Downs Link Part II

The intention was to ride to Guildford and back along the Downs link today but the weather conspired against it - although it wasn't yet wet, there was no doubt that it was going to rain. Consequently there were only two of us at Horsham Pavilions in the Park - myself and Daniel. We were both on mountain bikes, so I was quite happy that we would manage the track. Then Pete E arrived - dressed in civvies (no helmet, no cycling appareil) he'd just popped over on his bike to have a chat. However, we persuaded him (it didn't take much effort) to accompany us for a short while.


Pete took the lead out through the mean backstreets of Horsham, through a new development and over the A24 on the bridge to Tesco's. From here he led us down Wickhams Lane and along the bridleway to just short of Itchingfield where we picked up the Downs Link. Pete turned back at this point leaving Daniel and I to race of along the track. It was getting noticeably darker and sure enough it started raining. At this point I found out that Daniels rucksack didn't contain any waterproofs - so I felt guilty about using mine and left them attached to my belt. As we rode along we started getting wetter and muddier. As we rode into Rudgwick we spotted Michael ahead, sheltering under a tree. After a quick chat we decided to alter the ride and pop into Michaels for a coffee.


We had a nice break drinking Coffee and eating cake with Michael and Christine. Daniel and Michael realized that they both worked for the same company and were reminiscing about the various offices/countries they'd worked in. All he time the rain was just getting steadier and everything outside was getting wetter.


We decided against riding on northwards and, saying goodbye to Michael and Christine, Daniel and I headed back to Horsham. I routed us through Broadbridge Heath and over the golf course just for variety. Daniel appeared to enjoy the ride and it would be nice to see him on another one in the future.


For my ride back I cut through Tilgate Forest just to get some extra mud splatters over my bike and clothes before turning up back home having clocked up just over 34 miles.

DA Event - the I-Spy Ride

After all the preparation Pete had put in to create this event, it was a little disappointing that with the wet weather and lack of entrants we decided to just have a short ride rather than run the Treasure Hunt.


The ride was enjoyable and the rain mainly held off as we made our way to Smock Alley for lunch at the Five Bells.  This was my first visit to the Five Bells and I found it to be a lovely pub.


The return ride was very pleasant and Pete will keep all his route and questions to use in next years I-Spy.

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 Old Crocks Race

Let's upset the Veteran Car Club by calling their annual London to Brighton Commemorative Run the "Old Crocks Race". Why would I do that you may well ask. Well those blighters have upset me!


They took the decision to change their event and not stop on Crawley High Street this year, instead they stopped at a garage on the outskirts of the town centre. THIS WAS A RUBBISH DECISION.
It appeared to have been driven by a desire to suck up to a sponsor but was hidden by a claim that the High Street was too congested. Too congested? Well you should have seen the mess at the new location - the Veteran Cars overshot the entrance, had to cross a heavy line of oncoming traffic, had very little space to park and had to recross the line of heavy traffic on exit. Couple that with spectator viewing facilities probably less than 10% of what the High Street offers and any fool can see that whoever came up with this change shot themselves well and truly in the foot.  It upset me so much that I fully intend rattling off a complaint to the guilty parties! Crawley has always provided a good level of support to this event but if the Run "organisers" persist in taking it away from the High Street and ignoring the folk of Crawley then perhaps that level of support and accommodation of the associated traffic problems will tail off over coming years and turn what has always been a popular event into an also-ran inconvenience! As a spectator event it's been cocked up so thoroughly that I didn't take a single photograph!!


Anyway, we also had a bike ride.  We met up at Three Bridges station and rode a very zig-zaggy route through Three Bridges and Northgate before bursting into a scene of utter congestion as we neared the London Road. Cars parked left right and centre, car horns being sounded, inept traffic control by RAC tabard clad amateurs and almost no view of the (few) parked Veteran Cars. We had a natter with several disgruntled potential spectators and then decided to ride on.


We headed into the town centre and then, using the same route as the Veteran Cars, headed along a pretty much deserted Boulevard and then out along Southgate Avenue. So far the weather had been overcast but dry, however as we turned south onto the A23 and approached K2, so it started to rain. We ascended Pease Pottage hill, managing to overtake a couple of the old cars and carried on along the old Brighton Road to Handcross. Here we had hoped to stop for some light refreshments but the rain was getting more intense and so we decided to turn around and head back to Gordons a little earlier than planned.


