Ride London 2024 | The ride from HELL

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  • Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
  • Ride London 2024 with Lewis and Ben. For context Lewis has Iron Man Austria coming up in a few weeks so will need to run a marathon off the back of a 120 mile ride.
    When you wake up at 4am and leave the house at 4:15 the last thing you want to realise is that you have a slow puncture. This was always going to be a day to just keep moving forward.
    With no time before the event to throw a tube in my rear wheel i was going to have to chance it and just hope it held out. Turns out the sealent in my tyre had run dry and the small hole wasnt being plugged. I wouldnt find this out till after the event.
    England did its usual summer thing and threw down rain and then glorious sunshine.
    Last thing ill say is, if youre doing a sportive, especially in the rain... Bring everything you need to fix a flat tyre and get your bicycle back on the road!! Lessons were learnt today boys.
    Find me on:
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 248

  • @stephendailey3108
    @stephendailey3108 4 місяці тому +12

    Yup, fun day out, soooo many punctures, bonkers to ride with very little tools or spares, teachable moment. love the content

  • @chasemason5129
    @chasemason5129 4 місяці тому +9

    My mindset for every single ride no matter how long or short is: prepare on the assumption you will have a double puncture. I carry a saddle bag slightly bigger than I would like but after experiencing a double puncture on a recent ride, I never ever want to go through the pain of leaving the house without sufficient kit again.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      Yeah if I do a local ride I’ll still carry all I need- but for ride London where it’s 100 miles in the middle of an area no where near me I’d honestly cry if I got a flat without anything.
      Just taking this as a teachable lesson and a way to help these guys learn how important it is

    • @andrewcockburn7484
      @andrewcockburn7484 4 місяці тому +1

      Two tpu tubes weigh about 60g. No excuse not to have spares

    • @TheWeightliftingTriathlete
      @TheWeightliftingTriathlete Місяць тому

      I'm the same. I also followed my brother's advice of having £10 cash in my bag just in case. I have it all in my saddle bag and it's not been needed for at least a year but it's always there if needed.

  • @remdog7827
    @remdog7827 4 місяці тому +6

    Weather fairies gone out for a 100mile closed road ride with 4 feed stations and yet unprepared. The biggest smile in the video was from the guy on Whyte MTB riding past. Lesson learned so maybe there was a good outcome out of this.

  • @stevennorth6484
    @stevennorth6484 4 місяці тому +33

    Never go out without spare tubes, pump, patches on such a long ride. Common sense.

    • @0x0oxo
      @0x0oxo 3 місяці тому +1

      It's a beginners mistake... jokers

    • @sebastiansowieso8179
      @sebastiansowieso8179 3 місяці тому +2

      And be sure to just stop every hour and pump up a flat tire like this guy 😅

  • @stoyanom86
    @stoyanom86 4 місяці тому +9

    Obviously not bringing the basics: tube, pump, levers, multitool is a big no-no. But let's talk a bit about nutrition. The support stations at sportives like Ride London are planned in such a way that you can fuel appropriately. 2 gels and a bar is waaay too little for such a distance. If you do not have your fueling on the bike dialed in you can start off with a basic rule of thumb like having two pieces of food (bars/gels/whatever) and a bidon for each station (40km-ish). If you fuel on the bike you don't have to stop. If you don't then stop, eat at the station and continue afterwards.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I think that my focus all day was just else where so I simply overlooked it and had a rough patch. But yeah, if we were doing it no-stop then I would have been in a world of trouble.

    • @liamchalmers4871
      @liamchalmers4871 4 місяці тому

      The feed stations were particularly bad this year I thought. Not much in the way of real food to fill your belly so even though I put enough carbs in my body from powders etc (I don't really like gels) I did find myself uncomfortably hungry at the finish line. Was easier to fuel the Mallorca 312 last month imo 😅

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +2

      Liam I completely agree. A big event like this and all they do is partner with HighFive to dish out gels as part of HighFive’s sampling strategy. No food. Just gels and water.
      I’ll take a stale cheese sandwich in Mallorca over that any day

    • @MM-ev1fg
      @MM-ev1fg 4 місяці тому

      There was food at the half way point (had to pay) and at other stations there were flapjacks.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      Ah nice- we actually skipped the 50 mile stop due to using a small little stop in the video where the guy pumps up my tyre just before it.
      I missed seeing any flapjacks though- they would have helped save my day

  • @toomuchpaving
    @toomuchpaving 4 місяці тому +34

    “All the gear, no idea” Sorry, my mistake “Not all the gear, no idea”

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      No gear. No idea. You only make that mistake once huh

    • @toomuchpaving
      @toomuchpaving 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife ha ha. There’s riders in my club making that mistake after 10+ years of club rides!! Enjoy the vids, good work.

    • @jaychisnall1386
      @jaychisnall1386 4 місяці тому +7

      My thoughts as well. These guys lack the knowledge of a bike club...

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I do think that until it happens you probably don’t quite realise just how important it is to have a full kit with you.
      Would have loved to have noticed when my buddy got a flat so I could help him fix it and get us back on the road all together, he still would have learnt but without almost ruining his day.

