Balcombe Cafe

The phone rings.  It's Ros.  "Bob, where is tomorrows ride supposed to start from?" "Crawley" I say, "Oh!" she responds "Only it says Horsham in the Runs list and Crawley at the end of last weeks blog!"
 I groan, "I messed up there.  Better go with the Runs list and have a Horsham start then."

This just serves to remind you all that the Runs list is the DEFINITIVE version of what ride should be occurring and where from.

So there I was, all psyched up for a lie-in and with a route planned from Crawley but now I had to come up with a new route and make sure I was out of bed earlier :-(

Amazingly I was up nice and early and as I was getting ready I received a text from Gordon arranging to meet on the ride over to Horsham. It was bitterly cold but as everywhere was bone-dry, there was no evidence of frost and the road surface was perfect (obviously, apart from all the potholes!!).

Pease Pottage Hill was hard work as I still don't seem to have any energy, so I was a bit late meeting Gordon but at least we did meet up and we carried on over to Horsham through Colgate and Roffey. At Horsham Park Pavilion we were met by Pete E, Mike and Frank. We hung around chatting for about 10 minutes but no further riders arrived, so we set off. Firstly back to the Railway Station and over the road bridge before cutting through by the Salvation Army HQ and heading east along Depot Road.

We turned right onto Comptons Lane and left onto Hammerpond Road. Pete was a bit worried about this road as he has had a couple of "offs" along it previously, but in spite of there being a lot of running water and loose gravel near the Roosthole car park, he had no problems today. The sharp climb from the Hammerpond up to Church Lane felt particularly brutal even though it's only short and the lesser climb that follows it seemed more noticeable as well. However, we were soon negotiating the crossroads by The Wheatsheaf and carried on to Slaugham Pond.

I thought about turning right there in order to add a few miles to the ride, but realising it would add three more hills as well, I decided against it and we carried on to Staplefield. Here we didn't even have to stop at the crossroads and just sailed across without a car in sight. Gordon told me the story about how The Victory pub here got it's name - basically the pub at the top of the village (frequented by the Nobs) didn't want the pub at the bottom of the village (frequented by the workers) to exist and tried to get it closed down, but in a court case, the workers pub won and promptly christened itself The Victory in recognition of the event.

Brantridge Lane was a little wet and messy at the bottom corner but was quite pleasant (in spite of the climb) and we were soon at the top end. Going past The Wings Museum, I made a mental note to perhaps arrange a ride there sometime - it's open every Saturday and Sunday from March to October.

At the junction near the water tower we turned left onto Redbridge Lane and enjoyed a relaxing freewheel for the best part of 1.5 miles before turning right and then bearing left and into Balcombe. As eve the cafe windows were all steamed up and I had to poke my head around the door to check there was enough space for us. There was and we found a table for five and sate down to enjoy pots of steaming hot tea and various sandwiches/cakes.

For the return trip, Frank headed north on the Balcombe Road and the rest of us retraced our journey back up Redbridge Lane but when we got to the water tower we took the B road past High Beeches towards Handcross. From here, the easiest route home for everyone meant heading to Pease Pottage where Pete and Mike carried on along the Forest Road to go through Colgate and Roffey back to Horsham, whilst Gordon and I had but a short journey back to Crawley.  I was home by 14:00 hrs and had ridden a mere 30 miles - but there'd been a fair few hills!

Next weeks ride is a Morning Ride aimed at less-experienced riders. Members and non-members are welcome. Starting from Three Bridges station at 10:00hrs, it will probably go down the Worth Way. Travelling at the speed of the slowest rider (that may well be me) we will return to Crawley sometime around midday. Hope to see you there. 

The Foresters Arms, Kirdford

The snow had completely disappeared following the recent thaw and a night of heavy rain and high winds. The trouble is, when I awoke the heavy rain and high winds were still with us. However, the weatherman's prediction came true and by the time I ventured out, the rain had stopped and the wind had dropped appreciably. I sent a text to Gordon telling him I'd be at The Black Swan at 25 past nine if he wanted company on the ride to Horsham and set off. Within a few yards I remembered that I hadn't raised my saddle back to it's normal position after lowering it for last weeks ride in the snow, but having set myself a time to be at Pease Pottage, I couldn't afford the time to readjust it. My knees were soon aching and so I did a fair chunk of the climb up Pease Pottage Hill standing on the pedals. I stopped at the Black Swan and raised my saddle whilst waiting to see if Gordon would take up my offer. No show, so on I went through Colgate and Roffey to arrive at Horsham Park Pavilion shortly before ten.