Back at Gordons, he and Jacqui treated us to a nice warming lunch before we got down to the business of drawing up the runs list for the first three months of next year. Many thanks to everyone that turned up for the ride and the runslist meeting and a big thanks to Gordon and Jacqui for hosting.


Don't forget to send in your Christmas Dinner bookings - places are filling up fast.


Our next ride on Sunday 9th November will be a 09:00 start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park We need to get to Pulborough Village Hall for 10:30 in order to attend the  DA AGM and possibly (definitely) pick up a trophy or two. Lunch will be at The Oddfellows Arms nearby and then we'll retrace our outbound route to get back to Horsham by mid afternoon. Crawley folk may well be advised to fit their lights on just in case visibility's not too good by the time we get back......

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.

Wet, wet, WET!

Pete E had a lovely route for us this week and it was a shame that as soon as we started cycling, the heavens opened! There were four of us mad enough to brave the forecasted rain - Pete E, Ken, Anton and myself. We headed out through Doomsday Green and on along Hammerpond Road. At Slaugham Pond we turned right and headed south to Warninglid. There we headed east for a while then turned south again through Colwood and on to Twineham. We carried on south onto Truslers Hill Lane down to Shaves Thatch where we turned right onto the A281 for a couple of hundred yards before turning south again onto Clappers Lane. It was raining really heavily now and water was coursing down the road surface - carrying with it lots of grit and other debris - a sudden hiss and a rotating, bubbling sound told me I'd got a puncture. We couldn't find anywhere to shelter so I just pulled up at the side of the road in order to fit a new inner tube. They didn't need to, but I'm pleased to say that all my colleagues stayed with me whilst I whipped the tyre off, removed the flint flake causing the problem and put a nice new tube in. Anton had his pump out ready and it wasn't long before we were all back on the road again. On reaching Fulking we turned right and headed west along the foot of the mist shrouded Downs and on into Bramber.

Pete had planned to take us through Steyning and along Mouse Lane to go past Wiston House but we decided to go the quicker route and use the Steyning bypass/Washington Road option. The rain was tipping down but we soon reached the appropriately named Water Lane and after another couple of hundred yards arrived at the lunch stop, Wiston Tearooms. We were absolutely soaked but fortunately the Tearooms had plenty of space, a stone floor and wooden chairs, so it didn't really matter how much we dripped!

We enjoyed a nice lunch and it was noticeable that no one was particularly keen to get outside in the wet again. However, we bit the bullet, pulled on our rather wet and cold waterproofs and ventured out once more. Pete led us on the shortest route back to Horsham - Ashington, Broomers Corner, Dragons Green, Bax Castle and Two Mile Ash Road up to Tower Hill.

In spite of the weather, I have to say that the ride was very enjoyable and would have been superb on a sunny day.

Our next ride will start from Three Bridges Station at 09:30. Anton will lead what should be an easy/medium ride to Westerham. However, he tells me that there would be a couple of hills at the end of such a ride and that if people want, he will shorten the ride a little to avoid the hills and have lunch at The Haycutter in Broadham Green.

Pootle to Partridge Green

Happy Birthday to us! Our club was formed at this time of year some thirty odd years ago, so it was good to see a couple of founder members out riding with us today. In fact, I was pleased to see eight riders joining me for today's ride: Mick, Val, Norman, Malcolm, Pete E, John V, Pete and Marian S.

I'd made a tactical error in setting up the runs list in that I had two consecutive Horsham starts that headed in the same direction. Anton had given us a good ride to Maplehurst a fortnight ago and there was a risk today's ride would use a lot of the same roads, so I deliberately worked out a zig-zaggy route to avoid that. 

We left Horsham by crossing the golf course, going under the A24 and onto Robin Hood Lane. Broadbridge Heath was very quiet and we were soon negotiating the new road layout at Newbridge. From here we took the next left to Christs Hospital and on to Two Mile Ash. Next we went up Bonfire Hill to Southwater.

