Nick set off to ride from Norwich to Royal Tonbridge Wells today. After leaving at 07:30 he phoned Michelle at 10:30 to say he didn't think he would get there before 10pm! The wind was the problem- but he always says that.
The wind was forecasted as a 15 to 20mph South-Westerly, so he expected to do about 15mph at best but by the time he got near Bury St Edmund he was running out of gas and was adjusting his estimated speed down to about 12mph. By 1pm all water had been drunk and fuel was needed so when a "One-Stop" came into view just after Braintree he parked up and bought water, Mars bars, Coke, a chicken wrap and a Scotch egg and after that little lot he was too bloated to move so he had a power-siesta on a park bench before setting off again. The route through Essex was not as windy as Norfolk and Suffolk so progress improved and Nick rolled into Tilbury at about 4:30, at which time the satnav packed up! It is a miracle that the Tilbury-Gravesend passenger ferry is ever used as it is so cleverly hidden. Nick asked several people for directions and finally, when standing unknowingly in the ferry car park Nick asked a bloke where the ferry port was - he gave him a strange look and said "you're standing next to it mate". The map shown on the right is an approximation of the route because the actual GPX file was too large to be uploaded onto the mapometer.com web-site. The actual route avoided main roads but was by necessity 40 km longer.
The passage across the Thames was smooth but Nick was soon lost in Gravesend, eventually escaping into 
the Kent countryside (taking care to avoid the Trevor MacDonaldesque faux pas). Kent was by far the hilliest of the 4 counties and in the distance Nick spotted a cyclist toiling up an incline. Over the next 2 miles he gradually overhauled him and sneakily cycled along behind for a bit of shelter, whilst simultaneously examining the Alfine rear hub of the bike in front. Eventually the other rider spotted him and said "Hi," Nick pulled level and they exchanged pleasantries. "Are you from around here?" Asked the other rider. "No I'm from Norwich," Nick replied. "Wow! what a coincidence" said Alfine hub. "I have just cycled here from Diss!" Alfine was a bit disappointed when Nick didn't seem very impressed. "Where have you come from?", "Norwich", Nick responded, "No!, Where have you come from today!" "Norwich" Nick repeated. Alfine could understand why Nick had not been overly impressed - its a small world. Alfine - the other rider was in training for the monstrous LEL (London, Edinburgh, London) bike ride which is probably the toughest cycle event in the UK The riders only stop to sleep and eat - the whole thing is a continuous, time-limited race against the clock. Nick rolled into RTW just before 8pm in time for his usual favourite recovery fuel, beer and loads of peanuts, plus some cake - bliss!
the Kent countryside (taking care to avoid the Trevor MacDonaldesque faux pas). Kent was by far the hilliest of the 4 counties and in the distance Nick spotted a cyclist toiling up an incline. Over the next 2 miles he gradually overhauled him and sneakily cycled along behind for a bit of shelter, whilst simultaneously examining the Alfine rear hub of the bike in front. Eventually the other rider spotted him and said "Hi," Nick pulled level and they exchanged pleasantries. "Are you from around here?" Asked the other rider. "No I'm from Norwich," Nick replied. "Wow! what a coincidence" said Alfine hub. "I have just cycled here from Diss!" Alfine was a bit disappointed when Nick didn't seem very impressed. "Where have you come from?", "Norwich", Nick responded, "No!, Where have you come from today!" "Norwich" Nick repeated. Alfine could understand why Nick had not been overly impressed - its a small world. Alfine - the other rider was in training for the monstrous LEL (London, Edinburgh, London) bike ride which is probably the toughest cycle event in the UK The riders only stop to sleep and eat - the whole thing is a continuous, time-limited race against the clock. Nick rolled into RTW just before 8pm in time for his usual favourite recovery fuel, beer and loads of peanuts, plus some cake - bliss!
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