Morning Ride

Today’s attendees were myself, Mick, Bob and Norman.

Today’s ride was going to be a 35 easy ride but having ridden the route in preparation for the actual ride I found it to be medium to hard so changed it accordingly.

The ride started as last week along the Brighton Road and up Kerves Lane, the first of several hills. It was then on through Copsale and Maplehurst and up another two hills. It was tops off in Partridge Green as to sun had made an appearance.

The next part of the ride through Shermanbury was relatively flat, lulling the attendees into a false sense of ease. We then turned north towards Wineham and Twineham then east along Bob Lane, see below;


After Bob Lane it was on to Hickstead and turning north again to start the final six climbs up to Handcross. It was at this point that Norman confessed that he thought today’s ride was easy. No such luck.

Passing through Handcross we had lunch at the Mucky Duck (Black Swan) in Pease Pottage. After this Bob returned home to Crawley and Norman and I returned to Horsham.

No a very good turn-out but a pleasant, if hilly, ride.

The Woodsman

Today’s attendees were myself, Mick, Pete S, Martin, John, Bob and Norman.

Through Horsham and up Kerves Lane just to test the riders out. It was then along Southwater Street where we had a couple of close encounters with white vans overtaking too closely. One carried on the overtake manoeuvre even when warned of oncoming traffic.

On through Southwater and over the A272 and onto Shipley to test out the new road surface. Not a bad job. Norman left us here as he was limited to an hours ride. We passed several ‘No Local Landfill’ signs near Thakenham, another NIMBY!

Turning right towards Adversane Martin said that there were hot air balloons at Wisborough Green today so as we were early I decided to stop there and take a look. We got there and no balloons, apparently they had left a 6:00 and were not due back until 18:00. Somehow we had arrived at the mid point.

So it was on to Kirdford for Bob to pose in front of the plaque below;


The plaque is titled ‘Degradation of Drunkenness’ and reads;

“There is no sin which doth more deface God’s image than drunkenness, it disguiseth a person and doth even unman him. Drunkenness makes him have the throat of a fish, the belly of a swine and the head of an ass. Drunkenness is the shame of nature, the extinguisher of reason, the shipwreck of chastity and the murderer of conscience. Drunkenness is hurtful to the body, the cup kills more than the cannon, it causes dropsies, catarrhs, apoplexies, it fills the eye with fire and the legs with water and turns the body into an hospital.”

No comment.

It was then onto the pub where we met three cyclists from East Surrey. A nice pub and an even better pint. See above.

After lunch is was on to Capel for tea. Martin left us on route as he needed to get back to Horsham. The route included Weare Street, one of the best lanes in the area. Tea at Capel was as good as ever with a selection of about 20 cakes, I managed fruit, banana, apple and lime and a cup of tea.

Heading home we got caught in a bike race. We could not understand this as they had not stopped for a pint or tea and cakes!

DA Event - Arun Crossings

Nine riders turned up for the final DA Event of 2009, the Arun Crossings Ride. Colin, the ride leader was joined by Richard, Peter, Dave, Andy, Tony, Gill, Jeff and me, Bob. It was noticeable that this year, following last years unfortunate accident for Edwin, everyone was riding knobbly-tyred bikes.

Leaving Pulborough railway station we headed west on the A283 to make our first crossing of the day over the Old Stopham Bridge (1) . We then doubled back over the Arun using the new Stopham bridge (2) before diving left up a sharpish off-road climb through some pleasant woodland. As the bridleway levelled out so it became sandy and keeping our bikes from squirming around became our main preoccupation - although I did manage to admire the extensive view of the South Downs to our right. Regrouping in the sunshine near Park Farm we then headed north along Coombelands Lane for about a mile before heading west and through a ribbon of woodland to cross the Arun (3) just upstream of Pallingham Lock where the Wey Arun Canal joins the river. At this point Jeff caught his handlebar on a post and gashed his leg slightly as he was catapulted off his bike. He had some plasters with him and administered his own first aid in the best traditions of mountain biking self-sufficiency! From here, we climbed through a couple of fields and some woodland to emerge onto a road and head down Horsebridge Hill.

