London to Dover Bike Ride

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• Guest 683

  • Registered: 11 Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1,052
  29 May 2012     09:12175417
  #1       report
  Picking up from the other thread I wonder what preparations are being made for the hundreds/thousands of cyclists and their families/supporters that will descend on Dover for this British Heart Foundation event in August
  http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/view-event.aspx?ps=1001424
  
  Does anyone know?
• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  29 May 2012     10:16175430
  #2       report
  I did initially think that at £25 pp there might be all sorts of singing and dancing laid on, but perhaps this money will go mostly to cover the train ride back.
  The whole thing might receive a significant boost if somebody proof-read the copy on the page in your link Mark. It is all but gibberish at the moment.
  I need to have a look at a contour map of the south east before I consider it, who knows though, it might well be all down hill?
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  29 May 2012     11:02175434
  #3       report
  They are normally extremely well organised events. Brighton ride always offers a bus service to and from london with bike travel. They have not told me if this is happening yet. If it is expect big queues of bikes and people on the seafront waiting for the loading! I for one am really looking forward to it, we have some fantastic events in Dover this year, very happy to live here. Let's hope we can pull it out the bag every year and not just because of the Jubilee and Olympics!
  Mark going by your other thread will you be dusting off the old bike for this one? It's got to be done, could be the only time they do it if it is not popular?
  Keeps politics to myself
• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  29 May 2012     11:18175441
  #4       report
  Only 7 hrs. 18 mins.
  
  http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/London_to_Dover-Cycle-Route-1385.html
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  29 May 2012     11:35175443
  #5       report
  Judging by the poster I very much doubt they would take us on the A2. BHF like to keep you safe on country roads
  Keeps politics to myself
• Guest 689

  • Registered: 10 Sep 2009
  • Posts: 102
  30 May 2012     21:05175743
  #6       report
  Helen, the BHF website says it is a challenging 70 miles - wonder how it compares to Sunday's London to Brighton? I am thinking about it though.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  30 May 2012     22:57175781
  #7       report
  Linda; the good thing is I dont have to worry about the journey home afterward so I can take my time. I have been all over Kent on my bike and yes there are hills far more challenging than the L2B bike rides, but I think riding in this area you end up getting used to them. The only hill i avoid like the plague is Chalky Lane!
  
  I would like to know what route they are taking. It's only 10 more miles than last Sunday so can't be that bad! I very much doubt it will sell out so I expect you have a good few months to decide, I hope you do. Could be the first and last time they do it!
  Keeps politics to myself
• Guest 668

  • Registered: 13 Apr 2008
  • Posts: 91
  31 May 2012     07:56175807
  #8       report
  I've ridden the L to B a few times and it avoids the major roads all the way, so doubt they'd funnel people along the A2 - after all, it's fairly boring and has no pubs :)
  
  Actually looking at the map a little closer they do avoid the major roads.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  17 August 2012     14:24187556
  #9       report
  Just to remind everyone that this event is happening tomorrow. I shall have an early rise from Dover to catch a train to Bromley where we start.
  
  I have seen the elevation for the route of 80 miles, it is certainly going to be a challenge with the heat as well!
  
  Please feel free to show support for all the riders on behalf of the British Heart Foundation by clapping them over the finish line on Dover's seafront. Start time in London is 07:30 and cut off time in Dover is 19:00.
  
  I'll be the one probably not sitting on my saddle by the end!
  Keeps politics to myself
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  17 August 2012     19:05187594
  #10       report
  good luck to you helen i certainly don't envy you doing it in this heat.
  
  hopefully people looking in will try to get down to see the riders home.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  18 August 2012     17:24187685
  #11       report
  preparations to greet the cyclists was underway early afternoon, the bottled water in the middle photo won't last long when the survivors arrive.
  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  
• Guest 715

  • Registered: 9 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2,438
  18 August 2012     22:21187724
  #12       report
  How did you do Helen?
  Audere est facere.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  19 August 2012     09:41187749
  #13       report
  Hiya Martin. Well I think we had every hill in Kent on that ride! There were some whoppers that made Dover's hills look small!
  
  Aside from that what a fantastic day and a fantastic scenic route. Have seen much of the real estate I shall be spending my future lottery win on!
  Good to see many people wearing T-Shirts of photos of loved ones reminding us all why we are riding for the British Heart Foundation.
  
  The route totally about 82 miles in all. Come midday the heat really did start to hit us and there were a few medical emergencies. 250 ppl started but I'm not sure how many finished. The water stops were all at pubs which was lovely as the landlords opened up their pub gardens too us.
  
  I would do this ride again but would only recommend it to anyone who trains in hilly areas. I started to see it taking its toll on people around the 56 mile mark. It was hill after hill for at least 10 miles and it was so hot.
  To keep it as a charity ride, encouraging those who do not bike as a hobby, I would not be surprised if they change the route a little next year to a flatter one. It was the first year the BHF did this ride so let's hope it continues! Always good to get people to Dover. I heard a lot of the riders talking about going to the obviously famous Cullins Yard afterwards!
  
  I will load up some photos once they are on my computer. Thanks to those on the seafront who supported us coming in. There was a nice crowd of clapping people!
  Keeps politics to myself
• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  19 August 2012     11:03187759
  #14       report
  Well done Helen, and well done all. [Yesterday was not a day for exertion.]
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• Guest 649

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 14,118
  19 August 2012     12:50187761
  #15       report
  Its a well done from me to ,I have done the London to Brighton a few times which is less miles and by thesound of it less hills,if I ever get fit again I would like to do the one to Dover and southend.it was very hot and you done very well to do it all, was there lots of folk out watching you all when you went by,and some giving out cold drinks I hope so.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  19 August 2012     13:50187776
  #16       report
  Thank you.
  No supports on route, it was not well advertised so as to be expected. Just friendly marshals at the water stops. Well marked but we had a good map given to us just in case. Nothing like the atmosphere of London to Brighton but it was nice not having to fight for the Road with other bikes like you do on that one!
  Might see you on next years ride then?!
  Keeps politics to myself
• Guest 656

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 2,262
  19 August 2012     14:19187779
  #17       report
  A Huge well done Helen, tackling that hilly route in such hot conditions is no mean feat. We were there to greet some of the cyclists coming back into Dover, they looked exausted, well done to everyone, such a great cause
  
  Good photos there Howard here are a few more
  
  

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  
• Jan Higgins

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 5 Jul 2010
  • Posts: 13,883
  19 August 2012     14:34187780
  #18       report
  Well done Helen
  
  It is such a shame events like this do not get the advance media publicity they deserve but that is up to the organisers I suppose.
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  I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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• Guest 641

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 2,335
  19 August 2012     17:36187802
  #19       report
  It was great to see so many cyclists riding for such a good cause, a wonderful day, it must have been exhausting in that heat. Well done Helen and all that took part
• Guest 649

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 14,118
  19 August 2012     17:59187806
  #20       report
  This was the first one,if they do it again there will be many more taking part,and you never know I just might be one of them. But as we said you done very very well.

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