Join me and my good pal Gokhan as we hit the North Kent coast taking in Rochester, Whitstable, Reculver towers along from Herne bay and Canterbury. I’d not ridden to the North Kent coast before but had spent many years as a child at Whitstable and Herne bay so riding there brought back many nice memories. We head to Whitstable, grab some food and then along the coast to Reculver towers…..an epic sight with views for miles overland and sea, a special place. Heading down to Canterbury we rode through some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever ridden in the UK, exceptional. Really enjoyed making this video so I hope you like it guys 🤘
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Links
Route with Komoot https://www.komoot.com/tour/2316545037?ref=itd&share_token=aQyggK0Wd1FNjx53SktzmGyEs7jy3EDjthhKqK3HKsd4rh6Yom
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Video intro created by Charles Christie, for Custom Animations, Logos, Videography and more contact – charles.christie@outlook.com
you always look the part I have to say yeah I’m trying to act the part too but I think I’m just like past my prime for that you’re going to race to the top aren’t you so I can get a picture to the top that way and then if you take your jelly off and just wave it in the air if they can’t see you they shouldn’t be driving to be fair so you actually blend in really well with the background you know you match the um summer colors of the the I love this yeah this is This has got to be one of the best places I’ve ridden in the UK morning guys like today going to be heading to Witville Kent beautiful seaside town quite gentrified now from when I used to go years ago but it’s going to be good i haven’t been there i’ve never ridden there so this is a new one for us meeting Doc along the way haven’t seen him for a while so that will be cool and we’ll see if we’ve got the legs to get back but it’s going to be a cool cool ride if you’re new to the channel please like comment and subscribe if you’re an existing viewer please like comment share and I’ll see you along the road join us in a bit it is [Music] [Music] [Music] me and Gawk have hit um Kent now so I met him in Brmley he’s got some cool kit look always looks cool go always um yeah so we’ve Yeah we’ve hit Kent quite a few a-ros like fair few dual carriageways so far but I think it’s we’ve just hit a really nice country part so So it’s a bit more like single track bit more built up you just got to be have your wits about you a little bit cuz these are the 60 mph roads so I’m going to introduce you to Gawk in a minute i’m sure you’ve met him he’s been on the vlog before hi Gawk hey how you feeling about today wit the ball pretty good yeah it’s Yeah it’s a nice day day off for me it’s meant to be sunny isn’t it yeah I think it’s going to clear out eventually doc is like the cycling fashion guru i take my lead off of him i’m not quite I’m not quite there but you always look the part I have to say uh yeah I’m trying to act the part too but I think I’m just like pass my prime for that no you’re not you’re in good shape yeah go’s in good shape he he you sort of ride with him and he’s kind of like Yeah yeah this pace is fine but you know deep that like he cycles every day like he can smash it if he wants to so puts me to shame but you’re all right mate we haven’t ridden for a while have we yeah it’s been a while have you yeah so yeah we’re going to we we’ve just like I said we’ve just hit Kent i’m not sure what the route’s going to be like there’s not many hills which kind of suggests there’s a you know a few a-rows dual carriageways but we don’t want loads of climbing today so yeah we’re going to hit Witable may stop somewhere first if we do we’ll sit and chat a little bit and um enjoy the route here we go go go go enjoy it [Music] hit it [Music] [Music] heat heat [Music] [Music] so we’ve got we’ve had a I plan my route with Kimoot which is what I normally do anyway and it’s taken us slightly off road a few cycle routes and things like that but to be honest they’ve been really pleasant so far a few weird things where it kind of I don’t know if any of you use kimoot but where it kind of you’ll be on a main road take you off of the main road into like almost like a layby and then you come back onto the main road so it’s a bit bizarre if you have a look at this oh some would even say I’m gravel riding right it’s really pleasant it’s actually really pleasant we’re about 46k in feel pleasantly comfortable is that worrying i don’t want to speak too soon do you know what I mean g i was just saying to the viewers is this official gravel riding no no i mean for us roadies everything that’s not fresh tarmac is a gravel yeah is a gravel exactly even a bobbly little part is gravel bypass are officially gravel yeah yeah exactly yeah so we’re Gox just pointed out where we’re near the cycle park near Graves End so I think it’s the largest circuit close to London something like that so you Yeah you’ve done three three races at this part i’ve done two or I