Anyone doing RideLondon?

[phoebemcpeepee]

Just wondering how the training is going and what sort of timing you're looking at to complete in?

I'm panicking I won't finish at all in the allotted time as I did a 65mile ride last week and only averaged 12mph and was sore and shattered! 72 miles tomorrow (slightly dreading as I've discovered 50+ miles is definitely outside my comfort zone!) so will see how I get on.

[prettybird]

Not done RideLondon but having done a wee bit of training in a group - and watching ds when he was still into cycling competitively - there is a major difference in the amount of effort required when you're riding in a group.

Try practising "riding on a wheel" - close to the bike in front - for maximum benefit. It does mean you need to keep concentrating though - one of the reasons why I prefer running races to Sportives as you can switch off when you run - although I still love cycling socially and with dh.

[sheepysheep]

I’m doing it :-) it’s my first time. It’ll also be my last time because of the logistical hassle of getting me and bike to London and back again (especially as I have to get back on the Sunday night as it’s DS’s birthday on the Monday). I’ve always wanted to do it and it’s taken three attempts at the ballot

Don’t worry about time - the closed roads means that our average speeds will be higher. Also, as prettybird says you can draft behind others to save energy / increase your speed. pretty are you one of BIWI’s disciples?! I’m sure I recognise you from the BC threads...

I did a century at the beginning of june and that took 6h06m but a) it was flat and b) I did it off the back of training for the London marathon so I was pretty fit still. I’ve since had two nasty viruses back to back so very little training has been done over the last month (honestly just the thought of summoning the energy to put my sports gear on made me want to curl into a whimpering ball on the floor let alone actually going for a run / bike). I’ve done about 700 miles training so not ideal but I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and the fun. It’s meant to be an enjoyable experience not a race so don’t worry too much about time. And also don’t worry too much about the distances you’ve done... riding in a group makes a MASSIVE difference. I always train solo due to living in the arse end of nowhere and work / child care being a bit sporadic. On the rare occasions I’ve ridden in a group it’s made a huge difference to both average speed and perceived exertion so please don’t worry. I saw something on a GCN video last night that said riding a century in a group is like riding 60 ish miles solo.... you’re going to be just fine.

Which start wave are you in? I’m in Black A and go at 7am... I think it’ll take me about 7h which is what I put on my form when I entered. What are you aiming for?

[prettybird]

sheepysheep - yes, I'm on the BootCamp threads I even took BIWI's place once for a couple of weeks when she was going to be away and the BootCampers didn't want to wait for the BootCamp

If it's any reassurance, I once did the Pedal for Scotland (c50 miles Glasgow to Edinburgh) plus an extra 6 miles to/from the start on training of 6 miles a day (3 mile commute to work, 3-4 days a week) and 2 longer (but not much ) cycles This was before ds got into cycling (and I got to know the other cycling mums and also did a wee course encouraging women into cycling to get more of them racing) so I knew nothing about drafting or taking turns. I was knackered cycling the 3 miles back home (despite the rest on the bus) but I did it

[phoebemcpeepee]

OMG the logistics are doing my head in - still not worked out if we can get to the place we've booked parking due to road closures and not even started to think about getting back there after the event . Green Park to Stratford with a bike anyone?

That aside, I'm just so relieved one of my cycle buddies is in the same wave (7:08) as two other friends who put the same wildly optimistic time are 30 minutes either side of us so likely going solo for the duration. We'll get each other round one way or another I hope!

[CMOTDibbler]

DH is doing the 100, and ds and I are doing the 46 which is going to be fun!
We are staying at Excel and will cycle back there, but the first year DH did it we took the riverbus back to the O2 and then the cable car to the other side of the river. We're also doing Freeride on the Saturday

[katajenka]

I'm doing RL...I've done it five times before but difference is this time I had my DS four months ago so will be a whole new challenge!
I'm also nervous about the distance. Previously I've done it off the back of a European sportive so have been strong and fast (4 and 1/2 hrs) but since I had my son of course getting out to train has been a challenge and my fitness of course took a bashing. I'm 15kg heavier still than I was pre-pregnancy so that'll make a difference on the hills. I started riding again at 5/6 weeks pp and the furthest I've been able to do is just over 100km which was last weekend. I did also do 70km on the Saturday so I'm hoping the atmosphere of the event and determination will carry me through. I am expecting it to take about 6-6&1/2 hrs this time. I might need to stop and breast feed my baby in Raynes Park because although he can take the bottle, my boobs will be pretty swollen by then as it's such an early start to get over to the Olympic park.
I'm keeping in my mind if I really need to I can bypass both Leigh and Box hill as they have official routes that allow you to do this if time is short or if you're struggling. Really looking forward to it though...will be a challenge like I haven't had in years!

[phoebemcpeepee]

Good luck tomorrow everyone stay safe and enjoy

[sheepysheep]

How did everyone get on? I enjoyed it though the logistics were a complete PITA! I got to do the full 100 but we were stopped for ages on Leith so my time was pretty rubbish. Happy to have got around though - saw some really nasty accidents. Is anyone planning to do it again next year?

I did the marathon in April and the ride and I’ve a place at swim serpentine so I’m hoping to get my classics medal in September. I’m truly awful at swimming though - I’ve only just learnt to front crawl. Is anyone else doing / have you done swim serpentine?

prettybird I need to get back on BIWI’s wagon - I got down to 10st and kept it off for a nearly three years but marathon training for two marathons (October and April) and a few weeks of feeling unwell meant overeating and snaffling carbs like no tomorrow so I’m now a bit over 11st - started LCHF again yesterday so I’m headachy and peeing like a horse at the moment!! I sometimes go to Glasgow for work - I like to run around Glasgow Green when I’m there and there are usually lots of friendly cyclists about. It looks like a very nice place to cycle.

[katajenka]

I had a great time. Fortunately I was earlier off (6:30am) so although it made it a bit complicated getting to the start, I didn't get held up much enroute. I did manage to stop in Raynes park and feed the baby so that ate into my time! I did it in 6hrs40 so two hrs slower than previous years, bit I chatted as I went round, stopped at feed stops and thoroughly enjoyed the day!

[CMOTDibbler]

DS and I had a lovely time on the 46, and he was a brilliant domestique (I only have one working arm, so unwrapping snacks is a challenge and I can only change an inner tube with both shoes off and a lot of swearing so he was in charge of that if needed). DH got caught on Leith behind the crashes on the 100 and was very frustrated by that.

Fab weekend though between Freeride and Sunday - ds and I lounged around in Green Park watching on the big screens after we finished.