Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Lady Cavendish on 23 February, 2015, 12:38:58 pm
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Hello,
Is anyone in for this? I'm nearly pressing enter on this and a premier inn for the night before. Anyone done it before? Nice route? I don't really know Kent very well, I've done some of the Folkestone to Rye bit on one of Dave Hudson's rides, but don't know the rest (i.e. hilly!) bits at all so will all be new. And far. Such a long way 300k.
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I'm thinking of doing it but not entered yet. It looks like a lovely route.
I've not ridden it before but done a few bits of it on other rides. Most of the coastal bits are pretty, as are the hilly bits in the middle. The bit from Rye to Folkestone is very flat and we are going the right way. I've ridden it the other way and the headwind was like a wall.
You'll know Kent an awful lot better by the time you finish!
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It does look nice- I've entered it this morning and will stay the night before. I have a 100m sportive in the North Downs (don't lynch me) the next day- this combination may actually kill me to death.
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Good luck with that!
I've entered as well. Wedding anniversary the next day for me!
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I'm almost certain to enter. Just need to jiggle RL into place.
IMHO, it's important that local organisers are supported when putting on >100km events.
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I'm in but might be in Scotland cycling for a week or helping an expedition for the DofE people, so my presence isn't guaranteed. I'm also in the Green & Yellow Fields so will ride one of them as a qualifier.
I've ridden this before, it's a good route, mostly flat and as Frank says, the wind might be behind us. It might then be against us from Margate but that's sometimes sheltered by houses and stuff. It's certainly a good route.
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Yep, I did it last year, & have signed up for this year too.
It's a great route, I liked it mainly for the sea views for much of the ride.
1 or 2 hills (Toys hill, Dover, & 1 or 2 more), but nothing too difficult.
I seem to remember we had torrential rain for the first few hours last year, hoping for some better weather this time.
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Entered last year but had to DNS for reasons beyond my control. Thinking of entering this year but haven't got round to it yet.
I *hate* the road/racetrack from Rye to Brenzett but it's mostly a lovely route apart from that.
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I *hate* the road/racetrack from Rye to Brenzett but it's mostly a lovely route apart from that.
Try riding the KCA 12hr, you spend most of the day on that bit of road.
I do like riding down on the Marsh, though. Can't ride this 300 as I have my clubs 10 mile TT that day.
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Try riding the KCA 12hr, you spend most of the day on that bit of road.
What is it, a Rye-Brenzett-Appledore loop? Yuck. No thanks! At least it's flat, I suppose.
I do like riding down on the Marsh, though.
It was nice last week on the Wye Wednesday 200 with a tailwind.
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Try riding the KCA 12hr, you spend most of the day on that bit of road.
What is it, a Rye-Brenzett-Appledore loop? Yuck. No thanks! At least it's flat, I suppose.
I do like riding down on the Marsh, though.
It was nice last week on the Wye Wednesday 200 with a tailwind.
Brenzett-Military Canal Road-Rye-Brooklands(turn back towards Rye)-Camber-Lydd-Brenzett. You spend 9-10hrs down there before riding back to a finishing circuit on the edge of Ashford. It is very flat and a pain in the wind. Can't ride this year as it's the weekend straight after PBP.
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I'm in and will be driving down from Blackheath with space for another bike if anyone needs a lift to the start (they might have a long wait for the lift home though!)
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A mere month to go until this.
I've entered, and my experience on the Man of Kent has left me enthusiastic to see the Kentish landscape blossom in Spring. Fingers crossed by the end of April not only spring, but a touch of early summer will be in the air.
I will be paying very close attention to where it wanders and how it does the wandering, as the eastern bit of a 400km route I tentatively have in mind for a National ride appears to inhabit vaguely the same space as this and the Man of Kent (I'm thinking having a Ashdown Forest - Whitstable - Fairlight - Ashdown Forest loop in there).
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This was a lovely ride last year - or at least the first two thirds (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=68908.msg1676546#msg1676546) of it were.
Sadly I have a prior engagement so can't redeem myself this year.
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I've signed up. It looks like a great route.
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I'll ECE and make it a 400k ride.
Looking forward to some stunning coastal views.
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Will the organiser be posting soon about the finer details of this brilliant event?
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Routecheck ride is planned for this weekend AIUI, with a view to any revisions being issued early next week.
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Thanks! :)
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Well, seeing as I can't make the event itself next weekend, Tom let me tag along on his routecheck ride yesterday. Bright sunshine through most of the day meant we had superb views: across the Ashdown Forest; first glimpses of the sea near Battle; white cliffs and Dover Castle's imposing bulk; looking behind us over a surprisingly attractive Folkestone and Dover harbours; a beautifully limpid light from the North Kent coast as the sun fell below the horizon.
The climbing is there, for sure, but never felt gratuitous: if there's a westerly next weekend, you'll even get a glorious balancing payback as it pushes you across the marshes and along the coast.
We, of course, had an easterly - worse, just north of easterly. From Uckfield to, I guess, more or less Rye we were reasonably sheltered from it: from there until, well, Sandwich, we weren't. That's the thick end of 100km into a punishing headwind: with any luck, we did it so you don't have to ... On the brighter side, it changed into a pretty flattering tailwind as soon as we turned the corner, crossing to Birchington and following the coast west. Chilly, mind ...
Anyway, the Rye-Brenzett stretch citoyen dislikes so much wasn't too bad (certainly the drivers were less of an issue than the wind) though there were a few close passes on other parts of the route, and the cafe in Hythe - now apparently under the railway's ownership - seemed somehow brighter and fresher than last time I was there. Inevitably there are a few bits of road surface to watch out for, and a few minor amendments to last year's routesheet (which I believe Tom will be finalising in the next day or three), but I really enjoyed the day out and I'm very pleased to have got round this year without remodelling my frame geometry.
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Anyway, the Rye-Brenzett stretch citoyen dislikes so much wasn't too bad (certainly the drivers were less of an issue than the wind) though there were a few close passes on other parts of the route, and the cafe in Hythe - now apparently under the railway's ownership - seemed somehow brighter and fresher than last time I was there. Inevitably there are a few bits of road surface to watch out for, and a few minor amendments to last year's routesheet (which I believe Tom will be finalising in the next day or three), but I really enjoyed the day out and I'm very pleased to have got round this year without remodelling my frame geometry.
Good stuff. I can live with that bit of road - the rest of the route more than makes up for it. Not sure what wind direction is ideal for this route. Possibly best to get the headwind out of the way along the marsh while you're still relatively fresh.
Glad to hear you didn't have a repeat of last year's bike woes!
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Not sure what wind direction is ideal for this route. Possibly best to get the headwind out of the way along the marsh while you're still relatively fresh.
Pretty sure westerly or sou-westerly is a *lot* better. It's exposed along the coast from Birchington to beyond Seasalter, sure, but that's relatively short, and the stretches down to Uckfield and across the North Downs have much more shelter. An easterly gives you maybe 140km of headwind, of which only the first 40k or so have any real shelter: yesterday was a little too character-building for my taste.
Glad to hear you didn't have a repeat of last year's bike woes!
Not as glad as I was to pass the Birchington Bollard safely!
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Weather isn't looking great at all - rain for most of the day. However we seem to have tailwind ALL the way to Folkestone and possibly Margate. Then block headwind back to Meopham. I have ordered a waterproof!
It's shall be done.
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This far out, the forecast will change. It had better as I was looking forward to clear blue skies and shimmering water to the horizon.
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This far out, the forecast will change. It had better as I was looking forward to clear blue skies and shimmering water to the horizon.
I sincerely hope you are correct! :)
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Hillbilly's right, you can't believe the forecast this far out and if it's the BBC you can't believe it at the moment they give it, last year they informed me I might drowned on a 200k I was doing, after carrying full waterproofs all day my main problem was I got back with a mild case of sun stroke!
