Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: mmmmartin on 16 February, 2011, 03:01:02 pm
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Does anyone have a GPX for the route?
I am assuming I'll be seeing The Usual Suspects at the start (but probably not after that..........)
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no but working on it right now; will post when I've sent it to Tom and he can put it up on the calendar page
usual disclaimers ;)
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Tom has sent me one he found on bikely, i have put it into memory map and looked at it - it seems to follow the route 100 per cent apart from a slight wiggle near biddenden for 100 yards. I have put it on to paper and will use maps, i haven't yet got round to playing with the GPS
I can send it to you if you wish..........
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converted it on Mapsource; bit over the Medway is cobblers as it tries to stay on road by going via the A2 but ok if you ignore it
the AUK app makes it
Distance = 211km
Climbing = 1,552m
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Looking forward to this mid week ride on the 18th February. I heard it's on only once every four years. This is just my third year randonneuring so the first chance I've had to have a go. Starting about 8 miles or so from my home in Medway. Nice and local. At least the start and finish is anyway!
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I might be missing something here but the http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6917527 is a copy of the one provided by the org.?
Les
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@Les - the posts previous to mine date back to 2011. The comments about the gpx files are now obsolete given what you have noted here and no doubt have received.
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I made this one myself based on the routesheet Tom sent out recently - usual caveats apply:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6834160
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Hope the weather is a bit warmer! I suspect my main adventure may be getting to and from the start, it's only close, but the other side of the river, so ferry there and almost certainly the tunnel back.
Are there any areas / problems to watch for on the route?
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Are there any areas / problems to watch for on the route?
Try to avoid dying of boredom on the Romney Marsh section.
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I just tried riding to the start and back to test the route, I didn't make it all the way as when I got about 3 miles from the Gravesend Cyclopark it started to snow and I decided I'd tested the route enough :)
Piece of info I wasn't aware of regarding the Dartford crossing, the cars that shuttle bikes through the crossing don't run between 8:45am and 10:30am and also 8:45pm and 10:30pm, so the drivers can have breaks. Anyone riding from my side of the river might want to bear that in mind, depending on your finishing time, eating in Gravesend could save you a lot of sitting about at the crossing.
On an amusing note, as the car to carry me over the bridge arrived, it backed up to get into position and managed to destroy it's bike rack by crashing it into a railing! For the next few days expect to have to put your bike in the back of a van during the crossing ;D
Try to avoid dying of boredom on the Romney Marsh section.
Fens, Marshes, Cold, Rain and Wind - the things that we all got into Audax for in the first place! ::-)
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Curses to Michael O' Leary and his winter time table for not flying in on a Tuesday and making me miss this. >:(
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With 80 signed up, even allowing for the usual number of no shows, it should be a fun day. I just hope the ferry doesn't let me down, it's been a long time since I tried to use it that early in the morning. Fingers crossed on the weather :)
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Far as I can see, it ought to be possible to travel down from London to Gravesend on Wed from Stratford International (15 min journey) I've scanned the South Eastern site and their restrictions are confined to "inbound" trains.
However, as I'd be up sh1t creek if they decide otherwise, does anyone have any experience of South Eastern out of Stratford ???
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With the caveat that I've never actually tried to take my bike on an outbound train from St Pancras at that time of morning, I think you'll be fine. However, if you don't want to take a chance, you can get the train from Charing Cross instead - it'll take a bit longer, so you'll have to set off that bit earlier, but they're much less likely to be arsey at the ticket barrier when you turn up with a bike.
And even if they don't let you through, it's only 25 miles or so to Gravesend. ;)
I'm thinking of getting the train to Gravesend myself but I'm coming from the opposite direction.
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I'm planning to cycle the 30 or so miles from North London to Gravesend, which sounds like a great plan now, but I'm sure I'll regret it both when the alarm goes off at 4am, and during the last 50k or so of the 200... I've always got the option of a train back should I need it (I probably will).
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I'm esconced in the Premier Inn up the road from the cycle park...
Weather looks good enough for sunglasses
8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
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I'm just hoping to have fewer punctures than on the Sam Wellers ride.
