Riding with Horsham and Crawley
Sunday, 31 January 2010
It Will Not Snow

The planned start time for this ride was 09:30am, but with the forecast for an icy start, I decided to delay things until 10:00am. This gave me some extra time, and since the A281 at Cowfold was closed (I assume due to ice from the Ice Warning sign), I followed some of my intended route back to Horsham and noted the sections with ice we’ll have to get past.

 

I will admit that I was in the car and not cycling, since my shoulder, even after an operation, is still not right after my Dec 2008 encounter with ice.

 

Arriving at HPP well before the original 09:30am start time, I quickly got my bike ready before going to wait in the café with a cuppa and pastry. Mick was already waiting, having cycled the short distance from his home. However, with the frost still evident and me not really selling the ride, with comments about patches of ice we’ll have to get past, I think I put him off. (Mick is someone else to have come off worse when his bike encountered a patch of ice a few years ago).

 

Shortly afterwards John V arrived, having cycled over from Crawley, but was undecided whether to continue the ride, or make his way back. The possibility of snow later in the afternoon was one of the reasons, since the lunchtime stop was some way from Crawley, the other being that he was already frozen.

 

While waiting and discussing options Bob, who had also cycled from Crawley, arrived. He mentioned that he’d had to get round at least one significant section of ice, hence the delay (I believe for Bob he was in fact early – but only for the revised start time).

 

So we sat in the warmth of the café, we discussed alterations to the route, and we discussed other cycling topics. But generally we were in no particular rush to go anywhere. So around 10:15 I decided that I’d call the ride off, and we all went our separate ways. The temperature gauge in my car read on leaving -2.0oC, and travelling home by the back roads we normally use there was a lot of ice to contend with.

 

So a point to Mick, John V and Bob in the Mick Horley competition. ZERO for me since I’d driven.

 

The reason that this ride had the note “It Will Not Snow” is because last year while eating our lunch at the LimeBurners it started snowing and we had to make a quick dash back.

 

The proposed route (which I’ll use next year but later in the year) is below (distance in Kms because my computer is set to Kms for Audax rides):

 

Kms

Directions

0.00

0.00

Start HPP, HORSHAM

0.14

0.14

R @T (Hurst Rd)

0.30

0.16

2nd @ RAB (North St > Park St)

0.85

0.54

L @ Lt (Parkway)

0.99

0.14

L @ Lt (East St > Queens St > Brighton Rd) $ Brighton

2.11

1.12

9th R (Kerves Ln > Hards Hill > Kerves Ln)

(Note HILL approaching – sorry)

4.43

2.32

R @ T (Colstaple Ln > Southwater St)

$ SOUTHWATER

6.64

2.21

L @ T (Worthing Rd) SOUTHWATER

6.74

0.10

2nd RAB

7.12

0.38

2nd RAB

7.74

0.62

SO T/Lts

8.42

0.67

4th R on L bend pass Bus parking on L (Shipley Rd)

11.30

2.88

L @ T (A272) imm R (Pound Ln) $ Shipley

12.94

1.65

Keep L @ Grass T (Swallows Ln) $ DIAL POST

15.02

2.08

R @ T (Worthing Rd) DIAL POST $ Worthing

15.78

0.75

Stagg X SO A24 (Grinders Ln) $ ASHURST

19.92

4.14

Keep R @ Grass T (School Ln) x$ Partridge Green

20.82

0.90

R @ T (B2135) ASHURST $ Steyning

22.00

1.18

1st R (Spithandle Ln) Just before big white house

26.19

4.19

R @ T (Hole St)

28.08

1.89

Under A24 > London Rd ASHINGTON

28.22

0.14

2ND MRAB

29.15

0.93

2nd @ RAB (Billinghurst Rd B2133) $ Billinghurst

33.02

3.87

L @ T imm R (Harbolets Rd B2133) $ ADVERSANE

35.66

2.64

Becomes Adversane Ln

38.56

2.90

Stagg X SO A24 (Lordings Rd B2133) ADVERSANE

$ Guildford

41.06

2.50

LUNCH LIMEBURNERS ARMS, NEWBRIDGE

41.06

0.00

LUNCH LIMEBURNERS ARMS, NEWBRIDGE

R from Limeburners

41.15

0.10

L @ T (A272) $ Petworth followed by imm R (Rowner Rd)

