More laid-back/semi-urban/semi-XC in Kent?

Big dave 3

Hi,

I am wondering does anyone do more laid back riding say on roads/trails where they exist in the Kent area?

I see the XC in Kent thread but that seems a bit too much for me. Do people drive to the location first with their bikes on the roof or in the boot? I'd rather just ride somewhere without having to drive first. I appreciate the tracks/trails won't be as interesting but that's OK with me.

My idea of riding is a few people meeting up & cycling from 1 town to another & then back say Ashford-Canterbury then back using trails where possible or country roads & maybe stop for a beer or snack on the way at a non-racing pace


I am not criticising what anyone else does but I am just wondering does anyone else have the same way of thinking as me? Or am I missing something? :?

Or does anyone know where I can find more laid back rides details/locations/groups in the Kent area?

I often ride in a group with family/friends at the weekend, but this is more like a pubcrawl on bikes, which is the other extreme to the riding organised on here. I am after any type of riding in between the 2 extremes if that makes sense!

I am in Ashford but work shiftwork in Canterbury & often have days off in the week, when everyone I know is at work

MeddlE

You're not on your own mate. I don't do the pub stops but do take a more relaxed attitude to the ride. Longest ride I've done is 26 miles over 4 hours, try to keep as much of it off road as possible but a little road work is fine.

I'm up North-West Kent though.

Worth checking out www.bikehike.co.uk as you can do a search for rides in your area.

Big dave 3

Cheers Meddle, that seems like a very intersting site.

I'll have a play when I'm next planning a ride

Chitch

Hi, I live in Ashford and ride on my own or with a group of up to 12 or so mates, they live in North Kent/outskirts of London. If i ride from home for a quick hour or so i go to the Warren, Lodge wood, Broomfields woods or if i'm feeling more adventerous loops to the glider club at Challock, a Charing/Lenham loop or i take the bike in the car and ride from Wye in a big loop to Chilham and back. All sensible pace stuff, mostly cos i'm not super fit or super light, i just enjoy getting out. Keep meaning to get down and explore the woods around Hamstreet, anybody know what there like? Chitch

Big dave 3

No, I can't say I have been to the Hamstreet woods before.

For some reason I can't see the point of just going to a woods to cycle around it. I like to have a purpose for the ride i.e. to get to a pub or place far away, or just to ride for 40-60 mins to do a bit of CV training

Legless

The XC in Kent guys aren't that hardcore, i normally wheeze my way round most of thier rides and we spend far more time talking about bikes and kit and laughing at each other falling off than we do going at a racing pace.

Last ride we did 4 out of 5 of us were massively hungover and we basically crawled round feeling sorry for ourselves.

We do all prefer riding off road though, so tend to all meet up somewhere we can all ride without too much road action.

If you are in Canterbury you can ride to Blean Woods and then play there. The woods have by far some of the best single track the local area has to offer.

The Wednesday night ride can be quite quick, but normally we will go at the pace of the slowest people.

If you do fancy checking it out a bit then why not say hello at http://www.sketchymtb.co.uk we won't bite, and chances are there may be some other people up for a similar kind of ride.

Cheers

Rou

Big dave 3

OK cheers for the tips legless.

I work in Canterbury so am around there but haven't been to the Blean woods before.

Yeah Ive been watching that sketchymtb site on the sly & seeing what's happening! :roll: