RIDE LONDON!!!

[@alessandroBRG]

Loved your video as always, that queue is what puts me off the idea of ride london for less crowded events and agree with your comment about Box Hill haha

[@keithhodgson791]

I done ride London as well, Leith hill goes up to 13% in places but most of it is 7 - 8 % I was lucky on the hill I actually got to ride it without stopping. Box Hill is a gentle climb with great views from the top!!!! I seemed to get stuck everywhere else , going down leith we got stuck behind a safety care for the entire decent and I got stopped so many times for people need medical assistance. I think all in all I lost about 35 minutes being stopped, but all in all it was a great day and I'd rather be stopped and people getting the medical help they need rather than getting a better time...

[@paulsymons562]

If you get an early start time its bearable but this year was stupidly busy and the walking on Leith was just daft. This was my third and last year. Seems like you were early away which helps. And when we eventually finished they had run out of medals, so no obligatory medal photos or anything.

[@garyarrell]

Glad you had a good ride Katie what was your start time?? I went at 8:16 and we experienced loads of idiots, tailbacks, congestion and bad accidents as well as the dreaded crossing points on the way back into London so it wasn’t great for us! Much better last year even though it poured with rain! Oh and no medal as they’d ran out! Piss poor this year! Won’t be back! Got my medal in the post though! Keep mine! 👍🏻

[@jsingh7246]

Lovely video, will you be joining in on the ride this year? I agree Box Hill is a mere walk in the park. That Ditchling Beacon Hill on the London to Brighton BHF Ride is a challenge for sure. That bagel looked delicious 😋

[@EarthWatcher736]

Ditchling Beacon on London to Brighton is a proper climb.

[@PoetWithPace]

Mick Clayton agreed!

[@TheCityCyclists]

Yep i agree , done that bad boy a few times and it never gets any easier ! I've walked it twice and actually think its harder to walk than cycle lol

[@TheLazyGarden3r]

What time do you set off? The earlier the start time you can get the better if you want to cycle the "hills" and not have to walk them! I started around 6:30 last year and it was still busy by the time I got to Leith but managed to ride it.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Not until 8am - earlier is definitely better!

[@TheLazyGarden3r]

@@KatieKookaburra I'm not 100% on this but I think if you give them a quicker estimated time you will be set off earlier. I had planned on doing it in 4 and a half hours last year but the weather was biblical and I got multiple flats.

[@raykite557]

Thanks for the chuckle Katie. I loved your put down of Box Hill - several times. However, I am a mere mortal, so it’s a Hill.

[@ladylove3636]

So you started East... a tunnel I've never been thru (I'm not East) then Richmond Park & Surrey... I've done mine to Richmond Park - you woulda looped mine as I am by the Albert Bridge (the one with fairy lights). Such a mad cycle x

[@Countrystock]

You can tell by the excitement in your voice you loved that event. I always keep my medals and certificates only to look back on in years to come. Nice to see someone lurking in the trees at 2:30 get their moment of fame!!!! Nice one Katie

[@snowberry1211]

Love your chilled out approach Katie- would love to be able to do those long rides ! I need to come over to the road bike but I don’t feel comfy on the roads all the time

[@georgie40ful]

Congrats on your first RideLondon. Ha ha - Box, sure it's not a tough climb (though it is pretty) but... it depends entirely on how you're forced to ride it. It becomes a proper hill when you're in the front group and you have to ride full gas to hold the wheel! It can be very hard indeed as the final selection always occurs on it. Leith has always been the easier hill when I've ridden the event!

[@nigeltimms3582]

Katie great video as always - and it was wonderful to finally meet you at the event, pure chance I recognised in the park among all those people - made my day

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhh so good to meet you too :) glad you had a good ride.

[@jenk6784]

Great seeing footage of the whole route, sooooo jealous! I was caught up in all the congestion and stop-start from mile 38ish onwards, and both Leith and Box Hill (my map says it's a hill!) were shut early after a tree fell across the road on Leith and something else happened @Box so I never got to ride either, and they ran out of medals too! Got some serious unfinished business with the Surrey Hills so I want to do it again next year :'D

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhhh a tree??? Do you want my medal?? Message me on Insta and will send it over to you :)

[@anthonylovell2271]

How can you run out of medals, they know how many are entered .

[@stiubhart7283]

Nice one, I was two blocks ahead of you in Block D, got stuck on Leith hill too.

