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Downland
Spring Sportive
(KM Big Kent Ride)
Sunday 1st April 2012
This year we are combining
our Spring Sportive with Kent Messenger's KM Big Kent Ride.
You have an option to ride
as a Sportive as normal or to raise funds for a charity of your choosing
(from the KM Charity list).
There is no obligation
to raise money for the ride.
We will donate £10 of your entrance fee to the KM Charity
(links to KM website)
All riders will have access to free
download of a photograph taken of them during the ride by Phil O'Connor from
www.sportivephoto.com
Registration Details
The ride starts from Downland Cycles in Canterbury. CT2 7JA
We will be opening for registration from 8.00am on Sunday morning and will close at 10am (or after the first train from London). There will be a desk where you will receive your timing card, zip ties and ride number. Please display your number where it can be seen for photographs, it will make it easier for you to find photographs of yourself taken during the event.
riders can leave any time between 8.30am and 10am.
Ride Parking
There is no parking at Downland Cycles for the event, please use public car parks or the park and ride and ride to the start.
An interactive map of car parking in Canterbury can be found at http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/gis/wmn.php?catid=1
On street free parking is possible on Broad Oak Road, just along from the shop, we cannot guarantee availability
Changing Rooms
There will be changing rooms for you to change into cycle kit and an area for you to leave your clothes at your own risk.
Toilets have been hired in for the event.
Facilities Before the Ride
Tea coffee and biscuits will be served to you by Pat our Tea Lady on arrival. The shop will be open for you to stock up on SIS energy bars/gels and pick up any last minute bits and pieces you have forgotten, tubes, pumps, patches etc.
Support During the Ride
You will be supported during the ride.
On the 110 km route there will be 1 food and drink stops, this will be at Newington Village Hall. Distance to the food stop is 63 km
On the 100 mile there will be 2 food and drink stops, these will both be at Newington Village Hall. Distance to the food stops are 63 km for the first stop and 114 km to the second.
Here you will be able to top up on Jaffa cakes, rolls, bananas, water and SIS drinks.
Tea and Coffee will also be available for those who need a bit more of a break or warming up before the hills start.
Following you around there will be a broom wagon. Mechanic support will be at the food stops.
(links to KM website)
The Route
The ride has been designed to be varied and interesting, flat, undulating, hills, a bit of everything, with minimal navigation. Try to have a look around during the ride, there is some lovely scenery out there, don't just stare at the patch of tarmac in front of your wheel.
The route will be signposted with yellow signs with black arrows, but please also familiarise yourself before you leave with the online map. As a back up there will be chalk arrows at junctions, hopefully no opportunists will take amusement in turning our well placed signs around.
110km Route
100 mile route
Preliminary routes are here and are subject to change
depending on road conditions and repairs
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=329801
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=329810
for those of you with satnav then the gpx file can be downloaded from bikeroutetoaster
An ordanance survey map will be on display at the start please familiarise your self with the route before you leave.
Sunset is at 7.30pm. So there should be no problem with lighting during the ride. There will be a cut off time of 3.30pm at the second food stop. Anyone failing to meet cut off times will be given the option of a lift in the broom wagon or continuing the ride without support or signage.
Riding the Route
At the start please have your timing card ready to hand in for stamping. You don't carry it with you (it will get damp and sweaty)
Please ride safely and considerately to other road users. Kent is highly populated and the route does need to cross over some busy roads. Please take care at these junctions.
On Your Return
On your return your time calculated and you will get a small goodie bag.
After that please help yourself to teas, coffees, hot soup, cakes and sandwiches and have a look around the shop.
(links to KM website)
Previous Comments
A big thank you for yesterday, a great event. Fabulous route - even those
hills around Hythe were enjoyable. I thought the signage was particularly
good and the rolls at the feed stations were a very welcome change from
bananas. All in all a very well organised event and I look forward to the
autumn ride.
Best wishes
Andrew Bradley
A quick line to say thank you for the event. As usual the wind seems to blow most days on the marsh.
We noted the comments before the start about missing signs and that alougth they had been replaced one couldn't be sure they wouldn't disappear again. The R turn to Smeeth did disappear for a 2nd time but we turned there and spoke to a VC deal rider -who was leading a gentle paced ride the older casual cycling types- and he reassured us we were on the right road.
Anyway, thanks for a well signposted event and I would have stayed to consume more deliscious cake and tea but I was getting cold so went soon after finishing.
Hope to be there next year and persuade some club mates to come, mind you after having said in my report for my club website that 2 of the hills had 1 arrow status it might put them off.
Cheers
Eddie Land. West Kent Road Club.
Bryan, just a note to thank you and the team for an excellent sportive
yesterday. Great organisation, a killer route, and a really friendly and
helpful team.
Thanks so much.
Richard Greensted
Hi Bryan and all at Downlands.
I took part in yesterdays sportive from Downlands. This has got to be by far the best and most well organised sportive that I have taken part in. From the start it was easy to book on line with good communication from yourself. A big thanks to your mechanic Andy on the advice he gave me on tyres, consequently i rode the 100m without a puncture.
The organisation at the start was perfect, tea,coffee,biscuits, toilet facilities and 3 very funny dogs to entertain us before the start. The registration was simple, quick and easy to understand.
The route itself was brilliant, taking in the best parts of Kent, without having to stop to check our bearings, because the signage was again so easy to follow.
The food stops again were the best, proper food [rolls] so needed in an event like this, [I can only eat so many Gel bars in a day.]
On our return we were then treated to so many great cakes, more tea and coffee.
Congratulations to all at Downlands for such a well run event.
See you again next year.
Many Thanks once again.
Bob Connell.
Thanks for such a great event yesterday. Really enjoyable with an
interesting course (although some of those hill towards the end were a
bit harsh), great signposting and a friendly crew out there helping us
around.
Look forward to the next one!!
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