London Edinburgh London 2025

[Damien]

Is anyone from the forum planning to go? I am super excited about this event - it's the second most famous European event. I already have a spot on the start list - there was a limited offer for participants of Paris-Brest-Paris 2023, so I took a chance and signed up. Next year, the route will be different. Interestingly, we won't start in London or reach Edinburgh, but the event name remains the same.
I'm not sure if I'll take my Cruzbike or my Specialized Roubaix – time will tell. And also, it depends on my bike-packing skills with the bike bag.

Website

 

[IyhelM]

For such a long ride I think with a few more miles under your belt on the S40 it will be a no brainer.
It is on my bucket list, the time limit is a bit kinder than PBP but I’m not sure I’m made for these distances. Definitely not in 2025 anyway.
Good luck with your training!

 

[Damien]

Thanks! It will be a great adventure. This won't be my longest ride. In 2021, I managed to finish the Bicycle Marathon Around Poland: 3,200 km (~2,000 miles) with a time limit of 240 hours (10 days) and ~ 25 000 of elevation gain (~ 85 000 feet). But such long distances are definitely too hard on the body. By the end, it was very difficult, and I was close to total exhaustion. It wasn’t a brevet; it was a tough, self-supported race — a real fight for survival from the beginning. I barely made it to the finish line before the time limit. LEL, like Paris-Brest-Paris, is a brevet with a much easier time limit. At my current level, I don’t need to worry about the time limit and can just enjoy the scenery and the company of people from around the world.

 

[IyhelM]

Remind me about it next July, I’m often in the UK for work, maybe I could manage to join you for a day.

 

[Andreas]

I’m in, got lucky with the early entry ballot. But I’m still not sure which bike I’ll ride.

 

[Damien]

I’m in, got lucky with the early entry ballot. But I’m still not sure which bike I’ll ride.

I have the same dilemma. Tor Hovland, who has already ridden LEL, advised me not to take the Cruzbike. But on the other hand, I have the S40, which handles climbs quite well. One day I'll test if everything fits into my bike suitcase. Unfortunately, the Cruzbike is larger, and more parts need to be disassembled to fit. On the other hand, it's not carbon, so there's less risk of damage during air transport. There's always the alternative of land transport, but I feel it's a waste of time.

 

[siebengang]

When a Norwegian, living in a seriously punchy region, with loads of experience in brevets (including Mille Miglia and LEL), and at the same time a strong Cruzbike believer, is sceptical about taking the Cruzbike for LEL, well, you’d probably better listen to him…

All I have heard first hand about LEL myself didn’t sound like too much fun on a recumbent. And you are also still quite strong on the upright, so to me that seems to be a no-brainer ;-)

 

[Andreas]

Yes, Tor also told me he wouldn’t take a recumbent.
Due to health reasons, a diamond frame bike is not an option for me on long distances.
So the other choice would also be a recumbent, but one where I can't fall over.
In places where even DF riders are pushing their bikes, I can still pedal up with a 26/36 gearing.

LEL website:

"... Compared to 2022, the route is flatter and gentler, but with enough serious climbs to offer you the very best of northern England and Scotland..."

In March, we can expect to get the track. I’ll examine it in detail and adjust my training. The Alps are right next door for me

 

[Beano]

When a Norwegian, living in a seriously punchy region, with loads of experience in brevets (including Mille Miglia and LEL), and at the same time a strong Cruzbike believer, is sceptical about taking the Cruzbike for LEL, well, you’d probably better listen to him…

All I have heard first hand about LEL myself didn’t sound like too much fun on a recumbent. And you are also still quite strong on the upright, so to me that seems to be a no-brainer ;-)

It depends on how you want to ride LEL. Historically LEL route has always been advisory, it's the way audax is in the UK, even audax under BRM the route is advisory and not mandatory(unlike in other countries).

However as it was back in 2022 and next year I believe the route is mandatory with secret controls, this changes the dynamic because in the UK audax routes tend to be on country lanes away from traffic. Whilst at face value this is good because you are by and large away from motorized traffic. At the same time said country lanes are usually single track with high hedges so visibility is poor, very undulating so getting into a decent rhythm where you are just turning a gear eating up the miles is difficult, road surface tends to be not that great in the amount of gravel on the road, pot holes etc just makes for a miserable experience as it was back in 2022 for many people.

So it's all a question of if you want the ride homologated, if do then stick to to the route, if not then do your own route and still use the controls to your own benefit to refill bidons, food and rest.

As a member of AUK I've already got a place, will wait and see in the new year what the route will be.

Funnily enough GCN just released a vid of Hank doing a ride on a V20C, the lanes in question give a good taste imo of what the type roads the ride will be like - all imo of course.

 

[Damien]

Funnily enough GCN just released a vid of Hank doing a ride on a V20C, the lanes in question give a good taste imo of what the type roads the ride will be like - all imo of course.

I hope not. This isn't road - but some kind of debris... Disaster and nightmare for any type of road bike.

 

[chicorider]

I like that CB is getting some wider recognition on GCN, but there is a lot that is unfortunate about this video: the weather, the narrow roads with variable surface quality, the fact that Hank is still learning how to ride the bike and looks afraid much of the time. It's a lot to ask of a relative newcomer. He is quite fair in much of what he says, especially when he points out that a rider for whom the V is second nature would make this look easier, but the overall picture makes me cringe a little, and probably does not inspire much confidence in someone considering trying the V, or any CB. What I'd like to see now is an expert V rider who knows how to see the road, avoid gravel and potholes, steer a straight line up a hill, use gearing changes to maintain traction, look relaxed in the face, join GCN for a repeat of the same route, even in the same weather, to show what such a ride could look like. Again, kudos for the exposure, but I hope there can be a Part 2.