Two Weald Ride

This weekend saw the fourth DA event of the year and the second organised by Horsham and Crawley, The Two Weald Ride. The basic format is that there are a selection of four 25 mile routes starting and finishing at Wisborough Green and riders decide which one(s) they want to do and we provide tea/coffee and home made cakes for refreshment. We opened the control at 10:00 hrs by which time there were already half a dozen people ready to set off. Once again, Pat and Frank brought their camper van and did sterling work keeping the drinks flowing and the cakes portioned out. The weather was sunny and warm and it took a while before anyone actually started riding! This photo shows a selection of Bognor and Chichester and Arun and Adur riders enjoying the sunshine with the camper van in the background.

I decided I wanted to ride the Western route (it's my favourite) and I was joined by Pete E and Pat. We set off towards and through Kirdford and then I missed a right turn (it was over the fold in my route instructions) but a mile or so later we came across a small group of cyclists repairing a puncture near a road junction and whilst chatting with them we looked at their map - my error was obvious and easily rectified and we just had to turn north and follow a lane I've never cycled before. It was actually quite a pleasant road and after a mile or so we turned left and were back on the proper route. Although the sun was now high in the sky and beating down ferociously, most of the lanes offered plenty of shade and the riding was extremely pleasant. Turning right onto the A283 we had a mile of full sun before turning left and after a short open stretch through Lurgashall (a cricket match was on the go here), we once more gained the shelter of the woodland around Lickfold and then River. Just before taking these pictures, as I had freewheeled down the hill at about 30 something mph, I disturbed a large brown bird of prey - probably a Buzzard - it shot off through the trees too quick for me to notice anything other than its size and colour.

Here's Pete.

And here's Pat (notice Pete in the background getting ready for a second photo!!)


and this is it......

After River, we came to a T-junction where the official route goes down the hill and onto the A272, however, I prefer to turn left and stay on the lane (but going up hill) before turning right and enjoying a nice fast descent through Tillington.
Here's Pat just reaching the top of that hill.

and here's the view of Tillington church taken as I approached it at about 30 mph.

At the bottom of the hill we turned left onto the A272 and passed the deer park belonging to Petworth House. At Petworth we turned right, heading south, then turned east and took the second left - a quiet lane through Byworth - before a short spell on the A283 as far as the Welldiggers Arms. This was followed by the worst part of the Western Loop, the long drag of a climb up Kingspit Lane. But it didn't last too long and we knew we only had a few more miles to go. Once we'd crossed the A272 it was mainly downhill or level all the way to Kirdford from whence Wisborough Green was but 3 miles.

After a well-earned pint and some lunch at the pub, Pete joined Barbara on the Northern loop and then a few minutes later Frank set off in pursuit. I decided to stay at the control and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon chatting with various members of the club about a variety of topics.

Looking at the register I could see that we had had 22 riders out with just three of them doing more than one loop. Normally we have more "multi-loopers" but I think the hot weather had made everyone take it a little easier this year - or maybe it was the lure of the homemade cakes??

Anyway, by 15:30 Frank had returned having not managed to catch Pete and Barbara but having had an enjoyable solo ride, and then just after 16:00 hrs Pete and Barbara finished and everyone was accounted for.

Thanks everyone for taking part but extra big thanks to Barbara and Pete for organising things, and Pat and Frank for not just the use of their mobile home but all the hard work they'd put in serving the food and drinks.

Our next ride is on Sunday 10th July starting from Three Bridges Station at 10:00 hrs. It will be an easy ride suitable for practically anyone with a bike and will demonstrate how easy and safe it is to visit Redhill Aerodrome from Crawley. There is a cafe at the airfield and there's always something to see there.