08.2022 August

Findon Gentlemen’s Cycling Club rides in August 2022.

Saturday 6th August 08.00am ride

JR, KBS RT & Philip

Team chaplain appeared at the start of the ride on his road bike headed for a service that he wanted to attend. Route or subsequent return unknown.

Henfield chosen for the brek. Route up Stable Lane and over to Chanctonbury and west and north down the SDW towards the A24. Turning off towards the bottom we headed east through the woods on the north side of Chanctonbury and onto Chanctonbury ring road. Excellent riding through the dry woods.

Through Wiston village and onto Spithandle Lane along which the Flying Brit was get anti-tarmac fever and suggested turning off onto each bridleway that we passed, but stayed on course when he was informed that these could well have resulted in even more tarmac.

Straight across the Horsham Road and onto the track across the Adur river and into Henfield to the Old Post House for an excellent brek in the sunshine. Philip justified his OBE tucking into his brek with gusto.

Return route was chosen to give KBS a bit more off-road and he had earlier recalled an excellent route along the river found by our team cartographer so we started off down the Downslink to turn off at the river crossing. The FD did not recognise where we were and although informed that we were to simply follow the river, elected to in another direction only to have to backtrack to join the peloton that had pressed on. (Evidencing his itching to try other routes Strava has recorded that his total for the whole ride was over a mile more than RT)

Returning along Spithandle Lane, RT experienced a disaster with a “blasteet” of the Kruger style though not as dramatic, but sufficient for a passing motorist to shout “I heard that”. Disaster because the cause was found to be a split in the tyre meaning that, against his instincts, RT would have to dispose of it. A repair was made to enable him to complete the journey home.

Another ride through the woods with Philip reaching the top and opening the gate before the FD who was no doubt exhausted by his frequent off-shoots from the route. Back of Windlesham and Collarbone alley, through the Long Furlong field and back to the village.

Total 25.7 miles and 1,832ft

subsequent email summaries received from PT and JR:

PT:

Gentlemen

Today, an inspection of Strava shows there were five gentlemen a velo variously representing the FGCC in Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

Messrs Roche and Bang-Sorensen accompanied the Thomas twins (Richard and Philip) on a jaunt to Henfield:

While Mr Avery scouted out new routes for us from Mottistone on the IoW:

Sadly yours truly was hors de combat due to domestic exigencies. Of Messrs Mead, Allen and Kersley I have no news, but Mr Budd was afoot sur le continong to inflame the local ladies. No bike, so no bling!

JR followed with:

Paul et Al,

You are correct in your summary here. For our ride apologies for absence were earlier received from:

* Mr. Paul Topley FGCC TM (so no tech-support then)

* Mr. Tim Kersley FGCC (so we decided to avoid all potentially unsafe bridges)

The hat-trick of disappointments occurred when we were lulled into a false sense of security at 08.00 at OPG.

* Rev. Zach Allen FGCC CCTV (and club historian) arrived but announced that he had to attend a function associated with his duties on the subs bench for the C of E (so we decided to avoid all sites of relevance to the Civil War).

Mr. Phillip Thomas FGCC OBE did indeed attend to double up on the Thomas count and thereby swell the dwindling numbers displayed. Phillip brough along a shiny Electric Trek, the rest of us were on our usual steeds.

Route was as correctly defined below. Brek was at the Post House in Henfield.

The only noteworthy events included some interesting requests to vary the route by the ever-pioneering KBS, with practical demonstration as we rode aside the River Adur and a blasteet in Digginwell Lane.

The latter was caused, not by a stone or thorn, but by Mr. Thomas’ equally pioneering use of an ex-JR tyre which had worn a hole big enough to expose the innertube to the elements. A leading-edge method of reparation was used: rather than repairing the innertube and discarding the tyre Mr. Thomas did the reverse. He patched the tyre and replaced the innertube – deliberately NOT folding the broken spare tube (in a way that would make Mr. Avery proud), there-by ensuring that the puncture would later be repaired to save turning up on future rides with an innertube with a ready-made puncture (we’ve all done it haven’t we).

