Off we went. Firstly up Worth Road through Pound Hill and then out on the Turners Hill Road. Having crossed over the motorway we turned left and plunged down a damp and dingy Old Hollow before dicing with the traffic to cross the A264 into Copthorne.  Turning right at the Prince Albert we were settling into the ride as we continued north along Copthorne Bank when a large lorry decided to overtake us even though a car was coming the other way – squeezing in he came within about a foot of my handlebars even though I’d got as close to the road edge as I dared!  Too shocked to note his number I realised that but for my awareness of the situation I could easily have been flipped off my bike – I’d been listening to his engine noise and noted it increase as he started his overtake and I’d been watching the approaching car and was thinking there wouldn’t be enough space for all three of us. Fortunately the car braked and coupled with my using that last inch of tarmac and touching my own brakes the lorry driver got away with a piece of life-threatening and dangerous driving.  Go through a speed camera over the limit with no human being within 500 miles and you’ll get done, threaten a cyclists health at 30 in a 40 limit and there’s no camera to catch that!!

Anyway, on we rode over Antlands Lane onto Redehall Road before turning right onto the solitude of Cross Lane and Dowlands Lane.  Immediately after crossing Plough Road, Smallfield Place can be viewed on the left through its entrance gates – a very nice looking pile I must say.  Anton decided to make things easier for us and avoid using Scott’s Hill by taking us up Rookery Hill instead – it was still UP Anton!  As we carried on further north the rain increased a little and we sheltered under the motorway before turning left onto Kings Cross Lane. On reaching Kings Mill Lane, the two John’s left us and headed for a tea stop at Redhill Aerodrome. Meantime we ventured into the land of strange roadnames – first up we saw Hogtrough Lane but that was immediately trumped by Philanthropic Road! Travelling through Earlswood on St John’s Road we came to a classic piece of cyclepath provision – a cycle lane ran up to a pedestrian/cyclist controlled crossing that lead straight onto a “no-cycling” path. Having dutifully walked our bikes along the path, we remounted and headed further west along Pendleton Road onto Woodhatch Road where we were entertained by a young lad performing wheelies on his mountain bike. Pete informed us that this area was known as South Park but try as we might we couldn’t see Kenny!  Now we were back out into the countryside and headed first through Leigh then Parkgate before turning left onto Hogspudding Lane . This brought us into Newdigate from where it was a an easy three miles into Rusper.  Here we finished the ride and Anton headed off back home to Haywards Heath leaving the rest of us to have a pleasant lunch and a chat in the Plough.

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 11:50 PM GMT

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I was trying to think of a different way of starting this weeks blog - it
seems like every week I start off by talking about the weather but to be honest, it plays such a big part in our cycling life that it's unavoidable.
So, the weather starts us off again! On Saturday evening I'd been keeping an eye on the forecasts and things weren't looking good. The BBC reckoned the South East would be clear at about 7 a.m. changing to sleet and snow by 9 a.m. followed by rain and then clearing later.

Waking up on Sunday morning, I looked out to see a dark front of snow cloud bearing down and whilst I ate my breakfast the snow started falling. It didn't really settle and by the time I'd got all my clothing layers on had turned to drizzle. Heading off into the rain I wondered if anyone else would turn up for todays ride. The roads had a fine covering of sleet, the rain was very cold and the wind was keen and slightly in my face - what was I doing out on a bike in this? For once the traffic lights onto Southgate Avenue were green so I stayed on the road as I sensed it was less slippery than the cycle tracks. As usual I switched my rear light on before venturing out onto the main Horsham road. It seemed to work as no vehicles came too close today - mind you, that was the only bright spot: the cold wind and rain, coupled with the dirty spray from the road made it quite a miserable 9 miles to Horsham Pavilions in the Park. As I pulled up I noticed two familiar faces - Mick and Norman. Independently they'd both decided to meet up with me at todays start but weren't actually going to be riding. We had a chat about the Christmas meal, next years Anniversary Ride and next weeks ride - Anton's leading a morning ride from Three Bridges. Anyway, no-one else had turned up by 10 o'clock so I decided that I didn't fancy riding to Kirdford all by myself and would just head for home.

