The Horsham 100

Six fifteen on a summers day morning - easy!  Well no, I struggled to get out of the house and didn't actually meet Malcolm until 06:30.  Even then, after we'd been riding just a few minutes I realised I'd forgotten my water bottle. No matter, I'd just have to get some water on the ride.


It was trying to rain but was pleasantly warm as we travelled along the Forest Road and we were quite comfortable spinning along. But as we entered Roffey, the rain got a little heavier and was staying on the road surface so we started to get wet, mainly from the spray.


Four hardy souls were waiting at Horsham Park Pavilions - Pete, Rachel, Ken and Mick. The rain now stopped and we headed off, over the golf-course and down through Broadbridge Heath. Mick pointed us in the direction of Slinfold and we settled in to the first climb of the day. After a mile or two of the A29, we went west to The Haven and then due south opposite the Blue Ship. The roads were pretty dry now and the cycling was very pleasant. We crossed the A272 and headed down past the Limeburners Arms and on to Adversane to go back across the A29. A couple of miles later, at Broadford Bridge we turned right and started the climb of Woods Hill. As we crested, Pete realized that he had a puncture. I stayed with him to help change the tube whilst everyone carried on, down to West Chiltington and a loop to the south which then brought them up Smock Alley to the Garden Centre. Pete and I met them here having taken a short cut once Petes bike was fixed. Now we headed east then North and then east again to The Countryman at Shipley. As we were running a bit late, I chopped out the Shipley loop and we carried on to Dial Post. Here it became apparent that Pete's rear puncture had returned. He and I stopped to reflate the tyre and everyone else carried on, over the A24, past the Old Barn Garden Centre and down to Ashurst before turning north towards Partridge Green and Stans Bike Shack - the breakfast halt.  Pete and I took another short cut in order to catch up and went through the Lock Estate needing only one further stop to reflate the tyre.


At Stans, we settled down to bacon rolls and cups of tea - I took my shoes off in order to try and dry out my shoes/socks and get some warmth into my numb and frozen feet! We took the opportunity to repair Pete's puncture - this time we managed to find the cause - a small flint hiding in a crack in the tyre tread. I was particularly annoyed as I'd failed to spot it earlier despite having a really good look for it! We were joined by Anne at Stans - her plan was to ride with us to Horsham then ride back to Partridge Green to pick up her car.


The next part of the ride took us east, then down the A281 before heading east again then north through Twineham. Crossing the A272 we had a couple more climbs (including that short, sharp killer at Warninglid). Now we were on the home straight and rattled off  Hammerpond Lane quite easily - Malcolm headed home up Grouse Road having clocked up well over 50 miles - leaving the rest of us to negotiate the wilds of East Horsham and pull up at the Conservatory Café  in Horsham Park for lunch.


Well, that's 50 miles done - time to refuel and get psyched up for the second 50........


It was warm and comfortable sitting outside in the shade, chatting and people-watching. but all too soon it was time to get going again. Only three of us volunteered to try the afternoon ride - Mick, Ken and myself. We headed north through Horsham and over the bypass before tackling the climb of Old Holbrook. The hill was hard work but mainly in the shade of trees and it didn't take us long to get up to Green Lane. Heading east, we used Rusper Road and then Wimland Road before heading toward Lambs Green. As we approached the right turn I recognized the cyclist coming in the opposite direction - it was Anton on a 200k Audax ride. We stopped for a chat and found that Anton was suffering from back pain (to the extent that he only rode a few more miles before packing in). After chatting for a short while we carried on, only to stop a few yards later as Ken realised he had a puncture. At this point Mick decided to head for home and tube replaced, Ken and I carried on through Lambs Green and along Rusper Raod into Ifield. We sped through along Bonwycks Lane and then passed the end of Gatwick and into Charlwood. I'd run out of water and was tiring quickly so Ken took the lead as we went through Povey Cross and headed north. As we went up Horse hill my energy completely ran out and at the top I decided to turn for home myself. I gave Ken the route map so that he could carry on and, when we got to Stan Hill I said goodbye and headed downhill to Charlwood. As I rode along I suddenly felt sick and realised I needed to stop and recover - as luck would have it there was a pub nearby, so I popped in and recovered by having a nice cold drink of cider! Honest, it worked. Twenty minutes sitting in the shade, supping a cider worked wonders and I was reinvigorated when I got back on my bike. I rode straight from Charlwood, past Ifield Wood, through the Town Centre and arrived back home with 84 miles on the clock. About an hour or so later I received a text from Ken to say that he was safely home and had completed over 100 miles - nice one Ken. Here's a Strava screenshot he sent me:

Our next ride starts from Three Bridges Station at 09:30 on Sunday. Michael will lead us on an easy 30 mile route with a lunch stop at The Dolphin in Betchworth

Beginners Ride - Tracks and trails

Second Sunday of the month, Beginners Ride, good turnout.


In spite (or because?) of the ride being advertised as "Tracks and Trails" there were eight of us milling around at Three Bridges Station waiting for Gordon to lead us away. Gordon, Jacqui, Corinne, Anne, Christine, Michael, Kevin and myself. Once everyone was happy that they were on the right bike and that their saddle was correctly adjusted, we set off.


Firstly we used the Worth Way, encountering a couple of large horses on the way. Gordon worked us over to Worth Abbey and then we took the bridleway past Whiteways Lodge before crossing the Balcombe Road and blasting down through the woods to the railway bridge and the end of Parish Lane. Here we turned right into Tilgate Forest and enjoyed some lumpy singletrack whilst reminiscing about Gordon's pile-driver crash the other year! Crossing over the M23, we sped down through the golf course before crossing a couple of fairways and reaching the clubhouse. From here we ran up to and along the dam before heading west almost to K2.


Now Gordon lead us into the woods again and we enjoyed some singletrack all the way up to the M23 which we crossed on the second bridge. More singletrack and firetrack fun ensued before we emerged on Parish Lane. We headed east on the tarmac for a short while before heading south then west through a couple of large fields and into some woodland around the back fence of Billy Bridges scrapyard.


Next we crossed the A23 on the bridge and headed into Pease Pottage. From here it was but a short ride to Gordon and Jacqui's for lunch.


Having drunk all their champagne and ate all their food, everyone headed off home.  I led Anne, Corinne and Kevin back into Tilgate Forest to enjoy some more singletrack before stopping at the mansion for a breather. Corinne headed off home from here, leaving the rest of us to head back across the dam and past the clubhouse into Furnace Green.


Back home, I'd only clocked up 15 miles but I'd enjoyed them all.


Our next ride is a big one (if you want it to be). It's the Horsham 100 and starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 07:00hrs. There will be a tea-stop at 09:30 in the Old Barn Garden Centre at Dial Post just off the A24.  Lunch will be 12:30 at The Conservatory Café in Horsham Park.  Afternoon tea will be 16:00hrs at Capel church. with a target finish sometime near 19:00hrs back at Horsham.


If you don't want to do 100 miles, why not just do the morning or afternoon loop?  Alternatively, why not ride a direct route to/from one of the tea stops. I believe a couple of folk are planning on driving to the Old Barn, riding back to Horsham (then driving back to the Old Barn to pick up the first car).


Who knows, the weather might actually be good on Sunday!!

Two Weald Ride (DA Event)

Whilst I compose some words, here's a film:

https://youtu.be/s31cS3yPU_Y


A slightly damp start to the day probably reduced the numbers slightly but didn't stop a trio of hardcore riders making early starts to tick off the loops.


Anton and Robert both (individually) started at about 6am I believe and Ray started at about 8am.


Barbara, Pete and I set up the control point at about 09:30 and other riders started arriving.