Gordon's B-Ride

Lot's of words begin with B and Gordon tries to tick off as many as possible with this ride - breakfast, bacon, beans, bread, bikes, Broadfield, bridleways, Bob, beer, beautiful weather,

I took Gordon up on his offer of breakfast and rolled up on his doorstep at the unearthly time of 08:30. As we ate we discussed the coming ride and speculated on who else would turn up. When we ventured out the early morning chill was starting to dissipate and by the time we reached Parish lane we were getting quite comfortable. Gordon, Jacqui and I paused at the noticeboard for the Tilgate Downhill Bike Park where we read that it has ceased to be!

I enjoyed a speedy run down the firebreak to the "Orange" tree and having crossed the motorway I was just winding up to speed down through the golf course when I spotted two horses coming up so I came to a halt whilst they passed.

The downhill was clear so I rattled down at speed with a big smile on my face. Then it was through the woods and down the steps into Marion Road (everyone else uses the gate, but I love using the steps). Gordon took us on, into Maidenbower and then up the cycle path to the Worth Way and across to Three Bridges Station.

The station forecourt was a scene of carnage - the railway to Brighton was shut and so there were buses everywhere, taxis toing and froing, and displaced cars filling in the remaining gaps. Three cyclists (Ken, Eric and Sebastian) managed to negotiate through it all and now there were six of us.

We headed through Three Bridges along NCN20 until Northgate Avenue where we followed the cycle path towards the town centre. Next we travelled along The Boulevard and then up the High Street before negotiating the one way system, crossing the railway and turning right onto Springfield Road. The day was getting better and better as the temperature continued to rise and the blue sky stretched from horizon to horizon. We passed through Goffs Park, crossed into Gossops Green, ran down into Bewbush and then through the scrubby woodland to the railway crossing point.

This is NCN228 and we stayed on it until the far end of Wimlands Lane where we turned right (instead of left) onto Wimland Road and headed towards Rusper. At the end of the road we turned left onto the Horsham Road and followed it down the hill before turning left (and back onto NCN228) onto Channells Brook Bridleway. There was quite a strong chemical smell here, but we soon passed it. At the end we turned right, crossed the railway and then the A264 before stopping for a tea break at the Strawberry Fields café (at New House Farm).

Refreshed, we carried on along the Crawley Road to the Roffey traffic lights and onto Harwood Road. we popped in to the car park at Leechpool woods to see if there was a route across to a bridleway we wanted to use, but no luck, so we carried on, turned left at the roundabout onto Comptons Lane and then left, just after the mini-roundabout, onto Hampers Lane. This lane is a public bridleway and starts off as a tarmac surface but then turns south away from the tarmac. Eventually it spat us out onto Hammerpond Road for a quick downhill across the tail of Roosthole Pond. Everyone else faced up to the incline to the car park entrance but I cheated, leapt off the road and road through the undergrowth to avoid the climb. I rejoined everyone in the car park and was greeted with some sarcasm (although I reckon it was envy). The trail up from the car park to Mick Mills Race has been much improved since last I rode it and was very enjoyable in the bright sunshine. The main drag up Mick Mills Race was a pleasure too and seemed to take but a couple of minutes.

On reaching the Forest Road we headed east to Colgate and then turned right onto Blackhouse Road. This was a pleasant downhill roll followed by a short climb and a left onto Grouse Road. From here we headed on into Pease Pottage and my party-piece ride down the slope by the Marie Vesco steps. Once over the road, we said goodbye to Eric and Sebastian who were heading through Tilgate Forest and back to Maidenbower.  The rest of us pulled up at Gordon's where we were treated to a delicious lunch - ahhhhh, this is the life - cycling, sunshine, food - and beer!

Thanks Gordon and Jacqui for a most enjoyable day.

Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00 hrs and will be an easy ride over to Rudgwick for the Apple Fair.  Hopefully it won't be wet like last year when we didn't actually get there because it was so wet!