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London to Brighton Bike ride 2010
shaunmadmax 
| 06 Mar 07:20 |
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Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: My Profile | Im doing the London to Brighton bike ride....is there any good advise people can give! Im cycling for fun and not for speed! |
| My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Lullingstone 12 Mile Training Route | |
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happy
| 06 Mar 12:34 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Hi Shaun, Is it the event organised by the British Heart Foundation? London to Brighton Bike Ride |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
| Booglet | 07 Mar 08:08 |
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Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi, I'm also gonna have a go this year and my main is 'joining in & having fun' so not out to crack any records but have a reasonable go... I've taken a look at http://sites.google.com/site/cyclingroutes/ to help me out, Boog |
| shelly | 10 Mar 10:30 |
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Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi ya, Did ride myself last year and entered a team to do it again this year. Last year was a record for the ammount of accidents (had two very near misses myself) mainly due to people riding like idiots, getting out of London is the most trickiest part of ride i feel as for instace at one point you are being waved through red traffic lights and the next you are being told off for not stopping at them???? Refreshment stops are also a nightmare as some of them are split into two, one side for toilets and the other for refreshments and its amazing how many cyclist just swerve across the road without even looking behind them to see if its safe to cross. There are about 4 decent size hills on route plus ditchling beacon, which even for a keen cyclist like me was a get off and walk jobby. From the 31 mile point all the way to ditchling, about 15 miles futher on is all downhill or flat and is excellent. I had a 7am start time last year and still ended up having to get off and walk about 3 times along the route (all in the first 20 miles) no major hold up just pure volume of cycles going up narrow lanes, however have since read about someone who left the same time as me but says he ended up walking about 6 miles, really need a good early start time to miss the traffic. Did ride in 4hrs and 1min last year despite the trouble along the way, which was still good seeing average time was inbetween 6 and 7 hours. Wouldnt go too over board with the training as ive done routes a lot less distance than L2B and found them more difficult (the 23 miles from Falmouth to St ives in cornwall springs to mind)Anyway heres wishing you a good safe ride and despite the bad things you might hear about ride its great!! Oh watch out for tight turns down some of the hills, saw some bloke disapear over a straw bale and a young kid crumpled up on the side of a kerb after taking turn to fast. Have fun Lester |
| Hot Chocolate | 14 Mar 11:25 |
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Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 2 Bike: | Hi I'm doing this ride for the first time EVER - for 'fun' and for charity.. Today was the first day of 'training', 11.5 miles round trip. I live in Hastings which is just one HUGE hill... Changed my tyres for road tyres, bought some padded shorts and a Gel seat cover!!! Didn't work ;( I aim to do as much training as possible to toughen up my thighs and rear.. :) Anyone have any useful tips to reduce the numb bum feeling let me know (I'm female!!!) |
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bubbajones
| 14 Mar 17:32 |
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Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 9 Bike: My Profile | I am also doing the L2B for the first time this year and have started clocking some miles up. I have the shorts but not a gel set cover and have done up to 36 miles in one go without too much of a sore bum! Maybe the shorts and seat cover together still cause a little too much movement and subsequent friction?? I have done a good number of 10-13 mile rides and then have also done a few longer rides too. For me it's just going to be a case of conditioning and just getting used to being on the bike for a few hours. Even after being out just a few times I have noticed the difference. To help me decide where to go I have used both the routes on here for inspiration, a local OS map and also some free software called Quo (from www.mapyx.com). The software has meant I can buy digital versions of OS maps and so plan routes so I have an idea of how long my route is before I start! Maybe not essential for everyone but for someone with a map fetish, I find it great! Good luck with the training and start getting the miles in. Post your achievements on Facebook (presuming you have an account) and it's a way of getting friends and family rooting for you too. |
| My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Wendover to Long Crendon Loop | |
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dudley
