Contents
Previous Saturday's Ride
Previous Sunday's Ride
Previous Tuesday's Ride
Saturday's Off-Road Ride.
After an early morning shower, it was a beautiful warm sunny day on Saturday 19th
July despite a bit of a breeze. I drove down to Sompting church and met Richard
and Paul - while DaveF was away on his long distance trek to Inverness, there was no
sign of any other members venturing out in the sunshine.
At 2.10pm, Richard volunteered to lead and headed due west along the very overgrown
path to the lane up to Lambleys Barn. Now travelling north, we cycled up to Beggars Bush
and Lychpole Farm before ascending the long climb to the top of Steyning Bowl.
Picking up the South Downs Way, we headed west again to Chanctonbury Ring while
encountering lots of joggers/walkers who were on some sort of sponsored walk.
Having spent three quarters of an hour climbing, we now descended to North Farm near
the A24 in about three minutes flat - only mishap was Paul's front mudguard dropping off
on route! Continuing on the tracks, we zigzagged from Pest House to Gallops Farm and then
descended into Findon where we stopped for tea and scones at The Village Store.
Half an hour later, we got back on our bikes and climbed up to Cissbury Ring where
we took the narrow sheep track to the west of the Ring...
...and then continued on the steep undulating track around to Lychpole Hill. After
reaching Lambleys Barn again, we took the fast descent all the way down to the A24 and
the last mile back to Sompting church - just 15miles this time.
Back to Ramblings page.
Previous Sunday's Ride.
Once again, I found myself heading south out of Cowfold on a very warm and sunny Sunday
27th July and once again, I was cycling quite quickly as I got caught up in a some
cycling club's Time Trial. However, they did an about-turn in Henfield leaving me to
enjoy a much quieter ride down to Bramber where I met up with Richard, Chris, Steve,
Anthony Cartmell(of fonant fame!) and Anne from Brighton. Chris, who is usually
seen on a MTB on our off-road rides, was riding a KIA(supplied with a 4x4 by the car manufacturer) hybrid bike which was given to him while Anthony was riding a genuine Dutch
bike complete with dynamo, hub brakes, built-in rear wheel lock, 7-speed rear hub gears,
single chainring and all-enveloping chain-case! Oh, he also had a rear rack and pannier
so I hate to think how much it weighed.
Tacking onto the back of the bunch, we all cycled back over the South Downs and across
to Poynings via Edburton and Fulking. Richard and the others decided on the 'laughingly
called' cycletrack alongside the A23 while Steve and I cycled down the main road and
then past the golf course. While waiting for the others to catch up with us at the A23
bridge, Steve and I smiled at the very slow moving traffic on the choked up dual carriageway
below us. With 'groupo compacto', we cycled on up to Washbrooks Farm where Louise, Brian
and Sue were waiting for us.
After enjoying pots of tea outside on the patio area, we all set off due north through
Hurstpierpoint and past The Sportsman at Goddards Green to Ansty where we did a left and
right in order to continue north up Deaks Lane. It was a long climb up to the B2115 but
then we had a leisurely ride east to Cuckfield before turning north again up the B2036.
We now enjoyed a long fast descent through Brook Street to the left fork into Cherry Lane
which, of course, now involved a long climb back up again to just beyond the point where
it became Rowhill Lane. Even though this was a very narrow twisty lane, some motorists
still wanted to drive down it - even a Mercedes 4x4 driver who wouldn't move over and
nearly took some of us off with his wing mirror! Luckily, we didn't meet any more cars as
we descended down the steep hill to the bottom of the second climb up under the railway
bridge to the B2036 again by Balcombe station. The temperature was around 28C and this
climb was so steep that it had a couple of us using foot power to get to the top but Louise
was determined to pedal up everything and she did!
Brian snaps Sue leading Chris to the top while I ride up on the shady side!
Louise does a sterling job ahead of Anne & Anthony while Richard makes it at his own pace.
Thanks go to Brian for the great pictures!
We were all fairly sweaty(of course, the ladies were just glowing!) as we waited
to regroup under the shelter of some trees and then it was just a short ride to the Half
Moon where Brian and Sue left to have lunch at the High Beeches Nursery tearoom. The rest
of us enjoyed lunch in the cool of the pub lounge as close to the door as we could get. At
dead on 2pm, I notified Brian and Sue by mobile 'phone and then we set off to meet them at
the top of Brantridge Lane by the water tower.
After the long drag up to Brantridge lane, we now enjoyed a very fast downhill ride to
Staplefield before heading west to Slaugham and then south to Warninglid. The constant
undulations and the heat were beginning to wear down some of the group especially those
on the heavier bikes and Louise so we stopped at the top of the steep little climb up to
the Half Moon to regroup again and decide on our options.
Steve and Anne from Brighton decided to continue due south through Wineham and Poynings
while the rest of us opted to go to Camelia Botnar garden centre for afternoon tea. After
the descent from Warninglid, we said goodbye to Steve and Anne and then proceeded to Picts
Lane where Louise decided that she had done enough climbing for one day and so she went
down to the A272 for a flat ride to the tea stop. Our group was now down to Richard, Chris,
Anthony, Brian, Sue and myself as we cycled along the narrow lane to the A281 and the long
climb through Woldringfold. One last steep climb up 'Dog Bark'(Peacocks) Hill had us grovelling
for the granny gears again and then, after deciding that we had annoyed the dogs for long
enough, we pressed on to the A272 and the short loop around the back of the Clock House to
Camelia Botnar's where Louise was waiting for us.
