Author Topic: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent  (Read 1807 times)

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-190/

I did the 100 last year and had a whale of a time. Since I'm kidding myself that I'll be fit enough for Les Douze Cents in the summertime I feel I should make my best effort at a repeat performance. It's a cracking ride with an excellent central control and friendly volunteers doing roadside/pub table checks. Starting from the Otford scout hut which isn't a far ride from London and directly adjacent to a train station.

Warmly recommended.
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

rob

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #1 on: 03 March, 2020, 02:37:16 pm »
I rode the inaugural event in 1996 (might have been 1997).   I also ran a control for several years - the best one opposite a pub.

Riding this year for the first time in donkeys before we move away and the roads aren't on my doorstep any more.   Riding out and back from home will give me 90 odd miles and a century if I feel keen.

S2L

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #2 on: 03 March, 2020, 03:03:25 pm »
I did it in 2008... it's a great ride, with loads of food on offer... some sharp buggers like Yorks hill

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #3 on: 03 March, 2020, 06:51:36 pm »
I’m ECEing from Epping, to get the distance over 200km and make a full day of it. Navigating via the Woolwich foot tunnel, which I’ve not been through before. Should add a bit of interest to the ride, over and above the obvious pleasure of the hills themselves!

Eddington: 133 miles    Max square: 43x43

Phil W

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #4 on: 03 March, 2020, 06:59:31 pm »
I’m ECEing from Epping, to get the distance over 200km and make a full day of it. Navigating via the Woolwich foot tunnel, which I’ve not been through before. Should add a bit of interest to the ride, over and above the obvious pleasure of the hills themselves!

Signs saying no cycling but assuming you will pass through early just crack on. I took bike down steps on way down into it but took lift at other end. Surprising number of steps. I rode through it around midnight on a DIY 400, returning via Gravesend ferry the next afternoon a number of hours later.

rob

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #5 on: 03 March, 2020, 09:06:56 pm »
I’m ECEing from Epping, to get the distance over 200km and make a full day of it. Navigating via the Woolwich foot tunnel, which I’ve not been through before. Should add a bit of interest to the ride, over and above the obvious pleasure of the hills themselves!

Which way are you riding out of town.  I’m leaving Bromley circa 8am.

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #6 on: 04 March, 2020, 07:15:52 am »
Signs saying no cycling but assuming you will pass through early just crack on.

I’m expecting it to be like the Greenwich tunnel. I’ve always ridden that, but just taking extra care when there are pedestrians about. Will definitely take the lift both ends, if they are working!

Which way are you riding out of town.  I’m leaving Bromley circa 8am.

My route is as follows:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32044503

I’m aiming to get to Otford by 9am.

Eddington: 133 miles    Max square: 43x43

bhoot

  • MemSec (ex-Mrs RRtY)
Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #7 on: 04 March, 2020, 07:34:35 am »
Generally the Woolwich tunnel is much quieter than the Greenwich so I usually have no hesitation cycling through carefully. Depending upon the time of day you may well not see any pedestrians. Fingers crossed the lifts are working, in my experience they are more reliable than Greenwich (and still big enough for the tandem which is handy for us!)

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #8 on: 04 March, 2020, 03:47:19 pm »
Woolwich Lift Status
Greenwich Lift Status
(though it's not clear if lack of service is from the gadget monitoring them or the lift itself)
“That slope may look insignificant, but it's going to be my destiny" - Fitzcarraldo

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #9 on: 04 March, 2020, 03:52:09 pm »
Oh, and there's a bit of disruption there now due to the roof having been nicked again:
https://853.london/2020/02/19/metal-covering-stolen-from-roof-at-woolwich-foot-tunnel/
“That slope may look insignificant, but it's going to be my destiny" - Fitzcarraldo

rob

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #10 on: 05 March, 2020, 09:11:14 am »
Signs saying no cycling but assuming you will pass through early just crack on.

I’m expecting it to be like the Greenwich tunnel. I’ve always ridden that, but just taking extra care when there are pedestrians about. Will definitely take the lift both ends, if they are working!

Which way are you riding out of town.  I’m leaving Bromley circa 8am.

My route is as follows:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32044503

I’m aiming to get to Otford by 9am.

Same here, but you're travelling a bit to the East of me.   Looks like a nice trip down.  Whenever I ride North I tend to do London Bridge and then Dalston before heading North East towards Epping.   I am getting a bit bored of it so may use something like this in future.

See you for coffee.


Rob

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #11 on: 08 March, 2020, 08:03:04 am »
Brakes aren't working so I'm DNS. Grrrrr.
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Phil W

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #12 on: 08 March, 2020, 04:48:57 pm »
Brakes aren't working so I'm DNS. Grrrrr.

Bummer, what’s wrong with them?

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #13 on: 08 March, 2020, 05:44:54 pm »
Always forget how hard I find this.  The hills seem to get steeper each year.  Enjoyed myself and the weather was better than expected.  Good outing all in all.

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #14 on: 08 March, 2020, 05:47:59 pm »
Brakes aren't working so I'm DNS. Grrrrr.

Bummer, what’s wrong with them?
Seems like there's air in the system but I don't know enough about them to know for sure. Will report developments in https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=114625.msg2472542;topicseen#msg2472542

Certainly didn't fancy going down Yorks Hill with iffy discs!
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #15 on: 08 March, 2020, 05:54:59 pm »
Thanks for this ride. Really good day out with only tiny bits of rain but I avoided Yorks this year! By all account it sounded iffy.

rob

Re: Kent Invicta 50 / 100 km grimpeur on Sunday 8 from Otford, Kent
« Reply #16 on: 08 March, 2020, 06:16:31 pm »
Yorks was fine going up.  It was a little sketchy encountering riders coming up as I was descending.

Not done this one for years and I forgot how much fun it is.  Spent too much time chatting to old friends on the way round.  Lots of sun and a few showers.  Riding to/from the long way gave me a century.