2020-02 February
FGCC rides in February 2020
Saturday 1st February 08.00am ride – post Not-gala night
MA, CB, JB, JR, TK, RK, RT
A surprisingly large turnout after a late and heavy night, celebrating friendship and laughter instead of some political event that took place at the same time.
Yet again much debate as to the best route considering the soggy state of the Downs. Muntham, the high barn, SDW to Kithurst hill, the Flying Brit’s “vroom” route led by a charging MA and down to Lee Farm. Up to Chantry Lane car park and back to Findon via Church Hill, with a stop to recite the ode to the fallen at Collarbone Alley memorial. Excellent brek at Findon Garden centre.
Total 13.6 miles and 1,158 ft (though JB app says 600m or around 2,000 ft).
TAMIT: JB for his feel-good app that is set to give encouraging results on heights climbed?
TAMITS from NGN – ZA forgetting his medal and having to go home to collect it?
– JR for the longest speech?
Saturday 8th February 08.00am ride
Saturday 15th February 08.00am Mead Trek & Brek
CB, PT, JB, TK, ZA, RT. (+AM at start).
With target of arriving back at 10.00am for the brek, RT proposed route via Cissbury car park, straight on towards the Steyning Road, turn left before ZA’s “blasteet alley” and up the gravel track to Langmead and then SDW and continue with remainder of 4 peaks if time permitted. However, RT only made it to the top of the steep hill before the Steyning road, when his free-wheel device failed. Wheel removed and various ideas being put forward as to how to release it, before handing it over to TM who had been patiently waiting in the background with fingers twitching in anticipation of getting onto the problem. Unfortunately even he was not able to do anything as the locking nut was too tightly on, leaving RT with having to walk back to Nepcroft. The remaining peloton continued up to Langmead memorial, onto the SDW towards Chanctonbury, then left and towards Cissbury before turning right to go round the back of Findon Park House, up towards the Pest House and then via Gallops farm and Stable Lane back to Findon.
An excellent brek at Mead Mansion enhanced by the presence of Mr Tomalin who gave a detailed lecture on possible routes and points of interest for the Trenches trip in France to take place in May.
TAMITS: DT for remarkable 45 minute presentation without any notes
Saturday 22nd February 08.00am ride
RK, JB, PT, MA, KBS, TK, JR, RT
Decision on route largely taken based on how to minimise the effects of the 40mph+ winds as well as choosing routes that are not too boggy. Best to be returning with the wind behind so a westerly route chosen. Up Muntham and a struggle against the wind to the High barn and on to Chantry Lane CP by which time thoughts turned to possibly turning back. Selected route was to descend to Lee Farm, but KBS thought we should carry on the SDW and then do his “vroom” route, but the original route was followed. We had to pedal down hill to Lee Farm due to the wind then up to the top of the gallops at which point KBS wanted to go up his “vroom” route, not understanding the original route, but the peloton pushed on with the chosen route, heading north from the gallops and then left at the gate to follow two double dips to join the SDW-Burpham track, turning right to at last enjoy having the wind at our backs. A stop to resurrect the KBS memorial and then return to Findon via the SDW to High Barn and then Muntham. Brek at Findon Garden centre at which the results of different apps were compared as follows:
Satmap. 14.5 miles and 1,300 ft (?)
Strava. 14.6 miles and 1,209 ft with 521 calories expended.
Jake motivator app 14.6 miles and 1,800 ft with 1,500 calories expended. Major look of disappointment at hearing the Strava equivalent of the calories stat.
TAMITS: KBS constantly trying to change routes but not knowing where he was going anyway?
Saturday 29th February 08.00am ride (aka “JR hiding day” from all those bar fiancees who could propose today).
PT, ZA, MA, RT
PT writes:
“With Mr Roche safely concealed in an undisclosed location (to prevent disappointment to any of the legion of would-be fiancees roaming the countryside) a peloton of four set off to attempt a route which exposed the riders to the smallest amount of water. Mr Thomas came up with a fine route, which stayed on tarmac for the first fifteen miles or so, until we reached the top of the concrete road up Steyning Bowl. This point was reached via the cycle lanes in Findon Valley, West Worthing level crossing, and directly down to the prom at Worthing. Blown nicely along the front to Shoreham, we skirted round the airport and headed up the road to Botolphs