@mashton made me do it. Ashford International to Dungeness 16/06/18 disconnect, tune out, roll in back to analogue

Good spot, thats on Sunday the 17th.

We ride on the Saturday the 16th.

if things look bad, we can change date. still looks ok for 16th, please check your travel and update here if anyone spots anything.

Thoroughly enjoyed the company of the fellas on the South Downs Way trip that @platypus organised a few weeks back, so I will try to attend this as well please.

I may have to leave the party early as I need to ride home to Broadstairs but it will be nice to at least meet up and ride down to the marsh.

Bit of a ride from the marsh to Broadstairs :0

You are most welcome to tag along for as long or as far as you want before you peel off and head North (or north east'ish)
All i ask is a shout out before departing the group so we know you have headed away.

:)

Aye, I won’t just bugger off ;)

1) 853Superfly
2) Mashton (coz he made me do it)
3) Backstop
4) Midi +1 on tandem
5) Tonyme
6) Skydancer
7) Cgg
8) ian(conker) will not be attending
9) Cagimaha
10) moorhen
11) bass_n_chips
12) Soapbear30
13) jaitch +1

Finally decided to htfu and commit to this.

What are the chances of being back at Ashford International for the 16:16 high speed train back to London St Pancras?

If I am not on that train I will need to sort out childcare...

What are the chances of a large group on miss-matched bikes of varying ability and fitness not having any breakdowns or dramas.

I can't say mashton, too many variables.
I did the ride solo at a fairly sedate pace and stopped, about 4 hours, Factor in the light house and chips, and dramas...... i was expecting to finish at Ashford International around 5pm maybe earlier, which if we start at 10.30 is 6 1/2 hours for what could be a straight 3 hour ride non stop.
I can't say yes we will be back at 16.16, we might if the group has a natural fast pace, and no mechanical issues or flats.

weather is looking like 18 oc slightly overcast so not too hot, if not super sunny the Lighthouse and snack bar at Dungeness should be quieter, was aiming to stop at Dungeness for about an hour for people to explore,hit up the snack bar, then maybe a swift half at the Bell Inn at Ivychurch.
Kinda going to make it up as we go.

Trains are booked, I'll be on the 0855 from Victoria in case anyone is getting the same train and wants to share stories of whip skids, reflective pizza slices and puking on c*cks.

You forgot frozen sausages and hammers :)

What time you due into Ashford @cagimaha ?

if anyones getting in before 10 am shout out and i can come over early and have a frothy coffee and met you at the station costa.

1) 853Superfly
2) Mashton (coz he made me do it)
3) Backstop
4) Midi +1 on tandem
5) Tonyme
6) Skydancer
7) Cgg
8) wheeledwidewebb (Long distance ride in)
9) Cagimaha
10) moorhen
11) bass_n_chips
12) Soapbear30
13) jaitch +1

So 15 at the moment (13 with two plus 1's)

I knew there was something I was forgetting!

ETA 1023 at Ashford so may have to be a pre-ride espresso.

I was aiming to arrive around 10.00 so i can relax with a mild coffee :)

Costa is in main ticket hall, as you exit from the platform tunnel.

Earlier and later trains seemed to be three or four times the price or I'd have been a bit earlier too. Either way, see you at Costa!

Stuffs arrived from SJS.
However I forgot to add new brake cables to order and I need them as cable nipple is different to what I am using.

Balls.
Not jazzing Beik up for Saturday now, it will wait until after the weekend.

How does one carry 1/2 bottle of Martell ? is there a "Rule" on this ?

Going to bore the arse off you lot just past Newchurch with a flash history lesson at Arthur Clarkes fake grave (will mention Ze War ) and a little drink.

Should get 15 shots out of that 1/2 bottle :) unless I drink it at costas.

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You only need 14 shots. I'm a dry alcoholic.

Arthur will have yours mashton.

Can sub an orange hi5 gel for you :)

Off to work now, on lates so back around midnight unless it all goes Holby City on us.

Any questions etc etc, i will get to them in the morning most likely as i don't do smartphones and mobile internetz

I can't make this ride as already have my own mini-epic ride planned for this Saturday.

But wanted to say that this will be a lovely ride. I go regularly to that area including doing a 45 mile pubcrawl on Bromptons last year. @853Superfly has put together a wonderful adventure.

My reason for posting is that I know there might be pubs on this route but you are so close to rolling passed what is probably the best pub in the whole of the land - the Red Lion in Snarsgate. If you have any last minute fettling with the route then well now you know.
Enjoy fellas.
and @mashton you will love it on the lo pro. flat as round there. and will mean you can power down for the race to the train if you are not seeking to further your bad dad credentials

as per ASO tour regulations,,, no glass bottles,,,,lol,,,, I mean this is a serious ride innit?

See how this goes on saturday, could always plot a more social pubbie ride late summer.

Been past the Red lion loads but never been in.
The Kings Head in Shadoxhurst is good food...... worth going in just for a creme brule.

@tonyme best drink it at Costas then :) then fall asleep, you will all be allright with a paper map and no guide, extra adventures :)

Saturday, saturday, saturday, saturday's allright
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/u109tudb4#?date=2018-06-15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmF6vmUVSsc

:)

Right, all prepped.
Got a stack of shady analogue maps.

weather is looking cloudy start in Ashford then sunny down on the marshes, not too hot, maybe 20c deciding on water bottles, going to have a 750ml on Beik and just buy a 2lt bottle after the sound mirrors so can top up and splash some around (top off others) can get water at the lighthouse or shop in Lydd, aiming for a stop at the bell Inn Ivychurch for a swift half or coffee, can top up there, nothing from there until we hit Ashford.

Got 2x700c tubes, multi tool with chain splitter, tyre lever, patches, 15mm spanner as i have track wheels/nuts, some cable ties. Mini pump set for presta valves.
Can swap spanner and bring a track spanner with lock ring tool if anyones riding fixed.
Will bring 2xcheapo cable locks...... not in london so fairly safe out here :) if your bringing a big d-lock because your coming from london that can be left locked up at the station, we should be able to keep a constant watch on bikes.

:)

off to work shortly will check in again around midnight and early morning.
Don't panic if you leave a question, i can't answer until midnight :)

What a shift, went to East Grinstead, then rescued some around Pembry and actually ended up down on the marsh at 10pm with my last run.

Bats out playing everywhere.
Millions of fluffy sheeps grazing happily.
We thought we had a fox in front of us, turned out to be a Hare trotting down the road, never seen one on the Marsh, fecking ginormus thing :)

Stoked. Me and my friend will be rolling in just before 10 I think.