Last updated: 3rd July 2009
Contents
Club Information
A serious case of alloy fatigue !
Saturday Off-Road Ride(20/06/09)
Sunday(28/06/09) Ride
Tuesday(30/06/09) Ride
Previous weeks rides
Next weeks rides
My Audax Rides
Paris-Brest-Paris 2007
Isle of Man TT Course
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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Saturday Off-Road Ride.
Despite the promise of a sunny weekend, it was dull and overcast on Saturday 20th
June as I drove down to Bramber. It was even spitting with rain so I took my
waterproof jacket with me as I parked alongside the Downs Link and set off for the
old tollbridge at Shoreham.
It was actually the first time I had seen this bridge since its rebuild last
year and I must say, they have done a really good job. There was a notice by the
bridge advertising the next Charity Bike Ride in aid of the tollbridge in two weeks
time. Returning to the Red Lion, I only had to wait a few minutes until Richard
and Tony Yorke arrived and as Andy had sent a message earlier saying he wouldn't be
able to make it, we set off at 2.05pm.
The first part of the ride was the easy bit - straight up the Downs Link to the
South Downs Way and then, after crossing the A283, the climbing began. It's a long
hard climb up Beeding Hill on the dry dusty track but on reaching the tarmac road
to the Youth Hostel, it got a whole lot easier. From Tottington Barn, the South
Downs Way is a big roller coaster of a track with steep descents and equally steep
climbs. On one section, we encountered a walking mountain biker pushing a very heavily-laden bike who apparently was on his way to Eastbourne complete with camping
gear. Wishing him well on his journey, we pressed on towards Devils Dyke.
Despite the dark overcast sky, I had to stop above Fulking village to take off
my waterproof as I was starting to boil in it. After enjoying the fantastic view
and acknowledging several other cyclists, we continued on our way. Then Richard
spotted some interesting activity on the side of Fulking Hill so we diverted to
observe huge plastic bubbles with people inside rolling down the hill - whatever
turns you on!
On arrival at the pub, the three of us enjoyed drinks seated outside and watched
as our intrepid
explorer arrived, still walking! About half an hour later, we were just about to set
off when another biker stopped us asking if we had a puncture kit. We had no intention
of hanging around while he fixed his puncture so I gave him my kit and we moved on.
It was only some time later that I realised I hadn't given him any tyre levers!
Then our explorer friend stopped us and enquired of the whereabouts of the South
Downs Way so we took him to it and pointed him towards Eastbourne. A bit further down
the road, Richard took us to a long fast descent south to the Monarchs Way. The
track was very dry and dusty and then it suddenly became very narrow and lined with
brambles. We were all in shorts and our legs got a good lashing - if you're into
S & M just follow Richard on one of his jaunts over the South Downs!
On reaching the Monarchs Way, we continued to descend to near the A27 before
doubling back up the Sussex Border Path where I just had to stop and photo this little
beauty....
.... before continuing on down the other side of Cockroost Hill to Mile Oak Farm.
Approaching Southwick Tunnel, there was a magnificent field of poppies to our left
so I stopped for another photo opportunity....
....before climbing up over the Tunnel. The
track now continued upwards on the long climb of Southwick Hill where we spotted a fox crossing the track up ahead. Further on, we sent several little lambs scurrying off
from the sides of the track. The climbing continued as we made our way to Erringham Farm but then we enjoyed a fast descent down
Mill Hill, over the A27 flyover and through the back streets to the Red Lion in
Shoreham. It was now 5pm so I said goodbye and quickly cycled up the Downs Link to
my car and then home.
A really good 16.5mile ride and despite being overcast, the rain held off.
See you on our next Off-Road ride which is in two
weeks time starting from The Gun Inn, Findon.
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Sunday's Ride.
The temperature was already in the 20s at just after 9am on Sunday 28th June
as I set off at speed down the A24. Despite averaging 18.8mph, I could not make up
for my late start and so arrived at Washington just after 9.40am. Spotting another
couple of cyclists unloading their bikes from their car, I enquired if they had
seen a group of cyclists and in which direction they had gone. They pointed me in
the direction of Wiston so off I went again at speed and eventually caught up with
the Arun-Adur group in Spithandle Lane.
Richard was leading and took us on a direct route through Ashurst and Partridge
Green to the A272 near the Camelia Botnar Nurseries. On route, we met JW who had
driven up to the Nurseries having missed that start due to his exhaust falling off
his car and having to call out the emergency services.