As I recall last year there was a little rain in the morning then it was nice all day.
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Hillbilly's right, you can't believe the forecast this far out and if it's the BBC you can't believe it at the moment they give it, last year they informed me I might drowned on a 200k I was doing, after carrying full waterproofs all day my main problem was I got back with a mild case of sun stroke!
As I recall last year there was a little rain in the morning then it was nice all day.
haha oh dear....
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I think the forecast has improved slightly since yesterday. Not overly keen on getting soaked all day!
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It is going to be fine. Trust me.
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By the way, for anyone who is interested in such things, there are three outstanding fish & chip shops on the route - well, three that I know of and can vouch for personally.
The first is the Little Fish Shop in Sandgate at 160km:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1096575-d3498410-Reviews-The_Little_Fish_Shop-Sandgate_Folkestone_Kent_England.html
The second is the Smokehouse in Folkestone, at 163km:
http://www.thesmokehousefolkestone.co.uk/
The third is VC Jones in Whitstable at 236km:
http://www.vcjones.co.uk/
The first two are a bit too close together to visit both, but the Smokehouse is my favourite of the three so that's the one I would go for if you're only going for one.
The Kettle O'Fish in Rye (120km) is also good but it's slightly off route. There may well be others that I either don't know about or have forgotten.
The route also passes within about 100m of my old house, which would have been very handy.
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Never mind fish and chips, I am going to try and batter myself on this event based on the forecast. I just hope I don't fry myself out and have to cash in my chips early.
If xcweather is right (and in my experience it is one of the better ones at this timescale out) we are going to have decent weather, with light precipitation at the start but otherwise gentle sun, with the wind as friendly as it could have been and pleasant temperatures. Conducive to full on audax power that is.
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Sounds promising. :thumbsup:
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Personally I'm looking forward to the Macaris Ice Cream Parlour, I had a great slice of Coffee Cake there last year! Of course I'm dreading The Light Railway Restaurant, AKA the slowest restaurant in Kent, with this many people on the ride I may be loosing the will to live by the time I get a sticker :(
While the chances of some sprinkles are there, the weather reports I'm seeing are pretty good, probably it'll be like last year a few spots in the morning and then a nice day. Light rain jacket only me thinks.
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Not convinced of its accuracy based on my experience of the Heart of England, but this funky little site gives an idea of weather around the course for someone expecting to finish at around 8 to 8:30pm.
http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/b470bfb1-cd32-4336-bff8-998f2fb21f09
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BikinOn - the fish & chip shop in Folkestone is only another 10km on from Hythe.
Just sayin', like.
(Last ride I did that used the railway cafe as a control, I bounced it and went to the Saibsburys round the corner for food.)
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Granted, it wasn't at all busy on Saturday, but as I said above, the cafe in Hythe seemed brighter and fresher this weekend and I think the menu may have been rejigged: I wouldn't write it off because of past experiences.
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4.30am wake up call here I come. Thanks for the fish and chips shop recommendations. Smokehouse it is.
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Good news is that the weather forecast does look pretty good. Bad news is that I'll have to get up at 3:30am. It hardly seems worth going to bed!
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and probs you getting home not far off the same time....
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I hope to be back a bit before that!
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Gutted that I can't this but, sadly, my last surviving uncle died yesterday and my mother, the last survivor (from a brood of 9), needs some tlc.
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I'm currently at home, having taken a diversion after Herne Bay, debating whether or not to go out and complete the ride...
It's been fab so far - started in chilly drizzle as far as Uckfield, then was just a bit grey as far as Battle, and then the sun came out. The run down to Rye then across the marsh with a tailwind and the sun on my back was most splendid. Even the Rye-Brenzett racetrack only had one incident of note when a wankerinabeemer coming the other way came across into my lane to overtake some other cars that were only doing a mere 60mph.
Forgot just how evil that climb out of Folkestone is, but the reward is some majestic views. Likewise Castle Hill in Dover.
Coming back along the sea wall to Reculver was somewhat less fun with the headwind, and I was really starting to flag by then.
Was very tempted by the ice creams in Macari's but pressed on to get home sooner.
Nothing left in the tank at the moment but I've still got plenty of time in hand so we'll see how I feel after a bit of a rest. It's been a long, hard week at work so I'm leaning towards thinking the rest is more important than finishing the ride at the moment. I've done 240km, which isn't a bad day out.
Still got to go back to Meopham to pick up the car though...
Anyway, this is a seriously lovely ride, especially on a day like today.
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One of the nicest routes in the whole of the UK. Should be on everyone's list as one to do.
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+1
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Simply brilliant route and scenery. The climbs at Folkestone and Dover was rewarding in the end. The less said about that sea wall section the better! Thanks to everyone that I chatted to at the cafes :)
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The sea wall sections are, I guess, this ride's "marmite" factor. For me, they give the ride something unique, as well as ensuring that you get the max in terms of riding alongside the sea (not to mention being Kent's equivalent of pave). I loved them, and loved the ride as a whole (weather and snapped gear cable after 200km notwithstanding).
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Rested and about to head out for breakfast.
I'm so glad I did this event. It is a showcase for rides in the southeast, that shows off some of the best scenery in the area. The coastal sections are sublime, albeit weather dependent. The countryside sections splendid. And just enough climbing to make it interesting but not gratuitous. The controls were also well placed and were swift.
It's not perfect. Some of the road surfaces are poor, but an understandable compromise because it makes large stretches traffic free and opens up the ride to some special vistas. A sturdy bike is much recommended, with sensible gearing and well tuned brakes. Also minor things like putting signs up outside the arrivee. But these are trivialities in a route that has the potential to grow into a national classic.
So good it made me realise I can't come up with a better 300 route in the South East. But I humbly submit my 300 in August for those not going to PBP...
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Agreed: that was a quite stunning ride. All the coastal scenery made it one of those rides that needs a bit of time to take it all in; there was so much beautiful and varied land and seascape.
It was a very well researched and designed route. I've cycled a bit in Kent and had been to much of the route before but there were little lanes and paths I didn't know about that joined it all together very tidily and without either climbing or laney-ness for its own sake.
The wind helped where it was most needed. I'd be surprised if I've ever done a section of an audax as quickly as the Rye to Hythe section. I expected the pull along the north coast to Reculver to compensate and it did, but this was the better way round as the coastal path there is too bumpy, and too pretty, to blast along, while the smooth, marsh roads are made for doing so.
My favourite bit was probably the top of the cliffs after Folkestone. I've not ridden there for about five years, and the views were a reward for the sharp climb up to them. The run in to Folkestone via the park was also lovely, and the lanes after Dover, and the views to France ...
My ride went well. I didn't linger at the cafes so ended up seeing a few faster riders, who had lingered, quite a few times as they passed me. Going through the Marshes, I jumped on the back of the fast group of six, and clung on for a while, which was fun, but even with the tow I was having to work harder than I knew I could sustain for the rest of the day, so dropped off after a few miles - but thanks guys for the draft if you are reading.
My only problem was my own fault: hot foot, caused by leaving my overshoes on too long. I should have taken them off at Hythe but by the 190km point they were hurting and I had to make several stops to loosen straps further and further and, eventually take off a pair of socks to give my swollen feet maximum room. It made some of the latter climbs a bit more slow and painful than they otherwise might have been.
I was hoping to finish in daylight, because it is a nice thing to do, because it is (for me) a challenging but achievable objective and because I realised early on in the ride that my front light batteries had run down. Daylight always felt achievable so I didn't bother to buy any batteries at the Premier, and I rolled in at 7:45 (making it probably my quickest 300), ready for a debate about where exactly the infos had been. I'd been confused on the road but, once I'd seen them, they had all become reasonably clear.
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Completely agree with all above, a great ride, thanks again to the organisers.
