2011-10-01 - London to St Margarets

Er, I was winding Dan up! I'm looking forward to going somewhere I've never been, bicycles over the white cliffs of Dover and the beach. I'm rather hoping it might be warm enough for a dip :)

I'm surprised more people aren't up for this ride, given the route, the weather and the fact it goes to the seaside!

Time to fess up, I'm feeling a bit tired from my Cambridge run last night. I'm slightly apprehensive about tomorrow but also know it'll be fine. Its going to be roasting! Remember sun cream people!

Must take my 50mm rims off an fit something lighter too.

Just get an early night. I did 70 lengths at the pool then some manic cycling last night, I'm officially on a rest day today.

Bring plenty of water too.

Right gentlefolk! I've replotted Skive's route into RIdewithGPS because I trust the GPX output more than other map sites. This is just personal preference.

The route is pretty straight forward although please note that my version has a weird extra few miles at the Medway Bridge crossing as RidewithGPS does not think it is possible to cross the M2 bridge on bike. I'm assured that this is indeed possible so we'll just have to wing it when we get there tomorrow. The Bimingham to Berlin guys said it was obvious so its all good.

Anyway, here is the route I'll be riding to tomorrow.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/742911

don't trust my route or gpx?

hahaha

when you get to the medway it is fairly obvious which bit bikes are allowed on.
there are signposts to the cycle path.

Nice one, cheers Skive.

Its not that its your route, its that bikeroutetoaster seemed to do some pretty strange things on my old Garmin. Your Brighton route for example...turn by turn always stopped working as we left London and the route seemed to be superimposed approximately 250m to the West of the correct roads until we hit Slugwash Lane where it corrected itself again.

I'm also an anally obsessive weirdo who likes to have all of his rides safely stored in the same site :)

It'll be a prettier view on this ride. I'm talking about the view from the top of Ditchling, obvs.

!!

Sedate roll to the seaside with a bunch of hot girls on bike leaving at 9.30am?

you are not making it easier! should i pick the stern call of duty - a determined ride with clenched teeth and glory waiting at the end - or surrender to the charms of girls on bikes.

Our ride isn't that much different to the Brighton ride in terms of challenge. Its only a bit further and a bit hillier.

Anyway, you run the risk of getting girls disease if you hang out with that lot.

apologies if i missed it in the thread - where exactly is the meeting point @ elephant and castle? that roundabout is pretty big.

"Departure will be 8am from the junction of Sandgate Street and the Old Kent Road. Sandgate street is a quiet road with a good bit of pavement so we should not get in the way of anybody. PM me if you can't find it on the map."

I might be in for this depending on how tonight goes. It seems like a better idea today than it did yesterday, for some reason.

"Departure will be 8am from the junction of Sandgate Street and the Old Kent Road. Sandgate street is a quiet road with a good bit of pavement so we should not get in the way of anybody. PM me if you can't find it on the map."

ah! http://www.lfgss.com/post2430783-62.html indeed - thank you. i was looking for it on the front page.

Sorry guys, I can't modify Skive's posts hence inaccurate info at the beginning.

Oli it would be great to have you along...come with!

amended op.

Thanks mate

I'm presuming we are still stopping at a pub for lunch?

If not I will need to go and buy more food.

That is definitely my plan. Both Thurnham and Broad Street are close to half way and both appear to have pubs. We could always pick up provisions in Lee Green Sainsburys on the way out of London too should anybody need anything.

I quite like the look of that one on the Pilgrim's Way Skive posted upthread. Personally I like to do at least half, ideally more, before stopping, but quality of pub is also a factor...

Both of the towns I posted are on Pilgrim's way...the pub that SKive suggested is a few miles down the road. Lets aim for "The Dirty Habit" at 46 miles then.

Enjoy your ride fellas! Sorry for being naughty and trying to poach people. Terrible form.

Let's all go and play out on our bikes together next time!

I don't like girls because they don't like football and they whisper. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Have a great ride ladies...have a pint for us at the top of turners...

I HEART the feetball! And I'm a bit deaf in both ears so have a tendency to be a bit loud rather than whisper. And besides, these are girls on bikes which makes us more awesome than the average ; )

fox im in highbury, still thinking of going

Hmm, I'm not sure I'd describe that elevation profile as "rolling" but, what the heck, I'll take that vacant number 5 slot if no one minds...

1. Daniel
   
2. Amygdala
   
3. Si
   
4. Daniel #2
   
5. Rod Munch
   
6. Branwen
   
7. Fix
   
8. Rossi75
   
9. Yoshka
   
10. Dropout
    
    

I'll also Garminate the route but haz no gears so might be at the back!

Will be great to have you along Mr Munch!

This ride is going at fixed pace despite some of us being on gears (me included)