The Jolly Farmer

It's been a while since I produced a blog - I've missed the last two rides!


This week however, I was leader - no shirking, I had to be there....


A 10:30 start from Three Bridges station meant that I comfortably got there on time and quickly spotted Norman enjoying his breakfast by the (immobile) mobile café. I'd also received a message from Gordon and Jacqui who were in the coffee shop (along with Frank). Then Eric rocked up, followed by Pete E, then Michael and Christine. Nine riders - not bad, not bad at all. The half ten start and proximity of the pub to Crawley meant that I had selected a very easy and straightforward route. We used the NCN21 route out through Three Bridges, Northgate and the Industrial Estate to Gatwick Airport. We headed through Horley, past the Air Balloon pub and out on Meath Green Lane.


BANG!


The Sunday morning silence was broken by Michaels rear tyre blowing up - although it sounded far worse than it was. Once he'd removed the tube, all he found was a small stone sticking through the tyre and a 4mm diameter hole in the tube. Unfortunately his spare had too fat a valve but Gordon saved the day with exactly the right tube (in spite of the fact that it would have fitted neither his nor Jacqui's bike!!).


We were soon back on the road and after a couple of miles took the right turn across to Salford where we had to carefully cross the A23. Continuing eastwards, we were soon at Outwood and passing the windmill. Now we had the only hill of the day and it wasn't up!  Waahay - I just managed to match the speed limit as I freewheeled down and then we just had a short run along the lane to the pub, The Jolly Farmer.


As we locked up the bikes I was extolling the virtues of the last visit to this pub - good food, good drink, good atmosphere, good fire in the grate - so I was more than slightly crestfallen when the landlord revealed that they couldn't offer any food as their chef had recently left. Still, the beer was nice and cheap, so we had a swift quaff whilst working out Plan B.


Plan B: where's the nearest pub? A quick look at the map, coupled with a determination not to ride further away from Crawley, and we decided to head for The Plough at Smallfield. It only took a few minutes but as we pulled up I was worried that it was bit too posh and 'restauranty' for a gaggle of cyclists. However, I was pleasantly surprised as we received a very warm welcome from the staff who quickly pushed some tables together so we could sit as a group and presented us with a varied menu containing plenty of lighter meal options. The food arrived quickly and was most enjoyable. Everyone chipped in to the various conversations and the time just flew by.


As we left, Frank got us all together for a group photo - an impressive feat that I rarely manage due to the similarity groups of cyclists have with herds of cats!  You can rarely get them all in the same place, at the same time, looking the same way.......

From Smallfield I planned to head towards Shipley Bridge via Church Lane and the small bridge over the M23, but I changed my mind and used a tiny lane from Smallfield leading under the M23. A short, slightly muddy section then led us on to another small lane skirting the moat of Thunderfield Castle in Horley. At the end of the lane I had thought about turning left and following the Balcombe Road all the way back to Crawley but a dose of common sense and a nudge from Eric persuaded me to turn right, head for Horley Station and then use the NCN21 back to Gatwick. From Gatwick we retraced our steps into the Industrial Estate but with a quick detour to use the new linear park / cycle path called Crawters Brook. I've ridden through it about five times now and I don't think I've seen anyone else using it so far!

Our group now started to part ways - Gordon, Jacqui and Pete heading West to use the A23 cyclepaths to Broadfield and Horsham. Norman was next to go, heading up Northgate Avenue. The rest of us stayed together until Three Bridges where Frank, Michael and Christine headed back to their cars at the station. Meanwhile Eric and I used the newly resurfaced NCN20 into Furnace Green for me and on to Maidenbower for Eric.

Our next ride on Sunday 7th December will be an easy ride starting from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs and heading for a Lunch stop at the Queens Head in Barns Green. There is the possibility that we will use some gentle offroad tracks but all but the most fragile of bikes will be able to deal with them.  Come on, come out, give yourselves some fresh air and exercise, before Christmas really kicks in!!



In Memoriam

The freedoms we enjoy and the privileged lives we lead are down to the sacrifices and endeavours of those who have preceded us. We must carry those freedoms forward and defend them from the darkness of prejudice and ignorance. 

DA AGM

Today's ride was simple - leave Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 9:00, get to Pulborough Village Centre by 10:30. My ride over had started off slowly but I'd got into my stride by Roffey and arrived at the start with 10 minutes to spare. Ken rolled up a few minutes later having used the same route over. Next we were joined by Norman and new member, Frank.

