San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

Just entered this one:
http://www.action.org.uk/get_involved/castleride.php

I have entered this one as well.

Hi, I am going to enter this, just a note its the 17th of May.

I got confused about a mid week sportive, then i realised it was the 17th

I did this in 2008. At the time the furthest I had cycled (in one go).

It's a great route - some/ much of it familiar to Fairies from various club runs - and a good atmosphere.

However apart from the cycling itself the thing I remember most was how much food was provided. I quote from last years details:

Refreshments are at 13.2, 29.3, 71.3 and 88.4 miles. Lunch is provided at 56.3 miles.

I weighed myself before and after - I had gained weight but suppose I didn't have to stop at all of them. In my defence a couple were actually control points.

Won't be doing it this year as it clashes with an Audax event I'm entering.

I live near tonbridge and still have not done this yet......very tempted this year. Does anyone know is the route on main roads or lanes?

Rob

I just entered the Castle Ride.

For your info, I just received an email detailing they have over 500 entrants now and are expecting about 1000 in total.

I dont know if there is any limit to tickets, but if anyone else is thinking about doing it, it might be worth looking at it now.

Have Fun everyone on this ride tomorrow.

If you want to step up the distance a bit, How about trying the Fairies 200k Audax on the 28th June.

On my way home today I passed coming the other way what appeared to be Henry VIII and Ann-Bolin riding a Tandem. I presume they were part of the Castle ride ?

How did you all cope today ?

Interesting ride today with the ever changing weather. Arrived late as I thought the race started at 9am but 8am was the correct starting time, but it made a change for me to over take riders rather than the usual other way around. The weather was fine up to the first stop at Rochester castle when it started raining and by the time the bigs hills were upon me it felt as if I was cycling though a car wash, haven't been so wet on a bike in a long time.

This happened on and off for the next 20 miles or so, by this time I was looking out the corner of my eye for a train station to get me back home. The wind picked up which at first was great as it dried my wet clothes/feet but then the headwind came. Found a fast group for a free tow up to 75miles (Dulwich pag lads) but my chain came off Bodiam Castle hill so that was the end of that.

Then for last 15 miles it was a mind game to keep going and not slow down, and passing a few people on the way helped. I've never seen so many people at the side of the road with punctures there must have been over 50 that I saw.

In the end completed in six hours (which felt along time), I must say that the organisation was first class with the route marked out very well and the food stops were just fab (I don't get fed that well at home).

Anyway I'm glad it's over for another year.

It was a very wet first half of the day, almost had a sense of humour failure at Liverton Street, couldn't really see with the rain, hit one of the sunken man hole covers and punctured, trying to stop halfway down the hill was interesting to say the least. Having to fix a puncture so close to home, whilst getting completely soaking wet, it was very tempting just to ride home (the car being at Tonbridge was a slight issue though). I carried on though, thought as it was my second puncture of the day, nothing else could go wrong.

The stop at Headcorn was a welcome relief, chance for a dry sit down and warm up slightly. On leaving it wasn't long before going down another hill, I heard air escaping from the front wheel. Turns out my wheel had taken the manhole incident not entirely to it's liking, and there was a slight rough part that had made a small cut in the tyre. Now normally I would have an issue, as both spare tubes had been used, luckily the night before I had put some spare patches in my saddle bag, so I had to repair the tube, and do a temp repair on the tyre. I thought the last 35 miles were going to be fun.

Luckily I had no more further problems, and it was a nice run back to the finish, with the sun making brief appearances. I took about 7 and 1/2 hours with stops and punctures, so not a quick ride, but still good miles, and felt pretty good at the end.

As Iann has said great organisation, well mark route, and plenty of food, and helpful mechanics at some of the stops. Met Kate Bosley and her friend Caroline at the start, and Kate Alderson and Brian Wesson along the ride.