Falmer Fantasy

A good turnout for this ride which went from Three Bridges to Falmer (near Brighton):

Myself (Richard), the two Johns, Norman, Barbara and Peter and Marion on their (at times jet powered) tandem, set off from Three Bridges, and met Roz who had cycled the slightly shorter distance from East Grinstead to Turners Hill. We soon passed Ardingly, and turned off onto the nicer lanes, past Walstead School where the cricket had already started, and then onto Slugwash Lane. Taking a slightly different route than the normal Ditchling at Wivelsfield, we skirted Plumpton, and enjoyed the new surface on the little lane before coming out onto the A275 at Cooksbridge. It was noted the quality of the road surface seemed to correspond to the distance to the County town, or perhaps a councillor lives down the lane.
A short stretch of the busy A275 and we arrived by Lewes prison to turn right and then join the cycle path alongside the A27. This took us up to Falmer, the name of the ride. A walk across the footbridge and we had a quick break by the duck pond. The fantasy part, which is now reality, as we started, and before the hill over the downs to Woodingdean, is the new football stadium, nestling in the downs.

Unfortunately this is where we hit the traffic as there are still 4 way traffic lights at Woodingdean, and thus a long queue of cars, and little chance to whizz past.
Now we had done the hills, and could freewheel down towards Rottingdean, before turning off and cutting the corner, before meeting the cycle path alongside the A259 coast road.
We stopped for lunch at the Roedean cafe, with nice views of the sea, although unfortunately not a sunny day. Setting off for some of the group to catch a train back home, we found Madeira Drive wasnt a nice pootle along the cycle path to the pier, but instead the road was packed with Minis which has been doing their annual London to Brighton run. This meant the group was split up, and I managed to lose those of us who were cycling back to Crawley alongside the A23 on NCN20. Norman, had already said he would use the downs link to get back to Horsham by this time.
Anyway a pleasant 60 miles for me, and hopefully everyone got home safely though the busy Brighton traffic

DA Event: The I-Spy

Sorry about the delay in posting this entry, I’ve been very busy organising my Coast-to-Coast bike ride.

The weather was slightly windy with overcast skies and there had been some rain earlier, so only 11 people joined me for this years I-Spy. This was a shame because parts of the route had been especially pretty when I’d cycled it last week. No matter, I got on with the briefing session.

“No clues on A or B roads, safety is paramount, enjoy yourselves” is what I told everyone. The start was at Billingshurst Station and the first clue was right in front of the competitors the moment they mounted their bikes: I asked “What station opposite the Station?” It was fun watching them milling around looking for the answer when I knew it was that big sign that said “Off Centre Hair Station”.
The route took them up into Billingshurst and then out on the A272 as far as Wisborough Green where they could finally get onto the minor roads for more relaxed cycling. Clues were sprinkled amongst the route instructions as they headed west then north then west again through Ifold, Plaistow and Shillinglee. Finally, having crossed the A283 I turned them south and up a long climb (according to Pete S) through some delightful scenery before turning east through Lurgashall.
My original plan was to have lunch at the pub in Lurgashall but the landlord doesn’t seem able to deal with groups of cyclists, so I kept the competitors going for another couple of miles before bringing them to a halt at The Half Moon in Northchapel.
Although the rain had kept away, there was still a little wind and the sun had not quite broken through the cloud, so although we stayed outside in the garden it could have been warmer!

As each team had their lunch, I marked their morning answer sheets – each team that is, bar one. Ros and John C had become separated and John had taken a wrong turn. I managed to phone him and find that he was several miles away to the south (nearly in Petworth!). He soon managed to join us though.





The afternoon session was only 9 miles compared to the 19 morning miles, so having given out the route and clues, I had to get pedalling in order to ensure I was at the finish before anyone else. The sun was starting to win the battle with the clouds and it was very pleasant whistling along (and checking the answers were still in place).

Arriving at the finish – Fishers Farm Park – I got myself a coffee and a piece of cake and installed myself in a sun-trap of a patio area where I could see people arriving (and keep an eye on my bike).

I hadn’t finished my coffee before Pete and Marian arrived and then the others started rolling in and I could complete the marking.