I led us out of Horsham over the golf course, down through Broadbridge Heath and on to Bashurst Hill. The skies were mainly blue with a light wind and the temperature was quite balmy for November. 

We were all enjoying the ride and we're having a good old chat as the road took us South. Crossing the A272 was event less and we carried on through Broadford Bridge and up Woods Hill to West Chiltington. After zigzagging down the hill we turned into Stream Lane which lived up to its nam with water running along it for some distance. With no mudguards on my bike I was trying to keep my speed down and bunny hop the worst bits but I still ended up with a damp behind!

I didn't have time to dry out before we were pulling up at Pulborough Village Centre - we'd arrived with 10 minutes to spare and enjoyed some tea, biscuits and a chat before the meeting started. 

The meeting was pretty much the same as usual, friendly and business-like. Oh - we won a couple of trophies as well!! There was a well observed two minute silence at 11:00 and the meeting wound up at about 11:45.

Along with Barbara we made straight for the pub - the Oddfellows Arms and settled down for lunch. Shortly after we were joined by Dave and Louise Galley and then another five DA folk turned up and we had a nice lunchtime drinking, eating and discussing all manner of things. 

The weather was still pleasant as we made our way back but this time via Barns Green, Bax Castle and Tower Hill. Back in Horsham there were now just two of us left to ride along to Crawley. 

Next weeks ride is an Easy Ride suitable for beginners, starting at Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. 

The Old Crocks Race

Let's upset the Veteran Car Club by calling their annual London to Brighton Commemorative Run the "Old Crocks Race". Why would I do that you may well ask. Well those blighters have upset me!


They took the decision to change their event and not stop on Crawley High Street this year, instead they stopped at a garage on the outskirts of the town centre. THIS WAS A RUBBISH DECISION.
It appeared to have been driven by a desire to suck up to a sponsor but was hidden by a claim that the High Street was too congested. Too congested? Well you should have seen the mess at the new location - the Veteran Cars overshot the entrance, had to cross a heavy line of oncoming traffic, had very little space to park and had to recross the line of heavy traffic on exit. Couple that with spectator viewing facilities probably less than 10% of what the High Street offers and any fool can see that whoever came up with this change shot themselves well and truly in the foot.  It upset me so much that I fully intend rattling off a complaint to the guilty parties! Crawley has always provided a good level of support to this event but if the Run "organisers" persist in taking it away from the High Street and ignoring the folk of Crawley then perhaps that level of support and accommodation of the associated traffic problems will tail off over coming years and turn what has always been a popular event into an also-ran inconvenience! As a spectator event it's been cocked up so thoroughly that I didn't take a single photograph!!


Anyway, we also had a bike ride.  We met up at Three Bridges station and rode a very zig-zaggy route through Three Bridges and Northgate before bursting into a scene of utter congestion as we neared the London Road. Cars parked left right and centre, car horns being sounded, inept traffic control by RAC tabard clad amateurs and almost no view of the (few) parked Veteran Cars. We had a natter with several disgruntled potential spectators and then decided to ride on.


We headed into the town centre and then, using the same route as the Veteran Cars, headed along a pretty much deserted Boulevard and then out along Southgate Avenue. So far the weather had been overcast but dry, however as we turned south onto the A23 and approached K2, so it started to rain. We ascended Pease Pottage hill, managing to overtake a couple of the old cars and carried on along the old Brighton Road to Handcross. Here we had hoped to stop for some light refreshments but the rain was getting more intense and so we decided to turn around and head back to Gordons a little earlier than planned.


Back at Gordons, he and Jacqui treated us to a nice warming lunch before we got down to the business of drawing up the runs list for the first three months of next year. Many thanks to everyone that turned up for the ride and the runslist meeting and a big thanks to Gordon and Jacqui for hosting.


Don't forget to send in your Christmas Dinner bookings - places are filling up fast.


Our next ride on Sunday 9th November will be a 09:00 start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park We need to get to Pulborough Village Hall for 10:30 in order to attend the  DA AGM and possibly (definitely) pick up a trophy or two. Lunch will be at The Oddfellows Arms nearby and then we'll retrace our outbound route to get back to Horsham by mid afternoon. Crawley folk may well be advised to fit their lights on just in case visibility's not too good by the time we get back......