Here I outsourced the ride leader role to Norman and he skilfully guided us through the avenues and alleyways of deepest, darkest Southwater. We crossed over the A24 near the RSPCA HQ then headed south from Newfoundout to use Jackrells Lane/Polecat Lane on to Copsale. I'd forgotten about the little hill on this Lane but huffed and puffed my way up it all the way to Maplehurst. We regrouped for the final two hills before lunch but, as we hit the second, Pete and Marian's tandem was making some horrible crunching noises from the area of the bottom bracket. Shortly after we crossed the A272 their bottom bracket gave up the ghost and the chain kept coming off, meaning they had to walk the last mile or so to the pub.

We had a lovely lunch at The Partridge in Partridge Green, all of us opting for one of their range of baps. The pub is run by the local Dark Star brewery I believe, and between us we sampled there excellent brews - I had a delicious pint of brown ale from the local. Pete and Marian arranged for their son to come and pick them and the broken tandem up, whilst the rest of us remounted and headed back home hoping to beat the rain which was forecast for 3p.m.

I'd considered using the Downs Link to avoid some hills but looking at the map I reckoned it would be shorter by staying on the roads. So we retraced our morning route back to Copsale, with Jon V leaving us to head back to Crawley via Newells Lane whilst the rest us headed up to Kerves Lane. This took us on up to Horsham where we split into two groups, one heading back to the start and Norman, Mick and myself heading for the Roffey area.

From Roffey I used the Forest Road, but just short of Pease Pottage the rain finally started. As it was fairly fine rain I decided to keep going and not bother stopping to put on my waterproofs. The rain got heavier as I raced down Pease Pottage Hill so I decided to go through Tilgate Park in order to get some shelter from the trees. I took my usual diagonal route across the grassy slope but it was very slippy - a combination of my slick tyres and the extremely wet ground conditions.  Here's a video of the trip down Pease Pottage Hill and through Tilgate park (it's speeded up a bit):



If I'd had my knobbly tyres on I'd have been quicker through the park but would have been absolutely covered in mud from head to toe, so maybe carefully skating along on slicks was a good idea? It certainly helps hone your concentration!!  As you can see, the track alongside the golf driving range was badly potholed with an expanding selection of muddy puddles of indeterminate depth but I was soon home and amazingly not too covered in crud either. I chucked a couple of buckets of water over my trusty bike and then sprayed it with light oil before putting it away having checked to see how many miles I'd ridden - 46.

Next weeks ride is an Easy ride aimed at beginners and will start from Three Bridges Station at 10:00 hrs, come along, enjoy riding your bike in good company.

Anyone for Coffee?

Michael had a nice little route planned for today with long or short options to cater for whoever turned up. Due to a party on Saturday night, I'd only managed about three hours sleep and only had 20 minutes to get to Horsham. Just as I was deciding I would have to miss the ride, Anton phoned to see if I needed a lift! So it was that Anton and I joined Michael, Val and Norman in the cafe at Horsham pavilions. Have I mentioned that it was raining hard and that the temperature was only a few degrees above freezing? Well, we all had a coffee and sat there chatting, no-one seemed keen to get out into the lousy weather. We each came up with reasons not to get all cold and wet (mine was that I needed to get back to bed and catch up on my sleep!) and the time ticked by. If anything the weather was actually getting worse and we were enjoying our chatting and coffees so eventually we all decided to forego cycling for the day and just head for home. We'll try and run the ride later in the year. 

Winkworth Arboretum

Spring forwards, fall backwards - aha, that means an extra hour in bed. Where did it go? By the time I'd found my rack pack, transferred my spare tubes, repair kit, tools, waterproofs into it, found my NT card, bankcard, cycle wallet, filled up my water bottle and all the other bits and bobs necessary to go out for a days cycling, i already had only 30 minutes in which to ride a 40 minute journey! As I rode through Tilgate the nice bright patch of sky had been blown away by the gusting wind and by the time I crested Pease Pottage Hill, the heavens were opening. I sheltered in the lee of some bushes by the service station and lost another 5 minutes but then a bigger blue patch was dominating and I could remount. I pressed on, manfully, into the teeth of the wind and managed to claw back some time but was still 10 minutes late getting to Horsham Pavilion in the Park. There I met Pete E and John C and we were shortly after joined by Norman. My phone then rang and John V said he was only a few minutes away and what route were we taking - I told him and we set off.

