I arrived at Oriel School nice and early, just in time to lend a hand with the setting up of the registration table. I added some literature about the club to the table - a list of rides we have coming up, the club business card and even some business cards for a certain Bicycle Repair Man! Some Community Police Officers were also there offering a bike marking/registration service. Other freebies on offer were various hi-viz stickers, pens, bike accessories and even some bike lights.
As ten o'clock approached more and more people turned up and in the end we had some 52 people posing for the group photo (including the 4 PCSO's). There were 8 Horsham and Crawley members and we were all wearing hi-viz yellow tops, so Pete could lead the ride off with some confidence that everyone would be safely monitored by an experienced rider.
We followed the route of NCN20 as it went under the railway into Furnace Green, then through Furnace Green and Tilgate to the K2 Leisure Centre. We had let the ride split into two through Tilgate in order to present less of a hold up to any motor traffic, but we regrouped near the football stadium to tackle the climb up through Broadfield. NCN20 emerges from a small path onto the Marie Vesco Traffic lights that allowed us to safely cross onto the Old Brighton Road at Pease Pottage. A right then a left outside the Black Swan took us past where The Grapes used to be and up to Woodhurst. Here we used the footbridge to safely cross over the busy A23 and were then, once again joinedon the Old Brighton Road at Tilgate Forest Row. From here we made good time on the broad road and were soon at Handcross which was as congested as ever. We had safety in numbers and most of the motorists gave us plenty of leeway so we soon pulled up at Nymans Gardens (National Trust). All the riders had free entry to the gardens but most headed straight to the cafe and a welcome drink and bite to eat.
After about an hour and a half we regrouped for the journey back. The sun was still shining strongly but was now on our backs and pretty soon we were back at the Woodhurst footbridge. At this point I escorted three riders back to the Marie Vescoe crossing and Broadfield whilst the rest of the group headed for Parish Lane and the alternate NCN20 route down through the forest. Having seen my charges safely to Broadfield, I raced across to Parish Lane and caught up with the main body as they kicked up the dust on the run down through the forest. Then it was across the M23 on the eastern bridge, down through the golf course and back on the tarmac in Marion Road before popping under the railway and arriving back at Oriel School. Everyone was wearing big smiles on their faces so I judge the event to have been a success.
Here's a bike cam view from my position at the back of the ride:
Family Bike Ride 2014
Hopefully we'll be able to run this event again next year, but in the meantime, check out the Horsham and Crawley CTC Runs List and see if there are any of our rides that you fancy.
Our next ride on Sunday 29th June is quite long at a minimum of about 30 miles (with a train return) or about 60 if ridden all the way. It will start outside Horsham Pavilions in the Park (Horsham Swimming Pool) at 08:00 hrs (sorry about the early start - but hey, the sun will have been up for about 4 hours by then!) and take us to Copsale via Pedlars Way and then all the way to Shoreham on The Downs Link. From there we will head along the coast to Brighton and Hove for a lunchtime stop. If that is far enough, head for the station and catch a train back up to Three Bridges and then Horsham. Otherwise, the afternoon will retrace our outward route. As almost all the route will be off road, a strong touring bike, a hybrid bike or a mountain bike is recommended. It will be a long day, but I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Our most Family Friendly rides tend to be on the second Sunday of every month (yes, we ride all year round), so look them up on our runs list.
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