Rather than go back the same way I came, I opted to use the Forest Road. It's mainly uphill all the way to Colgate but there wasn't much traffic and the rain had eased a bit. Mind you, the wind was still just as cold. and despite wearing two pairs of socks in my waterproof boots, my feet were starting to get cold. However, I was soon back at Pease Pottage and five minutes after that I was back home - much to my wife's surprise. Having peeled off all the layers I'd put on just two hours and 18 miles earlier my sense of disappointment at not doing a proper ride was further compounded an hour later by the sight of clear skies and bright sunshine! Mind you, in spite of the sunshine it was still very cold. Maybe next week will be more conducive (and better attended).

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 5:39 PM GMT

Updated: Sunday, 23 November 2008 5:49 PM GMT

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“Are you out today?” asked Anton. “Well, yes, I am.” I replied. “Where are you then?” he said. I’d stopped at the side of Paddockhurst Lane to answer my mobile, he was at today’s rendezvous point in Ardingly. Thing is, I’d been waiting there in Ardingly for 20 minutes just 10 minutes ago and as no-one else had turned up had decided to ride home for lunch. Perhaps I should have phoned Anton before I started back? We hadn’t lived up to the name of the ride! Ah well, next time perhaps.

I‘d really enjoyed today’s ride. I‘d set off from home at about 9:15 and headed past Three Bridges Station and up through Pound Hill before crossing the M23 on the Turners Hill Road. The long uphill to the Turners Hill crossroads didn‘t take too long and then it was downhill all the way to the corner by Vowels Lane before climbing up to the Imberhorne Lane crossroads. I took a slight detour to go up Imberhorne Lane and have a look to see how the Bluebell Railway is getting on. As the pictures show, the track bed stops about 100 yards from the bridge and the cutting on the other side is still completely buried.

Continuing on back over the crossroads, I headed for Saint Hill and popped in to the Deers Leap bike park. They’re open seven days a week from 10 till 5 and have a number of family friendly routes. It’s only two pounds a visit but as I was on slicks, I didn’t have a go today. Next was a downhill to the tail end of Weirwood Reservoir - there used to be an old van selling refreshments here and the reservoir used to lap against the bank right next to the fence. It used to be a popular place for families to come and feed the ducks and other birds but not any more. Heading up Grinstead Lane I was pleased to see that the camping fields and activity centre used by the Girl Guides (and Scouts I think) seems to be going strong. Over to the left was a view of the reservoir which is looking nice and full - hopefully there’ll be no hosepipe ban next year.

This hill is a long drag up to Tyes Cross but eventually I made it and rewarded myself with a breather posing by a street sign:

I took Chilling Street as it headed south and then forked left onto Balcombe Lane. There was still some colour in the remnants of the autumn foliage clinging to the trees and I was full of the joys of life as I headed left onto Birchgrove Lane and went down and through the ford at the bottom.

After the ford the road was well worn by the water that seems to constantly run down it and I suspect it will be further damaged by the coming winter weather. Next there’s an angled crossroads where I took the right turn and straight away the road climbed steeper as it went up to the Birchgrove Road. I turned right onto it and a mile later arrived at Horsted Keynes. The Green Man pub looks to be going strong still, but the pub opposite (I can’t remember it’s name) has gone and the building is being redeveloped. I now headed to Horsted Keynes Station - despite its name it’s more than a mile away from the village. I paid a visit to the station to ascertain whether us cyclists are allowed to start/end journeys at Kingscote Station (the north end of the Bluebell Railway) - we are, so I might try and incorporate a train ride in a future ride.

I waited around for a few minutes and took some pictures of the next train arriving before heading off once more.

Another hill, the seventh of the morning, stretched in front of me as I climbed up into Highbrook. At the top, after the hamlet, there was a glorious Holly tree, festooned with thousands of brilliant red berries. Propped up against it was a ladder and three blokes were cutting sprays off the tree and loading them onto a pickup truck - I hope they weren’t just a trio of chancers doing some pre-Christmas thievery! A couple of miles further on my route just touched Sharpthorne and then turned left for West Hoathly. Leaving West Hoathly to the south, on Hook Lane, the sun made an appearance and all was well with the world. The lane then bends to the right and becomes Cob Lane which crosses a small stream before climbing abruptly and emerging on the outskirts of Ardingly. From there, it was just a short freewheel to the Rendezvous point. However, the Gallery café no longer opens on Sundays (it’s got a different name now as well). I couldn’t see any fellow Horsham and Crawley riders around but checked round the back of the Ardingly Inn just in case they were hiding there - no luck. Back out on the road I noticed a “Best kept Village” sign that had a number of plaques on it representing all the villages that had won it since 1966. Ardingly won it 11 years ago in 1997, so why hasn’t the sign travelled to another village since then? Did the Sussex Rural Community Council disband or just stop presenting the award?

