We thought we'd experiment with a Crawley start to this ride this year. Frank was originally going to lead but commitments abroad meant that Pat stepped in instead - thanks Pat.
Pat, Barbara and myself left Three Bridges Station at 10 past nine and headed through Tilgate then up Pease Pottage Hill. The traffic up the hill was going especially close to us - maybe this is a feature of the driving style of people on their way to a car boot sale: for that was where most of the cars were going. I suppose it's MUCH more important to consider what bargains you might be able to find rather than look after the safety of your fellow citizens! I found myself wondering how many of these drivers had actually passed the driving test for themselves - the standard of their "driving" suggested not many......
Anyhoo, we were soon past them and into Pease Pottage. Next we turned down Grouse Road - mainly downhill for three miles - before turning right onto the Hammerponds Road and the various ups and downs that throws at you on the way to Doomsday Green.
Crossing the A281 near the garden centre we took Magpie Lane and Sedgewick Lane before using Coltstaple Lane to head west. On reaching Pedlars Way, we said goodbye to Barbara who was using it to get back to Horsham - only a short ride today as she was expecting visitors, but it was good to see her.
Next, Barbara's shoes were filled by Norman who joined us as we entered Southwater. Heading south once again we took the Shipley Road and crossed the A272 before taking Countryman Lane across to Broomers Corner and then Sincox Lane. Next we had a fast mile on the B2133 before forking right onto West Chiltington Lane. This route involves a short, sharp climb before the final roll into the centre of West Chiltington village. The lure of the park bench set against the wall in the sunshine opposite the pub was too great as we realised that, if we headed for Wiggonholt we wouldn't make it in time for elevenses and would then have to retrace our route back up a couple of hills!
It was very soporific sitting there in the sun - Pat had got a sunday newspaper and all that was missing was a nice cup of coffee and a croissant ....... zzzzzzzzzz ......... Wha! I woke up with a start as John V and John C arrived, closely follow by John W from Arun and Adur section. After a few minutes chat we started to see a crowd of other section members appearing round the corner of the climb up Mill Road.
Pat decided she was too worried about freewheeling at breakneck pace down a hill, so would stay reading her paper in the sunshine. The rest of us headed north, past the golf club to the top of Woods Hill. here we set off at one minute intervals to see who could roll the furthest. This year, I went down second so that I could see how everyone else got on.
I found it great fun watching as riders strove to get every inch of distance out of their bike - all those years of "slow bicycle races" at junior school suddenly made sense!
However, to win at this event you really need two things - a very free running bike and a lot of mass. I thought I had both but I was well short of the real contenders - they all kept their momentum a good 50 yards past where I stopped. At that point, the road goes ever so slightly down thereby accelerating them on to the Broadford Bridge junction. Of the three who made it that far, two stopped because of traffic, but the third, our own John C managed to turn left and roll for about another 200 yards! Incredible. However, because the other two were baulked by traffic, the decision was made to call the result a three-way draw. Well done John - you were the winner in my book!
Pat decided she was too worried about freewheeling at breakneck pace down a hill, so would stay reading her paper in the sunshine. The rest of us headed north, past the golf club to the top of Woods Hill. here we set off at one minute intervals to see who could roll the furthest. This year, I went down second so that I could see how everyone else got on.
I found it great fun watching as riders strove to get every inch of distance out of their bike - all those years of "slow bicycle races" at junior school suddenly made sense!
However, to win at this event you really need two things - a very free running bike and a lot of mass. I thought I had both but I was well short of the real contenders - they all kept their momentum a good 50 yards past where I stopped. At that point, the road goes ever so slightly down thereby accelerating them on to the Broadford Bridge junction. Of the three who made it that far, two stopped because of traffic, but the third, our own John C managed to turn left and roll for about another 200 yards! Incredible. However, because the other two were baulked by traffic, the decision was made to call the result a three-way draw. Well done John - you were the winner in my book!
We rejoined Pat at the pub for lunch - The Queens Head - and after a pleasant lunch in the sunshine, we headed home, eschewing the opportunity for afternoon tea at Sumners Ponds (we were too full from lunch).
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs. It will head west and north from Horsham and lunch will be at the Sussex Oak in Warnham which (just coincidentally) is hosting a beer festival! It looks like the weather will be good again, so come on, come out for a ride through our glorious countryside.
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