road with inexperienced riders I can see how it would be extremely dangerous. I hope the injured bloke pulls through.

    June 16, 2014 at 5:24 pm #799531
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    parksey

    I had an 8.30 start time,
    I had an 8.30 start time, downside of doing it in a big group where it’s difficult to convince the less enthusiastic to start early. We didn’t actually start until 9.10, as we were delayed on the coach service from Brighton and then had to find the rest of the team on Clapham Common before we could set off.

    Definitely got held up due to various incidents throughout the morning, including an ambulance trying to make its way through a sea of people just under the M25. Did seem to me that the route was just too fast in parts to cater for people at both ends of the spectrum riding together. Didn’t really hear about the two more serious ones until the finish, hope they’re both ok.

    Wouldn’t use the coach service again though, I was quite surprised by how badly the bikes were handled when being unloaded. Either that or just ride it on some £50 secondhand machine that you’re not fussed about being damaged…

    June 16, 2014 at 3:34 pm #799529
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    beekie1

    You don’t say what time you
    You don’t say what time you set off, but I found 6.30am is the latest you can depart for a reasonable chance of getting up all the hills without walking/getting stuck in queues.

    Those that hit the beer the night before tend to miss their slot and set off later, which causes a bulge in numbers later on. For reasons I don’t know slow riders seem to prefer later departure times. So earlier is better. In addition a lot of London cyclists use the day as an opportunity to get a clear run to the South Coast on closed roads but again, they tend to be off by 7am, or join in en-route.

    Setting of at 6.30, you tend to catch the slowest of the 6.00am crowd before the the outskirts of town, which helps, as you really need to be ahead of them by the first hills. After that you never look back, their are very few mountain bikes by half way – the increased rolling resistance tends to slow them down and by Ditchling Beacon, it’s still pretty open to climb at your own pace.

    You have probably been unlucky though, and got caught in this incident. http://road.cc/content/news/121279-witness-appeal-after-two-riders-seriously-injured-bhf-london-brighton-bike-ride We were stuck for 20minutes, but riders behind would have had a much longer delay I think.

    Bekkie

    June 16, 2014 at 2:27 pm #799527
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    Man on a Mercian

    Set off in the second wave at
    Set off in the second wave at 0630, wouldn’t want to leave it any later to be honest, lots of poor road manners from a lot of the riders, especially going through red lights when the marshalls had specifically stopped us and p!ssing past at a rate of knots down hills approaching junctions, too close with no heads up warning, tho the guy in particular got pulled up on it by another rider and clearly knew he was in the wrong cos he didnt know where to look.

    The crash by Gatton looked terrible and I wish the bloke a speedy recovery, went past not long after it happened and paramedics were working away, police doing a fine job of marshalling people past.

    Overall a top ride and reasonably well marshalled but spoiled by a couple of wrong ‘uns.

    June 16, 2014 at 2:00 pm #799525
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    parksey

    Fair play for doing it every
    Fair play for doing it every year, do you always get the early start time though?

    Descent off of Ditchling was OK for me, not too busy and the slower riders stayed on the inside. It was some of the earlier descents when it was busier that had me feathering the brakes the whole way down.

    June 16, 2014 at 12:23 pm #799523
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    andycoventry

    I do it every year, but I
    I do it every year, but I always leave at 6 without fail. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t.

    I got a clear run the whole way except for 4/5 sets of lights at the start and at the end.

    I think its frankly dangerous with the number of cyclists later in the day, particularly on the descent from the Beacon.

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