I sat down on a convenient bench and waited to see who would roll up, but after 20 minutes gave up and decided to go home for lunch. Two steep hills, three moderate hills, one mobile phone call and eight miles later I was back indoors. A really enjoyable morning ride of somewhere just over 30 miles - great!

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 7:44 PM GMT

Updated: Monday, 17 November 2008 1:12 PM GMT

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Another cold but fairly dry autumn day had dawned – what to wear?  Three layers on top, padded shorts with leggings and thick socks in waterproof shoes was what I settled for. Clipping my Goretex jacket and trousers to my waistband I adjusted my remembrance poppy and headed for Three Bridges station to arrive my customary few minutes late! Pete, Anton and Norman were waiting, shivering, so we didn’t hang around. Pete was leading and, eager to show off his recent exploits improving the signing on local cycle routes, we followed the signs for NCN21.

NCN21 goes from Eastbourne to London via Gatwick Airport and therefore has the potential to act as an introduction to UK cycle routes for cyclists arriving at Gatwick. If the signage isn’t up to scratch we could end up with loads of foreign cyclists cycling aimlessly around Crawley looking for the way out!!

After passing through the Industrial Estate, the route turns into the original Gatwick Airport and passes the Beehive – a listed building that was the first airport terminal to allow planes 360 degree access. From there, a newly tarmac’ed, dedicated track travels parallel to the A23, between the River Mole and the London to Brighton mainline to pass under the South Terminal of the modern airport. Then it meanders between a small lake and the River Mole before emerging amongst the houses of Horley. Passing through the town centre, it crosses under the railway, heads further east and then turns north onto a quiet track through a residential area. Next thing, you’re into the countryside on a good quality track that deteriorates only slightly before it reaches Cross Oak Lane.

From here we headed up Picketts Lane, although NCN21 uses a track a bit further west before rejoining our route at the next crossroads (Masons Bridge Road). At the next junction we left NCN21 for good and headed east along Kings Mill Lane. There’s a farm on the left of this road that, for some reason, I believe is where the old “Veteran Car” clock that used to live in Queens Square in Crawley town centre now resides. For those of you that never saw it, it was about twenty feet high with four equal sized white clockfaces, a caged area with bells in it and four panels through which model veteran cars ran each time the clock chimes rang. The whole thing was on stilts to keep it out of the reach of prying hands. I think that sometime in the Seventies the powers that be decided it was too expensive to maintain and flogged it off for scrap! Shame really, as I think it would make a great centrepiece in the revamped Queens Square.

Half a mile further on, we turned right into Redhill Aerodrome and pulled up at the café for elevenses. There were half-a-dozen armed police officers there already and they were just tucking into their full-English's when they got a call and all went rushing out leaving most of their refreshments behind them – hope they paid on ordering! However, none of us were interrupted as we ate our toasted teacakes and watched a lone helicopter manoeuvring perilously close to the nearby hangar.

Refreshed we left the airfield and headed east onto Crab Hill Lane to cross over the M23. Turning right onto Prince of Wales Road we were following part of the BHF London to Brighton bike ride route before we turned east again onto Brickfield road and passed the little church on Outwood Common shortly after it’s Remembrance Service had finished. Emerging near Outwood windmill

Forking right onto Rabies Heath Road, we continued climbing as we headed east along the sandstone ridge. On the right is a car park with commanding views south out over the Weald. Gatwick airport was visible although Crawley wasn’t – probably because of the large number of trees we have in the town. I was busy trying to take arty photos of some teasels by the car park

The pub had accidentally left their menus out but were really only serving Roast lunches. However, seeing the disappointment on our faces they took our sandwich orders and produced some very nice servings complete with chips and a salad each. My ham salad sandwich was delicious and washed down with a so-so pint of Adnams Broadside and a nicer half of Youngs. Whilst we watched the rerun of the Joe Calzaghe fight on the pub’s big screen telly, the two Johns arrived – they’d got Pete’s telephone message about the change of lunch venue but not before one of them had actually got to the Fox and Hounds. The lunchtime conversation covered topics such as the fight, Top Gear and next years Anniversary Ride - a suitable hotel has been found and we’ll shortly be getting the details to all our members.