The golf course was deserted although there were several cars on Robin Hood Lane. On Byfleets Lane (formerly Granny's Lane) John V caught us up and then when we reached the A281 Norman left us to head for home ( he'd been out on some muddy tracks before meeting us and felt he's had enough exercise). Pete lead us up Rowhook Hill, then as we waited at the turn to Ellens Green, we found out that John V had had a puncture and that he would catch up with us. We rode slowly on to Cox Green and then Baynards. No sign of John, but then a text saying he'd meet us in Cranleigh - we were still a mile away and he was already there!

In Cranleigh we took a road to the north and headed through Shamley Green and Wonersh to Bramley where we started up a long hill that just seemed to go on and on. Regrouping at the top, Pete told us that we just had to turn left and the Arboretum was an easy mile away. He was right and we were soon sat down having our lunch. There'd been a long queue in the cafe - too many people brandishing large denomination notes/plastic cards/vouchers. When we'd finished eating, three of us headed into the garden to see the autumn colours, leaving JV to look after our bikes.

Here are some pictures:

We arrived back at our bikes and got back on them. Now we headed south and after a short climb had a good fast downhill before turning to a more easterly direction and getting the benefit of the wind on our backs. We were soon in Cranleigh once more and then used the B road back to Ellens Green. Rowhook Hill was nicer now we were going down it and a few minutes later we said goodbye to JV who was heading through Warnham and Rusper back to Crawley. Pete, JC and I recrossed the still empty golf course and finished riding soon after with JC very kindly giving me a lift back to Crawley as I was feeling tired - looking at my speedo I was surprised to see I'd clocked up 51 miles!

Next weeks ride is an easy one. Sunday 3rd November is the first sunday in November and that means just one thing - Old Crocks Race.  Meet at Three Bridges station at 10:00hrs. We'll ride to the High Street, soak up the atmosphere as the Veteran Cars come and go, then we'll ride with them along Southgate Avenue and up Pease Pottage Hill (pick a suitable Old Crock and slipstream it up the hill - it's the easiest and fastest way up). Depending on the weather, who's out and what they want to do, we'll either lunch at The Black Swan or carry on riding to lunch at Staplefield or Slaugham or Plummers Plain. It's a nice freeform day which we can shape to be whatever we want it to be.

See you there.

Rudgwick Apple Day

It was trying to rain as I made my way from Pease Pottage to Horsham, but I was comfortable in my waterproofs. Arriving at the Pavilion in the Park, I found three riders waiting for me - Barbara, Val and Norman. We lingered over our coffees but eventually ventured out into the now constant rain. Barbara was delivering copies of the Pedaller which left just three if us to head off over the golf course, through Broadbridge Heath and on into Slinfold. Norman felt he was wet enough and was going to head home from Slinfold and, when I mentioned we'd be going up a hill there, Val queried whether I'd mind turning back as well. I'd been looking forward to this ride for a few weeks and trying to anticipate what the Apple Day would be like, but with the rain rattling down all I could now imagine was a sad, sorry, muddy field with just a few soggy punters wandering around it. "let's head back" I said - so we did. Norman stayed with us until we were back in Horsham and Val kindly offered me a lift back to Crawley. End result: not many miles covered, mental note to try and get to the Apple Day next year.

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.

Mystery Ride

Pete writes:

This run was a ‘Mystery Ride’.    Until the day before it was a mystery to the leader as well as he couldn’t decide where to go!

In the event The Forester’s at Kirdford was decided upon with the option of going to the café at Wisborough Green if the pub was busy due to it being Father’s Day. 

Norman, Barbara, Michael G and myself set off from Horsham Pavilions across the golf course and along Robin Hood Lane where instead of turning left as usual we turned right and up Bailing Hill to warm up. In Warnham we turned into Friday Street and then back along Byfleets Lane and Strood Lane before joining the A281 for a short distance before heading for Rowhook and Ellens Green. After continuing west via Cox Green and Baynards we headed south down Cooks Hill, crossing the A281 to Tisman’s Common and then into Drungewick lane where we stopped briefly at Southwater Cycles to inspect the new premises. 

