Ride London 100 done and delighted

Outside Buckingham Palace, after charging down The Mall to the finish

On Sunday 4th August we completed the 100 mile cycle route through London and Surrey on closed roads. What an achievement - both in completing it and in it actually happening.
The build-up was impressive, the organisation couldn't be faulted, and the conditions were ideal.

We arrived in London on Friday night, went to Excel to collect our race numbers and then joined in the London FreeCycle - 8 miles of closed roads in the centre of London. Ended up at Green Park cycling festival where there were lots of cycling activities taking place. Met up with some cycling friends - not planned - and saw colleagues from the world of cycling.

In preparation for the 100-mile ride we only had a carafe of wine (not a bottle) with our evening pasta! Bed by 9.30pm. Alarm set for 4am - yes 4am. On reading through the final instructions from Ride London realising that the start was at the Olympic park which is 7miles away from where we are staying. We must be on the road by 5am and the only way is to cycle.

It was still dark when the alarm went off. All our clothes were ready to quickly spring into action, eat porridge, drink fluids, final check and leave. Oops left sunglasses on a stool in the hallway. Realised about a mile into the journey but no turning back now.

We had studied our route the day before using the London cycling maps, asked advice about the best way to cycle, downloaded a route from the Barclays cycle app........ And didn't need any of it - just followed the mass of cyclists converging on the London streets at 5am - mixed in with the drunken revellers finishing off their Saturday night out. We passed a few poor cyclists with punctures - not a good start to the day for them.

The sun was rising as we arrived at the Olympic stadium. It was a warm morning and very exciting with thousands of cyclists. Once we knew where our starting gate was we relaxed and took in the atmosphere.

At the start we looked like this, 6am at the Olympic Park
















We set off in our wave exactly on time. A leisurely 2 miles to the official start and the convergence of the blue and black waves together. Pretty amazing that 20,000 cyclists can set off and were pretty spread out in the first few miles.



 

 

 

We had decided to stop off at the 3 hubs 25 miles, 45 miles and 75 miles. Drinks, bananas and bars on offer. We had our fill at each stop. At 45 miles and after the first hill we sat on the grass for 10 mins with a fantastic view of Surrey. Leith hill was a bit steep and then box hill was extremely mild. All that anxiousness for nothing. We are so unconfident of our ability. My goal was to complete 100miles and enjoy the experience - which I did. It was fantastic to be cycling through villages and towns on closed roads with crowds of clapping people encouraging us on. It felt very special. Once we got to 20 miles to go I felt that's it we have done it. All down hill from now - except Wimbledon hill - short, sharp, shock!

Cycling into the centre of London was special - 1. Knowing it would all be over soon, and

2. The honour of being able to cycling in central London and then down the Mall at 18 mph.

We were given a medal at the end and a goody bag.

It was so good to finish. Took some pictures outside Buckingham Palace and then went into Green Park to lie horizontally on the grass and drink some revolting recovery drink from our goody bag. We both fell asleep exhausted probably for 10 mins. We then staggered over to the food area and bought a veggie burger - delicious.



At the end we looked like this, 3pm at Green Park.

We then walked back towards Green Park tube where the roads were open and cycled back to our flat ( well Deborah's flat). Had a bath and then forced ourselves to go out and have some Thai food and a Chang beer. That was enough. Back to the flat and in bed by 8.30pm. What a day.

I loved every minute of it and am really pleased that I did it but I have no desire to do it again. It might spoil it! And someone else can have a go at it.