Kent, the Slightly Expanded Elephent

33 Mile circumnavigation of Sevenoaks. A lump here a bump there, here a roll there a drag, everywhere an incline. Slightly expanded to avoid Pothole Lane (a detour that adds just over a mile).

Train from Victoria 19:22 arrives Otford 19:58 (Blackfriars option 19:04 arriving 19:46)

Return trains 22:30 23:30 to Victoria or 22:37 to Blackfriars

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13135850

Train out from Victoria:

1) middleofnowhere
2)
3)

Train out from Blackfriars:

1)
2)

Ride out:

1) rod_munch

Ikea

1) rhowe

They resurfaced Pothole Lane last summer.

I went up Star a few weeks back and it was lovely and smooooooth.

There's a train at 1859 from VIC that goes via Bromley South where you can pick up the 1904 from Blackfriars. If you ask at the gateline they'll almost always let you on.

I'm in, need to work out my train tings tho

In.

Might work from home in SE then ride out. Might get the train from Victoria.
I'll decide tomorrow.

In, probably training it from Blackfriars.

I hope I can keep up despite my lack of riding lately.

Train out from Victoria:

1) middleofnowhere
2)
3)

Train out from Blackfriars:

1) mashton babysitter dependent
2)

Ride out:

1) rod_munch

@Rod_Munch what's the ride back like on this one? Is this one of the fun clear runs or is this one of those "utilitarian" routes you choose to #getthosemiles?

It can be good, head up to Shoreham, through Chelsfied, cut across Orpington, up Shire Lane, then home through West Wickham, Beckenham etc.

Excellent advice. I also wonder if the A21 would be clear enough at midnight to be fun as well...

I do the A21 in the daytime, it's never so busy that you feel in danger. YMMV of course.

Otford > Church > Stonehouse lane will take some of the worst bits of A21 then its lovely flat downhill-ish way to Catford! Some bottlenecks but nothing too bad. Camberwell cemetery > Peckham rye. @6pt approved.

A21 is a long-standing midnight smashfest favourite of mine. Only one bit of close-pass lads'n'bants bother, and that must have been five years ago now. Polhill then @amey 's suggestion is my current route though, as I'm sick of the a21 this year (especially that fucking drag past frankie & benny's). Polhill is a bit shit, but I like it *shrug*.

Polhill was better before they gave up the two lanes on the uphill side all the way to the top.

But of all the climbs along the ridge, it's the best suited to my ...physique, so I stick with it. Is super grim being choked for the last bit though, especially with all the marked-up potholes all over the lane.

Ikea

1) rhowe
2) Scrabble

Goupsave on Ikea?

Yeah the functional A21 option is basically a 20mile downhill TT at that time (this is the route out but you get the idea..)..

https://www.strava.com/routes/299708

.. IIRC the last time I experimented with an on-the-fly scenic diversion I ended up trapped in a farming complex and racked up 115miles getting back out!

Thanks @andyp @6pt and @Rod_Munch excellent advice - however Tom you had me 'midnight smashfest'.

Train out from Victoria:

1) middleofnowhere
2) YAL
3)

Train out from Blackfriars:

1) mashton babysitter dependent
2) @cgg probably (fitness depending)

Ride out:

1) rod_munch

Am a little hill-wary after the weekend, but what the hell. Weather should be mid teens, so could be lovely.

Train out from Victoria:

1) middleofnowhere
2) YAL
3) ruserius

Train out from Blackfriars:

1) mashton babysitter dependent
2) @cgg probably (fitness depending)

Ride out:

1) rod_munch

I'll be on gears again. With a badger plough.

Warm rain is still rain, you know.