Turning right on the main road we headed towards Loxwood and then Ifold before turning south past Foxbridge Golf Course and arriving at the Forester’s Arms at 11.30 to find the pub closed. As it was raining none of us felt like waiting for it to open so we agreed to go to Fisher’s farm at Newpound for lunch and to give Norman the chance to embarrass his daughter who was working there.

After lunch we followed a fairly standard route home via Barns Green and Tower Hill to Horsham with Michael leaving us at the junction of Rowner Road and Okehurst Lane to head back home to Rudgwick. The ride was about 36 miles in total and we arrived in Horsham at around 2.30 just in time for the tennis on TV.

Our next ride is a 10:00 start from Three Bridges Station and will be another attempt to visit the Wings Aviation Museum in Brantridge Lane (£8 entry fee) and so will only be about a 25 mile ride. Lunch will probably be at The Victory in Staplefield.

Beginners Ride

"Beginners Ride" it said on the runs list but all four of the attendees were just a bit on the experienced side!

Not surprising really as the weather was cold and wet - definitely "Wintry Showers". However, Pete S led Ros, Gordon and Bob out into the less-then-encouraging weather and out on the Turners Hill Road which soon warmed us up as we climbed past Tulleys Farm to Turners Hill Church.

At the crossroads we headed straight on and enjoyed the two miles of freewheeling downhill it offered, although the cold wind and cold spray whipping across my face made me wish I had a full face helmet on! As ever it was hard work climbing up to the crossroads to turn right onto Saint Hill Road, but as there were several other cyclists around we had to grin and bear it whilst pretending it was no sweat.......

The other cyclists were taking part in an Evans organised Sportive and would be on the same route as us for the next four miles or so as we headed first to Saint Hill Green, then down and across the tail of Weirwood Reservoir (looking the fullest it has for many years), before the long drag up Legsheath Lane.

We regrouped at the crossroads, next to a refreshment point for the Sportive riders, before we turned left and headed down Priory Road and into Forest Row. The A22 through Forest Row was busy with cars but we were soon across and pulled up at the Riverview Cafe on Station Road. We recommend this cafe to anyone in the area - you'll always get a friendly welcome, the food and drink is very good and they don't throw a fit when a bunch of soaking wet cyclists suddenly turn up.

After half an hour or so drinking coffee, eating cake and chatting with each other and various other folk, we headed back out into the cold and wet.

We'd had our fill of hills getting to Forest Row, so we decided to use the Forest Way to get back home. In spite of all the recent rain and snow, the surface was firm enough to ride with slicks (as I was doing) and, in spite of all the dirt flicking up, we had no scary moments on the ride back to East Grinstead. Here, Ros left us to go home, and Pete, Gordon and myself played "dodge the p*llock in a car that doesn't know what they're doing" down the High Street and on to the station.

The station buildings have been replaced but the steps to the overbridge look the same to me and still have that awkward spacing meaning you have to really concentrate to ride up them - I'm guessing, because of course I would never ride up them ;-)

As The Worth Way is slightly downhill from East Grinstead, we were going along at a fairly brisk pace and were feeling nice and warm with just the odd cold toe or finger having a little moan. This also meant we were spraying a lot more mud and dirt everywhere making some of our gear changes a bit slower and noisier than usual. Crawley Down was soon behind us and next I knew we were at Worth. Here Pete peeled off to head for home leaving me to lead Gordon down through Maidenbower and through the tunnel into Furnace Green where I could finally pull up leaving Gordon all alone to negotiate the climb of Pease Pottage Hill to his house.

Before putting my bike away I gave it 5 minutes of attention with first a jetspray (don't spray the main bearing areas) followed by an oil spray (to repel the water). Then I needed 5 minutes attention to get the mud and other detritus off my shoes and (mainly) my lower legs.

Next weeks ride (10th February) is a Horsham Pavilion in the Park start at 10:00hrs. It will be an easy  loop to the south of Horsham calling in at the Camelia Botnar Garden Centre for refreshments and involving no more than 3 hours or so in the saddle. Go on, layer up, waterproofs on top, waterproof gloves (with extra warm liner gloves), waterproof socks and something warm on your head - you'll be able to ride with a smile on your face and an intense feeling of superiority over the oafs in the wheeled boxes!  I know I do :-)

Beginners Ride from Horsham

Two weeks into the New Year already - where does the time go?