It was noticed that the patch which Richard adhered to his tyre was placed next to a similar patch from a previous tyre episode!

Whilst thanking Mr. Thomas for his efforts at recycling and re-use – not just on behalf of the FGCC but on behalf of us all on planet Earth – the idea was mooted that perhaps a new tyre might be appropriate. Discussion ensued at which it became apparent that there was more chance of pigs flying (or seeing Mr. Andy Mead sporting a blue rosette).

JR WHQ

Later email from PT:

News has flooded in from AM and ZA confirming their outings on Saturday last:

Andy writes:

The Mead ride started early on the road at 7.30.

To the end of Worthing Seafront via West Worthing and George V Ave. Eastward to the Fort where coffee was taken, before returning via Teddy’s, the back streets of Shoreham, the airport

and then westwards along the seafront to Ferring.

A quick whizz round to The Bluebird (didn’t stop) and back eastward to Worthing via Goring. Left down Clifton Road to the South Farm Road gates

and then to follow the well signposted official cycle route to Findon. A chilly start but much warmer as the sun rose higher. The eye of the cat says 34 miles. Bon Chance.

Zach writes:

6 Aug being the Feast of the Transfiguration, as well as the anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped over Hiroshima in 1945, I chose to join the congregation at St John the Divine, W Worthing for their service, 09.30 Sat. Thus, from Pond Green, I made my way down High St, up the Bostal over High Salvington, across A27, down Durrington Hill; turned R along New Road to pass Tesco Superstore, Durrington and Columbia House, thence L down to Yeomans R’abt on the A259: crossed A259 to take Limbrick Lane which eventually culminates in an underpass under the Railway Line, bringing me on to Woods Way, Mulberry Lane, Passing Goring shops to turn R down Alinora Avenue to seafront. Along to Wallace Ave & thence up to St JtD Church.

Return route via Reigate Rd, W Worthing level crossing, Rectory Rd, Offington Lane and Findon Rd …

Saturday 13th August 08.00am ride

JR, PT, KBS, TK, TB, ZA, RT and CB, AM & MA on rides abroad.

PT reports:

A fine turnout saw Mr Budd out and about in Italy. (26.8miles & 2,595ft)

while Mr Avery explored parts of West Wight. (23.2 miles and 2,328ft)

and a peleton of JR, KBS, PT, RT, TB, TK and ZA popped over to Teddy’s via Coombs. JR was on a steed “brought off the bench” from ZA’s garage. Good to see Tommy back in the saddle after a broken wrist and a bout of covid. (20.3 miles and 1,010 ft.)

Mr Mead was representing us to uphold standards at a music festival at Wiston, but managed a short ride to Steyning on the pretext of obtaining victuals.

RT adds to the report:

At the brek the main peloton discussed whether there should be a memorial erected to mark the spot where Tommy fell with a check on the criteria being as follows:

Were any bones broken? Yes

Was any blood spilt? Yes

Was any medical intervention needed? Yes. Fortunately there was a representative of the medical profession present to attend.

Was the incident spectacular? Yes. How could a crash onto barbed wire on an e-bike down the last steep section of Amberley Mount not be so?

Was pride hurt? Yes. A new member of the youth wing crashing at a point past which the veterans had passed with ease!

This yields a record 50 points and the crash was witnessed, the award of a memorial being a foregone conclusion in spite of not having an EPM, though the “meeting” was sufficiently quorate for this to be officially approved.

All that is required is for the victim and team artist to be present on an Amberley Route ride for the memorial to be created. This will be the second e-memorial.

Saturday 20th August 08.00am ride

A further report from PT:

Gentlemen,

The “turbo triplets” MA, PT and TB assembled at OPG, and in the absence of any analogue accompaniment, completed the FGCC’s first all-electric Saturday ride.

The ride took in the Crem, Budd memorial, Moat House brek, Climping beach, Angmering (MA peel off for home), Tesco (TB peel off for chores), and Findon valley. PT lost contact with the peleton at the Ford Lane/A27 roundabout, completed a circuit of Climping searching for them, and was reunited with the peleton at A27/Climping road roundabout. 31.56 miles and 1303 feet climbed, according to Strava. PT’s navigation thingy says 31.99 miles and 3629 feet! Believe Strava.