    • @alankendrick5522
      @alankendrick5522 4 місяці тому +4

      Clueless

  • @richardandrewsmall
    @richardandrewsmall 3 місяці тому

    I had almost exactly the same experience as you - 4 failed plugs (massive hole to be fair and sealant ran out in the tyre!), a pinch puncture in my spare tube and had to wait for a motorbike to throw me another tube. Bleurgh. Chapeau on your ride, great vid.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Thank you man, this was why I was happy to run it on a slow puncture rather than plug. Didn’t want it to go wrong from early on in the day

  • @jamescoulter8413
    @jamescoulter8413 4 місяці тому +2

    Rode on Sunday and thought I was carrying everything I needed. Things went well until 65-70 miles. Then I lost two (yes two) chain ring bolts. Naturally no spares on me 🙄. Thought about bailing but managed to find a mobile mechanic who sorted me out with a bolt. Really enjoyed the return leg in the wind actually as I managed to make up quite a bit of time I lost standing roadside.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I’ve only ever lost chain ring bolts on the turbo- much easier to find them again that way. Way to get it finished

  • @Tailspin80
    @Tailspin80 3 місяці тому

    I started at 8.30 in Pink B. Great weather apart from one cloudburst at mile 55. Tubeless tyres with sealant topped up, repair kit, CO2 inflator but none of it needed. My first RideLondon and very enjoyable. Like you I started with others but split up. It’s so much easier and I think more enjoyable if you can go at your own pace, draft other groups etc. without being tied. Back next year I hope.
    The event instructions said bring tubes. I didn’t because I’ve not taken a tubeless tyre off before and I thought it would probably be impossible, messy and with the sealant and plugs hopefully not needed. There were a lot of people with punctures - not sure why unless someone anti-cyclist was out early.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      Yeah plug and tubes every time, especially when I’m cycling somewhere and I’m no where near home!!!

  • @jimedwarde7365
    @jimedwarde7365 4 місяці тому +1

    I was a couple of hours behind you and yes the weather was much better throughout. Luck of the draw. Great event though! Well done.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      @jimedwarde7365 I think the guys who started after 8am probably got a sweet ride all day

  • @heidijarvis777
    @heidijarvis777 Місяць тому

    The big events are not for me any more after having someone crash into me on my first century ride, buckled my wheel at the 40 mile mark and someone on the event died 😢 I know that is rare, but I think they are quite dangerous. Glad you had a safe ride. Rookie error on your mates though 😂

  • @tommyclarke2007
    @tommyclarke2007 3 місяці тому

    Great to see such a positive event with cyclists in London 🎉 - helps balance all the negativity on UA-cam! Have to say I agree with what you say about pumps & tubes 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️ - well done all 👍

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Thank you kindly. Made the most out of a bit of a damp day

  • @kswissu72
    @kswissu72 4 місяці тому

    Crazy day! Velcro saddle bags are the worst! I love the aid stations 🙂 Nice to finish in the sun🌞

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I took my electric pump out to put in my jersey and just think in the cold I didn’t put it back on properly again!! Annoying but the tube didn’t actually get punctured as I blew it up once I was home to check 👌🏻

  • @n22pdf
    @n22pdf 4 місяці тому

    Subscribed dude.. I did this last year to great atmosphere.. why no pumps, tubes, tools though.. crazy.. glad you had a good ride in the end 😊 Pete 🚴🏻👍

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      Thanks Pete- some days you just CBA to mess with your tyres. My sealent was dry so i couldnt see the hole- i got home put more fluid in and its perfect!!
      The boys learnt their lessons thats for sure

    • @n22pdf
      @n22pdf 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife I use a Craftcadence jersey case for my tubes and tools etc it works really well and take it on each ride and have a pump on the water bottle mounts :) Pete

  • @MrGarycoww
    @MrGarycoww 13 днів тому

    Never ride without c02,and a manual pump,and 2 tpu inner tubes.

  • @PaulGibbings01
    @PaulGibbings01 4 місяці тому

    Not only bring a spare tube (or 2) remember to check the inside of the tyre for debris before replacing it. In the Tour of Cambridgeshire a few years ago, I punctured after about 2 miles, did a super quick change of the tube, and was struggling to pump the tyre up. The tac was still in the tyre and had gone straight into the new tube. I suppose I should be grateful it was only a couple of miles in and I could still walk back to the start.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Kills me to hear this- so annoying. This was something I learnt quite early with my cycling back in the day- riding around London on my fixie.
      Had a horrible day learning the same thing

  • @bikelawbloke
    @bikelawbloke 3 місяці тому

    Just trying to comprehend the utter idiocy of attempting a 100-mile ride without the basic spares you should have on almost any ride except the one when you nip to the local shop.
    Tube(s), (non-electric) pump, levers, chain link, patches.
    There were so many people on this ride with +£3k bikes and clothing that was worth more than my bike who didn’t have these basic things.
    As for “nobody” has mudguards - wrong. I had them, I saw *plenty* of others with them.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      I would actually say that the electric pump i have is a lot better than a hand pump from experience now that ive had to use it a whole load. Much like carrying CO2 it has a 'shelf life' but does a significantly better job than a hand pump.
      These boys learnt their lesson that day im sure and they messaged the next day to ask about what to buy etc.
      As for mud gaurds i was just pointing out that most people would be in summer mode and not winter mode so might have likely removed them but out of 25,000 people, im not surprised a few people still had them

  • @andrew30m
    @andrew30m 4 місяці тому

    A local told me the soil has a lot of flint which washes onto the roads after rain as well as the glass lifted near junctions from car crashes 🤷🏼 also reportedly some of the posh villagers threw some tacks down because the great unwashed were invading their realm. I’m not sure about that as I saw most of the flats near the start and end. 7.30 start.
    On getting home I did find a cut in my conti 5000 with some sharp grit/flint

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I think this is exactly it. All the flint in the road was destroying tyres. I was constantly looking to avoid the rain wash on the road.

