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!
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.
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.
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