San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

Sunday 8th March.

60 miles and 1700metres of downhill

Kent Invicta Grimpeur 50k & 100k. For those who don't know the format its a 50k (30) mile mile loop starting and finishing from Otford taking in such classic hills as Yorks Hill, One Tree Hill, Hubbard hill, Row dow.

And for those who want more, you can it all in reverse as well for a total of 1700m descending

£6 entry on the day

Oh yeah, you have to go up the hills as well

Is that the one we did last year Phill?

Yep, thats the one.

Ok in that case I'm busy !

Busy doing the ride with us. I've put your name down already.

I'll be there (along with 150 others). It's the hardest circuit last this year with Yorks as the final climb.

I,m booked in too.....need the training....but not looking forward to underiver, yorks...etc

cu there

Rob

It was good to see so many Fairies at the start of today's Audax.

I'm not sure how everyone found it today ? Some of the roads were in appaling condition with holes large enough to loose a front wheel in if you weren't careful.

The rain held off for me although it started to rain soon after finishing. Did anyone get wet And the wind was just a killer for all but the final run in from the top of Yorks which turned out to be exceptionally fast.

Having done this ride both ways now i.e. starting with Yorks and today finishing with Yorks, I would say that todays route is the tougher of the two. One tree hill followed by Hubbards and finally Yorks just took it out of me

Were you first back Phil?

Managed to make it back before the rain but I don't think Bez & Andy T-V were quite so fortunate.

Not quite Pat, I was 3rd back, 2 minutes behind 2 riders from BigFoot Cycles who were flying up the hills. How did you get on, I think you were about 5-10 mins behind me at the half way mark

Great to meet you at last Phill. Think we finished a little while after you, just started spots of rain as we got our card stamped at the finish in Otford. About 4.5 hours including all the stops at controls. I was not looking forward to this ride as its the longest and most hills I have done this year so far. Was glad to find that I felt good all the way round, but I agree with you Phill the Underiver, Hubbards and then Yorks was a vicious end to the ride and was glad of the fast downwind run into Otford from the top of Yorks.
The wind was a nightmare, and I took it very easy down all the hills, the front wheel was getting blown all over the road at high speed. Loads of potholes and water about but I dont mind that. All in all really enjoyed the ride and well pleased with my fitness. Think I make this ride a yearly fixture as its local and such a good test.

Rob

Yep, We (Geoff Ericson and I) got caught by rain just before Yorks Hill, and it was damned cold too! I rode my homebuilt wheels as the tyres on my aero wheels were unservicable. Just as well, given the winds. Nice to see the usual suspects and a good showing from SFACC. I didn't think I'd see Phil or Pat after the start but the reverse course caught Phil at Exdown and Pat at Rowdow. Excellent ride and my heart went out to the various marshalls at chilly checkpoints. Tougher than last years with the ogre of Yorks saved for the last bash!

Great event (apart from the hills ). Weather was good most of the way, a bit of rain but it was only really the wind that was a problem.

I actually found this slightly harder than the longer The Hell Of The Ashdown - maybe a mental thing on the second loop. Thinking 'Rowdow, One Tree, Hubbards, Yorks' probably was not that motivational.

Steve the organiser has put some provisional figures on YACF stating that 115 people started the 100k but only 69 finished it (presumably some packed and some were out of time) - so not a bad achievement for us finishers.

Good to meet you all at various points. Phill: as you saw I wasn't joking that it would take me a long time to get round!

I think a fair few riders tend to pack halfway and quite a few don't bother with the controls so that may account for the low number of finishers.

The last riders that I passed on my second loop were what looked like a father and daughter in Willesden kit on a tandem trike.