  • @izmael_kneafcy
    @izmael_kneafcy 3 місяці тому

    Stay positive or be objective. If I was riding with those two there would be a mutual agreement that you would be able to get yourself out of trouble. I would not be hanging around in that weather.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      They have leant their lesson… albeit the hard way

  • @JFomo
    @JFomo 3 місяці тому

    Tubeless and you're getting a slow leak? Was it the valves?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      Yeah I think it was the valve. I replaced the valve core the next day and topped up the sealant and it’s all good now!!

  • @philwyeth
    @philwyeth 4 місяці тому

    Looks like you had a great day, despite your aversion to rain and not having the basic kit to keep yourself going.... Amateur hour really. Nice video though.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Certainly was a great day. Would do these types of ride too often but this was fun

  • @jonathanbenn2241
    @jonathanbenn2241 3 місяці тому

    Who goes for a ride without spares and inflation?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Learning the hard way over here

  • @markhuckercelticcrossbows7887
    @markhuckercelticcrossbows7887 4 місяці тому +2

    i was disgusted on sunday, that it was a WOMENS ONLY! filmed race, if it was a MENS ONLY! event, it would have been national media complaints.... my point is, the capitol main roads were closed, from before sun up! they could have run 3 events, mens, womens and public race mens n womens, they had the time, the cost would have been split in 4, more air coverage and great promotion for uk cycling, pushing british tourism, british companys and generate some export media and tv sales. instead we had roads closed for over 18 hours, for a 3 hours sprint race, at a cost of millions to the tax payer... where is value for money, where is our inclusive diverse society, oh i forgot, if your a white hetro male, your not included!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +3

      I don’t know the in’s and out’s of the pro event. But the roads were closed for a 25-40k person community event plus a smaller mini community event which the pros then used the course for.
      I understand how frustrating it is- I was in the event and getting back across London was a ball ache, BUT events like this make London great and we should embrace them.
      But you are welcome to your opinion and sorry your day was difficult. I’d be sad to see a mass London cycle race like this disappear

    • @markhuckercelticcrossbows7887
      @markhuckercelticcrossbows7887 3 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife hiya :) i thought the event was great, im talking about the sprint race section, 10 miles short lap around the capitol, going to the cost of shutting down the city of london for the day, for one sprint race, in the 18hours it was closed, they could have run a mens race, the under 21 boys n girls tt races.

  • @matthewanddenise7095
    @matthewanddenise7095 4 місяці тому +16

    who rides a century with no pump :) lol

    • @samyueru612
      @samyueru612 4 місяці тому

      That’s what I was thinking 😂

    • @armasks
      @armasks 4 місяці тому

      Clever riders

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +2

      I know two people who will never do it again

  • @Rrruckezzz
    @Rrruckezzz 4 місяці тому +13

    4:19 the brake squeaks match the soundtack perfectly😂

    • @armasks
      @armasks 4 місяці тому

      Disc brakes for the win..

  • @Gixer750pilot
    @Gixer750pilot 4 місяці тому +3

    Total amateur hour !!! It’s not like any of the guys are newbies !!! You can’t rely on one of your mates to bail you out

  • @Mickwhyer
    @Mickwhyer 4 місяці тому +19

    I rode tubeless for 1 summer. I don't get the hype. I went back to tubes... a mere mortal such as myself never noticed a difference except the mess when I did need to change a tire.

    • @KO47893
      @KO47893 4 місяці тому +7

      I was at a picnic up a canyon once when it started pouring rain. A cyclist joined us under our pavilion to try to plug his puncture. It took him over half an hour, all the while he was soaked and shivering. That alone convinced me to just stick with tubes.

    • @mikemorris3421
      @mikemorris3421 4 місяці тому +1

      Gave up with tubeless on the road a couple of years ago after a couple of disasters with them, try TPU tubes certainly lighter than tubeless and feel faster but without the hassle.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +2

      This is exactly why I didn’t want to try plug my slow flat- I knew it could potentially make things a lot worse ha.

    • @MM-ev1fg
      @MM-ev1fg 4 місяці тому +1

      Most of the guys in my club that went tubeless said the same thing. Gone or going back to tubes

    • @MICHAELHEALY-p8c
      @MICHAELHEALY-p8c 4 місяці тому

      @@KO47893what a weird take, its only when you change your tubeless tyres you see how many punctures you would have had. Watching a clueless person struggle stops you from doing something, such a bizarre take on things

  • @MichaelHennessy-c6h
    @MichaelHennessy-c6h 4 місяці тому +4

    Skinny tyres 110 psi, bullet proof.
    There were so many punctures out there, but still a good day.

  • @davidpope4138
    @davidpope4138 3 місяці тому +1

    I think I watched a few minutes of the video!! Annoying!! With constant moaning of punctures and not being prepared..

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Thanks David. Useful feedback on a day with multiple punctures and not being prepared

  • @markgunn6680
    @markgunn6680 4 місяці тому +5

    I remember smugly thinking to myself 'why do so many have punctures - I hardly ever get punctures'. Cut to later in the ride and I'm by the side of the road fixing two separate punctures 😀

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      The crazy thing is- I rode this whole thing with a puncture… but I didn’t get a puncture!!! 🤯🤯 haha

    • @AJIsaacsZwifting
      @AJIsaacsZwifting 3 місяці тому

      Tubeless...

  • @stevedouglas3975
    @stevedouglas3975 4 місяці тому +2

    Utterly ridiculous. How can anyone go out on bike without equipment to repair a puncture? If on a group ride with and you are all sticking together and can cobble together requirements then that's something but even then expecting others to provide for you is frankly embarassing.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I think you have to cast your mind back to when you first started cycling- both these boys are quite new to cycling and need someone to explain just how important this is.
      I shared this because they are my mates and its funny, but its also a great way for them to now see just how important tubes etc are on a ride.

