FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast 22nd October to Whitstable 2010

[Aperitif]

Don't know that pub - what do they serve in The Lycra?

I don't go in there anymore..full of assos.

 

[ceepeebee]

Bike is fixed, which is a relief - off to Balham to pick it up and test my nerve/legs.......

 

[arallsopp]

Watch out for the rain...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've lost control of my asthma, which usually means a chest infection is brewing, and the weather forecast has gone to rats, and I've invested £17.50 in a Canterbury West - Horsham network card rail ticket that no one else will want, and my gut has got so big it is getting in the way of my pedal stroke.

sod it.

I'm still coming.

 

[ceepeebee]

yeah, just watched the end-times style clouds roll in from the North and straight over us, is brighter off towards Hampstead/Finchley already so I'm hanging on a bit.

 

[Becs]

Don't know that pub - what do they serve in The Lycra?

 

[frank9755]

Just looked at XC.

Yuk

A night for mudguards!

 

[zigzag]

Just looked at XC.

Yuk

A night for mudguards!

too early to tell, but sometimes i miss those rainy rides - only had one this year where got properly soaked

 

[ceepeebee]

that was a most unpleasant short hop home from the bike shop, hate cycling in civvies - carhartt work trousers are most definitely not weatherproof.

Bike is all super, lack of tyre clearance apart (but then I knew that anyway) and the drive train is purring. Knee that I bashed up is a bit on the swoillen side but then I was mashing up the hills in a v v ugly fashion. I think an hour in the gym tomorrow will decide whether it will get me to Whitstable without going tilt.

 

[rb58]

Hi Ben,
Myself, Ross and Redflight did this earlier this year. We hit the A2 all the way to Rochester, nice and fast, traffic not too bad, then I hit west, cross country to Orpington which was quite hilly, but not too bad. Will send you the route tonight, see what you think.

I shall be riding back to Bexley, but probably not via Maidstone as I'll be wanting to be home by lunchtime-ish. Might be persuaded otherwise of course, providing there's no more talk of warp factor 1 type speeds and some decent pubs along the way.

 

[ianrauk]

Hi Andy, I'm thinking of bringing some gears so I'm looking forward to being more sociable on the hills.

Martin, I did include a link but it isn't particularly clear:

Return route from Whitstable.

It doesn't shadow the A2 but heads off across country as soon as it leaves Faversham.

Adrian, one meets a much finer quality of tar-mac when landing on one's arse in Bromley and one doesn't end up in Mayday.

Hi Ben,
here's the route we took last time.
As said previous, the run to Rochester is pretty flat and quick, across country it's a hilly old ride.
Whitstable return

 

[StuAff]

This sawn-off light sabre now graces my bars. Thanks for all the tips.

'A New Hope'

 

[StuAff]

You'll be ok Big M - just get a tow from Ben, and be supping tea in front of the telly by midday! Ben's raisonnement that his geared bike is more 'sociable' will be the difference between 'gone' and 'I can just see him'

Naughty Ben! Looks like a fast return group. Warp factor one will keep the attire dry - the tyres wet.

On the Izalco, he'll probably be 'behind that artic'

 

[StuAff]

And don't try to copy him, you will only suffer a burst tyre.

+1....!!

 

[martint235]

I shall be riding back to Bexley, but probably not via Maidstone as I'll be wanting to be home by lunchtime-ish. Might be persuaded otherwise of course, providing there's no more talk of warp factor 1 type speeds and some decent pubs along the way.

Which way were you thinking of back to Bexley? I was going to take the A226 out of Gillingham through Dartford, do you know a better way?