The Way to the Sea

Description

208km cycling event starting from Cutty Sark Gardens, London. Controls at Grain, Minster On Sea, West Kingsdown - Collect A Receipt and Greenwich., plus 2 information controls.

This is a great 200 for anyone stepping up to the distance or as a taper ride for PBP. There'll be plenty of daylight in July, there's only one hilly section & you'll get refreshments at Nurstead, Grain & Minster.

Entries will open up at Easter.

The ride has a historical theme, starting next to the Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich, following the Thames estuary out to the Isle of Grain, passing by the Chatham Dockyards, onto the Isle of Sheppey before returning to finish in the Old Royal Naval college in Greenwich.

The first 135 km are relatively flat after which there's a hilly 55 km section over the North Downs on the return to London.

The route leaves Greenwich via Shooter's Hill and Bexley and the first control is in Nurstead (33 km). The ride then descends to the Hoo Peninsula, which is depicted in Dicken's 'Great Expectations' as an area of wetlands and salt marsh. The second control is at the beach car park in Grain (68 km). You are then 6 km as the crow flies to the next control, but it's 50 km of cycling back around the Medway. But at least you will get extensive views of the estuary. The ride crosses onto the Isle of Sheppey via the Kingsferry Bridge. There'll be a control with food at the beach in Minster (118 km).

After returning back to the mainland the ride then crosses the North Downs to an info control in Burham and then the final control in West Kingsdown at 176 km (Co-op / McColl's etc). There are a number of sharp hills in this section, the main one being Birling Hill after Snodland.

From West Kingsdown the ride descents to Eynsford before a final climb and then a straightforward ride through SE London, before finishing at The Old Brewery in the World Heritage grounds of the Greenwich naval college.

The most up to date routesheet and gpx files are attached, tho they may be small changes before the event due to road closures etc.

Ride With GPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42442623

Event Date and Location

Event Opens:

Fri 05 Jul 2024

Distance:

200 km (208 km) in 13h52

Time:

08:00 to finish by 21:52

Starting from:

Cutty Sark Gardens, London

Fee:

£9.00 (£9.00 when paying with PayPal)

Closing Date:

Enter soon as entries may close early if event is full

Entries close at:

140 riders

This event has been suspended due to COVID-19

NON-MEMBERS are welcome but need to register first. This is free - we ask you to do this so we can verify your contact details. You only need to register once and can then enter multiple events or in future convert to paid membership.

PARENTAL CONSENT is required for entrants under 18 years of age. This can be declared by the parent/guardian making an online entry on behalf of the under 18 rider. Otherwise, although an entry can be made online, the parent/guardian should complete and sign the parental consent form available here. More information about event entry terms related to under 18 year olds is here.