London to Brighton cycle, not the BHF one

peige · 11 Jan 2015 at 21:22

A group of three of us want to work towards the london to brighton ride but we don't really want to do the main BHF one, we would like to do one of the quieter ones that are supported and run on a slightly lower key than the BHF one.

Anyone have any experience of any of them? A quick google reveals the Capital to Coast one, I'm sure Evans do one too?

GSVBagpuss · 12 Jan 2015 at 11:57

Personnaly I now shy away from non-closed roads sportives. i don't see why you need to pay for the littel you get - plan your own route, carry some food with you and there are 3 of you in case anything goes wrong. I know an organised one gives a feeling of protection for a less experienced rider but I did 100 miles last year with one friend, a hard copy maps of Wiltshire and some soreen in my back pocket!

ArmoVanBuuren · 12 Jan 2015 at 12:14

Yeah why pay money to do a really busy L2B cycle, then at the end of it not be able to take your bike back on the train (they ban bikes on trains on L2B organised days)and instead have to put your bike in a truck to take it back to London. Have some fish and chips by the seaside and a few beers then leisurely get the train back

I've done it with friends lots of times on our own. Just carry a mini tool, inner tubes, puncture repair kit, food and drink, money and a mobile phone. Worse comes to the worse there are lots of train stations en-route so you could get the train back to london if any major problems.

Just follow a route like this:

http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/battersea-eng/london-to-brighton-cycle-ride-route-319043

Vonhelmet · 12 Jan 2015 at 12:53

GSVBagpuss said:
I did 100 miles last year with one friend, a hard copy maps of Wiltshire and some soreen in my back pocket!

Was it uphill both ways?

peige · 12 Jan 2015 at 21:36

You all raise a good point. I'll talk to the others, I know the hassle of getting up there is a right pain for the BHF one. We all live along the coast from Brighton so the return isn't an issue.

GSVBagpuss · 12 Jan 2015 at 22:11

Vonhelmet said:
Was it uphill both ways?

Then I did a full shift down t'mines and just a tablespoon of Bovril for te

We did stop at a few churches for biscuits - 52 in fact (churches not biscuits, lost count of those

MickeyFinns · 16 Jan 2015 at 16:35

Maybe have a look at some AudaxUK events? Might be more what you're looking for. Usually 1-200 people (busier this year as people are wanting to qualify for PBP), cost about £5 to enter and run in a loop so less dealing with transport.