It was good to welcome Mick out on this ride but disappointing that no-one else turned up. I had two routes in mind to the mystery destination: one to the south and then west of Horsham, the other to the North and then west. After discussion we decided on the latter and so, off we set. We went past the newly refurbished station and past the Salvation Army centre to reach Depot Road. At the end of the road we decided to see if there was a route through the houses but, after a couple of false endings had to make our way back to St Leonards Road in order to get on to Hammerpond Road.
This road took us past the rugby club, the church, Roosthole pond and Mannings Heath golf club. We then turned onto Grouse Road for three miles of generally up before turning left to head across to Colgate. After a quick breather at Tower Hill, we blasted down the hill and across the A264 into Faygate. At the top of the hill we turned into Wimlands Lane then took Wimlands Road up to the Horsham Road. Here we turned left and then picked up Green Lane and Friday Street to head on up towards Capel. My favourite lane now loomed into view - Weare Street - and, as ever, it was a really enjoyable ride along it. On reaching the main road we turned left and then, after about a mile took the second left onto Northlands Road. Halfway along this road is a house with a quite substantial six-storey tower. I've no idea on the reason for it to have such a tower, do you?
Anyway, a couple of lanes later we arrived at the mystery destination: The Sussex Oak at Warnham. It just so happened that the pub was hosting a beer festival :-) and we had to try a couple!
Sunday 26 August 2012
Sunday 19 August 2012
Cutty Sark to Crawley using NCN21
Since its introduction a few years back, this has become one of our signature rides. The basic idea is travel to The Cutty Sark at Greenwich and then ride back to Crawley along National Cycle Network route 21. This year we had the uncertainty of the bike provision on the trains due to London 2012 Olympics restrictions. One rail operator, FCC, managed to give us a definitive "Yes, we can carry your bikes*" answer a couple of weeks before the ride, but the other, Southern, just referred us to their ambiguously worded website and then, only a couple of days before the ride, deciding to go back to the normal cycle restrictions. All these rail operators get on my wick - they take more money off me through my taxes than British Rail ever did and then mug me again with their lack of provision for cyclists and intricate fare entrapment methodologies. The cheapest fares are for people who can book up several months in advance, on a particular train for a particular journey with only 5 shoelace holes in their left shoes - OK I made the last requirement up, but you get the picture. Try booking a long way ahead when the same rail companies can't give you a definitive answer to the question "Can I take a normal bike on your trains on Sunday August 19th?".
In the light of Southern's tardiness with an answer, I'd moved the planned rendezvous at Victoria Station (served only by Southern trains) to Evans Bike shop just outside London Bridge Station (regularly served by FCC trains). This meant that one train in particular ended up with five of us travelling on it! Sod's Law meant it was one without any proper cycle facilites (or at least, none that we could spot as it pulled in), so two of us got into the front carriages and the rest in the rear carriages. Fortunately the train wasn't busy and standing our bikes in the entrance lobbies didn't present any problems at either Gatwick Airport or East Croydon. We walked through the station, across the walkway and regrouped outside Evans. Here we were met by Mike's son Eric. We waited a while, but in spite of a number of cyclists milling around, no-one else was joining our ride.
It's a relatively short and direct route from London Bridge to Greenwich and I shot off along it, not noticing I was spinning along at 17 - 20 mph! However, everyone managed to keep pace and we soon arrived at The Cutty Sark where we were met by Norman - he'd come up on an earlier train and had enjoyed a pleasant ride north of the river before reaching the start point. We took the opportunity to have some refreshments before finally setting off on NCN 21 at about 10:30.
After lunch the character of the ride changes and takes on a rougher aspect with a succession of bridleways. It's for this reason that I always use my full offroad tyres for this ride.
Yet another tough uphill, but on tarmac eventually brings us to the scarp of the North Downs and a lovely sunny viewpoint
Micheal took the opportunity to have a quiet lie down:
Once off the Downs the surface of the route improves a bit and, in spite of being tired, the average speed started going up again.
Near East Surrey hospital there's a small store where we stopped for chilled bottled water and other refreshments before finishing off the ride on familiar trails through Horley and Gatwick and back to Three Bridges Station.
Fifty something miles with a nice group of fellow cyclists and taking on several challenges en-route - perfect!