Turning right onto another bridleway, we travelled through a woodland and then traversed another couple of grassy fields before crossing the river (4) and then the dry canal bed . From here a couple of farm tracks brought us out onto Black Gate Lane for a short while before taking a bridleway along a private drive and then down a hill to cross the canal and then 100 yards later the river once more (5) . Last year that 100 yard stretch of path was under a good 18 inches of water - today the water level was at least two metres lower!

A slight gradient then took us through Harsfold Hanger and past Harsfold Farm to emerge on the A272 for a short ride into Wisborough Green and a stop at The Coffee Cup cafe for elevenses.

Refreshed, we carried on north and east from Wisborough Green along Newpound Lane and then north along the B2133. Colin found another bridleway that took us through some woodland, up and over a couple of fields and past a pair of lakes to arrive at Malham Farm. From here we continued north through more farmland and woodland before popping out onto Drungewick Lane. Another crossing of the canal was soon made as was a tributary of the Arun, but not the main river itself. Turning right onto the Loxwood Road, we headed east for a quarter of a mile before heading south on another bridleway, past Newhouse Farm to cross the Arun (6) just before Gibbons Mill . From here it was just a short ride to the lunch halt at The Blue Ship in The Haven, where we were met by Barbara, Edwin, John, Alan and Liz.

After lunch, Colin lead us along a couple of lanes and down a quiet woodland bridlepath to emerge back out on Okehurst Road and meet a couple of our road-based lunch colleagues. Then, after Bignor Farm, we left them to the tarmac as we headed west over a couple of fields for our next crossing point (7). Once again, last year this area was covered in water but today all the water was neatly contained within the river banks. The route runs alongside a dry stretch of the canal before crossing it on a bridge by a ruined lock. From here a farm track led us the couple of hundred yards up to the scene of last years accident - we noticed that the track seems to have had most of the potholes filled in and was relatively smooth. We were now back at Malham Farm and retraced our earlier steps as far as our next bridleway just north of Newpound Common. Heading east, this track skirts around Loves Farm and it's "Beware of the Dogs" sign. Sure enough, one of the dogs came running over, barking its silly little head off but we ignored it as we went on into the woods. We popped out of the woods at Loves Bridge, described on a nearby plaque as the loveliest bridge on the Wey and Arun Canal. Unfortunately there's very little water in the canal at this point - I believe the landowner is against the restoration of this bit of the canal - sad really as a restored canal looks really good and is a very positive feature in the landscape. By contrast, the bridge over the river(8) is quite plain. heading east we came out onto Okehurst Road and followed it south as it became Rowner Road. At Rowner Farm we passed to the left of a large barn and then through a small copse to emerge at some kind of metal weir on the river - I've no idea what it's used for but it's a fairly substantial structure. We crossed here (9) and heading due west came to Rowner Lock on the canal. There were several people working on it repairing the stonework, and it was almost completely drained thereby affording us a good view of the amount of engineering involved. One gentleman came over and gave us plenty of information about the lock and indeed the whole canal. He also explained that they were not going to be replacing the lock gates as there was no water upstream and lock gates deteriorate more rapidly when not in the water. We now continued westwards, past Paplands Farm and back onto the road at Newpound Common where we took Newpound Lane past Fisher's farm back to Wisborough Green and another stop at the Coffee Cup cafe.

At this point I had to make my goodbyes as I had to be at a family birthday party back in Crawley for 16:30. Heading south from Wisborough Green I took the bridleway past Harsfold Farm and crossed the Arun one last time before regaining the tarmac on Black Gate Lane. I missed my intended right turn into Pickhurst lane so ended up using the A29 via Codmore Hill to get back to Pulborough Station with just about 30 miles on my speedo. Within the hour I managed to drive back home, get washed, changed and get over to Ifield Wood to celebrate my nephews 5th birthday. So that was all the boxes ticked - great day out on the bike, get to birthday party.

Thanks Colin for what is one of my favourite rides - I've done it three times now and each one has been different but all have been immensely enjoyable - don't change a thing.

NCN21 - Greenwich to Crawley

I think that I (Peter S) have lead this ride on three occasions now and, although the basic idea is the same, each ride turns out very differently, whether it is the attendees, the weather, the lunch or whatever!