Meanwhile, in’t north, Mr Wilson represented the FGCC in his own style (and scored 1 for the bling) by blasting round the Peak District thus:

ZA represented the FGCC in the west of the county, taking in parts of the Chichester canal towpath, thus:

He describes the route as “set off from Rowans Park, Caravan & Motorhome Club Site, N of Bognor Regis, through North Bersted and out on the Lower Bognor Road to Lagness; B2166 through Runcton & North Mundham; B2145 towards Hunston where we rode WSW along the towpath of the Chichester Canal as far as the A286: we rode along the A286 towards Chichester turning L on to Dell Quay Rd and then R up through Apuldram to join A259, W as far as Nutbourne (Chichester Caravans):

Return route E along A259, stopping for tea & sandwich at Fishbourne Roman Palace. Continued through Chichester to the Canal Basin, following Canal towpath back to Hunston from where we followed our outward route back to Rowans Park site“.

Saturday 27th August 08.00am ride

A further PT report:

Having agreed to visit the airport for brek (subliminally suggested by Mr Mead in a text message), and to get there via Botolphs, JR, KBS, PT, RK and ZA set off up to Cissbury and Chanctonbury. On the way to Langmead, the Flying Dane surrendered to an urge to visit Bloody Norse Corner, and took the first of his diversions from the peleton, reappearing at Langmead. We progressed en peleton down the concrete road, and paused to admire the PT2 memorial. At the junction with Maudlin Lane, in an inspired coup of “following from in front”, Kim disregarded the agreed route and set off down Maudlin Lane to the roundabout. The surviving peleton headed south down Annington Road to Botolphs, and joined the Downslink. After a brief period of waiting to see if any Danes appeared, the peleton proceeded to the Airport via the Downslink and wooden bridge, where KBS rejoined us (KBS route in red, peleton in blue), after adding some miles to his route in searching for the rest of us.

Mr Mead joined us by road in a timely fashion for brek, expressing the intention to visit sundry forts and divers coffee emporia on his homeward journey.

The pelefive returned over Lancing clump, after a fine brek watching the many aircraft movements at this busy international hub.

Disaster had already overtaken Mr Avery, even before the Findon peleton had assembled. His route (shown as a thin blue line) was:

as, in a cruel example of a bike growing to be more like its owner, leakages of gas from the nether regions blighted the bike’s ability to control its rear end. This forced our intrepid Team Aromatherapist to abandon his ride at Highdown and return, deflated, to Angmering. Our thoughts are with him at this difficult time.

A graphic depiction of Andy’s ride to complement the above:

What an erudite report from Toppers. Indeed a master of the vernacular. I proceeded south to the western end of the seafront (at around 8.40 am)

via West Worthing crossing where I engaged in a riveting conversation with a charming lady of advanced years, concerned about the accumulated hours, nay days of her life she had spent waiting for trains to pass before allowing her onward progress at these very gates. Moving eastwards I meandered my way through the Park Runners of Worthing and Lancing till I reached Shoreham where, turning left I crossed the bridge and rode up the Downslink, hoping to meet the peloton coming through. Alas no sign of my esteemed colleagues so I made haste to the airport where I found them in the process of locking the steeds having just arrived. Perfect timing. Concern was expressed of the whereabouts of the Chocolate King who seems to have become somewhat detached from the rest of the peloton. How very unusual I remarked to myself.Breakfast was taken after a long wait, marred by the incessant roar of aircraft. Anyone would think it was a bloody airport for heavens sake.Sustenance taken, the rest of the peloton returned to Findon via Lancing Clump, while I retraced my steps back to the Fort and another coffee. Once again fell into a conversation with an elderly couple about the perils of swimming in the channel, which we agreed was becoming more and more like a ditch. Returned home along the seafront to the pier where a right turn took me up through the town, left at the lights past the library and thence to Worthing Station crossing where, after a brief wait I followed the approved cycle route back to Findon. The eye of the cat recorded

28 miles.