This just serves to remind you all that the Runs list is the DEFINITIVE version of what ride should be occurring and where from.
So there I was, all psyched up for a lie-in and with a route planned from Crawley but now I had to come up with a new route and make sure I was out of bed earlier :-(
Amazingly I was up nice and early and as I was getting ready I received a text from Gordon arranging to meet on the ride over to Horsham. It was bitterly cold but as everywhere was bone-dry, there was no evidence of frost and the road surface was perfect (obviously, apart from all the potholes!!).
Pease Pottage Hill was hard work as I still don't seem to have any energy, so I was a bit late meeting Gordon but at least we did meet up and we carried on over to Horsham through Colgate and Roffey. At Horsham Park Pavilion we were met by Pete E, Mike and Frank. We hung around chatting for about 10 minutes but no further riders arrived, so we set off. Firstly back to the Railway Station and over the road bridge before cutting through by the Salvation Army HQ and heading east along Depot Road.
We turned right onto Comptons Lane and left onto Hammerpond Road. Pete was a bit worried about this road as he has had a couple of "offs" along it previously, but in spite of there being a lot of running water and loose gravel near the Roosthole car park, he had no problems today. The sharp climb from the Hammerpond up to Church Lane felt particularly brutal even though it's only short and the lesser climb that follows it seemed more noticeable as well. However, we were soon negotiating the crossroads by The Wheatsheaf and carried on to Slaugham Pond.
I thought about turning right there in order to add a few miles to the ride, but realising it would add three more hills as well, I decided against it and we carried on to Staplefield. Here we didn't even have to stop at the crossroads and just sailed across without a car in sight. Gordon told me the story about how The Victory pub here got it's name - basically the pub at the top of the village (frequented by the Nobs) didn't want the pub at the bottom of the village (frequented by the workers) to exist and tried to get it closed down, but in a court case, the workers pub won and promptly christened itself The Victory in recognition of the event.
Brantridge Lane was a little wet and messy at the bottom corner but was quite pleasant (in spite of the climb) and we were soon at the top end. Going past The Wings Museum, I made a mental note to perhaps arrange a ride there sometime - it's open every Saturday and Sunday from March to October.
At the junction near the water tower we turned left onto Redbridge Lane and enjoyed a relaxing freewheel for the best part of 1.5 miles before turning right and then bearing left and into Balcombe. As eve the cafe windows were all steamed up and I had to poke my head around the door to check there was enough space for us. There was and we found a table for five and sate down to enjoy pots of steaming hot tea and various sandwiches/cakes.
For the return trip, Frank headed north on the Balcombe Road and the rest of us retraced our journey back up Redbridge Lane but when we got to the water tower we took the B road past High Beeches towards Handcross. From here, the easiest route home for everyone meant heading to Pease Pottage where Pete and Mike carried on along the Forest Road to go through Colgate and Roffey back to Horsham, whilst Gordon and I had but a short journey back to Crawley. I was home by 14:00 hrs and had ridden a mere 30 miles - but there'd been a fair few hills!
Next weeks ride is a Morning Ride aimed at less-experienced riders. Members and non-members are welcome. Starting from Three Bridges station at 10:00hrs, it will probably go down the Worth Way. Travelling at the speed of the slowest rider (that may well be me) we will return to Crawley sometime around midday. Hope to see you there.
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