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@Dan_W
An epic day. At risk of sounding like a moany twat it seems so obvious it's a wonder they hadn't thought of this before. Boris calling it 'like a marathon' got it spot on - not for the athletic endeavour, but for the atmosphere and participation. I actually think they could expand it so the amateur lycra bandits can have their full on race, and the mamils their time, and the diving suited tandem bucket rattlers theirs.
My time was shite compared to a real cyclist, but still better than I was expecting. I was at a wedding in Brighton the day before and only got back for 2am. Alarms set for 4 and then forced to navigate (Marshall 1: The guy up there will direct you...Marshall 2: No idea mate, sorry - and that was the last of the 'help' we had, which made for an anxioius start) from the official drop off bit in Dalston through the mean streets of East London.
After the start - I thought the tannoy guy was pretty good doing a thankless task - Saw one guy have a fully pringled wheel around 6:45ish even before he passed the timing mat (definitely on the east A road section)...which was an upsetting start!
The Richmond park view of the sea of riders was pretty special as mentioned.
Leith was a little tricky, tho caught up with Boris at the top, decided against telling him what I really thought of him, and then proceeded to enjoy arguably the greatest stretch of road there, where the road side banks up over head height and the trees complete the canopy. Real 'wow' stuff (and soon appearing in a road porn thread). Managed 'the dreaded' Box Hill in one which really should remove it from any sense of anyone's fear of it for next time, and tbh will write to the national Trust to get them to rename it 'Box False Flat'.