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Looks like the (what I think is) SouthEastern service due in at 07.06 has been cancelled. I'm on the one that gets in half an hour earlier.
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As I was riding in to work (to cover for my boss being ill) this morning I thought: This looks like a lovely day to be out - instead of being a DNS. Was it?
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Well, that was fun. Got off to a slightly shaky start but ended up having a fab day out.
The problems started when I tried to load up the course on my Garmin - for some reason it just wouldn't load. I suspect the file was too large (I'd made a track in ridewithgps.com and it came out as 2.5mb for some reason but I went with it anyway. Foolish.)
Luckily jsabine was on hand to point out that they had spare printed routesheets at the check-in desk. Phew!
So, I finally got going about 20 minutes late. Fortunately I wasn't alone, I tagged along with another group for a while, but as soon as we got to the first hill... disaster struck.
Well, perhaps disaster is overstating it but the facts are these: yesterday I fitted a new chain and cassette. It turns out I should have fitted a new small chainring too. The new chain just did not want to play with the rather worn out specimen that hadn't been changed since I bought the bike seven years ago. Ok, so I'm doing the whole ride sur la plaque. Lucky there were no big hills on the route.
However, the chain problems meant I was dropped by the group and soon after I compounded my misery by going off piste - the road veered left, I went straight on. It was about two downhill miles later that I twigged something was up.
Anyway, I got back on route eventually and then promptly missed another turning - not my fault this time. "$ Ightham" was only visible if you happened to look back over your shoulder after passing the turning.
The upshot was that by the time I got to the cafe at the first control in Headcorn, I was 8km over distance and at the back of a long queue for beans on toast...
Next stage went much better - mostly flat and with a welcome tailwind on the stretch across Rodney Marsh. However, despite passing at least 15 people on that leg, there was still a massive queue at the RHDR cafe, which clearly wasn't expecting a blitz of cyclists on a chilly Wednesday in February. After 10 minutes in the queue and no closer to being served, I sodded that for a game of soldiers and went to the Sainsburys round the corner (local knowledge) for a Picnic, two bananas and two chicken fajita pasties, washed down with a litre of Ribena.
Next leg was a bit lumpier and headwindy in places but again I made reasonable progress, making it as far as the Bluebell Hill services (188km) before needing to put my lights on. By that point, though, I was without navigational aids, having lost my routesheet on a descent and not inclined to go back and rescue it. Luckily I was able to tag along with someone who seemed to know where he was going. After a quick glug of something that superficially resembled coffee, I pressed on for the last 20km, finishing in the company of a couple of sterling fellows (though I suspect one of them may have been a lady cyclist) of the Dulwich Paragon. Slightly surprised to discover that only a few riders had finished before us - suspect a number of riders were still waiting to be served in Hythe.
Only slight downer on an otherwise fab day out was the poor chap I encountered in Hadlow, hobbling along and feeling the effects of a fall - his companion had come off on ice and taken him down with him, though the companion was apparently unscathed. Hope he's ok.
I don't think the temperature ever got into double figures for long but he combination of wind proof jersey plus gilet was adequate to keep the chills out. And the sun stayed out pretty much all day. Which was nice.
Also the route was much more pleasant than I'd anticipated. I've done a few of Tom's rides before though, so I shouldn't be surprised. There were a few less than lovely main road sections but it was mostly very enjoyable rolling lanes.
Finished with 218km on the clock so I'm pretty pleased to have taken not much over 10 hours to complete the ride.
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That was a nice day out and a very enjoyable ride. I ECE'd the ride so a little over 315k's. Many thanks for the organisation.
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Yeh, great fun, though I had to walk for about 20 minutes on an early icy stretch - once I start walking, it kinda takes over....
I stepped on one bit and my foot went through into a four inch puddle - maybe a pothole hidden underneath??
A great route with lots of new sights for me.. not too hilly, not too flat - just Cinderella ;D
Only extremely slight negative was that the controls were just too busy for that many cyclists (a nice problem to have, thinking that lots of audaxers is indeed a good thing) It would have been nice to know whether we could have just gone 'round the corner' and got receipts, but not knowing that I braved the queues...
