Onslow Arms, Loxwood

Distance: 50 miles - medium
Leader: Mick

Today’s weather forecast was for sunny intervals so I slapped on the sun-block and donned a waterproof. You cannot be too careful!

Barbara was the first to turn up, followed by Bob, Norman and a tired Anton. Anton had done a 300k Audax the previous day and only arrived home at 2:00am.

We set off soon after 9:00am and headed over the golf course onto Robin Hood Lane where it was tops off. It appears the forecast may be correct. Along the lane we had our first encounter with the Horsham Cycling clones, all in the same tops and similar bikes. We, on the other hand, had a true mixture of blues, reds and black. Our bikes were a tourer, an Audax, a hybrid and two mountain bikes.

Our route took us through Rowhook and Cox Green and then onto Baynards where we saw Horsham Cycling again. We headed off up the downs link, mainly to help getting on to the link in Cranleigh. The two mountain bikers enjoyed this. We then headed over the A281 for a short rest in Dunsfold as we were running early:

After this short break we headed off to the lunch stop, aiming to get there early to look at the canal. While Bob and Norman headed off to explore the towpath Anton decided he needed a rest;

Caption Competition

Bob and Norman returned just in time for the Pub to open late. Barbara very kindly bought Bob, Anton and myself a drink. During lunch we saw Horsham Cycling again and then John C turned up, soon to be followed by John V.

After lunch Bob and Norman headed off along the towpath to meet us at the end of Drungewick Lane. After a short delay, I had expected them to arrive before us, we carried on past the Mucky Duck and the Fox, crossing over the A281 into Rudgwick. We retraced our morning route slightly towards Cox Green. Anton turned off here towards Rowhook and home for a well earned rest.

Capel beckoned but we were a little early so we paused at the duck pond on Weary Street. Rested, we headed for Capel and arrived spot on 15:00 after saying goodbye to Barbara. The cakes and tea were as good as usual.

So it was off home; Bob and the two Johns headed off through Rusper to Crawley and Norman and I returned via Friday Street to Horsham.

Vital statistics:

Cycle computer;
Distance Time moving Average Maximum

42.98 3:47 11.3 mph 30.8 mph


GPS;
Distance Time moving Average Maximum Elapsed
44.3 3:57 11.2 mph 40.3 mph 7:06

Elevation (ft):
Minimum Maximum Ascent
19 436 4,232


Our next ride is a bit of an adventure - meet up with Pete S at Victoria Station at 09:00 hrs or at the western side of The Cutty Sark at 10:15 for a ride down NCN21 from Greenwich to Crawley. This 60 mile ride is almost all on quiet roads and cycle tracks and lunch will be taken at a pub in the North Downs.

The Ashdowner

Half past nine on a Sunday morning, weather warm but overcast, three people meet outside Three Bridges Station: Norman, Barbara and Bob. Idly chatting about this and that, they wait around for 10 minutes or so but no-one else turns up. In a reversal of a previously noted feature of our rides, we have a Crawley start which has a majority of riders from Horsham! Today’s ride would just be a morning ride of approximately 30 miles but with the probability of a few hills to climb and right away we were onto the first as we headed east along Worth Road and then onto the Turners Hill Road. The first mile of this road is more or less level but then it starts its inexorable rise to a summit by the church. Norman either enjoyed the climb or was just plain ecstatic on reaching the crest!!



Worryingly, when we reached the crossroads a sign indicated that the road to West Hoathly was closed – we needed to travel about 100 yards on that road! After a few moments thought I decided to chance it and so we headed down and then up the short sharp climb out of the village, past what was the Punchbowl Inn but what is now an Indian restaurant called Tarana. At Selsfield Common there were more “Road Closed” notices as we took the left fork – this was the 100 yards of road I was talking about – but the road wasn’t actually blocked until immediately after Vowels Lane and Vowels Lane was what we wanted.



