Late October - obviously t-shirt and shorts weather! Well, long-sleeved t-shirt but that was plenty warm enough. Barbara was todays ride leader and she was joined by Pete E, Mike, Johnny and Bob.
We headed west, across the golf course, under the A24 and along Robin Hood Lane. No deer visible today - are they being prepared for Christmas???
Rowhook Hill followed and we stayed on the Horsham Road all the way to Ewhurst Green where we took Gadbridge Lane and then the Cranleigh Road into Cranleigh. After passing through the village we turned left onto Elmbridge Lane. Where this road crosses first the railway (now the Downs Link path) and later the canal, it narrows down to a single lane and traffic seemed to pile up behind us. Fortunately none of the drivers seemed too impatient and we got no grief from them.
We went over the A281 at the traffic lights and then some incompetent oaf in a people carrier gave us a blast on the horn for no discernible reason (unless they were suffering from a form of Tourettes?).
Once again we went past Dunsfold airfield without seeing any of the Top Gear lads - I'd so like to have a chat with Jeremy and demonstrate how easily a bike could ride over a car (he once suggested that he would drive his car over a cyclist). Bearing west then south we went through the village of Dunsfold and thence on to Plaistow. From here it was just a couple more miles down to Kirdford and our lunch stop at The Foresters Arms.
The pub was recovering from a Halloween party and there were cobwebs and pumpkins all over the place as well as on the menu (pumpkin soup - not cobweb soup!).
We had a pleasant lunch and were joined by several riders from Arun Adur group before eventually getting back on our bikes and taking the shortest route back to Horsham - Wisborough Green, Rowner Road, New Road, Barns Green, Two Mile Ash Road and Tower Hill.
Mike returned to his car, Johnny and I carried on through Roffey, along Forest Road and back into Crawley via Pease Pottage. As I put my bike away I noted that I'd clocked up 57 miles on what had been a very pleasant October day that felt more like a late summers day.
Our next Sunday ride is on November 6th and will be suitable for ALL levels of riders. We'll start at Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs, ride to Crawley High Street and have a look at the Veteran Cars stopped there. After that we'll ride along cycle paths to Pease Pottage Hill where we can watch the Old Crocks tackle the hill (we can ride up with them if we want), before popping into the Black Swan at Pease Pottage for some refreshments.
It'll be easy, it'll be fun, so come along.
Sunday 30 October 2011
Sunday 23 October 2011
Cutty Sark to Crawley on NCN21
I, ride leader Peter S, met Richard at Three Bridges station in time for the 07.55 stopping train to London Victoria. We could have got the 08.04 faster train but Richard had pre-ordered his ticket on the internet at a cost of £3.30 (using a network rail card). I bought my ticket on the day from the ticket window and paid £11.30. For the same ride – how does that work!? We arrived at Victoria in time for a coffee, before heading off down Victoria Street towards Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge at 9.15. There was very little traffic about and we made good time in nice weather with blue skies, although with a strong south-easterly breeze. There were large numbers of tourists around the Houses of Parliament but as we turned eastwards on National Cycle Route 4 alongside the Thames the streets got quieter again. At times it felt as if we were cycling through a movie set, for one of those films where some disaster had killed everyone off and we were the last cyclists left alive! It is quite interesting to try to follow the NCR4 – mostly you need to find the blue ‘stickers’ on lamp posts etc, and there are one or two locations where care needs to be taken as the turns are not always obvious, as you wind through the former docklands of our industrial heritage. Fortunately Richard had a Garmin GPS in which he had plotted the route which bleeped at us if we diverged from the allotted route. I had all of the TFL paper maps as well, so we didn’t actually get lost this time. I think that I had visited the whole route in the past, but this journey was the first one where we had followed the route precisely in its entirety. It was also pleasing to note that some sections had been improved since we last passed this way.
This is a view looking upstream from Greenwich - the tall, thin chimney-like object in the middle of the picture is in fact The Shard at London Bridge, about three miles away!