My first Kent audax - I shall go again :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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An excellent ride. Very sunny day. But cold air meant that the riding temperature was way below what you might have expected from the sunshine. The first 20k of the ride were quite interesting due to the number of icy patches. At one stage, where the ice covered a whole section of downhill, it was quite entertaining watching riders gingerly waddle down the hill.
No revisitations of the tyre chomper or p* fairy for me so despite being loaded up with enough inner tubes and patches to remobilise an army I had an uneventful ride.
Riding across Romney Marshes in the sunshine with a tailwind was a very pleasant experience.
For the controls it would have been helpful to have known that receipts from other shops would have been acceptable which would have avoided the queues. For do's to both cafes as once you had ordered food was delivered very quickly.
For me the part that could do with significant rethinking was the section from where we crossed over the A2/M2 using a ridable footbridge to the Service station. I did this section in the dark and found that narrow, potholed roads with debris up the middle and lots of oncoming vehicles was not conducive to feeling like I was on a safe ride.
All in all though it was a jolly good ride so thanks to the organisers for the organisation.
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All things considered (in that I was laid-up with flu-ey symptoms the day before) it was a cracking day out. Promised myself that, if the bones stopped aching, then I'd go and "see what happened" (glad I did).
Early icy tip-toeing aside, the Sun made a prolonged appearance, and was very welcome too.
Delved deeper into Kent than before and what delightful lanes they were.
Also met Andy (a young man embarking on a "Flanders to Istanbul" ride later this year and on his first training ride (impressed !) Good luck on that ! Thanks Tom (and crew) for an excellent way of "not going to work" !!
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Thanks to the organisers. It was generally a good day out, after the early icey sections, one of which took me out! After walking over several parts things got better as the temperatures improved, but I took it easy on down hills and corners all day.
I had a nice bit of cake and a coffee at the first control area, at a place in the high street. As others have pointed out, the Railway Cafe was operating at it's usual speed, I've been there several times and even when there are only 5 or 6 of you they are slow, so I too grabed a sticker and got back on the road ASAP.
Apart from some busy roads and surprisingly busy lanes at the end of the ride the course was pretty nice and we were blessed with clear warmish skys and mild wind on the flat sections.
A shame I had to miss out on the pasta at the end, so I could race through the traffic faster than I expected and then freeze on the ferry 'dock' for 20 mins.
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For the controls it would have been helpful to have known that receipts from other shops would have been acceptable which would have avoided the queues.
To clarify: I got my sticker at Hythe, and the popping to Sainsbury's manoeuvre was just for the purpose of getting food. The only reason to queue at the Hythe café would be if you wanted food there. Frankly, I've never been especially impressed with that café, so I didn't think it was worth waiting.
I don't know what the rules are regarding using alternatives to official controls - as a general principle, it's probably fine to get alternative means of validation, although in the case of BRM rides such as this, I would tend to advise doing it by the book (based on long and bitter experience of French bureaucracy).
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The way I read it, is what is on the Brevet Card. If it's just the name of the town then it's a simple proof of passage. If you want an 'official' control so to speak then it should be listed as a prefix to the town. e.g. Café xyz, Hythe.
FWIW I did not stop at the café in Hythe because as others mentioned the queue was 10 deep when I got there. Went to the café that was next door instead - no queue.
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A great route with lots of new sights for me.. not too hilly, not too flat - just Cinderella ;D
Cinderella? Does your bike turn into a pumpkin if you get home too late? ;)
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My first ever ride in Kent, but well worth the trip.
I'm always very nervous about ice and kept my eyes on others a little ahead of me and did a bit of walking!
The queue at Headcorn was massive, so visited the Sainsbury's for a quick receipt and was back on the road within a few minutes. Paid for it though and was in need of hot food at Hythe. although there were only three or four in front of me, it seemed to take ages to get served, although having ordered my food, it did arrive quicker than being in the queue!
The large beans on toast set me up for the next long section (63k) to the penultimate control, and with the final section being relatively short, didnt stop for more than a few minutes. Mistake No.2 as the last few hills just about finished me off.
