Second Sunday of the month, Beginners Ride, good turnout.
In spite (or because?) of the ride being advertised as "Tracks and Trails" there were eight of us milling around at Three Bridges Station waiting for Gordon to lead us away. Gordon, Jacqui, Corinne, Anne, Christine, Michael, Kevin and myself. Once everyone was happy that they were on the right bike and that their saddle was correctly adjusted, we set off.
Firstly we used the Worth Way, encountering a couple of large horses on the way. Gordon worked us over to Worth Abbey and then we took the bridleway past Whiteways Lodge before crossing the Balcombe Road and blasting down through the woods to the railway bridge and the end of Parish Lane. Here we turned right into Tilgate Forest and enjoyed some lumpy singletrack whilst reminiscing about Gordon's pile-driver crash the other year! Crossing over the M23, we sped down through the golf course before crossing a couple of fairways and reaching the clubhouse. From here we ran up to and along the dam before heading west almost to K2.
Now Gordon lead us into the woods again and we enjoyed some singletrack all the way up to the M23 which we crossed on the second bridge. More singletrack and firetrack fun ensued before we emerged on Parish Lane. We headed east on the tarmac for a short while before heading south then west through a couple of large fields and into some woodland around the back fence of Billy Bridges scrapyard.
Next we crossed the A23 on the bridge and headed into Pease Pottage. From here it was but a short ride to Gordon and Jacqui's for lunch.
Having drunk all their champagne and ate all their food, everyone headed off home. I led Anne, Corinne and Kevin back into Tilgate Forest to enjoy some more singletrack before stopping at the mansion for a breather. Corinne headed off home from here, leaving the rest of us to head back across the dam and past the clubhouse into Furnace Green.
Back home, I'd only clocked up 15 miles but I'd enjoyed them all.
Our next ride is a big one (if you want it to be). It's the Horsham 100 and starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 07:00hrs. There will be a tea-stop at 09:30 in the Old Barn Garden Centre at Dial Post just off the A24. Lunch will be 12:30 at The Conservatory Café in Horsham Park. Afternoon tea will be 16:00hrs at Capel church. with a target finish sometime near 19:00hrs back at Horsham.
If you don't want to do 100 miles, why not just do the morning or afternoon loop? Alternatively, why not ride a direct route to/from one of the tea stops. I believe a couple of folk are planning on driving to the Old Barn, riding back to Horsham (then driving back to the Old Barn to pick up the first car).
Who knows, the weather might actually be good on Sunday!!
Showing posts with label NCN21. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCN21. Show all posts
Sunday, 12 July 2015
Saturday, 20 June 2015
Crawley Family Bike Ride
As ride leader I was pretty nervous about this event - an unknown number of riders with an unknown range of cycling abilities and an unknown number of helpers to marshal it. I'd tried to think of the potential problems and how I was going to deal with them but in spite of the preparation, I was still worried as we gathered outside Oriel School. However, the weather conspired against a large turnout by raining at just the right time to discourage potential riders. One thing I hadn't planned for was that one of the cyclists was on a very low-slung hand-cycle, but after a few minutes thought and discussion with him, we'd identified the potential hazard points and had a plan to deal with them.
The numbers slowly built up to 21 until it was time to go. I gave a quick introduction and description of the route, Gordon kindly did the safety briefing and then it was time for a group photo before we headed off through Maidenbower and up to The Worth Way. With the best part of fifty years age difference in the group, I took it nice and steady with frequent stops to regroup and point out things of interest. I had plenty of experienced riders to help marshal us and keep us safe - we even tried a little bit of bicycle maintenance at times as we tried to cure a squeaky disc brake on one of the bikes.
The rain had given up before we set off and the route was really quite dry, so we made steady progress with the marshals doing a good job at the few road crossings we had to negotiate. On the roads of Crawley Down we kept together fairly well and after a breather by the pond, we all carried on towards East Grinstead.
I was hoping we would arrive in time to see a steam engine run in over the viaduct but we just missed it and only the first few riders managed to see the loco whilst it was in the station. We parked the bikes in the car park where the old High-level railway station was and then walked down, past the modern station and on to the Bluebell Railway Station. Here most of the riders enjoyed refreshments in the café located in an old railway carriage. There was plenty of happy conversation and enthusiasm amongst the riders. Thanks must go to Malcolm and Anton for staying with the bikes and ensuring they would be safely there for our return trip.
Heading back from East Grinstead meant that the route was slightly downhill and everyone was enjoying themselves and travelling at a pretty good pace. We were in several small groups, each of which was chatting as they rode along and all was right with the world.
Then we had the only incident of the day as an experienced rider (no names) managed a slowmotion fall. A quick check revealed no injury - not even a scratch or bruise and it certainly amused the rest of us!
Arriving back at Oriel School I accounted for everybody and wished them all a safe journey home before heading home myself to a nice relaxing cup of tea and slice of cake.
The rain had given up before we set off and the route was really quite dry, so we made steady progress with the marshals doing a good job at the few road crossings we had to negotiate. On the roads of Crawley Down we kept together fairly well and after a breather by the pond, we all carried on towards East Grinstead.
I was hoping we would arrive in time to see a steam engine run in over the viaduct but we just missed it and only the first few riders managed to see the loco whilst it was in the station. We parked the bikes in the car park where the old High-level railway station was and then walked down, past the modern station and on to the Bluebell Railway Station. Here most of the riders enjoyed refreshments in the café located in an old railway carriage. There was plenty of happy conversation and enthusiasm amongst the riders. Thanks must go to Malcolm and Anton for staying with the bikes and ensuring they would be safely there for our return trip.
Heading back from East Grinstead meant that the route was slightly downhill and everyone was enjoying themselves and travelling at a pretty good pace. We were in several small groups, each of which was chatting as they rode along and all was right with the world.
Then we had the only incident of the day as an experienced rider (no names) managed a slowmotion fall. A quick check revealed no injury - not even a scratch or bruise and it certainly amused the rest of us!
Arriving back at Oriel School I accounted for everybody and wished them all a safe journey home before heading home myself to a nice relaxing cup of tea and slice of cake.
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Chiddingstone Castle
Worth way to East Grinstead.
Coffee at Ros's.
A very enjoyable route on some lovely lanes.
A smashing lunch at Chiddingstone.
A pleasant return ride.
Coffee at Ros's.
A very enjoyable route on some lovely lanes.
A smashing lunch at Chiddingstone.
A pleasant return ride.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
Beginners Ride
This month I decided to use the Beginners Ride as a run-through for the Family Bike Ride along the Worth Way that we are running as part of National Bike Week in June. Seventeen riders turned up at the start although one was on foot and just wishing us well, two were on close tolerance road bikes and didn't want to risk the Worth Way, and two others popped home and came back on their offroad bikes.
Firstly I took us to Oriel School to determine how best to negotiate the roads/roundabout there and then we made our way up through the woods to join the Worth Way at the Bower. It was all working well and we'd soon negotiated Church Road, passed Worth Church and crossed over the M23. A quick regroup at the farm and we carried on through the woods, heavy with the scent of bluebells, until we came to the road crossing by Keepers Cottage. Here a couple of members marshalled us safely across and then it was on past Rowfant and along the long straight to Crawley Down. This is the next potentially awkward bit but once again my fellow club members kept us together and on the right route.
We stopped by the pond for a breather and to check out it's suitability as a rest point, before carrying on and engaging the slight climb that the rest of the rout does up to East Grinstead. Here we all walked over the footbridge and down to the Bluebell Railway cafe. It's only a small light refreshments operation but coped very well with our numbers and we think will be able to cope (when combined with the Costa Cafe over the road) with the family bike ride - especially as we intend getting everyone to leave their bikes in the top carpark and we will provide a couple of bods to look after them there.
After enjoying our refreshments, a chat and the sights, sounds and smell of a steam engine arriving and departing, we headed back whence we came. The journey back was enjoyable (and slightly easier because it's slightly downhill) although Javier had a puncture just after the farm. Pete and Marian helped sort it out and, having all regrouped by Worth Church, we started to head off home in our various directions.
The group I was with headed back past Oriel School and then up through Tilgate Park over the golf course and along a great woodland track to the top of Pease Pottage Hill. From here it was just a short ride to Gordon and Jacqui's for lunch and the Runslist Meeting.
The draft Q3 runslist has just been emailed to members. Once I've dealt with the responses and finalised it, it will republished on our website.
Next weeks ride is a Horsham Park Pavilions start at 09:00 hrs. Mick has prepared a lovely ride called The Three Counties Ride. It's only 35 miles and I believe is rated as Medium (although Mick tells me that he can add a 22 mile Hard option for the afternoon if you really want!! Lunch will be at the Strawberry Fields Cafe on the Old Horsham Road near Roffey.
Firstly I took us to Oriel School to determine how best to negotiate the roads/roundabout there and then we made our way up through the woods to join the Worth Way at the Bower. It was all working well and we'd soon negotiated Church Road, passed Worth Church and crossed over the M23. A quick regroup at the farm and we carried on through the woods, heavy with the scent of bluebells, until we came to the road crossing by Keepers Cottage. Here a couple of members marshalled us safely across and then it was on past Rowfant and along the long straight to Crawley Down. This is the next potentially awkward bit but once again my fellow club members kept us together and on the right route.
We stopped by the pond for a breather and to check out it's suitability as a rest point, before carrying on and engaging the slight climb that the rest of the rout does up to East Grinstead. Here we all walked over the footbridge and down to the Bluebell Railway cafe. It's only a small light refreshments operation but coped very well with our numbers and we think will be able to cope (when combined with the Costa Cafe over the road) with the family bike ride - especially as we intend getting everyone to leave their bikes in the top carpark and we will provide a couple of bods to look after them there.