The weather had cleared so we decided to get riding again. First off we headed back through Lingfield Common and then past the Red Barn before turning left onto the A22 at Blindley Heath. Turning right onto Hare Lane we noticed the wind was getting up again and this made the next couple of miles hard work in spite of them being level. As we headed south down Dowlands Lane, the sky blackened considerably and we stopped to don our waterproofs.

Next weeks ride is a Rendezvous Ride – ride your own choice of route to arrive at The Gallery Café in Ardingly at 12:00hrs (if shut, go to the pub a few doors further along).

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 9:44 PM GMT

Updated: Tuesday, 11 November 2008 12:16 AM GMT

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I'd been suffering from a cold all week and didn't feel up to riding all the way to Wiggonholt for the West Sussex Member Group AGM, especially as the weather forecast was for cold and wet. Besides, the first Sunday in November means just one thing to me - the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. 
I was up early and watched Match of the Day as I ate my breakfast. The predicted wet weather wasn't evident but I packed my waterproofs just in case and set off. I knew that Anton and Mick were meeting up at Pease Pottage so that's where I headed. Travelling via the cyclepath alongside Southgate Avenue I noticed there weren't that many Veteran cars around yet and there wasn't a convenient one to slipstream going up Pease Pottage Hill - I had to do it all under my own steam and in front of an already large crowd. I managed it and even got a few cheers to help me up! I casually stopped at the top to take some photos (and have a sly breather!).

Then I carried on and into the Service Station. I soon spotted Anton's bike and then Anton himself. As I suspected Mick would be a bit further along the road I went out to find him and indeed, there he was. He'd been running early and thought he'd intercept Anton on his approach to the Services but although he was in the right spot, Anton had been even earlier!  Anyway, we were altogether now and decided that as the Veteran cars were a bit thin on the ground, we'd head off to Crawley High Street where there were usually loads parked up for a tea-break. A quick blast down Pease Pottage Hill saw me through a set of lights that caught the other two so after the Broadfield Stadium roundabout underpass I had time to set up a camera shot featuring the autumn colours and my two comrades emerging from the tunnel - or so I thought. I waited, finger on the shutter ....  and waited .... and hmmmm, where are they?

I retraced my route back to the main road - no sign of them. Perhaps they'd not used the underpass, in which case I should be able to see them on Southgate Avenue - no luck. Crikey, they must be moving fast, I'd better get going. One mile later they phoned me to inquire as to my whereabouts as they were already in the High Street. I joined them a couple of minutes later and realised how they'd escaped the camera's clutches - they'd used the underpass but exited onto the Brighton road as opposed to Southgate Avenue (where I was waiting). I'd not retraced my route until after they'd gone through and I hadn't cast a glance in the direction of the Brighton Road. Ah well, we'd regrouped and the High Street was absolutely chock-a-block with Veteran cars. I took a few photos and we discussed the inadvisability of pinning remembrance poppies directly to Gore-Tex products. I also noticed that the Bank of Scotland ATM had run out of money - rather like the bank itself, I mused.

Having wandered all the way down one side of the High Street and back up the other, we noticed that quite a few of the cars had now resumed their journey and decided it was time for us to do the same. We headed back up Brighton Road and rejoined the cars at the bottom of Pease Pottage Hill. As we moved off from the traffic lights I selected a Veteran car that looked like it would go up the hill at a decent rate and would create a nice hole in the air for me to slipstream in. Good choice - I had a good tow and fair shot up the hill without using half as much effort as my earlier climb. It gave me plenty of time to set myself up to take some photos of several cars as well as Mick and Anton.

