[QUOTE 4791193, member: 21629"]The ride was absolutely crazy.
Weather forecast said it will be 20 mph wind gusts. It lied. When it's windy you can feel the wind, for us it wasn't riding in the wind, it was like trying to get through concrete wall.
Correct! Headwind almost all way.
And we made it! Well, majority of us.
User10571 cycled about 2 minutes with us and then went home (imho clever choice). The rest of us decided that we are Fantastic Ten (or Fifteen or whatever) and we bravely headed into that wall of wind. Lots of sights of jealousy to cyclists going the other way and enjoying tailwind. Ok, sights of jealousy from me - MTB with 26' wheels and fat tyres wasn't the best choice coz I struggled to keep up with the others. Of course I blame the bike, not myself !
And almost the very start we somehow managed to lose
@sotkayak. Oops ...
First long stop somewhere near Margate. Coffee (all), tea (all), cakes (somebody), fish and chips (me), cider (me) etc etc.
And suddenly we see
@sotkayak approaching ! Woohoo ! Ride leader (ok, initiator ...) is here.
Right, bellies full (well, mine), let's go further. My legs suddenly started to speak some specific French, Russian, English etc words trying to tell me that they aren't going anywhere. I ignored them and went on. Oi oi oi, this part of ride was proper "going into the wall". I proudly walked up to few hills instead of cycling.
Finally tailwind ! Finally Ramsgate ! Finally pub ! And beer, and cider, and chats, and more beer and chats.
One of those rides to remember. Just because of that bloody wind.
https://goo.gl/photos/a8Wx52gwH6GoGgxb9[/QUOTE]