After enjoying our refreshments, a chat and the sights, sounds and smell of a steam engine arriving and departing, we headed back whence we came. The journey back was enjoyable (and slightly easier because it's slightly downhill) although Javier had a puncture just after the farm. Pete and Marian helped sort it out and, having all regrouped by Worth Church, we started to head off home in our various directions.
The group I was with headed back past Oriel School and then up through Tilgate Park over the golf course and along a great woodland track to the top of Pease Pottage Hill. From here it was just a short ride to Gordon and Jacqui's for lunch and the Runslist Meeting.
The draft Q3 runslist has just been emailed to members. Once I've dealt with the responses and finalised it, it will republished on our website.
Next weeks ride is a Horsham Park Pavilions start at 09:00 hrs. Mick has prepared a lovely ride called The Three Counties Ride. It's only 35 miles and I believe is rated as Medium (although Mick tells me that he can add a 22 mile Hard option for the afternoon if you really want!! Lunch will be at the Strawberry Fields Cafe on the Old Horsham Road near Roffey.
Saturday, 2 May 2015
Fun and frolics at Deers Leap
May bank holiday weekend - three days off work, let's have a couple of days out on our bikes. I thought a bit of off-road fun at Dears Leap would appeal to a few people. In the end there were just four of us - Corinne, Carol, Narinder and myself, Bob.
Deers Leap is basically an area of fields and woodland with farm tracks around the fields and single track through the woodland. The single track isn't difficult as it winds through the various patches of woodland but it does help improve ones bike handling skills. There are rooty sections, ups and downs and rickety wooden bridges to negotiate.
Facial expressions ranged from worried frowns, through tongue out concentration to big broad smiles as we twisted and turned through the woodland trails.
Having explored the southern section of the park, we headed back to the cafe for some refreshments and a chat about what we'd been doing and what we were learning. Then it was back out and climbing through the woods to tackle the northern section of the park.
Here there were some new sections of track and a couple of nice swoopy descents before we headed through the woods again, redid the first couple of southern tracks and finally did the first one in reverse before we called it a day and headed back to the cafe. Carol and Narinder went off to visit Standen whilst Corinne and I decided another snack at the cafe was in order.
Getting back home from Deers Leap is quite easy - I just road north, over the crossroads into Imberhorne Lane and then picked up the Worth Way all the way back to Crawley.
We may schedule another Deers Leap visit sometime soon - keep you eyes peeled, or better still let me know date(s) that suit you.
Facial expressions ranged from worried frowns, through tongue out concentration to big broad smiles as we twisted and turned through the woodland trails.
Having explored the southern section of the park, we headed back to the cafe for some refreshments and a chat about what we'd been doing and what we were learning. Then it was back out and climbing through the woods to tackle the northern section of the park.
Here there were some new sections of track and a couple of nice swoopy descents before we headed through the woods again, redid the first couple of southern tracks and finally did the first one in reverse before we called it a day and headed back to the cafe. Carol and Narinder went off to visit Standen whilst Corinne and I decided another snack at the cafe was in order.
Getting back home from Deers Leap is quite easy - I just road north, over the crossroads into Imberhorne Lane and then picked up the Worth Way all the way back to Crawley.
We may schedule another Deers Leap visit sometime soon - keep you eyes peeled, or better still let me know date(s) that suit you.
Sunday, 8 February 2015
Redhill Aerodrome
The second Sunday of the month is the day we have our Beginners Rides. We don't have an absolutely predefined route laid down because we tailor the ride to whoever turns up (how dynamic is that?).
The weather was still cold but not brutally so and there was no ice or dampness about. The mainly blue sky was encouraging as was the lack of any strong wind, so I wasn't surprised to find that there were ten cyclists waiting at the start when I arrived. A warm welcome to Debbie who turned out to ride with us for the first time and hello everyone else: Gordon, Jacqui, Frank, Eric, Seb, Jenny, Norman, John V and Malcolm.
A quick chat and Gordon decided to lead us out on the Worth Way then head down Old Hollow and into Copthorne. The Worth Way was pretty good and fairly dry but full of horses - well relatively so in that we saw / met up with six of them! Everyone was in good spirits, due no doubt to the mainly clear sky, and we were soon going over the traffic light controlled crossroads. Taking the next left, we were back on quiet lanes again and were riding in groups all having a good chat - we're definitely a sociable group. At Smallfield we headed west, crossed the motorway and then turned north onto Hathersham Lane. The linear "trench" pothole on this lane seems to be getting deeper and I would warn any cyclist using the lane to be very careful.
I'd told the lead riders that we would take the second road on the right but wished I'd opted for the first right instead. The second right was Picketts Lane - I'd forgotten about the hill it contains!
Having regrouped at the top, we carried on, over Axes Lane, past the famous hidden house ( see http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/honeycrock-farm-hidden-house-appeal-8056972 ) and then turned right onto Kings Mill Lane which affords views of the Old Crawley Clock which currently languishes in a farmyard not far from East Surrey Hospital as opposed to its rightful place in Crawley town centre:
Pulling up at the aerodrome, we piled into the Chef on the Road café and ordered our refreshments. Some of us sat inside to warm up, some of us sat outside to avoid overheating!!
There wasn't much activity going on - probably about 30-40 customers in the café, one light aircraft taking off, one helicopter taking off and a few seagulls lazily flapping around. But it was pleasant enough sitting in the wintry sunshine discussing the pros and cons of an extra runway at Gatwick......
For the route back we just headed back towards Masons Bridge Road where, as we waited to join it, Norman managed to miss his footing and fall on Seb, knocking him into a street sign. A quick check, everyone was OK and off we set once more. At the bottom of Picketts Lane we took the NCN21 route along the badly potholed lane into Horley. We all used the subway, carefully dismounting to do so, and made our way through the town centre and onwards to Gatwick Airport. After negotiating a couple of the backroads in the industrial estate and passing through the tunnel into Northgate, we said goodbye to Debbie as she headed home to Three Bridges and the rest of us headed into Crawley Town Centre. Gordon then lead us up the High Street, up Brighton Road and Halfway up Pease Pottage Hill before crossing over and entering Broadfield through a gap in the fence. A couple of minutes later we pulled up at Gordon and Jacqui's House where we enjoyed some delicious food and hammered out the runslist for Q2.
Our next ride is on Sunday 15th February and starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs. Anton will be leading us on a 31 mile loop to the south of Horsham with a lunch stop at either The fountain in Ashurst or The Partridge at Partridge Green. We expect to arrive back in Horsham some time in mid afternoon - probably 15:00 -15:30.
The weather was still cold but not brutally so and there was no ice or dampness about. The mainly blue sky was encouraging as was the lack of any strong wind, so I wasn't surprised to find that there were ten cyclists waiting at the start when I arrived. A warm welcome to Debbie who turned out to ride with us for the first time and hello everyone else: Gordon, Jacqui, Frank, Eric, Seb, Jenny, Norman, John V and Malcolm.
A quick chat and Gordon decided to lead us out on the Worth Way then head down Old Hollow and into Copthorne. The Worth Way was pretty good and fairly dry but full of horses - well relatively so in that we saw / met up with six of them! Everyone was in good spirits, due no doubt to the mainly clear sky, and we were soon going over the traffic light controlled crossroads. Taking the next left, we were back on quiet lanes again and were riding in groups all having a good chat - we're definitely a sociable group. At Smallfield we headed west, crossed the motorway and then turned north onto Hathersham Lane. The linear "trench" pothole on this lane seems to be getting deeper and I would warn any cyclist using the lane to be very careful.
I'd told the lead riders that we would take the second road on the right but wished I'd opted for the first right instead. The second right was Picketts Lane - I'd forgotten about the hill it contains!
Having regrouped at the top, we carried on, over Axes Lane, past the famous hidden house ( see http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/honeycrock-farm-hidden-house-appeal-8056972 ) and then turned right onto Kings Mill Lane which affords views of the Old Crawley Clock which currently languishes in a farmyard not far from East Surrey Hospital as opposed to its rightful place in Crawley town centre:
Pulling up at the aerodrome, we piled into the Chef on the Road café and ordered our refreshments. Some of us sat inside to warm up, some of us sat outside to avoid overheating!!
There wasn't much activity going on - probably about 30-40 customers in the café, one light aircraft taking off, one helicopter taking off and a few seagulls lazily flapping around. But it was pleasant enough sitting in the wintry sunshine discussing the pros and cons of an extra runway at Gatwick......
For the route back we just headed back towards Masons Bridge Road where, as we waited to join it, Norman managed to miss his footing and fall on Seb, knocking him into a street sign. A quick check, everyone was OK and off we set once more. At the bottom of Picketts Lane we took the NCN21 route along the badly potholed lane into Horley. We all used the subway, carefully dismounting to do so, and made our way through the town centre and onwards to Gatwick Airport. After negotiating a couple of the backroads in the industrial estate and passing through the tunnel into Northgate, we said goodbye to Debbie as she headed home to Three Bridges and the rest of us headed into Crawley Town Centre. Gordon then lead us up the High Street, up Brighton Road and Halfway up Pease Pottage Hill before crossing over and entering Broadfield through a gap in the fence. A couple of minutes later we pulled up at Gordon and Jacqui's House where we enjoyed some delicious food and hammered out the runslist for Q2.
Our next ride is on Sunday 15th February and starts from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs. Anton will be leading us on a 31 mile loop to the south of Horsham with a lunch stop at either The fountain in Ashurst or The Partridge at Partridge Green. We expect to arrive back in Horsham some time in mid afternoon - probably 15:00 -15:30.
