The Seaside Ride

This ride is another of our signature rides. Most times we've run it the weather has been kind and not been wet. This year was the exception. As I got on my bike to leave home, so it started raining. Arriving at Three Bridges I could see Norman, Gordon and Pete S. However, Norman wouldn't be riding - he'd come over from Horsham but now had a puncture and that combined with the rain curtailed his riding for today.

Pete led us through Pound Hill and out on the Turners Hill Road all the way to the crossroads there. We headed on down through Ardingly and then to Lindfield. Here we were met by Anton - he was on his mountain bike again today - his normal road bike was in dire need of a new bottom bracket! We headed for Slugwash Lane and as we enjoyed its delights so the rain came down that bit heavier and I could start to feel the water soaking through my shorts. We carried on with the wind increasing and the rain easing off a touch until we pulled up at Ditchling tea-rooms. I plumped for poached eggs on toast and a pot of tea. Once we'd all finished it was time to pay the bill and get going again. I decided to put my waterproof trousers on as the rain seemed to have intensified and indeed, as we looked up at The Beacon, I could see that the cloud was now obscuring the slight view of it that we'd had earlier. The climb up the hill was hard as usual, but uneventful - except that Gordon completely battered it into submission with a superb piece of climbing. I crested last, huffing and puffing, but as usual I was totally able to ride all the way to the ice-cream van for my obligatory '99' cornet!

At the top the wind was pretty strong and the rain was just starting to sting. Gordon decided to head along the scarp and then drop down to Hassocks to catch a train home. Pete, Anton and myself decided to head on to Brighton and catch the train from there. Waving goodbye to Gordon as he set off into the clouds, we remounted and found the wind was slightly behind us as we sped across the the top to Old Boat Corner. Here we went over the top and down to The Lewes Road rather than our usual route into Brighton on Ditchling Road. The Lewes Road wasn't too bad and was relatively sheltered (being in a valley). Reaching The Level, we headed up the hill and used Trafalgar Street to get to the station. Tickets purchased we got straight on a train with plenty of space for our bikes and even had enough time to get a coffee before it pulled out.

So, this year we didn't actually make it as far as Brighton seafront, but we had a good ride and enjoyed it in spite of the weather.

Next weeks ride is a Horsham Pavilion in the Park start at 09:30, led by Anton it will go south and west of Horsham with a possible lunch stop at The Limeburners. Hopefully it will avoid the Barns Green area as there is a Half marathon on.