High Summer Ride to Amberley

Originally timetabled as a ride to The Black Horse at Amberley, an amendment had to made as, sadly, The Black Horse has closed.

I arrived at the Pavilions in the Park a good ten minutes early (for a change) and hung around outside the front doors as I could see that there was no-one waiting in the cafe. A few minutes later I spotted the familiar figure of Anton rolling up from the car park. It's been quite a while since I've had the pleasure of riding with Anton, so this got my day off to a good start.

As no other riders had arrived, we set off out along Hurst Road and then through the town centre and out on the Worthing road. We took the difficult right turn at The Boars Head and shortly after could relax as we travelled down Two Mile Ash Road to The Bax Castle and then on to Barns Green. We used Valewood Lane and New Road but, for a change, I took us onto Wooddale Lane and entered Billingshurst on the A272. We used the bridge to cross the A29 and then rejoined the A272 before pulling up at the Old Mill Cafe in Wisborough Green for elevenses.

There were a few people sat outside there, including a couple of cyclists and conversation naturally turned to The Olympics cycling and the hard job the GB team had in the mens road race.

Having this break was a good idea, for the next part of the route involved the climb up Bedham Hill. As the climb started to bite, I mentioned the abandoned church at the top of the hill and Anton said he would like to see it. Shortly before the summit we took a small road on the right which climbed further paused then climbed again. Then a diagonal bridleway on the right told me we'd reached our destination and we pulled up outside this spooky location. We explored the ruins and took a few photos:

According to a stone tablet inside the church, it was built in 1880.

We retraced our steps back to the junction, turned right and continued the climb. Then we had the pleasure of a downhill run about a mile or so long and into the village of Fittleworth. We continued south, past the Church and The Swan Inn and up Tripp Hill.The lanes were quiet and we continued on down to West Burton. Here we turned east and headed for Bury then Houghton and down the hill, over the Causeway to pull up at the cafe on the east bank of the river Arun at Amberley.

The weather so far had been changeable but dry with a westerly wind. As we sat outside, by the river, some big grey clouds began to dominate the sky and a few big raindrops pockmarked the river. We knew exactly what to do - Anton unravelled his waterproof jacket, straightened it out, put it on and carefully did up the zip and cuffs. Yup, you guessed it: as soon as he had finished the whole procedure the rain stopped!

We enjoyed our lunch and then resumed the ride. We took the shortest route back to Horsham via Amberley, Wiggonholt, West Chiltington and Barns Green. We practised our freewheeling skills on Woods Hill and I have to say that Anton was much better and quicker than me - he rolled all the way to the junction but had to stop there due to traffic. I only managed to get as far as the farm entrance about a quarter of a mile before the junction.

Back at Horsham Park we parted company and I headed back to Crawley via Colgate, Pease Pottage and Tilgate Park.

Next weeks ride on Sunday 5th August will be the next DA Event.  This one is a really easy one, just turn up on the green at Wisborough Green to join the other West Sussex CTC section riders for a picnic. John C will be leading our ride from Horsham Park Pavilions at 10:00hrs and I would describe the ride as being Easy and less than 40 miles. Please join this event as I think we're currently leading in the DA Section trophy competition and this could help cement our position - we get 5 points for everyone that turns up at the picnic. Don't forget to bring your own packed lunch (but don't worry if you forget - there are two pubs, a cafe and a convenience store in the village!!).

Crawley 100

One hundred miles. Hmmm, at our usual rate that means 10 hours in the saddle, better plan the ride to have an early start.

Well, that was the thinking that saw me hanging around Three Bridges Station at 07:00hrs on Sunday 22nd July. Ten minutes later and I was still on my own and getting cold - time to start riding.

In planning the route for the Crawley 100 I based it on the route we used in 2010 but with a few small amendments to add some of my favourite lanes. First off though, the route took me through Furnace Green and Tilgate to the K2 Leisure centre. Then came the first climb of the day, up Pease Pottage Hill. By now I was nice and warm and got a good spin rate going as I travelled down Grouse Road. It was a glorious morning and I should have stopped to take some photos (the Hammer Pond looked particularly scenic) but I was enjoying the riding! Eventually I did stop and I took this picture of the church at Doomsday Green:

Now the route headed in a more southerly direction along Sedgwick (formerly Magpie) Lane before heading east through Maplehurst and then going south once more to cross the A272 and head on down to Littleworth. I was tiring a little now and, as I rode along the A281 several cyclists went past me - I sped up and managed to catch their tail for about a mile but their speed of 22mph was proving a bit hard and emptying my tank quicker than I could afford, so I had to drop back. However, shortly after I turned onto the B2118 I passed them (they were stopped at the side of the road, discussing their route) and for the next mile and a bit I was riding too fast again as I tried to preserve my dignity and travel at a similar speed to them (and not get overtaken again). Was I glad when I could turn off onto the Wineham Road and ease my pedal rate!  I cruised up through Wineham and then turned into Bob Lane all the while thinking about breakfast which was just a few minutes away. I was woken from my thoughts as the cyclists from earlier passed me again. This time I had a quick chat with them and found that they were on a "short", 50 mile training run. Where they were from and where they were heading I've no idea! However I'd now crossed the A23 and pulled up at the breakfast stop, the Little Chef at Hickstead.

