The Financial Times London Cycle Sportive, supporting Access Sport took place on Sunday 30 June. The event started in Dulwich Park, not far away from the iconic finish on the 1948 Summer Olympic Velodrome at Herne Hill. It was organised by leading mass participation events company Human Race. They offered riders completing 48 km, 100 km and 100 miles distances. My friend Robert decided to do the 100 km route with me.
We set off early in the morning. At the park before the start we prepared our nutrition as well as our racing numbers. The forecast was looking good, sunny and dry around 26 degrees. Our start time was from 8:20 am till 9:15 am.
The medium route 100 km headed out from south London to the North Downs and offered a few stunning views over the Kent/Surrey countryside and Biggin Hill, then the lanes between Reigate and Dorking where it then took on the 2012 Olympic climb at Box Hill. The total height climbed was 812 metres with a maximum elevation of 275 metres.
Around the 24th mile we stopped at the first drink and food station. We drank lots of fluid during the ride so we had to top up our drinks bottles. We spent around ten minutes taking some refreshments and doing some stretches. As we were ready to go one of the organisers told us to join a large waiting group as there was a car accident further up the road. We lost a good 20 minutes just waiting. The delay was very frustrating and I lost the buzz I had been feeling earlier. When the marshals had sorted out a diversion around the accident we started cycling again. It was not as enjoyable now as we were now a big mass of cyclists. Our leader was a motorbike who made sure that we were following him on the diversion. They had to extend our cycling route due to that car accident.
All
along the route we could see a few minor accidents that had happened to
some cyclists who had broken their chains or had punctures. Luckily
nothing happened to us.
Around 35 miles the mass was clearing up and lost completely on climbing the infamous Box Hill. It was such a great feeling to be on the top of the hill with beautiful views of Dorking and Leith Hill. After that there was the second and last drink and food station. So we topped up our bottles again and had some food. Robert just had a banana but I ate a tray of Jaffa cakes. We spent probably another 10 minutes at the second stop. The last 20 miles were still awaiting. After the break I felt a bit tired so I started cycling slowly. I really enjoyed the flat roads and downhills as I could go fast. Robert was faster on uphills than me but slower on flat roads. We were supporting each other all the way long. As soon as we hit London the traffic was very heavy and there were a lot of traffic lights on the main roads. This slowed us a lot but despite this we were still pushing it. The end of the route was to cycle around the Olympic velodrome track. It was such a unique experience. We did it! Our time was 5 hours and 21 minutes with 103 km distance long. We got a medal too. At the end we were pleased with all of the event and weather. We couldn´t ask more. :0)
Around 35 miles the mass was clearing up and lost completely on climbing the infamous Box Hill. It was such a great feeling to be on the top of the hill with beautiful views of Dorking and Leith Hill. After that there was the second and last drink and food station. So we topped up our bottles again and had some food. Robert just had a banana but I ate a tray of Jaffa cakes. We spent probably another 10 minutes at the second stop. The last 20 miles were still awaiting. After the break I felt a bit tired so I started cycling slowly. I really enjoyed the flat roads and downhills as I could go fast. Robert was faster on uphills than me but slower on flat roads. We were supporting each other all the way long. As soon as we hit London the traffic was very heavy and there were a lot of traffic lights on the main roads. This slowed us a lot but despite this we were still pushing it. The end of the route was to cycle around the Olympic velodrome track. It was such a unique experience. We did it! Our time was 5 hours and 21 minutes with 103 km distance long. We got a medal too. At the end we were pleased with all of the event and weather. We couldn´t ask more. :0)
Top of Box Hill
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