Family Bike Ride

The third ‘Crawley Family bike ride’ took place on Sunday 24^th June, after the wettest June ever and torrential rain overnight!  So we were not expecting a huge turn-out as there were ominous looking overcast skies early on Sunday morning.  So we were pleasantly surprised to find over twenty people registered for the event this year including several youngsters, including Amelia, Harry, Dylan and Ashley and a good contingent of the Crawley CTC’s regular riders to look after our guests on the road.  After registration courtesy of Oriel school, photographs from the local paper and a short safety briefing we set off for Nymans garden on, what turned out to be, a pleasantly warm, and dry, day.  A leisurely ride through Tilgate and along the flat inclines (!?) of Broadfield took us to the top of Tollgate hill where we crossed the A264, using the new Marie Vesco toucan crossing.  It was then flat all the way, crossing the A23 using the foot bridge and in no time at all we arrived at Handcross and into Nymans gardens, and despite an obstinately strong head wind a nice gentle bimble (cycling term for pootling around on a bike).

Nymans offered us their usual warm welcome with free admittance, as we had arrived by Green transport, and a free drink, especially for the Crawley family bike riders.  Do try to visit this house and lovely gardens by bike, it is only a short and easy ride from Crawley and you are certain to enjoy it – the gardens have excellent views south towards the Downs.  One family decided that it was so nice there that they would stay longer and make their own way home later while another team headed off south for more miles on their bikes, and so it was a slightly smaller group that set off on the return journey to Crawley.  The ride back was even easier than the ride out as we had the wind behind us and the flat roads tended to incline in the opposite direction to the way out!  Normally we prefer to route through Tilgate forest on a swooping off-road section on our return, but we decided that due to the rain it would be more prudent, and cleaner, to return by the road route.  So we duly returned back to Oriel school to chat and say farewells by about 2 o’clock.

Thanks for riding with us, hope that you enjoyed our little trip out in to the country and see you again next year.

Peter Smith

Crawley CTC Right to Ride campaigner

It was really great to have so many of the good Horsham/Crawley CTC riders, and Gordon from Sustrans as well, turn out to support our third bike ride on Sunday and I am personally very grateful to you all for doing that.  I think that we had a nice little ride and I hope that some of the attendees may yet come out on one of our regular rides.  Certainly several indicated that they would; let’s hope that they do.

Happy Cycling and thank you for your support.

Don’t forget the Two Weald ride next Sunday, 1^st July.  Just turn up at Wisborough Green and ride your choice of 25 mile loop(s). The route maps and route instructions are available to download from our website.

   http://handc-ctc.tripod.com

Go to the file downloads section.

We will have refreshments available (courtesy of Pat and Frank with their camper van) from 10:00hrs to 16:00hrs but if you want to start earlier just obtain the details from the our website and then have some refreshments on finishing the loop.

See you there,

Bob

I-Spy Ride

This years I-Spy DA Event started at Pulborough Railway station. I arrived at 09:15 to find Barbara, Mike and Anne already waiting for me. Within a few minutes Ros too had arrived and ....  that was it.

I gave each of them a map and a set of route instructions/questions:-

Miles	Route Instruction/Question	Answer
0	Leave station on Footpath to North
0.2	Turn LEFT onto road and cross over the railway.
	Musical Care?
	What MUST be done in red?
	Where does the three-legged horse live?
1.4	Turn RIGHT
	Not far, Mum
	Where do the gates open outwards?
	What side opposite La Barranca?
	Do chore fieldmouse!
	Where would you find red dogs on duty?
2.4	Turn LEFT onto A29 then immediate RIGHT onto CRAY LANE       **TAKE CARE**
2.7	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction (sp Broomers Hill)
	Where would you find two yellow kestrels?
4.0	Turn LEFT onto A-283  **CARE**
5.3	After Wiggonholt Fork RIGHT (sp Greatham, Rackham)
5.6	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction
6.0	STRAIGHT ON (ignore left)
6.9	STRAIGHT ON (ignore left)
	On Saturday, what time for the last collection at Greatham Parish church?
	Except ____?_____ vehicles?
8.5	STRAIGHT over A29 into Waltham Park Lane *CARE*
9.6	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction (sp Fittleworth, Petworth)
10.8	Bear LEFT up the hill
11.2	Turn sharp RIGHT onto A283 *CARE*
11.4	Turn LEFT (sp: Bedham)
	Add up the four numbers where you see Fittleworth House.
11.7	Fork LEFT
12.4/5	Ignore both parts of the triangular junction on the left.
12.8	Follow hairpin back round to your left (and up).
	Hello grid liver (anag.)
13.1	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction
	How many posts holding the chains?
13.6	Turn LEFT at T-Junction *CARE*
14.4	Turn RIGHT onto A283 (sp Petworth)
14.8	Turn LEFT (sp Byworth)
	How many panes of glass on the front of The Black Horse?
	What produce at Hallgate Farm?
	_________ Corner Farm?
15.8	RIGHT then LEFT to cross this fast(ish) road *CARE*
	Sounds like the Seven Dwarfs go off to work from here?
	How many white posts before the Bigenor box?
	PSM _______?
17.3	STRAIGHT ON at crossroads (sp Sutton)
17.6	Ignore Right
	Where’s the alarming company?
	Where’s David Brown in charge?
19.1	Stop at The White Horse in Sutton for lunch and hand this sheet in to Bob. **

 Having set them off, I waited at the station until 10:00 am in case any one else turned up. Then I drove down to the RSPB centre at Wiggonholt, parked my car and started to ride the route.

I wasn't sure whether the competitors were ahead of or behind me and, on reaching the highest point of the ride, I stopped for a breather and took some photos whilst I waited to see if they were just about to catch me up.

By now, the intermittent showers had amalgamated into a continuous light drizzle and having sent a text to Barbara to find out where she was I turned south and headed downhill, through Byworth and on to the lunch halt at Sutton.

As I sat in the comfort of The White Horse at Sutton I received a reply from Barbara - they were about half an hour away. I ordered my lunch (and another pint of ale).

Once everyone had arrived and handed their sheets in, I could reveal the answers: