Tour of Britain

Never fiddle with your gears the day before going out for a bike ride! I spent most of todays ride trying to adjust out various slight clickety-clacks and phantom gear changes! However, it didn't stop me overtaking two roadies as I passed through Tilgate and then charged (!) up Pease Pottage Hill. My bike appeared to be running quite well today (in spite of the gear chatter) and I arrived at Horsham Pavilion in the park on time. Barbara had also just arrived and waiting inside were Norman, Anton Marion and Pete S.

 

Three months ago when I'd posted this ride on the runs list it was just going to be an ordinary loop out to the north of Horsham but just a few weeks ago I'd realised it coincided with the last day of the Tour of Britain and that we could intercept it and watch the Pros go by. This meant we had a nine-thirty start but only 10 miles to travel (as the crow flies) and then a long wait for the race. So instead I took everyone on a small detour to the south and east of Horsham before heading for a lunch stop and then a race viewing point.

 

We used Depot Road and Comptons Road to head out through Doomsday Green and then north east on Grouse Road. Blackhouse Road took us to Colgate and then Tower Road was an enjoyable blast down to the A264. As we headed through Faygate and on to Rusper the road got very busy with lots of other cyclists, all heading north. A large contingent of them were on the last leg of a three day ride from Paris to London, the others looked like they were heading to The Tour.  

 

We carried on and were met by Ros as we pulled up at our lunch stop, The Crown at Capel. Unfortunately their restaurant was closed for refurbishment and they had no food available but their beer was good and they didn't mind us popping over to the convenience store opposite and bringing some food back to eat with our beer.

 

Lunch over, we crossed over the A24 and then had the joy of Weare Street heading south (downhill). We crossed over a quiet A29 and then, after a short climb, burst out onto the route the professionals would soon be using. Quite a few people were already gathered there and the pub (which I'd originally considered for the lunch stop) was very busy, making me glad we'd stopped at The Crown. we picked our viewing spot and settled down to wait for the spectacle to begin. We noticed the following quality piece of spelling:

 

 

Here's a picture of most of our motley crew:

I can't think why Anton was hiding behind this hedge:

 

Here's a selection of action shots taken by Pete and myself:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as the Broom Wagon had passed we got back on our bikes so that we could take advantage of the traffic-free roads as far as Ellens Green. Here we had a slight mechanical issue as Norman had lost a bolt on one of his cleats, but Pete whipped out an Allen key and tightened up the remaining bolt as a "get you home" fix.

We were soon back at Horsham and saying goodbye to Norman and Anton. Richard, Marian and Pete carried on to Crawley with Ros and I following on shortly behind. I guided Ros through Crawley and onto the Worth Way using the shortest route through Tilgate, Furnace Green and Maidenbower and then got home myself by about 5pm having coverd about 48 miles.

Next weeks ride is another of my favourite rides (so much so that I'm foregoing a family luncheon so I can ride) - it's the Seaside Ride. Leaving Three Bridges station at 09:00hrs we will ride to Brighton seafront via Ditchling Beacon (we'll have elevenses in the village before tackling the climb). We'll have lunch on the seafront and then there's the option of returning by train or by riding NCN20. Come along, it's a good challenge but well within practically everyone's capability.