This lane is nice and quiet and after the first 100 yards is all down hill! Towards the bottom it goes past the current most northerly station on the Bluebell Railway, Kingscote. Here there were a couple of vintage single decker buses parked up, so I had to stop and take a picture:



What I think was a Battle of Britain class express locomotive was just visible through the trees (Tangmere?) but I couldn’t get a decent photo of it – I hung around just the other side of the bridge in the hope of a shot but no luck. At the next junction we carried on eastwards and up another gradual climb before turning right onto Saint Hill Road. As we stopped for a breather, Norman recognised a friend who had just parked at the same spot. Chatting to him we found out that the Bluebell was having a “Gala” weekend – this means there would be loads of engines in steam and they’d be running past Kingscote and up as far as the current end of the line, just short of the Imberhorne Lane bridge. We also found out that Tornado (the brand new steam locomotive that Jeremy Clakson got dirty in last year) was supposed to have been in steam at the Bluebell as well (it would need to have been transported on a lowloader to the middle of Sussex) but, due to a mechanical problem wasn’t available – shame. By coincidence I was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Tornado on it!

From, here we went down to Saint Hill Green and then enjoyed the rapid descent to the tail of Weirwood reservoir. Here we turned left onto Legsheath Lane which, after an easy start turns into a stiffish climb up into Ashdown Forest. At the crossroad we could see more signs detailing the road closure at West Hoathly (and we could also see the confusion it was causing motorists and motorcyclists).



After the crossroads we took Twyford Lane on the right. This is another pretty lane that always gives an enjoyable ride (north to south it’s downhill) and I thought I’d illustrate this by filming it on my camera. So, there I am, riding one-handed trying to keep the camera steady and level with my right hand and feathering the rear brake with my left hand. Just as my rear brake was starting to make some grumbling sounds I spotted two horses (with riders) coming up the hill in front of me so pulled harder on the rear brake – b*gger! - it locked up so I desperately abandoned my film-making and grabbed a big handful of front brake. That did the trick and I’d managed to regain control without spooking the horses. Note to self: don’t ride downhill in excess of 30 mph single-handed, holding a camera. Looking at the video later it looks like I’m having a crash! At the bottom the road goes through a ford but it was less than an inch deep today. After a double-back sort of junction we crossed a second ford (equally shallow – mind you, it is the same river). And then the short but sharp (I used granny) hill up to Hurstwood Lane. This goes close to Hurstwood Manor where (I believe) Carla Lane of Butterflies fame lives. Chilling Street followed. This is a ridgetop lane with good views of the next ridge with the spire of Highbrook Church featuring prominently. At this point we joined another road for a few hundred yards before turning right to pass the entrance to Horsted Keynes station. The presence of loads of cars on the verges testified to the fact the Gala weekend was on. I was hoping a train would swim into view as we rolled down the lane but my hopes were thwarted. Just to keep us on our toes there’s another short climb here and then, when we reached Hammingden Lane. I stopped and gave my compatriots a choice: we could either turn right and climb up the ridge to go through Highbrook and on to West Hoathly before using Hook Lane and Cob Lane to get to Ardingly (4 miles, two very steep climbs) or we could turn left to Ardingly (1/2 a mile, one small sharp climb). No contest – the risk of having to look at more “Road Closed” and “Diversion” signs at West Hoathly made left the obvious choice!

Once we reached Ardingly we headed west to go past St Peters Church:



From here the road goes steeply downhill to cross the eastern arm of Ardingly reservoir before a steep climb up the other side. Halfway up my chain managed to shift past the big rear cog and jam between the cogs and the spokes! I’d been concerned about the odd noise that had been developing from my rear wheel during the day and this just seemed to confirm something wasn’t right – I suspected a loose cassette and once I’d got the chain back in place, determined to nurse it back home. Fortunately, once we’d conquered West Hill there was just the gradual ascent of Paddockhurst Lane and Back Lane up to Worth Abbey. After here we forked right onto the bridleway at Whitely Hill to cut across to the B2036 Balcombe Road. Here we said goodbye to Norman as he carried on using the bridleway which would take him through the forest and then onto Parish Lane and Pease Pottage for the shortest route back to Horsham. Meanwhile Barabara and I headed north across the M23 and then threaded a quiet route through Maidenbower to finally arrive at Three Bridges Station just before 13:00hrs – exactly as promised!

Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Park Pavilions at 09:00hrs. Mick is leading us on what will be a very pleasant 50 mile route with lunch at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood and an afternoon tea stop at Capel. This will be an absolute corker of a ride if the weather is nice and sunny. I look forward to seeing you all.

DA Picnic - Wisborough Green

After watching a number of TV programmes about bikes and cycling during the week, it was good to get out on my own machine. Just a few hundred yards after I'd started, another cyclist joined the road in front of me. Mounted on a fast road machine and wearing a "Crawley Triathlon" shirt, the other rider looked like he would be faster than me but within fifty yards or so I realised I'd have to overtake him to stay at the pace I needed. As I went past I said good morning and moaned about the wind (natures, not mine). Half a mile later I realised the crafty fellow had latched into my slipstream and was getting a free ride! Hmmmm. What to do? I didn't want to up the pace as I was riding as fast as I wanted, similarly I didn't want to slow down because I was riding as fast as I needed…. I decided to change my route and rather than use the main road to Horsham, I'd use the Forest Road. First thing to do was head for K2 Leisure Centre - I turned left - he only followed me! He was still close on my tail as I took the next right but then I finally managed to lose him - being on a mountain bike, I'm quite happy jumping up and down kerbs and by jumping onto the cycle track to K2 I gained a good 25 yards (during which I put in a short burst of extra speed to completely shake him off).

From K2 it was up Pease Pottage Hill and an encouraging wave from a pedestrian as I neared the top. The traverse of the roundabout was quietly safe and amazingly there was no queue for the car boot sale as I passed the Services. The road through the village has been resurfaced (top-dressed with tar and stones) disguising some of the potholes near the drains. As I passed the entrance to Cottesmore School I indulged in my usual game of trying to sing a steady note whilst going over the ridged yellow lines designed to slow traffic down (not so much rumble strips as yodelling strips?). My singing practice was neatly bracketed by two groups of Horsham Cycling Club riders resplendent in their club uniform and (I fancy) all riding identical bikes. In my mind I was contrasting them with our club uniform of non-uniformity - in apparel, machinery and probably everything else (except our enjoyment of cycling around these parts).
Passing through Colgate there was the usual depressing sight of The Dragon still closed for business - I found myself wondering how much money Hall & Woodhouse made from flogging off/closing so many of the old King & Barnes pubs? Incidentally, what came first - Colgate the village or Colgate the toothpaste?

When riding Forest Road I'm in the habit of putting my rear light on in flash mode and it seemed particularly effective this time as every passing car gave me a lovely wide berth. It's also mainly downhill from Colgate to Horsham so I was rattling along at a good pace - I can't say how fast though because my speedo was covered up by some copies of the Pedaller I had clipped in my map holder.

On arrival at the Pavilions in the Park I was met by Barbara, the ride leader, and Anton. We waited around for a short while but nobody else materialised so Barbara lead us off north out of Horsham and up Langhurstwood Road. The tip was a bit smelly but we were soon past it and onto Friday Street which eventually climbs up to Muggeridge's Hill where we had a short breather before heading on towards Capel. Here we joined the A24 for a few hundred yards before heading further west and then turning south onto Weare Street. There's a no-through road on the right called Vann Lake Road - in aerial views it looks like it might go through to Friday Street in Ockley, I wonder if anyone reading this blog has ever ridden it?

