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Ride London 100 – too little too late?

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  • July 29, 2014 at 12:53 pm #22018
    djtheot

    So first of all hello, this is my first post on here.

    I am here looking for moral support or a slap round the face or someone to say your crazy.

    Here is the thing, Last summer I really got into cycling. I have always loved it and have commuted a few days a week on a bike for several years in London. Last year I was commuting 22 miles a day 2-3 days a week with a weekend ride and I did my first sportive (London to Cambridge). I was overweight but losing the pounds and as fit as I have been in my 30s – I am 38 now. Winter came, then I reduced my cycling (to a complete stop by January). Then I got a new job in March, new office has no bike room or shower and I was travelling abroad a hell of a lot in the first 3 months. Anyway you can guess what has happened I got fatter and lost fitness.

    This was all with the backdrop of having got a ballot place in the Ride London 100 next week.

    5 weeks ago my travel eased off and I panicked so I joined a gym, got a personal trainer 3 times a week and went for my first ride since april this weekend (20miles). I have lost a couple of Kilos in that time and plan do commute in on my bike tomorrow (22miles plus an extra 10 on the way home) and a long ride this weekend 40 – 50 miles.

    I really want to do the ride, so practical question. How bad is it going to be and is it too little too late? I know the answer but think I can still make it, I should add my longest ride ever was just over 70 mile last summer when I was fit and I was fine with that.

    I allowed work circumstances and poor willpower take control so very disappointed with myself. Anyway, anecdotes, advice and constructive comments welcome and gratefully received.

    Thx

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  • July 30, 2014 at 8:45 pm #806543
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    Simon E

    A shortage of riding may mean
    A shortage of riding may mean you don’t get round as quickly, but don’t be put off. Lots of people commit to do stuff like this without putting enough time in.

    My suggestions: don’t start too fast, hide in the wheels and shelter. Drink and eat little & often (but don’t overdo it, you’re not riding the Tour de France), stop for a break if you feel the need and, most of all savour the experience.

    Even if for some reason you don’t get round, always remember it’s better to try and fail then never to have tried at all.

    Finally, a quote that resonates with me is by Ken Chlouber, organiser of the Leadville 100 mile MTB event:

    You’re better than you think you are, you can do more than you think you can.

    So true! B-)

    Go for it, and enjoy the day.

    July 30, 2014 at 5:45 pm #806541
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    realdeal

    You’ve had one or two bike
    You’ve had one or two bike rides since April, that’s how well you’re going to go. Unfortunately the shape you’re in now will be what you start with. Try to resist doing too much this week, you should really be tapering from about 10 days out, not doing more.

    What I don’t understand is the personal trainer thing… didn’t they come up with a training plan for you and why didn’t this involve riding a bike?

    On the plus side I’m fairly sure you’re going up one of the easier roads on Leith Hill and Newlands Corner and Box Hill are nothing to worry about either.

    Your tyres.. Why risk it? If you’re carrying a bit of timber then probably best to go for something on the more robust side and make sure your pressures are right. I live in the Surrey Hills and the lanes around here are always covered in that nasty sharp gravel. Leith Hill is particularly good for flint chippings as well.

    Just enjoy it for what it is.. a bike ride with lots of other people, some will be quicker, some will be slower!

    July 30, 2014 at 5:30 pm #806539
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    crazy-legs

    Quote:Thanks all, totally

    Thanks all, totally going to do it. Quick questions on tyres, I am running Gator Hardskins (I have Mavic Ksyrium SLR wheel set but have kept getting punctures on their stock tyres). Obviously the hard skins are wonderful for puncture resistances but I definitely notice the ride is harsher with the Conti’s. Any recommendations for the day? Fast with some puncture resistance?

    If you are going to change anything on the bike do it NOW and get a ride or two in at the weekend. That’ll give you time to get used to it.

    11pm Saturday night before the ride is not the time to discover that your new tyres are so tight you need a 2ft tyre lever to get them off or that the ride on them is so harsh you rattle all your teeth out!

    Same with clothing, contact points etc. Don’t go out and buy it now, it’s too late.

    And a suggestion re the tyres – go for 25mm, they’ll be nice and comfy. I really like Schwalbe Durano tyres, they’re fast rolling but have good puncture protection.