I then worked hard on the long drag from Tilgate Forest Row to Handcross and only just managed to catch up with one of the Veterans before pulling off to inspect the neat line up of Lotus Sevens parked in front of the school. The road through Handcross was lined with loads of people and the downhill from there to Staplefield presented the opportunity to flash past several cars. Staplefield was full of spectators and feeling smug I approached the tea stop at a fair old pace. I then remembered that my front brake had been squealing every time I used it and tried to stop using mainly the back brake - no use, it locked up too easily - I had to use the front!  The banshee wail of my front brakes turned everyone's head in my direction as I took six months treadwear off my locked rear wheel and only just made it into the turning by the tea tent! I think it counted as entertainment for the crowd and hopefully didn't put the cause of cycling back at all. Mick and Anton then showed how it should be done and made a much more dignified entrance.

Cup of tea in one hand, sausage in a bun in the other, we watched as more veteran cars ran by as well as other interesting vehicles - a squadron of Messerschmitt bubblecars, a Rolls Royce or two, a Bull-nosed Morris, an ancient fire-engine and even a cyclist on a Penny Farthing. After a while, we decided to get in some more riding and left Staplefield on the Slaugham Road. It was lined with loads of parked cars with many really interesting examples of post-war marques. The road out to Slaugham was very quiet but once again was very crowded by Slaugham Church - must be a popular vicar! At the pond we turned North and headed up the hill and back into Handcross. The crowd there had thinned out a bit but the Lotus Seven enthusiasts seemed to have increased in number. Arriving back at Tilgate Forest Row, I suggested we walk across the pedestrian overbridge and we went into Pease Pottage that way. Arriving at our intended Hostelry, The Grapes, we were astonished to find that it had closed down!

Once we'd picked ourselves up, we decided we'd have to push ourselves a hundred meters further and go to the Black Swan instead. Once there we found out that the Grapes had closed about six months back. However, the Black Swan's Sussex was good as was their food (no sandwiches on a Sunday though). Discussion centred around the weather being better than anticipated and on how to change the Mick Horley points system so that Anton wouldn't win it every time!! Anyway, after all that it was time to head home which we did in a sort of starburst formation - Mick going West,  Anton going South and me going North.

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 6:27 PM GMT

Updated: Tuesday, 4 November 2008 6:29 PM GMT

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Today’s ride was themed – it’s called the “Common Ride” because it passes through a number of commons. The challenge for those of us talking part is to work out how many commons and what they’re called.

In spite of my being up early to help my wife pack the car for a car boot sale, I was running late (have you noticed that I’m nearly always running late?) and didn’t leave home until 09:00hrs. Within a mile I had to stop and adjust the height of my saddle as I’d lowered it for the offroad ride last week and it just wasn’t comfortable for going flat out on the road. I soon had it at the right height and started zooming along at a good pace. Then, about a mile further on, my phone rang. Normally it’s in the left hand pocket of my shorts and I can get at it on the move but today I was wearing leggings and had to stop and get it out of my bumbag (fanny pack as the Yanks call it). I had to answer it as I’m on-call for work, but as I struggled to get the phone out it stopped ringing. Typical! Anyway, I could see it was my wife’s mobile so I called her back fearing she’d got my car stuck in a field or something. But no, it was just that she’d gone to a different car boot sale – funnily enough she was now at Sayers Common and I wondered if todays ride would go through there. I got going again and within a minute my phone started ringing again – this time I ignored it as I reckoned it was just the voicemail my wife had left when I hadn’t managed to pick up the first call. As usual when using the A264 I had my rear light on flash mode and as I span along at about 20mph worrying about the fast moving traffic, I utilised a little tip I’d picked up from a cycle training event I’d been to a few months back. Every now and again (especially if I could hear a car approaching), I would look over my shoulder – not because I was going to make a turn or anything – but the approaching driver wouldn’t know that! So he’s thinking I might be about to do something and gives me extra room. This was working a treat and pretty much every vehicle gave me loads of space but then a motorbike went past only about 4 feet away. As I pondered why he’d done that given that motorcyclists often suffer the same kind of traffic incidents as we do, a police car went by with his blue lights flashing. Aha! The motorbike pulled up in a lay-by and the policeman was just starting his lecture/inquisition as I rode by. I don’t know whether the coppers had noticed but another couple of motorbikes had pulled up about 100 metres short of the lay-by. I assume those bikers didn’t fancy receiving a critique of their riding style from the boys in blue!