In the light of Southern's tardiness with an answer, I'd moved the planned rendezvous at Victoria Station (served only by Southern trains) to Evans Bike shop just outside London Bridge Station (regularly served by FCC trains). This meant that one train in particular ended up with five of us travelling on it! Sod's Law meant it was one without any proper cycle facilites (or at least, none that we could spot as it pulled in), so two of us got into the front carriages and the rest in the rear carriages. Fortunately the train wasn't busy and standing our bikes in the entrance lobbies didn't present any problems at either Gatwick Airport or East Croydon. We walked through the station, across the walkway and regrouped outside Evans. Here we were met by Mike's son Eric. We waited a while, but in spite of a number of cyclists milling around, no-one else was joining our ride.
It's a relatively short and direct route from London Bridge to Greenwich and I shot off along it, not noticing I was spinning along at 17 - 20 mph! However, everyone managed to keep pace and we soon arrived at The Cutty Sark where we were met by Norman - he'd come up on an earlier train and had enjoyed a pleasant ride north of the river before reaching the start point. We took the opportunity to have some refreshments before finally setting off on NCN 21 at about 10:30.
The first part of the route heads up the valley of the Wandle (I think it is) through Orpington and eventually to Croydon where we skirt New Addington with a long climb alongside the tramway. We continue climbing through the suburbs and thence into the North Downs abd the lunch stop at the White Bear in Fickleshole.
Here we dined on some very nice sandwiches (and a couple of oints of ale - we needed the calories, honest!).
My favourite section is a one mile downhill track that bursts out of the trees by the clubhouse of a golf course - I love the look on the faces of the golfers sat outside the clubhouse as I come rattling and banging into the sunshine at about 25 mph scattering stones and dust everywhere, wearing a smile as big as their largest sandtrap!
An offroad hillclimb is followed by a long uphill drag (on tarmac) through the grounds of a school and shortly after by a very tough offroad uphill - this photo shows it, but doesn't really give away how hard it is!
Fifty something miles with a nice group of fellow cyclists and taking on several challenges en-route - perfect!
Sunday 12 August 2012
Monthly Introductory Ride
I was interviewed by the local paper this week as they asked ‘is there a knock-on effect from the Olympics’. I had to reply that although I had seen many cyclists around town, we had not experienced a lot of new riders and that perhaps they had all joined Crawley Wheelers to go racing. But that was before our beginners ride where we had eleven riders! I had quite forgotten what it is like to lead such a large group and being on the tandem made this a little bit harder, but it was a delight to see so many people out on their bikes. We followed our, now quite regular, route to Redhill Aerodrome. Many people had not done this before and we got the opportunity to see 200 tons of jet aircraft fly over our head at Gatwick and the light aircraft and helicopters buzzing around at the Aerodrome. We had a warm day and fulfilled our promise not to leave anyone behind, even though we had a wide range of capability in our group. The watch-word with Horsham/Crawley CTC is social, leisure riding and so we hope to see you out on your bike soon.
Check further information on Cycling in Crawley on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/123008357770954/
Anybody wanting help to get cycling or commuting to work can email: crawshamctc@hotmail.com
Check further information on Cycling in Crawley on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/123008357770954/
Anybody wanting help to get cycling or commuting to work can email: crawshamctc@hotmail.com
Sunday 5 August 2012
DA Picnic at Wisborough Green
John C kindly volunteered to lead this ride and when I turned up at Horsham Pavilions in the Park he was already there along with John V. It was good to see them both and as we were chatting a fourth rider, namely Pete E, turned up. We stayed in the cafe as the tail end of a heavy shower wore itself out and then we were off. Pete led us through Horsham and out on the Worthing Road to Tower Hill. The road surface showed evidence of the recent shower but, as we headed down Two Mile Ash Road so the heavens opened again. On with the waterproofs and shelter under a tree as the worst passed overhead.
Then we carried on through Barns Green and up Valewood Lane. John next led us up New Road and right onto the A29 for a short run up to the first left. As we negotiated this fast and busy road I noticed a rather battered Ford Ka sat in the field on my left - judging by the hole in the hedge and the state of the car, it looks like it had rolled over a couple of times before coming to rest pointing back in the direction from whence it came. The first left is Okehurst Lane and when we reached the far end we realised that we were going to arrive at Wisborough Green too early. So we decided to add a loop to the north and headed up to The Blue Ship at The Haven. Here we turned left then right and carried on up to the A281 at Bucks Green. Next we headed over to Tismans Common but had to stop as JC had a puncture. As we stood around watching John replace his tube, we could see the clouds were getting thicker and greyer - hurry up John!