Weather in the morning was a bit worse than last year and a tactical mistake of using gatorskins instead of 4 seasons tires made for some suboptimal descending and a minor spill at one point. On the bright side I wasn't one of those getting a visitation from the puncture fairy. It looked like the really rough bit of road in Deal had been relayed, so I didn't need the tough tires anyway!
I enjoyed the coffee and cake at Herne bay, but I messed up my fuelling a bit and was definitely feeling low powered on the last hills.
Thanks to Graham and Alistair for the company at the end and yes, that really was the minimum setting on my rear light :)
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Haven't done a 300 for a few years so not sure what to expect of myself. Felt fine most of the time (easy does it up Jib Jack's) and made good progress, especially flying along the Marsh with that tail wind. I thought the climb out of Folkestone was a bit of a slog on a not too interesting bit of road, but the climb up to Dover castle better - I guess because I knew that would be the end of climbing for a while.
Went a bit wayward at Deal and ended up on the worst cycle path you can imagine - next to a gravelly road, strewn with gravel and full of walkers enjoying the sun. Front tyre split and blew while negotiating one group, but fortunately the tyre was intact so was able to repair.
Rode with another guy through to Reculver in the head wind - thanks, whoever you were!
The coffee & cake at Macari's was sublime.
Quick detour to see if my friends were in their garden at Whitstable, to say hello, then back into the wind up to Faversham.
From here, things went downhill, just as I needed to go uphill again. Started feeling icky which slowed me down, but got to Hollingbourne before I needed my lights on. GPS ran out of charge so I no longer had the distance, then, as I was coming up to Boxley, heard in front of me a horrific crash, and arrived in the aftermath of this: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/fatal-crash-in-maidstone-35820/ (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/fatal-crash-in-maidstone-35820/)
Called the services as I was amongst the first on the scene but as I was speaking a Police car turned up - I still can't work out how they were on the scene so quickly - unless they just happened to be in the area - I might add they were coming from the opposite direction so weren't chasing. I couldn't add anything to help, so carried on. It was dark at this stage and I struggled to read the route sheet, which hampered progress.
Met up with some riders who were local, and steered me back through to the lanes leading back up to Meopham (thanks again guys). Got in around 10 I think.
Still feel queesy now, so think I picked up a bug along the way, however I hope I'll remember this ride for all the good parts, which was most of it.
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Stayed the night at the Premier Inn at Gravesend (!) This ride was to make up for missing an Essex ride earlier due to ill-health, and a need to get a 300 in for that PBP dream. Thanks for letting in the late entry.
So I have barely even visited Kent let alone ridden around it, so all new for me and a very pleasant experience (apart from the obvious fatigue of course)
Spent the first part in the company of Mr Aussie who I met before on flatlands last year. How'd you go?
One of those Audax moments - being buzzed by a couple of loons on a scooter, one without helmet, at 6:20am. All very well them effing and blinding but I don't think they would have stood a chance against a 130 frisky cyclists at that point, so no worries there.
After all the hills and drizzle the sun came out and the lovely scoot around the coast began - very nice in the tailwind it was. Spent a bit of that chatting with Malcolm Darcy about steel bikes and writing - very learned company we were.
Had to stop in Dover to buy a new cache battery as old one died just as my Garmin ran out of juice. Quite worrying as I had carefully left the printed route sheet in that Premier Inn... Halfords to the rescue.
The bit from Deal around was really great, all new scenery, flat and sunny, all good. The turn into the headwind was a small wake up call, but I had survived the gale force winds a few weeks ago on the Start of Springtime from Stevenage and thought I would be ok..
Milkshake at Whitstable... Yum. Good control! But feeling a bit dead now. Knew I would make it but it wasn't going to be easy. Luckily formed a posse on the road with two guys - Mr Penge Cycles who I will see again on A+S 400 in a few weeks time I believe and another chap. Sorry, I always forget to ask names. The riding here was hard but even though we didn't chat much it was great to have the company - would have dropped off the pace severely without your company.
Quite entertaining that last bit on Pilgrims way, ducking and diving down dark unknown lanes into the unknown... Missed anything to do with that car crash thankfully.
The very last gentle climb into Meopham got to me and with a couple of k to go I just dropped off the back and crawled into the finish at 10:40. Then got on the 11:17 train to London, a crazy midnight ride through packed London to Liverpool St and from there to bed at about 1:30am, after copious cups of tea and slices of toast.
A very satisfying ride and a reminder how good it is to get off your usual patch.
Many thanks to the team for a great route with nicely spaced controls and a warm welcome at the finish.
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Feel slightly disappointed not to have finished, but after a long and stressful week at work, I was very close to not even starting, and I'm glad I made the effort. After a bit of a nap at home, I woke up at 9.30pm thinking, Hmmm, I've still got plenty of time in hand to do the last 70km... but ultimately decided against it. I'm not doing PBP now so at least I didn't need to finish for that reason.
This really is a great route. I know every section of it from one ride or another, and a lot of it is territory I've covered many times over, but there's something about the way it all comes together to make it more than the sum of its parts. Love the variety of terrain. As Hillbilly said, it's testing without being silly. I would have liked to be riding a lighter bike though. (Could do with shedding a few kilos off the rider too.)
Thanks Tom for organising yet another splendid ride and for laying on a tailwind across Romney Marsh for the second time this year - incredible! On top of that, the sunshine was a double bonus. Hope you got my message about packing.
By the way, I did bounce the café at Hythe - not because there were queues but because I'd got it into my head by then that I really wanted fish & chips. Of course, filling up with fish & chips before tackling that climb out of Folkestone may not have been the cleverest idea, but it was worth it.
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The coffee & cake at Macari's was sublime.
From here, things went downhill, just as I needed to go uphill again. Started feeling icky which slowed me down, but got to Hollingbourne before I needed my lights on.
Still feel queesy now, so think I picked up a bug along the way,
Interesting that you felt queesy after Macari's. I really felt ready to be sick for quite a while between Seasalter and Hollingbourne...maybe not a bug but something in the food?
Just a thought.
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Cycling uphill with a stomach full of food, especially anything fatty can make some people icksy.
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This will be my choice for April's RRTY attempt. Is there any option to sleep the night before in the hut with a sleeping bag/floor mat?
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There are two 'Prems' close to start. It's a good ride, well worth doing.
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There are two 'Prems' close to start. It's a good ride, well worth doing.
It's ok, I'll drive to the start... I am only actually 22 mins away hahah!
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Just entered this. It's the other end of the country from me but I wanted to ride somewhere different from my usual Cheshire audaxes. It will also be the furthest I have ever ridden, having only done 200's previously. A bit nervous about the extra distance but also excited. Can't wait.
Accommodation all booked for the night before and after. Hopefully I will get through in 18 hours. Any tips from locals or others who have done it previously of good cafes on route ?
As it will be my only chance in April to keep my RRTY going, I'm praying that the 'Weather Gods' will be smiling to make it an enjoyable day out.
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Just entered this. It's the other end of the country from me but I wanted to ride somewhere different from my usual Cheshire audaxes. It will also be the furthest I have ever ridden, having only done 200's previously. A bit nervous about the extra distance but also excited. Can't wait.
Accommodation all booked for the night before and after. Hopefully I will get through in 18 hours. Any tips from locals or others who have done it previously of good cafes on route ?
As it will be my only chance in April to keep my RRTY going, I'm praying that the 'Weather Gods' will be smiling to make it an enjoyable day out.
People mentioned good places to eat in Folkestone. I remember this because if you did eat there, you had a massive 25% hill to get out of Folkestone afterwards! Not the greatest thing to do! Folkestone and Dover got some tricky ascents but as a Cheshire rider, you should be used to that.... Oh and mind the sea wall! :sick: See you there.....
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Yes, I stopped at the posh fish & chips place in Folkestone harbour last year. Possibly not the cleverest idea with the climb to follow immediately but I had a hankering.
