Beginners Ride from Horsham

The second sunday of each month we run a Beginners Ride, this month we started from Horsham. Pete E was the leader and he led us away from the Pavilions in the Park, through the park and along some quiet residential streets to the golf course and then out onto Robin Hood Lane. There were eight riders in total - five club members (Pete, Barbara, Norman, Bob, Anton) and three new riders (Sandy, Suzette and Andy).

Pete took us through Broadbridge Heath and a nice safe crossing of the A264 using a subway. Old Wickhurst Lane took us south and through the building works for the new bypass. We then carried on along a bridleway and had our first technical problem of the day - a chain managed to shift into the gap between the large sprocket and the spokes - but it was quickly fixed by adjusting the rear derailleur.

A little further on the track became a tarmac road as it passed the old Horsham waste tip (now a set of greenfields with the occasional vent pipe visible). However, at the end of the road we had a second technical problem - this time a loose crankarm - embarassingly on a bike I'd recently serviced! Unfortunately none of us had a 15mm spanner with a sufficiently deep reach to tighten the crankarm back up so we split into two groups - Norman took over as leader and led the group up through Itchingfield and along a couple of bridleways into Barns Green and on to Sumners Ponds. Meanwhile Pete and I headed straight for Sumners Ponds where their odd-job man lent us a 15mm socket spanner and we were able to successfully tighten Pete's crankarm. It was very pleasant sitting having coffee and cake at Sumners Ponds - I recommend it if you're in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got going again and headed up Two Mile Ash Road as far as The Bax Castle then headed for Bonfire Hill and Southwater. At Southwater we took the Downs Link and crossed under the A24 to arrive at Copsale. Now we were back on the road and following the cycle signposts back to Horsham. This took us onto the delighfully named Polecat Lane on which there is a small hill that I forgot about. Continuing north we arrived at the strangely named hamlet of Newfoundout and then back onto a bridleway. This bridleway is called Pedlars Way and heads down through some woodland,

 

before arriving in south Horsham just in time for lunch.

Next weeks ride, on Sunday 21st October, will start at 09:30 from Three Bridges Station and head for a lunch stop at The Skimmington Castle, Reigate Heath. It will be a relatively level 30 mile ride with a short tea break at Redhill Aerodrome in the morning.