Mid-June: should be nice and warm, just right for riding in shirtsleeves. Well, er, no! Malcolm and I met up at the local shops and rode over to Horsham Pavilions in the Park where we were joined by seven others: Anne, Anton, Corinne, Ken, Michael, Norman and Pete. The cloud cover was pretty thick and even looked like it wanted to rain as we headed out past the Salvation Army HQ to Depot Road. The joy that is Hammerpond Lane then unfolded beneath our wheels. Highlights being the climbs at Roosthole and the two either side of Grouse Road (not). Regrouping/catching our breath at the Wheatsheaf crossroads, we watched a chap setting up some route indicators for the 'Etape de Sussex' which was due to pass through in a couple of hours.
We carried on, turning South at Slaugham Pond, climbing to Warninglid where we turned left and then took the next lane heading south once more. As we ground up the hill someone queried whether the ride was actually "medium" as I had rated it. I defended my corner by pointing out that, although, yes, this was the fifth hill (who counts these things?), the mileage was actually quite short at about 18 miles with in excess of two hours to complete it. Other than the climbing aspect, the lane was very pleasant as was the next one, Jeremy's Lane, where Norman nearly fell off his bike trying to warn us that the entire width of the road was covered in potholes.
We crossed over the A23 just north of the Bolney Stage and were now onto some delightful lanes in what I shall call "Anton Country". With the glowering cloud and thick overhead vegetation, it was hard work seeing where the road went on some of these lames - I almost took my sunglasses off 😎
We crossed the A272 without any bother and soon after crossed the Burgess Hill link road just as easily. I understand some plant watering occurred at this point, but I'm too much of a gent to mention names.
At Goddards Green, Anton pointed out that this was the area where he'd had his icy road induced memory loss incident a few years back - I determined that we'd visit the actual scene on the return journey. After misreading my route instructions but fortunately being corrected by Anton, we arrived at Hurstpierpoint College - amazingly enough this was the first time I'd ever seen it! It's big and it's flintnapped, how could I miss it? Not far to go now and with a right then left we headed down past The Danny (a big house that I believe hosted some important meeting either during or after the Second World War. This lane looks like it's about to head straight up the scarp of the South Downs, but no, it turns east and takes us to the pub!
We were a little bit early so I used the time up by showing everyone the castellated Clayton railway tunnel entrance. We waited there, watching for a train to come out of the tunnel, but none came - well not until we'd got fed up and had turned our backs on it!! I suggested we could pop over the road and have a quick look at Clayton Church but everyone had headed off along the wrong road before I could cross the road to join them and I had to chase them down over the next mile - that was the fastest any of them had ridden all morning! Anyway, we had a quick look at the church but as a service was in full swing we decided not to go in for some sightseeing - besides which, the pub was now open.
All the tables inside the pub seemed to be reserved so we sat outside and enjoyed some fine ale and food. We were then joined by the Bognor Chichester riders who had been sat inside.
Edwin and co. joined us for the first few miles of the return journey as we headed back past Hurstpierpoint College and down the lane where Anton had his icy accident a few years back. The lanes were very nice and, having crossed over the A23 we soon arrived at Wineham where the Bognor/Chichester crew headed south and we headed north.
We had a couple of climbs as we passed Bolney went through Warninglid and carried on to Slaugham Pond. Here Ken took the short route back to Crawley to get home to see his son who'd fallen of his bike earlier. The rest of us retraced the morning route as far as Grouse Road where the Crawley trio turned right and the Horsham quintet carried on west.
I still reckon todays ride was "Medium" - it had quite a few hills but was only a mere 36 miles or so.....
Our next ride is on Saturday 20th June and is the Family Bike Ride starting from Oriel School in Maidenbower. I would appreciate as many members turning up as possible so that you can help marshal this ride along the Worth Way to East Grinstead. If you don't want to marshal, take part anyway, just to impart your experience into the body of riders.
We were a little bit early so I used the time up by showing everyone the castellated Clayton railway tunnel entrance. We waited there, watching for a train to come out of the tunnel, but none came - well not until we'd got fed up and had turned our backs on it!! I suggested we could pop over the road and have a quick look at Clayton Church but everyone had headed off along the wrong road before I could cross the road to join them and I had to chase them down over the next mile - that was the fastest any of them had ridden all morning! Anyway, we had a quick look at the church but as a service was in full swing we decided not to go in for some sightseeing - besides which, the pub was now open.
All the tables inside the pub seemed to be reserved so we sat outside and enjoyed some fine ale and food. We were then joined by the Bognor Chichester riders who had been sat inside.
Edwin and co. joined us for the first few miles of the return journey as we headed back past Hurstpierpoint College and down the lane where Anton had his icy accident a few years back. The lanes were very nice and, having crossed over the A23 we soon arrived at Wineham where the Bognor/Chichester crew headed south and we headed north.
We had a couple of climbs as we passed Bolney went through Warninglid and carried on to Slaugham Pond. Here Ken took the short route back to Crawley to get home to see his son who'd fallen of his bike earlier. The rest of us retraced the morning route as far as Grouse Road where the Crawley trio turned right and the Horsham quintet carried on west.
I still reckon todays ride was "Medium" - it had quite a few hills but was only a mere 36 miles or so.....
Our next ride is on Saturday 20th June and is the Family Bike Ride starting from Oriel School in Maidenbower. I would appreciate as many members turning up as possible so that you can help marshal this ride along the Worth Way to East Grinstead. If you don't want to marshal, take part anyway, just to impart your experience into the body of riders.
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