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Muddy ride with Gordon
Want a complete cycling experience? Come out on one of Gordons Rides.
The day started with breakfast at Gordon and Jacqui's before an enjoyable warm up ride along Parish Lane and down through Tilgate Forest. Gordon, Ken and I did a bit of exploring through Furnace green and sued the northern tunnel under the railway - recently extended and refurbished with excellent lighting and a good smooth surface, this tunnel offers an excellent and (in some instances) shorter alternate link between NCN20 and NCN21. However, we were on our way to Three Bridges Station so we turned left onto Billington Drive and rode past a long stream of waiting traffic to arrive at the station for 10:00hrs. Here we were joined by Michael and Malcolm, then Mike, an acquaintance of mine.
Gordon led us back up Billington Drive and onto the Worth Way. Conditions were muddy but grip was good and I soon had a splattering of mud over me. Someone suggested that the Irish called the weather conditions "Soft" - an excellent description - the clouds were indistinguishable from each other and seemed to reach the ground without quite making things foggy, the vegetation looked somehow soft - even the branches and with big fat knobblies on my bike, the ride was pretty plush as well.
We were riding at an easy pace and I was having fun along the way, practicing hops, taking detours up banks. At Crawley Down we took the slope up to the B road and then used it up to Turners Hill. Never an easy hill, I realized that none of the cyclists waiting near the top had actually ridden the entire hill (all the way to the crossroads) - so I told them so, and claimed King of the Hill for myself!!
From Turners Hill we headed west along the ridge through Worth Abbey to Back Lane. Here Mick decided to head for home (via the Cowdray Arms I think), having assured me he knew where he was and how to get back to Crawley.
Meanwhile the rest of us enjoyed the long glide south and west before the short, sharp climb into Balcombe. Gordon had recce'd the route a few days earlier and was in the process of telling us about some ice he'd encountered when, as I shot down a tiny lane he'd led us to, I realised there was ice all the way across it!! Not a problem though, I didn't need to turn or lean or brake or accelerate and just floated uneventfully across it, shouting out a warning as I did so.
Other features of this lane were: (i) the smooth, new tarmac (ii) a conversation with some chickens and (iii) a couple of hills (granny gear for the use of).
A right turn onto a busier road took us up to Cuckfield where we headed West then north to Staplefield and a quick visit to The Victory. What a great pub - warm welcome, warm fire, good beer (we went for the Wilmington Brewery Long Man) and good food. Actually, the good food observation was based on previous visits, as today we were going to lunch at Gordons, so it was time to get back out in the cold.
From Staplefield we carried on west, under the revamped A23, to Slaugham and thence the bridleway up to Handcross. As we were starting to feel hungry, we took the shortest route back to Gordons where he and Jacqui treated us to a delicious lunch. An hour or so later, after some good discussions about life, the universe and the CTC, we all headed off home.
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Park Pavilions at 10:00hrs and will be a fairly easy loop to the south of Horsham led by me - unless anyone else wants to volunteer? - with a lunch stop at The Bax Castle.
The day started with breakfast at Gordon and Jacqui's before an enjoyable warm up ride along Parish Lane and down through Tilgate Forest. Gordon, Ken and I did a bit of exploring through Furnace green and sued the northern tunnel under the railway - recently extended and refurbished with excellent lighting and a good smooth surface, this tunnel offers an excellent and (in some instances) shorter alternate link between NCN20 and NCN21. However, we were on our way to Three Bridges Station so we turned left onto Billington Drive and rode past a long stream of waiting traffic to arrive at the station for 10:00hrs. Here we were joined by Michael and Malcolm, then Mike, an acquaintance of mine.
Gordon led us back up Billington Drive and onto the Worth Way. Conditions were muddy but grip was good and I soon had a splattering of mud over me. Someone suggested that the Irish called the weather conditions "Soft" - an excellent description - the clouds were indistinguishable from each other and seemed to reach the ground without quite making things foggy, the vegetation looked somehow soft - even the branches and with big fat knobblies on my bike, the ride was pretty plush as well.
We were riding at an easy pace and I was having fun along the way, practicing hops, taking detours up banks. At Crawley Down we took the slope up to the B road and then used it up to Turners Hill. Never an easy hill, I realized that none of the cyclists waiting near the top had actually ridden the entire hill (all the way to the crossroads) - so I told them so, and claimed King of the Hill for myself!!
From Turners Hill we headed west along the ridge through Worth Abbey to Back Lane. Here Mick decided to head for home (via the Cowdray Arms I think), having assured me he knew where he was and how to get back to Crawley.
Meanwhile the rest of us enjoyed the long glide south and west before the short, sharp climb into Balcombe. Gordon had recce'd the route a few days earlier and was in the process of telling us about some ice he'd encountered when, as I shot down a tiny lane he'd led us to, I realised there was ice all the way across it!! Not a problem though, I didn't need to turn or lean or brake or accelerate and just floated uneventfully across it, shouting out a warning as I did so.
Other features of this lane were: (i) the smooth, new tarmac (ii) a conversation with some chickens and (iii) a couple of hills (granny gear for the use of).
A right turn onto a busier road took us up to Cuckfield where we headed West then north to Staplefield and a quick visit to The Victory. What a great pub - warm welcome, warm fire, good beer (we went for the Wilmington Brewery Long Man) and good food. Actually, the good food observation was based on previous visits, as today we were going to lunch at Gordons, so it was time to get back out in the cold.
From Staplefield we carried on west, under the revamped A23, to Slaugham and thence the bridleway up to Handcross. As we were starting to feel hungry, we took the shortest route back to Gordons where he and Jacqui treated us to a delicious lunch. An hour or so later, after some good discussions about life, the universe and the CTC, we all headed off home.
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Park Pavilions at 10:00hrs and will be a fairly easy loop to the south of Horsham led by me - unless anyone else wants to volunteer? - with a lunch stop at The Bax Castle.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Christmas Dinner
Today's ride would act as an appetite improver for the main event, the Christmas Dinner.
We decided to have starts from both Horsham and Crawley. Pete E, Norman and Frank left from HPP, Gordon, Jacqui, Anton, Ken and myself started from Three Bridges, whilst Barbara and Sandra travelled independently via Colgate.
It was cold but not too nippy and the roads seemed to be clear of ice. The Crawley contingent headed north on the NCN21 as far as Gatwick. There we turned west, under the A23 and I then noticed I had a slow puncture. Trying to save time, we just pumped it up and carried on, through to Povey Cross and then left to Charlwood. Here we took the third left and headed up to Russ Hill where I had to stop for about the fourth time to put air back in my tyre. As I was doing so, Pete phoned to say that his group had reached the rendezvous point at Rusper. I reckoned we were about 5-10 minutes away, but a couple of minutes later Pete rang again to say that they were going on and to meet at the pub. This meant we could cut out a hill and head straight to Faygate.
My phone rang again just as we were climbing the last hill up to Wimlands Lane and for family reasons I had to head straight home and miss the Christmas dinner.
However, I'm told that the food was good and hot and that everyone enjoyed themselves.
However, I'm told that the food was good and hot and that everyone enjoyed themselves.
Sunday, 30 November 2014
The Jolly Farmer
It's been a while since I produced a blog - I've missed the last two rides!
This week however, I was leader - no shirking, I had to be there....
A 10:30 start from Three Bridges station meant that I comfortably got there on time and quickly spotted Norman enjoying his breakfast by the (immobile) mobile café. I'd also received a message from Gordon and Jacqui who were in the coffee shop (along with Frank). Then Eric rocked up, followed by Pete E, then Michael and Christine. Nine riders - not bad, not bad at all. The half ten start and proximity of the pub to Crawley meant that I had selected a very easy and straightforward route. We used the NCN21 route out through Three Bridges, Northgate and the Industrial Estate to Gatwick Airport. We headed through Horley, past the Air Balloon pub and out on Meath Green Lane.
BANG!
The Sunday morning silence was broken by Michaels rear tyre blowing up - although it sounded far worse than it was. Once he'd removed the tube, all he found was a small stone sticking through the tyre and a 4mm diameter hole in the tube. Unfortunately his spare had too fat a valve but Gordon saved the day with exactly the right tube (in spite of the fact that it would have fitted neither his nor Jacqui's bike!!).
We were soon back on the road and after a couple of miles took the right turn across to Salford where we had to carefully cross the A23. Continuing eastwards, we were soon at Outwood and passing the windmill. Now we had the only hill of the day and it wasn't up! Waahay - I just managed to match the speed limit as I freewheeled down and then we just had a short run along the lane to the pub, The Jolly Farmer.
As we locked up the bikes I was extolling the virtues of the last visit to this pub - good food, good drink, good atmosphere, good fire in the grate - so I was more than slightly crestfallen when the landlord revealed that they couldn't offer any food as their chef had recently left. Still, the beer was nice and cheap, so we had a swift quaff whilst working out Plan B.
Plan B: where's the nearest pub? A quick look at the map, coupled with a determination not to ride further away from Crawley, and we decided to head for The Plough at Smallfield. It only took a few minutes but as we pulled up I was worried that it was bit too posh and 'restauranty' for a gaggle of cyclists. However, I was pleasantly surprised as we received a very warm welcome from the staff who quickly pushed some tables together so we could sit as a group and presented us with a varied menu containing plenty of lighter meal options. The food arrived quickly and was most enjoyable. Everyone chipped in to the various conversations and the time just flew by.
As we left, Frank got us all together for a group photo - an impressive feat that I rarely manage due to the similarity groups of cyclists have with herds of cats! You can rarely get them all in the same place, at the same time, looking the same way.......
This week however, I was leader - no shirking, I had to be there....