Back on the road we were overtaken by a couple of "yoofs" in a car who shouted at us and threw something out of the car as they passed. Judging by the standard of driving I understand why young male drivers have to pay so much for car insurance. To be honest, I was half expecting to find them wrapped around a tree somewhere along Drungewick Lane!
However, we reached the end of the lane without comng across any scene of carnage and as we were now nearly there, JV and myself upped the pace a bit and arrived at the Green just a few minutes after twelve.There were a couple of riders already there and then the others rolled in. The sun was now shining and there were some 14 of us all having a picnic. I popped across to the pub and brought back a rather nice pint of Doom Bar to wash down my egg mayonaise sandwiches, chorizo, cheese and tomatoes. Very nice. This means that, with only one more DA Event to go, we're in the lead for the trophy. So come on everyone, a good turnout for the Arun Crossings on September 2nd should guarantee a win for us.
After an enoyable time chatting with our colleagues from the Arun and Adur and Bognor and Chichester sections, we headed back home. As there was just the four of us and we're all confident on the road, we used the A272 to and through Billingshurst before taking the left turn onto Wooddale Lane. This lane is so quiet that there's a green verge along the middle of much of it. After this we retraced our outward route back to Horsham where we said goodbye to Pete leaving the two Johns and I to use Forest Road through Roffey and Colgate to Pease Pottage. A quick burn down a very quiet A23 to K2 and a few minutes later I was home. My mileage for the last three Sunday rides has been 101, 65 and now 48 and I'm starting to feel fitter.
Next weeks ride is a Beginners Ride starting from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. Led by Pete S it will be an easy ride suitable for practically everyone and open to members and non-members alike. The weather forecast is suggesting good weather, so come out and have an enjoyable couple of hours out and about on your bike.
Then we carried on through Barns Green and up Valewood Lane. John next led us up New Road and right onto the A29 for a short run up to the first left. As we negotiated this fast and busy road I noticed a rather battered Ford Ka sat in the field on my left - judging by the hole in the hedge and the state of the car, it looks like it had rolled over a couple of times before coming to rest pointing back in the direction from whence it came. The first left is Okehurst Lane and when we reached the far end we realised that we were going to arrive at Wisborough Green too early. So we decided to add a loop to the north and headed up to The Blue Ship at The Haven. Here we turned left then right and carried on up to the A281 at Bucks Green. Next we headed over to Tismans Common but had to stop as JC had a puncture. As we stood around watching John replace his tube, we could see the clouds were getting thicker and greyer - hurry up John!
Back on the road we were overtaken by a couple of "yoofs" in a car who shouted at us and threw something out of the car as they passed. Judging by the standard of driving I understand why young male drivers have to pay so much for car insurance. To be honest, I was half expecting to find them wrapped around a tree somewhere along Drungewick Lane!
However, we reached the end of the lane without comng across any scene of carnage and as we were now nearly there, JV and myself upped the pace a bit and arrived at the Green just a few minutes after twelve.There were a couple of riders already there and then the others rolled in. The sun was now shining and there were some 14 of us all having a picnic. I popped across to the pub and brought back a rather nice pint of Doom Bar to wash down my egg mayonaise sandwiches, chorizo, cheese and tomatoes. Very nice. This means that, with only one more DA Event to go, we're in the lead for the trophy. So come on everyone, a good turnout for the Arun Crossings on September 2nd should guarantee a win for us.
After an enoyable time chatting with our colleagues from the Arun and Adur and Bognor and Chichester sections, we headed back home. As there was just the four of us and we're all confident on the road, we used the A272 to and through Billingshurst before taking the left turn onto Wooddale Lane. This lane is so quiet that there's a green verge along the middle of much of it. After this we retraced our outward route back to Horsham where we said goodbye to Pete leaving the two Johns and I to use Forest Road through Roffey and Colgate to Pease Pottage. A quick burn down a very quiet A23 to K2 and a few minutes later I was home. My mileage for the last three Sunday rides has been 101, 65 and now 48 and I'm starting to feel fitter.
Next weeks ride is a Beginners Ride starting from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. Led by Pete S it will be an easy ride suitable for practically everyone and open to members and non-members alike. The weather forecast is suggesting good weather, so come out and have an enjoyable couple of hours out and about on your bike.
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