As I hit the outskirts of Roffey I had about seven minutes to get to the start and reckoned I could make it if I kept the hammer down. I shot through the traffic calming and gave a large lorry a signal to show I was going to use the cycle lane option so that he didn’t have to give way to me at the pinch point – I got a thanks and a smile from him – so I was in a good mood as I approached the second to last roundabout. At this point a Volvo decided that one and a bit tons of Swedish metal could out brake 23lbs of Taiwanese steel to get onto the roundabout first. He was wrong and, holding my line and my nerve, I swept majestically all through the roundabout, over the railway bridge and then took the crown of the road for the right turn at the final roundabout outside the Station. One-nil to the Taiwanese steel! A glance at my clock told me I’d made it with a minute to spare and there in the car park, Pat & Frank were just getting their bikes ready.

Mick (the ride leader), Barbara and Mike then emerged from the swim centre café and without further ado we set off. Leaving Horsham to the south we first had to climb Tower Hill and make the awkward (because of the traffic) right turn by The Boars Head. From there the roads were very quiet as we travelled through Two Mile Ash and Dragons Green to pass The George and Dragon. Crossing the A272 we took a right turn by The Countryman, ignored the road to Ashington then forked left to emerge on the B2139 and head south again. We noticed the wind had increased a bit but were sheltered from it once we turned off towards West Chiltington. Just before the village we took the left  turn that leads to Smock Alley but then turned right and passed the large detached houses in the West Chiltington Common area. Not far short of the main road to Pulborough we turned away and passed through Nutbourne Common using Water Street. Passing Gay Street we carried on and up the winding hill to West Chiltington. We had a breather opposite The Queens Head before heading north, past the golf club and then down Woods Hill to practice our freewheeling (note to self: sort out your wheels Bob, they don’t run very free!!). Turning left at Broadford Bridge we maintained a fairly brisk pace along the B2133 and over the level crossing into Adversane. The A29 was busy and so it took a few minutes for us all to get across but we were soon going past The Limeburners Arms. After crossing the River Arun, there was the awkward uphill right turn onto the road to Newpound Common. Passing near the scene of Edwins accident a few weeks back, we forked right at Roundstreet Common onto Drungewick Lane. Just after crossing the canal there’s a sign on the left saying (something like): Roger Dimmock Lane. There’s no obvious road there although it does look like a bit of a track, but who’s Roger Dimmock? As you ponder that there’s a sudden steep hill and it’s caught many an unwary cyclist in the worng gear (hasn’t it Anton?). From there it was but a short distance to The Mucky Duck at Tisman’s Common for lunch.

No-one had the right count of commons passed through and we certainly couldn’t name more than one or two, but if you’ve been paying attention you will have counted five in all:-

West Chiltington Common, Nutbourne Common, Newpound Common, Roundstreet Common and Tisman’s Common.

Lunchtime passed quickly - the Horsham Best was very good and the Sausage & Onion in a Rustic Roll was highly recommended but it was soon time to head for home. Collectively we opted for the short route back (I for one had a family birthday to get to). We breezed through Bucks Green, hacked past The Blue Ship at The Haven, slipped through Slinfold and blasted through Broadbridge Heath. Taking the right turn into Robin Hood Lane we then ducked under the A24, past the permanently running generator that powers the fake tree at Rookwood golf course and arrived back in Horsham. Saying goodbye to Mick and Barbara, the rest of us headed back to the swim centre. Pat & Frank picked up their car leaving just Mike and myself to ride back to Crawley. We decided to use the Forest Road and, chatting about Dragons and stuff, didn’t notice the miles slip away. So, before long we were in Pease Pottage. Taking the old road north, I rode down the slope alongside the steps – that’s one of my party pieces. I’ve not yet managed to ride up that slope, but I’m sure I’ll do it one of these days. Here, Mike turned left and headed home to Broadfield, I turned right and then enjoyed the thrash down the hill and then on past K2 and through Tilgate back home. 57 miles on the speedo - a reasonable distance methinks.    

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 11:09 PM BST

Updated: Monday, 20 October 2008 11:17 PM BST

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An off-road ride on a Sunday? Now that’s a rare thing, wonder how many people will turn up? Not feeling very confident there’d be any takers, I’d suggested to Mick that Barbara might fancy an on-road ride and that we could meet at Pavilions in the Park for the start at ten and the Rising Sun for lunch (that way I could go for a road ride with them if no off-roaders turned up).

