London Edinburgh London

[LiamFitz]

London Edinburgh London (LEL) is happening this year and the organisers of this volunteer-run event are putting out a call for help in August.

As everyone in Cycling UK knows, LEL is the highlight of the Audax calendar and has been kindly supported by CUK ever since it started in 1989. If you want a flavour of the event check out these stories from the CUK website - https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycli ... rgh-london and https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle/long-distance-calling.

LEL happens every 4 years (pandemics permitting) and this year will see around 2,000 riders from around the world attempting to cover the 1,500km route in under 125 hours. As well as being a test of endurance for the riders, it's a massive logistical undertaking - possibly the biggest non-commercial event cycling event in the UK.

Riders are fed, watered and bedded down in 13 control points along the routes by an army of helpers; it's the wide participation from the cycling community that makes this event possible and achievable. Help is not just needed at the controls from cooks, mechanics, bike park marshals and sympathetic helpers, there are roles including driving and admin. The whole event is put on by volunteers.

People can help for just a few hours at busy times or jump in for a whole week. People can register their interest at https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer - where you can also log any special skills such as languages or bike fettling.

Liam

[LiamFitz]

If you didn't get a place on the 2022 Edition of LEL you can still volunteer!

Here is a piece I wrote for the main CUK website https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/volun ... rgh-london which explains how to get involved.

Liam

[iandriver]

I've volunteered for this a couple of times and had a good time. People from all over the world on all manor of bicycles. Was interesting to see so many come through the control. Nice atmosphere being around so many bike loving people. Would recommend.

[Milfred Cubicle]

Yep...it's back.

Back in 2009 one of the team put a shout on here for volunteers in Coxwold. I put myself forward, and got hooked!
I'm running Innerleithen control again this year. I understand what people say about volunteering. Having ridden it too, I would say riding is obviously physically harder, but mentally quite simple. Just ride, eat, sleep, try not to fall off.
Volunteering is challenging, but possibly more rewarding. It is also a mammoth logistical exercise that takes a huge effort to pull together.

[LiamFitz]

So, we're off on Sunday thanks to the amazing army of people who responded to the call.

Here's a story posted on the CUK website - https://www.cyclinguk.org/news/london-e ... difference

And if you are a Twitter sort of person you can post your sightings of LEL riders using the hastag #LEL2022

It's not too late to volunteers and be part of the fun. We're struggling a little at Hessle on Wednesday night and would welcome offers of help via the LEL website - https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer - We particularly need people willing to help act as safety marshals on the bridge (being allowed to use the bridge at night is conditional on us providing marshals - so this is one job that makes a massive difference).

Plus, despite the issues relating to slow visa issues we still have a truly international field (including at least one Indian film star).

If you can't help, pop out along the route next week and give a cheery wave to anyone riding the event - they'll be glad of it!

[LiamFitz]

In case you haven't found it - the dotwatcher is an addictive experience https://dotwatcher.cc/race/london-edinb ... r8hfJOnpj0.

Also there is a lot of social media traffic on twitter using the hashtag #LEL2022

And if you want to get involved, there is still space for helpers to welcome riders back at the finish in Debden on Wednesday night through to Friday Evening - a few hours support will be gratefully received! Put your hand up here https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer

[LiamFitz]

The ride is up and running https://track.trail.live/event/london-e ... ondon-2022

One amazing thing seems to be the number of people coming out to cheer on the roadside and even set up impromptu bottle filling stations!

[Paulatic]

Rode a few miles, with the man third on the road, through Yorkshire this morning. I’m pleased he had over 1000 km in his legs or I’d never have kept up.

[thirdcrank]

...
It's not too late to volunteers and be part of the fun. We're struggling a little at Hessle on Wednesday night and would welcome offers of help via the LEL website - https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer - We particularly need people willing to help act as safety marshals on the bridge (being allowed to use the bridge at night is conditional on us providing marshals - so this is one job that makes a massive difference).
....

I nearly had a burst of misplaced enthusiasm when I read this - Hessle is only half an hour along the M62, but then realism returned.

I took one of my grandsons to football training on last Wednesday evening, spent the whole time watching sitting on a pile of PE mats and came home knackered - round trip about three miles. Also, I do my Cinderella transformation at 9-30pm these days, rather than midnight. And being on any sort of a bridge over water, especially running water gives me the willies.

Best wishes to everybody