    • @stevedouglas3975
      @stevedouglas3975 4 місяці тому

      Fair enough and kudos to you for sharing as you are copping some grief but even a total beginner should know.

  • @Cyprusmichalis
    @Cyprusmichalis 4 місяці тому +22

    I ride 5 times a week and the last thing i would want to do is that ride with all those bell ends

    • @Markhypnosis1
      @Markhypnosis1 4 місяці тому +9

      What bell ends? The other participants? They are just cyclists, like you!

    • @aljaliah6868
      @aljaliah6868 4 місяці тому +5

      A bit harsh

    • @yourdeadjack
      @yourdeadjack 4 місяці тому +1

      I think he means the ones with no spares, tools, pumps, etc.

    • @adrianbyrne6676
      @adrianbyrne6676 3 місяці тому

      Totally agree. Lots mamils and mawils with all the gear and little idea. Ride more often with less people or alone. Much more relaxing.

    • @aljaliah6868
      @aljaliah6868 3 місяці тому

      @@yourdeadjack If only he meant them 😂

  • @billlane7486
    @billlane7486 4 місяці тому +2

    What a difference a start pen makes. I left at the end of Pink A wave so later than you guys and had one small shower late on! Some of us ride with mug guards on all year so don't spray others that much when you find yourself on a wet road in a group. As someone who doesn't ever race but has done a fair few sportives I took 2 spare tubes, patches, leavers and 4 canisters of gas - happy to say I didn't use any of them! :). My issue was the electronics, Garmin used 100% battery overnight and phone stopped recording at mile 63ish. :S Well done on making it round though and particularly recording on some of the road 'surfaces'.

    • @sicksquid3258
      @sicksquid3258 3 місяці тому

      "mug guards" LOL quite appropriate actuall as their seemed to be quite a few mugs out on that ride.

  • @Jlocko67
    @Jlocko67 4 місяці тому +3

    Ha, 6 x veteran of ride 100, and rode it on Sunday. I too had a puncture but keep my sealant topped up, it sealed on the move and I do still carry a TPU tube but have found Dynaplugs are gold and that would no doubt have sorted your slow puncture. I chose to go for a later wave to miss the rain and it worked out well so the waterproof socks and mudguards was a little overkill in the end. If only slower riders would stick to the left and not clog up the faster riders passing on the right or ride 3 abreast! Otherwise, I'm paying to ride closed roads I do every weekend on club rides.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I never really ride that side of London- but I think if they did a closed road ride out west around Windsor and the surrounding areas I would still pay to be part of it because I love my local routes and having no traffic on them would be a dream day

    • @SouthLondonCyclist
      @SouthLondonCyclist 3 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife Did you do the old RideLondon route? Was much better to be honest - and even some hills!

  • @EM-wd2vg
    @EM-wd2vg 4 місяці тому +1

    Never know why people ride these events, reality never meets up with expectation. Last year I did five century rides, two on my own and three in a very small group and all of them were better than this fiasco and none of them cost me an absolute fortune.

  • @virtualrunning
    @virtualrunning 4 дні тому

    These guys are comical. Amateurs.

  • @grahambarker3845
    @grahambarker3845 4 місяці тому

    why would anyone go out without a pump. what is wrong with people. get a pump that fits on the bike. people need to stop being precious. no tubes no plugs no spares. totally pathetic. tell it like it is. if you cant handle the truth.....

  • @TheWeightliftingTriathlete
    @TheWeightliftingTriathlete Місяць тому

    I'm not sure I'll ever understand or accept anyone not having inner tubes, pump and levers on a big ride (or any ride). It's just completely selfish in my view and really stupid as you're just risking everyone's ride including your own. Just stick it all in a saddle bag and forget about it. Then you've always got it.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      I do agree but also someone does have to teach you that and help you realise that exact mentality.
      It just so happened that we got to see two people learn that on this day

  • @Garybaxter1
    @Garybaxter1 4 місяці тому +3

    Well done chaps! that was a ride from hell! I would have looked out the window and gone back to bed...😄

    • @goonzjav
      @goonzjav 4 місяці тому

      Damn right. Miserable weather. Looked empty compared to last year. Think lots decided to sack it in

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I was this 🤏🏻 close to doing exactly that- 4am alarms are no joke but really glad I decided to ride it

  • @Nileypoopoo
    @Nileypoopoo 3 дні тому

    Cycle Sisters represent!

  • @talonlan
    @talonlan 3 місяці тому

    I carry 2 tubes and a pump even on 30 mile rides on this years ride london I went out with 3 tubes as wet roads always create more punctures, luckily I never needed them but there is no excuse with TPU tubes being so cheap and small.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      I have a full kit for every ride! My friends however… were poorly prepared!

  • @Gixer750pilot
    @Gixer750pilot 4 місяці тому +1

    I have a small Topeak saddle bag. It’s tiny . But I can squeeze in , 2 TPU tubes , two tyre levers , a multi tool with chain breaker , a quick link and a spare hanger . Two CO2 canisters strap to the outside. I forget it’s there . I know if I puncture , or crash I should be able to get home . There’s no excuse to assume one of your group with take care of you .
    Amateur hour !!!!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      We could have done with you on Sunday.
      Lewis is almost brand new to cycling. Hes only done a handful of IRL rides. Mistakes were made.

    • @Gixer750pilot
      @Gixer750pilot 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife sorry for the rant mate . Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail. You are far more likely to picture in the wet too .

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +3

      I get it and it would have been easy to not make this video- but someone, somewhere might send this to a mate doing it next year and they will buy a pump, levers and tubes before the ride!!! In which case, job done.

