Pete S led Marian, Anton, Val, Norman, Malcolm, John V, Ken, Christine, Michael and myself off towards Turners Hill. However, halfway through Pound Hill Malcolm had to turn for home as his rear wheel had broken another spoke (making five in total) and was looking likely to collapse.
The drag up to Turners Hill was a pain as usual and Val was all for turning for home but a bit of gentle persuasion from the rest of us changed her mind. We sped down the B-road, past a less than busy Wakehurst Place and on through Ardingly. The weather was just right for cycling and we were soon on Lindfield. I popped in to the Co-Op there and bought some chocolate bars, everyone else was talking about what to do in light of the fact that there were no trains running from Brighton. The decision was made to carry on to the teashop at Ditchling and then work out what to do. We got there using Slugwash Lane and Ditchling Common Road.
The garden at the teashop was sheltered and sunny and we settled down to eat, drink and chat. Val took this picture of three monkeys:
Anton had not joined us in the café but had continued riding and gone up Ditchling Beacon. When he did join us he showed me some video of the climb and his obligatory 99 cone at the top. Well done Anton.
Talk had turned to what shape the rest of the ride would take and consensus was that we would head for Haywards Heath Railway station along a quiet route, point Norman in the direction of Horsham and anyone left over would ride back to Crawley. However, seeing Antons film had made me pine for the climb - it was silly to be so close and not do it! I set off and just a couple of minutes later I was gritting my teeth and getting stuck into the hill. The first part of Ditchling Beacon is always the hardest for me and I was soon down to about my 5th lowest gear ratio. I was determined not hit granny so each time the road bucked up I rose from the saddle and stomped on up. In a perverse way I was quite enjoying the climb, helped by going past a resting roadie and enjoying the views of the Weald, and I was surprised when the horse and rider sign swam into view to announce the top was imminent. I did the usual and rode on into the car park, right up to the ice-cream van and got my usual, a '99'.
It had taken me 10 minutes to do the climb, it took just over two to get down (and I'd been slowed down by some cars). Reaching Ditchling I checked the café but everyone else had gone, so I headed east for a mile or so then turned north onto Spatham Lane. By now I had expected to have caught the others but was beginning to worry I'd taken the wrong route, so sent Anton a text. I was on the right route but they were about three miles or so ahead of me. I kept going and then, halfway up Hundred Acre Lane, I saw Anton who had come back to meet me - thanks Anton. We carried on to Wivelfield Green and then onto Slugwash Lane - it's harder going north. At the far end, Ken and John V were waiting - everyone else had continued on towards Lindfield (and then Haywards Heath). Anton left us here and we bypassed Lindield to use East Mascalls Lane and Plummenden Lane on our way up to Ardingly.
I needed a breather so we stopped and sat on a bench in the middle of Ardingly. Then we spotted a tandem going past - it was Pete and Marian! They stopped and joined us before we all got going again and carried on past the showground and on up to Selsfield Common. We were really quick into Turners Hill but as I climbed up towards the crossroads, my chain got jammed and I had to stop and clear it. It seems that I spend so much time working on other peoples bikes that mine just doesn't get any attention!
The others were waiting for me at the top, but I had no recurrence of the problem and just a few minutes later we were back in Crawley.
Next weeks ride is a Horsham Pavilions in the Park start at 09:30. Pete E will lead us on a nice roundabout route to the south and east before turning west for lunch at the Wiston Tea Rooms. The return to Horsham will be pretty much the shortest route back. The ride is rated as Medium and will be about 40 miles long. We did it in the wet last year and enjoyed it in spite of the weather, so if the sun is shining it will be even better. See you there!!
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