Summers Day on the Downs Link

After spending Saturday standing in the sunshine at Tilgate Park, talking to people about cycling and getting sunburnt, I was hoping to see the sun again on Sunday. My luck was in, the sun was shining and for once I was out early and not only that I got to the start at Horsham Park Pavilion a full 15 minutes ahead of time.

Within minutes I was joined by Mike, Barbara, Ken, Pete E and Val. I also received a text telling me Gordon was on his way. We waited and waited for Gordon but no sign, so we decided I would continue to wait for him and Pete would start leading everyone else on the route. A few minutes passed by and Gordon arrived - his watch was some 50 minutes slow and he thought he was arriving on time! He and I set off in pursuit, down past the Council Offices, left at the first set of lights and left at the second set of lights. Under the railway and right into Queensway - still no sign of the others. Now we turned left onto the Pedlars Way which took us through an old farmyard, across a river and then uphill along the side of a wood. Gordon was fairly flying up the hill, I was just gasping, but at the top we caught up with the others. Carrying on we encountered what would be the worst surface of the day as we followed the bridle path along what is a private road. We next turned right onto Coltstaple Lane and then left  and left again into Jackrells Lane. The cycling was very pleasant in the glorious sunshine.

We continued south and were soon at Copsale where we sadly noticed that the pub is looking more and more like a private house even though the pub sign is still standing. We were now on the Downs Link and the trees were giving us some protection from the sun. The going was fairly smooth and, as we were ahead of time, I decided to have a stop at West Grinstead. We pulled up at the railway carriage which advertised cold drinks, chocolate and biscuits but when we checked, they didn't have nearly enough for all seven of us. So we went to the nearby Orchard restaurant. Gordon very kindly treated us all to a drink and a cake (an apology for being late he said) and we had a very pleasant break sat in the sunshine in the garden. Back on our bikes we continued south, past a nice ripe cornfield and on into Partridge Green. Val was pleased to make it up the sharp slope onto the road without dismounting. After a short spell on the road it was back offroad travelling between a pair of hedges and then through a gate into an open field. To the right of us we could see a pill box - it would have had control of the river crossing that the railway afforded but would have been difficult to get to and from as it seems to be all exposed!

Another couple of miles further and bang on 12 midday we pulled up at the lunch halt, the Cat and Canary in Henfield. As all the outside tables were in the full sun, we found a table indoors in a nice airy corner and ordered our food and drink. My nice cold cider was just what the doctor ordered and my bacon, sausage and onion baguette was just right too. Just then Adrian arrived. Although just down the road from him, Adrian hadn't visited this pub for some time but he was soon settled down with a pint and regaling us with stories and information. It was great seeing Adrian again but all too soon it was time for us to start our return journey. We retraced our steps back up the Downs Link, through Partridge Green, past West Grinstead and then we kept on it past Copsale and under the A24 to Southwater. Here we stopped for a breather and an ice cream. By now the sun was having a positively soporific effect on me but I was jerked from my reverie as everyone got up, ready to get going again. We carried on through Southwater, across the field and on along the Downs Link, past the Bax Castle (which sounded quite busy) and on to Christs Hospital. I carried on ahead, intending to film everyone riding past me at the next junction but when I got there, the battery had run out in my camera!

We now said goodbye to Michael as he carried on to Rudgwick but we left the Downs Link and headed towards Broadbridge Heath on a bridle way. It wad a slight diversion through the building works but then we arrived at Tesco and Pete led us over the footbridge and into Horsham. We headed through the southern suburbs and then past the cricket ground to emerge by St Marks Church. From here it was but a short ride to the park where we said good bye to Pete and Val. The rest of us headed towards Roffey where Barbara turned off. Now it was just the three Crawley blokes the pace quickened up - and I shot out the back! I tried my best to keep up but every time the road headed up I started blowing and the gap got bigger.  I regained their wheels on the downhill through Colgate but then lost them again past Cottesmore. We next became a trio at Pease Pottage but once across the Marie Vescoe crossing we said goodbye to Gordon. Ken powered down the hill and I slipstreamed him nice and tight, even though we were hitting 38mph+  Ken was the next departee and then finally I arrived home at about 4pm with less than 40 miles on the clock and a big smile on my face.

Next weeks ride is the next of the DA events - The Two Weald Ride. Featuring four different 25 mile loops all starting/finishing at Wisborough Green. As usual, refreshments will be available courtesy of Pat and Frank with their camper - please bring a homemade cake for us to sell (if you can). The camper will be there between 10:00 and 16:00 so you can have a cuppa before starting a ride and one when you get back - luxury! However, if you want to do all four loops I'd suggest starting the first one by about 08:00, starting the second by about 10:30, the third by 13:30 and the fourth by about 16:00. The maps and route instructions are available on our website 

maps: http://handc-ctc.tripod.com/twowealdmap.doc    

route instructions:  http://handc-ctc.tripod.com/two_weald_route_instructions.doc

Printed copies will be available in the camper.  If the weather is as good as this week, it will be a truly great day for cycling around some absolutely beautiful routes in the heart of the Sussex countryside. I hope to see lots of you there...