It's not the reason I didn't finish last time though - that's just general fecklessness. I should probably give this one another go and actually do the whole thing this time. Tom does know how to put together a very agreeable route - scenic, fairly challenging, but not too tough.
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Weatherbagel showing clouds and sun all day but fairly high winds that volte-face directions several times!! Exciting!
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I'm in. Looking to ECE it up to 400 with a tour of Central London cycling highlights afterwards: Quietway 1, Bar Italia, lap of Regent's Park, W-E Superhighway, Brick Lane Beigels and N-S Superhighway - thanks to the mandatory routing rule.
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Plenty of trains home from Meopham in the wee small hours but nothing that would get me there for 6am. Does anyone with local knowledge know of a train station within, say, 20km that has an early Saturday morning service?
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I've ridden to Meopham from Rochester for an early start before, but that's coming from East Kent. I suspect that if you're coming from London, all the early trains stop at Meopham anyway. (I've also ridden all the way to Meopham from home on occasion, but that's another matter.)
Is there an early train to Sevenoaks from London? That's not too far from Meopham - although you would have to climb that bastard hill at Wrotham.
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Thanks Citoyen for the pointers. Just checked the timetables, and first trains to Rochester and Sevenoaks both arrive after the first train to Meopham. Will email the org to see if he's amenable to late starts.
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Are you aversed to getting a premier inn ? There one 8 miles from start
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Are you aversed to getting a premier inn ? There one 8 miles from start
I'm spending so many nights away from home for work at the moment it feels unfair to my family to spend nights away for cycling too, especially with 600 season almost upon us when I shall be disappearing for entire weekends, eg Friday lunchtime to Monday lunchtime for BCM.
I enjoy O&C because of the coastal setting (and the fish & chips) but family harmony comes first.
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Plenty of trains home from Meopham in the wee small hours but nothing that would get me there for 6am. Does anyone with local knowledge know of a train station within, say, 20km that has an early Saturday morning service?
The first train from London Victoria arrives in Meopham at 06:03. Surely its ok to start 5 minutes late?
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http://weatherbagel.com/f/6cde3934-956c-4eff-872d-069e26f7bdfe
16mph headwinds ALL the way to Dover :facepalm:
Tailwinds ALL the way back including the dreaded seawall section.
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Tailwinds ALL the way back including the dreaded seawall section.
Be thankful. I rode back along there with a headwind at the weekend, when I already had 100km in my legs. It was grim.
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Plenty of trains home from Meopham in the wee small hours but nothing that would get me there for 6am. Does anyone with local knowledge know of a train station within, say, 20km that has an early Saturday morning service?
The first train from London Victoria arrives in Meopham at 06:03. Surely its ok to start 5 minutes late?
I think Tom normally rides the event, so is keen to lock up the hall and get going. Drop him a line - he may be able to make arrangements for your brevet card, but bear in mind that there's a checkpoint only a few km in and the controller there will also want to move on.
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http://weatherbagel.com/f/6cde3934-956c-4eff-872d-069e26f7bdfe
16mph headwinds ALL the way to Dover :facepalm:
Tailwinds ALL the way back including the dreaded seawall section.
Sounds a bit like the route check ride last year - I reckon we had 140km of headwinds, all across the marshes ...
Testing.
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http://weatherbagel.com/f/6cde3934-956c-4eff-872d-069e26f7bdfe
16mph headwinds ALL the way to Dover :facepalm:
Tailwinds ALL the way back including the dreaded seawall section.
Sounds a bit like the route check ride last year - I reckon we had 140km of headwinds, all across the marshes ...
Testing.
Yes! Also I'll be wrapping up with silk gloves and base layers! Apparently arctic air is coming back so don't want to get caught out!
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http://weatherbagel.com/f/6cde3934-956c-4eff-872d-069e26f7bdfe
16mph headwinds ALL the way to Dover :facepalm:
Tailwinds ALL the way back including the dreaded seawall section.
Sounds a bit like the route check ride last year - I reckon we had 140km of headwinds, all across the marshes ...
Testing.
Yes! Also I'll be wrapping up with silk gloves and base layers! Apparently arctic air is coming back so don't want to get caught out!
The BBC forecast suggests that the wind will be from the NNE and later N with possibility of showers in the afternoon, and a max temperature of 9C. Brrrr. So that would mean the only part of the route with a tail wind will be the first section to Uckfield :-[
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Plenty of trains home from Meopham in the wee small hours but nothing that would get me there for 6am. Does anyone with local knowledge know of a train station within, say, 20km that has an early Saturday morning service?
The first train from London Victoria arrives in Meopham at 06:03. Surely its ok to start 5 minutes late?
x
I think Tom normally rides the event, so is keen to lock up the hall and get going. Drop him a line - he may be able to make arrangements for your brevet card, but bear in mind that there's a checkpoint only a few km in and the controller there will also want to move on.
Grateful for all the suggestions but rode a 300km DIY today (currently working most weekends so getting days off during the week), so I think I shall knock the weekend ride on the head, save myself the stress of a train journey that will see me arrive late even if it's on time, especially with that control after just a few k, and delight / alarm [delete as applicable] my family by hanging around the house on Saturday. Will be back for O&C 2017.
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Superb ride and sea wall was a piece of piss with the tailwind :D Thanks to all the helpers.
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Many thanks to the organisers for a such a great scenic ride.
And for not kicking us out immediately when we arrived at 2.06am with nine minutes to spare.
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Goodness - that was a bit of a testing day out. Who knew that Kent1 could be so lumpy, or that an Arctic wind could be so, well, Arctic?
I don't think I helped myself by the fact that yesterday probably about doubled my year's mileage, but had a very pleasant ride round, largely with Matthew (NOTP, though maybe an occasional lurker) - he'd had Garmin issues, so I provided navigational services, while he offered moral support and the occasional boost to my fitness issues ... It *is* a lovely route - with the possible exception of a scrotty lane before Hollingbourne - and I'm pleased to have laid my demons from a couple of years ago, in that this year I got home with a bike that had the same wheelbase as when I'd started.
Thanks to Tom and the rest of the crew - all very much appreciated.
(Someone needs to tell me that I'm mis-remembering what I read on the brevet card of the first person to complete the O&C on a trike - for which chapeau - and he's not actually called James Barrow ...)
1 Yeah, yeah. And East Sussex.
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Enjoyed that - the cycle paths worked really well and were a nice change from the usual audax roads, the views over to France and elsewhere were spectacular, good company enroute, but the less said about the wind the better. The only stress was breaking a front spoke just after Rye probably due to some wind-borne debris. Wobbled my way to Hythe, re-trued the wheel there and was fine after that, if a bit nerve-wracking on dark descents. So much for those that say a 24-spoke wheel will be unusable after such a failure.
Thanks to Tom & co.
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Well, my first 300 completed, and I think I enjoyed it. That headwind was horrible and there was no escape from it on the exposed marshes. Some testing climbs, particularly out of Folkestone & Dover. Got 2 punctures with half a mile of each other on that long lane before Hollingbourne, one from a thorn and the second from a piece of flint or glass. Thanks to the kind person who donated a spare tube to me.
Some of the roads were quite rough and I don't think they had been repaired since the Luftwaffe bombed them ;D
Finally finished just short of 17 hours, so quite pleased with that.
Thanks to Tom and crew for a well organised event and my first foray to the flat lands of Kent.
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Thanks to the kind person who donated a spare tube to me.
That was probably me. The piece of mind from having a spare tube in the bag is worth the weight.
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I was hoping it was going to be easier than last year, but then we didn't have the arctic winds. I think we were actually quite lucky with the weather, as we didn't get rained on to any extent, while just inland they had some proper downpours. I also think that the marsh section could have been worse beacause at the time we were on it, it was more of a NW wind giving a bit of side-on, and mercifully it had swung around to NE by the time we were on the sea wall section.
