2009-08-09 Sun - Ride to St Margarets

oh oh I'll leave from the foundry, closer to clerkenwell. on Great Eastern near Old street? am I thinking of the correct place?

change of plan! I'll meet you guys at the foundry too, 8.20 am.

Yep, Old St. corner with Great Eastern St. 8.20 ready to go.

the biggest climb is 97km into the ride. interesting!

jimbilly and greasy I let you two off... just this once.

You can blame the River Stour for that.

While I think about it, if anyone's suffering at that point, it is the perfect bail out spot. Wye rail station is right there, you can get trains to Ashford, then onwards to London. After Wye there's no stations anywhere near the route until Shepherdswell, by which point you might as well carry on as it's only about 2-3 miles to Dover.

There's also one at Hollingbourne which is at exactly half distance.

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. VeeVee by the sea
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. jimbilly
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    

Also, if the Canterbury and Camber Sands runs are anything to go by, being lights as by the time you get back to London it will be dark.

I did half of this ride on Tuesday night and you've picked us a good route, John Ma3k. lovely views and countryside.- really looking forward to doing it with you lot on Sunday.

re: hills: there's plenty o' rise and fall, so quite a lot like the Rye ride, Tika.

re: brakeless: I had two scary moments on the narrow lanes when oncoming cars appeared out of nowhere and I had to brush the hedge. First time was also on a sharp downhill into a bend. Am not a brakelss rider myself but give it some thought kidz- you're gonna have to be sharp: Pilgrimz Way is only one car wide.

Had some great cyclist-camaraderie. Firstly from a roadie who pitched-up and led me the wrong way down the slip road -which was the right way(!) where the Pilgrims Way fizzles out at the A229.

Secondly I came across a carbon, geared rider and his mate who turns out to be forumger Tornadotony. The train information was helpful thanks Tony but, the conversation must have thrown me from my 70 gear-inch pace and for that reason (alone!) I had to walk up Hollingbourne Hill.

So I'll be ring fixed, with a brake which doesn't tire (front ), Network railcard,lights for London, tons of food and drink, a giddy heart, bucket and spade and 2 pairs of flipflops.

i'll be ridding fixed brakeless with flip flops and flats...keep it true!

Good work John. you use a map or Garmin? is the route simplish to follow? only Hills split the group so we could be in danger of dropping people off and losing them.

Where did you finish the route, John? It looks very up and down for the last 20 miles or so.

I've got my brother's Garmin for Sunday, Greasy, and I also think MA3K has managed to get his hands on one too.

Good one Greasy- that's what my second pair of flip flops have cleats!
I did approx half the route, Sam, to West Street, past Hollingbourne. took 3-mile detour to Charing for the train home.
Used a crib sheet and the route to halfway was simplish but there are certain critical turns the front group shouldn't pass before letting the trailers catch up. Couple of nice looking pubs directly en route. No shops after Sidcup (maybe a Co-op at Cuxton? just under a quarter of the way)
Garmin will be a boon- I just don't know how to make mine work.I-phone for ~~mobile porn ~~Google Maps would also be good.

My gps turned out duff so I have to send it back :(

I will knock up and print out some crib sheets tonight though.

I tried to make the route with as many long straight bits as possible, don't know the country well..

John, my crib is on a tatty bit of card, but I'll bring it along, with copies if I can. Will bring the Garmin too, if only to track the route/ mileage.

You've picked a really scenic lanes. Really looking forward. White cliffs...

There is indeed a Co-op in Cuxton, on the left just before you reach the main road. Good shout, John.

whats the nearest train station, is it Martin Mill

Or coast road down to Dover Priory?

Dover Priory is the one to use, if you go to Martin Mill you'll end up having to change in Dover anyway.

I think I will miss this one now. grrrrr

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. VeeVee by the sea
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. jimbilly
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    

i'm out, due to the Jerk Chicken cook off.... I'm sure you will all have a good day though, if MA3K's Cambersands ride last year is anything to go by.

I think I will miss this one now. grrrrr

Shame guys, I was hoping we could re-create last year's sunset shindig as at Camber Sands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24925852@N07/3797739228/in/set-72157614470034981/

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. VeeVee by the sea
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. jimbilly
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    
27. ehren_fried_chicken
    
    

I haz GPS fone!

Shame guys, I was hoping we could re-create last year's sunset shindig as at Camber Sands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24925852@N07/3797739228/in/set-72157614470034981/
]

insert big fuckoff sad face here =

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. VeeVee by the sea
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. jimbilly
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    
27. ehren_fried_chicken
    
28. wools
    

I'm out :(

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. 
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. jimbilly
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    
27. ehren_fried_chicken
    
28. wools
    

Out to I'm afraid.

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. 
    
17. clintsurfer
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. 
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    
27. ehren_fried_chicken
    
28. wools
    

was hoping to do this but bad back is nearly fixed and don't want to risk this distance yet. hope you all have a great ride. fingers crossed for the weather.

1. MA3K
   
2. stripe
   
3. tika
   
4. Sammy Dodger
   
5. diapo
   
6. habbi
   
7. marcom
   
8. Dropout-on-Sea
   
9. STE5
   
10. shoottheseabreeze
    
11. Evd
    
12. pajamas
    
13. Johan
    
14. Sam
    
15. horatio
    
16. 
    
17. 
    
18. joesmooth
    19 matt_ha
    
19. 
    
20. d14vd_h
    
21. JOHNNY FITZ
    
22. atanz
    
23. dj
    
24. Iwelumo
    
25. Hovis (still not 100%)
    
26. Radius (we shall see...)
    
27. ehren_fried_chicken
    
28. wools