This weeks ride was to be a short and simple morning ride aimed at relative newcomers to cycling. My intention was to use a combination of bridleways and quiet lanes to head south of Horsham with perhaps a tea break at Southwater or Barns Green.

On arriving (late as usual) at the start, I was met by a group of club members and a request to avoid using any bridleways if possible.  No problem - as it was cold and wet (although not raining), keeping to the roads seemed eminently sensible to me.

I lead the five of us south, through Horsham town centre and out on the Worthing Road before turning right at Tower Hill onto Two Mile Ash Road. At Bax Castle we turned left and carried on south to Dragons Green where we turned north. There was a lot of dirt and grit all over the road surface along with frequent puddles and potholes. I was acutely conscious that I always seem to get punctures in these sort of conditions when, guess what?  I had a puncture! I thought I might be able to ride on it for a couple of miles but no, it was completely flat within a hundred yards or so and I had to sort it out. I suggested that everyone else carry on to Sumners Ponds and have a cup of tea there whilst waiting for me. John V stayed to help and I replaced the tube within a few minutes but had to use his pump to inflate it as my pump didn't seem to work very well (I reckon it needs a service as it's been several months since I last used it!!).

We met everyone at Sumners Ponds and enjoyed a short tea-break there but were unfortunately sat under a heater so that, on returning to our bikes we were really feeling the cold! However, a few minutes cycling and we warmed up again. As it was just a morning ride and it was now midday, we headed back to Horsham via Two Mile Ash Road and having said goodbye to the Horsham contingent (Barbara, Sandy and Norman), John and I rode back to Crawley along the Forest Road. I found it really hard work (too much Christmas food, not enough exercise) whilst John just looked like he was ticking over!

Next Sundays ride is a 10:00hrs start from Three Bridges Station. Frank will be leading you north and east for a lunch stop at The Castle, Chiddingstone. It is relatively hill-free and fairly easy-riding in that direction.

Skimmington Castle

A nice easy ride this week. However a 9:30 start from Three Bridges on a damp, overcast morning saw only two riders turn up. Norman and I waited around for the obligatory ten minutes and then set off. We rode through Three Bridges first - it seemed a lot easier to use the roads than use the footpaths to me - I can't understand why the recent furore about footpath cyclists (pedestrians on bikes?) had erupted in this area. The industrial estate was very quiet and we were soon passing the Beehive. We noticed that one of the office blocks now houses Nestle (they moved from Croydon recently) but the othere all look deserted.

The River Mole was running very briskly and Norman made the observation that perhaps we should try installing small scale hydro electric generators on rivers like this - every little helps.  I was reading about plug-in photo-voltaic cell panels recently. I got the impression that these would be a fairly hassle-free way of reducing ones use of centrally produced electricity although Norman pointed out that it would actually take quite a long time to recoup the cost of buying/installing them (at current prices).

The pond just north of Gatwick Airport was looking very nice, aided no doubt by the work party in reflective gear brandishing brooms and plastic sacks. I think this pond will look spectacular next spring and summer. We continued through the middle of Horley and passed a healthily busy car boot sale before using the subway under the railway.

We'd been following NCN21 since Three Bridges and continued to do so as it went out through the new builds of North Horley, then once we reached the end of a bumpy farmtrack we left NCN21 in favour of a tarmac climb up the hill and across to Redhill Aerodrome. The cafe wasn't too busy and we were soon sat down supping our coffees. With the low cloud very much in evidence, it was no surprise that there wasn't a single aircraft movement whilst we were there.

We continued north then headed west and used Philanthropic Road past the cemetery  and then through south Redhill and across to the Woodhatch crossroads. We continued west and onto Slipshatch Road, followed by Clayhall Lane and then right onto Flanchford Road. This took us round onto Reigate Heath and then a right turn onto Bonny's Lane led us up to the lunch stop at The Skimmington Castle.

