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.
It's actually even worse because Australian mandatory bicycle helmet laws require the helmet to have an Australian standard sticker....
Part of this was for some Schwalbe tyres - order arrived this morning, so that big slice of humble pie set me up for the task.
"Federation"??
I don't know. I saw there was a proposal to cut e-bike duties, I think.
It's not called the RideLondon-Essex sportive anymore. It's called the Ford RideLondon-Essex sportive. We should all remember that.
Yes but we all know that the cycle lane will be forgotten once the pedestrian path is done
I think traffic and congestion will be worse in ten years time.
I wasn't aware that there's such a thing as an English Highway Code.
Preparing?! Some places?!...
Been using normal squirt this winter frozen water or liquid water seems to make no difference to it, bar a bit more frequent application if the...