We arrived at the Cutty Sark but barely recognised it as the whole area appears to have been dug up and cordoned off for some major works; not quite sure what the outcome will be but hopefully it will improve this lovely spot by the river. Shortly after 10.15 we departed south on the NCR21. This is the route that originates in Greenwich and heads south, via Gatwick Airport and Crawley to Eastbourne where it terminates. Our plan was to follow it, almost to the letter, as far as Three Bridges and home. We have done this a few times now and know the sections that are tricky to navigate, as well as a stretch through New Addington that is well worth missing out, so we set off confidently.
From the Downs the route back is pretty straight forward as we regained home ground, and it also gets flatter, but with more exposure to the wind.
This is a view looking upstream from Greenwich - the tall, thin chimney-like object in the middle of the picture is in fact The Shard at London Bridge, about three miles away!
We arrived at the Cutty Sark but barely recognised it as the whole area appears to have been dug up and cordoned off for some major works; not quite sure what the outcome will be but hopefully it will improve this lovely spot by the river. Shortly after 10.15 we departed south on the NCR21. This is the route that originates in Greenwich and heads south, via Gatwick Airport and Crawley to Eastbourne where it terminates. Our plan was to follow it, almost to the letter, as far as Three Bridges and home. We have done this a few times now and know the sections that are tricky to navigate, as well as a stretch through New Addington that is well worth missing out, so we set off confidently.
And we had no navigational problems at all, passing a pleasant couple of hours in the company of many other cyclists and walkers – the route was quite busy in places – to arrive at the Bear in Fickleshole. I was able to text home – ‘Arrived at the Bear. No Men Behaving Badly. Except Bob, of course.’ On a previous visit we had talked with Neil Morrissey who frequents this popular pub, but no sign of him today. Although we were sitting outside in pleasant sunny weather, the sandwich bar was not open and we had to select leek and potato soup from the starters menu. It is a shame when pub’s stop doing sandwiches on Sundays. But the beer was first class and only 3.8%! We had a pleasant lunch watching the executive jets taking off from nearby Biggin Hill – it was just like being at home in Crawley!
The afternoon’s ride had a lot more off-road riding and gradually exposed us to the full strength of the wind. So it all got a bit tougher especially as we climbed across the A22 and up the north downs to the magnificent viewpoint north of Caterham, where we took a short break to update Facebook status etc!!! We could see the planes landing and taking off in the distance – strangely going the ‘wrong way round’ due to the easterly winds. It was here that the battery expired on my phone so the automatic tracking of the route ceased at about 33 miles.
The afternoon’s ride had a lot more off-road riding and gradually exposed us to the full strength of the wind. So it all got a bit tougher especially as we climbed across the A22 and up the north downs to the magnificent viewpoint north of Caterham, where we took a short break to update Facebook status etc!!! We could see the planes landing and taking off in the distance – strangely going the ‘wrong way round’ due to the easterly winds. It was here that the battery expired on my phone so the automatic tracking of the route ceased at about 33 miles.
From the Downs the route back is pretty straight forward as we regained home ground, and it also gets flatter, but with more exposure to the wind.
We dutifully stuck exactly to the NCR21 all the way to North road in Three Bridges where we followed the NCR20 to Furnace Green and Maidenbower. Total distance was 54 miles so a bit less than the advertised 60 miles arriving back at about 16.30. But the route did exactly what it said on the tin taking us through parts of central London and then, seemingly magically, to the countryside again. It was quite hilly in places and made harder by the wind, although we were lucky to have sunshine and pleasant temperatures all day. Thank you to everyone that joined the trip. We hope that we will see you all again soon. And if you fancy this very interesting, unusual and varied route watch out for it.
Here's a link to Google maps that shows the exact ride route from Victoria Station to The Cutty Sark and then down as far as the North Downs:
Next weeks ride (Sunday October 30th) starts from Horsham Pavilion in the Park at 09:30 hrs and will head West from Horsham with a lunch stop at The Foresters Arms in Kirdford. Don't forget the clocks go back on Saturday night/Sunday morning so you'll get an extra hour in bed.
