Ride London 100

Hello everyone!

I have a ballot place in the Ride London 100 event this year, however I work on the events team at Age UK and we have a few places left (they are filling up very quickly!) if anyone is looking for a spot? The registration fee is £50 to secure the place and then they ask participants to raise £500 which goes supporting older people in later life (they will send you fundraising ideas and sponsorship forms etc).

They also provide an Age UK cycling jersey and a post race reception (you get a free plate of hot food, drink and a massage a short walk from the finish line).

Drop me an email if you are interested; kathy.reynolds@ageuk.org.uk

Kathy

There is no way anyone will check if you don't have two hand brakes and are riding fixed (fixed wheel is considered a brake by law) so it's fine. I wouldn't do it brakeless though! There is a condition against having bull horns though. Again as there is 20000 riders I have no idea who the fuck would check/notice/care but still that is a thing worth considering.

As for hills I've ridden those FG/SS and done ok on 44/16, but found it a bit grindy. I'd aim for 68gi ish so you can make it up the hills and then cruise at about 18mph on the flat without problem.

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Just got to leave this here, in case any of you have any spare change or overwhelming urge to donate to a world class hospice in Sydenham... a hospice to which I owe an awful lot.

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/willisridesagain

it appears i am far too late to enter this year, does anyone have a space they no longer need? Would be willing to swap, happy to make a donation to a charity of your choice if you can

Which is more ideal for an average cyclist?

46/16
44/16

44x16 which is about 74' - nice on the flats, not too spinny but you'll be out of the saddle on most climbs. though tbh 44x17 is lot more standard around here - 68-69 is a lot easier on the knees and better for climbing but you have to really spin to win if you're going to cover much ground on the flat

I ride a 46/16 in summer and 44/16 in winter. If you think you'll be riding in the bunches, the later might be far too spinny.

What have you got fitted now? Take a ride over to Box Hill and try it out.

I'll be doing in 42/16 - just because that's how my bike came and it's what I'm used to. It is very spinny downhill, great for climbing though. 44/16 sounds like a good compromise.

My target time of 8hrs 30mins doesn't really require anything faster.

I'm gonna try 44/16 and I better start my training soon.. :P

By training you mean coming out on the WNKR rides, right? I do them mostly just fine on 44x15

I've got 47-19 on atm

7.27 start time.

That's gonna be in a log jam isn't it?

Yep

I imagine the whole thing will be a log jam.

I'm starting at 7am wave D

When does the first wave set off? I've got 06:06

First wave's at 6am, I believe. We're off at 6.06am too. Target is sub 5 hours, although I reckon we can do 4:30 if we go for it.

That's my target too. I'll be in Blackheath Velo kit with 3 other club mates, so say hi.

Will do. I'll be there with my Ely & District CC clubmates, in our distinctive bright yellow and red jerseys, so if you see us first, say 'Oi, wankaaaaaaaah'.

Well that should wake me up at 6am!

See you there.

6am and Wave A with 11 club mates and counting; 100 miles of empty roads await, bring on 4 hours :D

I might try to chase you lot down then!

Good luck.

100 miles of empty roads await

Hmm, have you done this sportive before? Hopefully it will be lols for you all but it's certainly not empty...

It should be if you're in the first wave!

..you might stand a chance in the 6:06.. from a club mate..

the 6:03 group last year included some ex-pros ! They caught the front group in 10 miles.