A 10:30 start from Three Bridges station meant that I comfortably got there on time and quickly spotted Norman enjoying his breakfast by the (immobile) mobile café. I'd also received a message from Gordon and Jacqui who were in the coffee shop (along with Frank). Then Eric rocked up, followed by Pete E, then Michael and Christine. Nine riders - not bad, not bad at all. The half ten start and proximity of the pub to Crawley meant that I had selected a very easy and straightforward route. We used the NCN21 route out through Three Bridges, Northgate and the Industrial Estate to Gatwick Airport. We headed through Horley, past the Air Balloon pub and out on Meath Green Lane.
BANG!
The Sunday morning silence was broken by Michaels rear tyre blowing up - although it sounded far worse than it was. Once he'd removed the tube, all he found was a small stone sticking through the tyre and a 4mm diameter hole in the tube. Unfortunately his spare had too fat a valve but Gordon saved the day with exactly the right tube (in spite of the fact that it would have fitted neither his nor Jacqui's bike!!).
We were soon back on the road and after a couple of miles took the right turn across to Salford where we had to carefully cross the A23. Continuing eastwards, we were soon at Outwood and passing the windmill. Now we had the only hill of the day and it wasn't up! Waahay - I just managed to match the speed limit as I freewheeled down and then we just had a short run along the lane to the pub, The Jolly Farmer.
As we locked up the bikes I was extolling the virtues of the last visit to this pub - good food, good drink, good atmosphere, good fire in the grate - so I was more than slightly crestfallen when the landlord revealed that they couldn't offer any food as their chef had recently left. Still, the beer was nice and cheap, so we had a swift quaff whilst working out Plan B.
Plan B: where's the nearest pub? A quick look at the map, coupled with a determination not to ride further away from Crawley, and we decided to head for The Plough at Smallfield. It only took a few minutes but as we pulled up I was worried that it was bit too posh and 'restauranty' for a gaggle of cyclists. However, I was pleasantly surprised as we received a very warm welcome from the staff who quickly pushed some tables together so we could sit as a group and presented us with a varied menu containing plenty of lighter meal options. The food arrived quickly and was most enjoyable. Everyone chipped in to the various conversations and the time just flew by.
As we left, Frank got us all together for a group photo - an impressive feat that I rarely manage due to the similarity groups of cyclists have with herds of cats! You can rarely get them all in the same place, at the same time, looking the same way.......
From Smallfield I planned to head towards Shipley Bridge via Church Lane and the small bridge over the M23, but I changed my mind and used a tiny lane from Smallfield leading under the M23. A short, slightly muddy section then led us on to another small lane skirting the moat of Thunderfield Castle in Horley. At the end of the lane I had thought about turning left and following the Balcombe Road all the way back to Crawley but a dose of common sense and a nudge from Eric persuaded me to turn right, head for Horley Station and then use the NCN21 back to Gatwick. From Gatwick we retraced our steps into the Industrial Estate but with a quick detour to use the new linear park / cycle path called Crawters Brook. I've ridden through it about five times now and I don't think I've seen anyone else using it so far!
Our group now started to part ways - Gordon, Jacqui and Pete heading West to use the A23 cyclepaths to Broadfield and Horsham. Norman was next to go, heading up Northgate Avenue. The rest of us stayed together until Three Bridges where Frank, Michael and Christine headed back to their cars at the station. Meanwhile Eric and I used the newly resurfaced NCN20 into Furnace Green for me and on to Maidenbower for Eric.
Our next ride on Sunday 7th December will be an easy ride starting from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs and heading for a Lunch stop at the Queens Head in Barns Green. There is the possibility that we will use some gentle offroad tracks but all but the most fragile of bikes will be able to deal with them. Come on, come out, give yourselves some fresh air and exercise, before Christmas really kicks in!!
Monday, 20 October 2014
Pooh Sticks
The weather forecast for Sunday was "unseasonably warm with occasional showers". Waking up to a dull, overcast day with dampness in the air I though the forecast must be wrong and was feeling a bit glum as I waited at Three Bridges station to see if anyone else would turn up. I'd already arranged to meet up with Ros and in response to a John V text, I'd arranged to meet him at the same place, so I knew there would be three of us but then Michael emerged from the rail replacement bus laden car park. Due to the time I'd arranged to meet Ros and JV, we left Three Bridges bang on 09:30 and just a few minutes later I received a phone call from Ken asking where we were - we must have missed each other by seconds! Anyway, we all managed to find each other at Keepers Cottage and continued along the Worth Way to East Grinstead. There was a bit of splatter coming up from the surface - it didn't trouble anyone though: everyone else had mudguards and I didn't care about getting muddy!
It didn't take us long to get to East Grinstead and here we split up, more or less according to bike type. The road and hybrid riders used a road route through the town and on to Forest Row, the mountain bikers tackled the station steps, the ascent of the west face of Grinny High Street and the motorway standard bike path that is the first part of the Forest Way before arriving at the Café (by the tip) in Forest Row (ahead of the road/hybrid johnnies).
The café was 10 minutes or so from opening so we didn't hang around but carried on east with the skies starting to clear a bit and allow the sun to warm things up a touch. We seemed to fly along and it was only a short time before we were at Hartfield. We rode up through the village and on up past the Gallipot Inn (I collected some sticks and twigs on the way). As we were paused to regroup at the crossroads we had a chat with some poor bloke who'd just filled his diesel car up with petrol and was waiting for a breakdown truck to arrive (he'd already been waiting about two hours!!!).
I had to ride carefully along the bridleway/private drive as I had a whole handful of sticks ready for the coming competition. As usual, I said hello to other people as we passed them and remember doing so to an oriental couple shortly before arriving at Poohsticks Bridge - they seemed amused that I had brought my own Poohsticks.
We had a good few games of Poohsticks and also spotted a rather large crayfish in the river - although it disappeared when a large dog jumped in and started hauling an eight foot long branch through the water!
As it was now 11:45 it was time to head for the pub, so we climbed up through the woods to the car park and then enjoyed the quiet lane heading West. As I approached the ford it looked like it was really deep - at least two feet - but on closer inspection it was only about 5 inches deep so I rode backwards and forwards through it a few times, washing the mud off my wheels and demonstrating to the others that it was easily negotiable.
From the ford it was just a half mile up the lane to the pub at Colemans Hatch (not Chucks Hatch as I keep calling it). The pub was busy and full inside, but it was pleasant enough to sit outside and we quickly got our beers and food ordered. Unusually for pubs these days, this one did a good range of sandwiches on a Sunday. The beer was very good and the sandwiches (which were very nice) arrived pretty quick. We would definitely recommend this pub for cyclists (as would the other twenty odd cyclists that were also there).
I gave everyone the choice of a road route home or to use the Forest Way/Worth Way again. They all opted for the latter which pleased me as it was the one I wanted to do. The ride back to East Grinstead was very pleasant with the sun flickering through the trees and colourful leaves swirling around in the wind, which we were just beginning to notice (it was now in our faces). Arriving at East Gribnstead station we said goodbye to Ros and just before we pulled off I noticed the oriental couple we'd seen earlier just going to catch a train (I said hello again).
We made good progress back along the Worth Way with the trees sheltering us from the effects of the headwind and reaching Worth we said goodbye to first Ken then John before I left Michael to head back to the station by himself. I swooped down through Maidenbower and used the newly reopened second tunnel under the railway - it's all neatly surfaced and illuminated now. Just a couple of minutes later I was home and getting ready to head across town to a family party.
Our next ride is on Sunday 26th October and will have an 09:15 start from Horsham Pavilion in the Park (it's not early, you'll have had an extra hour in bed due to the clock change). Going via the Black Swan at Pease Pottage at 10:00hrs, Mick will lead you on a very nice, clockwise loop to the south and on to lunch at Newbridge Garden Centre. This will be a medium rated route entirely on road and about 35 miles in total.
Before then, it's our AGM. Please come along to the Dog and Bacon in Horsham on Wednesday 22nd October at 1930 - help make your club work for you.
It didn't take us long to get to East Grinstead and here we split up, more or less according to bike type. The road and hybrid riders used a road route through the town and on to Forest Row, the mountain bikers tackled the station steps, the ascent of the west face of Grinny High Street and the motorway standard bike path that is the first part of the Forest Way before arriving at the Café (by the tip) in Forest Row (ahead of the road/hybrid johnnies).
The café was 10 minutes or so from opening so we didn't hang around but carried on east with the skies starting to clear a bit and allow the sun to warm things up a touch. We seemed to fly along and it was only a short time before we were at Hartfield. We rode up through the village and on up past the Gallipot Inn (I collected some sticks and twigs on the way). As we were paused to regroup at the crossroads we had a chat with some poor bloke who'd just filled his diesel car up with petrol and was waiting for a breakdown truck to arrive (he'd already been waiting about two hours!!!).
I had to ride carefully along the bridleway/private drive as I had a whole handful of sticks ready for the coming competition. As usual, I said hello to other people as we passed them and remember doing so to an oriental couple shortly before arriving at Poohsticks Bridge - they seemed amused that I had brought my own Poohsticks.
We had a good few games of Poohsticks and also spotted a rather large crayfish in the river - although it disappeared when a large dog jumped in and started hauling an eight foot long branch through the water!
As it was now 11:45 it was time to head for the pub, so we climbed up through the woods to the car park and then enjoyed the quiet lane heading West. As I approached the ford it looked like it was really deep - at least two feet - but on closer inspection it was only about 5 inches deep so I rode backwards and forwards through it a few times, washing the mud off my wheels and demonstrating to the others that it was easily negotiable.