I dont think the organiser was expecting the amount of entries that he got. I asked at the finish and was informed that 86 had set off. Incredible for a mid-week event. I'm guessing plenty took a day off from work.
Does Kent County Council not spend any money on road maintenance? Only Buckinghamshire seems to have worse roads. Some of the lanes were very busy with traffic but worth it for some of the views especially near to Wye.
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Does Kent County Council not spend any money on road maintenance?
ROFL! KCC? Maintenance? Spending money? That's a good one.
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Does Kent County Council not spend any money on road maintenance?
ROFL! KCC? Maintenance? Spending money? That's a good one.
http://www.cdg-cars.com/community/advice/all-you-need-to-know-about-potholes-facts-and-figures-avoiding-them-and-driving-them/
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An interesting ride through unfamiliar terrain. The Disc Trucker was reassuring on the many crappy lanes, but its weight made itself felt on the climbs on the return from Hythe. Some stunning old houses along the way.
Does anyone know if the Elliptigo rider made it? We talked at the Headcorn control. He seemed to be having navigation problems. And was wearing shorts (!)
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A great route with lots of new sights for me.. not too hilly, not too flat - just Cinderella ;D
Cinderella? Does your bike turn into a pumpkin if you get home too late? ;)
OMG Man of Steel... I got my fairy tales mixed up.. I meant Little Red Riding Hood.. You know, porridge too hot, porridge too cold and porridge just right.
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;D :facepalm: ;D
I still like the pumpkin hypothesis. Goldilocks dude, or was it Aladdin..? ;)
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What a great day. The weather was perfect. The route was very forgiving. Took plenty of pictures along the way. See if you can spot your backside amongst the the pics I got during the stretch to the first control. https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569 (https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569)
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See if you can spot your backside amongst the the pics I got during the stretch to the first control.
I was going to say that rules me out, since I started at the back of the field, but you appear to have captured me arriving at the start (2nd pic). I don't remember you taking that!
Just seen the timestamp on your finish pic... Crikey. You must have been going along at a fair old lick.
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What a great day. The weather was perfect. The route was very forgiving. Took plenty of pictures along the way. See if you can spot your backside amongst the the pics I got during the stretch to the first control. https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569 (https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569)
I'm the 'red dresser' in picture 13.... trying hard not to crash into the barriers whilst being aware that you were snapping away !!! :o
lots of happy memories triggered for me by your delightful pics - thank you :thumbsup:
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Great ride on Wednesday, my first completed 200 of the year, far better weather than the edition 4 years ago, but much more ice in the morning. Great turnout, but not surprised given it'a a PBP year, maybe will revisit in 4 years time...
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Excellent day out. This was the only calender 200 in the southeast in February!!! I'd do this every year if it was an option.
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Thoroughly enjoyable day out, especially after things had warmed up a little and I could relax - thanks very much to Tom and his band of helpers. I'd also be keen to ride this every year if it ran.
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This was my First ever Audax
Throughly enjoyed it despite a front mech issue near the Bluebell Services not letting me change to the small front ring so hiked part of tha last climbs.
As a participant in the FNRttC's it was Good when the dark came down and the lights went on bringing back good memories
Just found this website
Looking forward to a few more Audax's this year and thanks to Tom for organising a great event.
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Congratulations Nigel - the first one is always the greatest achievement. :thumbsup:
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Congratulations Nigel - the first one is always the greatest achievement. :thumbsup:
Thanks
These seem better than the Organised Sportives I've done in the past think I've found another new cycling outlet.
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Sportives? SPORTIVES?
Splutters into coffee cup.
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What a great day. The weather was perfect. The route was very forgiving. Took plenty of pictures along the way. See if you can spot your backside amongst the the pics I got during the stretch to the first control. https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569 (https://plus.google.com/photos/112657399193905448018/albums/6117826464768371569)
Nice pix, Alex. I crop up (frontside!) in !0 & 11. (hi-viz gloves)
skål
Andy
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Is there a Wye Wednesday planned for 2016? I can't see it in the planner. I would have liked to have done this ride :)
(can always do it as a perm?)
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AIUI this event only happens in PBP years.
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AIUI this event only happens in PBP years.
