Lewisham Cyclists Flat Kent Ride
I plan to get the 8.29am from Charing Cross to Paddock Wood. Takes about 45 minutes. The ride will probably head out from Paddock Wood Station at around 9.30am.
You can, if you choose join the train at London Bridge or Waterloo East.
Our Flat Kent ride is always popular. We classify it hard due to the length, but it’s the one of the easiest of our longer rides over 50 miles. Full ride explores some 60 miles of one of the few areas of Kent without hills, the Beult river flood plain. So it’s a good way for folk who have done a lot of shorter, easier rides stretching themselves a bit and building stamina for our longer hillier rides. If you find it’s still a bit long, there are bailout points at stations along the way, after about 40 miles. If you find it too easy, there’s an optional hill at the end.
You will need a good base level of fitness and should be able to keep an average of around 11mph/18kmh. This is by no means fast but does mean being able to ride a bit faster than that on flat terrain, where we do try and pick up time. Most people ride road bikes or hybrids on this ride. A heavier bike will make it harder. Do contact the ride leader if you are not sure about your bike.
We will stop for lunch, but, that may be our only long stop, so bring snacks and water. Its a long ride and we don’t race, so with a good sociable lunch stop, usually at the farm cafe just past Biddenden I would allow a whole day. That gives folk time to enjoy the countryside etc.
I would hope to be back at Paddock Wood for the 16.30 or 17.00 back to London Bridge. However, this depends on pace of group, mechanicals etc. But, as I said, earlier bailout points are available on the same trainline. If you think you are likely to need that earlier bailout point, get a return ticket to Headcorn, which is two stops further on the same line as Paddock Wood and at about 40 miles in.
Read our general ride information here. If you still have questions call the ride leader, Jane, on 07395153782
I will post the final route nearer the ride date
NB IMPORTANT If you need to cancel a place you have booked on any of our rides you need to text the ride leader. If the ride is fully booked and you wish to take up a space if someone drops out, you also need to text the ride leader directly. They will get back to you.