RideLondon 2024
Brian and I, somewhere in Essex. Photo by Sportograf
Start: The Embankment, Temple, London, EC4Y 9BS
Finish: Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP
Distance: 166 km (103 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 1,090m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (cycle): C3, C22 NCN 1, 13, 16
Maps:
- London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
- Greenwich & Gravesend Map | East End, Docklands, Bromley, Sidcup & Thurrock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 162
- Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
- Chelmsford &The Rodings Map | Maldon & Witham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 183
- Braintree & Saffron Walden Map | Halstead & Great Dunmow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 195
Links: RideLondon, Wikipedia: RideLondon
RideLondon had been on my back-burner for years. It began life in 2013 as Prudential RideLondon, following the route of the 2012 Olympics road race from London to the Surrey Hills and back. In the early years it was so popular that there was a ballot for places. I didn't get in for a years, then missed a few as it coincided with our summer holiday dates, then I kind of forgot about it.
The route changed completely in 2022 when it moved from Surrey to Essex. There was also no ballot and the date changed to late May. After my friend Brian did it in 2023 it soon came back to the top of my list.
It had been a long time since I'd done an organised cycling event, preferring self-organised bike-packing adventures instead. I didn't doubt that I could do the distance but I was concerned about what bike I would take. A light road bike is the obvious choice but I had one stolen a few years back. My only other one is very old and permanently lives on my turbo-trainer for Zwifting. Rather than go through the faff of renting a bike I decided to go on my mountain bike. It's really heavy and definitely not intended for 100 miles of road, but I love riding it. I decided that the extra effort was worth the time and cost saved from other options.
The event day was awesome. It was expertly organised with 25,000 cyclists getting though 103 miles of closed roads. The route follows a diverse mix of Central London to Canary Wharf, the East End through Newham and a long stretch of the A12 dual carriageway before the more pleasant North-London suburbs and quiet Essex countryside.
Brian and I kept together for the first 70 miles then I slipped back a bit and stopped for a few minutes to pick up some more water. Brian would have waited but his RideLondon app showed me as being ahead of him so he powered on.
Brian arrived at the Tower Bridge finish line 20 minutes head of me. After the official timings had filtered out the welfare stop, our finish times were only 9 minutes apart. Given the heaviness of the bike I had I was very pleased.
Completing RideLondon takes me to 2 out of the 3 events that I need for the London Classics Medal. I already had the London Marathon in the bag so it's just the 2 mile Serpentine Swim to complete. I just need to learn how to swim now ....