We continued on over the A29 and past The Punchbowl at Okewoodhill before heading south then west to Ellens Green. This was followed by Cox Green and Baynards before going down Cooks Hill, across the A281 and on to The Mucky Duck. Here we turned right onto the Loxwood Road before taking another pretty road, Drungewick Lane, on the left. There's a large house off this lane that I think is owned by some rock star or other - I've no idea who. At the end we turned left and then, a few hundred yards later, right and onto Durbans Road which took us all the way to Wisborough Green. Arriving pretty much bang on time at 12:05, we were surprised to be the first ones there but within a couple of minutes the Bognor and Chichester crew arrived followed some 15 minutes later by the Arun and Adur posse.

We all sat down in the shade of a tree and enjoyed our picnic lunches (washed down with beer/cider by the Horsham and Crawley members). We had interesting conversations on a number of topics but were especially pleased to welcome Dave Galle, admirably aided by his daughter Louise and a couple of their terrier dogs. Dave continues to make progress but feels his recovery has been slowed down a little by some new medication he's been given that has some unfortunate side effects (unfortunately for us, Dave gave us some hints about the side effects!). It looks like it'll be a while before Dave gets back on his bike as his left arm still won't straighten out. Dave also mentioned that the driver had changed his plea to guilty and had ended up being fined a few hundred pounds and having 6 points on his licence. It doesn't seem right - in three years time his licence will be clean again and he'll have forgotten about the money but Dave will probably still not be back to the level he was immediately before being mown down! Mr Van Driver will be free to nobble another one of us and won't have had to undergo any driver training or such - we'd better watch out!

Anyway, it was time to move on and, typically, this was the time I found I'd got a puncture! I quickly swapped to a new inner tube and weathered the minor criticisms of the state of my tyres - yes, they are old, yes, they have seen better days, yes, they do have a lot of nicks and cuts in them. This was offset by the help I received from the same people checking for glass or thorns and pumping my tyre up for me - thanks lads.

The other groups headed off to the south whilst we headed east along Newpound Lane. I briefly popped into Fishers Farm Park to deliver their copy of The Pedaller and then continued past The Bat and Ball before turning right onto the B2133. At the end we turned left and crossed over the canal and the River Arun before heading north up Rowner Road. Barbara and I waited at the junction with Okehurst Lane whilst someone 'watered' a roadside tree, before heading across to the A29 and then on to New Road. We were soon at Barns Green and heading north on Two Mile Ash Road, however, when we got to where it crosses the Downs Link, I left Barbara and Anton to continue on to Horsham because I was heading to Southwater. There I delivered another copy of The Pedaller to Southwater Cycles before I too headed for Horsham.

I was half expecting to catch up with the other two somewhere near The Boars Head (it looks like it's reopened after a refurbishment) but didn't see them, so I made my own way through the centre of Horsham and onwards to an uneventful ride back along the Forest Road to Pease Pottage. I couldn't use my usual route through Tilgate Park as the path along the dam is closed whilst they rebuild it into a much more substantial structure, but I was soon home and knocking back a pint of milk.

Next weeks ride is a morning ride starting from Three Bridges Station at 09:30 hrs and is called The Ashdowner - it will be up to 30 miles long and involve a few hills but should finish back at the station by 13:00hrs at the latest.

Penshurst

A 9:30 start from Three Bridges Station saw four riders turn up – Barbara, John V, Bob and John C leading. The weather was overcast but warm enough and after waiting around for 10 minutes in case anyone else turned up, we set off. John chose an ‘unusual’ route going along St. Mary’s Drive and past Tesco’s into Three Bridges before using the Industrial Estate to get onto the NCN 20 through Gatwick…..
Once again I’d fixed a camera to my handlebars with the intention of taking a few snaps and videos as we cycled along. Here’s a shot showing the newly resurfaced path by the lake in Horley:

We went past Horley railway station and out on the Smallfield Road. Passing through Smallfield we continued east on Plough Road before taking Bones Lane across to the Newchapel roundabout. A quick run along a B road took us to Lingfield and on past the racecourse before we turned left onto a quiet yellow road that took us through the grounds of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy. Barbara and I had a discussion about epilepsy, what impact it has, what causes it and how to deal with it and before we knew it we’d reached Haxted Mill. The conversation was halted by the effort needed to climb the short hill after the mill and, with the clouds now starting to thin, we shortly arrived in Edenbridge.

