Hartfield

Starting at 10:00 hours, Pete S led Frank, Barbara and Bob off in the direction of Turners Hill. As can be seen in this picture, the potholes (or pot trenches as I called them last week) have not been repaired yet.

Pete led us over the crossroads at Turners Hill and then down the nice long, fast downhill run to the east before the short climb and right turn towards Saint Hill Green. Here, bearing right we swept down to the reservoir and took the left onto Legsheath Lane. This lane is a gradual climb (with a couple of steepish bits) all the way into Ashdown Forest. From here we went straight on over the crossroads and then ignored Twyford Lane on the right to continue onward to Wych Cross traffic lights. Here we carried straight on and enjoyed the sweeping vista to our left as we sped downhill to Colemans Hatch where we took the right turn and had another nice downhill before coming to Chuck Hatch Lane on our left. As you turn into the lane you have to go through a ford - as you can see, Frank underestimated just how deep it was!!

Barbara looks like she's going to get wet...

This lane is really pleasant as it undulates through a lovely stretch of the forest, then after a short climb we took first a left turn and after about 100 yards a bridleway on the right. This bridleway leads down to Poohsticks bridge, so we stopped there and had a game of Poohsticks - I believe Barbara won.

The bridleway was a bit muddy as it climbed up the other side of the valley, but we were soon back on tarmac and turning right we had a mile of freewheeling into the village of Hartfield.

Arriving at the pub (The Anchor) just after midday, we had the pick of the tables and were soon comfortably installed and supping on our ales. We all opted for a bagette for lunch although Pete noted there wasn't a vegetarian version on the menu.

After lunch, the weather was noticeably cooler and we decided to use the most direct route home, the Forest Way/Worth Way. In no time at all we were through Forest Row and even the long climb to East Grinstead passed quickly. I did my usual step climbing exercise at the station and took some time to study the National Cycle Network fingerpost by the carpark.

Between Crawley Down and Worth there were loads of people out on the track - walkers and cyclists - and our little group looked quite impressive as it swung back onto the road near Worth Church:

...... and I'm not even in the picture!!

The next ride is on Sunday 4th April. Starting at 10:00 hrs from Three Bridges Station, it is an Introductory Ride open to anyone that turns up (whether they're CTC members or not). I'll be leading it and the ride will last about two hours with the pace determined by the experience/ability of the participants. Safety will be my prime concern, so if anyone is not comfortable with road riding we will use the Worth Way, otherwise we'll head north and west of Crawley.

Wheatsheaf, Plummers Plain

Date: 21st March
Ride: Wheatsheaf, Plummers Plain
Distance: 35 miles - medium
Leader: Mick

I thought I had better check the start details for the ride and found that the website showed a 09:30 Horsham(HPP) start and the Pedaller showed a 09:00 Three Bridges(TBR) start. Arranged with Bob for him to start at TBR and I would start at HPP. Only Barbara turned up at HPP so we set off the meet Bob at Colgate. En-route I got a call from John V asking where I was. I explained the situation and arranged to meet him and John C at Colgate too.

Having regrouped at Colgate we headed at 10:05 for Grouse Road, Hammer Ponds and Church Lane, where Bob got a puncture. After fixing this it was down to the A281 and then Newells Lane, Prings Lane and Burnthouse Lane. As we were running late I decided to use a short section of the A272 through Cowfold and then north onto Picts Lane, Long House Lane;



Next was Earwig Lane UP to Warninglid. Continuing north and down to Slaugham Pond the two Johns left us at this point.

We arrived at the lunch stop at 11:50. Sussex and a sausage sandwich as usual. Anton and Shirley joined us for lunch. Leaving the pub we headed along Grouse Road into Colgate and home. I got home at 14:25, just in time to miss East Enders.

Official miles for the day: 30

Our next ride is on Sunday 28th March and starts from Three Bridges Railway Station at 10:00hrs. Led by Pete S it will be a 40 mile round trip with lunch at the Anchor Inn, Hartfield. I bet he uses some/all of the Worth Way/Forest Way.

Don't forget that the clocks go FORWARD on Saturday night, so you'll have one LESS hour in bed.

