Stafford RC Riders take London by storm

Yesterday was the inaugural London 100 cycling event which saw 20,000 cyclists descend on London and Surrey. A team of four represented Stafford Road Club — Gav, Ade, Si and Rob — in what can only be described as truly epic event, 100 miles of totally closed roads, a cyclists dream.

The start was early as the alarm clocks went off at 4:40 in the hotel. We needed to be at the start line for 06:00 with a start time of 06:58! The event started at the Olympic village in the shadows of the stadium and velodrome. On arrival there were cyclist as far as the eye could see in every direction, thousands upon thousands. We queued up in our allocated loading area and right on time we set off.

The actual start line was 2 miles away on one of the busiest roads in London, the three lane A12, good job it was closed as we went in the wrong direction! All the riders had transponders so times could be measured from the sensor across the road at the start and finish. The plan was to start steady as 100 miles is a long way and we wanted to complete the event in 5 hours. Well things didn’t quite go to plan!

We headed out through Canary Wharf using what would normally be some of the busiest roads in the country. The opportunity was just to good to miss, no traffic, red traffic lights that you just ignored, going the wrong way around traffic islands so we upped the pace considerably! We were only a mile from the start doing 25mph+ through Canary Wharf! So much for a steady start! We then went through one of the highlights of the whole route “Lime-house Tunnel”, a 1 mile tunnel under Canary Wharf where cyclists are normally banded from. We used both sides of the carriage way and were now hitting 30mph!

The pace stayed the same for the first 40 mile past the Tower of London, down the embankment, past Trafalgar Sq, through Pall Mall, Kensington, Richmand Park and Kingston out of London towards Surrey. The four of us got organised with some through and off and when we looked behind we discover we had a train of about 30 others hitching on for the ride!

We finally came across Leith Hill. The was the hardest climb of the event at around 2 miles with some sections at 14%. With the narrow roads it did prove challenging with riders of all abilities climbing at the same time. Now at the highest point of the course the views across Surrey were wonderful but not as good as the decent with no traffic to worry about. Box hill came next with its nice smooth Tarmac following the Olympics. This climb was steady and not to bad so back to central London we headed.

By now it was mid morning and the spectators were out and as we passed through some town centres the atmosphere was electric with cheers, shouting in support and air horns going off! This gave every one a welcome boost. Each time we hit a town centre the shouting meant the pace picked up. In the last 20 miles we were all suffering, I have cramp in both thigh’s and both calf’s, Ade and Si also both suffering with cramp and Ade broke a spoke. Still the crowds spurring on meant we could shut out most of the pain. Gav had gone past the point of pain and couldn’t feel his legs!

Finally the dash to the line past the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street and onto the mall towards Buckingham palace. Gave and myself got into a train with another team who pulled us all the way to the line. The crowds around Westminster were 10 deep and you couldn’t hear yourself think with all the shouting. I managed a very quick glimpse at Big Ben before it was head down again travelling around 30mph!!

We all crossed the line safely and Gav just beet me to it. My time was 4hr 41s for 100 miles at 21.3mph average! Never thought we get around that fast! It was full gas all the way around and enjoyed every second.

The event had hundreds of marshals at every junction and on traffic islands with flags and whistles. Loads of signs warning of approaching bends and road furniture. Miles and miles of traffic barriers with Police and first aiders everywhere. It was as close to a real stage of a grand tour that I will ever experience. The organiser should be very proud of what they achieved.

The highlight for me has to be riding through Kingston town centre on the way back into London with fellow SRC riders behind me in a train to a massive crowd cheering us on going full speed.

Finally we all headed down to the Thames to get on one of the clippers the organisers had arranged to take riders up the Thames back to the docklands area.

Rob