If you were one of the unlucky many that didn’t get a place to ride in the 2020 Prudential RideLondon 100… Fear not. You can still participate in the event by riding for a registered RideLondon Charity.
Celebrating the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, this 100 mile, closed road loop in London and Surrey has established itself as one of the best sportives in the country and is entering its eighth year. Starting from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the route weaves its way south into the Surrey Hills. You will climb the iconic climbs of Leith Hill and Box Hill and then head north towards West London, through Richmond Park, past the Thames and onto the Mall.
Shortly after the main event, the route will be used for the professional race who will scream around the route at an average speed of 27mph mopping up the Strava KOMS and QOMS along the way! Not to mention the Brompton World Championship!
Not only is it a great event to be a part of, but it is also a perfect opportunity to raise some money for a cause and many people have done so to date.
Charity
RideLondon’s events have raised a significant amount of money for charity. The total so far, since the event has been running is £77 million with 2019 generating £11.5 million.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London said “My congratulations go to everyone who helped raise this fantastic sum for charity at the 2019 edition of Prudential RideLondon. Their efforts will help some great causes make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Alzheimer’s Society raised more than £450,000, making the charity the most successful fundraisers from the event. Macmillan Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer UK were among the many other charities that raised six-figure sums.
Kiera Ridge, Senior Events Fundraising Manager, Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We’ve had another successful year with nearly 550 Alzheimer’s Society riders taking on the challenge and raising over £450,000. Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is a hugely popular event with our supporters and has been a great vehicle for us to raise huge sums to fund our work, with 2019 being no exception.
“With almost a million people living with the condition, dementia is the biggest health challenge society faces today. We urgently need to find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected. Our team of riders and their generosity have played a huge role in this and we look forward to another successful year in 2020.”
Liam O’Reilly, Fundraising Events Programme Lead of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Our partnership saw 440 British Heart Foundation (BHF) riders take on 100 miles raising just under £300,000 for the Miles Frost Fund. This money will help the BHF roll-out even more genetic testing for families at risk of inherited heart conditions and support vital research into improving diagnosis and treatments of deadly inherited heart conditions.
“To date, the Miles Frost Fund has raised an incredible £1.5m, which funds genetic nurses and counsellors to identify and treat more families with inherited heart conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The BHF now have a total of 13 sites delivering cascade genetic testing, and have identified 517 patients with HCM; helping save lives and keep hearts beating.”
If you haven’t got your place already, you can still obtain a place and raise money for your chosen charity:
For those who have their place and are unsure what to expect, here are a few things that few will tell you:
1. The front of the ride is fast and furious. You will likely get a host of amateur racers focussed on putting the hammer down and riding the course as fast as they can, treating the event like the World Championship. If you understand racing etiquette, are comfortable performing ‘through and off’ and enjoy riding at speed then, by all means, make your way to the front!
2. Riding in a bunch is faster no matter your ability. Find a group of riders that are going at the speed you are most comfortable with and make friends! Hopping from wheel to wheel to get out of the headwind will notch your average speed up quite considerably and preserve your precious energy stores.
3. Leith Hill is a grind, however, it’s the Wimbledon kicker which will make or break you! The steep ramp is about 3/4 around the course and is one to keep in mind as your legs will likely be quite heavy by this point and you will need some oomph to get to the top.
4. In Britain, it rains about 50% of the year so dress accordingly. Packable rain jackets and removable arm/leg warmers advisable.
5. The after-parties are great. There will be a buzz after the ride with food, drinks and entertainment for all. These parties are generally hosted by the charities which you have worked so hard to raise money for so enjoy them!