Heading south then east on the Hever Road, ignoring the signpost to Hever Castle, we took the next left turn and headed towards Chiddingstone. The village was choc-a-bloc with cars as we passed through – I think the church there is well attended. Resisting the temptation to stop at the village pub we continued on and soon emerged on the B2027 where we turned right to go to Penshurst railway station. Here we hoisted our bikes on our shoulders to use the footbridge over the railway as way of avoiding a climb on the road – looking at the map I suspect that carrying the bikes needed more effort than riding them over the short hill that we avoided!

Five minutes later we were in Penshurst and parking our bikes in a compound at the back of the café. Our four bikes were the most varied group there – a mountain bike, a hybrid and two tourers. All the others seemed to be ‘club racer’ style with varying amounts of carbon fibre involved!
We ordered our lunches and settled back in the sheltered and sunny garden to sup our tea and chat about this and that. We talked about the trip that the two Johns are making to Luxemburg and Belgium next week, the DA Event picnic on Sunday 1st August and Antons recent buckled wheel – he was 300km into a 1000km ride when he had a spoke break on a severe downhill and by the time he’d managed to pull up, his rear wheel was severely bent and he couldn’t continue! Fortunately it hadn’t thrown him off the bike, but it did get us talking about the relative merits of different spoke counts, wheel building/trueing techniques and riding styles – for instance, I know I’m a bit of a porker but I do have a light riding style – I think this comes from off-road riding a hardtail bike for so long: you can’t keep control on the rough stuff unless you’re constantly shifting your weight around and I think I do this even on the road. This would explain why I’m such a cr*p road cyclist – I waste energy unnecessarily but I’ve never broken a spoke!
Anyway, having added further to my girth by indulging in a slice of ginger cake for pudding, it was time to get back on the bike (having settled our meal bills). Leaving Penshurst in a south-westerly direction we turned right and headed uphill past the Penshurst Off Road Cycling circuit where a round of the Mountain Biking Championship was underway – perhaps we could do a ride to that next year? A few miles later we went through Cowden which, as ever, was completely dead – I’ve never seen anyone walking around in this village even though I’ve ridden through it half a dozen times in the last few years!

From here, we travelled on lanes parallel to and north of the A264 before passing through Dormansland and then on back into Lingfield. From here we retraced our morning route until, just short of Smallfield we headed south along Dowlands Lane and Cross Lane before the long drag up to Copthorne Bank. John V set a cracking pace on this gradual climb and I sat in his slipstream (because I’m lazy). At the roundabout we used the old road back to Crawley and parted company on reaching the Balcombe Road – John V to go south, John C to head north and Barbara and I to continue on to Three Bridges station. There I said goodbye and a few minutes later I was home with 54 miles on my speedo and a back garden full of family members enjoying what was now a nice sunny afternoon.

Our next ride is from Horsham Park Pavilions starting at 10:00 on Sunday 1st August. Barbara will lead us to Wisborough Green for the Picnic DA Event. Please come along on what will be an easy ride of no more than 35 miles (OK, there is a hill in the middle, but it’s not very long). My challenge will be to cram my picnic in my bumbag (or fannypack as the Yanks call them) but there’s always the option of a pub lunch at The Cricketers just over the road! Alternatively, if you’ve got plenty of space in your panniers, I’d love to see someone bring a picnic, a folding chair and a marquee!! Come on all you Horsham and Crawley members, let’s have a good turnout and earn the club some much needed points in the trophy competition!