Pity! I'll just download the gpx and do it myself :) :thumbsup:
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It's for people who can't do a 200k PBP qualifier at the weekend. F'r instance, Feline did it in 2011 as it was the only 200k she could get to without messing up shift rotas etc.
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It's also a nice route in and of itself - I really enjoyed it this year.
(The fact I finished hors delai because of a mechanical is irrelevant, though future riders may wish to note that Fixit Cycles in Hythe is spectacularly badly named1.)
1: Yes, I'm going for the cheap laugh. But the fact remains I fixed my cycle with the assistance of the hardware shop, not the bike shop.)
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It's for people who can't do a 200k PBP qualifier at the weekend. F'r instance, Feline did it in 2011 as it was the only 200k she could get to without messing up shift rotas etc.
Thanks for the explanation! Particularly cruel to make them do it in February too ;)
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I took a day off work to do it this year, and very glad I did - lovely ride. Despite being flipping cold - and icy in places.
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Tom, For this year, when is the entry cut off date ? I won't know till very last minute if i can do due to the shift work vagaries I am subjected to in my career.
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I would like to do it as well and I'm waiting just in case there is another cold snap. The website says 19th Feb is the cut off.
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You can enter anytime, but please appreciate you may receive a recycled Brevet Card on the day.
The Headcorn aerodrome departure lounge is going to be busy…….
Tom
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Fab! I’m not bothered about brevet cards!
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I would like to do it as well and I'm waiting just in case there is another cold snap.
I remember the last edition of this one being very icy. Hope it's not like that again.
I've entered but don't know how I'm going to get on - unless I go out this weekend (which is unlikely as I've got family visiting), it'll be my first bike ride of the year.
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Sod it, entered and if I get going it's my first 200km in nearly a year I think????
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Should I have got an email or anything? I guess it's all common sense but sort of expected to hear something this close to the time.
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I'm hovering over the entry button with potential ECE but subject to weather and fitness as I have been off the bike now for a couple of weeks!
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Hi,
If you login to the new website www.audax.uk and login with the same username and password as used on the old one, there is a "My Audax" section which shows all of your registered events.
(https://swanwick.org/live/yacf_pictures/My_Audax.jpg)
Should I have got an email or anything? I guess it's all common sense but sort of expected to hear something this close to the time.
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Should I have got an email or anything?
I haven't received anything yet either, but I'm not concerned - Tom is an experienced organiser and will make sure you have all the information you need in good time.
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In.
Weather forecast is pretty good: no rain and a headwind at first when we're fresh and there are hedges and stuff for a bit of protection then a lovely tailwind homeward.
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no hedges on the marsh, there is always a headwind...........
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If anyone's interested, here are the controls as waypoints in a gpx file:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Vw6c_k0uXRuBVkFSWIJtSihlY-tLHEz3
That doesn't include the gpx track of the route - I've done that as a separate file as I've tweaked it slightly so I can bag a couple of cheeky veloviewer tiles on the way back to the finish.
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Checked the weather and entered.
Very excited to get the SR off the ground finally.
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I'm in.
Looking forward to my first 200 of the year, on roads I know very well.
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If anyone's interested, here are the controls as waypoints in a gpx file:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Vw6c_k0uXRuBVkFSWIJtSihlY-tLHEz3
That doesn't include the gpx track of the route - I've done that as a separate file as I've tweaked it slightly so I can bag a couple of cheeky veloviewer tiles on the way back to the finish.
Thanks - v. helpful. Hope to see you en route for a bit of through-and-off in the promised headwinds on the Marsh ;D
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Looking forward to riding this for the first time tomorrow. couple of hours to drive there so early start - night night everyone and see you in the morning.
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Sadly we weren't at the start. Work and AUK admin got in the way, just can't have the whole day off. Hope everyone has a great ride.
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Looks lovely out there. Annoyingly I'm at my desk.
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Superb day out! Really glad I did it!
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fantastic day and a big turn out for a mid week ride!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190220/03d489c7d1ea733d1cad87883217ed36.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190220/5cf2331da1aa039a72dba1e188e17318.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190220/ff7aece01d4a2b879cf75742ae9418a2.jpg)
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Unashamedly 'jealously' whilst confined in the glass office block today!!!
