So Who is Riding London To Brighton This Summer?

I'm going to cycle down to Brighton tomorrow from Croydon, though I am not going to follow the BHF route exactly. I wanted to cycle back again, by the friend I am going with wants to get the train instead, so I might go back down there on my own next week. I'm quite looking forward to the notorious Ditchling Road, even though I'm probably going to end up walking up it...
 
Smitho3 said:
As this is a fairly long distance endurance ride you won't simply be able to get up one morning, ride it and go home unless you have either prepped for the ride or are a seasoned cyclist. It took me 6 months to lose weight and get fit to complete this in the time above. Other riders completed it in my group in under 5 hours!
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I disagree with this. I completed the Great North Bike Ride (60 miles) last year in 3.5 hours with no training. On a mountain bike. I was 17 stones then as well.

The London to Brighton isn't even that far. Just make sure your bike is in good condition and you have what you need to resolve punctures etc.
 
ANYONE can do this ride. I've seen all manner of slobs on bikes with huge tyres finish this ride. Admittedly they may have had a guzzlefest at every stop but they still finished it!
 
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I had a good ride to Brighton from Croydon today. It took longer than I had expected due to me being too reliant on my GPS and so following it unquestioningly. We left around 07:30 and got there at about 13:30, though I think we cycled an extra 10 miles thanks to the GPS sending us in a big circle around Turners Hill. We stopped for about half an hour along the way for water etc, and another 10 minutes was lost in dealing with a puncture. I forgot to put sun cream on before heading out, so my arms and legs are pretty red now. Minor downsides to an otherwise excellent day!

While I agree it's not an especially challenging ride for the most part, I do wonder how many of these "slobs on bikes with huge tyres" made it up Beacon Road and Ditchling Road on their bike. I didn't, and I'm not especially slovenly, nor are my tyres especially huge :)
 
As the weather was good yesterday, me and my girlfriend decided to drive the route down to Brighton, picking it up at Bletchingly. Fantastic drive down the country lanes. But Christ, Ditchling Beacon is immense. We overtook a lone cyclist on the way up, looking like he was struggling. I gave him a thumbs up as we passed, as I didn't have a hat to take off to him...
 
Saundie said:
While I agree it's not an especially challenging ride for the most part, I do wonder how many of these "slobs on bikes with huge tyres" made it up Beacon Road and Ditchling Road on their bike. I didn't, and I'm not especially slovenly, nor are my tyres especially huge :)
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They walked it of course :D Only problem is the road is not that wide so it only takes a few walkers to stop those who want to try and ride it.
 
uvarvu said:
They walked it of course :D Only problem is the road is not that wide so it only takes a few walkers to stop those who want to try and ride it.
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I felt a bit guilty as I was blocking some of the road as I walked up it, though I did try to get as far over to the left as I could. I didn't see many other cyclists going up it, otherwise I'd have felt even more embarrassed. I'll use a bike with more suitable gearing next time I have a go at it :)
 
Not long to go now!!

Got my start time, 8am and my riding partner (gf) got 7.30 so we will probably just both leave at 7.30. We are staying in a hotel about 3 miles from the start line otherwise we'd have to cycle an extra 15 miles in the morning!

I am going to stay in a hotel in Brighton that night too so I dont have to bother with the mass exodus of leaving brighton, plus we can go out and have some fun!

I am going on my black pashley roadster soverign dressed in tweed plus 4's, flat cap etc and my gf will be on her blue pashley poppy wearing a nice retro dress!

today I am cycling 40 miles once my epic breakfast goes down and I keep topped up with around 10-20 miles a day and also visit to the gym every other day for general fitness. I aim to complete in under 4 hours (i am on a super heavy bike remember!)

how is your training coming on? any tips for the big day?

Dude
 
You'll have no issues on a fixie though I'd be wary of the chain snapping on Ditchling Beacon. As posted a few times before I've ridden this ride on a two speed brommie with no issues. It will be out in action on Sunday too.
 
Who made it in the end? I saw theDude down near the finish line and went and said hello. A dose of the old "er, 'scuse me, do you happen to use a blue forum...?" :p

Left at 7:30, arrived at 1:50. Three planned 15 minute stops, one small puncture stop, then my massive blow out which took about 20 minutes to fix, plus a couple of traffic jams. Was passing someone at speed and they drifted as I came past and I hit a drain. Huge snake bite in the tube that took some serious patching to get to hold air.

Got up Ditchling Beacon :cool:

Then onto the beach for a slap-up fish and chips. Yummeh :D
 
Jonny69 said:
Who made it in the end? I saw theDude down near the finish line and went and said hello. A dose of the old "er, 'scuse me, do you happen to use a blue forum...?" :p

Left at 7:30, arrived at 1:50. Three planned 15 minute stops, one small puncture stop, then my massive blow out which took about 20 minutes to fix, plus a couple of traffic jams. Was passing someone at speed and they drifted as I came past and I hit a drain. Huge snake bite in the tube that took some serious patching to get to hold air.

Got up Ditchling Beacon :cool:

Then onto the beach for a slap-up fish and chips. Yummeh :D
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Yeah I did it, not done L2B for a few years as it always seems very frustrating when I do it as there are too many people.

I always thought there's a lot of fuss made about the Beacon, when people have probably done harder climbs and not realised it. I got up it no problem, but it took twice the effort it should due to all the cyclists randomly getting off in front, and lots of others refusing to walk on the left, even when there's loads of room and asked politely- one bloke walking in the right hand lane holding his MTB bike virtually at arm's length told me to p*** off when I asked "'scuse, could I get past mate?", what's that all about? Just because he couldn't be bothered, why deliberately stop everyone else making it up on two wheels :(

Had to wait for about 30 minutes at the top for friends though, and it rained/hailed biblically on me, tried to hide under a bush, not fun at all, feel a bit pants today! Although I did have fish and chips :)

Saw several serious crashes too. Norwich 100 was a much more fun and rewarding ride in my opinion. Might do the Palace to Palace as it's a picturesque route.
 
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