Previously we’ve erected a little marquee under the chestnut tree by the green and last year we also had the use of a mobile home to provide somewhere to shelter and brew the tea, but this year the weather was fine enough to forego both and just place the table and chairs in the shade of the tree. Arranged on the table were printouts of the route instructions, maps, a fruit cake and two Victoria sponges – the cakes were baked by Mick, Barbara and Bob respectively.
Leading up to the event, various members arranged the details by phone and e-mail –printing of the maps/route instructions, provision of gas stove, table, chairs, tea, coffee, squash, cakes, water, a monetary float and arranging to transport all of this to Wisborough Green (along with our bikes of course). So, just before 9 am three cars assembled at Barbara’s house and items were carefully packed in next to each of our bikes. As we unpacked at Wisborough Green, so the first riders started arriving and Barbara’s thoughtful idea of bring hot water in flasks allowed us to get the kettle boiling very quickly so that everyone could have a pre-ride cuppa. Barbara and I (Bob) took on the first shift and had soon waved off some 13 riders from the various West Sussex Member Groups. Not long after, Bob Harber, going for the big 100, finished his second loop, had a short break for refreshments and then set off on his third loop. Colin was next to arrive having cycled all the way from Bognor – he too partook of the refreshments before setting off on a loop. Shortly after, Pete S arrived having just completed the Southern loop. He kept us company for the next hour or so and, when John V and John C completed their loop, took on the Western Loop with us.
Sitting around for a couple of hours hadn’t taken the edge off Barbara’s pace and she set a blistering speed as we headed off to Kirdford – Pete and I could barely keep up!
After Kirdford the western route goes through Ebernoe then Lurgashall and Lickfold before the climb of Leggatt Hill followed by a descent and stiff climb to River.
At the next junction the official route goes right and down to join the A 272 but in practice most people go left to stay on a quieter road, enduring a climb but with good views to the south. Then following a right turn there’s a nice downhill run through Upperton and on down to Tillington. Here we stopped for lunch at the Horse Guards Inn. The menu wasn’t really that cyclist friendly but we snacked on spicy nut mix and bread and oils in a pleasantly sunny courtyard. The beer was absolutely superb and it was hard work dragging ourselves away to continue the ride.
Emerging onto the A272 we turned left and headed into Petworth but avoided most of the town by passing to the south before going up through Byworth and then past the Welldiggers Arms and onto the long uphill drag north. Crossing the A272, the road goes downhill and we made good time back through Kirdford and on to Wisborough Green.
By now it was half past three and most of the riders had finished their rides and were heading home. We packed everything away and ensured we left the Green as we found it whilst we waited for the remaining few riders to come back. Colin turned up and waving goodbye, headed off back in the direction of Bognor, then at exactly four pm, our lone 100 miler turned up having just completed his fourth and last loop – he’d managed each one in just about 2 hours and hadn’t really taken any breaks – pretty impressive. I was glad to hear that his car was parked just around the corner and that he would be driving home as I could see that he’d put in a lot of effort and I was worried he’d be too tired to ride home.
So finally, at about half past four on a sunny but fairly windy day, we packed our bikes away and went back home. The day seems to have been a success with some 18 riders taking part clocking up something like 600 miles between them! All the fruit cake had been sold and most of the two Victoria sponges as well.
The next DA Event also involves food – it’s the Picnic on Sunday 4th August and, because it’s central to all the sections, it’s at Wisborough Green.
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