I've only Mad Jack's to look forward to on Saturday!
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Lovely spring-like day, perfect for a bike ride. There was even - whisper it quietly - a slight tailwind across Romney Marsh.
295km in the bag, including the ride to the start. I call that a good day out.
Only minor regret was buying a bag of Haribo Siamese twin jelly babies. They’re so fucking awesome I just couldn’t help myself... scoffed the lot in short order and now I feel slightly queasy.
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A cracking day. Could not have asked for much more for Feb. The wind wasn't too annoying and even helped a little (on the Marsh!) Well done Tom on a great route. Thanks to the staff at the Hythe Cafe who were doing a great job at serving stuff quickly. Staff at CycloPark were also great. Loved my bowl of soup at the end.
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Yes that was a lovely day out on a superb route - really well organised by Tom. Nice to catch up with you too citoyen on a day without a miserable headwind! Hope you got your squares :)
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Hope you got your squares :)
Just updating it now, but I think it's safe to say it was a very productive day in that respect.
Good to have the opportunity to ride with you without me being in grumpy bastard mode!
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Thanks so much Tom for organising ‘best days rider ever” - quote from my teams members ! The 3 of us finished with a hour to spare full to the brim of an amazing experience - route , weather , and efficient controls
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Thanks Tom and helpers for a great day a-wheel. It was chilly, not the wind we'd expected, and some stunning views. Can see why it's such a popular event.
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Yes, rather enjoyed that although the weather did play a big part. Really couldnt get going at the start until about 80k in and then felt much better for a while. A rear wheel puncture slowed me down a bit. Got caught in the evening idiots rush hour traffic where most drivers seem to try anything to save a few seconds but survived to get to the finish just before 6.30.
Many thanks to Tom and his helpers for putting on a superb event.
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Cracking day out, should have eaten more and drank more...
To bed at 22:00 but only an hour of actual sleep the rest being that fitful clock watching kind and awake at 03:00 before my alarm to grab a coffee and some porridge before departing at 04:00 to ride down to Tilbury.
First hour of that was without the streetlights which makes riding in the dark a great experience however the suicidal deer and foxes darting in and out of parked cars made it interesting! Passing through the fridge graveyard of Fort Road, and despite trying to ride to a set speed I was quicker than expected and at the ferry for just after 06:00 and caught the 06:20 across to Gravesend. I took my time on the short ride up to the start.
Big number of riders signed up for the ride, over 100, not sure on the final number of the road but it was like a mini reunion of people I’ve met on rides previously…. unfortunately my usual memory for names failing me in some instances. I made sure I bought my train ticket home from London whilst I had a coffee to give me some added incentivisation to finish the job in hand…
Start was at 07:30 prompt and I made sure I was at the front to avoid any complications at getting through the cycle gates on the way out, but it turned out to not be a problem. The first 20km comprised of the climb up to the highest point of the ride near Wrotham and was in to the wind. I seemed to have picked up a train behind me and chatted with Alan but they soon started to overtake as my initial efforts up hills started to become slower.
Despite the headwind, which wasn’t to bad, the day was turning in to a fantastic mild spring day with the sun breaking out.
I rode through Hadlow with Ross and Ian who told me about the Victorian folly of Hadlow Castle – quite an impressive structure. Shortly after in true Audax style, my riding partner changed and Tom the organiser had caught up with me, we chatted on and off all the way in to Headcorn airfield where Tom used his frequent flyer points to access the VIP lounge whilst I had beans on toast sat outside admiring the Dakota on the strip. From here I set off with Garry to enjoy the ‘flat section’ thinking that the Marshes started from this control… 30km later we left the last of the climbing in High Weald exiting via Isle of Oxney onto the Romney Marshes with a lovely tailwind. Second airfield of the day was a museum and then further in to the marshes with the first signs of trouble in the seat department on my left sit bone which started to get really painful on the run in to Hythe.