The ride over from Crawley had been misty so I’d had my rear LED light on hi-intensity flash mode all the way and then, through the mist, I spotted Barbara on her Specialized hybrid just in front – good, I wouldn’t be the only one out! My pessimism was then completely blown away however, for arriving at the start I spotted Norman tethering up his Gary Fisher full-sus next to John’s Specialized hardtail. Mick was there also with his handbuilt Roberts tourer. So, we had five riders, three for the off-road and two for the on-road. Time to go: let’s follow the off-road trio.

First there was a couple of miles of road to get out of Horsham on the Rusper Road, then, a few Hundred yards north of the Horsham bypass it was a right turn onto Bush Lane, a quiet bridleway following a farm track past a defecating dog and a large tractor ploughing a field. Emerging onto Wimland Road near the level crossing we headed north, past the Frog and Nightgown and on up the steep hill before turning right into Wimlands Lane.

Norman and John take a breather

Now we were travelling along the ridge with very rural views to either side – you wouldn’t believe we were so close to both Horsham and Crawley. Crossing the Faygate to Rusper road, we stayed on the ridge as the route became a farm track and then entered a ribbon of woodland as a slightly muddy bridleway but looking very like a sunken lane to me. As it swung south-easterly we could see the roofs and back gardens of houses to our left – Ifield West. Stopping for another photo, I became conscious of some heavy breathing approaching through the trees – surprisingly it wasn’t Norman, John or me but a slightly old looking black Labrador out for a walk with its owner.

In the woods by Ifield West.

A mere ten yards further on we were going over the Crawley to Horsham railway at a tiny foot crossing. We were now following the Crawley/Horsham District boundary with the back gardens of  the houses of Bewbush on our left (Crawley) and a landfill site on our right (Horsham). Upsetting a couple of four-legged excrement machines as they guarded their territories we suddenly popped out on the A264 dual carriageway.  Crossing carefully it was back onto the bridleway and a climb up through the very peaceful and enchanting woodland of Holmbush Forest.

John climbs through the woods.

The sun starts breaking through the mist.

As per the map, the forest gave way to a clearing. As I looked across the clearing I saw that horses were being kept there and that, more worryingly, two German Shepherd dogs had spotted us (not hard as we were chatting away and were wearing bright colours) and were racing to intercept! Carefully keeping Norman between me and the two now crazily barking attack beasts I was (slightly) relieved to see that there was a substantial fence and a five foot gate to keep them at bay. Noting that the owners whistling seemed to have no effect on the dogs I was glad to get on past them unscathed and emerge onto the Forest Road just east of Colgate. As ever, the short sharp climb through Colgate pushed my breathing rate up but then we could all relax as we rolled away and forked left onto the bridleway that I call Mick Mills race but others seem to call Mick Miles race. This broad firebreak first heads south west through St.Leonards Forest then abruptly turns due south. The story goes that Mick Mills was racing the devil with the fate of Horsham in the balance and that Mick whipped the devil and made him turn away from Horsham and then headed him off south until the devil disappeared empty-handed. Indeed, the firebreak does just sort of stop in the middle of nowhere….. but not us, a right turn took us onto a very popular trail heading downhill to Roosthole car park. In spite of slowing down for a couple of pedestrians with their dogs and children, we sped down this track hitting speeds up to about 30 mph – for the couple of rough/wet spots I just let the bike sort itself out underneath me by standing on the pedals and keeping a relaxed grip on the bars – superb!

Turning right onto Hammerpond road there was a swift downhill followed by a short uphill grind before turning north onto a farmtrack which became tarmac’ed (with speedhumps) as it headed west and into Horsham on Comptons Lane. Turning north again we headed straight across two roundabouts and then down Parsonage Road across the railway crossing and past the high security of CIBA-Geigy pharmaceuticals. Turning right at the mini roundabout we left the road after about two hundred yards to indulge ourselves in the last little bit of off-road before lunch. Looking suspiciously like an old lane that had been deemed unnecessary by Horsham as it developed, the path took us in a smooth arc behind loads of houses and past a playing field (complete with dog doing a deposit in the goalmouth whilst its owner studiously ignored it) to join up with Pondtail Road a mere fifty yards from our lunchtime destination – The Rising Sun.

