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Ride London Surrey 100 logistics – borderline abandonment.

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  • July 14, 2015 at 2:36 pm #24435
    Matt eaton

    Hi folks, I’m after a bit of shared knowledge from anyone doing this ride.

    I’m signed up as part of a group. I won the places in a draw from British Cycling. Logistics were always going to be a challenge but we’ve been become aware of a requirement to go to London in the few days leading up to the ride to pick up numberplates etc.This is a problem for us as we live over 100 miles from London and most of us planned to travel on Sunday morning. Not to put too fine a point on it I’m not going back and forth to London the day before to sort this stuff out.

    Anyone in a similar position? Any ideas for solutions other than sacking it off and going for a bike ride (my number one option ATM).

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Viewing 15 replies - 31 through 45 (of 72 total)
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  • July 18, 2015 at 7:28 pm #853883
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    Anthony.C

    If you are so keen why didn’t
    If you are so keen why didn’t you do it for a charity and get a guaranteed place ?
    I didn’t get in via the ballot.

    July 18, 2015 at 7:13 pm #853881
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    Daveyraveygravey

    Whining miserable bastards!
    Whining miserable bastards! The show is free to get in and you aren’t forced to buy anything! I did the Dartmoor Classic last month, and that also obliged you to pick up your papers and register the day before.
    And if you think it isn’t worth it for a bike ride, you obviously haven’t done Ridelondon. It is a unique and special event, and unlike any other bike ride I have done, organised or not.
    I would love to be doing it this year, along with the 75,000 or so oversubscribers. If you can’t be arsed to register, don’t enter the ballot and let those that really want to do it have a better chance

    July 18, 2015 at 3:46 pm #853879
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    foot_loose

    Anybody else staying at the
    Anybody else staying at the Ibis hotel in Docklands the night before? Hoping there might be some others with whom to ride to the start.

    July 18, 2015 at 11:50 am #853877
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    Simon E

    You sign up for a hugely
    You sign up for a hugely popular mass participation event in the capital city then complain about the logistics? 😕

    It’s like going to Glastonbury and complaining about the mud, the food and that you can’t get within half a mile of the main stage.

    I understand why organised events like this are so popular but I agree with Crikey.

    July 18, 2015 at 10:12 am #853875
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    Anthony.C

    Well said, the whole event is
    Well said, the whole event is great but having to go to Excel is still a pita.

    July 17, 2015 at 11:54 pm #853873
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    MartinGS

    Good grief there are some
    Good grief there are some miserable devils on here, lighten up! You are riding on closed roads through one of the world’s greatest capital cities, through some glorious countryside, and all with no cars. You’re amongst all kinds of people out for a good time and many of them raising thousands of pounds for deserving charities. And just for good measure nobody is trying to force you to buy anything anywhere, (certainly at the registration unless you think some discounted repair kits, inflators and clothing is some devious conspiracy…) Instead, on the day volunteers are falling over themselves to help out, feed and water you, help with breakdowns and speed you on your way. At least that was how it was last year, even in torrential conditions!

    The logistics are immense – seeing how they get the various waves organised and under way is impressive – and none can pretend they’ve got everything right but nobody is forcing you to take part and if you really think you can replicate the experience tomorrow on roads round your house then go ahead, kid yourself, enjoy your beer and miss out on a real treat.

    If anybody is really stuck with the registration then I’m prepared to discuss collecting their numbers etc. and somehow meeting them Sunday morning if that is acceptable as somebody above suggests though apparently I can only do it for one as the previous poster has said. Still it might help somebody… And, for anybody getting dropped off by car you can get pretty close from the East side – Romford Road – of the Olympic park certainly within ten minutes cycling. I hope you all have a good time!

    July 16, 2015 at 10:20 pm #853871
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    crikey

    I appreciate the draw of
    I appreciate the draw of closed roads and a big event, but for me that’s not what I want from a bike ride. The additional hassle and promotional/advertorial/letmesellyousomething stuff would be enough for me to say no thanks.

    I rode the Manchester to Blackpool ride one year because I was at a loose end and it was on. The first 10 miles were people weeping after crashing, the next 10 were people dealing with punctures, there was a quick bit in the middle, then a pseudo sprint for the finish line. Then I rode home, and the ride home was far better.