My stomach did the usual trick on these long rides of refusing to digest anything, so the last thing I ate was a baked potato at Hythe. This made for a challenging last section in the dark, when added to the cold I felt awful. Riding wasn't too bad, just everything else - navigating, keeping warm etc.
Just as I swooped into that right hand turn at Cuxton in the dark I hit a peice of metal, thought it was a tin can but Andy later told me was a bit of exhaust tail pipe. I could so easily have gone down then and I wouldn't have got up. Felt guilty about leaving it in the road but at that stage I couldn't stop. I hope nobody else hit it.
Limped back to the hall by about 10.45, brevet deposited, then dash outside to heave - profuse apologies to anyone who stepped on my bile in the grass - I did try to wash it down!
I'm amazed the latecomers made it back without freezing solid, the temp was down to about 4 degrees when I was in the car driving home. It was a good call to wear normal winter gear, I wasn't too hot at any time, even the morning's lumpy bits.
Thanks to Tom and co for a challenging day out, great route.
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Just as I swooped into that right hand turn at Cuxton in the dark I hit a peice of metal, thought it was a tin can but Andy later told me was a bit of exhaust tail pipe.
It made a hell of a noise when you hit it. I was a little surprised that somebody could hit something that big and not go down.
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Just cleaned my bike and noticed another big piece of flint embedded in the rear tyre. Dug it out and has left quite a hole. That could have been puncture number 3. That may have just about finished me mentally. I think the organiser should go out and sweep the roads before next years event :P
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So, who's in this year?
And any thoughts on sensible ECE routes from central/north London?
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So, who's in this year?
And any thoughts on sensible ECE routes from central/north London?
As you will be leaving London early. The most direct route is the Old A2, over Blackheath, Shooters Hill and into Dartford. Then on the other side pick up the B260 through to Longfield and then into Meopham.
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I'm in, and I'm riding to the start as well - but coming from East Kent so I doubt my route would be of much help to you.
I used to ride from the South Bank to Gravesend regularly and I would probably use the same route as far as Dartford - A200 to Greenwich, up Maze Hill, A207 over Shooters Hill and through Welling - then cut south from Dartford through Longfield to Meopham. (ie pretty much what trickedem said)
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Cheers. Is there any reason not to take the A210 via Eltham to avoid the top of Shooters Hill? I need to a little bit of distance anyway to make it a 100 km round trip.
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Worth noting that the London Marathon is also on this Sunday. I doubt it will be a problem if you are ECE-ing for a 6am start as the fun doesn't get stated until about 7am but you may find there are some road closures (easily bypassed) in place at Blackheath. It won't be a problem by the time you come back :D
Also, yes, go to Dartford via Eltham, Blacken and Bexley and avoid the drag up to the water tower on Shooters Hill.
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...and miss out the fun of the descent to Welling! ;)
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I'm in. See y'all there, or there abouts.
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...and miss out the fun of the descent to Welling! ;)
Fun and Welling - two words not often seen in the same sentence
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I'm in. Forecast looking like last year's.
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Worth noting that the London Marathon is also on this Sunday. I doubt it will be a problem if you are ECE-ing for a 6am start as the fun doesn't get stated until about 7am but you may find there are some road closures (easily bypassed) in place at Blackheath. It won't be a problem by the time you come back :D
Also worth noting that O&Cs is on Saturday (phew, you had me going for a moment!)
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Also worth noting that O&Cs is on Saturday (phew, you had me going for a moment!)
If you're getting your money's worth it's on two hours of Sunday plus however long grinding back into town takes.
Forecast looking like last year's.
Is that good?
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Worth noting that the London Marathon is also on this Sunday. I doubt it will be a problem if you are ECE-ing for a 6am start as the fun doesn't get stated until about 7am but you may find there are some road closures (easily bypassed) in place at Blackheath. It won't be a problem by the time you come back :D
Also worth noting that O&Cs is on Saturday (phew, you had me going for a moment!)
Ah. That'll be me putting on my glasses to read the calendar next time. :-[
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Forecast looking like last year's.
Is that good?
No, not particulary. Some head wind across the marsh and potentially getting quite cold at night - last year I got very cold despite wearing winter gear. At least it's looking dry.
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Tailwind down to Battle, headwind across the marsh and up the East Side, then tailwind home. Could be a lot worse!
http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/a57f5e23-1e09-4745-84b2-dc7d7486fc76
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This'll be my first 300 and back on some of the roads I grew up with; I used to avoid Romney Marsh like the plague!
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On the train home. Shattered. Ride to the start went well, but it left me a bit drained for the first leg to Uckfield and my riding companions soon dropped me. Had a fortifying breakfast at the excellent Poppins but was still struggling on the leg down to Battle, where I caught up with my riding companions. Rain started just as we left Battle but perversely, I was feeling pretty good by this point, and it was my turn to drop them. Matt and Paul passed me near Udimore but we regrouped in Rye. Tried to hang on to the ACME express train as it steamed past us across the marsh but could only stay on board for a few km - the stiff headwind meant that any small gap that opened up, eg at a bend, quickly became a chasm.
Paul pressed on from Rye while me and Matt ate, soon joined by Martin and Richard. They all then went to Aldi while I pressed on. Was expecting to see them again soon, especially as I was grovelling up the hills out of Folkestone and Dover at barely walking pace, but they never materialised. Once we turned the corner at Deal, the wind became very favourable. And I was back in the groove again so really took advantage. Caught up with Paul at Herne Bay, but not for long - I'm sure he must have been packing something illicit in his pannier as well as all the Haribos.
Final leg went quite well until about 10km from the finish when my legs turned to jelly, but I made it back to Meopham by 21.45, which I'm pretty pleased with.
365km clocked up for the day, which is by far my longest ride since June 2015.
Good to meet some old faces and make new acquaintances too. An excellent and very sociable ride.
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Oh, I'm annoyed not to have been able to make it today - I like the O&C route. Glad you had a good day out.
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Ooh, great day out, as always. We probably crossed paths citoyen as we latched onto the train across the marsh but got caught in a lagging group by which time the gap was too big to make up without exerting too much effort.
The sun coming out and the tail wind after Sandwich were a welcome addition.
My stomach did its usual thing and refused to accept anything pretty much after Hythe, so by the time we were on the last few weary kms in the dark I was bonking big time, and we made it back around 11.00. Just a few degrees warmer than last year which made all the difference in the closing stages.
Thanks to Tom and the team for organising.
Paul
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Missed the last train from Gravesend - literally watched it pull out of the station. A second night in a Prem, blurgh.
Feeling pretty good through to the marshes, left my ACME friends behind, but then started to derail a bit from there. Solo into headwind and then the hills to Deal (love that descent) was ok but last hundred was slow and ACME caught back up with me. Really struggled through last 70km wondering quite why I bother (usual negative, tired and grumpy riding solo monologue) and got in at 10:45. Had a minute too long at control obviously, and despite a heroic time trial back down to Gravesend I missed the train. Did I mention that?
Good training though right? BCM looms, I am s**tting myself nervous...
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I imagine you would have been too tired to contemplate it, but it's not that far from Gravesend to Dartford, from which (I think) the trains run later.
On that note, have you booked a Travelodge for the Sunday night of the BCM? If I recall, the last train back from Bristol Parkway is about 10.30 so you've got to be confident of finishing in good time if you're going to make it and the last leg of the BCM can be very energy-sapping, IMO.
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A very enjoyable ride on a stunning day, I can imagine with the Wind and Rain it would be quite different. I did my usual plodding up the hills down to Battle and then the legs found some energy across the marshes putting in a diesel loco type effort in a gear much bigger than I should have been in, man I enjoyed that. Slower again over the hills around Folkstone and Dover before I left Raymond at Herne Bay to go and meet a work colleague for a beer in Whitstable.