From the ford it was just a half mile up the lane to the pub at Colemans Hatch (not Chucks Hatch as I keep calling it). The pub was busy and full inside, but it was pleasant enough to sit outside and we quickly got our beers and food ordered. Unusually for pubs these days, this one did a good range of sandwiches on a Sunday. The beer was very good and the sandwiches (which were very nice) arrived pretty quick. We would definitely recommend this pub for cyclists (as would the other twenty odd cyclists that were also there).
I gave everyone the choice of a road route home or to use the Forest Way/Worth Way again. They all opted for the latter which pleased me as it was the one I wanted to do. The ride back to East Grinstead was very pleasant with the sun flickering through the trees and colourful leaves swirling around in the wind, which we were just beginning to notice (it was now in our faces). Arriving at East Gribnstead station we said goodbye to Ros and just before we pulled off I noticed the oriental couple we'd seen earlier just going to catch a train (I said hello again).
We made good progress back along the Worth Way with the trees sheltering us from the effects of the headwind and reaching Worth we said goodbye to first Ken then John before I left Michael to head back to the station by himself. I swooped down through Maidenbower and used the newly reopened second tunnel under the railway - it's all neatly surfaced and illuminated now. Just a couple of minutes later I was home and getting ready to head across town to a family party.
Our next ride is on Sunday 26th October and will have an 09:15 start from Horsham Pavilion in the Park (it's not early, you'll have had an extra hour in bed due to the clock change). Going via the Black Swan at Pease Pottage at 10:00hrs, Mick will lead you on a very nice, clockwise loop to the south and on to lunch at Newbridge Garden Centre. This will be a medium rated route entirely on road and about 35 miles in total.
Before then, it's our AGM. Please come along to the Dog and Bacon in Horsham on Wednesday 22nd October at 1930 - help make your club work for you.
Sunday, 17 August 2014
The Cutty Sark Ride 2014
The timing of this weeks ride was determined by three factors - normally we run it in early Autumn, but I wanted to make it more of a Summer ride; we needed to be able to get to London by train (so we had to avoid engineering works - such as the closure of London Bridge Station); we had to avoid other London cycling events (so we would be able to get on the train with our bikes). This Sunday ticked all those boxes, so it was just a case of hoping the weather would be good.
My day seemed to be running smoothly - I was up and about in plenty of time, my bike and all my gear was ready, I'd pre-booked my rail ticket - but I still managed to miss my train (by seconds). Fortunately the next one would get me to London on time but I had to wait 40 minutes before it would come. After a while I was joined by Michael and when the train arrived, he and I got in the second carriage. I then received a text from Anton to say he was in the fifth carriage, so there were three of us that disembarked at London Bridge and made our way to the rendezvous point outside Evans Cycles. Michaels son, Eric, met us there, then Ros arrived and finally Pete S (he'd just spent some time in a coffee shop having successfully caught the train I missed). As it was a little bit chilly and I knew that there were no more trains arriving from Sussex until gone 10:00 hrs, we started riding off along Jamaica Road.
Here's a video of the start and end of this section (click me)
This was the second rendezvous point and within a minute or so of pulling up we were joined by Norman. A couple of us popped into a nearby coffee shop for a bit of breakfast and as I was mid way through my coffee and pain-au-chocolate my phone rang. It was Ken. Still at London Bridge he had missed us and didn't know the way to the Cutty Sark - I told him the route to follow and Anton rode back along it to meet him.
Once Ken had arrived and had some refreshment, we took a team photo or two:
And then we were off,
As you can see, the route mainly follows a couple of rivers (hence it's called the Waterlink Way) and most of the time it doesn't feel as though you are riding through the London suburbs. As you approach Croydon it starts to get a little hilly but then, all of a sudden you are in the countryside and pulling up at the pub for lunch.
Our timing was almost perfect and we enjoyed our food and drink outside on the patio before popping inside the pub for s second drink just as it started raining! By the time we'd finished supping and were ready to ride, the rain had cleared, so we didn't even need to put on waterproofs.
The afternoon section of the ride goes straight into a tough little off road section and it was here that we said goodbye to Ros who wanted to stay on the road and would head across to Warlingham station for a train back to East Grinstead. The rest of us bounced downhill on a bridleway and then most (not all) of us had to push our bikes up the second part of it before enjoying a nice ride through the woods. A couple of roads later and we turn onto another bridleway for one of my favourite bits - the downhill blast out onto Warlingham golf course. Here it is at normal speed:
My day seemed to be running smoothly - I was up and about in plenty of time, my bike and all my gear was ready, I'd pre-booked my rail ticket - but I still managed to miss my train (by seconds). Fortunately the next one would get me to London on time but I had to wait 40 minutes before it would come. After a while I was joined by Michael and when the train arrived, he and I got in the second carriage. I then received a text from Anton to say he was in the fifth carriage, so there were three of us that disembarked at London Bridge and made our way to the rendezvous point outside Evans Cycles. Michaels son, Eric, met us there, then Ros arrived and finally Pete S (he'd just spent some time in a coffee shop having successfully caught the train I missed). As it was a little bit chilly and I knew that there were no more trains arriving from Sussex until gone 10:00 hrs, we started riding off along Jamaica Road.
Here's a video of the start and end of this section (click me)
This was the second rendezvous point and within a minute or so of pulling up we were joined by Norman. A couple of us popped into a nearby coffee shop for a bit of breakfast and as I was mid way through my coffee and pain-au-chocolate my phone rang. It was Ken. Still at London Bridge he had missed us and didn't know the way to the Cutty Sark - I told him the route to follow and Anton rode back along it to meet him.
Once Ken had arrived and had some refreshment, we took a team photo or two:
As you can see, the route mainly follows a couple of rivers (hence it's called the Waterlink Way) and most of the time it doesn't feel as though you are riding through the London suburbs. As you approach Croydon it starts to get a little hilly but then, all of a sudden you are in the countryside and pulling up at the pub for lunch.
Our timing was almost perfect and we enjoyed our food and drink outside on the patio before popping inside the pub for s second drink just as it started raining! By the time we'd finished supping and were ready to ride, the rain had cleared, so we didn't even need to put on waterproofs.
The afternoon section of the ride goes straight into a tough little off road section and it was here that we said goodbye to Ros who wanted to stay on the road and would head across to Warlingham station for a train back to East Grinstead. The rest of us bounced downhill on a bridleway and then most (not all) of us had to push our bikes up the second part of it before enjoying a nice ride through the woods. A couple of roads later and we turn onto another bridleway for one of my favourite bits - the downhill blast out onto Warlingham golf course. Here it is at normal speed:
I enjoyed that!
We were now deep in the heart of the North Downs and we headed up through Warlingham School and then onto Quarry Road before turning right onto a horrible little bridleway climb up through some woodland. Next we crossed over the A22 and climbed higher on a couple of lanes until we reached the viewpoint at Gravelly Hill. Here we stopped for a short while to look out over the Weald and watch aircraft as they made their final approaches to Gatwick.
Eric left us at this point, to head north, down the dip slope, to the station and a train back to his North London home. For the rest of us it was off-road time again and a nice fast descent through some scrubby woodland and under the M25.
NCN21 zig zags its way westwards using a combination of minor roads and bridleways until it pops us out in the middle of Redhill. From here it uses a couple of residential roads, skirts by East Surrey hospital and tries to lose us in a housing estate. But, being the seasoned campaigners we are, we know the route and that the housing estate hides a shop that opens seven days a week. We stopped there for cold drinks and/or ice creams before launching ourselves into the easy last few miles of the ride.
First there are a couple of enjoyable single track bridleways and then into the flatlands of Horley. Gatwick whistled past, the smell of aviation fuel bringing memories of plane spotting there as a kid, and then we were into the Industrial Estate where we decided to leave the NCN21 and use Tinsley Lane instead. Not far now - over the footbridge, down behind Tesco's and then St Mary's Drive all the way to Haslett Avenue and Three Bridges Station. All done, with less than 50 miles on my speedo (Ken had almost double that as he had ridden from Crawley to the Cutty Sark at the start of the day!!!).
If you've got nearly 40 minutes to spare, here's a video of the afternoon section of the ride - I speeded up the action and cut out most of the stoppages, but it should give a good flavour of what the route is like:
Click on this for 40 minutes of "action"
Our next ride is led by Frank and takes us to the Castle Inn at Chiidingstone - a very nice, National Trust owned village not too far away. The ride is rated easy/Medium and will be about 40 miles long. Meet at Three Bridges Station at 09:30 hrs.
Eric left us at this point, to head north, down the dip slope, to the station and a train back to his North London home. For the rest of us it was off-road time again and a nice fast descent through some scrubby woodland and under the M25.
NCN21 zig zags its way westwards using a combination of minor roads and bridleways until it pops us out in the middle of Redhill. From here it uses a couple of residential roads, skirts by East Surrey hospital and tries to lose us in a housing estate. But, being the seasoned campaigners we are, we know the route and that the housing estate hides a shop that opens seven days a week. We stopped there for cold drinks and/or ice creams before launching ourselves into the easy last few miles of the ride.
First there are a couple of enjoyable single track bridleways and then into the flatlands of Horley. Gatwick whistled past, the smell of aviation fuel bringing memories of plane spotting there as a kid, and then we were into the Industrial Estate where we decided to leave the NCN21 and use Tinsley Lane instead. Not far now - over the footbridge, down behind Tesco's and then St Mary's Drive all the way to Haslett Avenue and Three Bridges Station. All done, with less than 50 miles on my speedo (Ken had almost double that as he had ridden from Crawley to the Cutty Sark at the start of the day!!!).