[@timcollins340]

Trouble with the really big rides - Ride London, London to Brighton, Cape Argus - is that as soon as it narrows and turns uphill, everyone stops and has to get off. But they are good fun! Brought back some memories, K! X

[@freddavidson73]

KK, thanks for this wonderful rendering of the Ride London event. This video was the tipping point to get off my backside and make the trip from California over to the UK and to feature cycling on the journey. I just signed up for the Ride London ballot for 2020 for the 100 miler -- and I'll tack on other cycling and visits with old friends in the UK as well. (I wonder if this "ballot" is mainly marketing? We will be informed in February, but I have a strong suspicion that is just a way to create buzz.)

[@ldntsuper8740]

What are the requirements to join? Cheers

[@Tox1415]

So gutted I missed Leith and Box Hills and got stuck in queues for over an hour. I was in the last wave away

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhh noooo!! Next time. Or come up north if you fancy some mega climbs 😉

[@Tox1415]

@@KatieKookaburra Beat you to it, I live in Harrogate and have the joys of Trapping Hill, Norwood Edge and Greenhow on my doorstep and for a nice day out, there's Sutton Bank, Rosedale Chimney and White Horse Bank.

[@trick700]

This was my first Ride London and agree it’s a fast course - conditions were nigh on perfect. But remember the day Box Hill might’ve seemed like a mountain? I guess everything is relative and to beginners any hill is a challenge! Nice vlog 👍

[@KatieKookaburra]

Richard you are absolutely right! I always talk about the small hills I used to struggle up and now I'm mega proud of myself for putting in the time, effort and sweat. Anyone getting out on their bikes when they are challenging their comfort zones gets my kudos. Even more so than the people doing the course in the shortest time.

[@trick700]

Katie Kookaburra btw, I keep all my medals, on a wooden coat hanger. I have my favourites, more for the memory. I now have so many my mates have medal envy 😂

[@PierreC2]

what was that event Katie...how long ? Is there a website that tells all about it ? cheers from Montreal

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ride London :)

[@PierreC2]

ok just went to their website. Registration ballot are open for next year. So you did the 100m i presume. That's 160k so..and with a lot of people it must be a challenging one.

[@jchan9761]

Thank you - this explains why so many of us were diverted away from Leath Hill well before the official cut-off times.

[@TheCityCyclists]

Doing this this year !!! cant wait !!!

[@daveyfromdownsouth7889]

Hey what kinda flash light do you use I am wondering because I recently got some shwin lite but they tend to slide down and not stay aimd right. Thanks

[@KatieKookaburra]

Flash light??

[@daveyfromdownsouth7889]

No your bike light on the bike like your head light

[@garybrown9857]

Aaah, Katie, your lion's mane is as gorgeous as ever! Great video.

[@bee_whisper]

It's official box hills not a hill. I'd be so tempted to do a club ride up there and say when's box Hill when I'm near the top

[@thefairweathercyclist6521]

I did this but managed to get away at 6:10 so I was able to ride up the hills. I live in Wales so you can imagine what I think of Box Hill. Leith Hill was around 12-13% at its steepest and it’s a decent test. Sorry you didn’t get to ride it. Great video, glad you had fun

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhh I did ride most of it just the bit at the bottom we walked. Someone sad it was 20% haha, defo wasn't that!!

[@benpar8120]

@@KatieKookaburra Sad or said? 😉

[@ianhutchinson970]

Katie, your comment about Boxhill made me chuckle. I completely agree.

[@MuppetAlex1]

So lets get this right. Box hill is a gradient and not a hill. Anyway, I am glad you had a good time. It looked well organised, but very crowded.

[@benpar8120]

I want to do one of these rides, but I really don't like riding in groups / crowds. BTW I ride approx 26 miles daily before I eat anything. ...just a coffee with a splash of milk..... and plenty of water when riding. . Have lost around 20 kg in as many weeks and feel GREAT . Am doing Intermittent Fasting. I use a few light weights (for my upper body for strength.) before I eat .

[@moonwrasse]

Riding ride London audax style. Love it. Box hill is lovely and smooth but it’s no test! Shame you had to walk up leith hill. Only medal I have kept is RAB.

[@gavinmksmith]

Best to do these events for when you have no later than 6am start so you can hit the climbs nice and early

[@allthingsTechrelated]

Kudos for sharing your experience. See you there next year.

[@adamhigginsjustonemorehill4478]

Great video. I didn't get to do leath hill as they stopped people going up. Have you entered for next year?

[@KatieKookaburra]

I didn’t realise they stopped folk... you will have to head back for it. Or come up north :)

[@adamhigginsjustonemorehill4478]

Katie Kookaburra lol I am further north than you are. I am in Shap

[@htukmumfie]

nice footage of a well-organised event. however, its a strange thing to say "box hill not a hill". yes...my hills up here in the "proper" north of england (north pennines/yorkshire dales) often clear over 1000ft in one go also but you shouldnt discount the smaller stuff....they all hurt if you go hard/if you're heavy or unfit/if your gears are too high.

