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Ride London Surrey 100 logistics - borderline abandonment.
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).
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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72 comments
Thanks for all the comments on this. Even the slightly snarky ones have helped me reach a conclusion about what to do. I've eventually decided not to take part. Because there's obviously a bit of strong feeling about this event I will explain why.
I need to start at the beginning when, some months ago, I entered a prize draw with British Cycling to win a place for a team of four riders. I didn't know a huge amount about the event at the time other than that it was well-attended and took place on closed roads. I was certain that I could find a few friends to ride with and it looked like a fun day out so I put my name in the hat. I didn't research the event in detail and had never had any great interest in it previously. I knew that it would be a bit of a mission to get there and back so was prepared for this but never imagined that there would be a compulsion to attend on anything other than the day of the event. I didn't think about it again until I got a call from BC to say that I had won a place. This is when things started to go downhill. The call, on a weekday morning, informed me that I had to get a mixed team of 4 riders registered on the RL website by 5pm the same day. At this point I should have just told the guy from BC to give it to someone else. I managed to get a team together (with such a small chance of winning I didn't do anything on this front beforehand) but they were chosen based on their ability to confirm immediately that they were up for it rather than anything sensible. For a few reasons the individuals that comprised the team did not represent a good mix in terms of sharing the logistics.
When we got details of the registration requirements etc. we started bouncing ideas around but none of them stuck or solved the problems that we faced. One of our group is still going to ride and I did, eventually, manage to work out a convoluted way to take part too, dropping 2 members of the team. After a good deal of thought I decided not to take part, despite having a solution available. The first reason relates to my job, as I'm now away from home all of next week with work and spending time with my family over the weekend in question is a bigger priority than usual. The second reason is a little more subtle. I started to think about my reasons for riding a sportive (any sportive, not just this one) and it basically boiled down to one thing: it's easy. You get a planned route, support in the form of food and drink stations and a lift back if you have a major mechanical or injury. Of course, you can do arrange all of this stuff yourself but it's a fair bit of work. Sportives work because you can just rock up and ride in return for a fee: easy. This one's on closed roads too which is a definite bonus. These are the things that I value; I appreciate that others will have different priorities and value different things but for my entry these are the things that count. I came to realise that this was anything but easy. As well as all of this logistical stuff I would have had to change my bike set-up and buy some parts that I don't want just to fulfil their requirements. I was prepared for a bit of hassle around getting there etc. and this was worth it in exchange for the closed roads but the balance eventually swung in the other direction.
Some people will no doubt think that I've missed the point and they wouldn't be completely wrong. The purpose of these events is a matter of opinion and to some people the points that are important to me are irrelevant. They may get excited about chip timing, published results and finishers medals. None of these float my boat but each to their own and I'm sure they wouldn't do them if no one wanted them.
Anyway, cheers folks. the saga is over at least!
Come and do my ride Matt; after the cancellation of Etape Cymru there'll be about 5000 people in my back garden.
I haven't got a route done yet, or a date, or anything else so no stress at all.
To the OP, why not give your place to someone who didn't get in but wants to, such as Daveyraveygravey for instance? just sign the rider registration form and say you allow him to pick it up, then he can turn up on the day..
sure its officially against the rules, but they aren't going to check..
What's the worst that could happen?
...he could take over your job, sleep with your wife, adopt your children, wear your pyjamas and be offhand with your Auntie at Christmas.
I remember watching the ridelondon come through sheen gate into RP a couple of years ago - struck me you could just join in any no one would be any the wiser (at least after a couple of Kms). Would avoid the early start and the hassle of getting to Olympic park and (frankly pretty dire) ride from Stratford. You wouldn't get an official time but its a sportive so who cares.
Last year I overtook four lads on Boris bikes who just fancied the craic of riding up the embankment. Personally I doubt you'll have any bother providing you join after the start and peel off at the end without riding down the mall and getting caught in the finishers funnel (although by then not a lot anyone can do).
Brucie,
For someone else to collect your numbers, collection only from excel, on your behalf you are supposed to supply them with the letter that is sent to the entrant by mail, a copy of your ID and a letter authorising them to collect the number. So someone would have to be willing to give you a photocopy of their driving licence/passport to give you their numbers if they can't collect the numbers themselves.
Mmm I can see that the entrant may not be too keen...
The person who now can't ride, signs in, collects numbers and chip, then hands them to the person who is actually going to ride. As long as the 2 riders are the same sex, and don't have anything massively obviously different about them (missing limbs etc). I really doubt the organisers are going to be checking 25000 people all that closely.
First year I was almost put off by the logistics - but boy was it worth it! and last year was beautiful mayhem (weather). Absolutely brilliant experience. Can't go this year, sadly sadly. I had already booked a ticket so I have a return York-London on offer, with bicycle reservation, up on Saturday morning, down Sunday evening.
If you're put of by the logistics: go next year. Make it a weekend, with the freecycle and all, with the family to cheer you over the finish.
Well that's the worst part over, the trudge to Excel and back. No queues on Thursday morning as to be expected, and then exit via the gift shop (aka Wiggle).
For anyone worried about cycling there with an expensive bike, there's secure bike parking inside. You can leave road shoes and helmet with the bike and they'll store it away somewhere until you're done.
It was a piece of cake, to get everything sorted over at the Excel today. Now for the fun bit
Good idea, although I do have some reservations about giving my photo ID and signature to someone that I only know through the site. Whaddya all think on the subject?