We had six riders this year – John V normally join us and knows the way from Victoria to Greenwich but he was not available this time, although he had kindly supplied me with route details. Helen joined me at Victoria station for 09.00. We left along Victoria street at 9.15 for Parliament square and then to follow NCN (National Cycle Network) route 4 to Greenwich. There was a clear blue sky and a perfect day for the slightly surreal experience of us ‘country folk’ cycling in the ‘Big City’ amongst all the famous landmarks and along surprisingly quiet streets with very little traffic. The final part of this route to Greenwich wends its way through former docks and canals and is surprisingly pleasant for what was once a very run down industrial part of London.

Here's a picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15603250@N03/3884327921/

At Greenwich we were pleased to see Bob, John C, John H and Norman. We headed off south at 10.15 following the NCN21 as it meanders its way south through various parks and green spaces, as well as through some back routes through Catford and south London. Very little of the route uses busy roads and the whole thing is surprisingly green and pleasant. The main challenge is to find the route signs but, fortunately, we had Bob in the group! In what seems like no time we emerged in to countryside at the White Bear in Fickleshole at 13.00 where we had a very pleasant lunch. A freshly made sandwich for £5.15 with salad trimmings. Oh, and some people had a beer as well – either ginger or hop based.

The onward route from Fickleshole heads broadly south through Woldingham golf course and private school before crossing the A22 and climbing up to the North Downs above Caterham where we had splendid views to the South. It is at this point that you can orientate yourself perfectly by watching for aircraft landing at Gatwick. Pressing on the group indicated a preference for religiously following the NCN21 and so we went around the southern edge of the M25 up to the M23 junction before turning south through the lakes remaining after the fullers earth has been extracted. Suddenly we were in Redhill and quickly through the centre we passed the former Royal Earlswood hospital (why is/was it Royal......?) to arrive in Horley and then Gatwick, by now following well known routing. Helen and Norman jumped on the train leaving the remaining four Crawley riders to head home for tea at about 17.00 after 55 odd miles.

A nice day out. Thank you to everyone that attended.

Here's the ride profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15603250@N03/3885121968/in/photostream/

You can find out more about the NCN at: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ including on-line maps and information about Sustrans in our area. NCN21 runs from Greenwich, through Crawley to East Grinstead and eventually Eastbourne. (We rode Eastbourne to Crawley a couple of years ago and so in effect we have ‘done’ the whole route end to end). Later this year – Sunday 27th September – we ride to Brighton returning on the NCN20 to Crawley (or by train). See you then.

This Sundays ride is most suited to off-road bikes or sturdy tourers - it's the final DA event of this year, the Arun Crossings ride. It starts from Pulborough Station at 0935 and involves crossing and recrossing the Arun using a variety of roads and bridleways. Lunch will be at the Blue Ship in The Haven (TQ 083305).

Shoreham Airshow

Five of us turned up for this ride, all blokes: Norman, John C, John H, Richard and myself, Bob. Under a bright blue sky I led us out of Horsham via Depot Road, Comptons Lane, St. Leonards Road, Hammerpond Road and Doomsday Lane. For the first time I can remember, we didn’t have to stop before crossing the A281 – there were NO cars in sight! I don’t remember any cars passing us on Magpie Lane either and we were soon turning left at Copsale to head towards Maplehurst. Here Norman had to leave us as he needed to get home by the time his children were getting up and looking for breakfast (as they’re teenagers we speculated that he could probably spare another half day before they’d be up!). The rest of us turned south and hit the two climbs that lead to the A272 crossing. From here we continued on into Littleworth and Partridge Green to take the B2135 to Ashurst and then Steyning. Carefully avoiding making the wrong turn up the Bostal, we took Maudlin Lane and then Annington Road through Botolphs and Coombes Road through Coombes to cross a very busy (but slow moving) A27. Crossing the Old Shoreham Bridge, we went up the thoughtfully named “The Street” before turning left and heading up Mill Hill. No vehicles were being allowed on this road, so we had a nice relaxing half mile climb with only a few pedestrians to watch out for before we picked a spot on the hillside overlooking Shoreham Aerodrome.

