25th Nov ASSOS Gravel ride with London’s Bicycle Film Festiv

TamalaMcgee · Post by **TamalaMcgee** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 6:49 pm

75 km loop from Deptford.

Check points and all sorts of nonsense. Bet there will even be mud and tyre choice dilemmas...(not guaranteed) and films about bikes and cycling after.

Official blurb below:

Here at ASSOS LDN we are particularly excited to be supporting the Bicycle Film Festival's Gravel Ride and we hope that as many of you will join us as possible!

All of the information and how to register can be found over on this sign-up website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bicycle-fi ... 1557008400

But here's a brief run-through of the most important things to know about this very cool ride.:

1. You need to sign up for this Gravel Ride. It's free, but donations to the air ambulance are welcomed.
2. You'll go south into Kent on bike paths, country lanes, singletrack and farm tracks. It could be muddy, it will most definitely be fun.
3. It's roughly 75 km, with about a 50/50 split of tarmac and off-road terrain – gravel or CX, recommended minimum tire width is 30c. You'll set off in groups of 8 at 10 minute intervals.
4. There are checkpoints on route that you'll need to collect stamps at – then, of course, there's the prize ceremony before the films are shown at 14.00. There are a ton of great prizes, including a frame from Brothers Cycles.

The ride organisers have done a sterling job sorting out the logistics...

Go to the sign-up page to get the lowdown: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bicycle-fi ... 1557008400

NikTsoutsos · Post by **NikTsoutsos** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 7:59 pm

Thanks for pointing this out Tamala, I've just registered, sounds loads of fun and will help fulfill my need for forests and gravel at the moment!

Steve Hanks · Post by **Steve Hanks** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:00 pm

I'm in & registered.

TamalaMcgee · Post by **TamalaMcgee** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:41 pm

Actually start and end venues are different so I won’t drive it!! Long day on a bike it is then!

PaulShipway · Post by **PaulShipway** » Tue Nov 06, 2018 6:31 am

Also registered

Steve Hanks · Post by **Steve Hanks** » Tue Nov 06, 2018 7:42 am

I may need a link up and guide there and back... Thats determined gravel vs mtb, a road orientated bike with 37c tyres is going to be fun...

AndyKeene · Post by **AndyKeene** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 1:33 pm

I'm planning on doing this tomorrow. Weather forecast doesn't look too bad.

Anyone else riding down?

NikTsoutsos · Post by **NikTsoutsos** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:44 pm

Unfortunately I'm cancelling, my MTB needs a new bottom bracket for me to ride, so will probably join the even later road ride. If anyone wants my registration you're welcome to use my name and that'll probably be fine.

Steve Hanks · Post by **Steve Hanks** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:04 pm

I'm not allowed. Instructions from the boss...

LeonardDelicaet · Post by **LeonardDelicaet** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 6:53 pm

I did a road ride in Kent and got properly peed on. I cannot imagine that an off-road ride on road bikes would have been much drier. Or warmer.

Tam's ride title oozes mud so i wonder if I'd still be washing my bike now had I gone?

Kudos to all of you who did it.

TamalaMcgee · Post by **TamalaMcgee** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:04 pm

Was very cold and muddy. Proper winter character building. For me it was a skid frenzy on the wrong tyres, rock hard as I couldn’t unscrew valve to let air out. Who knew skidding down a muddy hill at speed could be so exciting. It was a shame I was too cold to stay to watch the films at the end, think most had to flee home to warm up!
For some there was the added entertainment of a ‘get off of my land’ farmer who called the Police and a load of mud soaked cyclists were escorted out of a field!

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AndyKeene · Post by **AndyKeene** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:50 pm

Oh, didn’t think anyone was going....

Oh well, lucky escape in many ways by the look of things.

Chris Clague · Post by **Chris Clague** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:38 pm

For the life of me I can’t understand why Tam isn’t riding CX.

andrewnewman · Post by **andrewnewman** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 8:59 am

I thought it was a really good day out. Once you get out of town into Kent, there's some amazing forested single track, with sharp climbs and fast descents. Certainly more varied than anything we get in Hertfordshire. It was cold, and it was wet, and it was muddy, but it was that soupy mud that doesn't bog you down.

Also, it wasn't a race, so I can't say I won, but I came in about 20 minutes before the second fastest rider. If I didn't win did I at least "win?" I'm starting to think my mediocre performance in all those CX races was down to the fact that they were less than three hours long.

TamalaMcgee · Post by **TamalaMcgee** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 9:42 am

Well done Andrew, that’s a mighty win! Not even a “win”. There were prizes? They were going to do prize giving later in the afternoon alongside film viewings but I had to go, too cold to sit still even in dry kit.
I agree with you Kent off road was really splendid and varied and that it’s more fun (and worth all the laundry and bike washing) if it’s a long distance affair!

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