Month: February 2020

My 2018 Prudential RideLondon 100

Post author By Brian
Post date February 22, 2020
1 Comment on My 2018 Prudential RideLondon 100

This video is about my 2018 Prudential RideLondon 100, riding for Marie Curie (as I did again a year later in 2019) in memory of my mother-in-law Laura, and in thanks for the help Marie Curie gave her and us during her final illness. I’ll be supporting Marie Curie again this year, 2020, even though I have my own entry.

It was pretty poor weather, much worse than usual, starting to rain at or near the start, and not stopping until around Dorking; and it was also pretty cold as a result, so much so that I refused a couple of stops, having shivered at the two where I did stop. I also had a puncture at a faster part of the course at Putney Heath, and also after I finished. The Continental guys at the finish were great, and together we found a hidden tiny speck of glass, neither visible or tangible from outside or inside the tyre, so all was well for my ride home, with no repeat of the puncture!

Overall, though it was a great experience, and my first attempt at the Prudential, and together with the Saturday Freeride (also shown in the pictures) the whole weekend was the usual fulfilling, enjoyable and well-organised experience, especially with my riding buddy, Leslie, who has done the Prudential many times, and whom I joined up with at the end.

I look forward to riding with Marie Curie again at the 2020 edition on August 16th.

My 2018 Prudential RideLondon 100

Here is a short extract video, just covering the section between Leith Hill and Box Hill

The Leith Hill and Box Hill climbs in the (very wet) 2018 Prudential Ridelondon 100

Tags Cycling, Prudential, RideLondon, Sportive, Surrey Hills

My 2019 Prudential RideLondon 100 with Marie Curie

Post author By Brian
Post date February 15, 2020
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Getting my ballot entry for the 2020 Prudential RideLondon 100 has encouraged me to sort my GoPro clips out from the 2019 edition, and to make this video using those and pictures from the event – mine, the official Sportograf ones, and others taken by friends. It’s 47 minutes (it’s a long Sportive, took me 6 hours or so!) but there is also a short video, to get the flavour, on my YouTube channel, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibC54aueESw.

On both this blog AND YouTube you will find quite a lot about cycling in Mallorca and the Balearics too – my next adventure will be the 6Points Mallorca ride on May 15/16/17th – read about that on my blog pinned post, at the top. It’s a 420kms 3-day ride, with 7500m of climbing, with plenty of coffee and cake opportunities! Lots about the May 2019 here on my blog too – just search for 6Points (you’ll also find the October 2019 Ibiza/Formentera 6Points events. In October 2020, that will be a 6Points Menorca ride).

THIS post is about my own 2019 Prudential RideLondon 100, riding for Marie Curie (as I did in 2018) in memory of my mother-in-law Laura, and in thanks for the help Marie Curie gave her and us during her final illness. I will ride for them again this year, even though I have my own entry.

It was much better weather than for the 2018 edition, and I was nearly an hour faster, despite delays on a crowded Leith Hill owing to someone falling off and needing help to get going again – which he did, with no thanks given to the marshals (they told me) but causing a 10 minute delay for everyone behind – including me. Just an occupational hazard of any large Sportive.

Overall it was a great experience, and together with the Saturday freeride (also shown in the pictures) the whole weekend was the usual fulfilling, enjoyable and well-organised experience.

This year I had the special pleasure of staying with my friend, Stuart, and his family Harriet and Lily, plus riding to the start with his son, Freddie.

I rode with Stuart (and Colin) back in the early 1960s with Bruce Castle Cycling Club, before my University days and the world of work. Riding with Freddie out to the Olympic Park closed a lovely loop!

I met up with riding friends Leslie (GGCC real life riding) and Simon (GGCC Zwifter, like me nowadays) at the end (Simon was under 5 hours, Leslie just on 5 hours) at Green Park, with the BHF charity, and Leslie’s brother Stephen who will be riding in 2020, as will Leslie, Simon and I.

Then it was dinner back at Stuart’s, and the train back to Glasgow the next day. Ernie (my bike) and I had travelled down to London very smoothly by Virgin Rail, and Leslie joined us for the return trip.

What a treat the whole weekend was! I’m looking forward to the 2020 edition enormously.

My 2019 Prudential RideLondon 100

The short version, no GoPro!

Tags Box Hill, Cycling, Leith Hill, Prudential, RideLondon, Sportive, Surrey Hills

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6Points Ibiza Oct 6th 2019 – full version

Post author By Brian
Post date February 7, 2020
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This video is about the 6Points cycling trip to Ibiza on 6th Oct 2019. It’s is a more detailed record of our visit than my previous shorter video, and includes GoPro clips from my bike, as well as photos taken along the way.

Our ride comprised 140 kms or so of cycling, with about 1700m of climbing, and all of us on the ride agreed that it was another great day out, following our 6Points ride in Formentera the previous day.

Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. Its largest settlements are Ibiza Town (Catalan: Vila d’Eivissa, or simply Vila), Santa Eulària des Riu, and Sant Antoni de Portmany. Its highest point, called Sa Talaiassa (or Sa Talaia), is 475 metres (1,558 feet) above sea level; we visited Sant Josep de sa Talaia, as our highest point early in the ride.

Ibiza has become well known for its association with nightlife, electronic dance music, and for the summer club scene, all of which attract large numbers of tourists drawn to that type of holiday. David Guetta, whose music provides the background to this video, has DJ’d in Ibiza, back in the party days!

By visiting the north, east, south and western compass points of the island, as well as the highest point, and the (sea level!) beach at Portinatx, we saw most of the island from several viewpoints.

The steepest part of the ride, the climb out of Portinatx, after lunch, was memorable!

I’m already looking forward to my next visit.