Sunday 20th October 2019

Eight members from the club took on the KCA 50 km in 3 hours reliability ride, starting from Potters Corner near Ashford.

Ian Pike, our second claim member from Lincoln Wheelers along with Keith Burden both decided to ride the event on their trikes which made the event more than interesting. Club stalwarts, Liz Grundy, Taj & Sue Matharoo, Alyson Nye & Bob Burden were joined by Roger Wilson who has represented the club throughout the season in many local Time Trials.

We all met up at Potters Corner to find Keith waiting for us on his trike, and we were all taken aback when Ian turned up on his. Paul Mepham (VC Elan), who has done so much for Kent Cycling throughout the season, was there to start us off.

The route took us along Sandyhurst Lane to join the Faversham Road at Eastwell Towers, Alyson getting off to a good start to get to the climb and give herself time to make it a shorter wait for the others at the top, then up Challock to the Halfway House continuing to Baddlesmere, turning left to the climbs past the Waggon & Horses to the top of Charing Hill.

With the hardest climbs now over, it was now the descent of Charing Hill turning through the Village, crossing the A20 and following the road through the dip at Little Chart into Pluckley. Taj, as always, as positive as ever keeping everybody on their toes before dropping down Pluckley Hill and turning right into Bell Lane. A great site of Bob negotiating the turn with a trike either side of him.

The trikes now hit the front and set a good pace along Bell Lane passing the Smarden Bell and onto the left hand turn at West Hoy Crossroads, where they took the turn at a good speed and plenty of leaning, the look on the motorist face emerging from the junction was that of absolute disbelief.

From here we were back on very familiar roads through to the Bull at Bethersden where sadly Ian had to leave us as he had to make his way back to Lincolnshire. The rest of the group continued through the village to pick up the lane through Etcheden Woods to Worten and Godinton completing the course in 2 hours 18 minutes.

Paul was there to sign us back in and issue our medals. This was a well organized event enjoyed by all of us.

Liz Grundy, Sue Matharoo, Taj Matharoo, Keith Burden, Roger Wilson, Alyson Nye & Bob Burden at the Finish