Tuesday Night Ride Club (TNRC)

CHX people, you can all bundle on the train back from Otford as it's the same company and the destination on the return ticket with be "London Terminals".

Scarlett, you can always catch a train to 7oaks and change for a CHX jobbie. There's 3 an hour to 7oaks.

For the record, the A225 is Ok. There's a short unlit dual carriageway section just after Otford, but not too bad. If you were to ride it the suggested route would be follow the road til a traffic light x-road junction (A225/A25 jct), head straight over and up the hill for half a mile before taking the 4th right onto Mount Harry Road. The turning comes right after a zebra crossing with shops on the left. Follow road to end, the station will be right in front of you.

i am almost droping. there are spaces anyway, isn't it? i don't want to fall into a pothole tomorrow...

Are there any savage downhills on this one? Whitedown and Beddlestead have made me overly aware of my mortality. I shall rephrase. I want to do this ride but I don't want to die either. I'll decide fo'sho tomorrow.

you will not die, we have friends up there

One fairly savage downhill but it's on a road that is very, very quiet and it's early on in the ride. I rode up it when I went awol on Sunday, and the surface seems okay following the winter on the steepest pitches.

i am a bit scared of gravel and potholes

I'd be more worried about angry badgers.

Cheers, Sam.

There are 2 savage downhills. Sundridge is short but has a 20-25% section (as mentioned by andyp); Ide Hill Rd is shallower, but much longer - you have to ride the brakes a bit on a freewheel bike unless you're happy doing more than 40mph.

debating coming right now

on Saturday i noticed a squeaking noise, when i got home i discovered a crack in the cleat

I had ordered new pedals and cleats for new road bike build, but they have not arrived yet

so its either bring the road bike with a crack cleat (and try to find new ones after work) and potentially do a clive

or ride fixed tomorrow, which i am not too keen on

gearing is 48/19

Sounds like a nice gear for that route. I'll be on 69.6", but would prefer your 66.4".

I should be OK providing I can stay at the back, take my time and not have people screaming past me.

James - if you're curious about gearing I'm doing it 49/19.

i can lend you a 20 wools. if you want.

Cheers Tika, although last minute tinkering is dangerous stuff! Royce hubs should be double fixed.

Forecast for Sevenoaks is sort of improving on the rain front, but deteriorating rapidly on the wind front :/

And I'm going to err on the side of caution in the warmth of jersey department, as the 4 degrees (-2 degrees with windchill factor) is going to cut to the bone if we happen to get soaked.

baselayer and softshell be enough?

just got an email through, the pedals and cleats should be at my office by 1pm, so shall i risk a gentle pedal in on the road bike and change cleats after lunch or do it fixed?

Fixed. Just throwing it out there.

really enjoyed the reccie on sunday. it's a great route with some honest climbs and some lovely twists and turns. pilgrims way had a couple of massive potholes and there are plenty other small ones along the way to look out for. slow down for oncoming cars and give yourself time for evasive manouvres.

you will all be fine.

sorry i am bailing. i have to do something else on a bike. or it will never end.

sean/gav - will make sure you have sam's number so the rendesvous at 7oaks will run smoothly. it will anyway, he will no doubt be waiting just beyond the ticket barrier.

i look forward to hearing about how this one goes.

gearing is 48/19

If i had a fixed capable, and was actually able to come, i'd be riding this gear.
After doing the route y'day, i'd say this was more than adequate.

start annotating the list if you are not able to come. SKHA points up for grabs i reckon

SKHA points up for grabs i reckon

de-batable.
a certain amount of rain has to fall at a certain angle.
not to mention the debris count : )

I'm in exmouth till tomorrow afternoon. Hoping i get back to the office in time to collect my bike...

I'm in exmouth till tomorrow afternoon. Hoping i get back to the office in time to collect my bike...

Sounds as if you'll need to do an Exmouth exodus. Erm, in reverse. :)

Just been dumped on at work. Provisionally out unless I can get people to pull their thumbs out of their arses.

If you can fill the space, please do.

I just got damn wet on the way to work, but unlike the fannys above I will still be riding this evening.