The Crawley 100

Each year we stage a 100 mile ride - as befits the name of our club we start it at either Crawley or Horsham. This year it was a Crawley start. The current route was devised by Mick a few years ago and has had just a couple of minor adjustments since

One hundred miles is a pretty intimidating distance, so in recent weeks I had been talking to fellow club members and trying to encourage participation in the event at a level people were comfortable with - ride part of it, half of it, join us at a refreshment stop, wave as we ride past - whatever suited. I was very pleased to be met by six riders (Pete S, Malcolm, Ken, Anton, Pat and Frank) as I pulled up at Three Bridges Station at the unearthly time of 7 am! Mick had intended coming over by train but due to a cancellation had to rejig and arranged to meet us at Doomsday Green.

So, we set off through Furnace Green and Tilgate to K2 and the first climb of the day, up Pease Pottage Hill. The roundabout was very busy with cars queuing to get into the car boot sale so it was very easy and a lot safer than usual to negotiate. Everyone enjoyed the fast ride down Grouse Road, although Hammerponds Lane was less well received. My timetable said that we should be at the Doomsday Green/A281 crossroads between 07:45 and 08:00 - we were just 5 minutes into the window so, having met up with Pete E, Mick and Michael, we had a couple of minutes for a breather.

The roads were not very busy and the weather was just perfect for cycling as we headed on south wards to Copsale and then eastwards to Maplehurst. Here we continued east before turning south to head towards Littleworth. Pat and Frank turned north instead as they had to head for home. after Littleworth we used the A281 towards Henfield but turned left onto the B2116 before going north to Wineham. After passing the Royal Oak we turned right onto Bob Lane and a mere couple of lanes later we popped over the A23 and pulled up at the breakfast halt - the Bolney Little Chef - bang on schedule, 09:30hrs.

Here's a string of pictures Anton took to illustrate the journey so far:

http://youtu.be/Ep2CwJKiW1g

Breakfast was enjoyable and the service was impressively quick and accurate but we were still a few minutes behind schedule setting off again and the second half of the morning 50 miles had just a few hills in store for us!

The route took us on a couple of very quiet lanes east then north, across the A272 and up to Brook Green before heading east to Whitemans Green and on to Borde Hill. Copyhold Lane took us further east and then it was north to Ardingly. Here are two views of the run down to the reservoir - I tried (but failed) to put them side by side but could only put them one after the other.

http://youtu.be/RYhklX1NTnw

After the stiff climb away from the water, we carried on north and on to Turners Hill. Now it was all downhill or level to lunch and we arrived at Stepneys cafe in Maidenbower exactly at 12:30, right on schedule.

Malcolm was suffering from a bad ankle so headed home - hope it's better now Malcolm. Pete S had to get back home for a family activity so there were just six of us sitting down for lunch. however, Pete E and Michael headed straight back to Horsham (stopping off for a pleasant beer or two at The dragon in Colgate).

This left just four of us to set off for the afternoon fifty miles. The first twenty five miles were fairly level as we used NCN21 and Lonesome Lane up to Reigate and some quiet lanes westwards in the Betchworth and Leigh areas before we passed through Newdigate and arrived at Capel Church for tea.  

The tea and cake was superb but it was time to get going again. Just a few minutes later we were enjoying a very pleasant run down Weare Street but then it was the short hill into Okewoodhill. Rowhook Hill soon followed but thankfully downhill. I was getting tired by now and even though we were in Horsham I was dreading the last few miles back to Crawley. Mick had peeled off as he was close to home, leaving just Anton, Ken and myself to endure Hammerpond Lane and Grouse Road. Looking at the map I reckoned we didn't need to do the Lambs Green loop to get the mileage right but when we finally got to Pease Pottage, Ken decided he needed to go to Handcross and back to ensure his Garmin ticked over to 100 miles. Meanwhile Anton clocked up his 100 just before we got back to Three Bridges Station (he'd put in some extra distance at lunchtime by going to his car and back) and my speedo registered 100 as I cycled home from the station. 

Thanks to everyone for taking part, hope you all recovered quickly (it took me just over a day).

The next ride is on Sunday 3rd August and is a DA Event, the Picnic. We'll start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 and ride to Wisborough Green for the picnic, before returning - it should be a fairly easy 35-40 mile trip. The hardest part will be packing and carrying your picnic - mine will be crammed into my bum bag so will of necessity consist of fairly firm foodstuffs like cheese, chorizo, hard boiled egg etc.   Come on, rise to the challenge, see you on Sunday.

Newbridge Garden Centre

Mick led this ride which started from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 08:30 and was accompanied by Pete E and Michael. Mick had publicised a number of joining points but the first, at The Black Swan in Pease Pottage, had no takers. However, the second had a gaggle of riders eager to join the days cycling excitement - Malcolm, Corinne, Pete, Marian, John C, John V and Bob.

So ten of us turned into Springfield Road and for the second consecutive week the ride took us along NCN228 through Goffs Park. This time however, when we got into Gossops Green we took a right turn onto Overdene Drive and passed my old school before using the Rusper Road to get to Rusper.

From here we carried on to Capel and then took the Ockley road. A left and right over the A29 and then rounding the corner we were confronted by a Road Closed sign. Fortunately the road we wanted was open - Mole Street. This was a really nice lane that I don't think I've ridden before - I have it on video now:

At the southern end of the lane we emerged on Horsham Road in Walliswood. We carried on south and west to Ellens Green before swooping down through Rudgwick, across the A281 and on down to The Haven. Carrying on we turned left onto Stane Street for the one mile straight (actually it's probably less than half a mile) up to Hayes Lane and into Slinfold. This was the home straight now and just a few minutes later we were at the Garden Centre for lunch.

Mick had ensured they knew we were coming so that we would definitely have a table but as it happens, the cafe is so big that we had acres of space and split into an inside group and an outside group while we ate our lunches.

The  journey back took us through Broadbridge Heath up to Warnham and across to Warnham Station. We used the gated crossing rather than the subway (that saved Pete and Marian having to hoist their tandem on their shoulders).

Now our noble band split with Horsham trio turning right and the Crawley contingent turning left and up the hill past the Langhurst tip (or "recycling facility" as it is no doubt now restyled). We then took Green Lane followed by Wimland Road and Wimlands Lane to get to the Faygate Road crossroads. Here the two Johns headed north to stay on the tarmac roads and use Lambs Green to get back to Crawley whilst the rest of us were back on NCN228 and heading along the farm track atop the ridge.

After a gate the track becomes a pressed stone/mud track flashing through the woodland and down to the railway crossing into Bewbush. Crossing the tail of Ifield Mill Pond we were back in Gossops Green and heading through my childhood stomping ground back to Goffs Park. Corinne left us here, then Malcolm leaving just Pete, Marian and myself to negotiate the backstreets of Southgate and head into Furnace Green where the final split occurred and I arrived back home - ready for yet another family do!

Our next ride is our annual 100 mile ride. This year, it's our Crawley version.  It will start from Three Bridges Station at 07:00 hrs and head in an anticlockwise loop to the west and south, passing over the Doomsday Green A 281 Crossroads near Hilliers Garden Centre at about 07:45-08:00hrs. The breakfast stop will be at the Bolney Little Chef at about 09:30 hrs. From there it will head east and north to get to the lunch stop, Stepneys Cafe in Maidenbower Pavilion, Crawley, at about 12:30hrs. That will be the first 50 miles done.  The second part will start from Stepneys at about 13:30 and be another anticlockwise loop, this time to the north going through Gatwick and up to the Leigh and Brockham area before stopping for afternoon tea at Capel Church at about 16:00hrs. The final 25 miles will head west and south (taking in Weare Street) before turning east and heading back to finish at Three Bridges Station at about 19:00hrs.

Come along, even if you just want to do part of the route or share a refreshment stop. There are some wonderful lanes on the route and company always makes the riding easier.

Here are the Morning and Afternoon route maps (click on them to see full-size):

Combination Ride

The second Sunday of the month is the day of our regular Beginners Ride..this month it would start from Horsham.

At the last Runs List meeting we decided we would add a Crawley start to this ride and use it as an opportunity to get to know the Crawley to Horsham cycle route (NCN228) before meeting up with the Horsham bods and going for an easy ride as one group. 

Six of us were gathered at the Three Bridges Station start - Gordon, Pete E, Val, Malcolm, Anton and me, Bob. Then my phone rang, it was Ros and she would be with us in ten minutes. We waited, Ros turned up and off we went.

Gordon took the lead - as a Sustrans Ranger, he knows all the local cycle networks. He took us into Crawley town centre and then through Goffs Park and Gossops Green to Ifield Mill Pond. Here we crossed into Bewbush and then over the railway for the gentle climb up and onto Kilnwood Lane.  Next we used Wimlands Lane and enjoyed a fast descent to the Frog and Nightgown (sadly now closed). Just before the railway crossing we took the bridleway on the right which took us across to the Rusper Road. A  bit of zig-zagging through the North Heath area of Horsham and soon we were at Horsham Pavilions in the Park HPP), ready to meet up with anyone else coming on the ride.

This film shows the route so far:

At HPP we stopped for a coffee and were joined by Sandra and Mick. Mick had actually ridden all the way to Three Bridges for the start but missed us and had been on our tails all the way back to Horsham.

We left Horsham using the Golf Course route then headed through Broadbridge Heath to Tesco's via the underpass. From here we headed south towards Itchingfield on the Bridleway but then across to Christs Hospital to get onto the Downs Link and then to the Bax Castle for lunch.

Here's another video for that bit:

After a nice break, we remounted for the return trip. Pete led us on along the Downs Link to Southwater and then we dared ourselves to attempt a route through the middle of Southwater again - last time we failed miserably and were spat out back on the Old Worthing Road, this time we got it dead right and popped out on Southwater Street - exactly where we wanted. Then it was through Newfoundout and onto the Pedlars Way for a quick blast down through the woods and onto the mean streets of Horsham.

From the Bax Castle back to Horsham

Arriving back at HPP, we said our goodbyes and each trotted off home. I accompanied Val and Malcolm out along then A264 as far as Faygate and then left them to head for Lambs Green and on to a family party.....


Our next ride, on Sunday 20th July will be led by Mick and leave Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 08:30. It will head to Newbridge Garden Centre for lunch but pass by the Black Swan in Pease Pottage at 09:15, the Railway Inn in Crawley at 09:30 and Rusper Village at 10:00.  It will be a fairly easy, all road ride of between 25 and 40 miles (depending on where you join/leave it).  See you (somewhere) there..

The Two Weald Ride

First Sunday in July?  It must be The Two Weald Ride.

After the glorious weather of the previous weekend, I'd rather forgotten about rain, so the deluge we had on Saturday took me by surprise. Waking up on Sunday morning to thick cloud and a dampness in the air, I was initially worried that we wouldn't have many takers for this, the third DA Event of the year. However, as I travelled down to Wisborough Green I noticed that the roads were all bone-dry and that the cloud was noticeably thinning. Pulling up, I saw Frank and Pat just manoeuvring their camper van into place and my fellow H&C committee members, Pete and Barbara getting their bikes ready.




















Within minutes, several others had arrived and we had a group of ten riders set off to ride the North loop. We left Frank at the camper van complete with home made cakes and tea/coffee, ready to welcome any further entrants. By 11:00, four others had turned up and had all set out on the North loop (although one of them, Ray, had already completed the East loop having set off independently at 09:00).

Here's a 3.8 minute video of the North loop:

After a fairly quick lunch, and a natter with all the other riders, four of us set off on the South loop, followed about half an hour later by another couple - one of whom was Ray, hard man of the day, clocking up his third loop.

Here's a 3.9 minute video of the South loop:

We arrived back at Wisborough Green just after 16:00hrs and a quick check revealed that there were just two riders still out - Richard and Ray.  They pulled up at 16:30 and after a last cup of tea and slice of cake it was time for us to pack up. We presented Pat and Frank with a bottle of wine as a thankyou for using their camper van as our base and then it was time to head home.

Our next ride is a "combination" ride.  There will be an 09:30 start from Three Bridges Station which will use the Crawley Horsham Cycle Route from Crawley to Horsham (some non-tarmac sections). Then, at 11:00 hrs we will all join up with a Beginners Ride from Horsham Pavilions in the Park.  This will take us on an easy loop out to The Bax Castle for a brief refreshment stop and then continue back to Horsham. There will be some non-tarmac sections in this ride, but it will be suitable for all but the most delicate of bikes.

Downs Link to Brighton

Back in February, we got together to create the runs list for the 2nd quarter of the year and Val (our "keep it flat and not too long" expert) suggested a ride out on the Downs Link to Shoreham and then along the coast to Brighton. Everyone at the meeting seemed quite keen, so in it went: a ride leader was determined, a route and itinerary worked out and the details published in The Pedaller (as well as  our august webpages).  No going back then even though it was pouring with rain on the Saturday and 8 o'clock seemed way too early and cold to be getting on a bike. Nervous communications on Saturday evening suggested maybe four people would turn up but, lo and behold, there were 7 of us at Horsham Pavilions in the Park (Anton, Barbara, Bob, Ken, Malcolm, Pete E and Val) and we picked up 2 more from Horsham station (Corinne and John V).

Anton was ride leader but he let Pete E guide us through Horsham and out on Pedlars Way. In spite of Saturdays downpour, the trail wasn't muddy, just slightly soft, and the lanes were nice and dry. At Copsale we noted that the sign for The Bridge Inn has been kept but now reads "Bridge House" - another pub gone. How many old King and Barnes pubs have disappeared since the Hall and Woodhouse takeover?

The clouds were starting to break up now and the temperature was just about perfect for cycling with just a hint of a tailwind. The Downs Link surface was about as good as it could be although a feature of todays ride would be how much the vegetation was encroaching on each side of the path.

It didn't take us long to get to Partridge Green, then shortly after we noticed that they've put a surfaced path across the grassy field - previously there was(were?) just a couple of muddy grooves to follow, now there is a nice, raised pressed stone path.

The following video starts from the gate entering the field and includes a lot of the Downs Link to Shoreham (at four times normal speed).....

10 minutes of video

In Shoreham we emerged on the roundabout in the town centre and used the A259 for a while before turning right to pick up NCN 2 and cross the lock gates for the east harbour. The cycle path was really quite busy and by now the sun was blazing above.

We stopped for a quick loo break before continuing on along NCN 2. Shoreham Harbour amy not be the most picturesque (or sweet smelling), but I enjoyed riding through it and the road wasn't too busy.  At Hove Lagoon, NCN 2 becomes a shared use path on the south side of the A259 and is a really fast and pleasant way to travel along the front - so long as you take account of other users and pedestrians. The further east we went, the busier the seafront became and so, when we got to Hove lawns cafe we decided to stop for lunch as we were worried that eating places may be too busy for 9 of us if travelled further on and closer to midday....

We pushed a couple of tables together, made our orders and were eating and drinking within just a few minutes. It was very pleasant sitting there in the sun I can tell you, although I had to put my neck scarf over my head to ensure I didn't start to look like a swan vestas match!!

After about an hour or so, we decided to move on and our little party shed three of our number - Corinne was heading into Brighton of an afternoon of being a tourist, Barbara and John headed to Brighton station for a train back north and the rest of us headed back the way we came (I did think of suggesting an alternate route involving a climb up to Devils Dyke, a fast off road descent and a few miles of upsy downsy small lanes as far as Henfield, but thought better of it).

At some point there will be a video here showing various parts of the return journey - but it's not ready yet.....


We retraced our steps to Shoreham harbour and over the lock gates but then we followed the proper NCN 2 routing over the A259 and along some quiet back streets before taking the signposted cut through to the Downs Link which we rejoined by the Red Lion. The ride back was pleasant with the sun on our backs although the headwind and ever so slight upward trend did make it a bit harder than the morning. That seemed like a very good excuse too stop at the Cat and Canary in Henfield for lashings of ginger beer (well actually most of us had cider).

Partridge Green and West Grinstead were soon behind us and at Copsale we decided to continue to Southwater Country Park where we had another stop - might as well have an ice cream this time :-)

We tried to use Normans "back streets of Southwater" route but missed one turn and ended up on the Old Horsham Road for about a mile before heading across to Newfoundout and then back on Pedlars Way into Horsham and the end of the ride.

The end of the ride for all of us that is apart from Ken who was todays Hard Man. He'd ridden over from Crawley first thing and now proceeded to ride back. He was so quick that my chauffeur only caught up with Ken when he was but a couple of hundred yards from home!

Thanks everyone for taking part - judging by your chatter and smiling faces, I reckon you all enjoyed the ride. Well done Val for suggesting it in the first place (and well done for completing what was nearly a 60 mile ride).

Next week sees the next DA Event. This is the second of the DA Events that we organise and is The Two Weald Ride. Based at Wisborough Green (TQ048259), riders will be there from all three Member Groups within the West Sussex CTC and there will be a choice of four different 25 mile loops available to ride. Your committee will be there with refreshments between 10:00 hrs and 16:00hrs (thanks again to Frank and Pat with their camper van) - bring along home made cakes or biscuits for us to sell to raise funds for our club.

The route instructions and the overview map are available here , so if you want to get started before we've set up the refreshments, be your own boss. Why not try and do all four loops in one day??

Crawley Family Bike Ride 2014

As part of National Bike Week, Crawley Borough Council organises a number of Bike events. We help out with the Crawley Family Bike Ride by acting as ride leaders and marshals.

I arrived at Oriel School nice and early, just in time to lend a hand with the setting up of the registration table. I added some literature about the club to the table - a list of rides we have coming up, the club business card and even some business cards for a certain Bicycle Repair Man! Some Community Police Officers were also there offering a bike marking/registration service. Other freebies on offer were various hi-viz stickers, pens, bike accessories and even some bike lights.

As ten o'clock approached more and more people turned up and in the end we had some 52 people posing for the group photo (including the 4 PCSO's). There were 8 Horsham and Crawley members and we were all wearing hi-viz yellow tops, so Pete could lead the ride off with some confidence that everyone would be safely monitored by an experienced rider.

We followed the route of NCN20 as it went under the railway into Furnace Green, then through Furnace Green and Tilgate to the K2 Leisure Centre. We had let the ride split into two through Tilgate in order to present less of a hold up to any motor traffic, but we regrouped near the football stadium to tackle the climb up through Broadfield. NCN20 emerges from a small path onto the Marie Vesco Traffic lights that allowed us to safely cross onto the Old Brighton Road at Pease Pottage. A right then a left outside the Black Swan took us past where The Grapes used to be and up to Woodhurst. Here we used the footbridge to safely cross over the busy A23 and were then, once again joinedon the Old Brighton Road at Tilgate Forest Row. From here we made good time on the broad road and were soon at Handcross which was as congested as ever. We had safety in numbers and most of the motorists gave us plenty of leeway so we soon pulled up at Nymans Gardens (National Trust). All the riders had free entry to the gardens but most headed straight to the cafe and a welcome drink and bite to eat.

After about an hour and a half we regrouped for the journey back. The sun was still shining strongly but was now on our backs and pretty soon we were back at the Woodhurst footbridge. At this point I escorted three riders back to the Marie Vescoe crossing and Broadfield whilst the rest of the group headed for Parish Lane and the alternate NCN20 route down through the forest. Having seen my charges safely to Broadfield, I raced across to Parish Lane and caught up with the main body as they kicked up the dust on the run down through the forest. Then it was across the M23 on the eastern bridge, down through the golf course and back on the tarmac in Marion Road before popping under the railway and arriving back at Oriel School. Everyone was wearing big smiles on their faces so I judge the event to have been a success.

Here's a bike cam view from my position at the back of the ride:
Family Bike Ride 2014

Hopefully we'll be able to run this event again next year, but in the meantime, check out the Horsham and Crawley CTC Runs List  and see if there are any of our rides that you fancy.

Our next ride on Sunday 29th June is quite long at a minimum of about 30 miles (with a train return) or about 60 if ridden all the way. It will start outside Horsham Pavilions in the Park (Horsham Swimming Pool) at 08:00 hrs (sorry about the early start - but hey, the sun will have been up for about 4 hours by then!) and take us to Copsale via Pedlars Way and then all the way to Shoreham on The Downs Link. From there we will head along the coast  to Brighton and Hove for a lunchtime stop.  If that is far enough, head for the station and catch a train back up to Three Bridges and then Horsham. Otherwise, the afternoon will retrace our outward route. As almost all the route will be off road, a strong touring bike, a hybrid bike or a mountain bike is recommended.  It will be a long day, but I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Our most Family Friendly rides tend to be on the second Sunday of every month (yes, we ride all year round), so look them up on our runs list.

Loxwood

London to Brighton, Father’s day and perhaps the World Cup reduced our starters to 3.  Michael, Peter and Barbara.  We left Horsham by Pondtail road and headed up to Capel.  After Ockley station we headed down Weare Street and up to Oakwoood Hill.  We said cheerio to Barbara and made our way through Walliswood to Ewhurst.  By now I was developing a new style for “leading” rides.  Peter was given the next waypoint and would soon be 100 yards ahead of me but going in the right direction.  The new roundabout on the edge of Cranleigh, complete with signs directing cyclists off the road, caused some confusion.  I lost sight of Peter after this but he was waiting for me at the junction in Cranleigh.  We decided on a coffee break at Costa in the centre of Cranleigh.  After some discussion about the Canal we chose to head south from Cranleigh to Alfold Crossways.  This meant braving a short section of the A281 and passing south of the airfield to Dunsfold.  We headed through Plaistow to the Osbourne Arms in Loxwood arriving about 12.30.  The pub was busy (no sandwiches on Sunday) but we had our food served in about 20 minutes.  We headed back to my house in Rudgwick for a cup of tea. Peter was directed onto the Downs Link to find his way home.

Next Week (June 22nd) is the Crawley Family Bike Ride:  Oriel School to Nymans Gardens and back as part of Bike Week.  This ride is open to the general public and CTC members will be helping to marshall everyone safely along the route. Please arrive at Oriel School (in Maidenbower, Crawley) at about 09:45.