| 15 Mar 05:31 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | avoid the gel seat cover a narrow 'hard' saddle, combined with time in the saddle to 'bed your a*se in' is far more sensible than a padded affair. big padded jobs increase chafing. there is a reason Tour de France riders manage thousands of miles on little skinny saddles. It's what works best. nothing sorts out sore a*se syndrome more than time in the saddle. |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
| HeyWayne | 19 Mar 07:41 |
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 Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 6 Bike: | Also signed up for the L2B as a first timer. I'm part of a team - and they tend to be at the 'leisure' end of the spectrum I think. I should be easy to spot - I'm a 6ft 7 lump of a thing on a 24" Trek! Look out, coming through! Currently looking at getting myself some mitts and bar ends to make the climbs a bit easier, but really looking forward to it. Just the logistics bit that causes me concern - getting to Clapham Common for an early morning start with the trains not allowing bikes on the day. It's going to be tricky. Getting home would have been a lot easier too - the train from Brighton goes all the way to my door almost! |
| true blue 32 | 26 Mar 17:25 |
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Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Bike: | I am entering it for the first time this year on my own, after my step father passed away after a heart attack. So far I've done two rides 10.1 miles and 11.2 miles both of which took around 55 minutes to complete. My start time on L2B is 8:00am in the morning. I am using a mountain bike to complete the ride, but I have fitted slicks which do make a huge difference. I am stopping over at a friends house the night before, he lives in Kent, does anybody know how long it will take us roughly to get from Kent to the start line. Also what is parking like at Brighton, my wife will be dropping me off and then making her way to Brighton, so it would be good to know if she will be able to find somewhere to park easily. When I first got my bike last year, the third time I went out on the bike I went around Rutland Water twice (approx 35 miles), yes I was absolutely shot after it, but considering I had rode a bike with standard moutain bike tyres and it was only the third time I had ridden a bike in over ten years, I didn't think that was too bad. I'm definetely not looking forward to Ditchlin Beacon, but hopefully the ride won't be too bad. Anyway good luck to everyone, get some miles in before the event and I'm sure we will all be ok. |
| Emzzv | 28 Mar 12:13 |
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Joined: 28 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I am also doing the L2B this year for the first time and have decided i am mad!! I started training 4 weeks ago. I think this was a little late to start and i am worried. but haveing a 5 month old baby made it hard to train sooner. I go to the gym twice a week trying to build up strength on weights and spending 45 min on the bike on a high hill setting hope this is helping me. Then once a week a sunday i get my moutain bike out the most i have done is 19 miles and hurt all over for the last 4-5 miles. Today i did 16 miles at Alton Lake and again found this hard with the hills. I have 11 weeks so hope to start spending more time on the bike. Anyone who has done this before, How long do you break for when you stop? How much training did you do? Is the route really hard or flat Road mainly? My bum hurts so bad, will this go as 54 miles will be hard but i must do it even if i get to brighton at ten pm. lol xxx |
| bytey | 28 Mar 17:46 |
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Joined: 28 Mar 2010 Posts: 4 Bike: | Nice to hear from others doing it for the first time too. A friend challenged a group of us to do it as a team and so I am hard at work at the moment. I have never done a long ride before or an event but I am enjoying training. I am commuting to work and back 5 times a week which is 13 miles all in if I cycle the shortest route and I am fairly fit i think. I challenged myself to do something a bit longer and have managed 2 x 33 mile rides this week with no problems at all. Does anyone have any advice on resting between rides. I am tending to cycle 6 out of 7 days which is probably a bit much but maybe not if 5 short rides and 1 long a week...? Quite looking forward to it now!! Bytey |
| dandeyong | 29 Mar 07:02 |
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Joined: 29 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi I am virgin L2B aswell. I used my bike as part of my training for various treks around the world and found it such good fun, me and a friend have signed up for the first time. now can anyone tell me, coming from hertfordshire/north london, how to get to clapham as most of the trains i have looked at require many changes which is awkward with a bike ! |
| Paul Gatenby | 29 Mar 10:02 |
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Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 4 Bike: | Hi I am a L2B Virgin as well, I am doing this solo, I had a moment of madness and signed up for it. I have just put my bike in for major service and to have road tyres fitted, getting it back tonight. I have been doing 35 min sessions in the gym cycling 3 - 4 times a week and my first ride out was a disaster, puncture, no repair kit or inner tube, had to walk 5 mkiles to a cycle shop to get help (lesson learned there!) I am hoping to get some mile clocked up when the weather improved, if anyone if cycle training in the Brighton area and fancies a training partner that would be cool. Paul |