Our timing was perfect and we’d barely settled down before the aerial display began. There was a good range of aircraft types flying ranging from World War I biplanes and triplanes through to the latest Eurofighter and from four biplanes with wingwalkers through to dazzling displays of aerobatics performed solo or in pairs by prop driven and jet propelled aircraft. For me the highlight was the Eurofighter which seemed to ignore the rules of physics and stay in the air at ridiculously low speed. I think it’s power to weight ration must be seriously biased in favour of the power!

As we enjoyed the spectacle we also enjoyed a picnic, although being fully exposed to the sun all our drinks had lost their power to refresh – warm water from a plastic bottle is never a great drink. After managing three hours sat out on the hillside we decided it was time to head back home. I gave the group the option of shortening the route back by using a half mile section of very rough bridleway to leave the Downs rather than an eight mile circular route back the way we’d come – in spite of them all having slick shod road bikes, they went for it and we were soon heading north on the A2037. As we did so, we were overflown by a De-Havilland Vampire with its distinctive whining sound and we also spotted a B17 bomber. I took us east along a lane at the foot of the Downs as far as Fulking and then turned north again up Clappers Lane. We continued north up Blackstone Lane and also Wineham Lane where, upon spotting the Royal Oak, in the best traditions of the Horsham and Crawley group we just had to stop and have some liquid refreshment!!

As each of us was heading back to Crawley, I took us the most direct route via Warninglid, Slaugham Pond and Handcross. This involved a fair bit of climbing and so it was with some relief that we hit the top of Pease Pottage Hill and could freewheel down to K2 before the easy riding through the streets of Tilgate and Furnace Green back home. I finished the day with a total of about 57 miles on my speedo (I’d started the day by riding from Crawley to Horsham). I was also quite tired and had managed to sunburn both legs (but more so the right one). Strange that I’ve been riding bare-legged for about four months and yet this was the first time the sun had actually caught them. Follow this link to see the ride profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15603250@N03/with/3861370181/

The Sunday 30th August ride is an interesting one – it’s from Greenwich to Crawley along NCN21. Leaving the Cutty Sark at about 10:15hrs, lunch will be at a pub in the North Downs and we should get back to Crawley by about 16:30hrs. The mileage from Greenwich to Crawley should be somewhere in the region of 45 miles and the route is suitable for all types of bike.

Meet at London Victoria for a ride across town to Greenwich at 09.00

Train times:
Horsham 07:37 arrives 08:39
Three Bridges 07:50 arrives 08:39
Gatwick Express – 8.20 or 8.35 – journey time 35 minutes. Fare £16.90
Or
Three Bridges to London Bridge and get the river ferry to Greenwich (which takes bikes).
Or
Meet at Greenwich at 10.00. We will (mostly) follow the National Cycle Network Route 21 back to Crawley – signage permitting! Lunch will be at The White Bear, Fickleshole - http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/53038

There are options to get the train back to Horsham/Crawley earlier from Redhill and Gatwick.

Weather forecast is good. We will aim to leave Greenwich by 10.15 – if you will be later than this please text the leader – Peter Smith.

Four Countries in a Week

It is an old adage that the wind is always in a cyclist’s face, but here is a tip - If you want to cycle to France, Belgium and Holland start in Calais and head north – the wind will be predominantly at your back.

Four of us left Calais on Monday 10th August following the canal to St Omer. Three of us had taken the train from Three Bridges to London and then to Dover on Sunday with a tourer and a tandem. A journey that could have been fraught with the now traditional difficulties of transporting bikes on trains in the UK, but that actually went very smoothly. This was helped by travelling on a Sunday morning. An uneventful crossing followed by a short ride to the hotel in Calais to meet with JV. Most people pass through Calais quickly but we wanted to spend a night and see the highlights including the spectacular Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) and associated gardens.

The canal led us to St Omer, after negotiating a diversion caused by roadworks on the towpath. The final entry in to St Omer was very pretty with a long stretch in to town running alongside the canal and having old workers homes along both sides bedecked in flowers. En route in Watten we rode up a hill to visit a fine restored windmill with views to Gravelines – this was actually the only hill of the whole trip (sounds like one of my Sunday rides!).
St Omer itself is not particularly outstanding but does have some wonderful restaurants – we had a three course gourmet dinner for a prix fixé 16€ - probably the best meal of the trip – at Le P’tit Montmartre. Highly recommended.