Soon afterwards Mick & Barbara arrived and we all enjoyed a convivial lunch sat outside in the late summer/early autumn sunshine. Not even our discussion on the current state of the worlds finances could dim the pleasure of sitting in the sun quaffing a variety of ales (or in Normans case, all of them!).

All too soon it was time for John and I to head back to Crawley. We decided to reprise the first part of the ride and were soon over the Horsham bypass and onto Bush Lane. The hill up Wimland Road seemed harder after the lunchtime beers but didn’t last long and then it was more or less downhill all the way along Wimlands Lane, Kilnwood Lane, through Ifield West, Ifield, West Green and Southgate before we parted on Hawth Avenue – John heading on to Three Bridges and me turning right into Furnace Green.

Todays mileages were:
Crawley to Horsham   - 9 miles
On Your Bike Route 16 - 15 miles (we added a couple of extra bits)
Horsham to Crawley  - 9 miles

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 6:12 PM BST

Updated: Sunday, 12 October 2008 6:24 PM BST

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Sunday dawned dry and sunny, but the distinct morning chill meant arm warmers and a jacket were needed. Soon I was heading north from Haywards Heath towards the start of the ride at Three Bridges Station, but the lack of knee warmers resulted in a faster pace than normal, and I arrived at the start in plenty of time.

After a while with nobody else in sight I started to wonder if I got the right place. With the BBQ in Horsham, had I misread the runs list, and should I have gone to the Horsham Park Pavilion?

Luckily John, a potential new member, arrived shortly followed by Mick (the leader) and John V.  No sign of Bob, but having done his BHF off road London to Brighton ride 24hrs earlier we agreed he may have decided to give this ride a miss.

Heading out of Crawley, via the Maidenbower cycle paths, we were soon on the Balcombe Road, with its fast and impatient motorists. Turning onto High Beeches Lane, near the Cowdray Arms, didn’t help since this road is both narrower and penned in with high hedges along the roadside. Best approach was to leave plenty of space between each rider, and we were soon strung out in a very long line.

Finally we got off this race track on to the quieter Brantridge Lane, and its long descent into Staplefield. Crossing over the Cuckfield Road (B2114) we cycle past the village green, with its cricket pitch, before joining the cycle route towards Brighton. But not for long, since we branch off to the left on a single track called Mullion’s Lane. Keeping an eye out for the “Slow Dog”, we began the ascent towards the ridge and Sloughgreen Lane (B2115) running along the ridge between Warninglid and Cuckfield.

Turning left, followed by a right, we were quickly off this busy road, and back onto the single track of Broxmead Lane. Travelling north to south, the majority of this route is downhill, with only a single up to climb. However, today a rare event occurred. Not only did an on-coming van stop to allow us to pass, but it actually moved over to give us more room!

Passing the turn towards Ansty, we took the second left down Buncton Lane, and across the main A272. Except for the slight hill approaching the A272, Buncton Lane is all downhill when travelling north to south.

Continuing along Stairbridge Lane, we were soon approaching Hickstead, and the Little Chef for Mick’s planned tea and toasted tea cakes stop. Great.

After our cake stop we crossed the main A23, and continued along Hickstead Lane into Twineham, then headed north towards Bolney, before the turn left onto Bob’s Lane, eventually passing through Wineham and down Wineham Lane onto the B2116.

Travelling west along the B2116, and then north on the A281, we were soon at Shermanbury, where we turned off towards Partridge Green.  

From Partridge Green, we continued heading north through Littleworth, re-crossed the A272 and on into Maplehurst, before turning towards Copsale. Leaving Copsale we travelled along Broadwater Lane, joining Kerves Lane, with its hill into Horsham. In the past I have only ever cycled down Kerves Lane, when leaving Horsham on the start of rides, so the hill was a bit of a shock, especially since I was in the wrong gear.

We finally arrived at Barbara’s for the BBQ, together with a drink or two (or three …….).

By the time I had cycled back to Haywards Heath, I had covered 60miles on a nice sunny day and also enjoyed good food, drink and company.

Thanks to Mick and Barbara for arranging the ride and BBQ.

Posted Horsham and Crawley CTC at 6:06 PM BST

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