| Chadders | 30 Mar 08:35 |
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Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Does anyone know the name of the village which is (from memory) somewhere between halfway to 2/3rd through, and has a large village green with various stalls selling fruit etc, and a pub which lots of people seem to stop in? It's one of the main places people stop to rest/eat etc, and is at the top of quite a steep hill. Any thoughts much appreciated! |
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dudley
| 30 Mar 15:39 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | people looking for advice to get from somewhere in London to somewhere in London (Clapham) with their bikes. I think the answer is right before you! two wheels, pedals, legs.... a few miles is an excellent warm up! |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
| possum | 04 Apr 13:47 |
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Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hello, I did this ride last year, and am doing it again this year. Im going to build on my stamina as there are a fair few steep hills included! Its very enjoyable!! |
| blakey063 | 25 Apr 04:42 |
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Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Yes, take a bike :) |
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BusterG
| 14 May 06:27 |
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 Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 372 Bike: My Profile | I would agree gel saddles and double cycle shorts only increases the amount of chaffing. I did a two day ride witha gel seat and threw it away. Harden up down below with plenty of saddle time training. Tip: if on bumpy road stand or raise bottom off the saddle to reduce pounding. All the best! |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2013 Liss | |
| firefox4999 | 15 May 16:23 |
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Joined: 09 May 2010 Posts: 6 Bike: | Im doing this ride too for the first time this year, Ive ot a mountain bike and went out today with some mates with carbon fibre racers and I struggled a little to keep up, but we done 41 miles with plenty of hills so well please.. :) |
| barnetman | 01 Jun 15:23 |
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Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi Im doing this ride with my firend, I didnt manage to register for it on 2nd march , as it was only open for a few hours. and new registrations are now closed. Anyone know - if you can still register for it on the day. Otherwise will just turn up to clapham common and just do it. Thanks |
| Bikegeek | 07 Jun 11:34 |
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Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 2 Bike: | I did the ride officially last year and from what I remember there were a few people who were trying to do the route unregistered. They didn't get a very good reception from the genuine cyclists as it is a charity event which you alsio have to pay for to ride in. A lot of people put a lot of effort into raising sponsorship (the whole point of the ride) and don't look kindly on people just joining the race who aren't meant to be there. Also the marshalls on every few hundred yards of the route would stop you straight away if you didn't have a number displayed. The insurance for the race is probably quite strict about unregistered participants. Next year try registering the moment the web page is active, then as long as you raise over 200 pounds (I think) you get priority booking for next year as well and usually your desired start time. I can understand your frustration, it took me 2 years to get a place. |
| hlf30 | 08 Jun 15:25 |
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Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I'm doing it a L2B virgin as well! I've been practicing at the gym at least once a week for the last couple of months & going out on my bike whenever I can (not that often TBH - life seems to keep taking over). An average evening ride would be about 15 - 20 miles which is no problem, a little tired at the end but not sore. Does that sound like enough? I'm really worried I'm going to flake out on the day. Also - is there any way to start before your official time? I've been given a 9.30 start which sounds like it will be an absolute nightmare based on the reports I've read. I requested a 8 am start as I really don't want to be the last one across the finish line! I live in London so I can get to Clapham quite easily - is there any point in me showing up early or should I just wait it out? I'm not an overly confident cyclist and the idea of the massive holdups is putting me off a bit! H |
| cyclegal | 15 Jun 22:16 |
