Vélo Birmingham & Midlands 2019

[Paraicj]

I couldn't find an earlier thread on this, anybody signed up for the 100 mile Vélo next weekend?

Looks like a lot of the organising issues from last time have been ironed out, route seems pretty ok although probably not massively scenic. I'm in the 7.00am starting pen, aiming to try and average around 27kph but more realistically likely to end up at 25-26kph overall.

[Chrisgr31]

Not doing it, I did the first one and enjoyed, but it was difficult!

[bakerstreet]

I always find the logistics of these types of events more stressful and tiring than the actual riding part. I did Ride London in 2016 and 2018 (Epic amounts of rain) and I didn't even bother entering the ballot this year. Just too much of a logistical headache to ride 100 miles on closed roads.

[The_Jackal]

I did the first one, although it is a different route this time so might not be soo hilly. A lot of people said it was hillier than they thought it was going to be. I had the privilege of living local so could try the route in advance.
Signing and marshaling is excellent with huge crowds to cheers you on.
The only thing I will say is carry all the food you can and dont stop at the feeding stations. Because of the huge numbers, no matter how organised they are the feeding stations will be rammed. You will waste time and food will run out.
Providing it doesn't rain it will be a great event. Its quite cool cycling up the wide empty main Birmingham roads.

[dantournay]

Yep, signed up to this and did the last one too.
I only live a 10 minute ride away from the start so no excuse really

[Marcellus]

Yep there’s a group of us doing it as we’re sort of local.

[Chrisgr31]

The_Jackal said:

I did the first one, although it is a different route this time so might not be soo hilly. A lot of people said it was hillier than they thought it was going to be.

Thats because it was! I cant remember what the details were but fairly sure the amount of climb was about a third more than the said it would be!

[Marcellus]

Roughly velo brum #1 was 7000ft, velo brum #2 is about 4500 the same as ride london

[The_Jackal]

Marcellus said:

Roughly velo brum #1 was 7000ft, velo brum #2 is about 4500 the same as ride london

Oh easy peasy then.
In the future people will be talking about the original one "when I was a lad and we did Velo Brum it was soo hard we cycled up vertical hills....."

[fiatpower]

You should have had an email. I’m doing the 42 miler and starting at 06:30. Car has its MOT on Friday so I may be cycling to the start of it fails!

[simonpieman]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This means you’ll have a quicker time, as you’ll avoid the queues for food.

Seriously though, that’s impressive. I wouldn’t be able to get round without taking on food. I hope it goes well.

[rs4al]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

So are you going to stuff yourself before sunrise, because I can’t see you not bonking on this ride.

[The_Jackal]

Yeah that could genuinely be dangerous. You don't want to faint on a bike.

[snobetter]

Purple 1 07:55 depart, which is disappointing. I thought as I got an early entrance through British Cycling I might get an earlier one as opposed to penultimate...

My first organised event (since mtb races in the late 80s...)

I'll be riding by myself, do I need to worry about a cafe lock for when using the facilities en route?

[Usget]

rs4al said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

So are you going to stuff yourself before sunrise, because I can’t see you not bonking on this ride.

Sod the food, you can't even take on water can you? You'll have to make sure you do it as a really slow z2 ride or your kidneys will be shrivelled prunes by the end of it.

[Paraicj]

snobetter said:

I'll be riding by myself, do I need to worry about a cafe lock for when using the facilities en route?

I doubt it, they are all organised for the Velo and the roads around them are closed, I'm certainly not going to bring a lock. Just put the bike alongside the huge mass of bikes that will be there!

[Marcellus]

snobetter said:

Purple 1 07:55 depart, which is disappointing. I thought as I got an early entrance through British Cycling I might get an earlier one as opposed to penultimate...

My first organised event (since mtb races in the late 80s...)

I'll be riding by myself, do I need to worry about a cafe lock for when using the facilities en route?

I wouldn't worry about being in Purple 1, we had a range of start times (mine was Red 1) but so we can ride as a group then we've had to all drop back to the pen the last one of our team was allocated so I think it'll be quite social in there!

as for cafe lock, nah!

[dantournay]

I'm also in Purple1 and I registered within 10 minutes of the entry being released. I'm not sure how they work it out but maybe they stick faster riders towards the back to avoid the cut off? It just means you get to overtake loads of people. The pens weren't policed last time so I'm sure you could move up a bit if you wanted to.

[The_Jackal]

Business, VIPs and people who paid for Priority entry get the early slots.
In the first one I booked the minute they were released and I had an 8.30 start.

[snobetter]

I’m not really that bothered about start time, just would have preferred earlier, I’ve got a 3 hour drive home afterwards. Bit extra in bed at least.
Did you have to put a predicted time on the application, I can’t remember?