Wings Aviation Museum

The Sunday closest to the Summer Solstice should surely be warm and sunny? Not this year! It felt like early April and showers were threatening, however I was joined by six other riders and we enjoyed a nice day out.

As we were heading south of Crawley, climbing was inevitable but I tried to find a route that would minimise the amount and be fairly quiet. I opted to head for Turners Hill but using what I fancied would be a flatter route via Rowfant with just a short, sharp ascent for the last couple of hundred yards up to the crossroads in Turners Hill. 

On regrouping at the front of the school, a couple of riders reckoned the normal climb up past Tulley's Farm would have been easier, I'm not so sure. After a breather, we carried on and headed west through Worth Abbey. As we rode along we could see the scarp of the South Downs about 10 miles away on our left. In spite of the overcast conditions and the lack of contrast, I could just about make out the V-shaped plantation on the scarp just south of Plumpton Green. It was planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

On reaching the Cowdray Arms, we turned left and then a couple of hundred yards up the road, right. After about a mile we passed a small lane on the left, Crawley Lane, which, if you extended it to the right would go straight to Crawley although no such route now exists! There is a convenient bridge for such a route to cross the railway just north of Balcombe tunnel but no public right-of-way apart from a section of bridle way in Tilgate Forest.

Soon after this we reached the road junction near the Water Tower and turned left onto Brantridge Lane. The Wings Aviation Museum is on the right after about 800 yards. We locked the bikes up against the side of the building and went in. The museum very much specialises in displaying and explaining the remains of crashed aircraft from the Second World War although it also has features about the V1 and V2 flying bombs along with a very moving account of a slave labour camp involved in their manufacture.

This photo shows the crumpled exhaust of a crashed Mustang aircraft.

I had a nice chat with one of the museum volunteers about post war commercial flying - she had been a stewardess during that period.

We'd been there about an hour and a half and I could easily have spent another couple of hours studying all the displays but stomachs were starting to rumble. Turning right out onto Brantridge Lane, we enjoyed a nice long glide for a mile or so before a short incline and glide into Staplefield to pull up at The Victory for lunch. There being no spare tables inside, we sat outside and enjoyed sunshine and clouds with the odd spot of rain whilst we chatted, ate and drank.

There was no avoiding a climb on the way back as we were sat snugly in the Forest Ridges from whence everywhere is the other side of a hill!

I led us westwards through to Slaugham, then Slaugham Pond, past the Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain, over the Hammer Pond and then turned right onto Grouse Road. Although the 4 mile length of this road is generally all uphill, it's relatively gradual and so we all managed to stay as a group along it. At the top we said goodbye to Barbara as she turned west back home to Horsham, whilst the rest of us headed on into Pease Pottage and then down the hill to K2. Ken left us in Tilgate, Ros was escorted to Maidenbower by Pat and Frank and I guided Val as far as Russell Way.

Video starts at Rowfant, then passes the Cowdray Arms and finishes down Brantridge Lane to The Victory.

Next weeks ride, inspired by the time of year(!) is titled "Summers Day on the Downs Link". I imagined we would be in the middle of a heat wave and could spend a pleasant day soaking up the sun with an easy ride out and back along the Downs Link.  Let's keep our fingers crossed!!   

It will start from Horsham Pavilion in the Park at 09:30 and will be mainly offroad but suitable for all except the most delicate of bikes. Lunch will probably be at the Cat and Canary in Henfield, although the ride can be shortened or lengthened depending on conditions and who turns up.

Mystery Ride

Pete writes:

This run was a ‘Mystery Ride’.    Until the day before it was a mystery to the leader as well as he couldn’t decide where to go!

In the event The Forester’s at Kirdford was decided upon with the option of going to the café at Wisborough Green if the pub was busy due to it being Father’s Day. 

Norman, Barbara, Michael G and myself set off from Horsham Pavilions across the golf course and along Robin Hood Lane where instead of turning left as usual we turned right and up Bailing Hill to warm up. In Warnham we turned into Friday Street and then back along Byfleets Lane and Strood Lane before joining the A281 for a short distance before heading for Rowhook and Ellens Green. After continuing west via Cox Green and Baynards we headed south down Cooks Hill, crossing the A281 to Tisman’s Common and then into Drungewick lane where we stopped briefly at Southwater Cycles to inspect the new premises. 

Turning right on the main road we headed towards Loxwood and then Ifold before turning south past Foxbridge Golf Course and arriving at the Forester’s Arms at 11.30 to find the pub closed. As it was raining none of us felt like waiting for it to open so we agreed to go to Fisher’s farm at Newpound for lunch and to give Norman the chance to embarrass his daughter who was working there.

After lunch we followed a fairly standard route home via Barns Green and Tower Hill to Horsham with Michael leaving us at the junction of Rowner Road and Okehurst Lane to head back home to Rudgwick. The ride was about 36 miles in total and we arrived in Horsham at around 2.30 just in time for the tennis on TV.

Our next ride is a 10:00 start from Three Bridges Station and will be another attempt to visit the Wings Aviation Museum in Brantridge Lane (£8 entry fee) and so will only be about a 25 mile ride. Lunch will probably be at The Victory in Staplefield.