Not sure what they put in that beer but the legs were well and truly back for the end and I felt like I was flying for that last 60km (I probably wasn't).
Good to meet some folk off here for the first time and it was great to spend a large part of the day with or bumping into various ACME colleagues.
The ACME Merino performed brilliantly again ;D
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I find beer and cider of the real kind and not the piss water type really helps! Good job to everyone that completed it.
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I did my usual plodding up the hills down to Battle and then the legs found some energy across the marshes putting in a diesel loco type effort in a gear much bigger than I should have been in, man I enjoyed that.
Those of us who were trying to hang on to your wheel enjoyed it too! That was an impressive display of power.
Sounds like The Tank did well by you too. :thumbsup:
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A very enjoyable ride on a stunning day, I can imagine with the Wind and Rain it would be quite different. I did my usual plodding up the hills down to Battle and then the legs found some energy across the marshes putting in a diesel loco type effort in a gear much bigger than I should have been in, man I enjoyed that. Slower again over the hills around Folkstone and Dover before I left Raymond at Herne Bay to go and meet a work colleague for a beer in Whitstable.
Not sure what they put in that beer but the legs were well and truly back for the end and I felt like I was flying for that last 60km (I probably wasn't).
Good to meet some folk off here for the first time and it was great to spend a large part of the day with or bumping into various ACME colleagues.
The ACME Merino performed brilliantly again ;D
I am always in awe of those who take time out of an event to go for a beer, or meet friends etc (rather than stop at a pub near the end). I would be too worried I wouldn't get going again.
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Having been dropped off by Tippers at Herne Bay control, I decided to stop to refuel with beans on toast. There I sat on the next table and met the event organizer Tom Jackson with his ridding buddy. During a brief discussion about finding rides harder as we age, he told me that if you wear pink shorts during any audax event you have certain privileges approved by audax hierarchy with not having to answer brevet card questions. But to qualify; you to be at least 60 years young and have a 3 digit audax membership number. I have my witnesses Mel, and club mate Steve. In not knowing Tom at all, I think he was being 'Serious'. I waited for other ACME domestique members Sid and Jack to carry me to the finish. I too fell off the back of the Tippers ACME train across the marsh.
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Great to finally do this ride after leaving it to late to enter in 2015 and DNSing last year. It was fun to see the same handful of Full Value riders at every stop.
The weather turned out well - the predicted headwind across Romney Marsh didn't happen and we got a good tail wind all the way back. Getting soaked on the way to Battle wasn't fun, but I dried off pretty quick, and it didn't rain again.
I went slightly off route and took the sea wall all the way from Hythe to Folkestone. Apart from one busy area it worked very well. The least pleasant bit was the climb from the A2 after Whitstable. It just went on forever and you felt like you were making no progress.
While climbing up the White Cliffs of Dover I was overtaken by a gleaming E-Type Jaguar. That was quite a moment. Likewise passing a tiny but very loud music festival in the middle of the night that you could hear across the whole valley.
I ECE'd from Archway as planned, which meant a 3am start, but empty fast roads almost all the way out. Sitting in the HQ I really wasn't sure if I had another 50 km in me, but there were few other options to get home and in the end it only took 2h45 and was competely uneventful - amazing what a cup of instant coffee and a few minutes of rest can do!
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A very enjoyable ride on a stunning day, I can imagine with the Wind and Rain it would be quite different. I did my usual plodding up the hills down to Battle and then the legs found some energy across the marshes putting in a diesel loco type effort in a gear much bigger than I should have been in, man I enjoyed that. Slower again over the hills around Folkstone and Dover before I left Raymond at Herne Bay to go and meet a work colleague for a beer in Whitstable.
Not sure what they put in that beer but the legs were well and truly back for the end and I felt like I was flying for that last 60km (I probably wasn't).
Good to meet some folk off here for the first time and it was great to spend a large part of the day with or bumping into various ACME colleagues.
The ACME Merino performed brilliantly again ;D
I am always in awe of those who take time out of an event to go for a beer, or meet friends etc (rather than stop at a pub near the end). I would be too worried I wouldn't get going again.
I used to regularly stop for a quick beer and some pub food but recently I have stopped doing it as it always took me up to an hour to feel comfortable on the bike again. Bouncing Herne Bay and stopping in Whitstable was fine and restricting it to one beer, a pot of cockles and some crisps seemed to work and I can absolutely recommend the Tankerton Arms :thumbsup: The temptation to stay longer was there though.
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First 300 ticked off; I was feeling it yesterday and still am today; Slightly more recovery needed than a 200.
I was aiming for sub 12 hour ride time and with faffing at controls for just over an hour got in at just after 1845, so pretty happy with my ride.
I thought I had a flat between Brenzett and Hythe but when I stopped all was good and it turns out it was probably squirming in some diesel or oil that caused some of the front group to crash.
Climbing after Dover castle there was a large group of (I think) Germans riding along on mountain bikes and I was making little progress on them up a climb; when I finally passed them I noticed they all had about 250W electrical assistance :-\
A good double scoop ice cream at Herne Bay and I had forgotten how slow the section from Faversham to Hollingbourne can be and then almost got taken out by a taxi driver on the Pilgrims way before crossing the Medway.
A good day riding all round and now debating if I can push it to 400.
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First 300 ticked off; I was feeling it yesterday and still am today; Slightly more recovery needed than a 200.
I was aiming for sub 12 hour ride time and with faffing at controls for just over an hour got in at just after 1845, so pretty happy with my ride.
I thought I had a flat between Brenzett and Hythe but when I stopped all was good and it turns out it was probably squirming in some diesel or oil that caused some of the front group to crash.
Climbing after Dover castle there was a large group of (I think) Germans riding along on mountain bikes and I was making little progress on them up a climb; when I finally passed them I noticed they all had about 250W electrical assistance :-\
A good double scoop ice cream at Herne Bay and I had forgotten how slow the section from Faversham to Hollingbourne can be and then almost got taken out by a taxi driver on the Pilgrims way before crossing the Medway.
A good day riding all round and now debating if I can push it to 400.
12 hour 300 = no problem 400!
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First 300 ticked off; I was feeling it yesterday and still am today; Slightly more recovery needed than a 200.
I was aiming for sub 12 hour ride time and with faffing at controls for just over an hour got in at just after 1845, so pretty happy with my ride.
I thought I had a flat between Brenzett and Hythe but when I stopped all was good and it turns out it was probably squirming in some diesel or oil that caused some of the front group to crash.
Climbing after Dover castle there was a large group of (I think) Germans riding along on mountain bikes and I was making little progress on them up a climb; when I finally passed them I noticed they all had about 250W electrical assistance :-\
A good double scoop ice cream at Herne Bay and I had forgotten how slow the section from Faversham to Hollingbourne can be and then almost got taken out by a taxi driver on the Pilgrims way before crossing the Medway.
A good day riding all round and now debating if I can push it to 400.
12 hour 300 = no problem 400!
Yes 400 no problem but you will have to slow down *a little* to make it comfortably!
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Looking ahead to next year...
Can I assume there was no "floor" accommodation at the HQ for this one and that the same would apply for the 2018 event?
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Can I assume there was no "floor" accommodation at the HQ for this one and that the same would apply for the 2018 event?
I rode with a couple of others to the start this year. We timed our ride to get there about an hour before the start time. We arrived before the organiser.
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First 300 ticked off; I was feeling it yesterday and still am today; Slightly more recovery needed than a 200.
I was aiming for sub 12 hour ride time and with faffing at controls for just over an hour got in at just after 1845, so pretty happy with my ride.
I thought I had a flat between Brenzett and Hythe but when I stopped all was good and it turns out it was probably squirming in some diesel or oil that caused some of the front group to crash.
Climbing after Dover castle there was a large group of (I think) Germans riding along on mountain bikes and I was making little progress on them up a climb; when I finally passed them I noticed they all had about 250W electrical assistance :-\
A good double scoop ice cream at Herne Bay and I had forgotten how slow the section from Faversham to Hollingbourne can be and then almost got taken out by a taxi driver on the Pilgrims way before crossing the Medway.
A good day riding all round and now debating if I can push it to 400.
12 hour 300 = no problem 400!
Yes 400 no problem but you will have to slow down *a little* to make it comfortably!
Or whip round the first 300 and have a nice long sleep before the last leg.
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I've signed up for the 2018 edition :) I will probably be finishing after midnight so I don't really want to drive home to London given that I'll be up at 0500 to get there.
Rooms at Premier Inn Singlewell (edge of Gravesend) on the *Saturday* night are currently £47 for a single or a twin. Would anyone be interested in going halves on the twin option?
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If you live in London it's a prime candidate for ECEing to 400. Most of the route is completely empty main roads and dual carriageways thus very quick.
( I did it (https://www.strava.com/activities/953845565) as my first ever 400 last year)
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I know the roads to Kent but not sure I can manage a 400 yet! Also the start is <50km from my house so would require some gratuitous looping...
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Hoping to ride this as my first 300....good route?
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Hoping to ride this as my first 300....good route?
Fab route. The organiser is pretty reliable - I've done rides of his in areas that I thought I knew well and discovered some lovely new roads.
First leg down to Uckfield is pretty lumpy. So is the next leg to Battle. Then there's a flat bit across Romney Marsh to Hythe and along the coast, another lumpy bit round Folkestone and Dover, another flat bit through Sandwich, another nice coastal bit through Herne Bay and Whitstable, then rolling countryside back to the finish.
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O great, sounds good. Will enter, thank you. :thumbsup:
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Dunno if it’s still the case, but last time I rode one of the controls was a seaside fish & chip shop. Doesn’t get much better than that IME.
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Debating what to wear for this. The BBC forecast currently reckons 9-10C at the start/finish and 13-14C in the afternoon.
I'm usually OK in a short-sleeve jersey+base layer and shorts (and I'll bring gloves anyway) for 10C upwards. Expecting to finish at midnight or later so that's a few hours around that temperature. The coastal section will be exposed. Is it better to play it safe and be a bit too warm in the afternoon sun or go for short sleeves and pedal faster if it gets chilly? All advice from hardened Oasters welcomed :)
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One word: layers.
It's likely to be cold at the start and finish, and could be anything else in between. And it's April, so expect rain. This is the kind of ride for which arm and leg warmers were made, and lightweight packable rain jackets.
Forecast is meaningless this far out.
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Its looking ok for the route check Saturday (06:00 start if interested)
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Telstar! Layers. MoK was chilly and only warm when the sun shone. This is more exposed so wot citoyen said. Use stuff that you can quickly remove/add during the ride. Previously I found after 7pm it gets cold!
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Dunno if it’s still the case, but last time I rode one of the controls was a seaside fish & chip shop. Doesn’t get much better than that IME.
Deciding between this and the Cambrian. Seaside fish and chips definitely a pro for oasts&coasts. But the road from llanidloes to machynlyth stands out as one of the best bits of BRM it's a tough choice.
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Planning to stay at the Gravesend Premier Inn on the A2 the night before. Any recommendations for good, hearty pre-ride dinner options, with vegan options (big fat jacket potato will do!)?
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I was riding through Gravesend on Saturday and saw a board advertising vegan food here:
https://goo.gl/maps/Ew1AggtzUeM2
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Planning to stay at the Gravesend Premier Inn on the A2 the night before. Any recommendations for good, hearty pre-ride dinner options, with vegan options (big fat jacket potato will do!)?
I too am Preming it. I am not vegan but GF and the potato option works for me too... in the past I have tried to find somewhere to sit down that isn't too terrifying and failed. For some reason walking around in Lycra in Gravesend on a Friday night is not exactly a comfortable experience. I have done this ride last two years and have ended up going to the supermarket and buying in, which is not much fun but does the trick. TBH this year I was going to eat in London *before* I took train down and just take some snacks and breakfast...
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Wow, alotronic announces his entry on the ACME Grand and immediately starts training with a 300km.
Grey Sheep, JenM and myself are also out on Saturday, so see you and everybody else bright and early for what is looking like a pleasant day out.
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On Premier Inn matters I still have a spare half of a twin room if anyone wants it for the Saturday night i.e. after the ride.
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Wow, alotronic announces his entry on the ACME Grand and immediately starts training with a 300km.
Grey Sheep, JenM and myself are also out on Saturday, so see you and everybody else bright and early for what is looking like a pleasant day out.
Oh that's good news! I think it's going to hurt a bit.... unlike your good selves I have been slacking all winter.... gulp....
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GPS file on the event page is dated 2017. Will there be a new one, or is the route unchanged?
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Just got it through an email. 5am wake up call :(
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Just been looking at some of the Folkestone-Dover coastal bit on Street View - it looks great. Excited for this!
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Just been looking at some of the Folkestone-Dover coastal bit on Street View - it looks great. Excited for this!
It really is. The climb out of Dover overlooking the castle is great!
Tom, is that gravel section still there around Deal?
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The section approaching the seafront at Kingsdown (before Deal) was resurfaced last year, not perfect but the bomb craterss have gone!
The climb past the Valiant Sailor is still there.
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Wow, alotronic announces his entry on the ACME Grand and immediately starts training with a 300km.
Grey Sheep, JenM and myself are also out on Saturday, so see you and everybody else bright and early for what is looking like a pleasant day out.
There may be another addition to the ACME representation depending on what the Dr says on Thursday (not that I'm admitting to this ride) - but more likely, depending on the weather. I'll be very much at the back though even if it's "safe" to ride and just hoping to make it round in time.
(I'll hide my ACME jersey if - when - reduced to walking)
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For some reason walking around in Lycra in Gravesend on a Friday night is not exactly a comfortable experience.
Fair point! Seen the pub next door has a good n cheap, jacket potato option menu, with a £5 off voucher if you register online. Good enough!
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For some reason walking around in Lycra in Gravesend on a Friday night is not exactly a comfortable experience.
Fair point! Seen the pub next door has a good n cheap, jacket potato option menu, with a £5 off voucher if you register online. Good enough!
Now that is smart thinking.... will look it up.
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More like Oasts and Roasts (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/u10k8kx5v#?date=2018-04-20), amirite?
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A little cooler around the coasts according to http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/85b2266d-1454-4771-b951-3ec386c4c42d
Plus some welcome easterly aircon.
Lovely. 8)
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Headwind across the marshes AGAIN!! Right I am hiding behind you lot till Dover!! Then I’ll attack!
Edit: rear light charging, Wahoo charging, routesheet printed. Now to get up at 4.45am.
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And don't forget to recharge yourself as well (with food!)
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Headwind across the marshes AGAIN!! Right I am hiding behind you lot till Dover!! Then I’ll attack!
Edit: rear light charging, Wahoo charging, routesheet printed. Now to get up at 4.45am.
same, except 04:15
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Brilliant day out and i met two past transcontinental riders to boot!! Thanks for answering my inane questions haha!
1) The weather was spot on. Sunshine all day and cool winds by the coasts which made climbing a lot more bearable
2) Ate well so no bonking that has afflicted me lately.
3) Both Rye to Hythe and the "To Hollingbourne" are still both soul destroying! Just goes on forever with little respite!
4) I am cream crackered!
Thanks again TJ!
Morning edit: Pizza slices at the end was ace! I REALLY welcomed that!
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Good day out, thanks Tom and team (and Mrs Telstarbox for giving me a lift to the start). A mix of familiar and new areas of Kent for me.
The staff at the Uckfield control deserve their own three points for banging out everyone's breakfasts so quickly!
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What a lovely ride that was.
