Last updated: 11th May 2008
Contents
Club Information
A serious case of alloy fatigue !
Saturday's(10/05/08) Off-Road Ride
Sunday's(11/05/08) Ride
Tuesday's(06/05/08) Ride
Previous week's rides
Next week's rides
New Years Day TT 2008
Paris-Brest-Paris 2007
Dieppe to Quincampoix(Tribute to Anquetil) Ride
The Arun-Adur Section
This section covers the coastal area between Littlehampton and Shoreham-by-Sea,
and inland between the River Arun and the Adur. We are one of three sections of
the West Sussex Cyclists' Touring Club(CTC), the others being Bognor
Regis & Chichester(BoganChi), Crawley & Horsham(Crawsham).
Our section membership currently stands at around fifty and our active cycling
members have a wide range of ages, from people in their late twenties upwards. The
younger ones are not necessarily the fittest!... and if you don't ride regularly,
you won't be able to keep it up !
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Motorists take note: It says in the Highway Code
that "cyclists must not ride more than two abreast". This means that
it is perfectly legal for cyclists to ride two abreast. Also, treat a
cyclist as you would a horse and give them room when overtaking!
On the TV program "The Great Motoring Debate", one question asked "when
can you cross the solid white in the centre of the road?". The answer is only
to overtake something travelling at less than 15mph!
Most cyclists are motorists too but are more caring about our environment.
Cyclists take note: In narrow and/or dangerous places, it is advisable to
ride in single file and if there is a big group of riders, leaving gaps helps
motorists to get past a long line of cyclists. Remember that a motorist is
driving a dangerous weapon and he can do you a lot more harm than you can do him!
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Off-Road Ride.
After a good turn-out on the previous off-road ride and with glorious sunshine on
Saturday 10th May, I was expecting more of the same but it was not to be.
Only, Andy and myself joined JM for his ride from Patching pond so at around 2.10pm,
we set off up through Patching village. Turning east, John led us downhill to the
foot of the Long Furlong, then we climbed towards Myrtlegrove Farm before heading
further east to the top of the Long Furlong.
The sun was pretty strong and there wasn't a lot of cover on these long climbs so
we were all feeling the heat. I spotted an orange 'Trail Ride' marker and as we headed
north up the dusty trail past Windlesham School, we spotted more on reaching the
South Downs Way. Cycling westwards, we spotted more markers and then started to
encounter riders heading in the same direction and then eventually we came across
a checkpoint control - apparently it was a 55km off-road ride that was advertised
in the Evening Argus.
All of the climbing in the heat was taking its toll of Andy and he was slowly
stripping off - first the helmet onto the bars and then his top ended up around his
waist. On reaching Amberley Mount, John led us around it via Downs Farm whereas the
other riders were going straight over the top. After many days of sunny weather,
the chalky tracks were thankfully dry but the vehicle wheeltracks were rock hard.
Unfortunately, Andy who was following my at speed down the descent, caught his
front wheel on the side of a wheeltrack and took a tumble - no serious damage but
the rock hard ground gave him a few grazes. It later transpired that his orange juice
bottle had split but thankfully he also had two reserve bottles in his back pockets.
Houghton Bridge tearoom was very busy and after getting pots of tea, we sat
inside to get some shelter from the sun while watching Andy tucking into a tuna
jacket potato lunch. Half an hour later, John led us over the main road to North
Stoke, over the railway line and onto the bridleway that runs around the foot of
The Downs and can only be described as part of the River Arun flood plain. Even
after all the dry weather, the track was still quite boggy and the mud, partly
dried, was very sticky.
After reaching Wepham village.....
....John took us on the long climb up Warningcamp Hill to Wepham
Wood. The heat, the climbing and the weight of Andys bike was finally getting to
him and he was climbing slower and slower. He was quite relieved whe nwe reached
the edge of the Angmering Estate and there was no more climbing. However, there
was still the boggy section which is always boggy and today was no different. A
lot of alternate routes through the trees got us around the worst bits and then
we finally dropped down into Patching village again where I had left my car.