43.49

2.34

Becomes Okehurst Rd (Don’t turn R)

46.91

3.42

R @ T (opp BLUE SHIP PH) $ THE HAVEN

47.36

0.45

R @ T (Haven Rd) HAVEN $ Five Oaks

49.50

2.14

L @ T $ London A29

50.21

0.70

1st R (Hayes Ln)

52.43

2.22

1st MRAB

52.74

0.30

R @ T (Lyons Rd) SLINFOLD

$ BROADBRIDGE HEATH

54.80

2.06

L @ T (A264 Five Oaks Rd)

$ BROADBRIDGE HEATH

55.57

0.77

2nd RAB (Billinghurst Rd)

$ BROADBRIDGE HEATH

56.19

0.62

L  (Warnham Rd)

$ Warnham

57.17

0.98

2nd R (Robin Hood Ln)

58.14

0.98

1st R $ CP Horsham. (Go over the golf course, following CP signs. Take Care)

58.88

0.74

R @ T and imm L (Spencer Pl)

59.10

0.22

Becomes Kempshot Rd

59.38

0.27

L @ T (Trafalgar Rd)

59.62

0.24

R @ T followed by imm R @ T (N Parade)

59.89

0.27

Keep L SO @ T/Lts $ Hurst Rd (on road)

60.00

0.11

L @ T/Lts (Hurst Rd) $ Hurst Rd (on road)

60.80

0.80

Finish HPP, HORSHAM

 

Next week’s ride is 40miles Medium to the Red Lion, Turners Hill lead by Pete S. Depart TBR at 10:00am


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 9:44 PM GMT
Updated: Monday, 1 February 2010 9:52 PM GMT
Sunday, 24 January 2010
SLeigh Ride

Cripes!  It’s Thursday and I haven’t written the blog for last Sunday’s ride yet …. I’ve been busy ….  too many things to do …..  not had the opportunity .   Well, all of those are true but the real reason is that I’ve completely lost my muse!

 

Normally I think of something – an event, a complaint, an enjoyable moment, a question – and pin the whole blog on that, but this week I’ve come up with nothing.

True, I’ve got out of the habit recently what with the turnout of one (me), the  cancelled ride, being away for the weekend and those ventures I made into poetry but I thought all that would leave me feeling verbally refreshed and ready to dash off some scintillating prose on the joys of our club rides.  No such luck. Take this week for instance, I really enjoyed the ride (it was the longest I’ve done for about a month), we had a good turnout – Mick, Barbara, Pete, Marian, John V, Richard and me as leader – the weather was sunny and dry, the route was varied and quite beautiful in places, the pub was warm and friendly with good food and excellent beer, Anton met us at the pub and there was any easy ride back home. In fact, in the big scheme of things it ticked almost all the boxes for an inspiring ride yet I’m still devoid of the literary spark.   I’m pondering all this as I’m sat at work waiting for a couple of things to happen before I can continue with my current project.

 

I’ve just checked my e-mail – no progress there, so back to the blog.
I’m going to attempt another bit of verse, so here goes:

 

Another Sunday out on the Bike

With friends from Horsham and Crawley

We rode north and I added a loop

To arrive at the Plough in Leigh.

 

That only took me a couple of minutes (…and it shows!! ) and raises the question of how to pronounce the name of the village.  Is it Leigh as in “lee” or is it Leigh as in “lie”?  As you can tell from my poem, I plump for the “lee” sound, but I don’t know whether that’s correct or not. Anyone out there know for sure?

 

Anyway, let’s describe the route.  We left Three Bridges Station and headed through the back streets of Three Bridges and then Northgate before using the Crawley Avenue underpass into the Industrial Estate. From there it was past the Beehive and onto the cyclepath through Gatwick Airport. Emerging into Horley I took us on a slightly zig-zaggy route past the Hot Air Balloon pub and then out on Meath Green Lane. This lane becomes Lonesome Lane and was notable for the really good road surface – lovely and smooth. There weren’t too many cars out either. As the lane arrived in Reigate the surface deteriorated badly and I began to wish I'd used the bridleway that John V had suggested a quarter mile earlier. Now heading west we were soon back out in the countryside and only a couple of miles from the pub. As it was only a few minutes past eleven I added a northern loop taking us over a slight hill and through some nice parkland complete with a herd of deer. The sign nearby said “Police Training Area” – uncharitably I wondered what kind of training they received there: How to arrest people protecting their own house/family/property? How to let obvious ne’er-do-wells get away with murder? How to use the company credit card for personal gain?  But hey, that’s just grumpy old me talking – I’d rather see a British Bobby than any other copper from around the world, it’s just that the odd bad apple spoils things from time to time.