Sunday 16 October 2011
Autumn Colours
The weatherman had promised a clear and dry day but with lower temperatures starting to become a feature - he wasn't wrong and I chose the right things to wear with two layers on top, leggings below and a pair of long-finger gloves. For the first few minutes I pondered stopping to put a hat on under my helmet but, by the time I crested Pease pottage Hill I was plenty warm enough. The Forest Road was a bit chilly in the shade and the odd pocket of mist also took the temperature down but made for photogenic countryside:
I arrived at Horsham Pavilions in the Park on time but none of the bikes were familiar. I was mentally planning a slightly different route for what looked like being a solo ride when I noticed a cyclist approaching - I didn't recognise him but he was looking for me. "Horsham CTC?" he asked. "Yes, good morning" I replied. Johnny had found us on the internet and wanting to join us on our Cutty Sark ride had decided to check us out on this ride beforehand.
We had a chat for a few minutes during which time I reckoned he would easily be able to cope with my planned route and having checked he was OK with it, we set off.
We went across a misty golf course and then through Broadbridge Heath and thence to Itchingfield. Visibility was good but there was still a certain mistiness that the sun hadn't yet broken through. At Barns Green we headed over the railway crossing (after waiting for a train to pass) and carried on south to Dragons Green.
I styled this ride "Autumn Colours" but I forgot to take any pictures as we rode around, so I've included some pictures I've taken on a previous autumn.
From Dragons Green we crossed (carefully) over the A272 and then went past The Countryman Inn with Shipley Windmill invisible in the mist to our left and then crossed the A24 at the garden centre.
After Bob Lane we headed north on Bolney Chapel Lane and after waiting several minutes before being able to cross the A272 headed up Foxhole Lane and then Colwood Lane up to Warninglid. From here it was but a short ride up to Slaugham Pond and then along Hampshire Hill to the lunch stop - The Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain.
He intends meeting up with us next week (at the Cutty Sark) for our Greenwich to Crawley ride.
Next weeks ride is the Greenwich to Crawley NCN20 ride.
I arrived at Horsham Pavilions in the Park on time but none of the bikes were familiar. I was mentally planning a slightly different route for what looked like being a solo ride when I noticed a cyclist approaching - I didn't recognise him but he was looking for me. "Horsham CTC?" he asked. "Yes, good morning" I replied. Johnny had found us on the internet and wanting to join us on our Cutty Sark ride had decided to check us out on this ride beforehand.
We had a chat for a few minutes during which time I reckoned he would easily be able to cope with my planned route and having checked he was OK with it, we set off.
We went across a misty golf course and then through Broadbridge Heath and thence to Itchingfield. Visibility was good but there was still a certain mistiness that the sun hadn't yet broken through. At Barns Green we headed over the railway crossing (after waiting for a train to pass) and carried on south to Dragons Green.
I styled this ride "Autumn Colours" but I forgot to take any pictures as we rode around, so I've included some pictures I've taken on a previous autumn.
From Dragons Green we crossed (carefully) over the A272 and then went past The Countryman Inn with Shipley Windmill invisible in the mist to our left and then crossed the A24 at the garden centre.
Now I thought I would be adventurous and turned left onto the bridleway through The Lock Estate. A few hundred yards further and there were several young cattle just hanging around on the path - Johnny was really surprised that, though I had been scared by a labrador dog that came bounding up to us earlier, I wasn't at all fazed by these much larger animals. I think it's that I find a hulking vegetarian a lot less frightening than any size of toothy carnivore!
I was following this part of the route by memory and it's about ten years since I last rode it, but I remembered the first couple of junctions correctly. However, when we came to the part that I thought went diagonally across a large concrete apron and then left onto a concrete track, the fingerposts didn't seem to back it up and the concrete track had all but disappeared! I trusted my memory though and a Bridleway fingerpost confirmed we were still legal. It looks like there has been some rerouting of rights of way and closure/removal of old/creation of new tracks around here (a quick look at the satellite view when I got home confirmed this). We emerged back onto the public roads at Partridge Green and from here we headed east then turned south onto the A281.
