Evans: Prudential Ride London Training Ride

Ride: Prudential Ride London Training ride from Evans
Date: 25th March, 2017 from 8:00 – 17:00
Distance: 50 miles
Difficulty: 3 out of 5 (Lumpy – no mountains but not flat)
GPX file: Download GPX file
Starting point: Evans Head Office, Gatwick – RH10 9TZ

I’m fortunate to get selected on the ballot for the Prudential 100 mile ride happening on July 30th. In this regards, one of the official sponsors Evans has organised a training ride which is 50 miles covering the hardest part of the main ride – Leith hill.

Before enrolling in it, I have gone through the Q&A’s on the event page and a couple of questions asking whether this ride is for a beginner? Most of the answers suggested beginners participate in it so I’ve decided to go for it.

This ride has started from Evans head office in Gatwick going through Norwood Hill and Newdigate, Leith Hill and heading through Shere then on towards Ewhurst via another climb at Pitch Hill before returning back to the finish. I travelled to Gatwick via National rail and cycled from the station to the Evans head office – the starting point of the ride

A couple of days before the ride, Evans has sent a newsletter to all of their participants with the GPS files and other details about the ride. The rides started in small batches between 8:30 to 9:45 am

Starting point of the ride – Evans head office in Gatwick

Starting point of the ride – Evans head office in Gatwick

My Participation number: 6921

As soon as I reached the head office, registered myself and got my participant number #6921, did my final checks on my bike and then joined the batch who are ready to start. After 28 miles, there is a food station with water, flapjacks, energy drinks etc., The food station is not really great but fits the purpose. The route was marked with arrows for clear directions and I have loaded the GPS files on my Garmin Edge 8800 so I didn’t miss my route in my whole ride.

Arrows indicating the route

Arrows indicating the route

Arrows indicating the route

Based on my experience with this ride, I would suggest beginners to go for it if only you have a group of friends who are of same riding capacity levels as you or who can accompany you for the whole ride, because in some areas, you will be riding on a 60mph road where you expect lot of cars, vans passing you, if you are not used to riding bikes on such roads (like me) you will be in a trouble and you may not really enjoy the ride because you will have concerns about finishing 50 miles, climbing on the hills and to watch out the traffic passing you at high speed. Though I started my ride in a group assuming someone who is of my same capacity level will accompany me, but to my surprise, they all turned to be super experts and they just flew away and I did the whole ride of 50miles just on my own. Thank god! I completed my ride successfully in 4.35 hours without any punctures, chain issues, and brake failures.

During the ride, I’ve noticed some drivers are very understandable and considerate towards the cyclists, but few of them (mostly the van drivers) are very rude, they don’t bother about a cyclist who is riding but they overtook me in a high speed with a very little gap, first time riders on such roads like me should be very cautious. I should mention and especially appreciate the lady drivers, every lady driver whom I came across on my way kept well back enough and while overtaking they are slow and cautious leaving a lot of space between the bike and car.

Evans staff is really cool, friendly and helpful but somehow I felt the security given for the rider is not much promising because the team will be approaching you only if you got a problem and call them, it would be better and assuring to the riders if they do the rounds in their vehicles through the route to watch out their participants. I don’t want to scare the beginners who would like to participate in such events but imagine you going in country lanes and if something happens to you and not in a position to call the team, you will be in a terrible situation.

At the finish point

At the finish point

At the finish point, every participant has received a goody bag which some energy bars, water bottles, multi-tool kit and a continental tube.

Overall the route through the country lanes and scenic views from the top of the hills is beautiful. As I’m a beginner and first time doing this kind of country lane ride alone the ride was a bit scary to me, otherwise, it was good. Perhaps I might feel more confident in my next rides of this kind.