Our group, now consisting of Richard, Dave Fox, JW, Paul and me, cycled on
through Maplehurst and Copsale to Sedgewick whilst waving to masses of cyclists
going in all sorts of directions and apparently on various charity bike rides.
Turning left at the A281, we arrived at Hilliers Garden Centre where we enjoyed
pots of tea and cakes while chatting about our various cycling holidays.
When we re-emerged from the garden centre, it had clouded over but it was still
quite warm.
I now had to get back home so I left the others as they cycled on through
Doomsday Green to Grouse Road, then Colgate and Faygate before the long climb up
to The Star in Rusper for lunch. About an hour later, they set off back through
Warnham and Broadbridge Heath to Christs Hospital. Meanwhile, I left home at 2pm
and cycled along the A272 in order to check out Shipley WI but no sign of any teas
today. Light rain started to fall as I headed north past Bax Castle and met up with the
Arun-Adur group again at Christs Hospital.
Re-united, we then cycled over Bonfire Hill to Southwater for afternoon tea
and like lots of other watering places, it was full of cyclists. More tea and
cakes and then it was time to be on our last leg of the ride which took us south
past Shipley to Broomers Corner and then Ashington where we parted once more. The
light rain continued to fall but being very warm, it didn't bother us at all and
as we neared the South Downs, it stopped completely.
At Ashington, I said goodbye and cycled on to Wiston and then back home
via Spithandle Lane, Ashurst and Partridge Green while the others climbed over Warminghurst Hill to Rock Road and Washington. I arrived home at exactly 5pm having
cycled 66miles with 2800ft of climbing and then the sun came back out and we had a beautiful evening!
Don't forget to be at Wisborough Green next Sunday for the West Sussex DA Event.
Click on this link to read about the previous Sunday
ride.
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Tuesday's Ride.
On Tuesday 30th June, it was another beautiful hot and sunny day so I(Edwin)
decided to ride over to Havant Station to join the Arun-Adur Tuesday Ride. The
weather was a little strange today. While most of Sussex was bathed in hot sunshine
with clear blue skies, Hampshire westwards was cloudy though still hot and humid. As
I rode west, the sharp dividing line was reached at Westbourne close to the West Sussex
and Hampshire border. The blue sky to our East remained visible all day as the sharp
division remained in the same area.
At the station, I met Ernie, JT and Ray from Arun-Adur and Richard Carlisle from
Bognor & Chichester. Richard had seen Dave Fox and Richard Boulton on the train on
the way to Wales from which they planned to ride back over the following 5 days.
Ernie led us to the top of Portsdown Hill with great views of Portsmouth as we
rode along the ridge. Before leaving the hill, we stopped off at Fort Nelson at the
lawn on the front to view a giant-sized Mortar built in the 19th century which is the
largest built and once fired a 3000lb cannonball 1.5miles. Next to it, was an enormous
gun once mounted on a World War I Battleship.
We continued down from the ridge inland to the lanes and after a navigational error,
joined the A32 to get to Wickham and elevenses at the Chesapeake Mill tearooms. This
was very pleasant but the general consensus was that prices were too high.
Suitably refreshed, we continued on lanes north along the Meon valley via Soberton
Heath, Soberton and Meonstoke, all quiet pleasant little villages. The Hampshire lanes
are notable for having less traffic than the Sussex ones. Eventually, we arrived at
The Shoe, Exton and settled into their garden with the upper reaches of the Meon flowing
by us at the bottom of the garden complete with a fair few ducks. The people at the table next to us had 2 “Dulux”(Old English Sheepdogs to give their proper name)
dogs with them.
After lunch we rode up out of the village and the valley and then more quiet
lanes via Chidden and past The Bat and Ball Inn and the first Cricket Ground at
Hambledon. Then it was back via Clanfield, Chalton and Finchdean to Rowlands Castle.
We were running late so missed out an afternoon tea stop. Richard, John and Ray headed
on back to Havant to get the train while Ernie and I turned off at Rowlands Castle to
cycle home.
The ride mileage from and back to Havant was about 40 whereas my total mileage was
65.
Thanks for the ride report, Edwin - sorry I couldn't extract the photos and
embed them on the website.
Next Tuesday ride starts from Littlehampton
footbridge.
Click on this link to read about the previous Tuesday
ride.
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