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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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  • July 15, 2015 at 11:40 am #853823
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    Anonymous

    S13SFC wrote:Having to

    S13SFC wrote:
    Having to collect numbers etc from Excel has been norm for the last 2 years so I’m more surprised that anyone didn’t know that they’d have to do the same again this year.

    It was a similar situation for Velothon Wales.


    They’ve also had exactly the same system for 20 years for the marathon, with well over twice as many participants.

    It’s not like there’s a shortage of hotels in east London.

    July 15, 2015 at 11:15 am #853821
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    gonedownhill

    I’m staying at my mate’s
    I’m staying at my mate’s place in Acton (west London), we’d heard there were special trains travelling from there so figured we were sorted. What we didn’t anticipate was that the first train from Acton (or indeed Richmond) wouldn’t arrive at Stratford until well after both our load and start times. We’ve decided to just get the train anyway and turn up late and hope that they still let us start.

    Bit silly for the trains to not be adequately early for the earlier start times but then I do appreciate that the whole thing is a big logistical undertaking for them and that putting on a special train at 5am might not be the easiest thing to staff. That said I guess that’s why I’ve parted with almost 60 quid.

    If you give your (signed) letter they sent you with your latest pack, a photocopy of your passport and a letter of permission for a friend then they can pick up your numbers etc for you. Only one per person though.

    Sure the ride will be great but I’m doing this one once only due to the hoops you have to jump through to do it and the high cost. Someone else’s turn next year anyway.

    July 15, 2015 at 9:53 am #853819
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    S13SFC

    Having to collect numbers etc
    Having to collect numbers etc from Excel has been norm for the last 2 years so I’m more surprised that anyone didn’t know that they’d have to do the same again this year.

    It was a similar situation for Velothon Wales.

    July 15, 2015 at 9:32 am #853817
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    Anthony.C

    If you are part of a team
    If you are part of a team doing 20 miles each and you can’t go down the day before and stay the night I really wouldn’t bother, driving 200 miles in a day plus sorting out your documents is a lot of hassle to ride 20 miles. It would be worth it if you were doing it solo, this will be my third time.

    July 15, 2015 at 8:31 am #853815
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    edvelo

    I have the same problems, I
    I have the same problems, I simply didn’t realise how much of a ball ache it would be.

    For what it’s worth, I’ve booked a hotel in Richmond, so I could get the train to the start that they put on, however my load time ends at 7am and the first train arrives at 6.53am, so I’m having to drive in and park instead.

    What time is your start, if your driving 100 miles on th Sunday morning you’re going to have a very early start.

    July 14, 2015 at 8:50 pm #853813
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    CXR94Di2

    There has been numerous
    There has been numerous threads about the LP this year. , last year. It is the most annoying part of the whole process. Once you’re on ride all of that will be forgotten and memories of your ride will be at the forefront.

    July 14, 2015 at 8:49 pm #853811
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    spin sugar

    It’s always the way with
    It’s always the way with these sorts of events, unfortunately. They do the same with marathons. I don’t think it occurs to them to advertise it.

    That’s quite a slog coming from that far away on the morning of the event…all the hotels by start are likely to be booked up now, but you should be able to get something in London somewhere, if you have any scope to travel down the day before.

    If you don’t manage to find a solution, drop me a message – I’m happy to help out with retrieving packs (i’m actually volunteering this year so will be in the mix, anyway).

    July 14, 2015 at 7:40 pm #853809
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    Matt eaton

    Thanks for the ideas. One of
    Thanks for the ideas. One of our team is staying with a friend on the Saturday night but they are only allowed to pick up the rider pack for one other rider. I might have a contact or two in London so that might be an option but asking someone to met us at stupid-o’clock on a Sunday morning with the goods seems a bit out of order. We’ve also got two young children and finding a willing relative to have them for two days plus an overnight stay is going to be a problem. Even the (very long) day on Sunday is quite a big ask. Also, it’s not like hotels give away rooms for free.

    I’m glad that I didn’t pay for my place. If I had already parted with the entry fee I would be feeling pretty annoyed at having this sprung on me, or was it made clear when entering the ballot? Maybe I’ve missed some vital details because of the way I got my place; it was all done in a bit of a bizarre way.

    July 14, 2015 at 4:40 pm #853807
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    700c

    ..but you’re right – the
    ..but you’re right – the requirement to physically register at Excel in the days before the event is a major PITA

    July 14, 2015 at 4:39 pm #853805
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    700c

    if you know somebody who
    if you know somebody who lives closer you can allow them to pick up the registration pack for you (I think they have to take proof of your id/ confirmation from you that you allow somebody to pick up on your behalf, but check the RL website..)

    July 14, 2015 at 4:32 pm #853803
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    Martyn_K

    Trying to book a central
    Trying to book a central hotel now is going to be a problem. To give you an idea of timescales i booked my hotel in January, before the ballot results, and was lucky to get my first choice hotel.

    I presume that you are not from South or East of London (100 miles puts you in the sea).

    If you were intending on driving down on the morning why not shorten that journey by booking a hotel a bit further out of central London enabling you to get to the Excel on the Saturday..

    July 14, 2015 at 4:01 pm #853801
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    CXR94Di2

    Book a hotel like the rest of
    Book a hotel like the rest of us. I did last year and I lived 100 miles away.

    PP=PPP

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