  • @kingeskimo
    @kingeskimo 3 місяці тому

    All the comments from pro cyclists is... Entertaining.
    @The Watt Life, fair play for being human 👊

  • @danielgarrad
    @danielgarrad 4 місяці тому +1

    Dude, give the Tour of Flanders sportive a go , now that's hell , 😅.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Ha I only just survived a closed road route round East London and Essex!!! Flanders would be killer.

  • @DarenC
    @DarenC 4 місяці тому +2

    If there's anything designed to put me off getting a disc brake bike it's all that squealing!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      Ha, this is simply solved by never riding in the rain! Which is usually my approach

    • @armasks
      @armasks 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@@thewattlifewhat's the point of disc brakes then? Rim Brakes all year round for the last twenty years never been a problem.. 🙏

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I still feel that descending on discs I have more confidence that I’m not crushing the rim of a £1200 wheel set…
      As someone who’s a nervous descender it’s given me a lot more confidence

    • @DarenC
      @DarenC 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife I'm all for discs - apart from the noise :D Squealing, rubbing, harder to adjust and maintain (IMO). Rim brakes are simpler, but yeah, can be rubbish in the wet!

    • @armasks
      @armasks 4 місяці тому +2

      @@thewattlife I understand, but I don't ride carbon rims, fulcrum zero and Campagnolo Shamals for me, even my old 1400gms Nucleon wheelset perfectly fine with Rim Brakes..dry or wet never crashed.. 🙏

  • @petertreadway
    @petertreadway 3 місяці тому

    Did RL two years ago in glorious weather and it was tough! Not sure I’d have had the sense of humour for your weather! 😂
    I’m three days from riding London to Paris too, so hopefully Fridays weather doesn’t look like this!
    Great effort, lads. 👌🏻

  • @psymanj73
    @psymanj73 4 місяці тому +1

    Great video of the day, Max! 🎉Rode past you while you were deliberating what to do with regard to your ride parters 4 miles back down the road. It was a grizzly start to the ride but improved as the day went on. Really enjoyed it at the end of the day 💪 🚲

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      The weather coming back in was great, I didn’t even mind the head wind.
      That being said- I wasn’t shivering on the start so all things considered not the worst day I’ve had on a bike!!

  • @rodjason9397
    @rodjason9397 3 місяці тому

    Can you confirm if your mates had spares and pump. Not sure if it was mentioned? 🤔

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Yeah I tell them off on the start line for it. One of them had a tube but neither of them had a pump.
      I had everything FYI

  • @danielbryan7378
    @danielbryan7378 3 місяці тому

    You delicate little flower you! Such drama! Take more food, maybe a couple of flapjacks? then you wouldn't have to ride on "a couple of gels and a biscuit" and regarding pumping your tyre every stop was there not a spare inner tube at any of the maintenance stops? I find it hard to believe that a sportif the size of Ride London didn't have any spare inner tubes at the maintenance stops, if not you need to complain.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      I had a tube in my seat bag. 💼 Couldn’t do it at the start because seating a Challenge Criterium tyre is hard with a mini e-pump.
      Then later in the ride I just CBA because I knew I’d have to take it back out and then reseat it and add sealant.

    • @danielbryan7378
      @danielbryan7378 3 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife AH! That pesky sealant. 😆

  • @milkherd
    @milkherd 4 місяці тому +1

    How did your electric pump get on with the multiple inflations you must have needed? Would you recommend?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      100% recommend. It worked all day for me. Must have used it 8-9 times to get it back up to about 50-60 psi.
      Tried a hand pump and just ended up loosing more air rather than adding any…
      The Cycplus was my saviour, I have just never had to test how many tyres it would be able to handle. Avoided using it as much as possible but still had to resort to it a whole load

  • @gwinter00
    @gwinter00 4 місяці тому +1

    The brakes squealing in symphony 😂

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      lol you could hear this all round central London

  • @TomHassan.
    @TomHassan. 4 місяці тому +1

    Absolute nightmare day - I got 3 punctures - used all my spare tubes. Then couldn’t find any tubes with long enough valves for my 62mm deep wheels… started 6am, crossed the finish line 5pm. Absolute shocker

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I think this goes down as the worst I’ve heard from the day. That sounds absolutely insane.
      I have a halve extender and a valve core tool in my saddle bag and they’ve saved my ass on deep rims more than once

    • @daniel.s8126
      @daniel.s8126 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlifegood point on the valve extenders. Might make for a good video - saddlebag essentials.

    • @TomHassan.
      @TomHassan. 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife scrambling around on small town Essex trying to find a tube for hours. Eventually found one asking every single person and limped it home. Was planning on being done by 10:30😂

  • @RockyScorcese
    @RockyScorcese 4 місяці тому +1

    What time did you start? We crossed the start line at 6:45 and the only rain we got was a couple of showers on the A414 back into town which lasted about 5 mins each which was lucky as we decided not to bring a rain jacket 😬

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      We were the first wave- I think 6am ish.
      But with all the stops and waiting for my mates we lost a good hour. Definitely got the worst of the rain but didn’t make it too bad as we never got proper cold

    • @RockyScorcese
      @RockyScorcese 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlifewe had a 6am start too but as the forecast had the rain to stop at 6 we made an executive decision to wait it out in the car until then.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Yeah i think we probably ended up catching up the rain as we kept stopping and starting so i imagine it was the same cloud pi$$ing on us all morning

  • @Thorkhofal
    @Thorkhofal 3 місяці тому

    What jacket are you wearing in this video?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      The white jacket is a Sportful lightweight windbreaker. Then a Soomon gilet. The rest of the kit is Sportful ✌🏻

  • @ironempress
    @ironempress 3 місяці тому

    That was a rough day out well done for staying the distance. I rode with two other women we escaped the puncture apocalypse and had a fun ride despite the terrible weather. That's my RL hat trick. I'm retiring now

  • @SwampyDuckRidesAgain3636
    @SwampyDuckRidesAgain3636 4 місяці тому

    I feel your pain did a half century sportive pumping up every 10 mile because I couldn’t see the problem. Turned out I had nipped the bead and it wouldn’t seal.
    I now carry everything including a spare hangar and chainlink.
    Ride London doesn’t look nearly as busy for cyclists and crowds since they changed the route and it was far better in August yes it did rain sometimes but I do remember pre Covid some gorgeous days. Finishing up the Mall was far cooler!