The food and beer was good and we spent a pleasant hour at the pub before setting off for home. We headed south through Leigh, Norwood Hill and then Charlwood. As we arrived at Ifield Wood I noticed a cyclist heading in the opposite direction and somehow I realised it was a chap called Ed who posts on the Crawley Cycle Forum pages in facebook. He's posted a video on there where you spot us cycling past! Shortly after this we turned right through Ifield Wood to the Rusper Road where Norman headed right towards Lambs Green and Horsham and I turned left towards Crawley.

Pulling up at home I'd covered just over 30 miles, almost all easy with no bad climbs - shame only Norman and me had turned up.

Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Park Pavilion at 10:00hrs. Pete will lead us to Winkworth Arboretum for a lunch stop at the cafe there. It's a National Trust garden so bring your NT membership card if you want to view the spectacular autumn colours in the garden. It should be an easy/medium ride of about 35 miles.

I-Spy Ride

This years I-Spy DA Event started at Pulborough Railway station. I arrived at 09:15 to find Barbara, Mike and Anne already waiting for me. Within a few minutes Ros too had arrived and ....  that was it.

I gave each of them a map and a set of route instructions/questions:-

Miles	Route Instruction/Question	Answer
0	Leave station on Footpath to North
0.2	Turn LEFT onto road and cross over the railway.
	Musical Care?
	What MUST be done in red?
	Where does the three-legged horse live?
1.4	Turn RIGHT
	Not far, Mum
	Where do the gates open outwards?
	What side opposite La Barranca?
	Do chore fieldmouse!
	Where would you find red dogs on duty?
2.4	Turn LEFT onto A29 then immediate RIGHT onto CRAY LANE       **TAKE CARE**
2.7	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction (sp Broomers Hill)
	Where would you find two yellow kestrels?
4.0	Turn LEFT onto A-283  **CARE**
5.3	After Wiggonholt Fork RIGHT (sp Greatham, Rackham)
5.6	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction
6.0	STRAIGHT ON (ignore left)
6.9	STRAIGHT ON (ignore left)
	On Saturday, what time for the last collection at Greatham Parish church?
	Except ____?_____ vehicles?
8.5	STRAIGHT over A29 into Waltham Park Lane *CARE*
9.6	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction (sp Fittleworth, Petworth)
10.8	Bear LEFT up the hill
11.2	Turn sharp RIGHT onto A283 *CARE*
11.4	Turn LEFT (sp: Bedham)
	Add up the four numbers where you see Fittleworth House.
11.7	Fork LEFT
12.4/5	Ignore both parts of the triangular junction on the left.
12.8	Follow hairpin back round to your left (and up).
	Hello grid liver (anag.)
13.1	Turn RIGHT at T-Junction
	How many posts holding the chains?
13.6	Turn LEFT at T-Junction *CARE*
14.4	Turn RIGHT onto A283 (sp Petworth)
14.8	Turn LEFT (sp Byworth)
	How many panes of glass on the front of The Black Horse?
	What produce at Hallgate Farm?
	_________ Corner Farm?
15.8	RIGHT then LEFT to cross this fast(ish) road *CARE*
	Sounds like the Seven Dwarfs go off to work from here?
	How many white posts before the Bigenor box?
	PSM _______?
17.3	STRAIGHT ON at crossroads (sp Sutton)
17.6	Ignore Right
	Where’s the alarming company?
	Where’s David Brown in charge?
19.1	Stop at The White Horse in Sutton for lunch and hand this sheet in to Bob. **

 Having set them off, I waited at the station until 10:00 am in case any one else turned up. Then I drove down to the RSPB centre at Wiggonholt, parked my car and started to ride the route.

I wasn't sure whether the competitors were ahead of or behind me and, on reaching the highest point of the ride, I stopped for a breather and took some photos whilst I waited to see if they were just about to catch me up.

By now, the intermittent showers had amalgamated into a continuous light drizzle and having sent a text to Barbara to find out where she was I turned south and headed downhill, through Byworth and on to the lunch halt at Sutton.

As I sat in the comfort of The White Horse at Sutton I received a reply from Barbara - they were about half an hour away. I ordered my lunch (and another pint of ale).

Once everyone had arrived and handed their sheets in, I could reveal the answers: