Hastings and Back- Sunday 13th July

[Andrew G]

Planning a ride to Hastings and back next Sunday if anyone is interested. Weather dependent obviously.

This will be a steady tick-over ride enjoying a nice long ride to somewhere different, it will not be a tear up or a "training" (whatever that is) ride. It is a fair way though so probably 18s standard minimum (as guide to ability not speed I'll necessarily average) and comfortable doing say 120 miles and/or 7+ hours in the saddle - although I will be stopping for a bite to eat in Hastings . You'll need the day free.

I've never ridden there and won't have too detailed route, the whole point of the ride will be just to have a nice long ride and a good day on the bike. I expect to get lost on more than one occasion but don't care, in fact I may even end up somewhere else if I go too far off route (although I'll have a bit of map in my pocket for reference). That's the point with this type of ride though, whatever happens and wherever I end up I'll have had an enjoyable trip.

If you want to make sure you don't have any little breaks (a map check), want to know where you are going, what's coming up next, how long you'll be etc etc, this is not for you. It is for you if you don't care what happens and where you end up and just want to have a bit of an explore and find some new roads.

Rough shufty so far has me thinking:
Crockham, B2026, Edenbridge, Maresfield, B2102 Uckfield, back to B2026 then over to B2204 to Ninfield(ish), and then drop down to the seaside. Probably return someway up towards Tunbridge Wells.

Date: Sunday 13th July
Meeting Place: Outside GBs
Start time: 9am prompt
Distance: No idea
Average speed: No idea
Time of return: No idea
Self sufficiency: Make sure you bring drinks, food, and a couple of tubes etc to be able to sort yourself out if you get a mechanical. Also a phone(if you have one) and money to cover needing to get a train back should you need to.
Budgy Smugglers: Banned from trip

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Antloony]

Count me in for this as long as my hand is healed properly and I dont have an accident between now and next sunday

[Neil Mac]

Sounds good I should be up for this. see you on Sunday.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Have a great time - I would have joined you, but arrangements already made elsewhere.

Don't get too lost...If you get wet, you've gone too far

Guru P

[Jon H]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]...If you get wet, you've gone too far
Guru P

[Antloony]

Just bumping this back to the top as the forecast for sunday is looking good, long sunny spells, light winds and not to warm, shaping up to be a great day to go on a long one.

[Andrew G]

I've even got a section of map photocopied with a route highlighted on it . I'll bring a couple of spares for people so if anyone want's to turn back early they can - I'll try and scan it in and stick it up here in a minute or so. If we don't get lost we should only be on the same roads towards the end for a bit, oh and we come back through Penshurst to Four Elms so we can add Toys Hill on the end of the ride .

[Andrew G]

Sadly Marco I don't have a Bartholamews 30s map - for that area.

Here's the plan - down the left and up the right. The map picks up from Crockham just after going down Titsey. 2 ways in to Hastings (just off the bottom) not sure which we'll go, probably via Battle just for the sake of it.

I don't doubt there are many other routes but this is the one I plan to take. If it ends up with a bit of road that's not so nice then I'll know for next time. Needs to be kept fairly simple too for the first jaunt out there I think and you can't normally go far wrong with the B roads out that way.

Luch in Hastings or Rye.

[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Hastingsroute.jpg[/img]

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I'd definitely go for Rye - lovely quaint place over Hastings. It is based on a lump of rock that used to stick out of the sea that has long since receeded, but it is a short steep climb to the top on cobbles one way. Nice cafe at the bottom.

Have a good ride (North Mids & Herts 100 beckons )

Guru P

[Andrew G]

Yeah Rye was always my favoured option for lunch as it's so much nicer. I do like a cobbled road too.

[mark mclaughlin]

Just checking if your still planning this ride Andrew? I’ve got some good maps! we could get to go onto Camber sands and Dungeness is always worth a visit.
Think I’ve mislaid your mobile no?

[Andrew G]

[quote]Sadly Marco I don't have a Bartholamews 30s map - for that area.

[Andrew G]

Forecast looks fine for tomorrow so I'll be at GBs for a 9am departure.

[Antloony]

As much as I really want to do this I dont think Im going to be able to due to my hand, its ok on a club run but we're looking at twice that distance and Im afraid it will cause me to much pain.

I'll see how I feel in the morning, I will be there before 9 if Im coming, guess I could always turn back early if it gets to much.

[Andrew G]

Absolutely knackered!
Before I fall asleep I'll give you the basic stats.
A very undulating route - hardly a bit of flat road in sight.
Door to door for me was just under 9 hours riding time, just under 150 miles, average of 16.5mph
Bit of an epic day, and an absolutely fantastic one in great company.