We were very thankful to be able to gather under the shade from the big umbrellas while
we ate cake and sipped tea. While we were chatting away, Adrian arrived having been out on
one of his jaunts so he joined us for a while before I decided that we must get back home.
Saying goodbye to the others, Louise and I cycled straight back to Cowfold while they
cycled south through Partridge Green and Ashurst.
I had clocked up 47miles today while the others probably did around 55 but in the high
temperatures, it was enough.
Back to Ramblings page.
Previous Tuesday's Ride.
The weather on Tuesday 22nd July was perfect with cloudless blue skies and temperatures
up to 23C. The ride, led by John Wickens and accompanied by Dennis, started from Sea Lane Cafe
in Goring and he was joined by Maurice from Shoreham and a friend from Hove who both returned
after elevenses. I(Edwin) met them at the elevenses stop at The Putting Green Cafe in Arundel
after taking a longer ride from Pagham to Arundel via Madehurst and Whiteways. Linda also
joined the ride at Arundel after riding over from Chichester.
Over elevenses, Maurice told us he had heard the A27 was going to be closed later in the year at the bridge over the railway Line at Arundel station. I 'Googled' this when I got back and found out the following -
Work to refurbish the bridge carrying the A27 over Arundel railway station in West Sussex will start on Friday 12th September. As part of the Highways Agency's commitment to safety, the work will include resurfacing the road, renewing the waterproofing of the bridge and carrying out brickwork repairs where necessary.
Traffic Management:-
The work will take place over 3 to 5 non-consecutive weekends during which time the bridge will be closed to traffic on:-
- 8:00pm Friday 12th September until 6:00am Monday 15th September
- 8:00pm Friday 26th September until 6:00am Monday 29th September
- 8:00pm Friday 10th October until 6:00am Monday 13th October
- 8:00pm Friday 17th October until 6:00am Monday 20th October
- 8:00pm Friday 31st October until 6:00am Monday 03rd November
During these times the A27 will be closed from The Causeway roundabout to the junction with Crossbush Lane. Access to Arundel Railway Station, homes, businesses and local roads will be maintained from each end of this section, but the bridge itself will be closed to traffic.
There will be pedestrian access to the station from the bridge by means of the footbridge, and pedestrians will be able to access the station platforms from the station. For wheelchair- users, there will be arrangements to allow escorted passage over the bridge while it is closed. There are also provisions to allow emergency services across the bridge in the event of an emergency.
A fully signed diversion route will be in place during each closure:-
Westbound traffic on the A27 will be directed off the A27 at the Crossbush Interchange onto the A284 heading southbound to join the A259 heading westbound. Traffic will continue along the A259 through Bognor Regis to join the A29 Shripney Road northbound. Traffic will continue northbound on the A29 until the junction with the A27 at Fontwell to continue westbound.
Eastbound traffic along the A27 will use the same route in the opposite direction.
Sounds like a lot of congestion in store on the A259 and probably Ford Lane too as a
lot of cars will use that rather than go across to Bognor.
To get back to our ride, Dennis, Linda and I followed John on the lanes across to Binsted Woods. At the pond, John stopped to show us the Madonna Statue up a path beside the
pond and told us the history of how it came to be there.
When I got home, I 'Googled' Binsted Woods, Madonna and came across a lot more interesting facts. In 1997, a recently-buried witches curse in a bottle was dug up there and it also seems to be a favourite hangout for ghosts and ghouls. A very interesting website is called P.I.G.S! - standing for Paranormal Investigations Group Sussex - of course, you knew that? Below, are some of their findings :-
Legends of mystery and magic are not new to the eerie and isolated woodland glade where a figure stood overlooking the murky pool in which two children are said to have drowned many years ago.
Dick Coen, of Arundel’s tourist information office, who was interviewed by a local historian about the glades' sinister associations said "It is no more than a persistent rumor. However, a lot of people swear blind that when they pass it with their dogs, the dogs start crying and growling. Even those riding a horse have a job to get their horses to go past".
"I'm a psychic and was recently driven past a place called Binsted woods. I had a terrible feeling of dread and an insanity that I couldn't quite explain. I also felt the presence of nuns or monks and all from driving past! ....possibly involving water or a large crash. ....just feels like being trapped and losing your mind."
This location does have a strange feel about it. There is a gamekeeper who is not an evil character but is certainly unpleasant in his personality and can be felt by those that
are sensitive to spirits, mainly in the wooded area before you reach the pond. There is the woman with the pony-tail who we feel is active around the pond and the foundations of the
house. This case file will remain open as we plan to continue our investigation as we are yet
to establish the true identity and purpose of these wandering souls.
It might be as well not to ride your bike that way on a dark night.....or any night!
Continuing our ride, we took the rough road and then the quiet tarmac lane meandering across to Binsted and then Walberton, Eastergate, Colworth and Merston to our lunch stop at Runcton. However, Linda headed straight back while the rest of us continued on to the Manor Garden Centre to enjoy a substantial lunch.
After lunch, we split up to make our own separate ways home. The full official route was about 50miles while my mileage was 36.
Thanks to Edwin for the ride report and pictures.