- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Riders on the 2014 inaugural Rapha Manchester to London (image WigWorland:Rapha)220-mile Rapha Manchester to London returns for second year
You don't get many opportunities to tackle a ride of over 200 miles with full support. On Sunday September 6 a group of up to 300 riders will leave Manchester for the 220-mile journey to London.
The Rapha Manchester to London Challenge has just opened for entries. Riders will set off from the Manchester Velodrome at dawn on a fully supported a ride through the Peak District, Midlands and Chilterns, before crossing the finish line at London’s Olympic Velodrome.
The inaugural event raised £140,000 for Ambitious About Autism, and in 2015 the organisers hope to double that figure.
It’s a cause close to the heart of Rapha founder Simon Mottram as his oldest son, Oscar, has a severe form of autism.
Shortly before the first Manchester-London ride, Mottram told the Telegraph's Jonny Cooper: "Autism is profound and life changing, and I feel you shouldn’t just tinker around, you should really go for it. It's an ambitious ride; 220 miles is a long way. And that’s why the charity is so successful, it’s really ambitious for people with autism."
The first Manchester to London was run under clear skies and with a substantial tail wind.
Writing on the Rapha blog, course designer Emma Osenton said: "We awoke to thick mist, the Lowryesque redbrick terraces held still and quiet in a blanket fog. Nothing beats the sensation of setting off into the unknown. sunlight began to crack through the morning cloud as we made our way into the Peaks. Soon a fierce sun heated the day, golden light flooding field and fell.
"We rode past recently harvested lands, yellow corn stubs shaven by an army of machines as we rode along on ours. Spirits were high, with some riders deep in thought as the ride went on and others chatting gently, sharing fears over the hiss of freehubs followed by breathy climbs.
"Rolling England distracts the mind … before a sea of London lights play with a tired, caffeine-fuelled brain. It was as if the weather gods, whoever they may be, had blessed us with a stunning day."
Entry to the second Manchester to London costs £150. Full details are on the Rapha website.
John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.
He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.
Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.
John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.
He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.
Latest Comments
- Simon E 15 min 14 sec ago
I do too. It's a 'real world' read fill of people doing real world riding instead of a glossy lightweight brochure for spenders and dreamers....
- Oldfatgit 20 min 39 sec ago
I can safely say that the only time I've *ever* quickly accelerated to 20mph has been on a steep downward facing hill....
- FionaJJ 1 hour 49 sec ago
Exactly. I won't lie, I did quite enjoy pointing out that the reason olive oil had got so much more expensive was because of the droughts in the...
- anotherflat 3 hours 9 min ago
That sign is pretty clear!...
- chrisonabike 4 hours 27 min ago
What about all the computer misuse? Stop with the downloading already!
- brooksby 4 hours 50 min ago
"Professional Triangle tire Punctured tire Nail for Spike Anti-Theft car Safety Emergency car" Sorry, but WHAT??
- HollisJ 6 hours 44 min ago
Have you seen the size of Micras these days? Now, it it were a Micra from the 80s...
- thax1 7 hours 52 min ago
Not quite long enough for him to have a think about what he'd like to say on stage when collecting the award apparently. Which you have to love him...
- LeisureRider 7 hours 56 min ago
As an amply-figured female leisure cyclist, the comfort of a slightly downward angled saddle has long been known for avoidance of mincing one's...
Add new comment
21 comments
Thought I'd respond to this as I rode this and was inspired to do so by all the negativity within this thread, amongst other things. I spent my £150, I paid for a hotel and I rode this. I raised over £3000 for charity and had a wonderful day on the bike. It was one of the best days out I've had and was ridiculously well organised and the feed stations were incredible. So a massive middle finger to all you miserable gits.
Back to the club runs now though.
I'm sure it will be good and well organised too. I still wouldn't pay £150 to ride it.
Yep, what else could I mean? As in 'Chip on your shoulder.' Andyp, you might not have said much, but the reply from Dropped just shows the snotty attitude of some 'real' cyclists, who make it seem like 'Real ale.' If an event is not up your street, fine, but no need to look down your nose at it, it's just as valid as whatever you get up to. Its pretty clear who is making the assumptions about this event, and they don't like being called out on it.
Haha, looks like this is gaining momentum already, thanks Simon E and kitkat!
I better discuss a pass out with the missus!
It's for charidee mate! No need to ask
We awoke to thick mist, the Lowryesque redbrick terraces held still and quiet in a blanket fog.