Anyway, off the soapbox and back on the bike. Arriving at Betchworth we turned south towards a somewhat watery sun (nice blue sky though) for a couple of miles on a slightly busy road before heading east for the final mile to pull in at the The Plough in Leigh just as the pub opened its doors.  John V, Barbara and Richard weren’t stopping for lunch so we bade them farewell and then joined the regulars inside to order our pints of Sussex and various panini sandwiches or soup.

 

With impeccable timing Anton arrived about 30 seconds after we’d got the second round of drinks in – was he waiting outside?  Only kidding.  We were pleased to see him and his wife. They’d been out looking at cars and, I fancy, were a bit fed up with it, so had decided to join us for lunch. Lunchtime conversation topics were all over the place but one area revisited from last week was the question Mick posed about how much would need adding to a 40,000 km rope circling the earth in order to raise it one metre higher all round. With the benefit of a chat I had with my dad on Sunday evening I can tell you that the answer is 2pi metres. In fact, whatever units you are working in, the answer is 2pi x those units, so to raise it one foot all round, you’d need to add 2pi feet to the 40,000 kms, to raise it one km you’d add 2pi kms etc.etc.etc.

 

Hey, this wasn’t so hard – I’m halfway down a second page in Word!

 

Once we finished it was back out into the cold and the most direct route home which took us first to Parkgate, then along Partridge Lane before Mick carried on to Rusper and on home to Horsham whilst Pete, Marian and myself took Orltons Lane, Langhurst Lane and then the Rusper Road back into Crawley.

 

Total mileage was a little under the 35 advertised but, having been partying until 02:00 hrs on Saturday night, I was glad to get back to a warm settee in front of my glowing television screen for a late afternoon snooze.

 

Next weeks ride is a medium 40 miles from Horsham Park Pavilion at 09:30hrs. Led by Anton it will take a southerly loop for lunch at the Limeburners Arms just west of Billingshurst. I hope to see you there.


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 4:20 PM GMT
Updated: Friday, 29 January 2010 9:52 AM GMT
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Morning Ride with breakfast at The Lamb, Lambs Green

Ride: Distance: 25 miles - medium

Leader: Mick  

Today’s ride was in doubt due to the snow. After a big thaw and rain the ride was confirmed on Saturday.

 

At the start were myself, Pete S, Frank and Pat, Martin, Barbara, Anton and John V.  We were expecting Bob so when I got some missed calls from him I assumed he was running late.  He was but was not yet up so we agreed to meet at breakfast.  Eight was not a bad turn out for January.  I guess, like myself, members were keen to get out after being snowed in.

 

Before we started I set a question:  If a rope around the world was 40,000 km long, how much longer would the rope have to be if it was 1m above the surface?

 

With that thought in mind we set off north and over the A264 onto Langhurstwood Road and through a flood, not too deep but expected as we had been there late last year.  We then turned right into Green Lane which was more like a river than a lane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of Green Lane Anton returned back to Horsham.  It was at this point we saw another cyclist coming from the direction of Hurst Hill going at a reasonable pace.  It was only when we spotted the motor we realized she was power assisted.  All credit to her for getting out and about.

 

It was then on into and through Rusper avoiding numerous potholes.  I nearly came a cropper in Rusper when, try to avoid a pothole I managed to hit another one.  The rest of the group seeing this managed to avoid said pothole.  Just north of Rusper we turned right and then turned into Orltons Lane where we met our first ice and more potholes!  It was then over The Mount and right towards The Gate.  Passing said pub on our right we headed for breakfast at The Lamb, more potholes en-route!

