Pulborough

Todays destination was Pulborough in order to attend the AGM of the West Sussex Member Group (or DA as we still call it – because it’s easier).

Barbara was our leader and was joined by Pete S and Bob outside Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30hrs on a cool but not cold, damp day. The possibility of rain was in the air and indeed it occasionally tried but generally the wet stayed in the clouds.

We headed out of Horsham over the golf course and then down through Broadbridge Heath. Bob lead the way over the roundabout and then off along the A264, Five Oaks Road. However he had to be called back as he took a wrong turn onto Fulfords Hill in the mistaken belief that we were going through Barns Green. Back on course we took the next left, Bashurst Hill, and after a few minutes exertion we’d crested and had a nice, generally downhill, glide for the next 3 miles. At Coneyhurst a left then a right took us over the A272 (recently highlighted as being one of the most dangerous roads in the country) and on south to Broadford Bridge. Another left then right here took us over the B2133 and then on and up Woods Hill. As we regrouped at the top, a chap on a mountain bike came up the hill, so Bob decided to show him a clean pair of heels down to West Chiltington. This turned out to be a misnomer as Bob, sans mudguards as usual, got covered in dirty splatters all over his heels, legs, bottom, top and face due to the amount of mud and debris lying in the road (and the speed at which Bob went down the hill). Still, at least Bob got to the crossroads first – honour upheld!

From West Chiltington we snaked down the hill and then onto Stream Lane – wet as usual. Has anyone seen Stream Lane dry? I suppose the clue is in the name…. Turning left at the end, there’s a short climb before a glide down to a bend on the West Chiltington Road. Turning right, this is the road that goes past the large bamboo thicket I’ve mentioned in previous blogs (still no sign of a panda though). On reaching the A283, we turned right – this was a first as we normally always go left here. Nearly there now, we travelled along Mare Hill Road and Lower Street until we turned left at the Oddfellows Arms and rolled down to Pulborough Community Centre.

The AGM was well attended with 23 cyclists, most of whom had indeed arrived by bike. We listened to reports from all three sections, voted in the new committee and observed a two minute silence at 11:00 hrs. We also discussed cycling development in the county and arranged the DA events for 2011. Business done, we finished off the tea and biscuits and had a chat with various people – I was especially keen to talk to Dave and find out how his recovery is progressing.

Everyone seemed to be heading for the Rising Sun at Nutbourne, but as I reached the Oddfellow Arms I was hailed by my fellow Horsham and Crawley riders, so pulled up there. There weren’t any sandwiches on the menu, but a homemade beefburger was close, so I had one of them washed down with two good pints of ale (can’t remember which one though…).

As we remounted, the rain was making a bigger effort than earlier and I was glad I’d kept my waterproofs on. We retraced our steps as far as West Chiltington but then went east before turning north on the B2139. It was at the next Junction, exactly 52 weeks ago, that Dave was so badly injured. Carrying on up the Coolham Road we took the first right, Sincox Lane and followed that as it joined Saucelands Lane and then became Countryman Lane at Broomers Corner. We were riding with an extra companion as Richard had latched on to us as he needed to get back to Haywards Heath, so we went past the Countryman Inn and then took Pound Lane north to the A272. Here Richard hit the main road home, whilst we continued on, to Southwater. It’s a long drag up through Southwater on what was the old A24, but eventually we reached the roundabout and made a safe crossing of the dual carriageway’ed new A24. A few minutes later we were in Horsham town centre and saying goodbye to Barbara as she headed home and we continued through Roffey, Colgate and Pease Pottage back to Crawley.

Next Sundays ride starts at Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs. It will head south then west from Horsham to a lunch stop at The Limeburners Arms at Newbridge. It will be a round trip of approximately 40 miles involving some nice quiet lanes and a couple of miles of smooth B-road.
Come along, if it’s not raining or icy it’s a very pleasant time of year to ride.

p.s. don’t forget, it’s time to pay your membership – why not use that as an excuse to come out for a ride?