LEL 2025: The Big One!
 LEL – or London-Edinburgh-London to give it its full name – is no mean feat for those who choose to endure the 1,500km route between the capitals of two of the home nations. After completing LEL in 2022 Ray C and Bill M were looking forward to the next one in 2025. They were joined by Alan W. The 2022 event was characterised by high temperatures and relentless sun. 2017 was noted for the amount of rain. 2025 will go down as LFL.For 2025 the lucky 2500 starters set off in waves of 50 leaving another 2500 unsuccessful hopefuls behind. R&B were in a 05.30 wave with A in the 05.45 wave but he soon caught up. The first 300km to Hessle passed quickly but talk was of a potential pause in the event because of storm Floris with extra time allowance. |
 All 3 NFCC guys had booked a room in the local Premier Inn. Although the sleeping arrangements at all the controls are very good it is inevitable that the early controls get very busy until riders fan out over the route. Knowing of a potential pause thoughts turning to strategy. Should I have a longer sleep or get up early to get as close to Scotland as reasonable before the pause?R&B made it to Richmond prior to the lockdown being announced around midday on Monday. Alan was held up at Malton 94km before Richmond. At 19.30hr it was announced that the event is cancelled and people should return on the southern route from their current positions when the lockdown is lifted. The lockdown was lifted at 07:30 on the Tuesday. |
 The number of factors the LEL organisation had to take into account when responding to storm Floris was significant. Not least was how to house and feed a flood of hungry riders as they swept south. Then there was the logistics of drop bags, trackers and hired power packs to be considered. Finally calling in volunteers early to handle the bulge of riders that would migrate from control to control. Fortunately for 2025 they had expanded the number of pop up cafes where riders could find shelter and buy food and drink. Some of the lockdown was mandated at the pop ups. The one just before Yad Moss between Richmond and Brampton being one. |
 So you have 2500 riders from 58 countries with 60% from outside the UK that have spent 3 years planning, anticipating and spending a not insignificant amount of money being told the event is cancelled. How are they going to respond? We never heard anything but positive remarks from the riders. One or two Facebook posts were below positive but others soon recalibrated the originator. Audaxers are a bold and courageous bunch that help each other. Certainly worth trying an Audax or two.The route for the 2025 event was incredibly well thought out including the avoidance of potholes. The event was a credit to the UK. All of us are looking forward to 2029. |