Just before the River, we turned left onto the bridleway taking us past Shermanbury Church. At first this is a broad, tree-lined avenue but on reaching the Church it becomes a fairly narrow bridleway, albeit with a good surface. Eventually we emerged back on the road at Wineham where we headed north, past The Royal Oak before turning right onto Bob Lane.
This lane goes past a major National Grid substation. If you look on an OS map, it's possible to see no fewer than seven different Electricity Transmission Lines converging on this substation - all but two of which go to ground some way off from it (the furthest would appear to be just west of Crabtree).
After Bob Lane we headed north on Bolney Chapel Lane and after waiting several minutes before being able to cross the A272 headed up Foxhole Lane and then Colwood Lane up to Warninglid. From here it was but a short ride up to Slaugham Pond and then along Hampshire Hill to the lunch stop - The Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain.
Over a pint of Sussex and some very tasty (and promptly served) food, I had a chat with Johnny about Norway (where he's from) and about our club and the riding available in our neck of the woods.
He intends meeting up with us next week (at the Cutty Sark) for our Greenwich to Crawley ride.
It was nice and sunny in the shelter of the pub garden but eventually we decided it was time to head for home. As both of us live in Crawley, we took the sensible route over the B2110 onto Hammerpond Road and then up Grouse Road to Pease Pottage. From there it was just a mile and bit to arrive home just after 14:00hrs. Looking at the speedo, it was reading only 46 miles, but they were very pleasant and I found myself wondering if that would be the last dry ride of the year?
The plethora of berries on the Holly trees and other bushes gives hint to a hard winter according to the Old Wives Tales, so I thought I would finish off with this little fella:
Next weeks ride is the Greenwich to Crawley NCN20 ride.
Make your own way to London and meet either at Cafe Ritazza in Victoria Station at 09:00 hrs or on the west side of The Cutty Sark at 10:15hrs. Pete S will be leading this day long ride of approximately 60 miles. The morning is lamost all tarmac, the afternoon has a fair amount of mainly stone dressed off-road. Touring bikes will be more than capable.
Latest Train service news is that trains will not be running from Horsham this Sunday. the service from Three Bridges is unaffected.
Sunday 9 October 2011
Winkworth Arboretum
Todays ride was fairly straightforward: Starting from Horsham Pavilions in the Park, Pete would lead us to Winkworth Arboretum and back. After an uneventful ride over from Crawley, I arrived at the start just as Barbara did. As I was overheating, I stayed outside and kept an eye on our bikes whilst Barbara joined Pete for a pre-ride coffee (I think it was her breakfast as she'd overslept and had to rush out of the house to get to the ride).
No-one else turned up and so we set off - along Hurst Road to North Parade and then west through Horsham and over the Golf course. Just before we went under the A24 a couple of teenage boys on bmx/jump bikes went past us. With their low saddles and lack of gears it was obvious those bikes weren't intended for our sort of riding and it was quite entertaining watching their riders putting so much effort (and discomfort) into keeping ahead of us as we cruised along Robin Hood Lane. Half a mile later they reached their destination - the mud jumps at the end of Byfleets Lane.
We carried on and shortly afterwards "enjoyed" the climb of Rowhook Hill. We passed through Ellens Green on the way to Cranleigh where we crossed over the Downs Link, then the Wey-Arun Canal and then the A281 before going past the entrance to Dunsfold Aerodrome. This is the airfield used by Top Gear and I've always had a hankering to meet Mr Clarkson and ride my bike over his car (in a reversal of a casual comment he once uttered on the show).
As we reached a place called Loxhill the road turned north and also headed up for two (or was it three?) climbs before we reached our destination.
Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust garden and we obviously weren't the only visitors today - the car park was absolutely choc-a-bloc. Not a problem for us though, we just merrily rode/wheeled our bikes right up to the cafe and chained them up there.