  • @voonyboy
    @voonyboy 3 місяці тому

    Admin! It's not just a city in China!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      🤣🤣😜🤦🏼‍♂️ we messed up!!!

  • @a1white
    @a1white 3 місяці тому

    you'd consider, after you've paid £100, not cycling it because of a bit of rain?!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Errrm… yes

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      I think the numbers were down from people who didn’t turn up

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      I turned up to London hoping the boys would put me in the mood to give it a crack and that’s exactly what happened

  • @CycleXplorer
    @CycleXplorer 4 місяці тому

    'But this is the UK summer for you' sums it up doesn't it 😂 ☔️

  • @jasondunn5410
    @jasondunn5410 4 місяці тому

    Rode it too, for the second time... I have to say, it will be the last time! Far too busy, with a lot of people riding with very little road sense. Well done on getting through it with all those issues.

  • @davidabbs4459
    @davidabbs4459 4 місяці тому

    I didn't enjoy this year crap weather and just felt garbage on the bike, next year will be better.

  • @Pedalingforpositivity
    @Pedalingforpositivity 4 місяці тому +4

    Sounds a bit amateur hour at the same time bikepackers were riding around south wales competing in a self supported event.
    All with 30kg bikes.
    Spare hanger, pump tubes etc
    Our requirement kit includes gps, water filter, hi viz and spare lights.

  • @HighFell
    @HighFell 4 місяці тому

    Why didn’t you fix the puncture before the start? Loads of time if you put camera down and got on with it. It wasn’t really a hell ride either, bit wet and an easy course.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      We got to the start about 10 mins before it set off… the fact it was 6am cold and wet, I just didn’t quite fancy putting a tube in
      Decisions were made

  • @theyorkshirewheeler
    @theyorkshirewheeler 3 місяці тому

    This was a good day out, never seen so many punctures in my life 😂 (I didn’t get any)

  • @richardcollins586
    @richardcollins586 3 місяці тому

    No punctures for me, though my downshift locked up 10 miles from the end, so hard work. Cramp started about then as well. My Garmin showed 102 miles! Never seen so many punctures, from the beginning to the end, may well put a lot of people off doing it again.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      I think the official route is 103 miles, they just dont really tell you before hand!

  • @neil-nc8iy
    @neil-nc8iy 4 місяці тому

    Thought I got away being a puncture victim, but I got to my car in Greenwich, and pssssssstttttttt. So I was very lucky. Good day out

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Hahahahah NO WAY!!!!!
      I’ve had this before with seating a tyre but not a puncture… I was driving along and the warmer air must have just popped the tyre back on the rim but there was a loud PING… crapped myself

  • @Gixer750pilot
    @Gixer750pilot 4 місяці тому

    Why , when you stopped and David pumped it up , why didn’t you put a tube in ??? Messy yes , but you couldn’t have enjoyed the ride more

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      @Gixer750pilot I had a pump and we only had 30 miles left- our plan to ride for a time was out the window.
      I knew that once i got home i would be able to put more sealant in and it would hold, seating a Challenge Criterium with a track pump is a pain in the ass.
      Retrospectively i should have done it in Epping while waiting for boys but... well... i didnt!
      I will say that now my tyre is pumped with sealant and is holding perfectly.
      Also 67mm rear wheel... so its valve extenders and sometimes they can be funny without tape.

  • @markbrushett8977
    @markbrushett8977 3 місяці тому

    HI just seen the video . Sometimes the best days are wen things are going bad your video was fab to wach keep up the good work

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      Thank you, I’m pretty sure that any ride that ends with a load of smiles and a burrito is a good day

  • @Cyclingdavp123
    @Cyclingdavp123 4 місяці тому

    Why didn't you plug the tyre or put a tube in???🤣Would have made for much more pleasurable day.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I couldn’t plug it because there was no fluid in the tyre so I actually didn’t know where the hole was!!!!
      And it 4-6am in the morning I just CBA to put a tube in.
      Both of these are my fault I know. If it got worse I was going to put a tube in but we were covering 20 miles at a time…
      Also these Challenge Criteriums are like £80 a pop, a plug could mess up the tyre potentially. In the long run I’m convinced I made the right choice as it’s not got fluid in and sealed itself

  • @julianbailey2749
    @julianbailey2749 4 місяці тому

    I rode with a bottle of Tufo Carbon sealant. Had to use it at about 50 miles, but I had it to use.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I should have checked that me sealant was topped up before hand and it would have given me a way better day

  • @jonm8423
    @jonm8423 4 місяці тому

    What was with all the punctures? Was it angry locals chucking tacks down or something?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      I think it was just a lot of heavy rain fall and closed roads- so no cars to clear out the debris. But it was honestly shocking to see how many flats there were. The rains dragged a lot of loose stones into the road

  • @goonzjav
    @goonzjav 4 місяці тому

    Looks empty compared to last year. Think a lot of pepoe saw the weather and packed it in

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Yeah definitely played a role- certainly felt like more groups moved through last year when the weather was really nice