The Sloop (it will not rain)

Anton’s assertion that it would remain dry seemed an accurate prediction as we gathered at Three Bridges railway station – if you can call a trio a “gathering”!
Blue skies with the occasional small, white, fluffy cloud scudding down from the north west meant it was warm(!) in sheltered locations but still cold when exposed to the wind. We waited around in case anyone else turned up but no-one did and we set off at about 09:15.
The first part was the same as usual when leaving Crawley to the east – up Worth Avenue and out on the Turners Hill Road. Those terrible pot holes are still there, just past Keepers Cottage. In fact they’re not really pot holes, more like pot trenches! Arriving at the crossroads in Turners Hill, Anton took us right and down hill (hooray!) before the little climb (booooo!) past what was formerly the Punchbowl Inn but is now an Indian Restaurant. Forking left onto the west Hoathly Road he then played a masterstroke by turning left again onto the road to Kingscote. In this direction this quiet lane is almost all downhill and affords a view of the Bluebell Railway’s Kingscote Station that could be set back in the 1930’s (or even earlier). Rejoining the much busier road from Turners Hill it was just a short climb (booo again) before turning right for Saint Hill Green.

Continuing to the right we were soon on the descent to the tail end of Weirwood Reservoir, extensive views of which were flashing between the trees on my left as I swooped down the road carefully avoiding all the pot holes and the car coming up the hill on the wrong side of the road…..
At the bottom I waited for the other two and could hear their progress by listening to the pot hole warning shouts Anton was giving out. Ignoring Legsheath Lane on the left, Anton now took us uphill again but making the fair point that Legsheath Lane was actually steeper (though more sheltered from the sun) than Grinstead Lane. At the top a quick right/left took us onto Chilling Lane which, along with the following Balcombe Lane provides a superb slightly downhill run with magnificent views over the Weald to the South Downs beyond. Running in front of the others and doing some 30+ mph, I was impressed with a tractor driver ahead who not only spotted me early but also pulled his tractor over so that I could go past!

Turning left a steep and narrow Birch Grove Lane took us down to a crystal clear ford before heading up through a damp and muddy patch of forest where the road surface was something like 75% pot holes! As we negotiated this very narrow and awkward climb a rather impatient 4x4 driver squeezed past Anton and myself but had to wait for about 50 yards behind Pete. Then, taking the acute left turn into Twyford Lane he shouted something rude at Anton and myself! We think he was suggesting that we should have got off the road to allow him to pass and save about 30 seconds on his journey time. Had I had the opportunity to debate this issue with him, I would have pointed out that both sides of the road was just boggy ground and that technically, as bikes are not allowed offroad anywhere in Ashdown Forest, we would have been breaking the law had we left the tarmac!

Bearing slightly left the lane continued uphill, still in need of extensive repairs and affording a Honda Jazz driver the opportunity to squeeze a quart into a pint pot by using the “door mirror a hairs breadth from our handlebars” technique. Boosted by a very robust shout from Anton, this master driver fair shot out onto Birch Grove Road at the top of the hill!
Shortly after, we crossed the A276 and headed south east through Chelwood Gate and onward to the A22 at Nutley.

Turning right, a quick blast down this A-road and then second right onto a lane that’s new to me and proved an absolute revelation – I’d rate it up there with Weare Street. Generally downhill (living up to its name of Down Street) it’s quiet, picturesque and really pleasant riding. Then we turned right along another quiet lane to emerge just north of Fletching at Splaynes Green. From here Anton reckoned it was downhill all the way to the Sheffield Arms crossroad – but he was wrong – I counted at least two uphills on this short stretch! As we were not that far from the lunch stop and it was only just eleven o’clock, Anton was considering adding an extra loop to get the timing right but as we arrived at the Freshfield Road/Ketches Lane crossroads fate intervened in that he noticed that I had a rear puncture – it was a slow one so we decided to head straight to the pub and mend it there. One mile later we arrived at the Sloop – as promised everything was nice and dry – No Rain!! However ……. There was also ..... No Pub!!! Well, physically it was there, but it was closed for refurbishment. Drat and double drat! Still, there was a sheltered and sunny spot with a bench that was just perfect to sit and relax on whilst I mended my puncture.

The landlord came past and confirmed the pub was shut but offered us a lager if we wanted one. In spite of the fact he was carrying a chainsaw, we turned him down and decided to head for Horsted Keynes and the Green Man. As we headed back up the hill towards Freshfield Crossways, who should we spy but John C heading to rendezvous with us at the pub. So, by the time we got to the Green man there were four of us – just enough to occupy the same two leather sofas we’d occupied just the other week.