    July 30, 2014 at 4:36 pm #806537
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    allezrider

    djtheot wrote:
    Also I should

    djtheot wrote:

    Also I should add this forum is pretty great, its nice to get the positive comments. Was convinced most would say your mad!

    We might be thinking that…. 😉 .

    July 30, 2014 at 4:02 pm #806535
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    glynr36

    djtheot wrote:Any

    djtheot wrote:
    Any recommendations for the day? Fast with some puncture resistance?

    Stuff puncture resistance, get some Vittoria Open Corsa (SC or CX).
    They fly, corner brilliantly, not punctured any of the sets I’ve had yet.

    July 30, 2014 at 3:51 pm #806533
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    arfa

    Gp4000’s all the way – will
    Gp4000’s all the way – will be a joy to rude on them compared to gatorskins !

    July 30, 2014 at 3:44 pm #806531
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    djtheot

    Thanks all, totally going to
    Thanks all, totally going to do it. Quick questions on tyres, I am running Gator Hardskins (I have Mavic Ksyrium SLR wheel set but have kept getting punctures on their stock tyres). Obviously the hard skins are wonderful for puncture resistances but I definitely notice the ride is harsher with the Conti’s. Any recommendations for the day? Fast with some puncture resistance?

    BTW commuted in this morning for first time in a while and it appears the gym work has been paying off, was not blowing out my arse! So thats a good sign. Was going at the same pace as previous to my sabbatical. Real test this weekend….

    Also I should add this forum is pretty great, its nice to get the positive comments. Was convinced most would say your mad!

    July 30, 2014 at 2:53 pm #806529
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    freespirit1

    Just been along Parvis Road
    Just been along Parvis Road in West Byfleet. Road widening works started on Monday and the sign says for 6 weeks.

    July 30, 2014 at 12:55 pm #806527
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    Anonymous

    Long-range weather forecast
    Long-range weather forecast is for cloudy and 17-22 degC. And – interestingly – a 10mph south-westerly wind. So it’ll be headwind on the way out and tailwind back… that’ll help.

    July 30, 2014 at 12:47 pm #806525
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    allezrider

    If Boris can get round (in
    If Boris can get round (in 8:04) then, unless you are significantly larger and less fit than he, so can you (or anyone for that matter). Don’t worry about the climbs – you can get off and walk if needs be without being much slower than trying to grind up them – and apart from the 3 main ones (and Coombe Hill and Wimbledon Hill toward the end) there really isn’t much in the way of undulation. The 8:30 cut-off time is really for those that set off in the last wave – you just need to get to the finish by 17:00.
    If the weather is as good as it was last year it will be a fantastic day – just remember to apply sunscreen and drink plenty – go out and enjoy the ride. There was plenty of support on the roadside to spur you on.

    July 30, 2014 at 12:43 pm #806523
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    Anonymous

    Bit of a shortage of hills in
    Bit of a shortage of hills in Essex. However, Epping Forest has some nasty ones so I guess a few laps of those will have to do.

    July 30, 2014 at 8:41 am #806521
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    Flying Scot

    When people are training for
    When people are training for their first century, my advice is always, if tight on time, just do the hills, anyone can do the distance, but you need need elevation in those legs.

    This is easy for me to say though, living in Scotland, with all sorts of long and steep horrible climbs available locally, might not be so easy in other regions.

    July 30, 2014 at 8:01 am #806519
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    sergius

    I’m going to have to look up
    I’m going to have to look up Newlands Corner 🙂 I didn’t get a spot on Ride100, but I do like to know all the hills my in manor – as someone said earlier, the second time you do a climb it’s always much easier.

    July 30, 2014 at 3:42 am #806517
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    arfa

    sergius wrote:For me it’s not

    sergius wrote:
    For me it’s not Leith Hill that’s the problem, it’s White Down Lane (I think it’s called) which generally follows a couple of miles after it – if you are heading back through Dorking at least….

    Now that hill is a bitch.

    Whitedown is indeed a mean bastard of a climb but worry not as it is not on the route.
    There are only three vaguely meaningful climbs in the form of newlands corner, leith hill & box hill. As mentioned above, wimbledon hill is a sting in the tail but that is it really.
    Mind over matter and you’ll be fine

    July 29, 2014 at 11:02 pm #806515
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    Beefy

    Give a thought to the many
    Give a thought to the many riders who struggled through winter putting in the miles but never got a place. Realise how lucky you are to have a place and get on your bike

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