Kentish Killer

[IanT]

I believe that it may well have been, Twizit. I just uploaded a photo that my mate took yesterday.

I was on a black / red / white Trek MTB - with the black scheme extending to the Louis Garneau jersey and Endura tights.

The last section was a killer for me. Despite the extra low ratios, the weight took it's toll. I confess that about three quarters of the way up Row Dow Lane, the legs finally expired and I succumbed to a walk.

Really feeling it today!!!

 

[Twizit]

Aha. In which case very nice to have met you! I'm Nik by the way, behind the silly online name and avatar!

Low gears or not, I still say good on you for getting around that distance on the MTB. Not sure I'd have made it.

Somehow feeling ok-ish today, but my legs know about it and I wasn't much use to man nor beast after the ride yesterday!

 

[jdrussell]

Well, that was interesting. I was pretty much shattered after the first 12 miles. There are some properly mental hills round there. So I was supposed to be on the 50, but I got to section where a motorbike marshall said, left is the long route or straight on for the short route. I only thought there was a long and a short route so opted for the short route.

Turned out it was the 30 mile route.

Hmmm.

I was impressed with the route and marshalling overall, and to be honest, I think it was a godsend that I did in fact complete the 30.

Those hills were merciless.

 

[IanT]

Nice to have met you too, Nik.

Yesterday evening, my lovely missus took me out to dinner - I'm sure that helped the recovery!!! But, by the time I got in from that, I was completely shot!!!

The only ill effect I seem to have is a real burning pain in my left foot. It's odd, but it seems to come on with certain cycling shoes (like someone banging a red hot nail into the ball of my foot). Might get that looked at.

But, what a great day - well done on tackling the 70 as your first sportive. What's next for you?

 

[Twizit]

Hmm spring onion and may flyer for me next, possibly a London Brighton return then the Wiggle Dragon in June is the biggy..... 128 miles for that one, so gotta keep upping the mileage! Some warmer training weather would be nice too....

 

[PoweredByVeg]

Well done to all you KK'ers
I managed to join your route when I got a bit lost on my Bromley-Tunbridge Wells-Bromley jaunt, near your Hever Castle feed stop.

For this Norfolk lad it was 'king hilly; I had to walk the last 100m of Toy's Hill, and I didn't even attempt Hogtrough Hill just walked it.

Did manage a 25% on Downe Road, luckily it was a short sharp one!

Think I might consider it for next year

 

[IanT]

Well, that was interesting. I was pretty much shattered after the first 12 miles. There are some properly mental hills round there. So I was supposed to be on the 50, but I got to section where a motorbike marshall said, left is the long route or straight on for the short route. I only thought there was a long and a short route so opted for the short route.

Turned out it was the 30 mile route.

Hmmm.

I was impressed with the route and marshalling overall, and to be honest, I think it was a godsend that I did in fact complete the 30.

Those hills were merciless.

I know what you mean - you haven't seen a proper hill until you can't see the horizon because the road is rising so steeply in front of you.

Must admit that I too was a little confused by the use of Long / Short route to describe the ride - there were in fact three routes (short, medium and long) but everyone was referring to them as simply the short or long route. But I have to agree, the organisation was absolutely first class.

Believe me, at the feed stop (and having done an extra 5 miles at that point owing to an unplanned detour) I wished I was doing the 30.

The best thing I have ever seen in my life was that small yellow sign that read, "1 KM to go".

Now the pain has gone, I can't wait for the next one.

I did write up my ride as a blog entry on the KK site - the link is: http://kentishkiller.ning.com/profiles/blogs/my-first-sportive
(hope I'm OK to share the link on here, Mr. Moderator?)

Well done to anyone who did any of the three courses - it certainly earns the title "Killer" for a reason.

 

[IanT]

Well done to all you KK'ers

Did manage a 25% on Downe Road, luckily it was a short sharp one!

Think I might consider it for next year

View attachment 7207

That photograph is giving me nasty flashbacks!!! LoL.

 

[smutchin]

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...

Well done!

If that ride has given you a taste for riding in that area, you should also consider the Invicta Grimpeur: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-190/

There's a 50k version and a 100k version - the latter is the same route with the only difference being that you do it twice (once clockwise, once anti-clockwise). There are some fantastic climbs on the route, including the notorious Yorks Hill (I'm assuming Yorks isn't on the KK if Toys Hill is, but maybe they both are!), which is also used for the Catford CC hill climb. To get a taste of what it's like, here's a nice inspirational video:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PNvxBtxLME


d.

 

[ianrauk]

That photograph is giving me nasty flashbacks!!! LoL.

Well done to all you KK'ers
I managed to join your route when I got a bit lost on my Bromley-Tunbridge Wells-Bromley jaunt, near your Hever Castle feed stop.

For this Norfolk lad it was 'king hilly; I had to walk the last 100m of Toy's Hill, and I didn't even attempt Hogtrough Hill just walked it.

Did manage a 25% on Downe Road, luckily it was a short sharp one!

Think I might consider it for next year


View attachment 7207

Cudham Hill... did the 2 rabid dogs at the bottom of the hill try get ya?

 

[PoweredByVeg]

Cudham Hill... did the 2 rabid dogs at the bottom of the hill try get ya?

No rabid dogs, I reckon when I went through there at 07:00 they were sensibly in bed!

 

[TonbridgeSteve]

did you go through ightham? We drove through on Sunday about 9.30 ish and saw lots of cyclist coming through. We wondered what was happening, it was a great site to see so many cyclist around and there seemed to be a really good atmosphere to the part I saw, lots of riders chatting as they rode.

My 4 year old was amazed by it, he's never seen so many cyclists. He is really into riding his bike at the moment and said how he would like to race when he is a bit older.

Well done to anyone who did it.

 

[IanT]

did you go through ightham? We drove through on Sunday about 9.30 ish and saw lots of cyclist coming through.

Erm, to be honest - not being a local lad (and being in some distress after seeing the big hills early on) I'm not entirely sure.

Here is my Garmin track - this could be helpful to anyone considering the 50 miler next year. Having said that, this is with an extra 5 miles on it (missed the St Clere Road turning) and they do tend to vary it slightly year on year. But it gives a pretty good idea of the route.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/150863784

 

[jdrussell]

Just found out the guy who we traveled with and who was on the 70 miler, won it !

Malcolm Davies.

Bl00dy good time too - 3hrs 52mins for 70 !!!

Insane.