Amberley - well not in the end.....

It was a lovely morning as I rode to Horsham for 09.30. I seem to be getting back in shape as I got there in 48 minutes despite strong headwinds whereas my previous effort a couple of weeks before had taken over an hour! I now know who had been eating all the pies….

The forecast was not particularly good and that may be why there were only two of us at the appointed departure time. And as Barbara had not planned to do the return trip to Amberley anyway, we decided to do a loop closer to Horsham. So we headed out over the golf course (no golfers today!) and west to Rowhook hill. Horsham people are really fortunate to have this route as you are in the lanes and lovely countryside in ten minutes from the town centre. At the top of Rowhook hill we paused for a minute to watch lots of joggers/runners heading down the hill – they all looked exhausted – I do wonder at running; cycling is so much more fun as you do it sitting down (:->

Rowhook is really pretty with several old buildings and we proceeded in weak sunshine towards Oakwood Hill and then, after crossing the A29, to Weare street; one of the prettiest/quietest lanes in the County. We stopped by the duck pond so that Barbara could feed her apple to the ducks! A delightful spot.



After crossing the A24 we skirted Capel to join the Rusper road where we had a very small amount of rain. Very few cars today and lots of cyclists, mostly more serious ones on road bikes. Arriving in Rusper we went our different ways and I got home at 12.30 after 33 very pleasant miles. And we didn’t really notice the strong winds.

My personal tally for the year is now two Sunday runs, 50 + miles and no pub stops! I must be losing it…..

Hope to see you soon. We’ll reschedule Amberley later in the year, as that is a very pleasant run.

Our next ride starts from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs on Sunday 23rd January. We will head out north with the intention of a lunch stop at The Dolphin in Betchworth.

Family Bike Ride

I’ve scheduled beginners’ rides once a month for the next few months. The first was attended by five regulars (old lags?!), but I think we need to do some more publicity if we seriously want to get some new riders. We have the funds so I am thinking of doing some ads in the Spring – which is when most people get their old bikes out of the shed. It was a coldish morning with some very light surface icing in places and so, although I had a 40km road route ready for the Crawsham CTC stalwarts, we decided to do the Worth Way on the basis that any ice risk would be greatly reduced by this route. And so it proved, as we had a very pleasant ride out to Forest Row – the Worth Way seems to get busier every time I go down it, as it was packed - where we took coffee in the (relatively) new café by the tip. This is run by a friendly Dutch/English family and is highly recommended. They have some kind of old cars rally there once a month and a few were about when Barbara, John, John, Anton and I arrived to some welcome coffee/tea. Someone also had cake – no names here.

Bob hasn’t had a good start to the New Year as he has been a bit under the weather and off work resulting in his missing this ride, but, much worse than that, Anton turned up on his new mountain bike and showed a propensity to ride it off the track in the verges etc, very much á la Bob, including going up the hump in Rowfant. This could get serious when Bob is back – watch this space (:-> And hope to see you back on the bike soon Bob.

The by-product of the easy rides is that we were back by 12.30 after two hours riding – this is popular in the winter, even with the regulars – and even though the mileage only just crept over twenty, the main point is not the distance but the pleasure of some moderate exercise in pleasant company. We hope to see you next time – you may well like it and there is nothing much to lose from giving it a go.

This week’s ride is scheduled to leave Horsham swimming centre at 09.30 for The Black Horse at Amberley. The forecast is wet (as of Saturday am) but they don’t always get it right. Hope to see you.

Happy Cycling.
Peter

What's been happening?