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Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I think they are pretty strict on start times, you can start later but not earlier than your slot. I get the feeling it's going to be busy all day, Im doing it for the first time, this year, I did the London to southend last year, it's much less busy, a bit longer and very hilly, Im hoping this will be as much fun. I really enjoyed that one and I have a great new bike this time, For saddle sore ness, my advice get a good gel saddle, make sure its the correct style for your bike, or your legs will chaf. If you have a mountain saddle on a racer or vice versa, its puts your legs in wrong position. If your seat bones are hurting, your saddle may be positioned wrong, try sliding it forward just a cm or two, and stand over the bumps, give your bum a fighting chance, To be honest on the day the adrenalin rushes and most thoughts of pain go. Its the next week at work when you notice. Good luck everyone, see you all there |
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dudley
| 16 Jun 10:55 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | i'd a void a gel saddle like the plague, but that's just me. big comfy wide saddles often lead to more chafing. you are solving one pain to start another. Best option is to get your backside 'worn in' Only way to do this is time on the bike. however good a cyclist you are, if you spend a few weeks out of the saddle the first few rides are going to hurt your backside. If you ride a few times a week, there really isn't any pain - it's all 'bedded in' nicely! get cycling shorts. even cheapo ones make life a whole lot more comfortable. 30 minutes a ride is on the short side, but if you are doing it regualarly, and covering some gym miles, the adrenalin will get you through. Early crowds in the race will stop you going too hard in the first hour or so, so you'll not over-exert too early. take advantage of the crowd and 'tuck in' behind a group of riders. slipstreaming will save you a remarkable amount of energy, particularly if you are unlucky enough to hit a headwind. good luck! ....and for those that didn't enter, better luck next time... it's not free, and lots of people have given up considerable amounts of time to do this. There are plenty of other rides |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
| Bikegeek | 16 Jun 16:48 |
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Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 2 Bike: | I did it last year with almost no training at all apart from general fitness and it was an easyish ride apart from the hills. So if you have been out for a few short rides and are generally fit I think - like the others have said - the adrenalin on the day and other cyclists will keep you going. If you leave at 9.30 like I did last year you will probably be fine with crowding apart from the traffic jams on hills - which I had to walk up because everyone in front of me was walking as well. Take advantage of the opportunity to rest. The starts are the best bit because you are sent off in groups of ten or so all through the day I didn't feel crowded at all on the roads out of London even at 9.30 |
| jeremybeer | 18 Jun 07:26 |
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Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Remember to get a map at the start as this shows all the stops. Breakfast- good stop is Fanny's Farm just outside of the M25. It will be on your map. A good pub for lunch to avoid the crowds is the Red Lion in Turners Hill. As you come into Tuners Hill shoot off up the right hand road and you'll see it. Remember to drink some sport drink or water at Ditchling town in time for the Beacon. You can then chill at the top of the Beacon and wait for people - great views - and relax for the easy ride down hill all the way to Brighton. Go easy on the speed on the down hill to Brighton. |
| firefox4999 | 18 Jun 17:07 |
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Joined: 09 May 2010 Posts: 6 Bike: | This is my first time too, 40 years old 17 stone but I have done plenty of training 64 miles last weekend so I should find it easy and so looking forward to it 8:00 am start time with 6 mates, :) |
| TheBikePunk | 17 Feb 13:12 |
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Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 2 Bike: | Where Are the main hills located? road names ect? ditchling beacon is the only one i know of |
| JessHessing1989 | 17 Feb 19:42 |
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Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Bike: | Does anyone know the name of the village which is (from memory) somewhere between halfway to 2/3rd through, and has a large village green with various stalls selling fruit etc, and a pub which lots of people seem to stop in? roomba 562 - well i was wondering about that too |
| Wickerman | 18 Jun 18:08 |
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Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 1 Bike: | The village described sounds like Lindfield, located approximately 14 miles north of Brighton. The High Street runs downhill from the Church to the pond and the L2B route then takes you past Lindfield Common which I suppose is a large village green. The locals normally get behind events that come to the village and regularly set up stalls. Also, if L2B coincides with Village Day (always held in June), there will be loads going on in the village. |
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