Castle Inn, Chiddingstone

Heavy rain, high winds, flooded roads, fallen trees – the weather forecast could not have been more daunting. Sharp contrast to 29th April 2011 when Kate & William enjoyed a beautiful day for their wedding.


However the fearless Frank and the pensive Pat duly arrived at Three Bridges Station at 10am. There we met a very keen potential member Simon Wales who had telephoned earlier in the morning to enquire weather (sorry dreadful pun) the ride was going ahead.

At ten past ten in heavy rainfall we set off at a good pace in the direction of Chiddingstone. The lane east of Lingfield through Haxstead was flooded but Simon was adept in riding along the crown of the road waving at car drivers and getting them to slow down.

After 20 drenching miles we squidged our way into the pub. The publican was friendly and invited us to hang our wet clothes on hangers above a radiator. So we peeled off our sodden outer layers and exchanged a bit of banter with the bar staff whilst ordering our lunches. Pat ‘pushed the boat out’ and went for the roast beef at £15.

As we dried out over a leisurely lunch we were delighted to see the sun beaming in through the windows. Refreshed and revitalised we retraced the route towards Crawley via Edenbridge, Lingfield and Copthorne. A pleasant ride home – spring sunshine and only a few puddles to contend with. Total mileage 40.4.

Frank & Pat

So you see, bad weather doesn't prevent us from a having a lovely day out - and I'm sorry I missed the ride (I was busy winning a car rally in Northamptonshire).    Bob.

Next weeks ride is another Three Bridges Station start (at 09:30) and will be VERY easy. We will make the short trip to Broadfield Stadium to look at the Historic Commercial Vehicles that will be stopping there on their London to Brighton run. here you will be able to get up close and personal to a number of old fire engines, buses, charabancs, lorries, vans and other commercial vehicles dating back to the beginning of the motor vehicle age - there may even be some that you remember from when you were young(er)!  The vehicle owners/carers are always keen to chat about their vehicles, so we can easily while away and hour or two. Then, depending on the weather and what people want to do, we may venture on a short ride to a pub for lunch.

As cycle rides go, they don't get any easier than this one!!

Westward Ho!

A nice, simple ride today using a few of the lanes to the west of Horsham. I managed to arrive at Horsham Pavilions in the Park five minutes early but couldn't see any bikes I recognised.  Then Norman pulled up and ........ that was it.

We headed off along Hurst Road and continued west across the golf course and out onto Robin Hood Lane. We used the usual Byfleets Lane, Strood Lane, Guildford Road route and then climbed up Rowhook Hill - sometimes the hill is really hard work, today it seemed relatively easy.

We next used Furzen Lane across to Ellens Green where we turned left and then, just before arriving in Rudgwick, we took Cox Green Lane. This lane crosses over the Downs Link before turning sharp left near the old Baynards Station. I nearly missed the next turn onto Knowle Lane, but this took us north and west until we turned onto Wildwood Lane. Although the skies were blue, there were still quite a few puddles on the road - this wasn't too much of a problem until a chelsea tractor overtook us and sent the entire contents of one puddle all over me!

By the end of the lane I'd dried out and we turned left onto the A281 for the short burst down to Alfold Crossways. Here we headed out on the Dunsfold Road which skirts the Top Gear airfield before arriving in Dunsfold itself.

Now we headed south to Plaistow before turning east to go through Ifold - a strange place, it's quite a large village but almost all hidden away on private roads. From here we continued east, then turned north to the lunch stop at the Onslow Arms in Loxwood.

As we were a little early, Norman and I talk a short walk along the canal as far as a set of lock gates. We were surprised (and a little disgusted) at the amount of dog poo along the path but what was most disgusting was the amount that had been bagged up but then just hung on a twig or bush! These dog owners are morons - perhaps I ought to work on my dog-control chip idea a bit more!

The pub doesn't do sandwiches on Sundays but both Norman and I found something suitable on the menu and had a couple of ciders to go with it.

The route back was shorter - we headed up into Loxwood then east across to Tismans Common before a short stretch of A281 and a right turn onto Haven Road. At the end we turned left onto Stane Street for one mile before taking Hayes Lane down into Slinfold. From here we headed east then north to Broadbridge Heath. Soon after we were crossing the golf course and back in Horsham.

Forty minutes later I was back home in Crawley - just as a clap of thunder announced a torrential downpour! Close shave - as I didn't want to get wet, I left my bike in the dining room rather than venture out to the shed. My mileage today came in at just under 43 miles.

Next weks ride on Sunday 29th April will start from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. Led by Frank it will head east with a lunchstop at The Castle in Chiddingstone. It will be about 40 miles and relatively easy. Please come out, we're already more then a quarter of the way through 2012!

DA Event - Freewheel

SCRE-E-E-E-E-C-HHH!!!!

What the? I nearly jumped out of my skin as a car locked its wheels and skidded just over my right shoulder. What was going on? I looked behind to see a small blue car tucking itself in behind me to avoid hitting a car coming the other way. The driver had obviously been doing the usual car driver thing of not properly checking there was space and visibility to perform an overtake - after all, it was just a bike! So when the other car came around the slight bend ahead and there was the potential for damaging their precious tin box, it was time to head for the kerb - luckily for me they weren't alongside or I'd have been side-swiped into oblivion. I nervously kept pedalling and was glad when they safely went past a few seconds later. All this happened on the Shipley to Southwater Road as I was on my solo way home from the first of this years DA Events.