Time for a catch up. What’s been happening in the world of Horsham and Crawley CTC member group the past few weeks?
Sunday 19th December was in the middle of the second rash of snow and was the day of the club Christmas Dinner. With the roads covered in snow and ice, none of us risked a two-wheel journey to The Gate and so we all arrived by car (thanks for the lift Pete & Marian). The pub was very convivial with Pickled Partridge on draught and a roaring log fire in the grate, although there was unfortunately no heating on in the dining area due to a missed heating oil delivery. There were only seven of us at the dinner but the food was good and hot and we had a great time with plenty of stories and amusing anecdotes being told.
The next ride was on Bank Holiday Monday 27th December and was a “Rendezvous Ride” – the idea being for people to set out in their own time, at their own pace and rendezvous at The Dragon at Colgate at midday. My original plan was that I’d do a 20 odd mile loop to the east and south which would involve several hills and quiet lanes (Turners Hill, Worth, Balcombe, Staplefield, Plummers Plain, Hammerpond, Grouse Road), however, on setting out (late as usual), my lack of fitness soon had me revising my route and instead of that I crept back into Crawley on the Worth Way and struggled up Pease Pottage Hill to ride straight to Colgate and only just get there for midday! On reflection I think I was going down with the bad cold that’s dogged me all the way into the new year!
Pete E was the only other rider out and had used a fairly simple route from Horsham via Doomsday Green and Grouse Road (he’d forgotten how long Grouse Road was!).
We rattled the doors of the pub but they were locked – frustratingly we could however see a rather attractive fire in the snug - but then the landlord let us in. Over a couple (or three) pints and a ciabatta sandwich apiece, Pete and I discussed such varied topics as how to encourage more people out on rides, how money-grabbing senior management are, various photographic techniques and how open the Premiership is this season! Reluctantly we left the warmth of the pub and each headed home knowing we only had one more day off before returning to work.
Sunday 2nd January should have seen me (Bob) lead a ride out to the north and west of Horsham with a lunch stop at the Mucky Duck in Tismans Common. Unfortunately, the bad cold mentioned earlier meant I could barely get out of bed, let alone ride a bike, so Pete E stepped into the breach. Here’s his summary of the day:
Went to the start today. There were a couple of bikes I didn't recognise. Just as I was going in for a cup of tea Anton arrived. He’d driven over as he was going to go to Evans after the ride to look for a mountain bike. As he was giving his bike a once over he noticed a broken chain link so abandoned plans for riding in favour of getting the bike fixed for a long ride he'd got planned tomorrow. Pat and Frank were waiting inside. I was most impressed with Pat commenting how slim and fit I was looking - not bad as I haven't done any serious exercise for months! Anyway after a cup of tea and a chat we agreed that I would lead a morning ride somewhere in the Crawley direction so that we could split at some point and be back in Horsham and Crawley by middayish.
I decided to go up Langhurstwood, past the Royal Oak and turn right at the end toward Rusper and see how we were doing. However, much to my embarrassment, leaving Horsham I got lost in the housing estate at the end of North Heath Lane and Pondtail Road - I must have missed a turning somewhere. Anyway we ended up in a playground with a footpath alongside which led up to the northern bypass. After dismounting and climbing a steep bank we found ourselves on the bypass not far from the big roundabout on the main Crawley road so we rode back along the bypass to the Langhurstwood crossing and proceeded to Rusper without mishap apart from Pat having a few gear change problems and Frank slipping his chain off. We went on in the direction of The Gate as far as the Lambs Green turn where we parted company. I returned to Horsham via Wimlands past the Frog & Nightgown and took the bridlepath near the railway crossing to the Rusper Road and into Horsham via North Heath Lane and Wimblehurst Rd. I noted that the Horsham Crawley cycleroute was signposted but at the level crossing it says end of route leaving any cyclists unfamiliar with the area with no guidance as to how to get to Horsham! It seemed a bit like those cyclelanes that just don't go anywhere! Useless!
Anyway, the weather was good and we all enjoyed the ride.

Our next ride starts from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs on Sunday 9th January. Led by Pete S, it will be an Easy ride aimed at less-experienced riders, however, everyone is welcome and we will be able to adapt to suit whoever turns up. Come on out – you need to ride off the Christmas excess!

Another cold Sunday

How dedicated a ride leader is it that gets up at 04.36 (am) on a Sunday to email the group to say that they are not well and can’t make the ride that day!? Especially, when you weren’t even supposed to be leading in the first place having stepped in when the original leader decided to pull out. That is just what our Chair, Bob, did this Sunday. Fortunately he is getting better now.

I duly agreed to lead and turned up at the start, a few minutes late, having had a lazy slow ride to Horsham. It was bright and sunny, although a very cold day, and so I had taken my time getting there. I waited quite a while but found myself still alone. Having bothered to turn out I decided to make the most of the nice day by returning through Roffey to Wimlands road where I climbed up past the Frog and Nightgown (what a great name for a pub, and a great pub) unfortunately closed when I got there. Having turned off the busy roads I discovered a fair bit of ice at different times, and walked part of Wimlands Lane in the company of two roadies – their slick tyres presumably being even less grippy than my touring tyres. Then along the ridge on the newly surfaced bridle path back to Ifield. This is a great route and I had some fine winter views as I rode carefully along.





Crossing the railway line to arrive in Gossops Green is not as scary as it might seem, certainly no worse than some of the busier roads in Crawley. My wireless computer had decided not to work – I think that the cold finishes off the batteries – so I detoured to Evans Cycles to get a new battery, and then home.
Twenty odd miles, not very much really, but enough on such a cold day. And quite pleasant – although it would have been nice to have some company. Hope to see you at the Xmas lunch next week (if you have booked with Anton).

Cheers,
Peter

It was his idea!

