We were heading to rendezvous with the other West Sussex Member Groups at Wiggonholt RSPB centre before tackling the first DA Event of the year, the Freewheel. JC was keen to avoid us having to climb Woods Hill, where the Freewheel was to be staged, on the way there, so took us on a route to the east of it. We left Horsham on the Worthing Road then turned right at the Boars Head onto Two Mile Ash Road.
With the wind coming over our left shoulder, from the north east, the riding was pleasantly easy with dry roads lined with clumps of daffodils and primroses at various places along the roadside. The cloud cover looked to be thinning and the occasional sunny spot was noticeably warmer. Contrasting with the Boars head which looks to be closed at the moment, the Bax Castle was looking very spruce and one of our group reported having had a good meal there only recently. Turning left at the T-junction just over the bridge, we carried on along Marlpost Road and then Dragons Green Lane before passing The Green Dragon and crossing the A272. One could tell it was a dry day because the A272 had loads of motorcyclists on it – you never see them on a wet day, big girls-blouses that they are!!
I was practising my no-hands riding along Smithers Hill Lane and easily managed the whole 1 mile plus length of it. I had fitted a pair of older wheels for todays ride (XT hubs dating back to the mid-eighties but with new Mavic X317 rims) and they seemed very stable – I’ll think I’ll use them for my long-distance ride next year. After enjoying the no-hands thrill I was in a world of my own as I maintained a fairly high cadence for the next mile and when I looked over my shoulder no-one else was in sight! Doh! Had I gone on the wrong route? No, there they all were, pootling along having a chinwag. It was only at this point that I realised that Richard had left us to head back for home as he was only out for a short ride today. After Broomers Corner we forked left onto Sincox Lane and then turned left onto the B2139. Just under a mile down this road we came to the junction where Dave Galle was knocked over and severely injured last autumn. It’s very hard to understand how come the van driver didn’t see Dave – the junction is very open with good sightlines in every direction – even a low sun in the southwest would have been partially blocked by a bushy tree, so it really does make you wonder what the driver was thinking!
Taking the next turn on the right we were back onto quieter roads and a short climb and similar descent brought us into West Chiltington and past the lunch stop we’d be using later on. With no cars to slow us down, the sweeping downhill bends of the Hollow were a 30mph pleasure followed by a damp (as usual) Stream Lane across to Nutbourne. A short climb followed by a longer downhill glide and we were heading further west again before turning left onto the A283 for the final mile and a bit to Wiggonholt.
Arriving at the same time as some of our fellow riders from the other member groups, there was a bit of a wait for tea and cake as the café struggled with the influx of customers, but we were soon all tucking in.
As one big group of about 20, we headed off for the Freewheel venue – back the way we’d just come but then taking the left at the West Chiltington crossroads to head up Broadford Bridge Road and past the Golf Club before stopping at the top of Woods Hill. Richard from Arun/Adur got us all organised and outlined the rules and then we were off. One revolution of the pedals to allow people to clip in and then it was all down to gravity, avoiding the wind, using the road camber, balance and how freerunning ones wheels were.
Graham from Arun/Adur won by about ten yards or so from our own JC. Gill from Bognor/Chichester was a further ten yards back in fourth place. In all, 7 rode from Arun/Adur, 8 from Bognor/Chichester and 5 from Horsham/Crawley.
As the lunch pub was back up the hill we’d just freewheeled down and in the opposite direction to home, the Horsham/Crawley contingent decided to SKIP THE PUB LUNCH!!!!
WHAT? Has the world ended? Is everyone ill? This has to be a first!!!!!!
In order to ensure the world would carry on, I (Bob) manfully decided that I would commit myself to a lone ride home and attend the pub to proudly fly the flag for Horsham/Crawley. After all, it was the least I could do – have a beer and some lunch whilst sitting around in the sunshine! So it was back up the hill and then down to the Queens Head in West Chiltington.
For lunch I had a round of sandwiches which came with a small salad and some chips, washed down with a pint of Doom Bar - a beer from Cornwall I believe.