The climb out of Hythe was a steady one with a couple of Wolves patrolling the Zoo fence at Port Lympne. Garry had promised some Alpacas just after the climb, but I didn’t see any here. A rolling lane heading over the M20 brought the third airfield of the day.
I soon reached Wye just as the railway crossing was being closed and had a bit of a wait there. Some more rolling up and down and happily watched two full size ASK21 gliders flying out of the Kent Gliding club as I approached Charing. It was getting close to the end of the working day for those that hadn’t taken the day off to ride and the traffic was starting to build.
When I got to Hollingbourne I was on familiar territory from when I used to fly model gliders and enjoyed the trip down memory lane from here through to Detling. Bonus was three Alpacas just before Hollingbourne!
Penultimate control was the Shell garage on the A229 which I used to stop at to grab something to eat when flying and then over to Borstal and across the Medway in the dark. Rolling again with a long climb up through Cobham I was soon in the Arrivee enjoying a cup of tea and some soup before starting the 38km ride in to London for the train home.
I’d plotted a mostly cycle path based route which worked out well.. a bit of a climb up along the A2 and then cycle paths along the A296 / A225 which unfortunately meant whilst traffic free they were in to the oncoming traffic and their headlights making it hard to pick out the road surface at times. Still no interaction with cars which was good for my tired brain. The route was mostly stolen from Tim Decker’s commute in to London and also the Friday’s Whitstable ride and worked well. I crossed the Thames at Woolwich tunnel after a fantastic decent down Bostall Hill where I hit 63kph on quiet roads but had to stop at the traffic lights.
Once across the river it was mostly CS3 but at Silvertown I badly bonked and inhaled three packets of Haribo to get me to the station. I was now quite a bit past my target time for the station as I hadn’t noticed how slow I had been on the last 20km due to the lack of fuel and tiredness. When the Haribo kicked in I screamed along Cable Street and was in to the station in time to board the 22:02 with 300km done and the first of my PBP qualifiers completed subject to verification. Too late to make the beer festival in Chelmsford I opted for a pizza and then to bed sober.
More pictures here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5rcmpJDieqVtyYU68
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190221/d4e7a579e9efa8277903823798058b74.jpg)
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Great to see you at the start, albeit briefly. Mine was a full-value day.
Er................
departing at 04:00 to ride down to Tilbury.
:o
the 38km ride in to London for the train home.
Was 200k not enough for you - in that cold? :o :o
to bed sober
this I find very hard to believe ;) ;)
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Er................
departing at 04:00 to ride down to Tilbury.
:o
I can beat that (just) - I was on the road by 3.40am. :smug:
My ride to the start didn't include a ferry crossing though. Which is a shame. Always love a ride that includes a ferry crossing.
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Great to see you at the start, albeit briefly. Mine was a full-value day.
Er................
departing at 04:00 to ride down to Tilbury.
:o
the 38km ride in to London for the train home.
Was 200k not enough for you - in that cold? :o :o
to bed sober
this I find very hard to believe ;) ;)
I didn't think it was that cold tbh, after 20 mins of moving it was fine.
Surprised me too (the sober bit) made up for it last night with the Essex Recovery Drinks at the beer festival I was aiming to get back for... :thumbsup:
Er................
departing at 04:00 to ride down to Tilbury.
:o
I can beat that (just) - I was on the road by 3.40am. :smug:
My ride to the start didn't include a ferry crossing though. Which is a shame. Always love a ride that includes a ferry crossing.
I can't believe you didn't add that extra couple of km on to make it up to 300km! :)
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I can't believe you didn't add that extra couple of km on to make it up to 300km! :)
I did consider riding back down to Strood to get the train home, rather than Gravesend, but CBA. However, I did record the ride home from Whitstable station - I wouldn't normally bother but it conveniently happens to be slightly over 5km, so that worked out quite nicely.
Although admittedly, it's not quite as satisfying when the distance is split over multiple rides.
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I can beat that (just) - I was on the road by 3.40am. :smug:
My ride to the start didn't include a ferry crossing though. Which is a shame. Always love a ride that includes a ferry crossing.
Come ride in Holland, it's very hard to do any distance without at least 1 ferry... Sometimes it's even a victim operated ferry.
J