Old Ports Reliability Ride in the summer.

[Andrew G]

Not the full thing no. Depending on the time I get back from Brighton if it coincides with your likely departure I'll swing back through West Wickham and join you for the first bit and then cut up to home from Pilgrims Way - this is the one that heads along Pilgrims Way from Halstead towards Titsey isn't it?

If I'm not there then the time didn't tie up, or I came to my senses and went straight home .

[Ivor]

word of warning on this since I'm pretty sure (given the signposts I saw this morning) part of it runs on my commute, just here:
[url]http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=51.312025,-0.00133&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=51.312025,-0.001287&sspn=0.012796,0.027251&ie=UTF8&z=15[/url]
there's a pile of rubble in the road (it even has cones around it!). hopefully someone will tidy it up a bit, but you'll have to be careful if it's still there.

[TimNick]

Sounds like a good plan. Was going to do the Old Ports this year as my first intro into Sportive/Reliablity Ride but then the weather rather took over! Couple of things though - I'm normally in the 17s (tops) plus need to be back in time for the TDF start party at home, plus here's hoping a lack of sleep due to recent new born baby and 100 miles of commuting haven't already done for my legs! Are we stopping half wayish to help refuel or do I need to gel, drink and bar up for the whole kahuna?

I'm in South Croydon so GBs would be best for me or meet you up on the Pilgrims Way somewhere, not sure, what do you reckon?

Ta ta

Tim

[Graham O]

Tim - Do you know west wickham ? its about 3 miles east of croydon on the A232. Let me know. There may be others coming direct to west wickham, so it will probably be difficult to change the start point now...

This is meet point. On the junction of West Wickhan High Street and Station Road. There is a pub called the swan there...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 27509&z=15

We will be stopping a couple of times...Probably penshurst for 10 mins, the at the top of ashdown, then when you grind to a halt on toys hill....

I reckon that its about 5 hours all in. So if we leave at 08.00 sharp, we should be back between 13.00 and 14.00 ish....is that OK....We'll probably average 17 miles an hour or so, so It will be quite hard as there are quite a few hills to take in...if you don't do any heroics early on and let carl do all the work on the front (sorry carl), you' should be ok..

Andrew - The official route starts in halstead. I was going to head up over biggin hill then cut across to Halstead and pick up the route from there. If we head round pilgrims way, it adds a few miles. Be good to see you along...

Ta Ta..

[carl f]

Tim,come along,i want to be back well in time for the tdf and beer.......
See you at the swan

[Andrew G]

If times coincide then I'll pop along for the first bit Carl and just turn back from where ever is convenient, Biggin Hill, Halstead, or somewhere else, not a problem.

[TimNick]

I'll be there at the Swan for 8, bit if I'm not it'll be because I've ben up most of the night with the baby crying and will default to (slow) CR!

...of the joy of newborns!

Ta ta

Tim

[Graham O]

Well..

Myself and Carl met up at 08.00. We waited a little while, but no other takers...

Weather was beautiful, and the route goes through some really nice countryside, with some really top views of the kent. WE stopped in penshurst for a cup of tea, then headed up to the top of ashdown, and then down into hartfield and back home via a fairluy direct route.

All in all a top day. I'll try to do this type of ride again soon, as its so much more of a challenge than the club run and includes loads decent climbs and decents, which carl seem to be having quite a bit fo fun with..

The ride was 72 miles from west wickham and I got home at 13.30 with an average speed of 17. It was quite a tough ride at a steady pace....

Thanks carl for the ride and for waiting for me...

Ta,

Graham..

[carl f]

Fantastic time,shame there we're no other takers for this ride,didn't think we would see you andrew!,tim must have had a new born sleepless night?
Thanks for the company and navigating me around the kent lanes graham
I did mention doing the kidds hill challenge when we got to the top of ashdown but for some reason graham didn't want to
Cheers
Carl

[TimNick]

Carl, sorry mate only got a couple of hours kip so, just managed the CR only, but atleast I didn't hold you both up with general lethargy.....Toys Hill would've not been fun. Anyhow if you are thinking of a similar ride/route in this summer/autumn I'll be up for it (and this time I'll beg the missus to do the night feed/shift!).

Ta ta

Tim