Hi Matt
Are you joining the ride on Sunday?
I'm hoping to but don't have a place.
I'm not too bothered about times or checking in.
It would be nice to have a number on my back and helmet so I don't get pulled over.
If yours is going it would be great to take your place.
Cheers
Bruce
You're missing the point! The early start is part of the fun! The ride from Stratford is brilliant - it's early, the roads are closed, but they are full of cyclists, most of whom are flying along! It's effectively a motorway, 3 lanes wide in each direction, gentle uphills that don't seem to slow you and downhills that add 10 mph. Then there's flying through the Limehouse link, and into the City!
And there are people cheering you on! If you haven't done it, then you don't know what a brilliant experience it is. In my humble opinion.
Hi there
If you don't mind me giving it a go, could you post the details / pack to me?
I can email my work address.
my email is:
bruceblackwell [at] hotmail.com
Cheers
Bruce
Well I was thinking along the lines of getting someone else to pick up the pack on your behalf, as per other suggestions on here, and just letting them ride, but fair point I guess about giving your signature/ photo ID to someone you don't know! Not sure I would actually..
Perhaps other cyclist friends/ club mates etc you know who might be interested..
Agreed. There was a time in my early 20's when i hit Saturday night London nightlife only to emerge from the nightclubs at about 7am Sunday. Wandering through London at that time of the morning in various conditions was surreal. To be back there partaking in a healthy past time in my mid 30's feels somewhat like i am redressing the balance!
You have to embrace the whole weekend. Going to the Excel, lunch in a pub near Excel, meeting the different people excited about riding on the Sunday. Riding to the start line and being one of the thousands of 'ants' homing in on the Olympic Park. The atmosphere on the whole route, culminating in the roar of the crowd through Whitehall and then down The Mall.
It does feel like a royal PITA to get to the start line, but great memories of the event far outweigh the efforts to make it happen.
I won't be riding on Sunday and you have my blessing to try to persuade the folks at the Excel to give you my numbers. They seem pretty strict about transferring places etc. so i don't fancy your chances but if I had my way I'd just hand the details over to you.
After all my procrastinating over this it turns out I probably would never have ridden anyway. I've been ill for the last couple of weeks and with a full-on schedule at work there's no chance I'd be recovered and fit to ride anyway.
HI Matt
Thanks for the reply.
Sorry to hear you've had a rough time.
Do packs with numbers etc get posted out or do they have to be picked up from Excel?
Bruce
bruceblackwell [at] hotmail.com
They can and do.
I did it last year and there were a few people who were attempting to "jump in" along the route.
They got pulled off it straight away by the marshals.
No number = no ride.
People have had to go through all sorts to get a place on this event - the ballot, the cost, the arrangements the previous day so the organisers are naturally pretty hot on people who think they can bypass all that and get a free ride.
You will be thrown off it. It's not like free-loading a regular Sportive (which is also a pretty shitty thing to do) by claiming you're simply riding the same open roads - they've closed the roads for the day, they own the road space and while you might make it a few miles you'll soon be stopped and escorted off.
You want to ride on closed roads, do the FreeCycle on the Saturday.
You sir are a gent, chapeau to you! One of the problems with that plan is I only have one eye, so unless the OP is in a similar condition, id could be tricky! Plus the Mrs thinks she has me at home this Sunday...wouldn't want to disappoint her...
They check ID on the Saturday when you register, but as far as I remember there were no ID checks on the Sunday morning. So long as you have a number and turn up in the appropriate place you should be able to ride with someone else's number. Not that I approve or will be doing this; I have my own place already.
I didn't see any evidence of it, but I suspect the organisation would take a very dim view of riders with no number. Its a closed road which is subject to a TRO, so you may well get a Penalty Charge Notice (a fine) for breaking it.
You can ask someone to collect your stuff from the pick up. It is a pain to have to slog to Excel just to get a few stickers and numbers.
Pure way to bring punters to the mobile shops.
As I said above, I don't see mass participation events as the highlight of my cycling year and I don't need them to motivate me.
Any you're missing the point of organised rides by miles, I think the majority of people actually enjoy the experience of sharing roads with 100s/1000s of other riders, I know it motivates me to ride a good bit harder than I would normally.
Try entering the Isle of Mull Sportive, you have to register the day before on an island with limited ferry services, crafty way of filling the Tobermory pubs and hotels the night before!
Not that I mind, I'll be entering next year for sure.
Before I entered the ballot I had a think about the logistics and came up with a plan. I was going to go up to London on Saturday, sign on, stay in a hotel Sat night to be able to get up early Sunday morning and do the ride with a train home on Sunday afternoon/evening.
As it happened, I didn't get a place but I wasn't too disappointed as I know how oversubscribed it is. There is always next year.
It's a bit disheartening to read about people who were lucky enough to get a place, but didn't give any thought about what they were signing up for. It's not a lot different to signing up on a whim and getting a place, then on Sunday morning saying "100 miles you say? Nah, can't be arsed."
This event requires a bit of early planning. Everyone knows or should know the registration requirements. Hotel for Saturday. Stop moaning just get there and do it when you finish you will appreciate all the work that goes into making this one of the best events/rides you will ever do.
In case the point hasnt been made yet - you can nominate a 3rd party to do the registration for you, don't think it even had to be someone riding the event.
As far as being overfilled with the view that there will be a number of no-shows, I'm not sure it is - but the organisers are the same as those of the London, if anyone knows with any certainty how that works (as opposed to the usual idle speculation).
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.
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