What a difference a year makes, writes spectator and Bike Beans Cycle Cafe owner Jamie Chisholm.

With the challenges of organising this ambitious event for the first time last year the one thing the organisers didn't have to worry about was the weather. It was perfect!

Sadly not this year, with the the after effects of 'Bertha' hitting Surrey just as the majority of the riders were arriving in the Surrey Hills.

By this stage the organisers had taken the decision, rightly so, in the interests of safety to shorten the course to 86 miles by removing the Leith and Box Hill sections.

I really felt for the riders. Not so much because of the rain but because what they had trained for, many for the first time, cycling 100 miles, had been taken away.

What these riders must remember is cycling 86 miles in those conditions is equivalent to cycling at least 120 miles in good conditions.

This year saw a big increase in riders and whilst watching them come through Leatherhead, I saw riders on tandems, folding bikes, a BMX and even a 'Boris Bike' but it wasn't Boris.

The Ride London cycle festival started on Saturday in the sunshine with a 'closed road' family route round central London,then followed by a Women's professional Grand Prix race finishing on The Mall, featuring the best riders in the world including Olympic & World Champion Marianne Vos.

Our very own local girl from Ashtead, Abbie Dentus, a Therfield School pupil who is part of the British Cycling Olympic development squad, came 10th.

The weekend also finished in sunshine with the Surrey Classic (men's professional 195km race) taking place all round our local lanes. This featured many of the worlds top riders including Sir Bradley Wiggins and was ultimately battled out by two Yorkshire lads, Ben Swift and Adam Blythe with Blythe winning on The Mall.

A fabulous weekend, despite the weather and seems to have been brilliantly organised and communicated to minimise disruption and maximise participation.

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