What Is RideLondon REALLY Like?

Рет қаралды 15,434

Күн бұрын

In this video I review the RideLondon Essex 100 closed road sportive, which I rode in 2022. I compare the event to my experience riding the RideLondon Surrey 100 events in 2013 and 2018. I give my thoughts on the routes, the climbs of RideLondon and the facilities and riding conditions.
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Пікірлер: 37

@naniv 4 ай бұрын

Im doing it this year..not a beginner to cycling but a beginner to marathons, long distance rides and rubbing shoulders with aggressive cyclists

@Sportivecyclist 4 ай бұрын

Oh don’t worry about the aggressive cyclists. If they’re there (I didnt see any), they’re setting off at 5am so they can do it in less than 4 hours. Everyone else is more chilled.

@Tailspin80 21 күн бұрын

I did my first RideLondon yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Friendly and very sociable at the stops, most of the riders behaved well although nearly came off when a phone dropped off a bike in front of me and she slammed on the brakes and swerved across me. Echo your comments about marshals. Aren’t they supposed to run ahead of an incident and wave their yellow flags as in motor racing? Many were just waving them to show support! I finished in 6:28 which I was very happy with, but I’m probably twice your age! It gives me a target to beat next year.

@grahamo22 21 күн бұрын

Handy hint - theres a large underground car park under Hyde park. So stay out of Central London and drive in early to park the car safely underground. A couple of minutes from there to the start area. When you are finished, back to Hyde Park and your car - easy to get out onto the M40, M4 or North to the A1. If you like cars, you can drool at all the seriously expensive cars kept underground by the denizens of Mayfair, plus the Dorchester hotel.

@Tailspin80 21 күн бұрын

I pre booked the ParkBee in Kendal street less than 2 miles from Victoria Memorial. Secure, barrier operated from your phone. £18 all day on a Sunday. Can’t fault it.

@simplygregsterev Жыл бұрын

Great recap and glad I watched it. I’ll be doing the 2023 ride

@RoadCyclingAdam Жыл бұрын

Great recap of the event. Really enjoyed that video. Thanks Monty. My 3rd RL100. Being part of the Essex cycling fraternity, I can definitely confirm there are more scenic roads, but always a job to find a climb.

@zijiji 25 күн бұрын

Cracking sense of humor - and also a great informative video. Had to watch some bits more than once as got distracted (genuinely) from the subtle jokes!

@mikegreen2298 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. That comprehensively and entertainingly covers, and confirms, the great majority of reasons why I have no inclination whatsoever to ride a sportive, and especially not a pan flat one. Thanks :-)

@a1white Күн бұрын

Good to hear an honset opinion. I commute, cycling across Tower Bridge 5 days a week so it woudn't feel so special to me (more like I'm just about to turn left onto C4 and cycle home) and yes, it is far too narrow more a mass finish. As far as I know, there were too many nimby complaints about closed roads in the affluent areas of Surrey so that's the main reason for it moving out to Essex. It's a shame they don't get to showcase more of London now. Almost like they are in a hurry to get you out along anonymous dual carriageways. I've never completed a 100miler, just a few 60mile ish ones. An 80 mile event in the hilly chilterns I did a few years ago in 30º+ heat half killed me, so I'm thinking I'll perhaps look into the 60mile event route next year.

@igorpilot Жыл бұрын

Great commentary and overview!

@n22pdf Жыл бұрын

This is the first of your vids I’ve watched as I completed ride London yesterday.. and your overview is excellent and just how I felt I’m glad I did it but it’s pretty boring and a lot of a faff, I wouldn’t do it again I don’t think.. will check out some more of your vids👍👍🚴🏻😃

@brerhare9118 Жыл бұрын

informative, and super funny too. How could I not subscribe

@indyworm Жыл бұрын

Just found this video, loving your work. My 10p on this year’s Ride London - having done RL Surrey 3 times I was very disappointed this time around. V long walk to the start with little organisation. Also, because the start wasn’t staggered as previously there was a lot of bunching, at my start time anyway, which became a bit scary at times and led to me being brought down when some riders fell right in front of me. I also saw more than the usual number of crashes. Looking at your video it seems a bit calmer so maybe a later start time? Feed stops were c**p! Having said all that it was OK but kind of ‘meh’. Don’t think I’d do it again on this route.

@adamcoatham Жыл бұрын

I always enjoy the Tour of Cambridgeshire as a closed road sportive - flat route (which isn’t for everyone but I’m ok with it!) but nice small roads around the Fens, just having to battle the wind mainly!

@chrisb.288 Жыл бұрын

Try the Tour de Manc next year Monty, there should be plenty of scope for your use of analogies on that one…

@chrisshea4582 Жыл бұрын

Great review, I enjoyed the event but, as you said, the route was a bit pants. You didn't mention the sightseeing opportunity towards the end, the grotesque houses in 'Chigwell Row' at about 80 miles in, they were a particular highlight for me!

@TheWeightliftingTriathlete Жыл бұрын

This was my first Ride London event. I was really underwhelmed. I found it such an awkward journey into London then a huge shuffling queue for about an hour as thousands were ushered into the start area. The route wasn't that great either. It was too flat and just a bit dull. Those massive dual carriageways were a bit miserable - particularly on the way back. Not sure I'll do it again unless it goes back to Surrey which appears better

@krisbowditch827 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like they’ve ruined a good event.. with a crap course

@mvp_kryptonite 15 күн бұрын

I get the impression they should stick to including most of London or at least covering one side to the next. That guy that got hit by a deer was unfortunate too

@Enna1791 2 ай бұрын

Very useful video, thank you. How many cyclists did you spot doing the ride on a hybrid?

@Sportivecyclist 2 ай бұрын

There were definitely a few hybrids. As long as you have smooth tyres, this sort of flattish route feels very doable on a hybrid.

@Enna1791 2 ай бұрын

@@Sportivecyclist Thank you

@gavinmksmith Жыл бұрын

😂 great video

@johnsenior478 9 ай бұрын

I have always been bemused that given the vast number of UK sportives - anyone would do Ride London. It looks hugely overcrowded, massively over priced for what you get - and about as inspiring as a bowl of washing up. On the plus side the organisers must be well on their way to buying their second super yacht and a helicopter complete with pilot for the school run. I guess it would make some sense ifI lived in London or I-had an aversion to any kind of gradient or quiet roads in the countryside. Great video- Ihave subscribed based on the mixture of sarcasm irony and cycling enthusiasm.

@robkennedy79 Жыл бұрын

Please could you tell me where you get the rider numbers, do you still have to go to get them the day before (used to be at the Excel Centre) thanks

@Sportivecyclist Жыл бұрын

No, you don’t have to go pick them up any more. I am 99.999% they get sent to you in the post (I can’t imagine how else I got them!!)

@MosherMike Жыл бұрын

Despite the uninspiring sights around the course (bar the posh houses around Ongar), I enjoyed it. But what says it all is I literally hadn't ridden at all for 8 months and done a ride longer than 5 miles for 2 years. And I finished it. Albeit having to stop at every pit stop and every incline above 3% in the last 10 miles. No way would I have finished the Surrey version in that condition. L2B best sportive for now.