Kentish Killer

[IanT]

Just wondered if anyone is doing the Kentish Killer this weekend?

I'm in the 50 miler - and it's my first sportive. That seemed like a good idea until I saw the route elevation profile

Think I'm just going to pace myself from the off - a finish is a finish after all (and better than a DNF).

At least it's looking like the weather could be good.

 

[jdrussell]

Yes Ian, I am doing ti too. First sportive for me also. I have ridden round Sevenoaks a few times in the last few weeks and I can tell you it is not easy going. 14% hills in some places. I have a gpx route on bike route toaster for the closest station to Brands Hatch - here

And then another one for the actual 50 miler - here

Good luck

 

[IanT]

Yes Ian, I am doing ti too. First sportive for me also. I have ridden round Sevenoaks a few times in the last few weeks and I can tell you it is not easy going. 14% hills in some places. I have a gpx route on bike route toaster for the closest station to Brands Hatch - here

And then another one for the actual 50 miler - here

Good luck

Thanks for the route info - I have been looking for this for ages.

I know some of those hills are going to be tough (or, surely, they wouldn't put the word 'killer' in the name).

I'm really looking forward to it.\

Cheers again and good luck, also.

Ian.

 

[ianrauk]

Yes Ian, I am doing ti too. First sportive for me also. I have ridden round Sevenoaks a few times in the last few weeks and I can tell you it is not easy going. 14% hills in some places. I have a gpx route on bike route toaster for the closest station to Brands Hatch - here

And then another one for the actual 50 miler - here

Good luck

On that station to BH route. Dont bother turning left on the a20 and going round the RAB and back on yourself.
Instead turn right at high street/Whitepost hill and enter the a20 at eglantine lane.
Enter from the lane. It's not strictly legal but much safer then the RAB.

 

[jdrussell]

On that station to BH route. Dont bother turning left on the a20 and going round the RAB and back on yourself.
Instead turn right at high street/Whitepost hill and enter the a20 at eglantine lane.
Enter from the lane. It's not strictly legal but much safer then the RAB.

Cheers, you mean like this

 

[ianrauk]

Cheers, you mean like this

Exactly. There is a no right turn sign there..but it's a whole lot safer then that RAB.

 

[jdrussell]

Exactly. There is a no right turn sign there..but it's a whole lot safer then that RAB.

sweet, thanks mate

 

[Twizit]

I'll be there on Sunday - 70 miler for me, which I too am now thinking could be interesting for a first sportive

Gotta build up some decent miles for the Dragon ride in June though.....

 

[IanT]

I'll be there on Sunday - 70 miler for me, which I too am now thinking could be interesting for a first sportive

Gotta build up some decent miles for the Dragon ride in June though.....

Good work - my first one too. I was originally booked on to the 70 - but bottled it and asked if they would switch me to the 50, which they kindly agreed to do.

Just planning on taking it easy - I'd rather finish than go out too strongly and blow up half way round. It's all into the unknown for me - my training ride takes me around Maldon and Burnham in Essex - but I think some of the hills on that route pale into insignificance against the ones on the KK route.

Anyway, good luck mate. Hope you have a good ride and enjoy the day.

 

[jdrussell]

Its not easy riding round there for sure. I have been out on two cycles that way and both have been hard. Bit nervous for tomorrow, but will be cool. Weather looks alright for it.

Good luck everyone.

 

[IanT]

Well, I certainly hope that my luck improves for tomorrow. Went out for a very gentle training ride with two mates today - just a little 30 miler around our local area. 2 miles in and.........BANG.....P****ure!!! The tyre was toast. Patched it up and took it home, picked up the MTB and went out on that.

This got me thinking - on the way home, I stopped and had my LBS (Richardsons in Leigh on Sea - absolutely top shop) put a set of Schwalbe Marathons on it. Got it home and fitted my new set of Exustar pedals to it - think I now have the perfect tool for the day (probably only 5KG heavier than the roadie and with 30 gears to play with). Obviously, I wouldn't be MTB ing it if I were on the 70 miler - but think it's just about feasible on the 50.

Good luck for tomorrow.

 

[ianrauk]

Best of luck and enjoy it all.

 

[Twizit]

Yup that was pretty brutal for a first sportive and first decent length ride out of the year!

Nice area for riding though, and plenty lumpy. Not sure my legs will thank me by tomorrow morning though...

 

[IanT]

Yup that was pretty brutal for a first sportive and first decent length ride out of the year!

Nice area for riding though, and plenty lumpy. Not sure my legs will thank me by tomorrow morning though...

Brutal is the best description for that event. It was made a little more brutal for me because a toasted tyre on my roadie, during Saturdays training ride, meant that I did the ride on my mountain bike! I think some of the roadies were looking enviously at my gears, whilst I was looking enviously at their carbon frames and 700C wheels.

I was talking with some other riders and a photographer and they were all saying that the 2012 course was harder than the 2011 one.

It didn't help that, owing to some dodgy sign posting, I along with many others, did an extra 5 miles!!!

That last "1 KM to go" sign is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.

Despite all of that, I really did enjoy it (although, had you asked me that question at the top of Row Dow Lane, the answer would have been different).

Well done on completing the 70.

 

[Twizit]

Ian, that wasn't you on the mountain bike at Hever Castle I was speaking to was it?! I was on the rather off-white Cervelo, looking like I'd just ridden through the Somme!

Ii coudl certainly have done with your mountain bike gears on the last stretch. Pleased to say I didn't walk any, but came damn close at times....