Audax rides

He just climbs up and down the same thing though, which isn't the same as AAA where you can't repeat climbs. I have no interest in everesting type stuff where you just do the same climb over and over.

A few years ago I remember someone (not the eventual trophy recipient) doing a DIYxGPS 200 ride (for AAA points) and repeating certain hills several times to boost the climbing figure.

The route they had specified (with no repeats) was at least 200km, but the AAA points were determined from the resulting GPX file (and cross-checked against a proper DEM, it wouldn't just take the GPX file elevations as gospel) so it was possible to repeat various hills as part of your route and get more climbing from this.

The discussion of this (over at yacf) caused the usual stir as some saw it as perfectly fine but many saw it as (ab)using a loophole. Not sure if they've tightened this up now.

Many years ago I'd worked out it would be possible to get the climbing record without much audacity (in relative terms) by just riding a series of hilly DIY 50km rides each week. This was back when the record t was ~150 AAA points and so you could aim to get 3 AAA per week which could be done in as "little" as 4 x 50km rides with 750m climbing in each (for 0.75AAA each), which is possible in places like the Surrey Hills. The 50km rides also have the benefit of having really relaxed speed limits, so you can have a leisurely 5h to do them.

That's a lot easier than slogging around something like the BCM/Pendle/etc (especially on fixed).

Only one point, Camber is a traffic choked one road hellhole full off angry drivers if it's a sunny weekend, so sense check what time you're due to ride through.

me and @PhilDAS

@PhilDAS and I*

Lots of lovely bits but I don't fancy the bit from Strood to Gravesend, and probably on from there.

I'd be inclined to either:

1. turn right from Strood to Wainscott / Chattenden / Upnor and approach gravesned via the back roads (I used to live round there when I was a kid and cycled round all those roads way back when, but it's a lot busier now...)
   
2. turn left before the Medway towns and avoid them altogether, crossing the Medway on the Motorway bridge cycle path and going on the lanes via Cobham / Sole Street, etc.
   
   

1 will add distance, 2 might reduce it.

We’d probably be there at 9ish Sunday morning I’d guess…should be ok?

Thanks I’ll check this against our route to Isle of Grain and have think.

I did a DIY via the Medway bit back to South London and it was shit, I'd come inland there too if possible.

Yeah you'll probably miss the worst of it, when the day trippers from London show up an hour or two later.

I've got a few ideas to make this a lot more enjoyable, I'll pm you with a couple route ideas. Is there a distance and/or target elevation you need it to meet?

This is what I would do. All fine until Rye but then I'd cut out Dungeness / Lydd unless you were dead keen to see it - the A259 from before Romney to Hythe is absolute dogshit. Then you could head north as you planned but then at Sandwich I route inland. Ramsgate / Margate / Birchington is either snarled busy roads with terrible driving or coast line full of walkers. So I wind you past a Grade II listed windmill and some nice villages and close to Reculver if you still wanna see it. Then I cut out the coast path from Herne Bay to Whitstable who's expansion gaps are like a *** section of P-R. After Faversham take the classic Pilgrims way back west and Choose Your Own Adventure back into London (I went Brasted and then A21).

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39202166

I might ask you to have a look at my TCR route!

I’d avoid Brasted at the moment. I rode up it just over a week ago and the surface is appalling. It’s hard to describe but it’s really uneven and was bad enough coming up it. Going down it would be scary until it’s sorted (and there are repair-type paint markings on it so assume it’ll be repaired soon).

Sorry been on a call this morning. Thanks I’ll have a look and come back with any questions.
Not sure I fancy Brasted with ~300 in the legs.

I mean there are no fun options up the ridge so I just chose one. Now changed it to Polhill > A21. Big ring smashfest PR all the way to Catford!!1! Anyway better than the A2 / A207 directly after the Cote d'Medway, no thanks

Polhill or Clarkes are the easier options.

That time we did 85 miles with a mix of road and off road in February, with you on singlespeed, and we chose Brasted. Why?!

old polhill

Legs are for walking too

Ruined a perfectly good pair of socks last time I did that!

The bit through Faversham to Hollingborne looks to be the standard London Whitstable route, can much harm be had by varying which roads through that bit?
I'm thinking tiles haha

The lanes all around there are not too bad, picturesque and not nearly as flinty as Downs south of Canterbury and towards Dover so feel free to pick the lanes of your choice and get those tiles. Mind tho it will add some elevation and they can be quite narrow with some poor surfaces so a bit slower going but generally nice. Eastling > Otterden > Warren street is the classy way to the top of the Downs imo

@andyp Great question that I don't have the answer for. Might be on the route we were attempting, that Epic Eschappee Round 3 or whatever? The only two times I've tried Brasted I've walked which is pretty annoying considering what I've winched myself up since

Anyone doing the Brixton CC High Weald 200?

I plan to, I've somehow fucked my achilles but hopeful that'll clear up in time.

Damn, it's closed already?
I would have been up for that

@ElGonzo fingers crossed

@PhilDAS yes, it was very popular