Why would you do that

[roberts8]

On the day of the Ride London 100 a friend popped into Guildford. On the return train trip to Leatherhead he was surprised to see a small group of riders with Ride London numbers on getting on the train, they got off at Leatherhead and rejoined the ride missing quite a chunk of the ride including two hills. He is a keen cyclist and is still talking about and trying to understand why they would do that.

[rjb]

Perhaps they thought they were riding a stage of the 1904 Tour de France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1904_Tour ... prov=sfla1.

[thirdcrank]

Training ride?

[Postboxer]

Maybe they were defrauding charities if they were actually being sponsored. Pity their numbers weren't noted.

[iandriver]

It's not a race and it's their choice to defraud no-one. I'd like to think a couple of hours in the pub appealed to them. It's only a meaningless ride around.

[PH]

Incredible!!!!
A group of cyclists managed to get on a train, according to many posts on here that's a far bigger challenge than any bike ride.

[Si]

A friend did it and said that there was a lot of waiting around due to the heavy rain and the tragic death of one rider. Maybe they were just getting cold, didn't want to wait and decided to skip ahead to where they could start riding again?

Or, possibly, if there is a time cut off and they were worried they wouldn't make it round before the traffic invaded the course again?

Or they were doing it for enjoyment and weren't enjoying how hard it had got so skipped on to a more enjoyable section?

...just random guesses...

[Cyril Haearn]

Main thing is they got the sponsorship money, but were they committing fraud? Did the witness note their numbers?

[roberts8]

Si could have a point. I had to miss Leith hill but if they were close to the cutoff after Newlands Corner they could have decided to get back on schedule and it is a fun ride after all so not really a problem. I have used the train to get back on schedule when touring in Holland so no difference really. Cannot wait to put this to my friend.

[Marcus Aurelius]

On the day of the Ride London 100 a friend popped into Guildford. On the return train trip to Leatherhead he was surprised to see a small group of riders with Ride London numbers on getting on the train, they got off at Leatherhead and rejoined the ride missing quite a chunk of the ride including two hills. He is a keen cyclist and is still talking about and trying to understand why they would do that.

Cheating slimy little tossbags. They’ve scoped out where the course timing strips are, and worked out how to cheat. It’s up to them I suppose. It’s akin to trying to ‘beat’ a bunch of children on BMX bikes in a housing estate. Really? No one cares, what a bunch of sad sad muppets.

[Cyril Haearn]

Maybe they are copying the pros and activating marginal gains
I do love speculation, different explanations have been offered, the real reason could be something else none of us has dreamed of

[mjr]

On the day of the Ride London 100 a friend popped into Guildford. On the return train trip to Leatherhead he was surprised to see a small group of riders with Ride London numbers on getting on the train, they got off at Leatherhead and rejoined the ride missing quite a chunk of the ride including two hills. He is a keen cyclist and is still talking about and trying to understand why they would do that.

What I don't understand is why he didn't ask them, if it interests him that much.

[fionat]

Main thing is they got the sponsorship money, but were they committing fraud? Did the witness note their numbers?

If you 'sponsor' anyone for any organised charity event, you are making a donation to the charity. They are fundraising for the charity but all the Ts&Cs make it clear that your money is a donation and will not be refunded if they fail to start/complete the event.

[1982john]

Who knows? maybe one of their mates was injured and they wanted to stick together? As others have said it was not a race so who cares.

[De Sisti]

Obviously Roberts8 (the OP) cares.