Sunday/Saturday morning rides to the coast

[velovoice]

User10571 & I have done some Whitstable day time rides (including the canal path variation, which was fun) leaving from Cutty Sark at 9 am (so that would mean HPC at 8:00 - 8:15).

I suspect he means much earlier, probably by 1-2 hours...

 

[Becs]

User10571 & I have done some Whitstable day time rides (including the canal path variation, which was fun) leaving from Cutty Sark at 9 am (so that would mean HPC at 8:00 - 8:15).

that sounds like fun - i like the idea of a canal path, make me feel like my big fat tyres are justified!

 

[User10571]

The canal path was always *ahem* 'interesting' on 23s. But doable.
At some point early last year the surface was 'improved'.
Only it wasn't.
It has been rendered virtually unrideable on 23s.
I say virtually, because I took Mice down there, when I didn't know about the new surface, and was thoroughly embarrassed for having done so.
Although we did manage to complete the canal path, it was a total 'mare, and I wouldn't recommend anything less than an ATB with knobblies down there.

Ask Mice. Her MMV.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Ah. That's a shame.

 

[TimO]

It is a shame. I did the canal route once, quite a while back, on the Kaffenback, which has reasonably wide bombproof tyres. I don't recall it as being particularly challenging. What have they done to it that's made it worse, by an improvement?

 

[User10571]

It is a shame. I did the canal route once, quite a while back, on the Kaffenback, which has reasonably wide bombproof tyres. I don't recall it as being particularly challenging. What have they done to it that's made it worse, by an improvement?

Levelled it (which is an improvement, given the potholes which were there before), but laid a top surface of something similar in grade to the ballast you'll find on a railway line - without anything to bind it together.
Hard work and lots of clenching and unscheduled changes of trajectory when on 23s.
Bad language may also be heard.
Bent the pointer of the dial against it's end-stop, on the NSTN meter.

 

[ajstephens]

Just a suggestion, if on a kent coast ride could pop in to the new 'Cyclopark' on the way? Opens next month...

http://www.cyclopark.com/

 

[wanda2010]

I'd be interested in a weekend ride. Will keep an eye on this thread to see what transpires.

 

[ceepeebee]

Not quite the coast, but I do intend to do a ride to Partridge Green to the home of Darkstar Brewery sometime this summer.

 

[Ess]

I'm also interested in weekend coastal rides, particularly Sundays and the earlier the better!

 

[Becs]

I know it's not coastal, but I could lead a not-so-speedy Cambridge ride at some point when I'm a bit fitter

 

[redjedi]

I know it's not coastal, but I could lead a not-so-early Cambridge ride at some point when I'm a bit fitter

FTFY

 

[StuartG]

If its early - Saturday would be better for out of towners (and very lazy in-towners). Sunday trains generally start later and big chunks of Southern go 'technical' on Sundays too doubling the problem.

 

[Becs]

FTFY

well yes that too - it won't leave london before 10am, maybe even 11am!

 

[velovoice]

Intrigued by all the suggestions but... is this starting to wander off topic?

I'm very interested in DZ's original proposal - or a close approximation if anyone else is keen to get it off the ground. I don't mind early starts - in fact, on summer weekends I'd prefer them. And by early, I mean 7am onwards.

ETA: Re-reading the thread, it looks like there's some interest in later starts (10am onwards) but primarily from people talking about riding to non-coast destinations. 9am is about the latest I'd want to set off for the seaside - partly to avoid heavy traffic getting out of London but also I want to get home in time to still have the evening free for other things.