    July 16, 2015 at 10:05 pm #853869
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    Matt eaton

    crikey wrote:All this agony

    crikey wrote:
    All this agony over a bike ride?
    I can go out and ride 100 miles tomorrow for nothing, on nicer roads, with better scenery, better food, and bloody miles better beer and an appreciably lower number of clowns on bikes.

    You’re missing the point of cycling by miles….

    I was just thinking that this all seems a bit serious. I wouldn’t usually go in for sportives for the same reasons as you but the closed roads carry a certain appeal. When I saw the prize draw from BC my thought process was: 100 mile spin with a few mates on closed roads? Why not?

    I had imagined a fun day out (one day, not an entire weekend), nothing more, nothing less.

    July 16, 2015 at 9:47 pm #853867
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    Matt eaton

    Anthony.C wrote:There are no

    Anthony.C wrote:
    There are no safety briefings, you just get your documents and get out of there.

    I was kinda thinking this was a valid point, along with the black market re-sells but you’ve blown it out of the water.

    The black market point is a fair one but I’m not convinced that this is the true motivation for their approach. I had a look on the FAQs on the RL site and this whole subject is conspicuous by its absence. This seems to be a recurring theme year on year and they must get tons of calls about it, why not include it in the FAQs?

    July 16, 2015 at 9:25 pm #853865
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    crikey

    All this agony over a bike
    All this agony over a bike ride?
    I can go out and ride 100 miles tomorrow for nothing, on nicer roads, with better scenery, better food, and bloody miles better beer and an appreciably lower number of clowns on bikes.

    You’re missing the point of cycling by miles….

    July 16, 2015 at 9:18 pm #853863
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    Matt eaton

    Beefy wrote:Abandon? Really!

    Beefy wrote:
    Abandon? Really! Do you know how many people have applied and been turned down!

    I have literally no idea. Do you?

    What I do know is that big events sell many more places than they actually have with the expectation that people will drop out so I don’t have a conscious about it. If people didn’t drop out there would be fewer places on offer in the first place so it’s swings and roundabouts anyway.

    July 16, 2015 at 5:38 pm #853861
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    Beefy

    Abandon? Really! Do you know
    Abandon? Really! Do you know how many people have applied and been turned down!

    July 16, 2015 at 4:57 pm #853859
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    Anthony.C

    There are no safety
    There are no safety briefings, you just get your documents and get out of there.

    July 16, 2015 at 8:33 am #853857
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    Martyn_K

    I would imagine that there
    I would imagine that there are many reasons for the way this event is managed;

    Registration in person 2-4 days pre event at Excel:
    The event is over subscribed, postal registrations up to 4 weeks in advance would open up black market sales of places.
    A typical Wiggle sportive has safety briefings before the event, this is not possible with the number of participants in RL100. Safety briefings are therefore presented at the registration event, insurances demand this takes place.
    As noted, there are many sponsors of the event, most will have a stall at the registration expo in order for you to buy last minute bits (rain jackets did a roaring trade last year!).
    Local economy, lets not forget that many parties need to buy in to the event. A guarantee of a potential 25000 people needing hotel beds, lunch/ evening meals and generally heading to London spending money helps sell the event to local authorities.

    This sort of registration process is pretty much the norm for a mass participation event of any type.

    July 15, 2015 at 9:35 pm #853855
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    Mystery Machine

    I live in South West London
    I live in South West London (same sort of distance from the Olympic Park as Acton), and have been lucky enough to get spots in all three years to date. My start times have always been much too early to take the trains from Richmond, so I’ve ended up getting up at 4 am, leaving home reasonably quickly, and riding 15 miles across town. It’s not so bad at that time of the morning because of lack of traffic, and you should be able to do the same from Acton, if you leave an hour and a half or so.

    I would not recommend leaving your arrival time late. I almost missed my cut off last year (didn’t get myself together quick enough when leaving), and they didn’t seem to keen on letting people into waves when they’re late. It’ll take about the same time to ride across the city as it will to take the train, and you’ll join up with other riders as you get further East, so you shouldn’t get lost.

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