Ride London 100

What are you riding? I suspect the marshals will be most likely to pull you up if you've got bullhorn bars.

No free no-alchol beer?! I was looking forward to that!

No, no bullhorns here. Just chopped down MTB bars, but it's un-noticeable to the untrained eye. Bars are the least of my worries, I bought a spare rear brake last night to put in my frame bag in case they clock me without one...

I ran with a back brake fitted but not connected up (not as a way of sticking it to the organisers, I just fitted it the night before, cut the cable too short and had no way of fixing it before the start). I also saw a guy with tri bars and chatted to a fella riding bulhorns who said he'd not had a second glance going through the start. With the numbers they have to deal with bike checks are going to be cursory at best.

Disclaimer: I wouldn't take any of this to really mean anything as all it takes is one over officious marshal and your day is over at before breakfast.

Considering the number of reminders you get sent about start times, registration, rider numbers, wave loads, getting yourself there, not being late, checking you've remembered to bring your bike, tapering etc. etc., I was expecting the start process last year to be pretty officious. Instead, it was actually nice and smooth with barely anyone telling you what to do, let alone checking bikes on the start line. Hopefully will be the same this year.

I got told to go to the wrong place, twice, last year. This year I'm not going to bother going early, I'll rock up late and just zip down the side like 50% of the people in my starting pen did.

I'm gonna be riding to the start from Peckham, but it appears the closed roads will prohibit this, ironically.
Will I be able to nip through the barriers, or will I have to ride around?

Nip through

I saw plenty of prohibited bikes last year. Because of the sheer scale, you would be unlucky to get called out. But the whole thing is such a palaver, why risk not being allowed to do the ride?

Not sure if everyone's aware (I wasn't), but entrants can get a free trip on the Emirates cable car if it's on their way to the Start line.

What's your start time? If early no probs but they don't want you meeting riders coming the other way.

Note that you can ride northbound through blackwall tunnel until 7.30
http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/The_Events/100/Rider_Info/Transport_Options/Getting_to_the_Start.htm

It's not a race and all that jazz but Strava are raising the game for tomorrow only..
https://www.strava.com/challenges/BoxHill15

Boris's cable car...?
No babe.

It's ALL bout spinning through a traffic free Blackwall Tunnel.
That's almost the best bit of the day!

Didn't realise that about Blackwall Tunnel. Sorted.

traffic free Blackwall Tunnel

I daresay there'll be plenty of cycle traffic going through the tunnel tomorrow. :)

"Soy traffico...!"

Coming from Elephant and Castle (and being very unfit) was trying to avoid extra trip round to Blackwall Tunnel so wanted to cross at Tower Bridge and head up A11 to start - need to be there for 7.15-7.45 load - don't suppose anybody tried this last year and what's it like trying to cross the race route at Tower of London?

Can someone set up 10 mile (and 25 mile) segment on Strave for tomorrow?
(Wouldn't have a clue how to do it but the first 10 is fast and fancy having an 'official' 20mph 10 miler at least

I'm going to let everyone go in the first bit I think, previous years I've hung with the fast group at the start and ended up ruining myself, this year I'll aim to enjoy myself throughout, so a gentle first 50 miles followed by a stem chewing agony of torn sinew and ripped muscle for the second 50.

..way to go! Negative splits are hard given all the adrenaline ( and the fact that the first 20 miles are flat )

Kilo of pasta in the belly, heading to bed soon. See y'all at 6am!

Night all. See you on the painful side

Sleep well you lot.
See you in the clusterfuck.

Keep your wits about you and may we all stay upright.

Have a great ride everyone!

Stayed in bed, bad attack of manflu, sore throat, achey muscles, headache, phlem ,think im gonna die.......