2009-08-09 Sun - Ride to St Margarets

No one back yet? I demand a report and pics! :D

wait..... wait, we need to reorganize our brain waves

I'm back. I'm home. We did it. We got 130km under our wheels :the most grinding-gradient ridden lanes gravelly tracks I have ever ridden . and I rode them all I tell you*.
Friends, let me tell you we went far, too far: to Dover... and over...the edge.
I'm too scared to sleep, lest the horrors visit me with jolting Nightsweats.

• the word I can't bring myself to say rhymes with 'pills'. The horror can only be addressed by a specialised riding technique keeping both feet clear of the cranks... and on tarmac.
  

Something tells me you lot need to HTFU. 130km and a few hills.

sooorrrtted

Something tells me you lot need to HTFU. 130km and a few hills.

riding in a group should take 4-4.1/2 hours and then a loong afternoon on a sunny beach/pub.
so what happened to change the plan? did you all decide to ride back?

Something tells me you lot need to HTFU. 130km and a few hills.

riding in a group should take 4-4.1/2 hours and then a loong afternoon on a sunny beach/pub.
so what happened to change the plan? did you all decide to ride back?

Wat? STFU.

Was it good fun guys? All made it safe and sound?

we have seen some honest climbs, ha!
it was fun

Something tells me you lot need to HTFU. 130km and a few hills.

why didn't you come then?

Something tells me you lot need to HTFU. 130km and a few hills.

riding in a group should take 4-4.1/2 hours and then a loong afternoon on a sunny beach/pub.
so what happened to change the plan? did you all decide to ride back?

[Chain of expletives removed], it was a social ride that made a point of encompassing all abilities and not leaving anyone behind.

Sure, myself and quite a few of the riders could have shot-off, got to the coast and had more time in the sun, but it wouldn't have been the right thing to do.

So what really is the point of posting just to slam what others have done?

Well done, all!

I tagged along as far as Rochester (to see my family). Weather was good, company was good.
Thanks for having me along.
Note to self; MUST RIDE MORE

[Chain of expletives removed],
So what really is the point of posting just to slam what others have done?

i was just wondering how people got on? just seemed a bit odd that nobody had posted last night, i thought maybe people had got arrested for being drunk and disorderly in charge of an ice cream or somebody got sunstoke and decided to ride to france as they were nearly there or something?

We got back very late.

Great day's ride - thanks to everyone. Really cool that everyone stayed grouped and no boy racers split off. I think Nick's Garmin and gears clearly demonstrated the advantages of modern bicycle engineering technology on some of those hills - it was just relentless towards the end! Top props to Bob Jackson fixed brakeless dude. And now I can say I have visited the Most Expensive Pie In The World pub...

£11.99 ?

Fuck me. That was the hardest ride i've been on yet. Very hilly and very long, but I had a great time.

Well done Gents. Sorry I missed this. Woke up late and as pennance, took on a gruelling hill odyssey myself.

why didn't you come then?

Cos i'd ridden 150 miles and not slept for 41 hours the day before.

EDIT: And MA3K lighten up dude, i was clearly joking.

The perils of using Google Maps to draw straight lines across the countryside

We left London at around 9:30 and with a slight adjustment to the directions courtesy of Dropout we joined up with my route around Footscray avoiding some built up London roads.

We were out along country lanes in short order and took a few pit-stops to enjoy the sweeping views behind us of the South, way back in the distance just poking out from behind the hill the larger buildings of Canary Wharf.

We travelled down towards the Medway and again had great views over the estuary from both sides of the valley.

This ride had so very many hills. The gentle undulations that allow you to pick up speed on the drops to give you momentum to crest the other side, and remorseless grinds that just necessitated putting all your weight and energy into each pedal over and over again.

As we travelled across the valleys there were hair-raising, sketchy gravelly descents in close contact with other riders and the occasional 4x4 and tractors appearing from around the sharp enclosed bends and then a succession of Ditchlingesque gradients that I am not ashamed to admit that after the first three I just hopped off and enjoyed the vistas and tranquillity of the countryside.

We did spend a while waiting to regroup on most of the climbs and a few of our number took the opportunity to leave at Wye but I think anyone who completed the route did pretty well, challenging as it was. A lot of concentration was required in those lanes and a lot of heart to keep forging on(and on) over the hills.

When we got into Dover after a long descent to the sea it was so tempting just to jack it in. Instead, as planned we climbed up past Dover castle which dominates the whole area and rode one more climb to the coast road from which you could see the adjacent cliffs on the French side of the water.

We got home on the last connecting train to London with our fish and chips and a few cans of beer.

It was a long hard slog but the experience and sights were unforgeable.

I did the ride brakeless on 77GI as did a few others. Aside from a stuck gear hanger that we stopped to fix, there were no serious mechanical issues or accidents.

All told a decent day out in the countryside.

£11.99 ?

£14.50 - and no naked waitress...

Nice one.

Pleased everything went well without any serious issues. Sorry for bailing, but I really did feel like shit yesterday. Glad to hear there was a Garmin on the route.

Might ride some of the route later before the rain arrives.

Right,...someone will have to do it.

Yes, we've got back late, tired and happy for having done this beautiful and honest ride.

130km it is much less distance than, for example Dunwich, yeahh..., though consider that quality often wins quantity.
Anyone who has been/ride down that coast knows well the barriers of hills needed to get over in order to reach the sea.

The route was excellent, country roads with panoramic and scenic views. Grateful lack of riding through busy main roads. The last climb from Dover to St Margarets, when riding through the top line of the cliff and sighting France coastline, priceless...Great reward.
Good work Mack, good job.

Weather couldn't been better.

Interesting company, new faces,...special mention to antanz from New York riding in such a hard gear, well done you. Pip concerned about my testing issues with my new built bike, gracias comrade. The new two german guys (sorry too bad with names)...and of course, charming, lovely storyteller Dropout.

A bit long fed stop for lunch/ beer in a pub on the way, but WTHN...it is Sunday, everything goes slower.

No much time left in the beach... and what? It is all about walking the path, my friend.

For those who didn't turn up, but they still allow themselves to post innappropiate comments...

Please have more CLASS.

Thank you.

Bloody painful but great fun. Some dark times, some light times, but I reckon this one'll be remembered for a long time to come.

Great scenery, Kent really is as beautiful as I'd been led to believe. Great pub at the end, shame we couldn't stay for long.

I don't think this is one of them rides that can be judged by looking at a map, it was seriously undulating, I mean literally relentless. However on the bright side, the first stop outside the M25, with nothing but rolling hills and the tip of Canary Wharf poking over the horizon was testament to the power of two wheels to get you away from it all (even if we need to HTFU and do it in 4 hours next time).

Great day's ride - thanks to everyone. Really cool that everyone stayed grouped and no boy racers split off. I think Nick's Garmin and gears clearly demonstrated the advantages of modern bicycle engineering technology on some of those hills - it was just relentless towards the end! Top props to Bob Jackson fixed brakeless dude. And now I can say I have visited the Most Expensive Pie In The World pub...

Thank you, but I have to say it was a poorly selected set-up. I should have applied what I'd learnt on the last Brighton ride (brakes + hoods + less spinny GI = quicker and more fun ride)