The name for this Sportive comes from WW2 as this part of Kent was within range of the German Guns in France and had a tough time so you can expect a challenging Sportive!
The event is based at the Kent County Showground at the top of the Downs, with easy access to the M2 and M20, has good facilities and has immediate access to quiet roads.
The route has two very distinct parts; the first part of the course drops down from the Event Centre North out towards the River Medway Estuary and has stunning views of the River and Isle of Sheppey. It then follows the banks of the river for some time, then at Standard Hill Epic and Standard riders split from the Short Route and head east to the rolling hills of the Downs.
Along Hearts Delight Lane to the 11th century village of Tunstall, (mentioned in the Doomesday Book), to the first major climb of the day “Stockers Hill”. Spectacular views will be seen as the course rolls along Kingsdown until the Standard course splits at Doddington.
A number of mid-range climbs among the ever frequent apple orchards and coast houses and an interesting short decent at Winding Hill (it’s all in the name!), brings the Epic riders to the course turning point at Old Wives Lees. Then back towards Doddington and re-connecting with the Standard Route and the long steady climb through Ringlestone and up to Black Post Crossroads through wonderful woodland and down views.
On the way home the route joins back with the Short route for the long, very gradual climb back up to the welcomed Event Centre, (so make sure you have something left for this final challenge!)
The riders will receive a well-deserved medal! Post event refreshments and massages will also be waiting. This end of the season sportive has remarkable views, fantastic countryside, endless orchards and coast houses.
If anyone was guilty of carelessness, it was the pedestrian who walked out on to the road directly in front of a cylist.
And even if the story true, it is irrelevant, since no one is asserting that a lid will prevent slipped discs or stop you falling down mountains.
Look at the angry man. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/06/bournemouth-road...
Sadly, any malicious arsehole can walk into Screwfix and pick up a kilo of them for £9
From my experience (and that's all I'll claim) this made me go rather too high. A bike fitter brought my saddle down a lot (35 mm) and it felt...
"There are three cassette options: 11-44T, 10-44T or 10-36T, each of which will fit a traditional 11-speed HG-style driver body."...
" over 50% say more cameras would “change their behaviour” " It's a well known fact the carrot doesn't work for most motorist, but the big stick does.
That Katie Bower of the OHSP seems to have the right idea on some of the priorities of bicycle safety month.
Well done Cheshire constabulary.
'Road test' is one of the boxes to be ticked in the checklist used by my local mechanic