Norman was there and mentioned he had a rubbing sound on his bike. It was a cyclical noise associated with his wheels and we soon identified the problem as a broken spoke - or more accurately, a broken spoke nipple. We reasoned that discretion was key and riding on that wheel was probably not wise, so Norman headed home.  That left three of us on the ride as by now Mick and Mike had joined us from the cafe.

We headed out of Horsham over Rookwood Golf Course and Robin Hood Lane and shortly after we were crawling up Rowhook Hill. There were quite a few people running along this road (in the opposite direction) although we didn't find out whether it was a club run or some other organised event.

We turned left to Ellens Green and then left to Cox Green where we took the road to Baynards. The Downs Link bridge there looks to be undergoing some extensive repairs. From here we sped down a verey wet Cooks(?) Hill and then crossed over the A281 to reach Tisman's Common. We ignored the lure of Drungewick Lane and carried on to Loxwood. Here we headed south and crossed the canal and a rather flooded river before climbing up the hill and past the church. We took the first left and headed for Ifold before turning south once more for the final two miles or so to Kirdford.

The landlady and staff at The Foresters Arms were very welcoming and they are not at all fazed by wet, cold and grubby cyclists turning up on their doorstep. All three of us managed a couple of well kept pints of Sussex and some very nice sandwiches/baguettes.

Getting back on our bikes, we felt a bit cold - but that may have been because we'd just left a very nice open fire behind us!

For the route back I took us through Wisborough Green and up to Roundstreet Common onto Drungewick Lane. It may be worth noting that Southwater Cycles have relocated from Southwater to a Farmyard business estate half way along the east side of Drungewick Lane.

We carried on back to Tisman's Common and then to Bucks Green where we said goodbye to Mike as he went home to Rudgwick. Mick and I then turned south and crossed a very swollen River Arun to go past The Haven and on towards Five Oaks. Reaching the A29 we turned left and then a mile later, right to get to Slinfold. From there it was back to Horsham through Broadbridge Heath, along Robin Hood Lane and returning over the Golf Course.

Now I was by myself and followed the usual route through Roffey and Colgate back to Crawley via Pease Pottage and K2 to arrive home shortly before 15:30 having travelled about 54 miles.

Next weeks ride will start from Horsham Park Pavilion at 10:00hrs and will be a relatively short (less than 30 miles) ride to the south of Crawley with a refreshment/lunch stop at the Cafe in Balcombe. Hills will be unavoidable but I'll try to keep it as easy as possible because I don't seem to have much energy at the moment!!

Don't forget to send your Anniversary Lunch menu choices and money to Mick by the end of January.

Snow Ride

The snow meant that we cancelled the planned ride to Chiddingstone (it will now take place towards  the end of April) and instead we went for an out-and-back ride along the Worth Way. I met Gordon on the way to the station and then Pete arrived. In place of a proper blog I'm trying an experiment and have (hopefully) attached a movie comprised of still pictures shot every 10 seconds from the bridge on the Black Path all the way to Crawley Down - it might give a flavour of the ride!

***** Stop Press *****

TOMORROWS RIDE (CHIDDINGSTONE) IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER.

Instead, we will be running an off road (and through the snow) ride along the Worth Way. Starting from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs and returning at about 12:00hrs.  Put your grippiest tyres on whichever of your bikes has the most clearance and come out to play - I mean, practice your bike handling skills!

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.

The Sportsman at Amberley - not quite!

Last Autumn when I worked out the first quarter Runs List (and was feeling fit), a ride from Crawley to Amberley seemed perfectly reasonable. On a cold Sunday at the beginning of January it just seemed ridiculous!  Fortunately for me, that's what my fellow attendees thought, so we unanimously agreed to go for a shorter ride. I decided to use the route I had already planned but only as far as the Partridge Green area and then to swing north and west before heading back to Crawley.

