preferred-google-button
log in
register

Ride London 100 – too little too late?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • 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

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 50 total)
1 2 3 4
  • Author
    Replies
  • August 12, 2014 at 1:46 pm #806573
    0
    mickcee

    I don’t think I was trained
    I don’t think I was trained well enough but it was brilliant and easily the best challenge (because of the weather) I have ever taking part in.

    I will need to come back and complete the full ride. I never got in the ballet 2 years in a row so took a charity place this year and just scraped the target. I am not a proactive person when it comes to asking people for sponsorship and been on Facebook doesn’t help! I think my wife and parents post’s helped more then me asking around!!!!

    So hopefully 3rd year lucky this year….I loved it!

    August 12, 2014 at 10:14 am #806571
    0
    realdeal

    Maybe he’s still riding!
    Maybe he’s still riding!

    August 10, 2014 at 12:50 pm #806569
    0
    crazy-legs

    @djtheot: how did you get on
    @djtheot: how did you get on then?

    August 3, 2014 at 5:56 pm #806567
    0
    Anonymous

    So, last big ride for me
    So, last big ride for me today before the event… 86km done and dusted and I feel relatively human. It was going to be 105km but the headwind on the way back killed me, so I trimmed it. Not worried about that next week though – I’ll draft people, and the headwind will be on the first half so as soon as we turn back toward London it’ll be tailwind all the way.

    August 3, 2014 at 5:52 pm #806565
    0
    freespirit1

    Anyway here’s some info for
    Anyway here’s some info for those using rail to spectate;

    http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/RideLondon2014.aspx

    August 3, 2014 at 5:29 pm #806563
    0
    chivers67

    allezrider wrote:chivers67

    allezrider wrote:
    chivers67 wrote:
    I’m also doing this though so far this year I’ve done 2,000 miles of training and 57,000 feet+ of ascending.

    Let’s not start a bragging war on how much or how little training we’ve done – though for my 2ps worth I did 1100 miles in July last year for the Ride London (mainly because I hadn’t done enough in the months before) ;)
    hmm bit of mis-quoting there, my smilie was after my age not my training stats 😀

    August 1, 2014 at 4:33 pm #806561
    0
    allezrider

    chivers67 wrote:I’m also

    chivers67 wrote:
    I’m also doing this though so far this year I’ve done 2,000 miles of training and 57,000 feet+ of ascending. :D

    Let’s not start a bragging war on how much or how little training we’ve done – though for my 2ps worth I did 1100 miles in July last year for the Ride London (mainly because I hadn’t done enough in the months before) 😉

    August 1, 2014 at 3:54 pm #806559
    0
    chivers67

    I’m also doing this though so
    I’m also doing this though so far this year I’ve done 2,000 miles of training and 57,000 feet+ of ascending. Leith is the hardest of the three bigger hills, as long as you take them steady and not try to go up them like a pro I think you’ll be ok. Psychology pays a big factor concentrate on a few feet ahead of you not 100 meters, I try to save a gear for the final ascent along with getting out the saddle for a final push if need be and have it in the back of your mind on the way up three lovely descents await! I’m taking plenty of Gels, salted nuts & Carbs along two water bottles with High5 electrolyte mix inside as well.

    Enjoy it!

    O and i’m 47 😀

    July 31, 2014 at 11:54 am #806557
    0
    Matt eaton

    Pace yourself and you’ll get
    Pace yourself and you’ll get round OK.

    I did my first and only century last year (a charity ride). As there were two food/drink stops I just treated it as 3 x 30 odd mile efforts and had a little break at each stop. It seemed much easier to get my head round that way having done 45-50 mile efforts when training.

    July 31, 2014 at 11:07 am #806555
    0
    freespirit1

    Leodis wrote:Isnt it mostly

    Leodis wrote:
    Isnt it mostly flat, there arent any hills down that neck of the woods. If Boris can do it…

    Why is the area between Clandon and Dorking/Leith Hill called Surrey Hills then?

    Box Hill must need it’s name changing soon too!

    July 31, 2014 at 10:11 am #806553
    0
    Leodis

    Isnt it mostly flat, there
    Isnt it mostly flat, there arent any hills down that neck of the woods. If Boris can do it…

    July 31, 2014 at 9:52 am #806551
    0
    mickcee

    Im a bit worried too, started
    Im a bit worried too, started cycling last year and took on my first sportive last August – 70 miles which was a shock to the system to an overweight bloke like myself. I am actually heavier now but a year on considerably more experienced after 6 sportive’s this year of various lengths and a member of a cycle club too. Even though I am in the slow group in the club which has been renamed the steady group as we have upped our average within group work from 14 to 18 mph this year.

    My question is the talk of drafting is fine but finding a group where you can sort of take your time but still get to the front and take your turn? I don’t particularly want to sit on the back of strangers letting them do the work.

    So to those who did it last year, I obviously put a time down (6hrs 30 mins) which will put me in a starting group with others of similar ability so I am not trying to hang onto the back of people who are going to rip my legs to bits?

    To the original poster. what group you in etc?

    July 31, 2014 at 9:08 am #806549
    0
    Maggers

    Not sure how tongue in cheek
    Not sure how tongue in cheek this is comment is but there was more than a fare share walking up Leith Hill last year. I reckon if you take on a bit of fuel on the stretch between Newlands corner and Abinger Hammer it’ll have sunk in enough before you hit the climb.

    +1 for the extra speed you get on closed roads and cycling in a pack. You’ll gain an extra couple of mph just from that. If you can share the load out on the fast roads to Newlands corner into the headwind then the rest is pretty much a tail wind.

    Wimbledon hill really caught people out last year. A lot of cursing from the people riding around me.

    As has been said enjoy it. Don’t go flying off the start. Absorb the fact you’re riding through the middle of London which is lovely and flat and devoid of cars for a change.

    July 31, 2014 at 12:15 am #806547
    0
    Leviathan

    allezrider wrote:Don’t worry

    allezrider wrote:
    Don’t worry about the climbs – you can get off and walk if needs be.

    You can’t walk up the climbs; it is not allowed.

    July 30, 2014 at 11:55 pm #806545
    0
    Colin Peyresourde

    JUST DO IT
    JUST DO IT

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 50 total)
1 2 3 4
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.