A nine o'clock start from Horsham meant I had to leave home by 8:20. A cloudless, lovely blue sky had encouraged me to wear shorts and travel light today. But it was a bit cooler than I thought and by the time I got to K2 I was quite cold, however, I knew the climb to Pease Pottage would warm me up - it did for all parts except my fingertips - first day in fingerless mitts today as well.

I rolled into the Pavilions car park bang on nine to be met by Norman. We waited the obligatory 10 minutes but we were still just two, so off we went. No dawdling, we headed south via Tower Hill to Bax Castle. Here we took the left turn and continued through woods just starting to have their first flush of bluebells down to Dragons Green and on to Broomers Corner. Here a quick check on my phone's sat nav and we took the next left fork to the B-road and a sunny dash down to the West Chiltington turn. The sheltered climb up to the village warmed us up whilst the downhill the other side chilled us back down. Soon we were on the A283 and that long straight but with the sun out and the wind behind us it passed quick enough and by 10:30 we were sat outside the RSPB cafe at Wiggonholt.

By the time we'd finished our snacks, other riders had arrived and I was pleased to see Jon V, John C and Ros from our group.

Next we headed back along the A283 and on to Nutbourne. We carried on though this sleepy hamlet and climbed the ridge behind it, Norman and I leading the way ( we were still trying to get warm). Just over the top was where today's Freewheel would start.

We set off at 30 second intervals. The road was only about one and a half car widths across so it was possible to keep going if there was anything coming the other way ( except if it was a combine harvester - or a Chieftain Tank). In profile it started off quite steep before levelling out for about a hundred yards and then plunging down once more before sweeping under the railway, bending left and going up slightly to level out and eventually reach the A29. We'd given explicit instructions that if anyone reached the A29 they must stop there - if multiple riders reached it they'd have to settle it with a fight (I joked!).

I was one of the last to go and was conscious of how much speed and momentum I lost on the 'plateau' middle section ( I blame the wind and my own un-aerodynamic profile, not lack of ability). As I rounded the last corner I could see that everyone seemed to have finished quite close to each other and, despite the enthusiastic encouragement of the assembled throng, I came to a halt right in their midst.

Well done John V - he managed to get furthest (last year John C was best). No one had reached the A29 due, I think, to the headwind.

Now we headed back up the hill to lunch, though Norman and the two Johns forked left onto Gay Street and headed on home. The rest had a nice fast freewheel back down to Nutbourne and The Rising Sun. We parked our bikes at the top end of the garden and commandeered a couple of tables in what we hoped would be a sun trap of a location - it was, but only when the sun was out and not obscured (as it was increasingly) by clouds! Unfortunately the pub doesn't do sandwiches on Sundays ( but would if pre-arranged), so most of us ordered burgers. After about an hour of chat about this and that, it was time to head for home. Ros was heading for Pulborough Station, so I was the only one going north and hence was all alone when that dopey Peugeot driver gave me such a shock. I think what really worried me was that I hadn't heard it approaching - this just adds weight to my thought that it had not taken any special actions in order to overtake me. I would have noticed a change in gear or revs/speed but the first sign of their presence was the skid!

However, don't let that put you off - it was an exception. Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park again but at 09:30hrs. I haven't worked out the exact route yet but it will take in some of the very pretty lanes to the west of Horsham. It won't be any more than 40 miles long and will be fairly easy with a pub stop for lunch. See you on the 22nd.

Easy Ride from Three Bridges

John C and Barbara took four new riders to Redhill Aerodrome and back without mishap. Total mileage 22.
Next weeks downhill ride is at Nutbourne road map ref TQ72203, lunch at the Rising Sun.

Leith Hill

Just Norman and Bob were out today.

We left Horsham by heading over the golf course and then to Rowhook Hill.

The right fork opposite the brickworks took us on and up to Forest Green where a right then left then right again out us onto a tiny lane that seemed to do almost all of the days climb in one go! Granny was well exercised today!

The track along the ridge to the Tower was dry and hardpacked, so I was OK on my slicks.

Here's a view from the top of the tower:

We each had a cup of tea and piece of cake before continuing along the ridge and then down into the village of Coldharbour. From here we had the fun of the downhill run before crossing the A29 and then the A24 to make our way to Capel and then Newdigate where we stopped at The Six Bells for lunch.

We sat in the sunshine out in the garden and were surprised how few people were lunching at the pub. We had sandwiches and they were absolutley superb - good quality, local bread and fresh, locally sourced fillings. We had a couple of pints of Firkin Fox and they were just right as well. I think this pub is a little gem, come on everyone use it or lose it!

The home run took us straight down the lane to Rusper where Norman headed for Horsham and I headed for Crawley. All in all less than 40 miles (including the ride over to Horsham for the start) and one almighty big hill, on a lovely day for cycling - GREAT!

Next week is our usual second sunday of the month easy ride for Beginners. Starting from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs on Easter Sunday (8th April) it will either be an out and back along the Worth Way or a trip to Redhill Aerodrome on quiet, easy roads. The choice depends on who turns up. See you there.

Leith Hill

Bob M