London to St Margarets Bay

A great route to the coast which in the past seems to get run in the autumn, so I figured I'd keep with tradition. Muchos thanks to @|³|MA3K and @skive and @stonehedge for previous editions and route. 2011 edition here: http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/194019/?offset=150. Superb lanes through the Kent Downs to Dover and then into the pub in St Margaret's Bay. If it's clear you can easily see France (and will definitely get French reception on your mobile) . It has very generously been called rolling, but maybe more sensibly called 'pretty hilly.' Nonetheless it's perfectly doable fixed/SS. I'd prefer to have a group of FGSS but willing to consider gears if the group leans that way. It's about 90 miles plus the ride back to Dover.

Departure will be 8am from the junction of Sandgate Street and the Old Kent Road. Sandgate street is a quiet road with a good bit of pavement so we won't be in anyone's way.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/776328?privacy_code=W0xCPwUwGJZS10fi
?privacy_code=W0xCPwUwGJZS10fi

Self-sufficiency
Bring tools, spare tubes, appropriate clothes, plenty of food and water, lights, batteries, etc. Familiarise yourself with the route, swap numbers before departing, and charge your phone. Eat/drink little and often.

Check your bike
Give it a look over before the ride – tighten, inflate, oil, check tyres for glass/flint/gatorskins.

Bring lights
Just in case innit.

Road etiquette
Try to remain vigilant on the country lanes, especially when navigating blind corners. Let others know when you are slowing or coming past, and for the benefit of those behind you, call out or point at hazards such as potholes and cars. If you have a puncture, mechanical or drop off the back, call out to those in front to wait, and unless they hate you, they’ll pass the message forward. Don't go off the front as it splits the group and, let's be honest, it's pretty fucking annoying.

I'd do a list but this flashy website precludes the necessity.

Possible in for this, looks fun! (Pending on my uni work, as I go back on the 15th so I'll need to see how much work/shit I'm in before the start of the academic year)

List

1. YAL
   
2. HoKe
   

no need for a list @HoKe, this is an event!

Sorry! =(

Such an old man these days (not kool with the kids anymore)

It's not nice to make fun of being old when even older people are around :)

This looks awesome! Boo to it being on the one Saturday I have to work for the rest of the year!

So I'm free the whole weekend. Could move it to Sunday if that means more good people.

Don't move it for little old me, wait and see what the consensus is.

subscribed ~ this looks great
slight possibility that work might get in the way but hopefully not

Bring HTFU, you will need it.

Subscribed.

Balls! I'm in NZ. Can't make it.

The warm early autumn weather on Sunday reminded me of when this was last run. The Kent Downs are really great in weather like that.

The 2011 edition of this ride was my favourite forum ride. I'll definitely try to make this year's edition. Might gear down this time though!

News update, definitely up for this ride as university doesn't start till the 22nd, (only crack canyon's can only stop me riding this)

^^ would be great to see you, been a while!

And Ho you can have a 'gears dispensation' as I don't want you to not come just because Canyon can't carbonise a seat cluster properly.

Cool, might recruit some work friends who might be up for this as well.

This ride is HARD, but a lot of fun. In.

Would be good to know the proportion of geared to fixed riders?

If there's a strong geared contingent might affect my choice of bike.

At the moment I'd prefer if the group was FGSS so we can all suffer similarly up the hills, but if it's a bar to you coming at all (like HoKe who's got a busted frame) then come geared. Just don't ride like a douchebag :)

No worries, I've been wanting to try a longer ride fixed. I understand about wanting to keep the group together. Can ride the road bike anytime.

Bump

Track bike is going to the chop shop this week, so will be gears, (promise I won't change gears) #spin2win

count me in, see you all Saturday morning

Glad to have you along.

Oof I'm back from a week in the US and I've put on half a stone. Maybe I'll put the can of Easy Cheese in my water bottle holder to keep the consistency.