A good strenuous 20mile ride - pity there wasn't a few more to enjoy it.
Arun-Adur's next off-road ride is on 24th May starting at 2:00pm,
Patching Pond on the old A27, near the Worlds End pub.
Click on this link to read about the previous Saturday
ride.
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Sunday's Ride.
The heatwave continues so under a glorious blue sky, Louise and I drove over to
Billingshurst for the start of the 'West Sussex I-Spy Ride.' We arrived just as most
of the others were setting off so after quickly unloading the bikes and collecting
the information sheets from the organiser, Bob from Horsham CTC, we set off.
Everyone had paired up for the event making a total of 7 teams, the only exception
being Edwin on his own as Bognor & Chichester had an odd number of riders and Horsham
who were fielding a team of one tandem plus one solo. Steve and JW were the only other
Arun-Adur riders so we were a bit thin on the ground compared to the other sections.
Most of the clues related to names and signs outside houses so everyone cruised
slowly past every house before speeding to the next bunch of properties. Occasionally,
we would meet another team doubling back having reached the next junction without
finding the answer to a question. The route sheet and clues were very well organised
and no-one went 'off course' however Louise wasn't too impressed with having to climb
first, Brook Hill near West Chiltington then the one up to Warminghurst church.
Louise and I were making good progress and had passed nearly all of the other teams
by the time we reached the lunch halt at Dragons Green however we knew we had missed
one clue. When Bob enquired how many post boxes we had seen we knew we were not going
to win because we had missed reading that part of the route instructions - doh! We
hoped to make up for our errors in the afternoon session but if not, it didn't matter
too much as it as only in fun and taking part was the main thing.
After lunch, we collected the next lot of instructions and set off on the zigzag route
towards Barns Green. At least this section was among tree-lined lanes that offered some
shade from the blazing sun - something we hadn't had the fortune of in the morning ride.
We had met up with JM, Brian & Sue at the lunch stop so our team of Louise and I now had
five members!
It was around 2.30pm when we rolled into the finish control at Sumners Ponds in Barns
Green where Bob was waiting. He gleefully announced a couple of more errors in our answers
so we decided that we would definitely not be the winners especially when he asked us how
many post boxes in total! Also, the Horsham tandem/solo team had maximum points and Edwin
was bound to get 100% too.
Our team of five decided to head to Shipley as the WI were serving tea cakes in the
hall so after thanking Bob for an enjoyable ride which had totalled around 28miles, we
cycled back through Dragons Green. At Shipley village hall, JM, Brian & Sue were already
tucking into the cakes so Louise and I joined them and a bit later JW arrived. Half an
hour later, Louise set off for home while I cycled back to Billingshurst to get my car.
See you next week at 9.45am, Wisborough Green
Click on this link to read about the previous Sunday
ride.
Next Sunday's ride
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Tuesday's Ride.
Tuesday 6th May and what a scorcher! It was too good to miss but as our club
ride was way out west of Littlehampton, I decided on a loop of my own.
It was just after 1pm when I set off in shorts and short-sleeved top - the temperature
was just above twenty degrees but there was quite a stiff southerly breeze blowing.
I went straight down to Wiston via my usual route of Partridge Green - no sign of
any other cyclists so I next cycled through Ashington to the B2139 where I turned for
West Chiltington and the RSPB centre. Deciding it was too early to stop, I pressed on
over Greatham bridge and out to Fittleworth.
A lot of climbing following as I took the narrow twisty scenic lane cycled north to
The Mens Crimbourne. I reckoned I had now earned a teastop so it was straight to the
Penelope's in Wisborough Green. It was baking hot sitting outside the tearoom and along
the lanes, the tarmac was beginnig to blister!
Half an hour later, it was time to make tracks so I cycled over the incredibly rough
river crossing at Newbridge on the A272 and then took to the lanes again past the Gallery
to Sothebys on the A29. Lanes again over to Barns Green, Brook Green and then Dragons
Green where a fast dash on the A272 got me back home around 4.30pm.
Next Tuesdays ride starts from Littlehampton footbridge.
Click on this link to read about the previous Tuesday
ride.
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