[@23RodCall]

So is Box Hill a hill or not? 🤔

[@johncombs4105]

Great pictures! Honestly, Evan's and Cannondale should give you a sweetheart deal on that bike. Why? It's very very good free publicity for both. Until I watched you're KZbin channel; I had never heard of Evan's; little loan Wiggle. So, I think you have helped their customer base a little bit. Oh! You do a good job of keeping a bicycle going. Myself? I am the dump truck in the slow lane.

[@zyphod]

Box hill, ain't no hill Love it!!........ Well done Katie.

[@altern8tive]

Always keep any medals and race numbers, nice to look back on and can use them as a motivational kick up the arse to get out on the bike. ta for the upload 👍🏻

[@KatieKookaburra]

I’ve got my videos for that :)

[@joshkimmins1339]

Love your work Katie! Keep it up..

[@ecopennylife]

LOL, I have ALL my medals in a cabinet hanging on the wall, glad you had good weather for once !

[@Scohen415]

Nice job Katie! Shame you had to walk that hill. As for race medals I have a box with them in. I like saving the bibs more. Have a book with those and some comments on the event. Easier to look back.

[@PoetWithPace]

Sam Cohen same. Bibs to me are more important than a medal as it is unique with your number. Medal is same for everyone 👍🏼

[@mcorbett01]

Cool video. I loved doing it too, despite crashing on a descent. Fab people, fab day, bruises getting better. 👍🏻

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhh no you ok??

[@meneersjonnie]

Very relaxing vid 👍 are you safe alone in those quiet bigcity streets?

[@KatieKookaburra]

Yeah course :)

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Too Peopley for me that. Well done and nice to know that Boxhill should be called Boxslope😂😉🤙

[@williamwood6795]

Finally your wearing a helmet I like. What kind is it??

[@KatieKookaburra]

It's Limar Air Pro :)

[@matthewbird2678]

Nice one Katie! I was there too...started at 08.44 and it was all going well until after the first hub, then I must have stopped in bottlenecks and behind accidents about 10 times and probably lost nearly 2 hours. Very frustrating but I was one of the last up Leith and Box Hill and am really chuffed I managed the 100 with a medal before they ran out of them. After L’Etape and this, next years challenge will be the Marmotte!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Two hours???? ahhhh man that's not good. YES would love to do the Marmotte!!

[@matthewbird2678]

Katie Kookaburra I’ll see you there!

[@joefenech6839]

Lining up in a que to climb hill 😂 Nice ride and the bike looks good too

[@davidparkland4681]

Same old problem with PRL. Ridiculously over-subscribed. I’d much rather ride open roads and make decent progress.

[@KatieKookaburra]

But people know that before going, or you have to at least expect it. Only time you're gonna ride closed London roads.

[@PoetWithPace]

David Parkland it did look like a complete shambles of organisation

[@davidparkland4681]

Katie Kookaburra Fair point! I do admit that it’s hard to please everyone... my experience of PRL was Leith Hill closed, Box hill closed and very long queues at Leatherhead and Wimbledon. Did the Dulux London Revolution this year - and loved every minute of it.

[@PoetWithPace]

@@davidparkland4681 from what Katie said, there were 30,000 riders, which is bonkers for such small roads. So many just enter to get their medal with London marathon and Serpentine swim and have no intention of riding again.

[@oijhohfvjx]

well done maybe see you on the manchester to blakpool one day lol

[@geraldinecoupland4162]

Well done Katie. I keep all my medals albeit cycling or running, to remind myself what I’ve achieved and be proud and how far I’ve come from being overweight and terribly unfit. The comment you made about Box Hill isn’t a hill maybe it’s not for you, but it is probably to a lot of people like myself 🤣 Hubby and I are doing the 100 event next year for the first time 👍🏻👍🏻🚴🏼‍♂️🚴‍♀️

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahhh that ace hope you love it 👯‍♂️☀️ Yeah I actually have a video going up Monday about hills and it was only meant as a bit of fun saying it isn’t a hill. I would have been broken by it a few years back and love that people are getting out and giving it a bash xx

[@donjagoe]

Loved how you just didn’t want to stop filming...sounds like BH IRL is not as hard as it is on Zwift. What do you reckon? Great job-jealous!

[@timcollins340]

Don Jagoe it’s pretty much exactly as it is on Zwift, though Zwift’s road is wider than the real thing. Compare the segments on Strava or Veloviewer; you’ll find they match.