 

Bob joined us for breakfast in his brand new bright red top and bag.  There was a good selection of breakfasts available.  I went for option 3: Apple Juice, Smoked Salmon and Scrabbled Eggs, Toast and Preserves and Coffee.

 

Those present were not convinced that the answer to the rope question was 6.28m (being 2xPI) and that this was the case for any diameter object as PIxD was irrelevant.  Some further research was promised.

 

After food we headed home, 2 to Horsham and 6 to Crawley. Lambs Farm Road in Horsham seemed to be one pothole after another and the only way to avoid them was to cycle down the middle of the road.  The level crossing at Littlehaven Halt was just a bad.

 

Did I mention potholes?


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 8:54 PM GMT
Updated: Monday, 18 January 2010 9:02 PM GMT
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Slippery Roads Day

Cold Wintery day.

Horsham and Crawley ride out:

Nearly slide away.

 


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 10:42 PM GMT
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Antons Easy Morning ride

I think I frightened Anton off producing a blog entry for this ride by suggesting he write it as a poem!

I understand he led Norman, John H, John V, Richard and Pete S from Three Bridges station out to the North and East of Crawley as far as Redhill Aerodrome only to find that the Cafe wasn't open. Doh!

They returned via Horley and NCN 21 through Gatwick.

 

 


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 10:35 PM GMT
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Oh no! Not another poem!

Snow and Ice

Is all very nice

And picture skew

But would you

Ride a bike in it?

 

Evidently not,

For when I got

To the start

No-one apart

From Mick was there!

 

And he’d walked.

So we just talked

About the snow

And where we will go

On the Anniversary Ride.

 

Tenterden’s chosen

(Though currently frozen)

And details will be

Provided by me

By e-mail and on our web-pages.

 

Back to the ride

And I couldn’t hide

The joy of not needing

To go ride a-leading

I’d just cycle back to my warm house.

 

On leaving the town

Midst trees weighted down

With bright white snow

I cycled quite slow

And enjoyed my place on this planet.

 

Pease Pottage was gained

And for once I refrained

From riding that slope

On a wish and a hope

Cos I’d never have stopped at the bottom!

 

Just for some fun

The next bit of the run

Was through Tilgate Forest

With snow up to my chest

(Well actually that’s poetic license!)

 

You just cannot beat

Being perched on the seat

Of a bike, you know

In rain, sun or snow

And so with a broad smile I arrived home (to end this poem).


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 9:55 PM GMT
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Ride It Off

Fresh(?) from the excesses of Saturdays Club Christmas Dinner, a ten o’clock start from Three Bridges Station for a twenty-two mile offroad jaunt along the Worth Way/Forest Way didn’t seem too onerous. I’d already swapped my slicks for knobblies and the weather was cold but dry so I dressed up warm and left my waterproofs at home. After all, I could always sprint back home if any rain came along.

 

John C was the leader and the other attendees were Pete S, Mick, John H, John V, Norman and me, Bob.

 

Being honest law-abiding citizens we walked our bikes along the footpath under the railway bridge before remounting to ride up Billinton Drive. The first part of Worth Way had a thin film of soggy mud which was spraying up from our tyres but was good and firm underneath. Just after crossing the M23 (on a bridge!) we met one of our club members, Pat. We didn’t recognise her at first – she was in “civvies” as she was out for a walk. Frank wasn’t with her as he was laid low with flu – get well soon Frank. I stopped for a chat and then had to sprint a bit to catch up with the others. It was great fun zipping along the track and I was full of the joys of spring (or should we call it “fat-tyre frenzy”?) as I carved some lines and nearly wiped out three other cyclists as I nailed a blind bend! As ever, on the stretch alongside (the former) Rowfant Station I was bemoaning the fact that the track has been 'improved'. It used to be a superb bit of singletrack: fast and flowing with loads of tree roots, mud and a narrow bridge with no railings, great for improving your bike handling skills. Just afterwards the track does a right and left as it cuts across the line of the railway but as usual I took the ‘fun’ route which climbs through the bushes and across the end of the embankment to cut off the double bend (it’s only 10 metres long but involves a muddy climb and descent on a narrow track). The next stretch is dead straight and is where I usually take the opportunity for a drink. The embankment gets higher and higher and crosses Rowfant Lane about 50 feet above the road surface. Shortly after, the path goes into a cutting but just beforehand there’s a sloping path on the left which leads up to the Turners Hill Road. Mick left us at this point as he’d ridden all the way from Horsham and wanted to ensure he returned before it got too dark (also, being on a handbuilt touring bike with road tyres he was having to concentrate to stay upright, whereas I was just chucking my mountain bike around with gay abandon). Only two weeks into the competition for next years Mick Horley trophy, Mick has built up a good lead with double the points of his nearest competitor. The rest of us will have to pull our collective fingers out!!

