PH road ride hill smash

[Daveyraveygravey]

That is the profile of a proper ride! Still expecting to be there, I could make an earlier start, possibly half 7. Was going to moan about the half hour faffing about before starting, but realistically that is probably inevitable!

[SixPotBelly]

100km with 2,000m climbing sounds about right to me.

I'll be coming from north of London, so all the way around the M25. About 1.5 hours driving assuming I get a clear run. Oxted is not far from the motorway so that'll help a lot, and I'm sure I could get up early enough to make it in time if the start is at 9am. Just thinking it could be quite nippy then though, and then warm up when the sun gets up more, meaning we'll be shedding layers after an hour. Maybe a 10am start would lessen that?

[SixPotBelly]

Daveyraveygravey said:

That is the profile of a proper ride! Still expecting to be there, I could make an earlier start, possibly half 7. Was going to moan about the half hour faffing about before starting, but realistically that is probably inevitable!

Half 7 is definitely out for me though! At that point it becomes a ride for those who live locally only..

[richardxjr]

Stick my name down David later the better for me

[Gruffy]

Assuming I can get one of my bikes back on the road in time I will be there. I'll ride in from Tower Bridge, if anybody else is passing and doing the same.

[JustinF]

needs to a sensible hour to work for me, I'm about an hour out and working until 11pm the night before.

[JustinF]

and to address other replies Dave, 100 hilly K will defo need some form of refueling, can be carried but would need to plan it that way.

[Bob the Planner]

You may want to rethink the 38-42km part of the route. Lord Chathams Ride is a private road and gated, the routes either side are footpaths and would not be suitable for a road bike. Same situation from the south at St Botolphs church going north, gated and signed as private. Worth a look to see if you have a chance to ride that section at the weekend but I have never tried going past the gate.

[SixPotBelly]

Bob the Planner said:

You may want to rethink the 38-42km part of the route. Lord Chathams Ride is a private road and gated, the routes either side are footpaths and would not be suitable for a road bike. Same situation from the south at St Botolphs church going north, gated and signed as private. Worth a look to see if you have a chance to ride that section at the weekend but I have never tried going past the gate.

I've just overlaid the route on an OS Map and seen what's probably the same. The white (ie private) roads here?



Otherwise great route!

(Incidentally though, looks like we'll need turn-by-turn to navigate round as it doubles back on itself a few times and following a breadcrumb trail won't show you which of the ways to go)

Edited by SixPotBelly on Thursday 21st September 09:33

[idiotgap]

Thanks for the intel guys. I know where I am for almost all of the route so I don't think it will be too difficult to follow. I will have it on my garmin 520 against a map and can resort to phone if the worst comes to the worst. Shame about the part that's gated, it was giving us a convenient transfer without retreading our steps or going on too major a road. I'll try and adjust the route round it today and give us a decent stop in Westerham so we can get Justin his cake transfusion.

Not having much at the moment, I killed a sram red rear mech last night trying to install this 2nd hand groupset I've put together which was a bit of a bummer then had a minor tumble on the commute this morning.

[Bob the Planner]

[quote=SixPotBelly]

I've just overlaid the route on an OS Map and seen what's probably the same. The white (ie private) roads here?

[snip]

Otherwise great route!

(Incidentally though, looks like we'll need turn-by-turn to navigate round as it doubles back on itself a few times and following a breadcrumb trail won't show you which of the ways to go)

Just been that way - Gated road - . You could go Halstead Lane - Otford Lane and down Polhill (a224) which should not be too busy on a Sunday morning. You could then go down Pound Lane unless you need the extra km via the original route.

I enjoyed the Single Cross Lane - New Years Lane section. Close to home but not been down there before. There is one bumpy section (indicated by a rough road sign) where you may get air over the tree routes growing across the road.

Edited by Bob the Planner on Thursday 21st September 11:45

[SixPotBelly]

idiotgap said:

...then had a minor tumble on the commute this morning.

You all OK?

[idiotgap]

SixPotBelly said:

idiotgap said:

...then had a minor tumble on the commute this morning.

You all OK?

Yes, fine... very low velocity negotiating a kerb at Croydon shared use area. Lost 2 cable ties and the elbow on my base layer. No skin loss.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Bob the Planner]ixPotBelly said:

I've just overlaid the route on an OS Map and seen what's probably the same. The white (ie private) roads here?

[snip]

Otherwise great route!

(Incidentally though, looks like we'll need turn-by-turn to navigate round as it doubles back on itself a few times and following a breadcrumb trail won't show you which of the ways to go)

Just been that way - Gated road - . You could go Halstead Lane - Otford Lane and down Polhill (a224) which should not be too busy on a Sunday morning. You could then go down Pound Lane unless you need the extra km via the original route.

I enjoyed the Single Cross Lane - New Years Lane section. Close to home but not been down there before. There is one bumpy section (indicated by a rough road sign) where you may get air over the tree routes growing across the road.

Edited by Bob the Planner on Thursday 21st September 11:45

The natives seem friendly and welcoming!

[Bob the Planner]

Daveyraveygravey said:

The natives seem friendly and welcoming!

Only the posh ones ! Oh and the farmers and mums trying to get to and from dropping their kids at school/sports.

[idiotgap]

I've updated the route a bit. I'm not completely happy with it yet and the amendments made it longer so there may be more tweaking.

[JustinF]

I may well be bringing my child, I've promised not to hold him up too much.

[SixPotBelly]

idiotgap said:

I've updated the route a bit. I'm not completely happy with it yet and the amendments made it longer so there may be more tweaking.

Whatever the route it'll be fine, I'm sure. Huge kudos to you for having the idea and going to the trouble of organising this. The main thing for me will be meeting up with everyone to stretch my legs, and if it turns out the route isn't quite as perfect as you'd hoped it's unlikely any of us apart from you will even notice

[Wooderson]

Awesome route planning when living in SE London i loved riding these Kentish lanes, but having moved to west to Dorking a few years ago, I rarely get to take them on these days.

Count me in - and any time suits me on Sunday morning

Also, if looking for a few cheeky bolt-ons, there be good vertical metres to be found east of Shoreham -such as Fakenden Lane, Magpie Bottom, Tinkerpot Lane etc.

[Bob the Planner]

If you do head (north) east of Shoreham, the Eynesford café is definitely worth a visit - some of the best cakes I have sampled in many a year.

You could extend the route to Brands and I will supply the cake. I will be spectating for the weekend (VanessaB's idea) so not able to make the ride but can do extra calorie rich snacks. May be too many km though.