Four of us started from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 7am - Michael, Pete, Anton and myself. We headed out over a deserted golf course and then down through Broadbridge Heath. We carried on through the roadworks at Newbridge and along the A264 until we forked left onto Bashurst Hill. It was perfect cycling, hardly any wind, the temperature just right, almost no traffic and good company. Mick had prepared the route and it was using some nice quiet lanes. Near Barns Green we turned west and not for the only time in the ride we climbed up one of the DA Freewheel hills. Reaching the A29 we found it to be fairly busy with quite a few sporty cars on it - there was probably a do on at Goodwood. We were soon over it and then heading south on Rowner Road before using the A272 for a few yards. Heading on past the Limeburners Arms the sun was climbing higher and the temperature was doing likewise and it was still not 9am! We recrossed the A29 at Adversane and headed on before turning right at Broadford Bridge to climb Woods Hill (the second DA Freewheel hill). West Chiltington was next followed by West Chiltington Common and then the turn north up past Smock Alley.
Heading east and north and east again we arrived at The Countryman Inn but instead of going the short route from there to Dial Post, we had to put a loop in through Shipley Village - we assume this was to make the mileage up a bit. But it was not long after that, having crossed the busy A24, we pulled up at the Old Barn Garden Centre for our coffee break.
John V met us there and we had a pleasant half hour sat in the sunshine watching two of our number scoffing a fried breakfast each and being watched by a wandering Peacock!
Heading east and north and east again we arrived at The Countryman Inn but instead of going the short route from there to Dial Post, we had to put a loop in through Shipley Village - we assume this was to make the mileage up a bit. But it was not long after that, having crossed the busy A24, we pulled up at the Old Barn Garden Centre for our coffee break.
John V met us there and we had a pleasant half hour sat in the sunshine watching two of our number scoffing a fried breakfast each and being watched by a wandering Peacock!
Now there were five of us and we continued on towards Ashurst and then to Partridge Green. Resisting the urge to shortcut through the Shermanbury Estate, we headed south towards Henfield but then east on the B2116 before finally turning north towards Wineham.
The sun was really getting into its stride now but fortunately we were negotiating the Forest Ridges and were mainly in the shade of trees - except that is for that tiny, nasty little climb into Warninglid! We needed a brief stop in the shade in front of The Half Moon to cool down and recover our breath, then we had a pleasant, mainly downhill run to Slaugham Pond. Now we were on the home run to lunch and we coped pretty well with the climbs that the Hammerpond Road threw at us. John headed back to Crawley as we turned into Depot Road and just a few minutes later we arrived at our lunch stop, the Park Cafe. We managed to find a shady table outside and enjoyed a relaxing hour eating, chatting and watching the world go by.
Pete and Michael decided that the mornings 50 miles was enough and this left just Anton and myself to carry on and clock up the afternoon 50. We decided to do it as an anti-clockwise loop as we fancied it looked slightly easier, the trouble is, this meant that as soon as we left Horsham we had a very stiff climb up Old Holbrook . As we got to the top we looked at each other and queried our sanity, but once we got our breath back we were ok again - and we were sidetracked by what looked like a puncture in my rear tyre. We stopped at the end of Wimlands Lane and looking at my tyre I couldn't find a puncture even though it seemed to have lost at least half its pressure, so I just reinflated it to see what happened (nothing - it didn't lose any pressure for the rest of the ride).
After Wimlands we went through Lambs Green and then took the Rusper Road all the way to Ifield Green. Heading out of Ifield I missed a turn and instead of using Bonnetts Lane towards Charlwood we used the Charlwood Road. The distance looked the same on the map, so I wasn't too concerned. I was hoping to get an ice cream at Charlwood but the shop was shut and I had to make do with another swig of water from my bottle. In the full sun we continued on to Povey Cross and then up Horse Hill and on to Ironsbottom. Next we passed through Leigh and then reached our northernmost point as we turned into Gadbrook Road from Snowerhill Road. We were getting pretty tired but only had to travel down through Holmwood Common and over the railway before we could enjoy our afternoon break at Henfold Lakes. We sheltered from the sun and had a couple of pints of iced drinks each - here's Anton just starting his second:
We refilled our water bottles with fresh cold water and remounted. The first 100 yards was a stiff climb but then the road settled down and we had soon passed through Newdigate and Capel to get to Weare Street. Weare Street heading south is one of the best rides around these parts and once again it provided a lovely, relaxing, sun-dappled breather as we cruised down its two miles or so of quiet perfection.
Ploughing on we were now effectively heading away from Horsham as we passed through OkewoodHill, Walliswood, neared Ewhurst, Ellens Green, Cox Green and Rudgwick where we hit our most westerly point as we turned south onto Haven Road. We were now on the home run and after a quick burst on a mile of Stane Street, climbed up for a fast freewheel down through Slinfold. As we turned onto the Five Oaks Road near Newbridge, Anton remarked that just over 11 hours previously we'd passed that same point as we'd headed out in the cool of the morning. In the middle of Broadbridge Heath I pulled over to take this photograph:
Ploughing on we were now effectively heading away from Horsham as we passed through OkewoodHill, Walliswood, neared Ewhurst, Ellens Green, Cox Green and Rudgwick where we hit our most westerly point as we turned south onto Haven Road. We were now on the home run and after a quick burst on a mile of Stane Street, climbed up for a fast freewheel down through Slinfold. As we turned onto the Five Oaks Road near Newbridge, Anton remarked that just over 11 hours previously we'd passed that same point as we'd headed out in the cool of the morning. In the middle of Broadbridge Heath I pulled over to take this photograph:
.Thanks to Mick for working out the route - it was actually very enjoyable. Thanks to Pete S for the mapping. Thanks to Pete E, Michael and John V for taking part and thanks to all the cheerful people working in sweltering conditions in the three cafes we visited.
If you've got eight minutes to spare, here's a low definition video of various parts of the morning (speeded up to make us look fast!!)
Next weeks ride will start from Three Bridges Station at 10:00 and is a Beginners Ride suitable for all riders. It will last a couple of hours or so and may well use The Worth Way. Fill up your water bottle(s) and get out riding!
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