No Ride 100 this year

Several weeks ago, the announcement came that there would be no Ride 100 for 2025. That of course means all the rides complementing it with lower mileage would also be cancelled. I am not sure what thoughts lead to this decision and whether it will return in 2026? There might be several reasons.

I did the Ride 100 in 2024, gaining a charity place quite late in the day. The charity concerned obviously did not fill the allotted number it has been given. A few years ago gaining a charity place was not impossible but harder, requiring one to sign up early. 

Is the Essex event and route as popular as the Surrey one? I have participated in two of the Ride 100 events in Essex and the bit out of London is pretty similar to the Dunwich Dynamo. The getting back into London is along a normally busy main road and not that pleasant on the eye (or the legs with a relentless headwind). 

Could it be the costs to participants slowing down the entry numbers? I live in London and can cycle to and from the start easily, so not an issue. However, if you lived further afield you would need to factor in the costs of getting there and back, perhaps staying overnight in a hotel and that is before you either pay your £100 entry fee or try and raise a few hundred pounds for your charity place. 

It is a charity event and not a race but on every Ride 100 I have taken part in I have heard and sometimes witnessed a sizeable number of participants who seem not care less about anything apart from their desire to complete the event as quickly as possible and with little regard for those around them.

However, closed roads are a bit special. No cars to worry about, no traffic lights and the overall vibe is wonderful. There was a huge amount of love out there for Brompton riders or those not completing the 100+ miles on a road bike. In addition to this, there is a camaraderie among most participants. Have a chat to the person left or right and you hear about the reason why someone signed up for this event. This can be quite humbling. Once you are out into the countryside, it is rather beautiful and again, no cars really adds to the experience. 

It is a shame that it is not happening for 2025 and let's hope that something is in place for 2026. There is of course the Dunwich Dynamo later in the year, but the getting back into London can be more of a headache than cycling about 120 miles through the night and early hours.

Until next time, stay safe out there people!