 

As we went up the slope to Crawley Down, I realised that John H on his recumbent must be having a fairly hard time of it. With his small wheels and relatively grip free tyres he found it quite hard manoeuvering through the fence at the top. The mile of tarmac through the houses let the mud flick off our tyres and drop off our frames before hitting the next stretch of track. As we passed the pond I was surprised to see a number off dayglo jacketed people doing some maintenance work. John V infomed me that they were doing their Community Service but they looked more like volunteers to me. Before long we arrived on the outskirts of East Grinstead and the viaduct now owned by the Bluebell Railway was visible to the right. It’ll be great seeing steam engines going over it again soon. Way up in the air above all those houses.

 

We took the fast route though East Grinstead and used Beeching Way – named after the man appointed by the pro-roads Transport Minister (well he did own the road construction company that got the contracts for most of Britains early motorways). The path continues as the Forest Way and is downhill for a good couple of miles – I was zipping along there at speeds of 25 to 30 mph (in the bits where there were no other users) but pulled up at Brambletye Lane to take a quick diversion down to the ruins of the Manor house with Norman and John C.

 

Meeting back up with the others at the road crossing, we entered Forest Row through the back door only to find that the café by the tip was closed. So, we headed to the High Street but both those cafes were closed as well! There was one last café we knew of, on the Hartfield Road, and fortunately it was open. As we pulled up it started to rain but no matter, we were in the warm and our bikes could do with a wash.

 

After we’d finished our refreshments (bacon buttie and a mug of tea for me) it had stopped raining but was noticeably colder and darker. We left Forest Row the way we’d arrived and were soon nice and warm as we got a good spinning rhythm going on the long climb back to East Grinstead. This time we eschewed Beeching Way and used the High Street which meant I could practice climbing the steps up and over the railway by the station. The rest of the journey back was uneventful with John H leaving us at Keepers Cottage and Pete, John C and John V leaving us in Worth. Norman and I carried on until I turned off for Furnace Green leaving Norman to ride back to Horsham by himself – my navigational instructions to him were: “You see that bright bit of sky over there? Well keep heading in that direction!” Hopefully that got him through Crawley and onwards successfully…..

 

The ride for Sunday 20th December will be a Morning Ride starting from Horsham Park Pavilion at 10:00hrs and led by me (Bob). It’ll be a fairly short (2 hours/20 miles ish) loop to the south of Horsham which I may make even shorter depending on the weather. I suspect a warm pub may be calling afterwards – although my original intention of a finish at the Dragon in Colgate has been thwarted due to its closure!


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 10:33 PM GMT
Updated: Friday, 18 December 2009 12:43 PM GMT
Saturday, 12 December 2009
The Club Christmas Dinner

 

Horsham and Crawley CTC

Starting to feel all Christmassy

Decided to luncheon at The Gate

With turkey or lamb upon the plate

Salmon or veggie available too.

Anton had some work to do:

Collating requirements,

Collecting the payments,

Leading us to the rendezvous.

There at Parkgate, by The Surrey Oaks

We met Barbara and two Horsham blokes

Norman and Mick – they’d ridden too quick

And been waiting at the cold roadside

For the Crawley contingent to finally arrive

Then heading south we took Partridge Lane

And Orltons and Langhurst – both lanes again

Last turn on the ride and glide to the pub

For Pickled Partridge and luvverly grub

Barbara made a speech and gave out a prize

Anton, Mick or Bob – one of those guys

Won it for riding on most club rides

And leading several others besides

Turning out in weather pleasant or grim

The Mick Horley trophy was awarded to him

With daylight fast fading, time to head home

And struggle to write this blog as a poem!


