On Saturday April 18, Sally, Mike, and Steve rode, The Kent Epic by Glorious Gravel.

The Kent countryside served up a “glorious” but grueling challenge with undulating terrain, the trio finished with a solid moving time of 4 hours and 20-ish minutes. A testament to their pace considering the vertical gain and the mechanical chaos that ensued.

“Very hilly” might be an understatement. The route was a relentless succession of steep gradients and loose surfaces, demanding high power outputs and technical finesse. The Kentish North Downs provided the perfect backdrop, even if the riders spent more time looking at their stems than the scenery during the sharper inclines.

Mechanical Drama & “The Ghost”

It wouldn’t be a true gravel epic without a bit of hardware anxiety. The team faced a trifecta of mechanical hurdles:

Mike’s Freehub: Mike spent most of the ride accompanied by the ominous sounds of a freehub “giving up the ghost.” In a display of mechanical luck (or sheer stubbornness), the hub held on just long enough to cross the finish line.

Steve’s Puncture Streak: Steve had a busy morning with the tyre levers, suffering two punctures that required quick roadside surgery to keep the ride alive.

Sally’s Near Miss: A hole appeared in Sally’s rear tire mid-ride. Fortunately, the “tubeless gods” were smiling and te sealant did its job, plugging the gap and saving her from joining Steve in the puncture club.

Despite the mechanical gremlins and the punishing elevation, the Medway Velo crew showed great resilience. They managed a swift 13 mph average speed over 57 miles of dirt and rock, a cracking result for a very tough day in the saddle.

Well played, Sally, Mike, and Steve!