  • @ianlaker9161
    @ianlaker9161 3 місяці тому

    Always take 2 spare tubes a pump and in my case all of the above plus a CO2 canister with its fitting. Especially on a ride of this length. That all fits into a small saddle bag. I had kind donaters to my chosen charity to honour so failure to complete was not an option. I was much luckier with the weather as I started a couple of hours later and dodged most of the showers. I had full gloves, arm warmers and waterproof oversocks with bib longs on, but the first three were removed later. I just wore my charity short sleeved jersey up top. By the time I did get dumped on 51 miles in, I dived into a conveniently placed pub to avoid the worst and dried off quickly enough in that headwind back into London. Loads of bars and gels in my pockets so didn't really stop. I enjoyed it as much as last year when the weather was lovely. And, as last year, no punctures!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому +1

      I thnk, even with the rain, that our clothing choices were actually ok. I only had to take my gilet off at one point. I was boiling by the finish though

    • @ianlaker9161
      @ianlaker9161 3 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife that's why I didn't bother with waterproofs up top. I'd rather get a bit wet and dry off when the sun comes out. Hopefully next year will be better weather!

  • @davidleiper1
    @davidleiper1 4 місяці тому

    Great video of what must have been a challenging, but enjoyable day

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      @davidleiper1 Turned out to be a lot of fun, especially after i had intended to bail on the start line! LOL

  • @Greenphil111
    @Greenphil111 4 місяці тому

    Haven't a clue, should had right equipment

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Mistakes were made 🤦🏼‍♂️

  • @daniel72_751
    @daniel72_751 4 місяці тому

    3 punctures by Stratford - used my two spares -😢

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Ah man, nightmare. I saw a lot of people changing tubes before getting through the tunnel

  • @edzporn
    @edzporn 4 місяці тому

    I’ve got flat tyre and I don’t know what to do..tool

  • @jmflynn87
    @jmflynn87 4 місяці тому

    My first one too. Started off VERY wet but was a brilliant day. Great to see you guys enjoying it.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Wasn’t in the mood for it at 4am but by 11 we were loving it

    • @jmflynn87
      @jmflynn87 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife Haha, 10000000%

  • @paulfuchs4002
    @paulfuchs4002 4 місяці тому

    Tubeless what happened to your tyre fluid?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Last time I topped up was before going to Mallorca a few months back- I guess it had dried up. Got home and refilled them both

  • @Dustydayzz
    @Dustydayzz 4 місяці тому

    7:35 you were trying to keep it cool😮‍💨

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I was close to shouting a few profanities 🤣

  • @werdsmyth
    @werdsmyth 4 місяці тому

    Used to live a stone's throw from Stratford/Lee Valley velodrome. Terrifies me to see how much more built up it has become! Glad I live in the Cotswolds now.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I can agree- the Cotswolds > Stratford

    • @werdsmyth
      @werdsmyth 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife does take longer to get to Newport velodrome tho. Used to take me longer to put the track bike in the car than it did to then drive from house to Lee Valley velodrome.

    • @mattimeo117
      @mattimeo117 3 місяці тому

      yeah, it's not like we have a housing crisis and need high density homes is it?

  • @paulbrown4235
    @paulbrown4235 4 місяці тому

    Well, I’m still gluing on tubs. There is a reason!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I only learnt about this the other day- have never seen one and just cant get my head around how they work

    • @paulbrown4235
      @paulbrown4235 4 місяці тому

      You’ll need a pair of suitable wheels as obviously they don’t stick on a clincher or tubeless rim, tubular tyres & a pot of tubular cement. I find I have fewer flats (touch wood), for some inexplicable reason. The whole set up is a bit lighter than the contemporary alternatives.
      Apparently tubs have slightly more rolling resistance than clinchers, but oh how they roll!
      When you do flat it is a bit of a pain to repair but one can change a tub in the field much more quickly than changing a tube (or fitting a tube to a tubeless wheel). Second hand values on eBay are probably rock bottom as it IS old tech but this is another advantage!
      You can also ride them flat for a short distance in the event of a rapid deflation, unlike tubeless or clinchers. Safety first!

  • @alexcollins5150
    @alexcollins5150 4 місяці тому

    🤠

  • @carlobalzer3238
    @carlobalzer3238 4 місяці тому

    Well done max 👏 👍

  • @FoobsTon
    @FoobsTon 4 місяці тому +2

    Tubeless is for mountain bikes. Any bike mechanic will tell you that.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      @FoobsTon Im here still desperately trying to make it work for me

    • @FoobsTon
      @FoobsTon 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife
      I think Sunday gave you your answer.
      Anyway, fair play for getting out of bed in that weather. I think I'd have been part of the duvet gang.

  • @andrewlovett5001
    @andrewlovett5001 4 місяці тому

    Surely at least have CO2 inflator? I don’t leave home without it

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Ben was tubeless so he would have had to be pump not CO2.
      Lewis has only done a handful of rides outside so we're helping him learn.
      My cycplus pump is honestly amazing and i rate it way better than CO2, just as an FYI. You can recharge it and it did 8 pumps... good product testing lol

    • @andrewlovett5001
      @andrewlovett5001 4 місяці тому

      I use CO2 all the time on tubeless. I’d say your slow flat means you need more sealant in there- plus if tubeless - have you tried dynaplug to sort punctures? Amazing

    • @Pedalingforpositivity
      @Pedalingforpositivity 4 місяці тому +1

      CO2 works with sealant. I use it all the time.
      In fact if done right it will seat the bead.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      The sealant had run dry so I couldn’t see where it was coming from!!!! Next day I just whacked a load of sealant in and it was sorted ✔️

  • @sing_cycle_referee
    @sing_cycle_referee 4 місяці тому

    It seems like the only hard thing about this is what you make hard for yourself? No spares, poor nutrition, refusal to let a mechanic put in a tube. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Well yes, this is exactly what happens in the video.