think I did I did three one of my first races was here it was hard as hell was it was it yeah windy and long and But it was fun it’s always fun do you do it on your best bike well back then I had just the one yeah yeah so I did have to do it on fast bike but nowadays I don’t think I would i know just in Have you had a little crash racing i’ve had a crash racing a few years ago the bike was okay i was I cracked the rib oh that was all right i was going to say is always about the bike really isn’t it as long as the bike’s all right yeah i think I saved the bike with my body did we go past it have we gone past it cuz I swear there was a viewing point then um you can get closer to it probably i think I think if we go right near it I’ll get you a little uh shot of the cycle park y I’m sure a few of you you guys have been as well so I’m going to jump off and see if we can find it in a bit [Music] [Music] everything is going to be all right [Music] just relax and enjoy [Music] yeah so that was um Psycho Park in Graves End and it looks mad we might go there one day got um race there like he said but that’s quite cool it’s kind of got perfect little setup it looks really good there was a lot of people there today it’s like a Wednesday morning but there seems to be loads of people isn’t there yeah everyone keeps the bike so maybe we’ll go there one day or Lee Valley yeah yeah that’s that’s good yeah it’s going to take me around Lee Valley have you guys been there i quite fancy that i know it’s meant to be good right but where are we going to stop again where’s the where’s the pit stop i think Rochester like got 66k yeah exactly yeah so yeah we’re going to be stopping again soon so I’ll jump on then and we’ll have a chat all right in a bit a little [Music] [Music] whippy [Music] so this is Do you know the name of this castle i think it’s castle yeah funny that isn’t it yeah i don’t think they got creative with that one yeah this um this is beautiful so you got like loads of ground at the base like walkways paths and benches and lovely view of the river really really nice and then the castle you’re going to race to the top aren’t you so I can get a picture to the top that way and then if you take your jelly off and just wave it in the air like you’ve conquered the I’m actually going to take it off anyway it’s getting warm the map coming out this is good this is cool kit is this the Arrow range i actually know what they call this one they have so many different names and this is the tight fitting one yeah so they’re normally the most expensive ones aren’t they the tight fitting ones that’s what I’ve learned from Yeah less fabric more money yeah which is mad isn’t it gawk has found a little Yeah it’s a cafe on the hill so we’ll just get a little snack and then on to wits the ball and then we’ll kind of see if we got the legs to go back or Yeah part of the way maybe yeah part of the way just see see how we feel um kind of up for a long one but I think you just got to see when once you get 100k in you kind of know don’t you if you got the legs or not yeah at least we can try to do the the quiet nicer bits of Kent and Yeah yeah exactly do the actual London side of it yeah exactly yeah but we’ll see we’ll see yeah we’ll see right all right we’re going to go get a bite to eat yeah how nice is this beautiful and the sun’s come out for us yes that means when we get to Witster we got an awesome view so you’ll see that shortly yeah got chose this so we’ve stopped off at the death cap we’re just going to fuel up cheese tuna melt coffee and uh yeah lovely view it’s really weird as you come in from one side it’s like a bit run down and then you come over the bridge and you’re in this and it’s it’s beautiful right we’re going to wolf this down and on to Wisdom [Music] a little [Music] [Music] baby [Music] Not a little [Music] [Music] so we’re at Witable this bit is fairly small so it’s nice to walk through but if you’re cycling it’s probably not ideal so we’ve got a little coffee stop up the road and it’s meant to look overlook the sea but this is pretty really really nice got just checking his bike out after cleaning is that what you were doing yeah we we went through like a puddle in the road and he was like “We got to watch that.” And you sort of went up on the curb didn’t you and then came back down it makes Yeah I’m I’m a bit like that but with a white bike you kind of have to Yeah it’s already got a few water stains on it go home it’s the bibs you need to be careful of look yeah true that too I guess white on me today white helmet it looks good i was going to say I’ve got daytime running lights so that people can see me coming out of turning i was thinking if they can’t see you they shouldn’t be driving to be fair so right should we try and find this coffee stop then yeah let’s do it and then also we’ve got along the coast a bit near H yeah potentially going to fort yeah a little fort yeah so yeah we’ll keep you we’ll let you know when we get to the stop anyway so we’ve stopped off at this it’s called the Sea View Cafe cheap and cheerful in Witable but the view is exceptional and you can keep the bike outside and it’s just nice and easy so yeah and they’ve got toilets it is It is cash only though so beware make sure you’ve got some some cash on you so yes we lock the bikes up there just park the bikes up there outside the cafe if you’re outside obviously you want to come here when the weather’s good loads of places to sit you’ve got loads of benches along there show you the sea as well have a look at this that wit’s just basically there yeah yeah so we’re going to we’re going to go and look at some ruins now it’s just along the coast so her bay is that way it’s a little bit further along from her Bay which is where I used to go a lot as a kid actually so I’m looking forward to going there and then we’re going to go down to Canterbury and probably head home how you feeling G you still got the energy got the legs quick pit stop for the toilet and then we go on to these Are they ruins you know what they’re called yeah yeah recolver fort recover yeah okay recover so hopefully we can recover in time to go to recover yeah right so bad so so bad right in a Right so we’re fueled up C view Cafe wit the ball i had walnut and coffee cake what did you go for lemon drizzle dizzle was it good it was good i just don’t like the icing usually or like the whipped cream on top so I just brush it away oh my god that’s favorite bit that’s my favorite bit i loved it i should have given it to you yeah yeah so we’re a bit sugared out we kind of They’d stopped serving savory at this point so yeah so we’re going to be going to these ruins got said they’re he’s been before he said they’re really beautiful we keep hitting these roads near dual carriageways and to they’re not that bad i normally like I said before I normally dread them but actually they’re pretty smooth they don’t obviously don’t really get maybe they do get used much hopefully they do but it’s just a it is nicer because the cars around here further you get to the coast honestly don’t know if it’s they they don’t they just don’t care they Oh my look at that yeah they don’t care so if you’re in their way you’re going over you’re going down we still probably got another maybe 30 40k so it’s good i’m enjoying it good thing is the weather’s nice oh yeah it takes We’re literally dodging branches now look at this look I think I hit my my head so they got Yeah not feeling too bad but it’s good it’s good this is a lovely There’s some lovely roads getting down there was a is a bit sketchy but there’s some nice roads once you get up towards the coast up the Kent Coast and we could have gone through the Kent Hills to be fair um but that would have meant like ridiculous amount of climbing so yeah we chose not to it’s a nice pace measured enjoying it and off to see the the ruins so I’ll give you a shout when I get there and you can enjoy some nice scenery along the way but at the moment it’s just dual garage way so right in a bit guys here we go your eyes [Music] [Music] i feel myself again for the eyes you [Music] [Music] We’re at Recovera Castle or Recover Ruins is it for I think but yeah these towers the remains of the once venerable Church of recovers were purchased the parish by the corporation of Trinity House at Deepford Straoud in the year 1810 laid down groins protect laid down yeah to pro to protect the cliff on which the church let’s have a little look guys cuz we’ve come a long way haven’t we to get here up you actually blend in really well with the background yeah you match the um summer colors of the uh the fields yeah yeah oh this is epic look at this wow wow guys look at that whoa the wind this isn’t even going to work oh god need to get out of the wind yeah this is Guys if you’re down on this on the Kent Coast North Kent Coast I suppose it is isn’t it um definitely come and check it out cuz it’s amazing i might actually take my son here he’d love it and then you got views from miles around as well that way that direction as well oh it’s so cool it’s been so cool today hasn’t it yeah amazing fingers yeah yeah a few dodgy drivers but yeah once you get far from London it’s all nice but yeah right so we’re on about 115 kilometers I think how How far is Cbury 20 I think yeah another 20 to go and then we’re done it’s definitely harder than the other day maybe just kidding you always got promise it’s not It’s not your fault you’re not You’re not extending it it’s uh But yeah you know you you know when you kind of think I haven’t got too long left light’s bad there sorry i haven’t got too long left and your legs are just starting to ache a little bit and your body is like But as it’s cooling down the sun’s kind of not quite as warm so yeah it’s good it’s all good right i’m going to trust that Gawk knows the way back to Canterbury because we’ve gone on a detour and Yeah we’re all good yeah we’ll find it yeah we’ll find it we’ll find it no one ever got lost in in my presence oh tell us about your bike a little bit as well got I love this i love this i love this yeah it’s it’s custom paint um which is what I wanted because I didn’t really like the stock colors and it’s like a pearlescent yeah yeah as a pro with um blue on I don’t invest in dur because I think you know it’s not worth the money i’m not you know I’m not a pro so Altegra on all my bikes and these wheels are for my other bikes so yeah what wheels are these the uh Zip 353 NSWs the older version the newer ones actually have the tire pressure thing that connects to your phone which I really would love that’s cool yeah but these are just the old school what how much in the newer ones that I haven’t actually checked but I don’t think I’m going to ever invest in that kind of thing cuz you know have to be sensible sometimes no I get that i get that but also you said it’s mega comfortable these are Yeah oral they ro yeah uh so there I guess they’re specialized own in-house brand so yeah I know cycling performance Chris recommends them bars as well yeah they’re very comfy bars i’ve got 38s which is I’m not a broad shoulder guy so yeah yeah that’s that works for me what size is the bike got 56 uh because it’s painted over you can’t actually see the stickers anymore but it’s Yeah it’s a 56 lovely uh which is same as my other bikes very similar geometry anyway yeah yeah and it’s it is comfy yeah it’s very comfy um I’ve done 200k the other day it was quite comfy um although I don’t know if I I haven’t tested in the mountains yet so that might be a different story oh there you go yeah that’s that’s coming isn’t it that’ll be in the summer yeah it will be it will be coming who knows probably September or something i’ll probably try and get out with you um right should we get back to Canterbury and get See you very very shortly it [Music] [Music] feel [Music] [Music] for me [Music] it [Music] [Music] [Music] We’re we’re cycling back to Canterbury and these some of the most amazing picturesque routes I’ve ever seen sorry it’s so windy i don’t know if the hoping the wind protection is going to help but honestly just exceptional i’m I’m blown away obviously you’ve got to get here if you don’t live here if you live around here I’m jealous as anything it’s funny because when you when you think of Kent I think of sort of big hills up and down up and down rough roads and I ride in surry loads so obviously rough roads and hills are are plenty but this is just like slightly rolling but it’s just so beautiful look just picturesque quaint villages it’s best place I’ve ridden I think yeah this is this has got to be one of the best places I’ve ridden in the UK for just for what’s around you and and lack of traffic and it’s a few cars but it’s kind of it’s just perfect so nice yeah highly highly recommend it anyway I am running out of steam now heading to Canterbury and I will see you there [Music] canterbury now so we’re done that’s Rochester what was it rochester witable rochester witable herm Bay that way Canterbury 140 kilometers in 1,000 meters climbing now we’re getting the train back very expensive mind but it was my birthday yesterday so it’s a little it’s a little a little treat i was kind of thinking maybe today we’ll cycle all the way back but we’re done we’re done and that last part from Rulova Castle along from Her Bay down into Canterbury perfect so so beautiful picturesque uh fields all around and it was it was just so so beautiful such a nice ride back hardly any cars too which is like mad but done we’re done for today just posting you’re just posting on Instagram yeah just a story i need to get posting now right please like comment and subscribe and I’ll see you on the next one maybe Gawk will be on it too what do you reckon in on the next one yeah ruined the shorts again oh my look at that chocolate he’s got chocolate all over his white shorts whatever next right see you on the next one bye guys cheers guys
11 Comments
That was the British Army Road Race Champs, hence why it was busy on a Wednesday 🇬🇧
Ahh, white bib shorts…..the sign of a confident man and a clear weather forecast 😄
Always enjoy the relaxed attitude of your films, making the most of the summer 👍
That was a good ride! I was a bit further east during half term, Broadstairs and Pegwell Bay, loads of great roads to ride round there too but I totally agree on the cars near the coast! It’s like the sea air does something to the drivers
Excellent video. I live near by, love cycling around these routes in the summer.
I thought it was in the unwritten rules you dont wear white bibs 😂
Looks an awesome ride you seem to ride some great routes.
Just so lucky to be able to jump on a train home, anywhere up north and you are screwed. Looks like a cracking ride.
Should have gone along the sea front to Recluver, it’s part of the cantii way
What a great route! Very nice video.
A really good watch. Superb route 👍
I live 2 mins from Reculver. So many more amazing quiet country lanes. Can do whole coastal route or stay more inland, next time your local let me know and I’ll come show ya!
Can you make the route available – would love to do it 😊