Off we set. Firstly we used NCN21 through Furnace Green and Tilgate to K2 before ascending Pease Pottage Hill. Passing through Pease Pottage and avoiding all the potholes, we then took Grouse Road. At the end we turned left, downhill and across the Hammerpond dam before that short but tough climb up to Church Lane which took us up to Lower Beeding.

Here we turned right then forked right to reach the Cisswood Hotel - I believe President Obama stayed here on his last visit to England. Turning right we used the A281 for a few hundred yards before turning left onto Newells Lane. The pond looked quite pictureskew so I took a photo:
















Whilst taking it, the rest of our group carried on and I was passed by several other cyclists as well, so on remounting I had to fly along the lane and pass these other cyclists in order to keep our group heading in the right direction at the next junction.

We continued south and crossed over the A272, then just before Littleworth we took a right and pulled up at The Camelia Botnar Garden Centre. Here we enjoyed a pleasant tea/lunch break before heading back in the direction of home. We recrossed the A272 and headed up to Maplehurst where we turned left and cut across to Copsale. The pub there seems to have been extensively rebuilt/extended and we couldn't work out whether it'll reopen as a pub or as a private residence. We continued north and then turned right onto Sedgwick Lane. This took us onwards, over the A 281 by the Garden Centre. After this we headed east through Doomsday Green and then retraced our steps back along Grouse Road, through Pease Pottage, past K2 and back to Three Bridges. We ended up riding about 40 miles on a day that although cold, was actually quite pleasant when riding a bike.

Floods, Pot Holes, Puddles and theSilk Road

The ride was always intended to be a short easy morning ride, which is just what I needed having overdone things at the gym during the week.

Besides myself there was only Michael waiting at the start at Three Bridges, but we waited to see if anyone else turned up. At least the wait allowed me to put on waterproofs since it started to rain. So shortly after 10:00 we started the ride, taking the normal roads and cycle paths (Route 21) to get to Gatwick Airport and Horley. By Horley the rain we had at the start had come to nothing, so off with the boil in the bags (waterproofs) and on with the ride.

With the new housing estate, north of Horley, Route 21 now proceeds along a better road, but since I was following the route on the map (out of date) we ended up on the very rough and potted holed former track, near Great Lakes Farm. I should have been paying more attention to the road and not a number of Labradors having a great time in the stream running alongside, since soon it was a matter of trying to find the best course through the many potholes, craters, quarries, plus puddles, ponds and lakes that covered the route. Coverings of mud/sand  and streams crisscrossing the “path” also added to the technical nature of the ride, but soon we were both safely on a more solid road.

At this point it was time to leave Route 21, and start the first climb of the day. (More of a long drag than a serious climb – honest).  The first right took us onto Picketts Lane and beyond passed the turning for Redhill Aerodrome, but no tea stop since we continued northward passing the Hospital just to the south of Redhill / Reigate.

After a short stretch on a main A road, followed by a shortcut though a housing estate we were soon on the “silk road” leading back to Horley. Why the “silk road” you ask? Well not only was it pot hole free, but it appears to have been properly surfaced (BUILT), and not only for a short section for nearly its entire length. It goes to show that some Council’s can provide/maintain SOME decent roads. Passing a number of flooded fields and Flood Warning signs, we encountered only flood free roads, with only the occasional large puddle, but there were signs of previous flooding.

Soon back in the northern part of Horley my plan was to get round to the western side of Gatwick Airport, before returning to Crawley. The route now crossed the A217 and soon started climbing again. The last climb of the ride, but once we had arrived on the ridge and continued towards Norwood Hill it offered clears views North and South, including that of Gatwick Airport.

A left turn at Norwood Hill soon saw use both in Charlwood and the final part of the journey, which I could have continued directly into Ifield, but decided to take a slight detour towards the Rusper Road, before approaching Ifield from the West and returning to Three Bridges via Ifield Station, Southwater and Furnace Green.

Statistics:

43.4km or 28.32miles

185m of climbing

A map of the route is below along with my GPS track of the route.

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Next week’s ride is an Easy / Medium 30miles South of Horsham, lunch at The Wheatsheaf, Plummers Plain. Depart HPP at 10:00am

Planned Statistics:

48.3km or 30 miles

306m of climbing

Planned route is