The beer was excellent again (still can’t remember the name though) and the sausage bagette I had for lunch was hugely enjoyable as well. But, due to a combination of later engagements, none of us could risk a second pint. We opted for a fairly direct route home and Anton lead us west along Keysford Lane and then Stonecross Lane to emerge onto the B2028 and head north up(!) to Ardingly. Here I was expecting him to leave us and head toward Lindfield and home but instead he lead us on, into the wind and up the B2028 as far as Selsfield Common – this was kind of him as I managed to slipstream him for all but the last half mile of this leg. I would have taken my turn at the front except that I didn’t have the legs to stay with him, let alone go past and give him a windbreak! We waited for Pete and John and then parted – Anton back towards Ardingly, the rest of us on to Turners Hill and then back to Crawley. Pete and I then used the Worth Way and noticed how many family groups of cyclists there were on it (good) and John, on his Titanium bike stuck to the road route home.

Getting in before three o’clock I decided to give my bike a quick once over and noticed that it’s in need of a really good clean and a major service – I need a new headset, the brake/gear cables could do with replacement, as could the handgrips and a new chain wouldn’t go amiss either. So I think a complete dismantle is on the cards – I’d better bring my old commuter bike up to scratch as a temporary replacement…...

Next weeks ride is a 35 mile medium rated ride led by Mick. It will start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs and lunch will be at The Wheatsheaf in Plummers Plain. If the weather is as good as it was today, I think it will be a very enjoyable run – go on, come along for a ride.

Return from Tenterden

After an excellent evening meal accompanied by a mountain of superb desserts and a short speech from Barbara, we retired for a good nights sleep before the double whammy of a large breakfast and another 50 mile bike ride. The morning dawned bright and frosty with just a light breeze but we didn’t get off to a good start however as, having split into two groups to allow for people to visit a cash machine in Tenterden, we were several miles into the journey and hadn’t rejoined. A warning phone call from Mick in the first group let the second group know of some ice across the road on a downhill bend just after Rolvenden. As I talked to Mick about it I told him we were just behind him and about to pass a black windmill – he didn’t really seem to confirm that he’d passed the windmill but I didn’t realize the significance of this until later!



The second group (comprising of myself (Bob), John V, Pete and Marian) pressed on through Benenden and encountered some ice but none going across the road on a downhill bend, so we were beginning to realise that we were probably on a different route to the first group (comprised of Pete E, Mick, John C, Barbara and Norman). Reaching Hartley we turned south for about a mile before heading west once more along a quiet lane and on into Bedgebury Forest. Although part of the National Cycle Network, the route was actually an offroad route and accordingly I was going just that bit quicker than the rest of the group so pulled up by the lake in the Pinetum to wait for them and take some pictures. Now I’d stopped, I could feel how cold the wind was – in spite of the sunshine. Whilst waiting I phoned Mick to find out how far ahead of us he was. “Just about to enter the forest” he said, “Can you wait there?”. I suggested we’d be better (as in warmer) waiting at The Visitor Centre at Bewl Water as it was only a couple of miles away and held the promise of a café (unlike Bedgebury Forest). Mick agreed and at that point the rest of my group arrived.



We cycled on and duly pulled up at Bewl Water Visitor Centre only to find that it was closed for refurbishment! At this point Pete E phoned to say that their group had taken a wrong turning back at Rolvenden and done an unnecessary four mile loop (during which time my group had unknowingly gone past them) and had also missed the turn for Bedgebury Forest and ended up in Hawkhurst. At this point, Mick, Barbara and Norman had decided to complete the journey by train and headed off to Staplehurst. This left Pete E and John C to ponder the best route to take for a rendezvous with my group. As we set off we realized that we could quite quickly intercept them at Wadhurst and that we could make that the lunch stop rather than the planned Bells Yew Green. We left voicemail messages on their phones and pulled up at The Greyhound in Wadhurst. We hadn’t been there too long (only about half a pint) before Pete and John arrived. It was good to be just one group again and we celebrated with childrens portions of good hot food (sausages and mash or liver and bacon) and another round of beers.

After lunch, the first few miles were on a B road and we made good progress, as we did on the following two quiet lanes that took us on to Groombridge. Here we crossed the Tunbridge Wells to Eridge preserved steam railway – The Spa Valley Railway and posed for a group photograph:




After Groombridge we picked up the Forest Way and followed it past Hartfield before pulling up at the Café in Forest Row. The Café is located in the old Coal Merchants Office next to the amenity tip and serves an excellent range of hot drinks and snacks. I opted for fruit cake and a cup of tea. From Forest Row there’s the slight incline all the way to East Grinstead and then the easy riding to Crawley Down.



As you can see it was still very sunny but it definitely wasn’t warm. Minutes later we’d passed Rowfant and were crossing the M23 to enter Crawley through Worth. Here we said goodbye to first the two Johns, then Pete and Marian before I finally turned off to use the tunnel into Furnace Green leaving Pete E by himself for the last few hundred yards to Three Bridges Station where he was being picked up by Sharon.