For lunch I had a round of sandwiches which came with a small salad and some chips, washed down with a pint of Doom Bar - a beer from Cornwall I believe.
As I was finishing my meal I looked up to see that Dave Galle had just arrived. His daughter Louise had brought him in the car. Dave managed to walk across the road and into the pub garden unaided. He'd brought his wheelchair with him however as it was easier (and I suspect more comfortable) for him to sit on. Obviously conversation centred on how his recovery was progressing. He seems fairly pleased that he's regaining some strength in his legs now but his arms are giving him problems - he's unable to straighten them and he has no power in his grip. On top of this he has no true sense of touch or feeling below his chest - he gets pins and needles when he touches something and slightly sharper pins and needles both if he touches something hot or something cold! Dave's still got a long journey to make and I for one really appreciated him taking the time to visit us today. I'm hoping he'll come along to the I-Spy next month - I'll have a spare set of route instructions/questions for him and Louise to follow if they want.
It was good sitting in the sun chatting with Dave and everyone but all too soon it was time to head home. I decided to use the reverse of the mornings route down but it was a lot harder going back, not just because I was riding alone but due to the fairly brisk north easterly wind - it was going to be in my face all the way back. As I rode through the junction where Dave had had his accident, I was very wary of the car using the same route as Daves van driver - fortunately for me, the young lady behind the wheel had seen me but I could see how the road layout could tempt drivers to cut the corner slightly so as they wouldn't have to slow down so much - I wonder whether that's what the van driver did?
The wind made it hard work riding all the way up Two Mile Ash Road and I had to pedal most of the way down the Worthing Road into Horsham town centre. I used my usual Horsham to Crawley route along the Forest Road - unfortunately this is mainly uphill all the way to Colgate and I was flagging quite badly by the time I got there. However, I'm pretty good at gritting my teeth (you don't get anywhere unless you put some effort in) and with a determined set to my brow I'd soon made it to Pease Pottage. The freewheel down Pease Pottage hill was severely checked by the wind and I didn't even get over 30 mph but then I was into the shelter of the trees in Tilgate Forest.
The dam holding back the waters of Tilgate lake is about to be repaired/strengthened and in preparation a large swathe of trees have been felled. The lake is going to be drained (temporarily) and I believe there's been a bit of an issue about saving all the fish. On a historic note, I think the proper name of the lake is 'Campbells Lake' and I understand Donald Campbell did some early testing of his Bluebird speed record craft on it. I myself used to go canoeing on it as a teenager (well, kayaking actually).
Using my usual route past the golf clubhouse and emerging into Furnace Green via Laurel Close I passed through a new (as of last December) wooden fencing chicane which required some delicate bike handling skill to negotiate. I've been using this route in and out of Tilgate Forest for many years now (even though the end bit is signposted as a Public Footpath -not Bridleway) as it is the only level way into the Forest (all of which, North of the Motorway, is owned by us through our local Council) from Furnace Green. The erection of the fencing chicane has prompted the local horse riders association to press for the path to be upgraded to be a bridleway. The thing is, I know that it used to be a lane as, back in the very early 1960's, I once travelled it in the back of my Dad's car! We turned into the lane where K2 is now and followed it through the edge of the Forest, past what is now the Golf Club, through what was Furnace Farm then up the hill, over the railway and out onto the Old Three Bridges Road opposite The Plough in Three Bridges. I had heard a rumour that technically the public right of way was never quashed and that one could, theoretically, walk through two houses in exercise of that public right! I suspect though that it was just one of those 'Urban Myth' thingies....
Anyway, thoroughly exhausted I got home at about 16:00hrs with 54 miles under my belt - nowhere near Iron Man Anton's level but a jolly pleasant day out on my bike.
Next weeks ride is a 40 miler, starting from Three Bridges Station at 09:00hrs and led by Richard. He'll take us out to Box Hill National Trust Cafe and back. I reckon we'll be back in Crawley by about 14:00hrs and I suspect Horsham riders will be able to drop off home quite easily on the way back. Let's hope the weather's as nice but with less wind (please).
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