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 6:19 PM GMT
Updated: Monday, 14 December 2009 1:21 AM GMT
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Punch and Judy

The day had started very wet but the rain had eased off by our scheduled start time of 10:00.  At the start were Barbara, Norman, Bob, John H and myself, Mick.  Anton also turned up but could not find a parking space so, as he had other commitments he headed home.  There was a swimming event on and the centre car park was full.  I had gone in for a cup of tea and was served it in paper cup rather than the usual china cup.  I enquired about this and was told it was because of the swimming event. "Health and safety?" I said.  "No," came the reply, "most of the china cups went missing at the last event."

 

After some minor adjustments to Barbara’s brakes we set off.  We headed through north Horsham on Pondtail Road, over the bypass onto Langhurstwood Road, then straight into and through a flood! It was only a few inches deep but all the way across the road.  We headed up the hill and past the tip before taking a right turn and then a left  up to Rusper.  Norman left us here and returned home via Friday Street.  Meanwhile we headed further north to Newdigate where we turned left towards Capel.  As we cycled along Misbrooks Green Road we spotted an old railway signal in someones back garden. It's a single signal post with both a Home and a Distant upper quadrant signal mounted on it. Reaching Capel we turned left and then right over the A24, past Ockley station and onto Weare Street, one of the prettiest lanes in the area;

 

At the end of Weare Street we crossed over the A29 and passed a sleeping policeman - no, really, he was parked up at the side of the road and having a snooze!

 

We were not very far from the lunch stop so pressed on.  We pulled up at the Punchbowl to find that John V was already there.  The pub was crowded with members of another cycle club (Croydon CTC) having their Christmas Lunch, so we were concerned about getting a table.  Fortunately they were eating in a separate room so we found a table in the restaurant.  The food, beer and company were all good and we managed to put the world to rights before once more heading back outside.

 

Returning to the A29 we headed south and into the breeze before taking the first left into Marches Road and then right into Mayes Lane.  After a short distance we passed a farm with some old buses in a barn.  A Routemaster was the only one I recognized.  There are usually more old vehicles here including a fire engine but not today unfortunately.

 

It was then on to Warnham where we took Bell Lane, crossed the A24 and continued along Station Road to use the underpass at Warnham Station.  At the end of Mercer Lane the Horsham members turned right to travel the mile or so back home, whilst the Crawley members turned left and reclimbed the hill past the tip. We continued retracing our earlier route as far as Rusper. Here we turned right to enjoy the downhill run which seemed to take us all the way to Ifield (I think the wind was behind us). Splitting up in the Town Centre, John H & John V headed on home to Pound Hill whilst Bob made for Furnace Green, arriving home at 15:00hrs with 41 miles on his speedo.

 

Don't forget, this coming weekend sees the Christmas Dinner on Saturday (have you given Anton your menu choices?) and then a nice easy ride out and back along the Worth Way on Sunday (10:00 hrs start at Three Bridges, lunch at Forest Row). 


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 11:28 PM GMT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 9:26 AM GMT
Sunday, 29 November 2009
For Fox Sake

Sunday. Bike ride. The wind and rain of last night seems to have exhausted itself. Great! Hmmm – the road’s still wet though, better put my waterproof trousers on. Pack the waterproof jacket into my pannier, add an extra layer under my fleece and I’m ready. For once I arrive at the start on time (it is only a mile away from home mind you). At Three Bridges station Pete S, John H and Barbara are already waiting by the phone box and Anton arrives as I pull up. Pete is meant to be today’s leader but his croaky voice reveals he’s suffering from a bad cold, so I take over the reins and borrow his map so he can get back home to a warm house. As we wait in case anyone else turns up, the wind returns and brings rain with it – on with the waterproof jackets.

No-one else arrived so off we went through the traffic lights and then through Three Bridges on  Hazelwick Road and North Road. Crossing Northgate Avenue then Woodfield Road we used the underpass for a traffic free route into the Industrial Estate. As usual on a Sunday, the roads here were pretty quiet and just as I was pointing out that lots of Crawley’s residents had learnt to drive on the estate, we passed a young lady having a driving lesson.