I had a very enjoyable weekend riding with friends and I’d like to say a big thankyou to everyone for making it so much fun.

Looking at my speedo I can see that I covered some 56 miles on Saturday and another 48 on Sunday – that’s the sort of mileage that Anton has for breakfast, but thereagain, he is IRONMAN!

Next weeks ride is, coincidentally, led by Anton and will be a 40 miler starting from Three Bridges Station at 09:00 hrs with a lunch stop at The Sloop, Scaynes Hill. Anton promises it won’t be wet. Watch this space…….

Ten to Tenterden

Early March, time for the Anniversary Ride. This year we decided on Tenterden in Kent as our destination and several of our members put in a lot of work arranging the hotel and planning the route.

The weather forecast for the weekend was thankfully clear of rain although a cold north easterly wind was predicted, so waterproofs were not much in evidence as we gathered at Three Bridges Station for the start - eight bikes and nine riders wrapped up against the cold and eager to get going: John V, Mick, PeteE, Barbara, Norman, John C, Bob, Pete S and Marian (the last two on their tandem).

We used the usual easterly route out of Crawley – up Worth Avenue, out on the Turners Hill Road and then down Old Hollow to cross the A264 at the Felbridge Hotel roundabout. Here, Bob pulled up with cramp in his right calf – the sudden effort he’d put in accelerating onto the roundabout was too soon for his rather cold muscles! A feature of todays ride would be that we would be avoiding busy roads where possible, so we travelled east along Copthorne Bank and also used Cross Lane, Dowlands Lane and Bones Lane before emerging on the B2028 to get to Lingfield. Deciding against a coffee stop, we carried on along Dormans Road and then Hollow Lane before arriving in Cowden. This village is really quiet and we didn’t see any signs of life as we passed through, still heading east. After crossing the Hartfield Road we forked right onto Moat Lane (which becomes Bassett Lane) and then went past the Penshurst Off Road Cycling (PORC) site before arriving in Penshurst itself and our lunch stop.

We split into two groups for lunch with Pete E, Norman and Mick preferring the snug of the Leicester Arms and the rest of us going to the café next door. After light lunches all round with lashes of tea, coffee or beer, we were all now ready for the rest of the journey. First off we headed through Penshurst Place on the cycle track. As we crested a hill there, the bitter north easterly wind really made its presence felt. Once we were down lower there was more shelter , then, turning off Ensfield Road, the NCN route we were following went offroad alongside a couple of fields before passing through woodland with lakes on either side and then passing under the Tonbridge Bypass. From here we skirted a picturesque lake in Haysden Country Park before making our way through Tonbridge to exit on the B2017 Tudeley Road. Forking right we went through a hamlet called Capel before crossing the A228 Maidstone Road onto Crittenden Road which climbed up to the village of Matfield. Here, one of the annoying features of the NCN routing made itself evident – by following the signs we were routed on a loop twice as long as we needed to just to leave the village on the Brenchley Road.



Taking Petteridge Lane we headed south then east again alomg Tibbs Court Lane, Marle Place Lane and Ruck Lane. This part of the ride was getting quite tough as we tackled four or five hills one after the other. Looming in front we could see the village of Goudhurst sat atop the highest land in the neighbourhood. At this point a tactical error was made and four of us took Blind Lane up the face of the hill, whereas the rest of the group were more canny and effectively skirted most of it by taking Lidwells Lane and then the B2084 to rendezvous on the Cranbrook Road on the other side of the village. We were now on the A262 as it travelled along a ridge. It was quite exposed to the wind and all of us were now beginning to tire. We got separated once more as Pete E got a puncture. The leading group carried on with the intention of finding a tea stop in Cranbrook where they could wait for the rest of the group to catch up. Normans local knowledge (he came to school at Cranbrook) gave us the shortest route to the High Street and we stopped outside a café. At this point Mick decided to carry on as we weren’t far from Tenterden and let the Hotel know we would shortly be there. The rest of us snacked on cake from the café and having contacted the rest of the group by phone to reorganise, carried on ourselves. We stayed up on the ridge and the Cranbrook Road soon became the Tenterden Road and then the Cranbrook Road again as it entered Tenterden. Turning left we travelled the length of the High Street before forking left onto Oaks Road to pull up at the Collina House Hotel. We’d not been there many minutes before all the rest of the group arrived and we dispersed to our rooms for a wash and brush up before reconvening for dinner at 7pm.

Why Ten to Tenterden when there were only nine of you I hear you ask? Well, Barbara's husband Ian met us at the hotel having travelled over by car.