If you've got nearly 40 minutes to spare, here's a video of the afternoon section of the ride - I speeded up the action and cut out most of the stoppages, but it should give a good flavour of what the route is like:
Click on this for 40 minutes of "action"
Our next ride is led by Frank and takes us to the Castle Inn at Chiidingstone - a very nice, National Trust owned village not too far away. The ride is rated easy/Medium and will be about 40 miles long. Meet at Three Bridges Station at 09:30 hrs.
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Easy Ride
Saturday was just about OK - mainly sunny but with the wind whipping up a bit towards evening. Saturday night was wet and windy, Sunday morning, well, it looked like it might just about be OK.
It was an Easy Ride aimed at anyone new to cycling or not wanting to bite off too much of a ride, but as usual only club members turned up - six of us in total: Pete S (leading), Anton, Norman (back from his Silk Road adventure), Barbara, Malcolm and Bob. After a discussion we decided not to use the Worth Way but to head for Reigate Garden Centre.
Pete led us through Three Bridges and Northgate to the Industrial Estate using NCN21 and we stayed on it through Gatwick and into Horley where the heavens opened. Barbara and Norman decided the call of Horley Station and a nice dry train back to Horsham was too strong a call to ignore and the rest of us rode on. We used Meath Green Lane and Lonesome Lane to Reigate and then a couple of residential roads to arrive at the garden centre.
We tidied ourselves up a bit before sitting at our table in the cafe but there were soon several puddles underneath (mainly fuelled by the rainwater draining from Malcolms sodden shoes). The service was good - friendly and efficient - and after a mere half hour or so, we were heading back outside.
It had stopped raining by now and we zigzagged through the houses and out onto the A217 before turning right onto Ironsbottom. This lane kept us away from the traffic until we briefly joined the A217 again before entering Gatwick through the back door and following the NCN21 back to the Industrial Estate. This time however we used Tinsley Lane and the footbridge by the Hotel before cutting behind Tesco and passing under the railway to follow St Mary's Drive down to the traffic lights near Three Bridges Station. Now we went along Billington Drive and onto the Worth Way for a short distance before wriggling through Maidenbower to arrive at Frogshole Farm for lunch and then our Q4 Runslist Meeting.
Pete was unable to attend the meeting but our numbers were made up by a waiting Val and later, the arrival of a freshly-dried Barbara. The meeting was successful and, along with earlier e-mail contributions, we managed to produce a nicely rounded programme of rides for October / November / December. Thanks everyone.
Our next ride is one of my favourite rides. We meet up outside Evans Cycles at London Bridge by 09:45 to ride over to The Cutty Sark at Greenwich. We leave there at 10:15 and follow NCN21 all the way back to Crawley. The morning is almost entirely on tarmac paths through the parks and countryside(!) of South London before we stop for lunch in the North Downs at a very nice pub called The Bear at Fickleshole. After lunch, the first few miles are quite hard with a lot of off road tracks and a couple of tough hills (although I believe Ros has an easier onroad route out of the Downs and over the M25 in mind) before we negotiate the flatlands of the Nutfield Marsh area, pass East Surrey Hospital and then cruise through Horley and Gatwick back to Crawley. We should finish at about 16:30/17:00.
Come on - it's a challenge and, if the weather is nice, it will be a memorable experience.
It was an Easy Ride aimed at anyone new to cycling or not wanting to bite off too much of a ride, but as usual only club members turned up - six of us in total: Pete S (leading), Anton, Norman (back from his Silk Road adventure), Barbara, Malcolm and Bob. After a discussion we decided not to use the Worth Way but to head for Reigate Garden Centre.
Pete led us through Three Bridges and Northgate to the Industrial Estate using NCN21 and we stayed on it through Gatwick and into Horley where the heavens opened. Barbara and Norman decided the call of Horley Station and a nice dry train back to Horsham was too strong a call to ignore and the rest of us rode on. We used Meath Green Lane and Lonesome Lane to Reigate and then a couple of residential roads to arrive at the garden centre.
We tidied ourselves up a bit before sitting at our table in the cafe but there were soon several puddles underneath (mainly fuelled by the rainwater draining from Malcolms sodden shoes). The service was good - friendly and efficient - and after a mere half hour or so, we were heading back outside.
It had stopped raining by now and we zigzagged through the houses and out onto the A217 before turning right onto Ironsbottom. This lane kept us away from the traffic until we briefly joined the A217 again before entering Gatwick through the back door and following the NCN21 back to the Industrial Estate. This time however we used Tinsley Lane and the footbridge by the Hotel before cutting behind Tesco and passing under the railway to follow St Mary's Drive down to the traffic lights near Three Bridges Station. Now we went along Billington Drive and onto the Worth Way for a short distance before wriggling through Maidenbower to arrive at Frogshole Farm for lunch and then our Q4 Runslist Meeting.
Pete was unable to attend the meeting but our numbers were made up by a waiting Val and later, the arrival of a freshly-dried Barbara. The meeting was successful and, along with earlier e-mail contributions, we managed to produce a nicely rounded programme of rides for October / November / December. Thanks everyone.
Our next ride is one of my favourite rides. We meet up outside Evans Cycles at London Bridge by 09:45 to ride over to The Cutty Sark at Greenwich. We leave there at 10:15 and follow NCN21 all the way back to Crawley. The morning is almost entirely on tarmac paths through the parks and countryside(!) of South London before we stop for lunch in the North Downs at a very nice pub called The Bear at Fickleshole. After lunch, the first few miles are quite hard with a lot of off road tracks and a couple of tough hills (although I believe Ros has an easier onroad route out of the Downs and over the M25 in mind) before we negotiate the flatlands of the Nutfield Marsh area, pass East Surrey Hospital and then cruise through Horley and Gatwick back to Crawley. We should finish at about 16:30/17:00.
Come on - it's a challenge and, if the weather is nice, it will be a memorable experience.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
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):
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):
Sunday, 1 June 2014
Gordon's B-Ride
This was a very enjoyable day, thanks Gordon.
It's takes me ages to write blogs these days, so I've cheated and padded out my words with some moving pictures.
I arrived at Gordons expecting to see a gaggle of freeloaders taking up his breakfast offer, but no, I was the only freeloader! So, after rather nice bacon sandwich and a cuppa, Gordon and I headed for Pease Pottage.
Outside The Black Swan we met Val, Corinne, Michael and Malcolm. From here, Gordon led us out along Parish Lane and then down through the Forest on NCN20 to cross over the M23, through the golf course and out to Oriel School where we met up with John C and John V.
Next we acquired NCN21(The Worth Way) and headed east, over the M23 and on to Rowfant.
This video shows the journey so far:
The weather was very pleasant and the Worth Way was in good condition, so all was right in the world - except for my rear tyre that is - it kept going down, but I couldn't find a puncture. At the first stop I'd just pumped air in as I thought it was a slow puncture. After a second stop, three of us checked the inside of the tyre for thorns or any other sharp intrusion (none found) and I fitted a new tube, but within a few miles the tyre seemed to have deflated again. When I got home I checked both tubes and found NO punctures using both a visual inspection and a water bath - the valves seemed OK as well. As we speak both tubes are fully inflated in my shed and seem to be holding onto their contents. So what was the problem? I suspect a puncture repair I'd done on the first tube shortly before setting off had not set properly and caused the first problems but that when I'd subsequently removed all the air and rolled the tube up tightly to stuff it away in my bumbag, the patch had properly taken. The second tube is a mystery and my only guess is that the pumps I'd been using out on the trail just weren't getting enough air in. I pumped it up with a track pump when I got home and it's stayed fully inflated since....
Anyway, back to the ride. We left the Worth Way at Imberhorne Lane and headed north until we reached the bridleway taking us back west to Gullege. From here we retraced our Worth Way steps as far as Crawley Down where we hit the road going south and endured the steep little climb into Turners Hill. At the top we regrouped and regained our breath before heading west, through Worth Abbey to a refreshment halt at The Cowdray Arms.
At Staplefield I had to reinflate my rear tyre (again) and then we headed across to Sluagham and then north on the bridleway through the Slaugham estate to Handcross.
We only briefly entered the western edge of Handcross as Gordon now took us west along the B road before diving to the right onto a farm track bridleway that would take us across a valley and then on up to Plummers Plain and out onto Grouse Road.
From here we only had a mile or so to go back to Gordons House where more refreshments were on offer - Corinne was most impressed, although we had to point out that Gordon is an exception - the rest of us don't lay on such a good spread!
It's takes me ages to write blogs these days, so I've cheated and padded out my words with some moving pictures.
I arrived at Gordons expecting to see a gaggle of freeloaders taking up his breakfast offer, but no, I was the only freeloader! So, after rather nice bacon sandwich and a cuppa, Gordon and I headed for Pease Pottage.
Outside The Black Swan we met Val, Corinne, Michael and Malcolm. From here, Gordon led us out along Parish Lane and then down through the Forest on NCN20 to cross over the M23, through the golf course and out to Oriel School where we met up with John C and John V.
Next we acquired NCN21(The Worth Way) and headed east, over the M23 and on to Rowfant.
This video shows the journey so far:
The weather was very pleasant and the Worth Way was in good condition, so all was right in the world - except for my rear tyre that is - it kept going down, but I couldn't find a puncture. At the first stop I'd just pumped air in as I thought it was a slow puncture. After a second stop, three of us checked the inside of the tyre for thorns or any other sharp intrusion (none found) and I fitted a new tube, but within a few miles the tyre seemed to have deflated again. When I got home I checked both tubes and found NO punctures using both a visual inspection and a water bath - the valves seemed OK as well. As we speak both tubes are fully inflated in my shed and seem to be holding onto their contents. So what was the problem? I suspect a puncture repair I'd done on the first tube shortly before setting off had not set properly and caused the first problems but that when I'd subsequently removed all the air and rolled the tube up tightly to stuff it away in my bumbag, the patch had properly taken. The second tube is a mystery and my only guess is that the pumps I'd been using out on the trail just weren't getting enough air in. I pumped it up with a track pump when I got home and it's stayed fully inflated since....