Pooh sticks

Nice sunny weather in the week before the ride had me imagining a bright, warm Sunday but no, it was overcast and there was a cold wind blowing from the northeast. I arrived at Three Bridges station to be met by four riders - Barbara, Michael, Norman and Ken. Shortly after John V arrived and a few minutes later we set off.......... Only for me to wheel back because I'd forgotten to get some money out of the cash machine. I'd told the others what route we were using and once I'd got my cash I headed after them. Up Billinton Drive and onto the Worth Way. I was impressed with how far the others were ahead of me and I still hadn't caught them when I got to Worth Church where I spotted an old work colleague but couldn't stop to chat. I carried on and then heard a shout from behind - it was John, but he was by himself. As he explained that he'd seen the others missing the turn onto Billinton Drive my phone rang and Barbara told me the same and that they were now waiting at Compasses Cottage on the Worth Way just ahead of us. A couple of minutes later we'd all joined up and were continuing along our way.

We were cracking along at a good pace as we were sheltered from what was quite a stiff headwind and were soon at East Grinstead. Barbara turned back at this point and John left to go to a family party No steam engines at the station so we continued on up the High Street and onto the Forest Way.

It's slightly down hill all the way to Forest Row and then fairly level to Hartfield. Here we turned onto the road and headed up through the village and further up to Upper Hartfield. On the way we all collected several twigs so we were ready for the competition to come. Here's a short video of the route from the road to the bridge:

Having been soundly beaten at Pooh sticks by a family we met there, we climbed up through the woods to a lane and then headed east. At the end of the lane we crossed through a ford and then headed up the hill to arrive at the lunch halt - The Hatch at Colemans Hatch. We ordered our food, got our beers and sat down inside - next to an open fire - in June!!!!!

The beer was good, the food was excellent and we had a good old chat in the comfort of the pub.

For the return trip we had a nice fast downhill to Forest Row where we regained the Forest Way and headed back through East Grinstead (still no steam engine) and back to Crawley having covered just about 35 miles.

Our next ride is at 10:00hrs on Sunday 16th June and will be a Mystery Ride led by Pete E from Horsham Pavilions in the Park.  Where will he take you? One things's certain - he won't take you anywhere near Turners Hill or Ardingly because the London to Brighton Bike Ride is on the same day.  It's also Fathers Day.

Peaslake

Thanks to Michael for sorting out this ride.  He writes:

Five people came on the expedition to the Surrey Hills. Myself, Barbara, Anton, Norman and, representing Crawley, Gordon.  When told we were going to Peaslake Norman was heard to remark ‘ That’s all uphill!’  We left Horsham, (elev. 50m), and headed out of Horsham across the golf course.  The first stiff climb was up to Rowhook, (elev. 80m).  We then cruised across the plateau to Ewhurst avoiding most of the pot holes Surrey Council had left in our path.  At the far end of Ewhurst we paused by the green, (elev. 100m) to gather our breath for the serious climbing ahead.  We crossed the summit, (elev.160m) by the Duke of Kent School and rolled down in to Peaslake where we stopped at the Village Stores, (elev. 140m).  

We were not alone as about 30 other cyclists had also decided this was a good place to stop. There were more road bikes than off road bikes which I had not expected.  Barbara kindly treated us to an ice cream.  Note to myself; If you start at 9.30am it is good to plan an elevenses stop or you will get to the pub too early.

We set off downhill but soon turned right into Hoe Lane.  Gordon called this a characterful lane and Barbara did some walking to see if she could find the big black arrow marked on the OS map.  We were too early for the Volunteer, (elev. 110m)  at Sutton Abinger and also the Hatch at Abinger Common so we had a discussion and decided to strike out for Coldharbour via the flanks of Leith Hill.  We passed our high point a by the car park,  (elev. 250m) and paused briefly by the landslip to admire the views across the Weald to the South Downs.  

Lunch was taken in Coldharbour, (elev. 240m)  sampling the output of the Leith Hill Brewery.

After lunch the fun began.  A glorious decent down Broomehall Road to the A29, (elev. 100m) with very little need for brakes.  We headed for Capel but once we crossed the A24 our leader was lost. Luckily the Horsham residents new the way back to Horsham via Friday Street. Norman gave a cry of joy as we crossed back into West Sussex.  At first I wondered was the route too short but later in the evening the effect of all the climbing on my legs told me it was long enough.

Thanks Michael, shame I couldn't make it as the ride seems to have been very much appreciated by all those who took part.

Our next ride is really enjoyable on a hot and sunny day. Leaving Three Bridges Station at 09:30, we'll use the Worth Way to East Grinstead then the Forest Way to Hartfield. From there we'll head to Poohsticks Bridge for a game of ........ yes, you've guessed it, Poohsticks, before stopping for a pub lunch at The Hatch Inn (Colemans Hatch). The return journey will most likely head to Forest Row to reacquire the Forest Way and then Worth Way back to Crawley. This should be an easy/medium ride of about 40 miles but with a major smile factor - any bike can manage it and summer cycle touring doesn't get much more enjoyable than this.