[@danthesci-fiman3846]

Think I was riding behind you for a bit just after Wimbledon hill wanted to say hi but wasnt sure if it was you or not 🙈🙈

[@LukeGJPotter]

At 2:22 "A good time to ..." Dude in the background watering some plants. :D

[@PoetWithPace]

I was shocked how many did not complete the 100 miles due to road blocks and accidents. Seemed a shambles of organisation with no medals at finish either 🙀

[@ronwhite8503]

Was thinking I would like to do this next year but fooking hell, too many people. That's a no from me.

[@paulfrey3846]

You will have to start a new cycling travel e-business, "Air, Bin and Bagel"!!! Help riders find only the classiest nosh stops on their rides!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Haha yeahhhh but they are just garages mainly ha

[@scarboroughrider]

Was box hill steep 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪.

[@garethhope1]

Bloody love you kookaburra you crack me up! Thanks for my smile 👍🏻

[@KatieKookaburra]

Hahah ahhhhh glad you enjoyed!

[@peterhartill3047]

Fair Play Katie go girl 😂 Looks good apart from congestion on THE hill 😂 how did you rate your cannondale cracking average by the way 😎 Nice blog lovin ya bagel by the bins 😂 😂 😂 Happy cycling 🚴🏻‍♂️

[@KatieKookaburra]

I talk about the Cannondale towards the end of the vid.

[@jackodon74]

My sister did this event 2 years ago, never again she said! Dangerous over subscribed and too many inexperienced riders causing crashes. Having to walk your bike is ridiculous and highlights the problem with the organisation on the narrow roads round Surrey. This video highlights the problem around this event.

[@KatieKookaburra]

People want to be able to ride with closed roads. It’s not for everyone but I thought it was a good event

[@mikebradford2651]

Nice video blog Katie. 👍

[@ivbart]

Haha I throw away the medals. I wear some of the t shirts. And I have a stash of multifunctional headgear that I never use.

[@cyclingninja9677]

had friends who did this and they could not believe the crush which meant hills were not climbed. Not sure box hill is iconic or should hold its reputation as its not a climb really. I guess its for the southern softies to brag about. Not a sportive I would want too take part in as its too busy. Done some closed roads in Scotland which was more like it but, to be forced to walk up any hill would be a shambles for me

[@chrisskelhorn]

Katie - Box Hill is not a hill 😮😮 are you trying to upset our southern brethren 😂😂😂 was sad to see Smith & Western shut at the top as I had burger thoughts by then.

[@chrisandsamlivingthedream]

Awesome..

[@itsobj5013]

What's the point in including the hill if you're gonna have to make everyone walk up it, so annoying. I feel bad for any of the faster riders who don't live round there and it's a rare opportunity to ride some of those climbs but they have to walk with everyone else because they spread across the whole road and don't even leave a small gap

[@darrellcarter1163]

Lucky girl look a great ride Katie 🏅👍🏅👍😎

[@Trevor.Adams640]

Why? You don’t even get to ride the hills? Just do it on another day when there arent loads of other people blocking your way.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Because a lot of people want closed roads :)

[@JerryMac1125]

Didn't quite look like your Natural Habitat there Katie 😉😉

[@luh-pza901]

2:26 Urinating man ;-)

[@audiosabre]

QOM int impressed wi yer gentle slope. Innit.

[@sophiespal]

Kaa-tie, tsk, tsk. Filming that poor bloke taking a natural break at 2:40.

[@KatieKookaburra]

I was filming before he decided to head into the bushes 😂

[@2Dummies020]

Shame the hills not good enough for a northern lass. 😂 😂 But they are good enough for us southern softies. 😂

[@KatieKookaburra]

Haha well you said it not me. Box Hill was beaut though.

[@WillEyedOney]

Someone needs a medal cabinet. ;)

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ahh I got the memories :)

[@ayatsubame]

hill elitism... love it :P nice ride!

[@heidijarvis777]

Glad you got round safe and got your medal. These mass events are no longer for me after being crashed out on the Birmingham Velo and having my wheel buckled.

[@palmer3977]

Far too many people there Katie, having to walk on sections would be disappointing.

[@anthonylovell2271]

Glad I didn't try to enter, just not worth it.

[@nisancashi2241]

a ride to Londonistan, not my thing

[@drummerman122]

Not much of a ride if you have to walk up a hill because it’s so busy.

[@donreed5074]

Love box hill, keep all my medals as my achievements in doing something good. Stop going on about box hill!! Stop talking with your mouth full! Arggghhh

[@steve-bs3qp]

Cycling should be about freedom and the open road not twenty five thousand people packed in like sardines and treated like cattle box hill or not it's a pity

[@KatieKookaburra]

We all ride for different reasons so go for what you love :)