2018-06-23 - NLtCBMBC - Deal With It IV

NORTH LONDON THUNDER CATS BLACK METAL BICYCLE CLUB

Fixed/Single Speed* overnighter to Deal on the South East coast.

Like Dunwich Dynamo with less dorks and more interesting things to see. The ride is purposely designed to dissuade chain-gangs.

Ends at pub with full breakfast menu and Kirin pints on tap.

166.6KM mainly traffic-free.
5km gravel + 1km grass sections.
23c tires OK.

Be self-sufficient and bring adequate clothing.
Good countryside lights are a must.
Beer, spirits, food and sports gels/bars as required..

Fast-social pace, nobody left behind.
We want to stick together as much as possible and leaders will wait at non-obvious forks in the road and corners.

(BUT) If you are seriously dragging the group you will be off-loaded at a train station.
There are plenty enroute (including a midnight service from Gravesend) BUT you may have a long wait as trains down there resume at 07:30 on Sunday morning.

LONDON - Woolwich - Gravesend - Rochester - Rainham - Faversham - Whitstable - Herne Bay - Margate - Ramsgate - Sandwich - DEAL

GPX will be posted here closer to the date.

Bike, body and brain could be tested : No crybabies, No crap equipment!

So save the date (do it now!) and invite your friends!

Meet Victoria Park - The Royal Inn on the Park
Start time 20:00 (meet 19:00)
SOUTHIES MEET-UP : 21:00 South Tunnel Entrance Woolwich

*

1. Geared riders to the back of field (I want to enjoy the silence of the night without your freehub ruining it)
   
2. On descents give clear warning (on right, stay etc.). Always pass on far right
   
3. Don't sprint off at the bottom of a descent. Slow down and let the group come back together
   
   

#NLTCDEALWITHIT

Great plan.
In!

In, never done it, reckon I can.

In, last year this was definitely one of the best rides I've done.

The antithesis of DD.

Beers at the Chatham war memorial being interrupted by the local army security bods definitely not on the Dunwich agenda.

We have a pub at the end with a full breakfast menu and Kirin on tap.

Trains back with mega bike capacity to either Kings Cross or Victoria.

Might be temped to kip on the beach then ride to Dover or Folkestone for the epic cliff views.

FB link

Here is a version of the route lacking maximum adventure if you wanted to ride it by yourself in the daytime: https://www.bikemap.net/en/r/3362836/

Coming up in a few weeks.

Pub is confirmed for hot food and cold beer.

Christ this is tempting. But so very unlikely.

Also, nice to see a Mack ride on here again. I knew you couldn't stay away completely!

Got to do something right?

Just an idea of the return fares from Deal (not including group-save) - £24.40.

Did I mention the trains have mad bike capacity and there are zero changes?

There is a fast and slow train every half-hour, take the slow one if you want to drink more beer.

Yesss. Put me down for some egg butties and a bowl of chips.

Decent weather for a night ride

Central meet-up: Royal Inn on the Park 19:30 (leave 20:00)

South meet-up: south side Woolwich Foot Tunnel entrance 21:00 (leave shortly after)

Make sure your bike is working and read the first post ^

Route profile:

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by happy coincidence I cycled to Margate last night

how was it?

this was my route (couple of navigation errors)

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You took too many main roads.

As usual, couldn't get any sleep today.

I’m in. ETA Victoria Park 7.30

Have fun you lucky buggers

Ditto

yep. I'll do your route next time.

didn't enjoy thanet way much

Best edition to date.

Pace ok; I got dropped a few times out in the country due to my lack of riding fitness this year (but I always rejoined down the hills!). Good crew of people but we did have to leave two behind before Gravesend (sorry but that's how it is).

Weather warm enough except for a spooky horror-film fog on the seawall before Herne Bay (burning sun came out from behind clouds around Broadstairs).

Was awake for 31 hours, rode 170KM, carried too many beers, took too few pictures.

If I organise any rides next year it will probably be this one.

Thanks for organising, had a blast as ever. Some quick snaps here:

1# Leaving London along the Thames path -

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