The Bat and Ball

The Runs List said:
Date: 18th July
Ride: Bat and Ball, Newpound Common and tea at Capel
Distance: 50 miles - medium
Leader: Mick

Let's see what Mick writes:

Starting at Horsham Pavilions in the Park were Anton, Barbara and Norman. Heading out down the Brighton Road I nearly swallowed a fly, just managing to close my mouth in time. Turning right into Kerves Lane and Hard’s Hill just to warm things up. After this we headed for Maplehurst via Copsale. John V caught us up by the Camelia Botnar Garden Centre. On through Littleworth and Partridge Green the wind got up and slowed us down as bit. We turned right into Golden Lane and on towards Dial Post.

Crossing the A24 took some time but we managed it without incident. Through Dial Post and past The Countryman where Barbara peeled off to head home. The remaining four of us headed south along Coolham Road and right onto Harbolets Lane towards Adversane. It was along this road I realised we were going to be early so we decided to head for The Blue Ship at The Haven for lunch, arriving at 11:45 with some meandering.

As we had changed our lunch stop Capel at 15:00 was a problem so we decided to head home via Slinfold, Broadbridge Heath and Robin Hood Lane instead.

One interesting thing about today’s ride was five attendees and five types of bike;
Me Tourer
Anton Audax
Barbara Hybrid
Norman Mountain
John Racer

So today’s ride was really The Blue Ship at The Haven and 40 miles.

Next weeks ride (tomorrow as I post this) is a 9:30 start from Three Bridges Railway Station to cover a 40 mile loop out to Penshurst in Kent with lunch at a cafe (or a pub) on the Green there.

World Cup Ride

Whoops - forgot to post a blog for this ride!!

The start was from Three Bridges Railway Station at 09:30 hrs. If my memory serves me correctly, I (Bob) was joined by Norman, Anton, John V, Jeet and Seb.

I called it the "World Cup Ride" because it was on the same day as the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands - I had hoped to go through villages/past pubs that would fit into that as a theme but failed miserably to come up with any ideas to suit! As we headed through the northern parts of Crawley and then past the airport I could have pointed out that some of the planes were going to Spain and that some of them were painted orange (the Dutch team colours) but I didn't. After an uneventful passage of Gatwick the most noticeable thing was that the path between the river Mole and the lakes on the approach to Horley has been resurfaced with a compacted grit material - hopefully this will make it cleaner to use during the winter months.

Rather than use the subway, I took the bridge past Horley Railway station and then picked up NCN21 (or is it 20?) to head north out of the town. Those riders on the more 'delicate' machines took a slightly more easterly route to stay on smooth tarmac, but Norman and I toughed it out on the bumpy track (I was mistakenly under the impression that it had been resurfaced).

Meeting up again, we headed uphill and then left to go past Redhill Aerodrome and then used the intriguingly named Philanthropic Road into Redhill. Heading due west we reached Woodhatch and crossed the A217 at the traffic lights. We next used Sandcross Lane and Slipshatch Road before taking a little northern loop to go past the Police Dog training school and the deer park. We passed the Anchor at Betchworth a good hour before opening time and then the Plough in Leigh not long after - that meant two of my lunch options were written off! That's the trouble with a group of fit(-tish) blokes - they were riding too damn fast :-)

From Leigh we headed off towards Newdigate and used the very quiet Hogspudding Lan
e to emerge opposite the Six Bells (still too early). The boys were flying now and we made good progress south to arrive in Rusper bang on opening time. John Jeet and Seb decided to continue on back home leaving Norman, Anton and myself to enjoy a leisurely lunch sat outside the front of the Plough. The beauty of Rusper is that there's a nice downhill glide towards Crawley for the first mile or two (and then it's flat), so I was home just before two. Norman had a (different) downhill before a small climb back to Horsham and Anton clocked up yet more miles as he carried on back to Haywards Heath.

At this point I would normally put in a plug for the next ride, but as I'm writing this retrospectively it's already happened!