Half an hour later, comfortably outside a coffee and a teacake, it was time to get back on the bike. I headed east on the cycle route beside the A2300 and then turned north on a very quiet lane. This crossed the A272 and headed up hill through the woods near Bolney. Reaching the ridge I then headed east to Whitemans Green and on to Borde Hill. After a short climb the route crossed over the London to Brighton mainline and then headed on up to Ardingly.












Here I had a short breather to get ready for the next part of the ride: a breathtaking descent followed by a lung-busting climb to get me over Ardingly reservoir. From there it was a peaceful recovery ride (although slightly up) along Back Lane. As I rode along here I saw a bearded bloke with a camera acting strangely just ahead of me. I stopped and asked what was up - he responded by pointing out a dragonfly sitting on a flower. I think he said it was a Great-Ringed Dragonfly. I stood and watched it for a couple of minutes before climbing back onto the saddle.

Just before Turners Hill I turned left and sped down past Tulleys Farm and back into Crawley using the Worth Way to get over the M23 before pulling up at home for a quick adjustment to my badly juddering brakes. The cause of the juddering? A big wad of grease had been flung from my recently regreased hub and had landed on the rim! I soon had it clean and working properly and headed over to the lunch stop at Stepneys cafe at Maidenbower Pavilion.

Lunch was pleasantly spent sitting in the shade looking out over the park. I was ready for the restart half an hour before the published time, but thought I'd better wait in case any was just going to do the afternoon fifty miles. No one did, so I set off up through Maidenbower to Three Bridges Station - no one there either - ah well, let's get going again.

I followed NCN21 out of Crawley through Three Bridges, Northgate, the Industrial Estate and the airport. Once in Horley I headed past the Air Balloon pub and on to Meath reen Lane. Now I was back in the countryside and the sun was playing a little hide and seek in the clouds, the road was very smooth and I was really enjoying the ride. A safe crossing of the A217 and I was soon through the southern outskirts of Reigate and the sun had pushed most of the clouds away. In order to get the afternoon mileage correct I'd put a little extra loop in this part of the ride and I had to resist the temptation to cut it off. My integrity was rewarded with the sight of two-thirds distance coming up on my speedo - the red mark on the map shows where it was, the speedo picture shows 66.67 miles for the trip (it should have been 66.66 but it flipped over before I could stop:






































Psychologically this was a good point for me and I had a tea break coming up but as I approached my next right turn there were some people standing in the road ahead. "What's up?" I asked. "Cycle race." Came the reply. "Can I use the road as well?" "Yes, but watch them go by first." At that moment a group of some twenty-odd women cyclists raced by, barely slowing for the corner. Sheepishly I followed in their tracks. Fortunately there weren't many spectators to revel in the contrast between the sleek, speedy ladies and the bearded, plodding slowcoach. However, a couple of miles later I realised that the ladies were doing a circuit of 6 laps and were likely to catch me up soon, so I upped my pace a bit and managed to keep between 15 & 20 mph until I left their route at Newdigate - they never caught me!

From Newdigate it was west along Trig Street and then and then down to Capel for afternoon tea at the Church:











A cup of tea and a big slice of cake was just what the doctor ordered and I enjoyed sitting in the sun outside the front of the church and chatting with a fellow cyclist. The Olympics, local churches and the Forty-Plus Cycling Club were our main topics of conversation. My mileage reading at the tea stop was exactly 75 miles, so I was very happy and confident that I would clock up the full 100 miles - mind you, I also knew there were a few hills yet to be climbed!

The next bit of the ride took me over the A24 and then down Weare Street - absolutely perfect - no traffic, sunlight dappling through the trees, clean tarmac and no dogs! Then over the A29 and the short stiff climb up to the pub at Oakwoodhill. Here there was some sort of jamboree of V8 muscle cars - lot's of American cars in evidence, some British modifieds, but my favourite was the plain and simple Scooby STI with a loud exhaust burble - gotta love the sound of that flat four!

Next hill was Rowhook Hill but down not up!  Much better and allowed me to hit 40mph for the only time this day. I used the familiar route into Horsham but, having crossed the golf course, I turned right and travlled through a resdidential area before going through the town centre and out on the Brighton Road. Next I forked left and eventually took the right turn to head to Doomsday Green. Time for another photo - compare this one with the one I took this morning from (almost) exactly the same spot:










Not far to go now, but the small hills were starting to get me - granny ring was earning her keep! Although the route now went up Grouse Road, the obvious route back was too short so a deviation was needed. I headed across to Colgate and then up and over Tower Hill for a fast blast down to the A264. This road was fairly quiet and I managed to get across quickly to face the last climb of the day, the drag up from Faygate to Wimlands Lane. From there it was downhill to and past Lambs Green and then just the level (but twisty) Rusper Road back into Crawley. I used the subway from Ifield to West Green, then Springfield Road and through Southgate before arriving at Furnace Green and home with 101.6 miles on the clock.  Done it!