Anyway, back to the ride. We left the Worth Way at Imberhorne Lane and headed north until we reached the bridleway taking us back west to Gullege. From here we retraced our Worth Way steps as far as Crawley Down where we hit the road going south and endured the steep little climb into Turners Hill. At the top we regrouped and regained our breath before heading west, through Worth Abbey to a refreshment halt at The Cowdray Arms.
After a fairly short stop we carried on along the Handcross Road before turning left into Brantridge Lane - it was a lovely ride down this lane as this video shows:
We only briefly entered the western edge of Handcross as Gordon now took us west along the B road before diving to the right onto a farm track bridleway that would take us across a valley and then on up to Plummers Plain and out onto Grouse Road.
From here we only had a mile or so to go back to Gordons House where more refreshments were on offer - Corinne was most impressed, although we had to point out that Gordon is an exception - the rest of us don't lay on such a good spread!
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Easy Ride - suitable for Beginners
The second Sunday of the month means that our ride is an easy one suitable for anyone and everyone.
The funny thing is that we seem to have more and more of our members turn up on these rides, this week was no exception. In total there were eleven of us!! In addition we had two guests as well.
Pete S (with Marian) had the pleasure of leading Barbara, Sandra, Val, John V, Michael, Ken, Norman, Pete E and myself as well as guests Malcolm and Rob. I had hoped that we would be going for a jaunt along The Worth Way, but the consensus had leant toward winging our way to Redhill Aerodrome instead. As Pete E was still on the train, I let everyone else start riding whilst I waited for him to arrive. We were only about15 minutes behind everyone else, but cracked along at a fair pace. I thought we would catch up with the "peloton" somewhere in the Industrial Estate but, even though we streaked along the Gatwick straight in excess of 20mph, we didn't manage to make the join until the traffic lights in the middle of Horley!
As we crowded along the shared use foot/cycle path leading north through Horley, we had a minor incident where one of riders was so engrossed in looking out for motor traffic as we crossed a road that she didn't notice a bollard and rode into it! Fortunately we weren't going fast and although she came off, she wasn't hurt. We carried on and Pete made sure we avoided the bumpy bridleway and took the smooth tarmac route along Orchard Drive. The end of this road has an unusual feature insofar as, where it joins up with Cross Oak Lane, what should be a T-Junction is instead a limited access junction. For some (stupid in my opinion) reason, the road layout and signage prohibits anyone from turning right onto Cross Oak Lane. I'm guessing some combination of Surrey/Horley/Salfords road planners and local Nimby residents got their knickers in a twist about the possibility of people driving through the local lanes rather than the choked up A217. What this means for cyclists is that, rather than break the law and ignore the no-right turn signs, we have to ride past the junction then turn right onto a strip of the old road surface that takes us east along the lane in the direction we want (the A217 is no place for cyclists if they can avoid it).
From here, we just had to ride up Picketts Lane, then Masons Bridge Road before turning right onto Kings Mill lane which took us to Redhill Aerodrome and the Chef on the Road cafe for a brunch stop.
It was quite crowded but we managed to get a table outside, where we could sit, eat, drink, chat and watch the various light aircraft and helicopters that were taking off and landing.
Our return journey exactly retraced our outbound route and I would like to say that it was pretty uneventful.
Our next ride starts from Horsham Pavilion in the Park at 10:00 hrs on Sunday 16th March. Bob will lead us on a fairly easy 20 mile route to the cafe at Reigate Garden Centre and return on a shorter but just as easy route. Come along - the weather forecast is really good, I reckon it's going to be a great day out on your bike.
The funny thing is that we seem to have more and more of our members turn up on these rides, this week was no exception. In total there were eleven of us!! In addition we had two guests as well.
Pete S (with Marian) had the pleasure of leading Barbara, Sandra, Val, John V, Michael, Ken, Norman, Pete E and myself as well as guests Malcolm and Rob. I had hoped that we would be going for a jaunt along The Worth Way, but the consensus had leant toward winging our way to Redhill Aerodrome instead. As Pete E was still on the train, I let everyone else start riding whilst I waited for him to arrive. We were only about15 minutes behind everyone else, but cracked along at a fair pace. I thought we would catch up with the "peloton" somewhere in the Industrial Estate but, even though we streaked along the Gatwick straight in excess of 20mph, we didn't manage to make the join until the traffic lights in the middle of Horley!
As we crowded along the shared use foot/cycle path leading north through Horley, we had a minor incident where one of riders was so engrossed in looking out for motor traffic as we crossed a road that she didn't notice a bollard and rode into it! Fortunately we weren't going fast and although she came off, she wasn't hurt. We carried on and Pete made sure we avoided the bumpy bridleway and took the smooth tarmac route along Orchard Drive. The end of this road has an unusual feature insofar as, where it joins up with Cross Oak Lane, what should be a T-Junction is instead a limited access junction. For some (stupid in my opinion) reason, the road layout and signage prohibits anyone from turning right onto Cross Oak Lane. I'm guessing some combination of Surrey/Horley/Salfords road planners and local Nimby residents got their knickers in a twist about the possibility of people driving through the local lanes rather than the choked up A217. What this means for cyclists is that, rather than break the law and ignore the no-right turn signs, we have to ride past the junction then turn right onto a strip of the old road surface that takes us east along the lane in the direction we want (the A217 is no place for cyclists if they can avoid it).
From here, we just had to ride up Picketts Lane, then Masons Bridge Road before turning right onto Kings Mill lane which took us to Redhill Aerodrome and the Chef on the Road cafe for a brunch stop.
It was quite crowded but we managed to get a table outside, where we could sit, eat, drink, chat and watch the various light aircraft and helicopters that were taking off and landing.
Our return journey exactly retraced our outbound route and I would like to say that it was pretty uneventful.
Our next ride starts from Horsham Pavilion in the Park at 10:00 hrs on Sunday 16th March. Bob will lead us on a fairly easy 20 mile route to the cafe at Reigate Garden Centre and return on a shorter but just as easy route. Come along - the weather forecast is really good, I reckon it's going to be a great day out on your bike.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Edenbridge - well Lingfield, actually!
I could get used to this - another Sunday, another ride and I'm not leading it! Doesn't stop me from running late though :-(
I arrived at Three Bridges station to a barrage of friendly banter and time-keeping based punditry from a mixed bag of boys and girls all waiting to get going on their bikes. Anton was leading Norman, Val, Malcolm, Pete, Marian, Ros and myself, firstly on NCN21 out through the north of Crawley and on to Gatwick. There was quite strong wind from the southwest, so it would be behind us until at least the lunch stop. In spite of the wind, it wasn't that cold and even the full cloud cover didn't stop the day from feeling quite bright. Scaffolders were working on the terminal building and we had to wait for them to move their lorry out of the away before we could get past. Unlike last week, the underpass wasn't flooded, then when we emerged back on the roads, Anton surprised us by turning right where we normally turn left. Oh; hang on, wait a minute!, rewind a bit......... tfel nrut yllamron ew erehw thgir gninrut yb su desirprus notnA ,sdaor eht no kcal degreme ew nehw neht ....... I missed something: SOMEONE fell off her bike! I won't mention names but I saw her valiantly claw at Malcolm's leg as she toppled slowly, some would say gracefully, to the ground. We were stopped at the time and it was the fall that everyone using clipless pedals has at some point - you lose your balance and can't unclip quick enough. Anyway, no damage done except for a bruised bum!
Anyway, to continue, Anton surprised us by turning right where we normally turn left. This brought us out in exactly the same place as usual - near the station, from where we crossed the railway and carried on East over the traffic light junction along Smallfield Road. Just before the motorway we turned left onto Hathersham Lane and further on, avoided turning into the wind by going up New House Lane. Axes Lane took us east, over the motorway before we passed the Dog and Duck pub (a major stopping point on the London to Brighton Bike Ride) and headed to Outwood along Brickfield Road.
At Outwood windmill we regrouped and Ros, who was out riding for the first time since a minor fall off her Brompton the other week, decided to take a shorter route to the lunch stop and meet us there. As she had a map I assumed she'd got some clever route worked out and rode off with the others, along Gayhouse Lane and down Hornecourt Hill having promised to phone when we reached the lunch stop.
After just a few more miles cycling, including a short foray along a very smooth A22, we arrived in Lingfield and settled on The GreyHound pub as our lunch stop. I phoned Ros to find out where she was only to find that she had taken a much more circuitous route and was on her way down from Bletchingly! The result was that Ros had ridden almost twice as far as we had and we'd almost finished our lunch before she arrived at the pub. Never mind, that meant I could have a second pint whilst Ros ate her lunch :-)
As the wind had been pretty much behind us all morning, we knew it was going to be mainly in our faces all the way home. Anton countered this to some extent by his choice of route which firstly took us via Felcourt into East Grinstead where he took us on short cut through some quiet residential streets before we said goodbye to East Grinstead resident Ros. The A22 was busy but slow-moving until we turned off at Felbridge and took the Crawley Down fork. As we went up the hill a rather nice Scooby went by - gimme! After Crawley Down we went via Rowfant and then used a short stretch of the Worth Way before splitting into two groups - Pete, Marian and myself using the Worth Way back to Maidenbower and Furnace Green, everyone else using the road back to Three Bridges station.
All in all, quite a short ride of just over 30 miles but very enjoyable, especially as Anton tends to find roads we haven't used much before, thanks Anton.