40 miles today.

Tuesday 11th

Today we headed for Lille and had hoped to follow a canal, but couldn’t find the way on to the towpath, so we followed quiet lanes to Estaires where we stopped for lunch. We had some light rain early on but it was warm and so didn’t bother with waterproofs. After a very pleasant day in the lanes we arrived in Lille in time for a walk in bright sunshine around the old town centre with its grand buildings, squares, narrow streets and lots of people. We all had time to sit in an outdoor bar for some Leffe blonde before dinner by the Gare de Lille-Flandres station.

54 miles today

Wednesday 12th

Leaving Lillie on an excellent dedicated cycle route that took us up to Roubaix where we rode on some of the pavé used in the Paris – Roubaix classic cycle race. We were allowed in to the velodrome and all had a ride round it, including the tandem with full panniers!

We then found the canal and rode eastwards to the river Scheldt which we joined in Helkijn. The canal was shaded and had large trees at the side; mostly tarmac with some white shell surface. Arrived Oudenaarde at 13:00 for lunch.

In the afternoon we had a longer run by the Schelde, sometimes doing 18 - 20 mph on the tandem with help from the wind. It was very warm but clouded over later. We saw lots of cyclists often on road bikes.

It was quite difficult to find our way in to Ghent, but we arrived at our hotel about 17:00 after JV remembered the layout of the canals.

We all walked in to Ghent centre for dinner.

58 miles today.

Thursday 13th

We liked Ghent; it has lots of old buildings in a large area and is not crowded. When we were there it had lots of major reconstruction work going on.

We left about 11.15 in light rain and followed canal towpath to Brugges, stopping for a coffee on the way by which time it had stopped raining, the sun had come out and it was warming up. It was hot and sunny by the time we ate our pastries by the canal. It was very pleasant riding and route, even in the drizzle.

We spent the afternoon on a very pleasant walk round Brugges in bright sunshine - looking for ice-cream! The centre was very crowded with large numbers of cyclists including touring cyclists.

30 miles today.

Friday 14th

We left at 09:00 in fine sunny weather on the road to Damme, then Sluis, which looked very nice, alongside a wide canal. At Breskens we stopped for coffee before catching the ferry across the Scheldt estuary to Vlissingen. We then rode beside a canal to Middleberg, where we ate our lunch. From there we followed the road to Veere and then across the top of the first dam. Mostly we were following the Long distance cycle route LF1b Nordzee route, which was well signed, but not always. We also had the Dutch red signs directing to towns/places.

Each dam had a two-way road across it and the same space, completely separated from the road, for bikes and service vehicles. This is a big holiday area with lots of bikes around, large sandy beaches, the sea on one side and the inland sea on the other. Lots of sailing and water sports. We were making good speed on the tandem, often cruising at 15-18, with a light tail wind (fortunately).

We stopped for drinks and pannekochen (pancakes) by a working windmill - lovely! Across country for the last leg arriving about 17:00. Marian and I then rode an extra 3 miles to the beach for a swim. Big waves and very pleasant/refreshing.

67 miles today.


Saturday 15th

We left about 9:00 after visiting a windmill next to our overnight pension and a conveniently located bike shop.

We continued to the ferry to Maasluis on the north of the river Maas (Rhine) where we stopped for drinks and to buy lunch.

Rode on to Delft for ice-cream and then to Monster (yes, Monster) for the beach cycle route. We arrived at the Hoek-van-Holland about 19.00 where we stopped for dinner and then went to board the ferry at 20:30.

It had been a very hot day and quite tiring riding. Heading south was hard in to the wind - we have been lucky all week!

Ferry to Harwich left at 22:30.

55 miles today.


Sunday 16th

Ferry arrived at 5.30 and we were able to disembark at 6.30 and JV left us to cycle south. We had an excellent train service leaving from Harwich at 07.30 and getting us back to Three Bridges for 10.30. The only difficulties being lack of provision for bicycles and especially tandems on the train, but we had cunningly planned to travel Sunday morning so there weren’t any problems for us.

A very pleasant 320 miles in six days. Excellent route planning by tour leader, guide and raconteur – John V.