I was very pleased with my achievement and also with the route, although I think I'll make another couple of tweaks to it before we run it again in 2014.

Next weeks ride (29th July) will be to Amberley from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30hrs and should be about 40 miles of medium level cycling.

South of Horsham

Blimey! Blue sky!!  Get out quick and enjoy it. Sure enough, the ride over to Horsham was very pleasant. Arriving at Pavilions in the Park I didn't recognise any of the bikes parked outside, but on going into the foyer I was met by Michael who had ridden over from Rudgwick. Going back outside I was pleased to see Norman, unfortunately not on his bike, but out for a run and looking fit and well. Then John C arrived and we were ready to go. First I led us through Horsham town centre (I needed to raid a cash machine) and then out to Doomsday Green. We continued along Hammerpond Road for a further mile and a half before turning right onto Golding Lane. This took us down and then up a short, sharp climb into Mannings Heath. If you are of a delicate disposition, please skip the rest of this paragraph and continue reading from the next.        Just as we crested the hill, a dog being walked by a sandalled, beshorted owner, deposited the largest dogturd I have ever seen! As the event was witnessed not only by us three cyclists but the householder upon whose threshold the deposit was made and an oil delivery driver, the poor dog owner had the thankless task of trying to cram what looked like a kilo of poo into what looked like a woefully undersized plastic bag! My, how I laughed - now, if we could just compel cat owners to take ownership of their animals droppings the world would be an even better place!

Recovering our breath after the hill, we turned left onto Winterpit Lane. When I was a teenager I played in a youth marching band and we played at a Childrens Home somewhere along this lane. It was always a nice relaxing gig with a friendly and appreciative audience.

At the end we turned right onto Church Lane and headed up to Lower Beeding. Here we used a short stretch of the A281 to get onto the quiet of Newells Lane. This lane is generally downhill with just one small climb shortly before the junction with Park Lane. Here we turned right and glided down to Maplehurst. There a quick left right took us onto Copsale Road. Just visible from this road is a property I call "Mini Dallas" - someone has equipped their house with a set of large white classical columns.....

Next we headed north on Broadwater Lane and Polecat Lane before heading west through Newfoundout and then south through Southwater. I used the old road bridge to cross over the Downs Link and avoid the traffic lights before turning right onto Church Lane. The far end of this lane has a different name and is known as Bonfire Hill. For a change we turned left onto Marlpost Lane and followed this down through the woods before turning right onto Lackenhurst Lane - this is the lane that doesn't appear to be on the Goldeneye map of Sussex. At Brooks Green we effectively carried straight on onto Emms Lane which took us down hill and over the level crossing into Barns Green. Here we stopped for lunch at The Queens Head. This is a very good pub with four real ales on tap and a good variety of quality food. It appears to be run by the same people that own Burdfields in Billingshurst who are regular advertisers in our Pedaller magazine.

After lunch and with the skies clouding over somewhat, we headed home - Micheal back to Rudgwick, John and I for an uneventful ride back to Crawley.

Beginners Ride

A wet and miserable Sunday in July, I've got things to do at home and I haven't assigned anyone to lead the ride. Reluctantly I get up, get dressed, put my waterproofs on and head out to Three Bridges Station. No-one else is there and, just as I'm about to give up, Pete and Marian arrive on their tandem. Like me, they have things to do and thought they were down to lead the ride, so, after waiting for ten minutes and a grand total of no other riders arriving, we decided to call it a day and each headed home.

Two Weald Ride

The third DA Event of the year took place on Sunday 1st July.  Based at Wisborough Green, this event gives participants the choice of four differnt 25 mile loops away from Wisborough Green - to the East, the West, the North and the South.

For the third year in a row, Pat and Frank kindly brought their motorhome so that we could use it as a base and to provide refreshments. Everything was set up at 10:00 hours and riders began arriving from the three parts of the West Sussex Member Group.

In total 16 riders attended and set off in small groups to tackle the delights of the various loops. The most popular route being the West with 8 people tackling it.  The North was next most popular with 7 people enjoying it. The East and South loops has just two riders apiece. Hah! I hear you say - that makes 19! Where did the extra 3 come from?  Well, three intrepid riders managed to fit in two loops - and 2 of them (Anne and Colin) had not only ridden to the start from Chichester but were riding back and probably clocked up somewhere in the region of 90+ miles for the day. Fantastic.

Generally speaking the weather was very good (considering) with blue skies and fluffy clouds for most of the day and just a couple of showers in the late afternoon. There was a blustery wind from the southwest but it wasn't always that noticeable when riding - most of the routes benefitted from using fairly sheltered roads.