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Is this a challenge on strava ? I can’t find it
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https://restrap.com/blogs/news/the-restrap-summer-solstice-century-challenge?mc_cid=ba3279b6f2&mc_eid=4b729c69a7
Here ya go!
It’s an event on strava -
Yep I got mine this morning, two actually as I must have entered twice without realising. Looks to be a generic google docs link where you enter name, address, email address and a public link to your ride so I'd imagine I could just give you the link if you don't get an email through the day as it doesn't connect to the email address you signed up with from what I can see. They might compare the sign up email addresses with the ones used on the form but imagine that would be too much work for them to care really?
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On the topic of the solstice anyone want to post a ride report here!?
I’ll go first.
Followed a route I found on Komoot leaving London and heading via box hill area down to the downs link. Really lovely start to the ride not too many main roads, the off road sections where in surprisingly good condition as well even with the rain we have had for the last few days. Nettles and thorns were out in full force mind you, luckily I had a long sleeve shirt and trousers on or I would have been buggered.
Now the first 50 miles being the route I got off of Komoot it had been previously rode and I had no issues here. Now comes the part where some issues arrived. The route Komoot gave me round Horsham and Crawley where not as bad as I thought they would be though the latter city wasn’t that scenic to say the least.
I then came to what was my first real struggle, being around the 8 hour mark of riding at this point I was definitely not in the strongest mindset. This is where the not so lovely barely cared for bridleway down the side of the m23 really got me down and to add to that a puncture! Okay so puncture repaired but as I went on knowing that there really wasn’t a way around it at this point the mud seemed to get thicker and more clay ridden as I went on. Okay so pushing the bike it is and a mile or so later back on the open road I was!
Onto the next field that was also even more so clay ridden so another pushing job (Thanks 2.1 gravelkings and my stupidly minimal clearance)
The ride was at this point taking its toll on me my sweets that were the glue keeping me together were running low. A few more roads later and I was onto Caterham lovely area I’m sure but yet again my Komoot route that seemed all to perfect on my computer let me down yet again! A wrong turn into a industrial area that on enetering I hadn’t twigged had a coded gate that was open. A mile or so up what was the steepest gradient of the ride and a dead end! My Garmin was telling me I could continue on but the steel spiked fence was saying otherwise. Back down the hill I go only to find the now 8 foot gate shut and only a coded panel to open it. Luckily after wondering if this would be my final demise a very confused looking worker turned up (not due to me they were just luckily heading back to their lockup) and without hesitation I bolted through the gate!
At this point I was really feeling down and wanted more of those lovely bridleways I had 30 miles prior. I headed on only to get even more lost further up in what was essentially a huge valley I had to go down into and up over the other side. Oh joy and when I got here a barbed wire fence, bike was quickly thrown over and on I headed down into the horse farm slightly further on. At this point I could see the road I was trying to reach earlier on in the industrial area.
At this point I was seriously considering switching out the route for my Garmin to take me straight home, I preserved on for a little longer and took some lovely bridleway just off of Woldingham golf club, at this point what was originally supposed to be a solstice ride due to the longer sunlight had faded away and sunlight was no more. It was time to switch my route out for the most direct road only route home and finally I arrived back, 14 hours after I originally set off and 102 miles under my belt.
Can’t say I’ll be attempting at again anytime soon but it was an adventure for sure!
(Sorry if this is a big of a slog to read)
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I based my ride around the Willesden CC '10 Thames Bridges' 100km Audax. This with the cycle to the start and back from South East London added up to a nice 201km for the route I chose across the city. The ride out wasn't too bad, through Richmond, Twickenham and onto Staines where I joined onto the audax route. It was a nice ride from there, a few hills to contend with for about 50km but really nothing to write home about. Then once I was around to about Ascot picked up one of the standard routes back through to London next to the reservoirs (or whatever they are) north of the Thames into Kingston, up through half of Richmond park and then back across the city on a more direct route than I'd left on through Wandsworth, Clapham and Camberwell.
I did have potential road closure worries at a couple of points on the ride but they were always passable by squeezing between fences or walking on the grass verge for a few metres to get past anything. Got quite lucky with the weather given how it had been through the week, though there was some monster puddles to contend with. The one below was about 120km in and over my feet when peddling so ended up with pretty soggy shoes for the rest of the ride after that. Can imagine any muddy sections on your ride would have been a nightmare after experiencing those puddles.
In the end I crossed the Thames 14 times I think with only Richmond and Kingston bridges being crossings within London.
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I went to Eastbourne with a buddy. New bike, not really dialled in (schoolboy error, saddle was right wonky and I got a bit sore til I fixed it). Mostly no big roads, a lovely route down through Ide Hill & Bough Beeches, we were pretty slow, got to Groomborough about 1. Had a pasty from the nice bakery, with flask of tea , and watched a steam train. Terrain was fairly bumpy until a lovely off-road section Heathfield - Hailsham, a bit of one of the Beeching paths. Then a slight east detour to take in Pevensey Levels, you can see the Greenwich Observatory by Hurstmonceaux (or at least, where they decamped during the smoggy years). That part of the route was particularly beautiful, and flat. Sun tried to visit for a moment. Into the east side of Eastbourne, the very moment I laid eyes on the sea, felt a drop or two of rain, the first all day. Was planning to swim in me pants but it was actually fairly chilly and I didn't fancy going commando afterwards, there was drinking to be commenced. Half-decent beers at the end at a scummy but pretty welcoming boozer right in town.
Bars are way too low on the bike. Existing shoulder problem became a bit horrible about the 50mile mark. Think we did about 75miles.
Turned up at buddy's house after train home to find the house full of slightly merry Laydeez having a girls dinner party. (My other half only realised I was on a new bike at that moment, she was like 'uuuh where the fuck did that new one come from?!'). Wicked day.
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That sounds amazing, would love to try that route one day, Hurstmonceaux observatory is always lovely to see!
I had similar worries about my bike and having not spent much time dialling in the fit, but was surprised to find that after all the riding I had no issues. Good to hear you were still able to finish the ride.
ric_a5
HousecatHST
Kurai
Skülly
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About
Restrap summer solstice century
Posted by
@Qebrus
Anyone else here doing this even this weekend/post your routes here.
Anything for another patch and I’m in.
Wether is looking nice for Saturday assuming the rains holds off in the morning.
Here’s what I have planned at the minute - https://microcosm.app/out/xARvi