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OPINION

London to Hastings: It's Wen to Wen time again

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by Sam Walker
Thu, Jul 16, 2015 06:25
7
London to Hastings: It's Wen to Wen time again London to Hastings: It's Wen to Wen time again London to Hastings: It's Wen to Wen time again London to Hastings: It's Wen to Wen time again
W2W
Riding from the Smoke to the sea

Planning a group ride is like planning a wedding, with invitations to be sent out, cake to source, brocade to embroider… no wait, it's not like that.

It's like planning the bachelor party – mostly for the blokes (sadly; I would love to have more women along), there's probably a pub involved, you have to rent a venue with a pole… no, it's not like that either.


This looks like a good venue, let's see if they do catering

 

Is it like planning a funeral? Prepared notes, solemnity as we consider the journey ahead into the unknown, lots of black?

OK, none of the above. But planning a ride is a bit more complicated than pointing a direction and saying let's go.

Let's start with this: Do you have any plans for Saturday the 25th of July that don't involve cycling ~82 hilly miles from London to Hastings? No? Then you might consider joining me for this spin to the sea.

Leaving at 8.30 from the southwest corner of Somerset House, which is on the northeast corner of Waterloo Bridge. I don't know exactly how long it will take, but it would be wise to pencil in most of the day.

Route here, though note the last stretch of it (around mile 60) may be shortened on the day to go through Battle, depending on our rate of progress.

Please have a good look at that topographic profile to ensure this is your cup of tea.

Here's last year's ride report.

If you're interested, post below or email me: london2hastings [at] gmail.com

London
Hastings

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7 comments

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Anquetilslovechild | 9 years ago
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Hi Sam,

I am very tempted by this ride as I'm a Londoner moving to St Leonards (a mile or so from Hastings) in a couple of weeks and would love to share a group ride down that way to get my bearings. BUT, I'm seeing this proposal for the first time at 21:30 on Fri.
24/07 having made no concession to my Friday evening intake of wine for the endeavour. If I'm good tomorrow morning I will get down to Somerset House. If not, I would love to be part of a repeat ride if it happens.

Wish all the best to those who go and 'props' to Russkinks; I had to dismount and walk back up the last section of Westerham Hill three weeks ago because it's just SO unfriendly!

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Sam Walker | 9 years ago
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If you're still interested Saturday morning, it's still on. To further answer Ramz, my best estimate is we'll be going through Westerham around 11. ish. (We're not in a hurry.)

Last-minute deciders welcome.

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Russkinks | 9 years ago
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Now this does sound interesting! What with westerham hill being an old adversary of mine!

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Sam Walker | 9 years ago
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We can try. Perhaps after a recce next week I can provide a guesstimate of when we'll likely be rolling through Westerham.

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Ramz | 9 years ago
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Can people meet up with you on the way? I would be interested in joining at about mile 25 (Westerham).

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Sam Walker | 9 years ago
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The first Wen to Wen (then branded 'the Hastings Hustle') in 2012 landed exactly there.

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Jimbomitch | 9 years ago
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Sadly I cant do the ride to my home town, but if you need a nice post ride pub, The Dolphin in The Old Town (opposite the black net huts) is my Aunt and Uncle's place.

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