Author Topic: Hop Garden 200 from Meopham, Kent on 14/5/17 (Read 3633 times)

αdαmsκι · « **on:** 01 May, 2017, 08:47:43 pm »

So far this year I've done been on one proper bike ride and currently the next audax in my diary is the Three Coasts 600. To get some distance into my legs I'm going to ride The Hop Garden 200 from Meopham on Sunday 14^th May, which I've never done before. I've not looked at the routesheet, but I've found this 200km Hop Garden route on RideWithGPS that I'm assuming is approximately correct[and gives me an idea of the route It looks like the route sticks to the nicer parts of Kent, and I'll get my first visit to Dungeness.

Patrick has sent me this version of the route on RideWithGPS, which still sticks to the nicer parts of Kent, but I don't get to visit Dungeness.

I'll be cycling to the start from Greenwich via Shooters Hill because the trains will be having a lay in on the Sunday morning.

There's also a 160 km and 100 km version for anyone wanting a shorter day.

Bigdaveskinnytyre · « **Reply #1 on:** 02 May, 2017, 02:35:43 pm »

I'm doing this one and introducing a friend to his first Audax (like I'm so experienced, it'll only be my fifth

).

Having grown up in Kent this (much like the Oasts and Coasts) will be trip down memory lane as it uses lots of the roads I grew up riding (and it goes past the street where I spent the first half of my life).

TigaSefi · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 May, 2017, 04:44:27 pm »

I am in!! Never done this particular one. Looking at the route, I am hoping the winds will be kind.

citoyen · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 May, 2017, 04:51:20 pm »

I've not done this one since 2012. Entered last year but didn't ride because of Real Life. Must do it again some time. It's a great route.

jiberjaber · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 May, 2017, 05:55:46 pm »

I'm in too

Dominic · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 May, 2017, 08:38:37 pm »

I'm in. Did it last year, weather was great. This was the first 200 I did many years ago!

gerwinium · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 May, 2017, 10:14:07 pm »

I've signed up for the 100, also cycling up from Greenwich, probably about an hour later though

lastant · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 May, 2017, 10:26:42 pm »

Think I'll be in for this one, it'd be rude not to have a go at least as it's just down the road from home (Dartford).

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #8 on:** 09 May, 2017, 06:55:33 pm »

The forecast is dry and windy, but with plenty of chance to change between now and Sunday

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/ba70c62b-97d9-4874-a209-d3bc0adc1811

jiberjaber · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 May, 2017, 06:25:11 pm »

Sunny and a bit of a headwind across the marshes

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/5fb065ff-a618-42d6-848f-4435067e7398

citoyen · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 May, 2017, 11:27:09 pm »

I'll be earning my boy scout controller badge at Hythe. See y'all there!

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 May, 2017, 02:57:08 pm »

Few spots of rain to start with but quickly drying out

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/007b7edb-36c2-4d70-b020-13da436eacd5

citoyen · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 May, 2017, 07:35:48 pm »

Quote from: αdαmsκι on 13 May, 2017, 02:57:08 pm

Few spots of rain to start with but quickly drying out

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/007b7edb-36c2-4d70-b020-13da436eacd5

And a tasty headwind across Romney Marsh!

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 May, 2017, 09:13:43 pm »

Can't we ride anti-clockwise?

citoyen · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 May, 2017, 09:40:23 pm »

It wouldn't help. When the Oasts & Coasts crossed the marsh the other way a few weeks back, the wind was in the opposite direction. It's a quirk of the Romney Marsh microclimate that it can sense which way cyclists are crossing it and generate an againsterly.

It has been known when two cycling events cross the marsh in opposite directions at the same time on the same day for both to experience a headwind.

jiberjaber · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 May, 2017, 11:12:54 am »

I am DNS, left my Audax mojo in bed this morning, so went back to bed to find it...

I'm sure it will be a lovely ride and I could blame a painful right knee I had last night but its more truthful that I am suffering from CBA at the moment, perhaps I've been riding too much...

psyclist · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 May, 2017, 11:26:42 am »

Quote from: jiberjaber on 14 May, 2017, 11:12:54 am

I am DNS

That's a real pity ... I've enjoyed the Hop Garden in previous years, it's a lovely ride.

Hope you find your mojo quickly, perhaps by focusing on the endomorphine high at the end of a satisfying ride, or the treat of a nice pint. Perhaps even a cup of tea, which was my prize at the end of the Hop Garden last year, drunk outside the village hall in the late afternoon sunshine.

citoyen · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 May, 2017, 12:10:29 pm »

Bad luck, jiberjaber. Was surprised to see your name on the DNS list.

Adamski was first to Hythe, about half an hour ago. Not as many through so far as I was expecting, tbh. Still, the earlier rain has cleared up and the sun is out now, so spirits are good among the riders who've been through so far.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 May, 2017, 05:21:03 pm »

Only my second bike ride of 2017 so by the end I was finding that tougher than expected. Keeping up with Martin was excellent motivation.

I was amazed at how grotty some of the lanes in the opening section were but no punctures to report. The wind across the marshes wasn't too bad. But the last climb was tough. The bonus shower at that point helped to cool us down.

I'm now on HS1 back into east London. I hadn't realised the fast trains stopped at Gravesend

martind · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 May, 2017, 07:02:47 pm »

Good to ride with you today Adam, the km's and hours seemed to pass effortlessly.

TigaSefi · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 May, 2017, 07:59:25 pm »

Good day out! Hot and humid for me. My arms were sweating on the big climbs! Lovely! Missed the rains at end too!

Bigdaveskinnytyre · « **Reply #21 on:** 15 May, 2017, 11:51:52 am »

That was a pretty good day out, apart from...

My mate losing it on a corner between Detling and Boxley leaving me nowhere to go and us both crashing. He went down onto the same side as a crash in a crit last week re-opening his wounds and I bashed my knee and a finger which became (Finbarr Saunders alert) very stiff and swollen overnight.

I then had a puncture that wouldn't seal about 5 minutes later so had to fit a tube and leave a load of sealant on the road.

Other than that pretty straightforward and we kept a good pace all day just getting caught in a mini downpour on the final couple of climbs into Meopham.

Neil C · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 May, 2017, 11:23:51 am »

That was a good day out with some great controls.

The rain for me came just after leaving Challock. I know I am slow but I don't think it can be the same rain others caught just before the end!

As an under-powered lightweight I found the winds on the marshes slowed me a lot but weren't a problem on the rest of the route. I was also powered by the thought of apple pie and ice cream at World of Water, having done the ride last year.

Thanks to Patrick, Citoyen and all the team.

rob · « **Reply #23 on:** 16 May, 2017, 11:39:12 am »

Completely forgetting this ride was on we were walking round Trosley Park near Vigo on Sunday afternoon.

We ended up viewing a house just down the road about 4pm and it tipped it down when we were leaving. This was probably the same downpour others mentioned. it hadn't rained at home - approx. 15 miles away.