The results were as follows:
1st: Edwin, John M, Colin and Anne 39 out 39 points
2nd: John W, Dave and Richard 38 out of 39 points
3rd: Ros and John C 35 out of 39 points
4th: Pete and Marian 33 out of 39 points

It looks like I may need to make the questions slightly harder in future, though I didn’t need to resort to my tie-break question: “How many churches with spire or tower (as marked on an OS 1:50,000 Landranger map) have you passed within about 100 metres of since leaving Billingshurst Station? (count each one only once)”

By the way, the answer is FIVE – Wisborough Green, Plaistow, Lurgashall, Northchapel and Kirdford. Billingshurst church is the best part of 300 metres from the route so doesn’t count.

This weekends ride promises to be a good one.

Starting from Three Bridges station at 09:30 it’s entitled “Famer Fantasy” and, led by Richard, will follow a relatively easy and very enjoyable route down to Lewes and then Falmer before returning on NCN20 (there’s the option of using the train for the return).

As for me, I’ll be riding from St. David’s in West Wales to Hemsby in Norfolk. I’ll be posting a daily blog – go to http://bobscoasttocoast.blogspot.com/ to see how I’m getting on.

Commercial Vehicle Run

Todays riders were Anton, Barbara, Bob, Frank, Marian, Pete, Richard and Ros. Let's see if the pictures can tell the story.......

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On the first Sunday in May (exactly six months away from the date of the Veteran Car Run), the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society have a London to Brighton run. This year, there was a service halt at Broadfield Stadium, so we had plenty to look at. When it was time to move on again we couldn't find Frank. We thought he might be chatting about buses with someone - after all, there were plenty about.

But no, we found him chatting to someone about a fire-engine from Wisbech.

We thought we'd get chance to overtake some of the old vehicles on the climb up Pease Pottage Hill, but the only one we managed was a (different) fire-engine that had stalled near the top of the hill. The road was really busy and it was with some relief that we finally left the Historic vehicles route at Staplefield (ignoring the Beer Festival advertised at The Jolly Tanners). Richard bid us adieu here too as he had to head for home.

We turned west, under the A23, through Slaugham, past Slaugham Pond and crossed the B road by The Wheatsheaf. After the short, sharp climb following the Hammerpond, we turned right onto Grouse Road.

and then a couple of miles later we parked ourselves in the garden of The Dragon at Colgate.

A couple of pints of Pickled Partridge, some good food and a conversation about the AV voting system later we were back on the road. Barbara and Norman heading west to Horsham, the rest of us going east to Pease Pottage and then onto Parish Lane before using NCN20 through a sandy Tilgate Forest.

and past the fake tree or "Orange" tree as Mick calls it:

(it's a mobile phone mast really).

Now we were all home - apart from Ros who had a few miles of the Worth Way to traverse before getting home to East Grinstead.

Next weeks ride is a DA Event - the I-Spy.

Starting from the north side of Billingshurst Railway Station at 10:00 hrs, it will involve riding a 31 mile loop spotting the answers to a number of questions along the way. There will be a pub stop for lunch about 19 miles in and refreshments will be available at the finish. The station car park costs just £1 on a Sunday, though I suspect (free) on-road parking will be available nearby.

Please take part and support your club, entry is free and there's always the chance you could win a prize!

Warnham

It's not far from Horsham to Warnham, so how come I managed a 45 mile day?

Well, I started from Crawley and arriving at the Pavilions in the Park I'd already clocked up 9 miles. There to meet me were Norman, Barbara, Mick and Pete E.

We turned left onto Hurst Road then left to head down North Parade and cut through the town centre past the Water Globe sculpture and out on the Worthing Road. Turning right at the Boars Head we now took Tower Hill and then Two Mile Ash Road. On reaching the bridge over The Downs Link near the Bax Castle, we turned left onto Marlpost Road. As we headed south on this gloriously sunny day, we found the woods on either side of the road were absolutely full of Bluebells. We continued onto Dragons Green Road and passed a couple of riders on horseback - one of the horses was quite magnificently large. Reaching Dragons Lane, we turned left and passed The Dragon before turning back northwards on Bakers Lane.

Passing still more expanses of Bluebells we now headed west on Lackenhurst Lane and then Emms Lane to cross over the railway into Barns Green. Here we continued west along first Valewood Lane and then New Road - on previous years we've used this road for the DA Downhill Event - in the opposite direction. On reaching the A29 most of us turned right but a sudden glut of traffic meant Barbara got stuck at the junction for a couple of minutes. We regrouped at Okehurst Lane and then turned north onto Okehurst Road. On reaching The Blue Ship we turned left and then right before following Haven Road all the way up to Bucks Green.