Next weeks ride is a Horsham Pavilion in the Park start at 10:00hrs and will be led by me. It will be a Pootle to Partridge Green and will celebrate the anniversary of the club.
At Outwood windmill we regrouped and Ros, who was out riding for the first time since a minor fall off her Brompton the other week, decided to take a shorter route to the lunch stop and meet us there. As she had a map I assumed she'd got some clever route worked out and rode off with the others, along Gayhouse Lane and down Hornecourt Hill having promised to phone when we reached the lunch stop.
After just a few more miles cycling, including a short foray along a very smooth A22, we arrived in Lingfield and settled on The GreyHound pub as our lunch stop. I phoned Ros to find out where she was only to find that she had taken a much more circuitous route and was on her way down from Bletchingly! The result was that Ros had ridden almost twice as far as we had and we'd almost finished our lunch before she arrived at the pub. Never mind, that meant I could have a second pint whilst Ros ate her lunch :-)
As the wind had been pretty much behind us all morning, we knew it was going to be mainly in our faces all the way home. Anton countered this to some extent by his choice of route which firstly took us via Felcourt into East Grinstead where he took us on short cut through some quiet residential streets before we said goodbye to East Grinstead resident Ros. The A22 was busy but slow-moving until we turned off at Felbridge and took the Crawley Down fork. As we went up the hill a rather nice Scooby went by - gimme! After Crawley Down we went via Rowfant and then used a short stretch of the Worth Way before splitting into two groups - Pete, Marian and myself using the Worth Way back to Maidenbower and Furnace Green, everyone else using the road back to Three Bridges station.
All in all, quite a short ride of just over 30 miles but very enjoyable, especially as Anton tends to find roads we haven't used much before, thanks Anton.
Next weeks ride is a Horsham Pavilion in the Park start at 10:00hrs and will be led by me. It will be a Pootle to Partridge Green and will celebrate the anniversary of the club.
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Easy Ride
Pete S led Jacqui, Sandra, Val, Gordon, Norman, John V and myself out on a ride designed to encourage newcomers to cycling. A simple route saw us follow NCN20 up through Three Bridges and the Industrial Estate and then alongside the swollen River Mole up to Gatwick Airport.
Further evidence of the recent high rainfall was the flooding in the tunnel under the motorway link. It was only a couple of inches deep though, so we easily negotiated it. Apart from that the path was relatively clean and clear. Until we got to the subway under the railway in Horley - that was closed due to flooding, so we had to lug our bikes over the footbridge instead.
Pete was going to take a slight detour from the NCN20 to avoid the bumpy and gravelly bridleway but Val had wandered ahead and took us onto it before Pete could intervene. It was therefore slightly ironic when Val was heard to suggest that we should have avoided the bridleway!
This area is where Horley seems to be expanding into but at the moment it is pretty much awash with floodwater - perhaps the council will stipulate that all the new houses there are built on stilts or floating pontoons.
Reaching tarmac again we just had about three miles and two climbs to go before pulling up at Redhill aerodrome where the cafe was busy (as usual).
Refreshed, our return journey was the exact reverse of the outward journey - except that this time we avoided the dirty bridleway bit. On reaching Three Bridges we said goodbye to Sandra who was heading for home whilst the rest of us headed over to Broadfield for lunch at Gordon's, followed by the Q2 Runs List meeting.
Many thanks to Gordon (and Jacqui) for hosting the meeting and many thanks to all the members who took part and helped produce a nice varied selection of rides taking us through to the end of June. I've sent the list off to be published in The Pedaller and I've also posted it on our website.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
North and West of Crawley
The first ride of 2014 was preceded by the news that two of our riders had fallen off their bikes in recent days. One due to ice and the other due to a pothole. Both riders are recovering but won't be riding for a few weeks yet. Get well soon gents.
Weather wise we were lucky to have a nice clear day. There had been a light frost but with a 10:00 hrs start all the roads were ice free. part from myself, today's riders were Barbara, Val, Frank and Gordon.
I'd produced a nice easy and relatively flat route which took us up NCN21 through Gatwick and then out of Horley via Meath Green Lane/Lonesome Lane. We took the bridleway across to the A 217 then headed south to Black Corner where we forked right towards Ironsbottom. From there we headed to Charlwood then Russ Hill and finally Rusper. We were the only people in the pub for about half an hour and our food arrived really quickly.
The weather forecast suggested rain in the mid afternoon so we headed straight back home from the pub
Sunday, 20 October 2013
The Bluebell Railway
Looking forward to today's ride, I opened the curtains to be confronted by a torrential downpour. Hmmmmmm. Do I still want to go for a bike ride? Well.... I had washed and re proofed my waterproofs during the week, so maybe here was an opportunity to test out my handiwork?
As usual I was late arriving at the start - this week my excuse was the length of time it took me to fit my rear rack and associated mudguard, my front mudguard and pull on my nice, clean waterproofs, but - the rain had stopped!
Waiting at Three Bridges were Pete E, Michael, Norman and Narinder. A quick text conversation with Ros and we'd arranged to meet her at East Grinstead, another text conversation confirmed that Gordon would not be falling off joining up with us this week.
The Worth Way provided a firm and reliable surface, although a lot of muddy water was getting picked up and sprayed around by our tyres. We sped along through Rowfant and Crawley Down until we arrived at East Grinstead station where we met Ros and Carol in the railway carriage cafe:
After this brief encounter there were now seven of us and we headed up the High Street and onto The Forest Way for the quick sprint down to Forest Row (Ros used the road in order to avoid getting as besmattered as we were).
From Forest Row we used Priory Road to climb up into Ashdown Forest. It was a stiffer climb than I was anticipating and we stopped at the crossroads to get our breath back before turning left and then right onto Twyford Lane. This is one of my favourite lanes and I freewheeled down it at about thirty mph. Towards the bottom of the hill it gets a bit bendier, steeper and narrower but today it was also muddier and slippier. I splashed through the ford which was disappointingly shallow, and waited for the others with my video camera running all the way:
He didn't even stop once we got on the train! Ros may well have had enough though, for she decided to cycle back to East Grinstead.
The journey up the line was however most memorable for the fact that the heavens opened and it absolutely poured with rain - we'd avoided getting wet whilst cycling and now we were warm and dry in our own compartment as the train splashed through the torrential downpour (we did think about Ros though - has she dried out yet??).
Bang on cue, the sun came back out just as the train pulled into our stop at East Grinstead - timing!
Here's the magnificent loco that was pulling our train - it's a Class 9F, the last class of steam locomotive built for British Rail. Ask Norman what the wheel arrangement is...
The ride back to Three Bridges along the Worth Way was uneventful but once more splattered us in muddy water. We didn't mind, we'd had a really nice day out (in spite of the weather).
Next weeks ride is hopefully timed just right - it goes to Winkworth Arboretum, a National Trust garden that has spectacular autumn colours, so bring your NT card if you've got one. There is a cafe there (it's just outside the garden so you don't need to pay entry/show your card if you just want some refreshments). The start will be from Horsham Park Pavilion at 09:30 hrs for a ride of about 30-35 miles and I would rate it as easy-medium. Don't forget, the clocks will have gone back on Saturday night/Sunday morning, so it will be brighter in the morning.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Off-road ride
By way of a change, we organised a Saturday ride this week. It was Gordon's idea and he also invited us all to breakfast at his house beforehand. I was the last one there and, puffing from the hill up to his house, I joined Gordon, Norman and Dave to enjoy a nice bacon sandwich and cuppa tea.
Just in case anyone else turned up, we rode over to the Black Swan before heading off along Parish Lane. We squeezed through the squeeze gate and into Tilgate Forest. As someone had recently reported on the Crawley Cycle Forum Facebook page, the top end of NCN20 was blocked with a fallen tree so we had to carry our bikes over it. Gordon was checking the cycle route signage was ok and we were soon speeding down the firebreak and spraying dew from the grass all over ourselves. Crossing over the motorway we then had a nice fast blast down through the golf course followed by the wriggling path through the woods before emerging in Furnace Green.
The tunnel under the railway took us into Maidenbower and then it was just a question of using the cycle paths up to the Worth Way. We continued on, past Worth Church and over the motorway again. The Worth Way was very pleasant and not at all busy and we were soon at Crawley Down. Here we took to the road and headed south to Turners Hill. After the climb, we needed a break so we stopped at The Crown for refreshments. Coffees all round (apart from my beer that is)!
We got going again and spent several minutes getting over the crossroads just outside the pub before stopping to inflate Normans front tyre. Gordon led us on through Worth Abbey and then onto the Whitely Hill bridleway. Once we'd crossed the Balcombe Road, I stopped to change the battery in my camera and let everyone else go ahead.
Eventually, after answering a phone message, I got going but was only just getting settled into the singletrack when I came across Norman who'd had an off and hurt his leg a little. We sorted out his bike and carried on down the track.
Crossing the railway, the bridleway migrated from sandy mud, through stony track to tarmac and became Parish lane. Norman decided to head for home at this point, leaving Gordon, Dave and myself to go off for some fun in the woods - with our bikes, madam!!
Gordon led us backwards and forwards through the forest and eventually down a hill - this one:
As you can see, Gordon made a spectacular flight over his handlebars, but is made of strong stuff and having got his breath back was straightaway leading us up another hill. Not long after, it was time for me to head home (I needed to get off to football) and the last two worked their way through the western part of the Forest and back to Gordons house.
Eventually, after answering a phone message, I got going but was only just getting settled into the singletrack when I came across Norman who'd had an off and hurt his leg a little. We sorted out his bike and carried on down the track.
Gordon led us backwards and forwards through the forest and eventually down a hill - this one:
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