(https://s14.postimg.cc/gz04qux8t/DA285142-07_FA-4230-_BBE4-357_ED8_F90_C9_B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/gz04qux8t/)
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Pizza slices at the end was ace! I REALLY welcomed that!
+1, especially appreciated after a long day in the saddle
Lovely event, thank you Tom and your helpers. It made such a difference to have warmth rather than the cold and wet of the last few weeks/months, and a superb route.
The ACME group on the road gradually whittled down on the road, as various members made haste to catch trains, or slowed to a pace more aligned to their early season form (lack of). 3 of us finished slightly slower than planned, thanks largely to late punctures.
A grand day out.
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Well that was excellent.
Loved the route, breakfast control incredibly efficient with large number arriving close together.
The marsh was testing but being in a group made it bearable.
Traffic in Hythe was a pain.
Section along the coasts was lovely including all the hills around Dover.
Ice cream stop was also excellent, if only I had noticed the two tone whippy before ordering, hadn't had one of those for many years.
The section to Hollingbourne, didn't realise it climbed so much, though I was bonking until the last speedy descent in Hollingbourne showed just how much elevation we had gained, would have missed the turn if I hadn't been looking for the info control.
Definitely one to do again.
Thanks to the organiser and all the helpers at the finish.
I'm still not clear on what the difference between a checkpoint and a control is.
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I'm still not clear on what the difference between a checkpoint and a control is.
I got lectured about it by the organiser of Cestyll Cymru last year. Apparently a checkpoint is manned, doesn't typically have a building asociated... typical would be the top of a climb... a control can be manned or not manned and has time limits... or that's what I understood
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A great day out, thanks Tom.
Had 'A great night's sleep guaranteed' at Premier Inn on the A2. Except for the pub car park and then couple of people chatting at my window for an hour. Where do I claim my money back?
There seemed to be a higher than usual ratio of whippet/strong looking people around at the start, so that there was a couple of TCR folk and someone who wants to break LEJOG this year in the mix is not surprising. Or perhaps that's just Kent. More hills, more people on expensive drugs. Come to Essex where the drug of choice is beer and lean muscle mass is optional....
I had entered late and this was my first ride of any length since LEL so I knew there would be trouble ahead, slow trouble, but I really needed to kick-start the season after a long time off looking after knees and avoiding the winter. Completely accidentally there was a good show from ACME so, because I had my ACME shirt on they couldn't reasonably refuse me their good company and I spent most of the day in their midst. Literally, third wheel most of the way.
It's a cracking route and I spent more time than last year just looking around and enjoying the countryside. It's well thought through - varied terrain and sights, challenges but nothing ridiculous. This year the added bonus of sun meant the Folkestone coastal playground diversion was dripping in censorious parents and massive tattoos; great people watching. And the five of us sleek young things cutting through the foot traffic like sharks through a school of seals...
And just a lot of bits of lovely riding, perhaps my favourite being dropping down to Deal on the gravelish path...
At Herne Bay at 7pm I realised I was going to have to get a move on if I was going to catch the last train from Meopham at 11:30. 80ish km in four hours is not a struggle when you are feeling fresh but as this was my first long ride in over 6 months (how did that happen) it was touch and go. I left at 7:10 after saying my goodbyes to the ACME massive, who were arrayed around massive sundaes like sharks looking at a school of seals, and set off into the sunset.
A pair from Hub Velo caught me up just as you go up that lovely quiet long valley, and we chatted for a while before they shot through. I was having my late-innings struggle at that point, hardly a surprise, and was just hoping that it wouldn't last too long..... The service station control threw me - I was sure it wasn't there last year (turns out is really wasn't) and then sidling around the hill and down to the motorway, at which point I really felt better and was able to kick up the final rise back to the Control where I arrived at 11:10.
A quick round of thank-yous and then down to the train with ten minutes to spare. Arriving in London into pouring rain and thunder, I rode the CS2 (my commute) over to Liverpool St to catch the 1pm train back out to Walthamstow. I was the only sober person on the train and spent twenty minutes trying not to look at people having arguments. Ahhhhh, London.
Sore hands and bottom from a lack of conditioning but otherwise not too bad. Thanks for the ACME crew for nursing me through and Tom once again for the route and hospitality. This is a ride well worth getting out of your region for...
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Sore hands and bottom from a lack of conditioning ....
you sure it wasn't from the surfaces on the cycle paths?
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Boasts and Toasts
The organisers have something to boast about and I toast them.
Excellent event.
The sunshine was brilliant, although it meant there was a lot of pale white, flabby, tattooed flesh exposed in the coastal areas. But for all that, I think I was more astounded by the fake tanned girl in Folkestone whose legs were so 'Tango orange' she wouldn't need flourescent safety overalls if working on an industrial site!
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There seemed to be a higher than usual ratio of whippet/strong looking people around at the start, so that there was a couple of TCR folk and someone who wants to break LEJOG this year in the mix is not surprising. Or perhaps that's just Kent. More hills, more people on expensive drugs. Come to Essex where the drug of choice is beer and lean muscle mass is optional....
;D last time I had a skinfold test the results told me I was obese.
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I did like to be beside the seaside.
Great to see the sun again and in good company.
A few photos (https://flic.kr/s/aHsmiccits)
A big thank you to the orgs, controllers & helpers ...and the pizza delivery guy ;)
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Would just like to add my thanks to Tom the organiser and his team. Fantastic route and day. The route must have required a lot of work to link it all together. It may well have been one of my best days ever on a bike. This was aided by great company on the way round and riding with a certain Mr Kirkland for the last part. Really did enjoy Pilgrims Way in the dark on a lovely night!!
Thanks again.
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First time I've ever done this ride and will definitely be back. As Dominic says, it was one of the best days out on a bike I've ever had. Stunning scenery and lots of places I've never seen before. I'm already planning a weekend to go back and visit some of the places we passed like Dover Castle and more of the Viking coastal path.
Thanks Tom and all involved for a fantastic route and all your organisation.
See you next year.
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And just a lot of bits of lovely riding, perhaps my favourite being dropping down to Deal on the gravelish path...
That was lots of fun, and then shortly after Sandwich that industrial bit with the big pipelines and the solar farm was scenic in its own way.
Out of interest where is the AAA qualifying section? Guessing it would include the Toys Hill and Ashdown Forest climbs?
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Thanks from me too to Tom and all the helpers. Hot food is always a winner at the end -as is a very cheerful and welcoming group on the return. Some marked contrasts and a lot of scenery that was new to me. The gentle but oh so long climb up to Hollingbourne was a highlight on a beautiful evening in the soft light . Thanks also the group I rode with , my clubmates Sloth and Parky but also , Stuart, Ian, Colin , John , Magnus and to anyone I missed out -apologies. A really good group to ride with and chat to at the stops.
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Forgot to mention the poor shopkeeper at the Deal Premier control who was starting to run out of receipt paper!
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I did like to be beside the seaside.
Great to see the sun again and in good company.
A few photos (https://flic.kr/s/aHsmiccits)
A big thank you to the orgs, controllers & helpers ...and the pizza delivery guy ;)
Thank you so much for posting your photos. I'm too slow and knackered to take any myself and have really enjoyed looking at these. ;D
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Forgot to mention the poor shopkeeper at the Deal Premier control who was starting to run out of receipt paper!
Maybe a quick phone call next year to let them know a horde of cyclists will be descending mid afternoon?
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Hey guys this event already open for next year! Get busy entering before it closes. I had it down for 1st November but it seemed to have opened earlier now. See you there!
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Not long until the 2019 edition. Really looking forward to this ride as always. Looking at the long term weather forecast we should be in for a great day.
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It was fine in short sleeves last year :)
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It was fine in short sleeves last year :)
Suncream needed last year. But short sleeves not ok at 6am or 9pm. But definitely ok for the middle 200
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Got burnt last year! This year I have to drop out I think. Work shift could rear it’s ugly head :(.