Turning left onto Gatwick Road we then crossed a roundabout and turned right towards the Beehive – the original (we’re talking 1920’s) Gatwick Airport terminal building.  It’s a shame the environs have been filled with empty modern office blocks with a naff  ‘avenue’ style road layout reminiscent of central Milton Keynes (only naffer). We were hoping that John on his recumbent would go under the barrier onto the next part of the route but he went round the side of it just like us.

Crossing the Gatwick Stream we noticed how full and rapid flowing it was, then, further along the path a couple of blokes in fluorescent yellow jackets were just standing having a fag. I wondered whether they’d walked the quarter mile from the terminal building just for a smoke or whether they were looking after the security of that particular part of the airport. We didn’t stop to ask! Splashing through a slight flood in the underpass the route (it’s NCN 21) emerges into a green oasis of trees and lakes on the outskirts of Horley. We continued following NCN 21 as it passed through the centre of Horley and under the railway but then we stayed on the Smallfield Road and continued east.

Just before the bridge over the M23 we turned left onto Hathersham Lane and after a few hundred yards I realised that I’d lost half of the group! I turned round and got back to the junction just in time to see Barbara and Anton heading over the bridge. I shouted but I don’t think they heard even me over the noise of the motorway traffic. Fortunately Anton stopped to ask a horse rider if she’d seen two cyclists and as she hadn’t he reasoned that we must have taken that turning before the bridge. As soon as he turned round he could see me so we regrouped and continued up the lane. We took the first right onto New House Lane and climbed the small hill before turning left onto Axes Lane then right onto Mason’s Bridge Road. This has a small climb as well before we took the right onto Kings Mill Lane to go past Redhill Aerodrome. We decided not to stop here but press on towards the lunch stop. Passing through South Nutfield we headed along Crab Hill Lane to recross the M23.

From here we headed south along Prince of Wales Road before heading east again towards Outwood on Brickfield Road. Arriving at the windmill we had a quick chat and decided to cut the ride short  as it was now ten minutes to midday and we all felt peckish. I suggested we try a pub I knew of nearby, the Jolly Farmers, so off we went down Gayhouse Lane and east along Whitewood Lane.

What a revelation! We received a friendly welcome at the pub, there was an empty table in front of the log fire, the Sussex Ale was really good and they had a good variety of food on the menu at reasonable prices (and the servings were of a very hearty size). This pub is definitely going on our list of places to stop.

Our lunchtime discussion mainly centred around Dave Galle and hopefully Barbara or Bob will be able to visit Dave sometime this week.

Eventually it dawned on us that sooner or later we’d have to venture back outside so we bit the bullet and got going again. I offered the choice of either riding directly back to Crawley or going a – “Straight back please” they all interrupted – so I didn’t need to look at the map. Back along Whitewood Lane, turn right onto Smallfield Road then left onto Dowlands Lane. As we turned right onto Cross Lane, Anton made his goodbyes as he was continuing south to get home via Turners Hill.

It was hard work riding up Copthorne Bank as the wind was quite strongly in our faces and carrying a lot of rain. In fact we sheltered at the side of the road for a minute whilst a particularly heavy squall passed over. However, by the time we’d travelled along Copthorne Road and reached the M23 overbridge, the sun had emerged and there was a rainbow behind us. Now it was time to say bye-bye to John as he headed back home into Pound Hill and Barbara and I  pedalled on to the station.

We were discussing the need to have a committee meeting as I saw a car pull up outside the station that I recognised. It was one of our section members, George, and we had a quick chat with him – he spotted the fact that I’ve barely got any mudguards on my bike (but I did do John O’Groats to Lands End on it). We were getting cold now so Barbara headed for her car (the station car park is free on Sundays) and I headed home.

As I washed my bike down and sprayed oil on it I noticed that we’d covered a mere 26 miles today but with all the wind and rain it felt like we’d gone a lot further.

Next weeks ride will be to the west and north of Horsham. Leaving Horsham Park Pavilion at 10:00hrs, Mick will lead us on a medium rated 30 mile loop with a stop for lunch at a nice country pub – the Punchbowl at Okewoodhill. After all the rain of recent weeks, I’m hoping it will be drier (though that will probably make it colder!).


Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 9:07 PM GMT
Updated: Thursday, 3 December 2009 4:15 PM GMT

Newer | Latest | Older

You are not logged in. Log in
Entries by Topic
All topics  «