#ride86

[pilesofmiles]

Obligatory post-race medal shot

[pilesofmiles]

Conquering the Ride86 and the elements

For those with an appreciation for irony, after months of warm weather training interspersed with gruelling hill sessions in London and Surrey, Sunday’s Prudential RideLondon – Surrey 100 fell victim to the wet embrace of Hurricane Bertha.  That’s not to say, however, that spirits were in any way dampened amongst the 20,000 participants. Even during the most torrential spells on Sunday morning, the sense of camaraderie from those taking part, the scale of enthusiastic support lining the streets, and the dedication of all the volunteers at the fuel stations really made the day one to remember.

Things, though, didn't get off to the smoothest start. In the 12 hours leading up to the ride my rear wheel inner tube blew twice, which I could have forgiven except that I hadn't even ridden it that day. After fitting a new inner tube at 11pm on Saturday night, I came down at 5am on Sunday to find it had punctured again. In a mild, sleepy panic my girlfriend and I forensically examined the back wheel, to find that the rim tape covering one of the spoke holes had worn down. The sharp edge that was exposed as a result was the chief culprit for the two punctures, so we improvised and found a plaster that we were able to cover up the spoke hole with. Bike mechanics worldwide would have been impressed.

As for the ride itself the first 25 miles flew by on the closed streets of London. With no traffic to impede you it really made you appreciate what a great city a lot of us are fortunate to live in. It was after the first hub station, however, that the weather began to get tasty. Mini lagoons began to form at the bottom of every descent, the roads were littered with dropped lights, water bottles and clothing, and visibility worsened as I made my way to the second hub at 47 miles. Quite why there were so many people on the sides of the road cheering and not in the pubs drinking I will never know, but I’m sure I speak for others when I say their genuine encouragement was hugely appreciated.

Before the race started I was aware that Leith Hill and Box Hill had already been cut out, and to be honest I had mixed feelings. Part of me felt that without those two obstacles the RideLondon-Surrey 100 would be lessened as a challenge, but given the weather conditions and considering the number of accidents I witnessed, it was completely the right decision. Regardless it’s not every day you can cycle 86 miles in the driving rain so I feel like I accomplished plenty for a Sunday! The final 20 miles into London were a great experience, the crowds that had gathered in Surbiton, in particular, were hugely vocal which really spurred me on, whilst the unwelcome surprise of Wimbledon Hill was made easier by the cheers from those supporting.

In total it took me 5 hours and 7 minutes to complete the 86 miles (including stopping time), which I’m very happy with given the conditions. I will miss the routine of training for an event like this and getting some good weekend riding under my belt, so I guess the only answer is to find another event to sign myself up for. And as with all good Oscar acceptance speeches I would like to thank everyone who made the ride possible: my enduring girlfriend and support team Tash; anyone associated with Prudential who was involved in staging the ride; WattBike for their generous contribution; CycleBeat for their tips and training, and lastly London Fields Cycles for getting my bike roadworthy.