March – EOM Ride Out (Saturday 18th)

This months ride is an adventure with Tim Bird across East Sussex and Kent to The Airport Café.

Note we scheduled for SATURDAY 18th, as Sundays are taken with Mothers Day and Ride School.

RIDE DETAILS

Saturday 18^th  March, pre-ride briefing at 9.50 am – depart 10 am.

If you want to enjoy a chat / coffee / Macky Ds before leaving, then Tim will be there from 9.30 am, to do just that.

Please ensure that your bike is fully fuelled before departing, the planned fuel stop is after lunch and a total distance from the start of 73 miles.

Meeting Point Location:  Maresfield McDonald’s

(A26/A22 Round about), Maresfield, Uckfield TN22 5EP

Closest Petrol Station: at meeting point and end points

Pre-ride coffee/tea: McDonald’s

Lunch stop: The Airport Café

Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford TN25 6DA

End point: Starbucks – Boship roundabout

A267 Hellingly, A22, Hailsham BN27 4DT

Ride Description:

The route out will take us through a good mix of A, B and some single-track roads passing through Sussex and Kent villages / Towns including Heathfield, Tenterden, Hamstreet, and finally past Port Lympne Wildlife Park before arriving at the highly rated Airport Café for lunch/brunch.

On the return we will initially retrace our route before heading a little south to pick up petrol, enjoy the delightful military road, then on through Rye, Broad Oak, Battle, and then our final stop at Starbucks on the Boship roundabout.

(Anticipated return is approx 3 pm)

If you have any questions or would like to be considered for the role of back-marker, then please contact me on timbird59@gmail.com

** New and Recent members – remember please you will need to have had your Initial Assessment Ride with an Instructor to attend this and any other club riding activities

** All members please carry your membership card on this and all club activities

REGISTRATION

There are no restrictions on how many can join the ride, but we ask that you please register by emailing the ride leader.  See details below.

Weather
As with all Group Ride Outs, please note that if the overnight temperature is forecast to be below 3C degrees at the ride start point, the ride out will be cancelled automatically.   There will not normally be a second notification if this is the case.

Back-Marker System
One of the riders will need to Back-Mark so any volunteer for this please advise the ride leader when you register for the ride.  If you have an orange Hi-Viz please bring it with you, or one may be provided on the day, or dependant on the size of the group an alternative marker may be agreed.

Please make sure you are fully conversant with the rules of the “BACK-MARKER SYSTEM“.  Following these correctly is vital to the smooth running of the day and reduces the risk of losing someone or everyone. Details of the BM system are on our Southernriders.org  website.   If you’re unsure on the day, ask one of the attending Ride Leader. They will be more than happy to clarify any issues you have.

Hi-Viz
If you wear hi-viz, please ensure it is not Orange as this is reserved for the ‘back-marker’ during our ride-outs.  We appreciate you may normally wear an orange hi-viz whilst riding. However, some find it confusing when in the middle of the group to see two or more riders with the orange hi-viz.  So, in an effort to avoid confusion and markers leaving their post prematurely ONLY the back-marker is to wear orange hi-viz.   Thank you