    • @sing_cycle_referee
      @sing_cycle_referee 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife- is RideLondon actually a hard ride? I'm not a roadie but I've done 90 miles offroad with a loaded mountain bike in a day along the South Downs Way and avoided issues like this because I was prepared. This honestly seems like a cakewalk if you have a sensible bit of preparation and give it the required level of respect (i.e. repair kit you use).

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому +1

      @sing_cycle_referee The event itself and the route are, as you say, a complete cake walk! Its dead flat and if you sit in the group you can push c.200-230w (@75kg) and stay in the draft of groups who get it done under 4 hours.
      I got in at 9pm the day before from Whitstable (check the vid) and then up at 4am to a slowly softening tyre.
      I intended to go to the start and bail on the boys but they were pumped for it (which is why i didnt change my tubeless and whack a tube in). So i just said screw it and jumped on my bike and when fell send in the rain.
      The rest... well, we made it hard for ourselves.

    • @sing_cycle_referee
      @sing_cycle_referee 4 місяці тому

      @@thewattlife so the learning is - don't do a big ride the day before another?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      You do you if you don’t think you can ride 200+ miles on a weekend

  • @DarciRobbins-hf7lf
    @DarciRobbins-hf7lf 4 місяці тому

    High there, you say 200 in a weekend lets do it in 24 hrs no sleep , an you do it non stop . You seem to be very shore of yourself. I will race tou 200 miles non stop .
    You need to think before you make comments . I also don't shrink in wet and will keep peddeling i ride in all weather bring it on.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      Hey @darci not to toot my own horn but I set the world record on a treadmill for running 92miles in 12 hours.
      200 on a bike would be a cake walk.
      TOOT TOOT
      200 miles isn’t far my guy

    • @DarciRobbins-hf7lf
      @DarciRobbins-hf7lf 4 місяці тому

      Cross country wales , you may toot toot its non stop

    • @DarciRobbins-hf7lf
      @DarciRobbins-hf7lf 4 місяці тому

      I have mwt some a hiles in my time you are up there in to too 10. Treadmill is dry sorry . But in the dry most peoole can when they train but how boring

    • @DarciRobbins-hf7lf
      @DarciRobbins-hf7lf 4 місяці тому

      Rogerstone, tiny rebel 9th june cross country , unsurpported cross country 9am start

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I honestly don’t know why you’re upset, I made a video cycling with my mates riding around Essex. If you want to come ride I’m doing the Dolomiti June 16 and Stone Circle end of June. I’ll buy you a beer after

  • @patrickroberts8702
    @patrickroberts8702 4 місяці тому +1

    What weather. My Ride London was on the Surrey Hills course finishing on the Mall. It was 2016 when there were too many starters and we had a number of fatal accidents. Many riders were routed around the three hills to avoid them getting tangled in the pro event. Aged 66, I managed the complete route in 7 hours cycling and 4 hours standing around waiting for the accidents to be cleared. Much was said about selfish riding, chain gangs riding flat out in the middle of packs of riders with less experience. After the finish with my bling medal I had to ride home back to Ascot. I have never repeated the experience. Well done to you.

    • @JohnSmith-pr5wl
      @JohnSmith-pr5wl 4 місяці тому

      Sounds just like my experience in 2017, Iv not done it since either.

    • @andrew30m
      @andrew30m 4 місяці тому

      First event of this type and it was reasonably OK, I saw the aftermath of two nasty accidents, I guy got hit by a deer, one seemed to have over cooked a corner and hit a wall but both seemed to be conscious if ‘bruised’, watched a guy get knocked of his bike by his wife on a fast downhill🤷🏼. Those aside it didn’t seem too bad, the aggressive riders probably started earlier than me.

    • @toomuchpaving
      @toomuchpaving 4 місяці тому

      Wow. 100 miles in 3 hours cycling time. AKA 33mph av. V impressive.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      I never got to do the Surrey route which is a shame because I would have liked to have done that one

    • @patrickroberts8702
      @patrickroberts8702 4 місяці тому

      A colleague and I decided we would get a charity place. It was the first year of the 50 mile route which meant we had too many riders on the early stages. We spent 90 minutes sitting in a school field the other side of Walton because of one crash, we then had to walk a couple of miles before being allowed to recommence riding. Another long stop standing at the bottom of Leith Hill and another on the entry to Dorking. It’s more tiring standing in cleated shoes than it is riding. I rode with someone on the Kingston to Wimbledon section. He had been forced to miss all the hills after paying for his entrance, hotel accommodation in London plus travelling expenses. He felt a bit cheated and obviously disappointed. I was glad to complete my first and only Century ride which ended up closer to 150 by the time I finally got home. The finish on the Mall was special. I enjoy your channel whatever you are up to, keep it up.

  • @fredmcdonnell8022
    @fredmcdonnell8022 3 місяці тому

    Dropping your buddies massive no no, I’d never cycle with you again.
    Amateurs

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  3 місяці тому

      You know how many ppl ride this event right?

  • @stevej_on_your_MTB
    @stevej_on_your_MTB 4 місяці тому

    Excellent video, Max. Enjoyed watching.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  4 місяці тому

      @stevej_on_your_MTB Thanks Steve

  • @adrianbyrne6676
    @adrianbyrne6676 4 місяці тому +1

    Wally. More reasons not to do RL and enjoy small group rides or solo

  • @gweflj
    @gweflj 4 місяці тому

    Covid roadies🤣 Classic.