Nothing beats the sensation of setting off into the unknown of East Manchester, luckily all the matchstick scallies and matchstick feral dogs hadn't got up yet before we got the hell out of dodge on our expensive bikes.
As we left 'The North' sunlight began to crack through the perpetual tupperware sky that blankets the city and we made our way into the Peaks.
Soon a fierce sun heated the day, golden light flooding field and fell.
my girlfriend gave me some Rapha shaving cream and post-shave balm for Christmas - the first Rapha items I've ever owned, as I've always found their stuff very expensive.
The shaving items certainly do the job, but I cannot see many riders I know ponying up £150 to ride from Manchester to London?
Ah I read it - the £150 doesn't give any donation to the charity.
They're asking for riders to fund raise £750.
It's all in a good cause - but I struggle with asking people to sponsor me to have fun. Do fishermen or footy players do similar things ?
There's clearly a market for these things - doesn't mean it's right or audax is wrong. Each to their own.
I'm in a club and enjoy the club runs, the camaraderie, the events, the tea and cake etc, but you know what? I might do this just to raise money for the charity, and piss off anyone who thinks I must be a clueless newbie.
Besides, being Rapha, you just know that all the little details will have been taken care of and the large fee won't feel too bad to those who actually experience it. Much like the rest of their products.
I think you're being a bit mean for something which is raising awareness and money for a difficult condition affecting child and parent / carer. The Rapha website states that the £150 covers the event and any remaining cash goes to the charity plus entrants are encouraged to raise more themselves.
If doing a £10 Audax is your preference then I suggest you do that and donate the remaining £140 to the Autisim charity
I'll get chippy - Sportives (especially Rapha ones) are for rich billy no mates with no real concept of true road cycling culture i.e. touring, Audax, cyclo cross, 6 day track, road club riding and racing. £150 is about 7 years club membership which will get you a sportive just about every week, and some friends (unless you want to talk about derivatives or sacking large numbers of normal hard working people to increase your margins).
Rant over.....I feel better.
Maybe not everyone wants to join a club or doesn't have the time to train with a club and may dislike the sniffiness inherent in the 'true road cycling culture'!
I look at sportives as the cycling equivalent of taking part in 10Ks or half or full marathons organised by charities or companies who make money out of getting the general public to tackle a run. Most of these runners don't know about the athletic club scene; the small summer league races or the cross country races in the winter that take place between competing clubs. They just want to run a race as a personal challenge. This is the same with sportives. £150 is relatively expensive but when a football match ticket is around 50 quid doing something like this once a year doesn't seem so pricey.
I don't know any clubs like that. If anyone is talking up a 'true road cycling culture' it is new brands like Rapha with their slick marketing of expensive clothing and talk of "glory through suffering".
But so what? There is bollocks spouted wherever there's money to be made (and even when there isn't). You don't have to buy into it, cycling can be whatever you want it to be.
If people want to spend/donate £150 to do this event that's fine with me. A charity benefits and they hopefully have fun and maybe achieve something they wouldn't otherwise do. It's not for me to decide whether it's good value or not. If someone else prefers to do a £9 audax that's great too. One is not better than the other.
@notfastenough - if you do it then it would be great if you could write about it on here afterwards. Go on, I dare ya
If you do then I'll donate £20. That's a promise.
http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/get_involved/make_a_donation...
Seconded, GPS trace of your route and there's another £20 in the pot
As Simon says, Road.cc could post guest article from you
Muppet. Away and polish your downshifters/sandals.
Couldn't agree more. £150 indeed! That's Rapha for you.
Wow.
350-odd km, food and a timing chip, £150.
400km, £9.50. http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-66/
Know which I'll be doing.
Really, which one, do tell?
Don't get all chippy because you don't like Sportives (which this is basically.)
'chippy'? A purveyor of fast food, or a carpenter? I haven't come across another meaning. Do you want curry sauce with that?
I do like sportives...I ride them. For instance, I'll be doing the Puncheur in March.
But do go ahead and make more assumptions. You just make yourself look daft.
...but £150 is ridiculous.
What about the adjectival definition?
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/chippy
I wouldn't pay £150 either, but I'm sure it will be good and I'd also bet that it takes a lot of organising.
Well that was a nice distraction, really fancy building up for one of these having seen the BBC Scotland Adventure programme on the 1400km+ Audax