Two Weald Ride

The Two Weald Ride is an annual West Sussex DA event, organised by the Horsham and Crawley Section. The event comprises of four circular 25 mile routes starting/finishing at Wisborough Green which effectively box the compass. Points are scored for starting and finishing any one of the routes and riders are free to ride whichever of the routes they like and however many of them as they want. This effectively gives the options of a 25, 50, 75 or 100 mile day. Horsham and Crawley man a checkpoint and provide refreshments (tea, cordial, cakes) during the day. Riders wishing to tackle multiple routes are advised to download the route instructions/map from the DA website so that they can make an early start as the control point is only available between 10:00hrs and 16:00hrs – if it were open longer, some poor cyclist(s) from our section would have to spend the majority of the day not cycling! With a 6 hour window we’ve normally got enough members present for us all to share the task.

Previously we’ve erected a little marquee under the chestnut tree by the green and last year we also had the use of a mobile home to provide somewhere to shelter and brew the tea, but this year the weather was fine enough to forego both and just place the table and chairs in the shade of the tree. Arranged on the table were printouts of the route instructions, maps, a fruit cake and two Victoria sponges – the cakes were baked by Mick, Barbara and Bob respectively.

Leading up to the event, various members arranged the details by phone and e-mail –printing of the maps/route instructions, provision of gas stove, table, chairs, tea, coffee, squash, cakes, water, a monetary float and arranging to transport all of this to Wisborough Green (along with our bikes of course). So, just before 9 am three cars assembled at Barbara’s house and items were carefully packed in next to each of our bikes. As we unpacked at Wisborough Green, so the first riders started arriving and Barbara’s thoughtful idea of bring hot water in flasks allowed us to get the kettle boiling very quickly so that everyone could have a pre-ride cuppa. Barbara and I (Bob) took on the first shift and had soon waved off some 13 riders from the various West Sussex Member Groups. Not long after, Bob Harber, going for the big 100, finished his second loop, had a short break for refreshments and then set off on his third loop. Colin was next to arrive having cycled all the way from Bognor – he too partook of the refreshments before setting off on a loop. Shortly after, Pete S arrived having just completed the Southern loop. He kept us company for the next hour or so and, when John V and John C completed their loop, took on the Western Loop with us.

Sitting around for a couple of hours hadn’t taken the edge off Barbara’s pace and she set a blistering speed as we headed off to Kirdford – Pete and I could barely keep up!

After Kirdford the western route goes through Ebernoe then Lurgashall and Lickfold before the climb of Leggatt Hill followed by a descent and stiff climb to River.

At the next junction the official route goes right and down to join the A 272 but in practice most people go left to stay on a quieter road, enduring a climb but with good views to the south. Then following a right turn there’s a nice downhill run through Upperton and on down to Tillington. Here we stopped for lunch at the Horse Guards Inn. The menu wasn’t really that cyclist friendly but we snacked on spicy nut mix and bread and oils in a pleasantly sunny courtyard. The beer was absolutely superb and it was hard work dragging ourselves away to continue the ride.
Emerging onto the A272 we turned left and headed into Petworth but avoided most of the town by passing to the south before going up through Byworth and then past the Welldiggers Arms and onto the long uphill drag north. Crossing the A272, the road goes downhill and we made good time back through Kirdford and on to Wisborough Green.

By now it was half past three and most of the riders had finished their rides and were heading home. We packed everything away and ensured we left the Green as we found it whilst we waited for the remaining few riders to come back. Colin turned up and waving goodbye, headed off back in the direction of Bognor, then at exactly four pm, our lone 100 miler turned up having just completed his fourth and last loop – he’d managed each one in just about 2 hours and hadn’t really taken any breaks – pretty impressive. I was glad to hear that his car was parked just around the corner and that he would be driving home as I could see that he’d put in a lot of effort and I was worried he’d be too tired to ride home.

So finally, at about half past four on a sunny but fairly windy day, we packed our bikes away and went back home. The day seems to have been a success with some 18 riders taking part clocking up something like 600 miles between them! All the fruit cake had been sold and most of the two Victoria sponges as well.

The next DA Event also involves food – it’s the Picnic on Sunday 4th August and, because it’s central to all the sections, it’s at Wisborough Green.