We next followed the A281 west before taking Lynwick Lane opposite The Fox Inn and climbed up this quiet road to the back of Rudgwick. From here we headed down through the double bends before turning right at Ellens Green onto Furzen Lane. Usually we travel this road in the other direction, so today made a quite refreshing change - as did the trip past The Chequers Inn and down Rowhook Hill. We next recrossed the A29 and then briefly used the A281 before taking Strood Lane and then Byfleets Lane to arrive at Warnham. Using Friday Street we passed the Greets Inn and then, bang on 12 o'clock we arrived at the Sussex Oak.

With a beer festival in full swing, there was a good choice of ales and, as we had arrived at the optimum time, our food orders arrived very quickly. We had a pleasant time sitting in the sun, eating, drinking and listening to the jazz trio that were playing in the garden.

Eventually it was time to move on and it didn't take us long to get back to Horsham as Warnham is only a couple of miles away. Then for me it was just another 9 miles home to Crawley.

DA Event - Freewheel 2011

We thought we'd experiment with a Crawley start to this ride this year. Frank was originally going to lead but commitments abroad meant that Pat stepped in instead - thanks Pat.

Pat, Barbara and myself left Three Bridges Station at 10 past nine and headed through Tilgate then up Pease Pottage Hill. The traffic up the hill was going especially close to us - maybe this is a feature of the driving style of people on their way to a car boot sale: for that was where most of the cars were going. I suppose it's MUCH more important to consider what bargains you might be able to find rather than look after the safety of your fellow citizens! I found myself wondering how many of these drivers had actually passed the driving test for themselves - the standard of their "driving" suggested not many......

Anyhoo, we were soon past them and into Pease Pottage. Next we turned down Grouse Road - mainly downhill for three miles - before turning right onto the Hammerponds Road and the various ups and downs that throws at you on the way to Doomsday Green.
Crossing the A281 near the garden centre we took Magpie Lane and Sedgewick Lane before using Coltstaple Lane to head west. On reaching Pedlars Way, we said goodbye to Barbara who was using it to get back to Horsham - only a short ride today as she was expecting visitors, but it was good to see her.

Next, Barbara's shoes were filled by Norman who joined us as we entered Southwater. Heading south once again we took the Shipley Road and crossed the A272 before taking Countryman Lane across to Broomers Corner and then Sincox Lane. Next we had a fast mile on the B2133 before forking right onto West Chiltington Lane. This route involves a short, sharp climb before the final roll into the centre of West Chiltington village. The lure of the park bench set against the wall in the sunshine opposite the pub was too great as we realised that, if we headed for Wiggonholt we wouldn't make it in time for elevenses and would then have to retrace our route back up a couple of hills!

It was very soporific sitting there in the sun - Pat had got a sunday newspaper and all that was missing was a nice cup of coffee and a croissant ....... zzzzzzzzzz ......... Wha! I woke up with a start as John V and John C arrived, closely follow by John W from Arun and Adur section. After a few minutes chat we started to see a crowd of other section members appearing round the corner of the climb up Mill Road.
Pat decided she was too worried about freewheeling at breakneck pace down a hill, so would stay reading her paper in the sunshine. The rest of us headed north, past the golf club to the top of Woods Hill. here we set off at one minute intervals to see who could roll the furthest. This year, I went down second so that I could see how everyone else got on.
I found it great fun watching as riders strove to get every inch of distance out of their bike - all those years of "slow bicycle races" at junior school suddenly made sense!
However, to win at this event you really need two things - a very free running bike and a lot of mass. I thought I had both but I was well short of the real contenders - they all kept their momentum a good 50 yards past where I stopped. At that point, the road goes ever so slightly down thereby accelerating them on to the Broadford Bridge junction. Of the three who made it that far, two stopped because of traffic, but the third, our own John C managed to turn left and roll for about another 200 yards! Incredible. However, because the other two were baulked by traffic, the decision was made to call the result a three-way draw. Well done John - you were the winner in my book!

We rejoined Pat at the pub for lunch - The Queens Head - and after a pleasant lunch in the sunshine, we headed home, eschewing the opportunity for afternoon tea at Sumners Ponds (we were too full from lunch).

Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs. It will head west and north from Horsham and lunch will be at the Sussex Oak in Warnham which (just coincidentally) is hosting a beer festival! It looks like the weather will be good again, so come on, come out for a ride through our glorious countryside.

Leith Hill Ride

I woke up to a bright, sunny morning - perfect for cycling. Full of enthusiasm I set out for Horsham, my bike equipped with the new Brooks saddle I'd been given for my birthday, my wallet equipped with my National Trust card so that I could go up Leith Hill Tower.

Arriving at the Pavilions in the Park I was met by Norman and ........... no-one else! We hung around for ten minutes but the good weather hadn't enticed anyone else out. Due to other commitments, Norman would only be riding for an hour so Leith Hill was now off the agenda. I revised my route and instead of heading west out of Horsham I took us north.

Using North Heath Lane, I decided that we would use the middle of the three routes up the ridge to the north of Horsham. For some reason as a club we usually use the most-westerly of the three, up Langhurstwood Road, past the smelly tip, but I thought the middle was a revelation! It was very quiet, not smelly and although the climbing may have been steeper in places, I found it much more enjoyable than the other two routes (the eastern route, up Rusper Road is best avoided due to volume, speed and type of traffic - not enjoyable whilst climbing a hill).
On cresting, we turned right onto the always quiet Green Lane, before finally turning left onto (a relatively level) Rusper Road. From here it was but a few minutes before we were in the centre of Rusper.

Now we had a decision to make - Norman was at the halfway point of his morning for riding, so needed a route back to Horsham, I would be on my own - did I want to go on to Leith Hill solo?
Norman decided to turn right, go down through Faygate, cross the A264, up Tower Hill to Colgate and turn right to take the Forest Road back into Horsham.
I decided I would ride back home and then I could help my wife and daughter get down to the coast to watch their friends take part in the Brighton Marathon.

So, by 10:30 the club ride had finished without going anywhere near the intended destination and having only used an hour of what was a perfect day for cycling!

Postscript: a week later I found out that not only had two club members attempted to rendezvous at the lunch pub (The Six Bells), two riders from another part of the West Sussex member group had done the same - shame I hadn't known on the day.

It was more ‘old lags’ than beginners on Sunday! Most of the eight riders present have a few miles under their belt and one is actually doing 20 miles in the morning before work! But nonetheless most of the group were pleased that we had a morning ride and we elected to head off to Redhill aerodrome for coffee as scheduled, especially as it was mother’s day and we have found to our cost in the past that lunch can be difficult to obtain without pre-booking. Marian and I led off on our tandem towards Gatwick airport, using parts of NCR20 and NCR21. The intention was to show Roz some options for getting to Gatwick station without heading along main roads. It was a fine sunny morning, although with a slightly chilly wind. Bob wasn’t in his shorts so it’s probably not time for the rest of us to get them out yet either. We cut along North Road and in to Manor Royal before turning along the cycle path behind City place taking us to the Riverside pond in Horley. This has had some clearing work done on the trees and shrubs and it was really surreal to cycle along between the river mole and this pretty pond within a (literal) stones throw of a major international airport – the only clue was a little plane noise (and the roar of the A23, of course). We went past the thriving boot sale in Horley and then in to the open countryside as we headed north towards Redhill aerodrome. The café was tremendously busy with all of the inside and outside seating full when we arrived. But we got a seat just after we had ordered and were able to sit outside watching the light aircraft and helicopter traffic while we drank our tea/coffee and ate our tea cakes etc. Oh, and there was some quite lively discussion on various topics, not including sprockets or wheel sizes! We left about 11.30 and headed south now, towards Outwood and it’s windmill (again not working today) where we turned down Scots Hill and then left in to Cogmans Lane. We arrived at Smallfield Place (http://www.francisfrith.com/smallfield/photos/smallfield-place-c1955_s664004/) – a fine old manor house to cross over and follow our quite familiar route to Copthorne and across to Old Hollow where John C left us for the pleasures of the Balcombe Road. The short steep rise at the end took us up to the unofficial connection with the Worth Way where Roz turned east to return to East Grinstead and shortly after Pat and Frank turned through Worth to cut through to Maidenbower. We stopped for a while to explain to Barbara the best route to the new Crawley <-> Horsham bike route but found it too difficult and so gave up! But we do plan to ride it on one of our beginners rides, maybe ending up at the very pleasant Frog and Nightgown – watch this space. (I’ve got a map if anyone would like one – just send me an email) Two hours ride in good company. We covered about 22 miles, if you are counting. Hope to see you soon. Peter Crawley CTC RtR Next weeks ride starts from Horshm Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs and will take us to Leith Hill (weather permitting) to visit the Tower (NT) where we can have some tea and cake. From there it will be a short ride across to Newdigate for lunch at the Six Bells. After lunch we'll have a fairly direct route back to give a total of approximately 30 miles.