Search results for:

i have finally coaxed my blackberry into surrendering the photos, so attaching a few (the least crappy ones).

the heat and open spaces during the first part of the ride made it more trialling; the part between the hil^H^H^H peak of doom and the open vistas (where it was claimed we could see dungeness) was definitely the most beautiful of all the rides i've done this summer. i think the temperature hit 29C at some point, but it still fell like autumn - the sun at an angle, the tunnels through the trees, the leaves on the road (my apologies for the exalted gushing, it must have mortified some).

it was psychologically hard though to face all those small steep hills after the climb to the vista-observing spot. i really thought the hardest part was over, but it was just starting - the sharp murderous hills that finally convinced me that i needed proper clipless pedals and shoes.

i am really glad we pushed towards st. margarets from dover though - powered by chocolate milk, we got to see the sunset over the sea; the ride back through the darkness was a great way to end the day (my traumatized mind has blocked the memory of the final climb though).

of course now i am deeply suspicious of "rolling hills" euphemism - although i was not in particular pain on sunday, it took me until tuesday to recover from general fatigue.

the ride was all the more special, since it was the last for me before i head back to NYC. i promise to wear my lfgss cap proudly in manhattan and tirelessly explain what the abbreviation stands for.

I do believe that you were the only rider to make it up all of the hills without stopping. Respect is due.

i concur - bloody remarkable.

a proper end of summer ride - the second half was spectacular, with the night ride back under the low moon becoming the pinnacle. topping it off with some late-night boozing now before i pass out.

many thanks to the stellar leadership, and glad to have seen everyone - familiar and new faces alike.

have a great ride, everyone. beers once we get back from our respective destinations?

"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.

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

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.

alright, i am gravely concerned about the hilliness of this ride - i did only herne bay/margate and clacton w/ Ma3K and it was fine. but i do not want to be holding people back if i fail to climb well enough on this ride (SS @ 42/16 ≅ 69gi).

in the light of this i am even considering defecting to the ladies' brighton ride.

rode from rye to dungeness and back in june - beautiful (albeit short - 26 miles altogether) ride, and derek jarman's stomping grounds are as alien as his movies - empty shingle beach, wreckage of some boats scattered along it, nasty winds, and the nuclear power station in the distance towering over it.

seems like people take the train to rye from london and then ride from there.

a great ride - i was hesitant due to the weather forecast, but i am so glad i got out. apologies for being late to the meeting point - and thank you for waiting.

we managed to avoid all the rain - the clouds were just hanging in the distance - chiaroscuro and apophenia aplenty.

a special thanks for the flapjacks injections - very timely and much appreciated.

and yes, the group was small, and everyone stayed together. just a couple (?) punctures and a decent (for me!) pace (although my climbing muscles were gone by the time i had to do the last 20k stretch).

altogether, a far smoother and, dare i say it, easier, ride than herne bay/margate was.

the destination highlight was cooling down by the beach with the backdrop of tawdry entertainment devices and the empty wooden pier with its rusty crucifix of a mast.

props aplenty to MA3K for setting the pace, navigating, stopping to show the sights, and getting us there.

a few photos attached (pardon the shitty bberry quality photos).

nice seeing familiar faces as well as meeting new folks - hopefully i'll see you on future rides.

oops almost forgot..... My Fav bike of the Day

i will accept the compliments on behalf of my bike - thank you!

if i won't muster enough courage to go with geared ppl to oxford, i will join this one. where is the meeting point exactly (apologies if i missed it) - is the map 100% correct?

this looks quite nice - i will definitely consider it - my last cycling around nuclear power plant was in rye/dungeness, and it was quite a site (worthy of derek jarman, i guess)

Hey Badger Boy, me, ms.chris, and a non-formenger are cycling to Oxford on Saturday morning, leaving from Richmond at around 9am. Pace will be pretty chilled, no faster or slower than the ride to Herne Bay. Pints and food at the end, then choo choo home. Four people = group saver! Let us know if you're interested, you're more than welcome.

i am interested. where is the exact location and (ideally) a route.

man, it was a glorious ride - my first with the forum.

thank you so much for the guidance - it makes it so much easier when someone takes care of the navigation.

the pace was leisurely punctuated [sic!] by the pit stops, which made it much easier for me. although the next to last leg to herne bay with all the wind was a trialing one. somehow i regained all the strength after the fish and the beer, and the ride to margate was joyous.

the locals were endearing and quite helpful, and "deliverance" premonition has soon subsided. i will not mention the sing-along to 80s rock anthems nor the anthropological delights at margate proper.

i had my reservations about the size of the group (was it going to be too many people to self-organize?), but the atmosphere was great and i chatted to quite a few - it really made a big difference.