We lunched on tea and sandwiches before going for a walk around the garden. The autumn colours have only just got going and I enjoyed strolling around taking some photographs:
No-one else turned up and so we set off - along Hurst Road to North Parade and then west through Horsham and over the Golf course. Just before we went under the A24 a couple of teenage boys on bmx/jump bikes went past us. With their low saddles and lack of gears it was obvious those bikes weren't intended for our sort of riding and it was quite entertaining watching their riders putting so much effort (and discomfort) into keeping ahead of us as we cruised along Robin Hood Lane. Half a mile later they reached their destination - the mud jumps at the end of Byfleets Lane.
We carried on and shortly afterwards "enjoyed" the climb of Rowhook Hill. We passed through Ellens Green on the way to Cranleigh where we crossed over the Downs Link, then the Wey-Arun Canal and then the A281 before going past the entrance to Dunsfold Aerodrome. This is the airfield used by Top Gear and I've always had a hankering to meet Mr Clarkson and ride my bike over his car (in a reversal of a casual comment he once uttered on the show).
As we reached a place called Loxhill the road turned north and also headed up for two (or was it three?) climbs before we reached our destination.
Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust garden and we obviously weren't the only visitors today - the car park was absolutely choc-a-bloc. Not a problem for us though, we just merrily rode/wheeled our bikes right up to the cafe and chained them up there.
We lunched on tea and sandwiches before going for a walk around the garden. The autumn colours have only just got going and I enjoyed strolling around taking some photographs:
After all that exercise, when we got back to the cafe we just had to have another cuppa and a bite to eat!!!
For the ride back the wind was behind us and we fair sped down the hills we'd laboured up earlier.
In no time we were back at Cranleigh (did you know it was originally called "Crawley" but was renamed when the New Town came into being in order to avoid confusion?).
To give us a bit of variety, Pete headed us back via Ewhurst, where we encountered this device. I think it is a very "pc" bit of equipment as it tells everybody to slow down and doesn't discriminate against those who are going too quick. Accordingly, I got off my bike and entreated my fellow riders to slow down from the ridiculous 10 mph they were clocking along this dangerous piece of highway!
Cutting through Ewhurst we went through Ewhurst Green and Walliswood before retracing our steps down (joy of joys!) Rowhook Hill and back into Horsham.
Saying good bye to Pete and Barbara I then took the Forest Road back home through Colgate and Pease Pottage. As I put my bike away, I realised I'd cycled some 52 miles on an October day without needing to wear thick or waterproof clothes - result!
Next weeks ride is once again aimed at enjoying the Autumn colours and will start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs. It will head south from Horsham and (optionally)lunch will be at the Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain. The total mileage will be a fairly easy 30 and even with a lunch stop we should all be home by 14:00hrs. Come and join us.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Beginners Ride
This months Beginners Ride was held a week earlier than usual and, in spite of a glorious summery day, only Barbara and Bob turned up. We waited around for 10 minutes but were disappointed as no-one else materialised.
Rather than head out along the Worth Way, we decided to ride a loop to the north and west of Crawley. We went through Three Bridges following the NCN20 into the Industrial Estate and then through Gatwick Airport into Horley. Here we headed north through various residential streets and exited the town on Meath Green Lane. The road surface was lovely and smooth and in the warmth of the sun provided very pleasant cycling as it became Lonesome Lane and emerged in the southern edge of Reigate. Here we headed west, across the A217 and back into the countryside along Slipshatch Road. This road becomes Clayhall Lane and then Flanchford Road. Next we turned left into Church Lane which quietly led us to Leigh.
We headed on west, over the crossroads onto Clayhill Road which became Broad Lane as it swept south-westerly towards Parkgate where we turned right to go past the Surrey Oaks pub. Approaching Newdigate we took Hogspudding Lane and then Church Road where we saw this beehive:
Emerging opposite the Six Bells, we turned south onto Rusper Road and, just short of Rusper, in the middle of the countryside, on a quiet lane, encountered a half mile long traffic jam! Fortunately it was heading in the opposite direction to us and was comprised of people trying to get to a car boot sale. Pretty much bang on 12:00 hrs we pulled up at The Plough in Rusper and enjoyed a pleasant lunch in the sheltered suntrap of a back garden.