Following all the snow, the cold winds and the icy conditions, Anton and I came to the conclusion that it would be safest to cancel this week’s planned ride. Accordingly I updated the website and sent an e-mail out to our members. Anton volunteered to be at the start just in case anyone didn’t get the message.
Meanwhile I was wondering what I was going to do with myself – Oh no! Perhaps I’ ll have to go Christmas shopping !! – when I received a slightly cryptic text from John V: “WW 10:00?” I’d just about worked out that WW meant Worth Way when I received a second text confirming as much. Christmas shopping or a knobbly-tyred trek in the snow? No contest!
John had sent the same text messages out to the other fat-tyre candidates but he and I were the only ones that could make it. We met up just before Worth Church and set off along the Worth Way. In spite of Saturday’s torrential rain, there was still a lot of snow lying around and it soon became apparent that riding through it would take a lot of concentration. Where the snow had been compacted on top of a hard surface it was treacherously slippy and could send the front wheel in unexpected directions, so it was best to ride through the soft snow. However, where the underlying surface was relatively soft, it was better to seek out the harder, compacted snow as the soft stuff would shove the front wheel sideways and slip away under the rear wheel bringing forward progress to a complete halt. Just as we were getting used to that we encountered a third variety of surface – where there was a compacted top layer but with loose snow underneath. This was as unrideable as a six inch layer of loose snow and we soon learnt to recognise its appearance – icy, but with a milky look to it. It was however just about rideable in those areas where there was a scattering of fallen leaves on the top.
All this picking out the best route along the trail and the sheer effort of pedalling through the snow, slush, ice and mud was tiring and we decided to make East Grinstead our halfway point. Arriving there we opted to have our refreshments at the coffee bar in the petrol station as I was bespattered with mud.
One nice cappuccino later, we remounted and headed off around the one-way system. John came up trumps with an alternative route out of East Grinstead: first we used a couple of quiet streets, then a bridleway and a farm track before rejoining the Worth Way. Back on the snow and ice, we quickly realised that the best thing to do would be to retrace the tracks we made earlier. This meant we were quicker on the way back and consequently I got even more covered in mud. We were the only cyclists we saw during the journey and all the other people on the Worth Way were pedestrians out walking their dogs - I suppose that's one good thing about those walking poo factories - they get people out in the fresh air! Actually, now I think about it there were about half a dozen joggers out in the cold as well, including one who was heading in the opposite direction to what he thought. He was running away from East Grinstead and asked me how long to go before he reached East Grinstead! Charitably, I pointed him in the right direction.....
We got back to Crawley at about half past twelve having completed a round trip that would normally take little more than an hour.
Next Sunday's ride is scheduled to start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs and go on a loop to the South of Horsham with a lunch stop at The Fountain, Ashurst. Please keep an eye on the website in case we have to alter things again.

COLD!

COLD!!
Cold, cold, cold! In spite of pulling on several layers of clothes, I was still reluctant to venture outside so, as ever, I was running late. Keeping a high cadence, I was hoping to keep warm through exercise and had got about a mile from home when I noticed I’d forgotten todays route plan. Doh! Turn round and back home, now I’m even later!
Minutes later, route instructions now firmly fixed on my handlebars, I was nearing the top of Pease Pottage Hill when I heard a large-engined vehicle behind me. Looking over my shoulder I saw a massive blue tractor with big, cyclist-unfriendly wheels front and back. I found it slightly scary but the driver gave me plenty of room and went safely past. As he disappeared in the direction of Handcross it struck me what an unusual sight it was – I’ve been riding on Sunday mornings for about 5 years now and I can’t recall ever seeing a tractor on the road at that time, especially not one coming from an urban environment such as Crawley. In fact, it struck me as being so unusual that I stopped and made a call to the West Sussex Police non-emergency phone line and mentioned my concern that maybe something wasn’t right. Stopping to make this call and waiting in their telephone queue “Your call is important to us” cost me another few minutes making me even later than usual. As I rode along The Forest Road I noticed that the area that had been cleared of rhododendron that I commented on a few months back is not being used for houses, it has actually been planted with small saplings. Good.
Arriving at Horsham Pavilions in the Park just a couple of minutes after ten, I was met by Barbara and Pete E. By ten past no-one else had turned up so todays ride would just be a committee affair.
Turning left onto Hurst Road we went past Collyers school before turning right onto Richmond Road. There were great big drifts of leaves covering the pavement along parts of this road. Turning right at the end, we crossed the railway and then headed down North Heath Lane. At the roundabout we headed left along Pondtail Road and then took Pondtail Drive before emerging at the side of the A264. Carefully crossing this fast and busy A-road we then climbed up Langhurstwood Road. This road goes past a landfill site and through the trees we could see that it must be the best part of 100 feet high – from the bottom of the pit to the top of the (current) crust. That’s a lot of rubbish gone into that landfill!
We then took the first right onto Green Lane and encountered our first patch of ice. It caused us no problems as we rode smoothly over it. At the end of Green Lane we turned left onto the Horsham Road and followed it all the way up into the centre of Rusper. Here we decided that, as it was so cold, we’d cut the ride short and just make it a morning ride. The revised route took us out of Rusper on East Street and then down Faygate Lane to Faygate. Just to show that we weren’t completely copping-out, we then took on the challenge of the mile and a half ascent of Tower Road to Colgate. Pausing at the top to say goodbye, Barbara also managed to find out that the newly reopened pub (The Dragon) does sandwiches, baguettes and other light meals on a Sunday lunchtime ( as well as the usual roast dinners). This is useful to know and should see us paying a visit sometime soon.
Barbara and Pete then headed off on the mainly downhill route back to Horsham and I took on the two minor lumps to Pease Pottage before arriving home with barely 30 miles on my speedo. That was more than enough on such a cold day, and allowed me the chance to go out for lunch and stroll around Nymans Gardens with my dad.
Next weeks ride will be led by Anton and will start from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs and have a lunch stop at Warninglid (weather permitting).

Limeburners Arms

I've been a bit slow producing the blog this week. I originally tried to do it using my Nintendo DSi one evening whilst sitting in bed listening to the radio - Planet Rock on DAB - but after I'd written a couple of hundred words it decided to lose them all. Doh!
So here I am sitting at my keyboard again and trying to recall the details of the ride.
It was a Horsham start so I rode over using my normal route through Colgate and, joy of joys, I saw that The Dragon has reopened! Hooray! A chalkboard outside it said "Tim and Min welcome you to The Dragon". I also noted that they're doing food from 27th November on.
Anyway, waiting for me at Horsham Pavilions in the Park were Barbara and Anton. We stood around chatting whilst we waited to see if anyone else turned up but no luck, just the three of us. I was leader and I took us out of Horsham on the Brighton Road then turned right onto Kerves Lane. It was trying to rain but not trying too hard and we barely noticed it (I was wearing a full set of waterproofs anyway as I've still not got any mudguards fitted). Hards Hill interrupted our conversation as we puffed our way up it but once we turned right onto Coltstaple Lane, Barbara's story-telling resumed and kept us going down through Southwater and on onto Church Lane - I suspect we were so engrossed that we didn't spot Norman, waving energetically, as he drove past us. Shortly after we encountered the strange sight of a crow just standing at the side of the road - I passed within a foot of him and he was completely unfazed! I later found out that Norman had spotted it in the middle of the road just before he'd seen us and suspected that it had perhaps been hit by a car. Later on Norman had gone back there, but the crow had gone. Perhaps it had got its breath back and managed to fly off?
At the end of Church Lane I took us right towards The Bax Castle but didn't cross the bridge and followed the road as it looped back south. Forking left onto Sincox Lane we once again passed the patch of woodland that has recently become home to several pigs - they loook like Tamworths and possibly Gloucester Old Spots to me (but I'm no expert). Reaching the B road we turned left and sped along south for about a mile before turning right at the next Junction. From here it should have been about 5 miles of pedal-spinning along a fairly smooth B road all the way to the pub. I was just starting to congratulate myself on getting the timing just right when a sign said "Road Ahead Closed". Hmmm, Network Rail were working on the Adversane level crossing. Perhaps we could get across on foot (with our bikes)? We rode up to the crossing but no chance, it was all dug up and we didn't have the right combination of flourescent jackets, safety helmets and safety boots on. So we had to turn back and then head on up to Billingshurst. Here, we picked up the A272 westbound across the roundabout for the A29. In a recent report, the A272 was identified as one of the most dangerous roads in the country. We didn't add to the statistics and had soon turned left off it and arrived safely at the pub - The Limeburners Arms.
The beer was a nicely conditioned London Pride, the food was tasty and my companions were entertaining, so lunchtime flew by. Leaving the warm pub behind, the weather seemed to have got quite a bit colder than earlier and it definitely seemed less bright. I decided on a fairly direct route back which took us up Rowner Road to The Haven where we turned right then right again before a left and a right to get to Slinfold - we tried to freewheel all the way from the top of the hill to the junction in the village but the wind was agin' us. From Slinfold it was an easy ride through Broadbridge Heath and across the golf course to arrive back in Horsham. Saying goodbye to the other two I headed back home via Colgate - it's uphill all the way from Horsham to Colgate, just what you want at the end of a days ride (NOT!) - and arrived home at about 16:00hrs with just about 50 miles on my speedo.
Next weeks ride should be heading north and east from a 10:00hrs start at Horsham Pavilions in the Park. The current plan is to head for lunch at The Dolphin in Betchworth, but I may alter things depending on who turns up and what the weather is like.
Come along, regale us with stories to whisk the miles by.