05.2021 May

Findon Gentlemen’s Cycling Club rides in May 2021

Saturday 1st May 08.00am ride – e-bikers play hide and seek with a vicar.

A peleton of eight hardy souls (AM JR MA PT RK RT TK and ZA) assembled at OPG, to be dazzled by JR’s new golden bike.  JR also produced a razor-saddled road bike he has recently acquired, so that Gentlemen could assist him in discovering where the gearshifters were.  This search completed successfully (they were cunningly integrated with the brake levers), the road bike was returned within the security cordon surrounding World HQ and a ride to Arundel for bacons was agreed on.
Pausing at the top of Muntham to regroup, our dear TVCC was struck by a nostalgia for the Golden Bum, and disappeared over the crest heading up towards the SDW.
At this moment disaster struck. With a technical elegance worthy of the engineers who laid the first transatlantic telegraph cables, RT proceeded to lay the entire length of his chain in a perfect line along the track.  Catastrophe was compounded by the timing – it was a Saturday, so we had no chance of being able to afford the weekend consultancy fees of our expert chain-break locator (now representing the Club in the Far East).  We were therefore reduced to guessing where the break had occurred, with rival factions favouring the respective ends.  The matter was resolved by uniting both of the broken ends together, remembering to pass the chain inside the chainstay to avoid later embarrassment.
A relieved peleton then set off in the wake of our TVCC (in very much a “John the Baptist” role) until we reached Chantry car park, at which point a familiar yellow speck was seen on the skyline, on the track leading to the tank site.  Ever keen to expose e-riders to ridicule by exhausting their batteries, RT suggested that MA and PT should pursue the escaping cleric, and then meet the peleton at Wepham Down.
Accepting this challenge PT and MA turned their bikes to warp speed and set off along the SDW, reaching the tank turn in time to see the TVCC disappear again into the trees east of the tank site, en route to Lee Farm.  The “turbo twins” continued south from the tank site eventually reaching Wepham Down to rejoin the remainder, who had ridden south down from Chantry and west to pass through Lee Farm (presumably before the TVCC).  A delightful and uneventful progress to Arundel ensued on the traditional route via the CB memorial (which remains in good order), anxiety  alleviated by messages from the TVCC assuring us of his well-being.
Bacons duly consumed and vt spoken and heard, the remaining seven set off for Ford prison, Climping, and the sea at Littlehampton.  A second stop for tea on the seafront in the sunshine was enjoyed,
and the ride continued east through the built-up area and along the A259.  As we passed Ferring, MA peeled off to return home by skirting north of Highdown (he had already climbed it once on the way to Findon).  The peleton, now six, percolated through to Offington and returned to Findon via Mill lane and the gallops.  PT’s ride was 28.29 miles, but various distances were logged by others.
Blue is MA’s pre-ride ride to Findon to begin the ride (overall 34 miles & 1,655ft)
Red is PT’s route
Yellow is the main peleton’s route from Chantry to Wepham (28.43ft & 1,112ft)
Green is MA’s route home after peeling off
Purple is the TVCC’c possible route fom the tank to Findon – later information allowed a complete plot as follows (9.8 miles& 935 ft):
On the mainland, our European Representative was spreading the word amongst hill and valley, with a ride of 30.7 miles and 2,231 feet of climbing:
A splendid solitary effort – the plot is reconstructed from CB’s description, as Strava decided to take a break in the middle of his ride.
Nine riders – a goodly turnout for May day
TAMITS: ZA playing hide and seek with the e-bikers
                  RT suggesting hide and seek in order to drain e-bikers batteries
                  JT dazzling bike

Saturday 8th May 08.00am ride

MA, KBS, ZA & KBS all met at OPG at the official time

PT reports:

The North Sussex outpost of the FGCC was duly moved to new premises in Horsham last weekend, which made it impolitic for yours truly to ride – instead I wore out an electric screwdriver on Messrs Ikea’s fine products!
A bumper contingent of ten riders (CB, NW, AM, RT, TK, ZA, RK, KBS, JR, MA) got out over the weekend, at divers times and locations.
Furthest flung rider was Mr Budd, who wowed the Italian ladies with a brief glimpse of the finely sculpted Budd calves on a quick circuit in the mountains (8 miles and 1,202ft)
In a first ride to be posted this year, Strava informs me that Nigel was out and about in the dales near Matlock on Sunday, hopefully keeping dry:
The Crocodile (RK) was out in search of bluebells (so he says) on Sunday, but more likely just sharpening the stalking skills, in Hertfordshire:
Nearer home, Andy headed over to Littlehampton for a coffee later on Saturday (28.8miles & 968ft):
Full marks for character-building defiance of the weather go to Richard, Kim, Zach and Mark, who assembled at 08:00 to be variously soaked on the way up to Chantry and back (RT – 8miles & 587ft):
Kim and Zach did a circuit taking in Lee Farm and Myrtlegrove (9.6miles &1,007ft):
Mark, character already part-built by his ride over from Angmering, manfully (or should that be personfully?) completed a circuit taking in Chantry and the APE (16 miles and 1,387 ft)
Rain-averse Tim did cover some miles round Cissbury, Chanctonbury, Rackham, APE, tank site and Muntham (24miles & 2,110ft):
John slipped past the security cordon at World HQ to tear over to Shoreham, checking out the Truleigh Hill NAAFI caravan for traces of Halloumi, then back along the SDW on a road bike! (21.6miles & 1,549ft).

Saturday 15th May 08.00am ride 

RT, AM, PT, TK and Zach part.

Saturday 22nd May 08.00am ride

 

Sunday 23rd to Saturday 29th May Monarch’s Way ride.