A good turnout for this ride which went from Three Bridges to Falmer (near Brighton):
Myself (Richard), the two Johns, Norman, Barbara and Peter and Marion on their (at times jet powered) tandem, set off from Three Bridges, and met Roz who had cycled the slightly shorter distance from East Grinstead to Turners Hill. We soon passed Ardingly, and turned off onto the nicer lanes, past Walstead School where the cricket had already started, and then onto Slugwash Lane. Taking a slightly different route than the normal Ditchling at Wivelsfield, we skirted Plumpton, and enjoyed the new surface on the little lane before coming out onto the A275 at Cooksbridge. It was noted the quality of the road surface seemed to correspond to the distance to the County town, or perhaps a councillor lives down the lane.
A short stretch of the busy A275 and we arrived by Lewes prison to turn right and then join the cycle path alongside the A27. This took us up to Falmer, the name of the ride. A walk across the footbridge and we had a quick break by the duck pond. The fantasy part, which is now reality, as we started, and before the hill over the downs to Woodingdean, is the new football stadium, nestling in the downs.
A short stretch of the busy A275 and we arrived by Lewes prison to turn right and then join the cycle path alongside the A27. This took us up to Falmer, the name of the ride. A walk across the footbridge and we had a quick break by the duck pond. The fantasy part, which is now reality, as we started, and before the hill over the downs to Woodingdean, is the new football stadium, nestling in the downs.
Unfortunately this is where we hit the traffic as there are still 4 way traffic lights at Woodingdean, and thus a long queue of cars, and little chance to whizz past.
Now we had done the hills, and could freewheel down towards Rottingdean, before turning off and cutting the corner, before meeting the cycle path alongside the A259 coast road.
We stopped for lunch at the Roedean cafe, with nice views of the sea, although unfortunately not a sunny day. Setting off for some of the group to catch a train back home, we found Madeira Drive wasnt a nice pootle along the cycle path to the pier, but instead the road was packed with Minis which has been doing their annual London to Brighton run. This meant the group was split up, and I managed to lose those of us who were cycling back to Crawley alongside the A23 on NCN20. Norman, had already said he would use the downs link to get back to Horsham by this time.
Anyway a pleasant 60 miles for me, and hopefully everyone got home safely though the busy Brighton traffic
Now we had done the hills, and could freewheel down towards Rottingdean, before turning off and cutting the corner, before meeting the cycle path alongside the A259 coast road.
We stopped for lunch at the Roedean cafe, with nice views of the sea, although unfortunately not a sunny day. Setting off for some of the group to catch a train back home, we found Madeira Drive wasnt a nice pootle along the cycle path to the pier, but instead the road was packed with Minis which has been doing their annual London to Brighton run. This meant the group was split up, and I managed to lose those of us who were cycling back to Crawley alongside the A23 on NCN20. Norman, had already said he would use the downs link to get back to Horsham by this time.
Anyway a pleasant 60 miles for me, and hopefully everyone got home safely though the busy Brighton traffic
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