Kentish Hills

^ I'm out in Essex tomorrow but I'd be up for them 50miles next time you're thinking of heading out that way?

I'd be happy to organise a Kent ride but be aware that I am:
a. shit at organising
b. shit at navigating
c. generally shit

When?

gets diary out

http://www.lfgss.com/thread57032.html

find cafe here..

Anyway, this isn't my thread. What I should be saying is: "Nick, buddy, ol' pal...how about you organise a route, set a date and let me try to follow you?" Wink. Nudge.

Probably will be there.

change of plan.. heading south tomorrow to CP cafe st germain for 8.00 depart at 8.30am north downs loop approx 50miles if anyone is interested.. return to london around 1.00pm.. look for an old geezer in a black fireflies jacket

al

PS you will need gears.. lots of them

Sam- its wierd, all the hills youve named are my local haunts. i mostly ride along the downs, i even went up hunton today. what other hills do you ride round ere?

I usually head south from Leybourne into Yalding, then go from there. Only occasionally do I head north east, although I did today (thanks to this thread).

http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm

13 march Kent invicta grimpeur- 1700m climbing in 100k.
this one is worth checking out if you don't know it- 2x 50k circuits of some killer climbs round sevenoaks area! nice orange squash, tea n biscuits in village hall too

yeah i tend to ride to go west from maidstone. ive ridden all the hills youve mentioned. i especially like hollingbourne and birling hill. the ones leading off the pilgrims way are regulars for me as they are close to home.

Gibbs hill: wierd arch thing:: http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206832

Fen pond Rd: i like this one for the view:http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206835

gorse hill: quite a busy road but the view is good as you get higher. i normally use this road to test my progress http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206837

for some reason bike route toaster seems to give different elevation statistics every time i load the map :s

VimFuego- sounds well up my street. do i need to be a member of a club or some jive to do this?

Never been up Gibbs Hill. Have you tried Bow Hill on the other side of the river? That's hard work. Fen Pond Road is more commonly known as Exedown. You should ride Gorse Hill all the way to the top of Wrotham Hill, although traffic passing at 50-60mph is a bit odd.

If you want a really unpleasant ride, try Benny Hill, Harry Hill, Graham Hill, and Damon Hill. Grange Hill goes on for ages, but Sue Hill is only temporary.

@ melton,
no, audax open to anyone, this one allowed entry on the day when I did couple of years ago and still does i think- just turn up and ride, (not signposted), follow the written directions. about 100 or more riders when I did it..

Thanks for all the ideas Sam. Join the dots, discover the North Downs.

Figured I'd mention Row Dow. It looked pretty tough; though I encountered it going down, rather than up.

If you want a really unpleasant ride, try Benny Hill, Harry Hill, Graham Hill, and Damon Hill. Grange Hill goes on for ages, but Sue Hill is only temporary.

You forgot William Hill? S'always a bit of a gamble, that one.

I saw you post about the A229. Stumbled across your route on Bikemap yesterday, was going to warn you about it, but didn't realise that you would have already ridden it.

Did you cross the A249 over the footbridge? I hope so!

^Yes, that crossing I did manage more successfully. Bikemap wouldn't help me over the road, 'tis all.

All in all my route was a bit of a pigs ear. I really enjoyed piecing together familiar pieces of terrain into the bigger jigsaw, and a decent climb is a decent climb, but I had quite a few stops and starts that prevented the ride from being particularly fluid.

So a good exploratory ride, but probably not one I'd repeat.

thinking about doing the Kent Invicta Grimpeur 100, but i havnt really had time to look at the route. can i get away with just following everyone else?