From here, Barbara headed off downhill back to Horsham and I headed off down a different hill back to Crawley. I decided to go via Goffs Park and was pleased to see that the model railway is still there, still giving excited children (and adults) rides behind miniature steam engines. After using Springfield Road I went along East Park and then cut through the old Longley premises and past the Arora Hotel to emerge on Southgate Avenue. Here I revisited an old habit of mine by riding up the sharp climb of the cutting by the bridge and then across the playing field (passing the BMX/skateboard park) into The Hawth woodland. In the woodland are several paths and many pits - the product of ancient iron-working! Many of these pits can be ridden through and I enjoyed myself doing just that. I'm sure I wasn't as spectacular as most of the kids that must ride these pits and jumps, but I enjoyed it and managed not to fall off.
Even after all this fun, I was still home by 14:00hrs and spent the rest of the afternoon just pottering around my garden.
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions In The Park at 10:00 hrs and, led by Pete E, we will head west and north to visit Winkworth Arboretum, a National Trust property that should have a spectacular display of Autumn Colour. If you want to go around the garden bring your NT membership card (or £5.60 for non-members). Refreshments are available from the cafe without having to pay for entry. This will be a fairly easy ride over a total of about 40 miles.
Rather than head out along the Worth Way, we decided to ride a loop to the north and west of Crawley. We went through Three Bridges following the NCN20 into the Industrial Estate and then through Gatwick Airport into Horley. Here we headed north through various residential streets and exited the town on Meath Green Lane. The road surface was lovely and smooth and in the warmth of the sun provided very pleasant cycling as it became Lonesome Lane and emerged in the southern edge of Reigate. Here we headed west, across the A217 and back into the countryside along Slipshatch Road. This road becomes Clayhall Lane and then Flanchford Road. Next we turned left into Church Lane which quietly led us to Leigh.
We headed on west, over the crossroads onto Clayhill Road which became Broad Lane as it swept south-westerly towards Parkgate where we turned right to go past the Surrey Oaks pub. Approaching Newdigate we took Hogspudding Lane and then Church Road where we saw this beehive:
Emerging opposite the Six Bells, we turned south onto Rusper Road and, just short of Rusper, in the middle of the countryside, on a quiet lane, encountered a half mile long traffic jam! Fortunately it was heading in the opposite direction to us and was comprised of people trying to get to a car boot sale. Pretty much bang on 12:00 hrs we pulled up at The Plough in Rusper and enjoyed a pleasant lunch in the sheltered suntrap of a back garden.
From here, Barbara headed off downhill back to Horsham and I headed off down a different hill back to Crawley. I decided to go via Goffs Park and was pleased to see that the model railway is still there, still giving excited children (and adults) rides behind miniature steam engines. After using Springfield Road I went along East Park and then cut through the old Longley premises and past the Arora Hotel to emerge on Southgate Avenue. Here I revisited an old habit of mine by riding up the sharp climb of the cutting by the bridge and then across the playing field (passing the BMX/skateboard park) into The Hawth woodland. In the woodland are several paths and many pits - the product of ancient iron-working! Many of these pits can be ridden through and I enjoyed myself doing just that. I'm sure I wasn't as spectacular as most of the kids that must ride these pits and jumps, but I enjoyed it and managed not to fall off.
Even after all this fun, I was still home by 14:00hrs and spent the rest of the afternoon just pottering around my garden.
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Pavilions In The Park at 10:00 hrs and, led by Pete E, we will head west and north to visit Winkworth Arboretum, a National Trust property that should have a spectacular display of Autumn Colour. If you want to go around the garden bring your NT membership card (or £5.60 for non-members). Refreshments are available from the cafe without having to pay for entry. This will be a fairly easy ride over a total of about 40 miles.
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