10.2022 October

FGCC ventures abroad from Findon in October 2022

Saturday 1st October 08.00am ride

TK, RK, JR, ZA, RT

RK having forgotten his cycling shoes, route chosen to go past his flat so he could retrieve them. Down A24 to West Worthing Stn and Grand Avenue to the seafront. Along the seafront to Brooklands for shoe retrieval then continuing on to Teddies for yet another excellent brek. Return via Lancing clump and then onto Langmead and SDW, down to Buddington Bottom, back up to Gallops Farm and then down Stable Lane.

Total 21.4 miles and 1,001ft.

Mr Budd was out and about a velo on 1st October, for a circuit of some 16 miles climbing 1605 feet:

TAMITS: RK forgetting his cycling shoes

A TAMITS from earlier in the week for the record: Delays on the virtual line with TK replying to MA Christmas at the Avery’s invitation from last year

Friday 7th/Saturday 8th October Go West Ride – PM Captain Kersley

PT summarises the rides as follows:

As a non-rider, the following has been gleaned, inter alia, from Strava.

A peleton of six (JR MA RK RT TK and ZA) left Findon for Worthing, train to Seaford, and ride to Lewes on Friday 7th October, meeting PT in the LSV at Alfriston, Southease and Lewes:

23.8 miles and 1,932ft

After a convivial evening in the Rights of Man and the Shazam curry emporium, PT delivered ZA to Lancing and the bags to Findon, and the peleton (augmented by the arrival of KBS) returned via Shoreham airport:

31.5 miles and 2,356ft.

ZA, after completing uxorial exigencies, set off from Findon in an unsuccessful search for le peleton, but enjoyed a tour of Truleigh Hill and Upper Beeding nevertheless:

JR reported on his little incident at Nyetimber:

Let the annals record that whilst descending Nyetimber Hill JR had a laydown that sprained his wrist, hurt his pride and caused the immediate calling of a meeting of the memorial committee. It was here decided that no memorial could be created because:

* No hospital visit ensued – although the club nurse administered balm and advice post-ride (including “why don’t you grow up for once”).

** We couldn’t be ar$*^d to climb back up to complete the art work.

However, once the committee had finished its important work kind first-aid was administered by all to JR’s many wounds – actually it was third-aid because FGCC policy dictates that the actions following such a spill are always:

1. Stand around and take the p!$$ and also some photos where possible.

2. Convene a meeting of the memorial committee and carry out any necessary artistry.

3. See if the rider is hurt and maybe needs medical ministration and counselling.

I remain, yours (and hors-de-combat).

JR WHQ

And Project Manager TK reported as follows:Friday 7^th October – 24 miles (per gallon).

A peleton of five (JR MA RK RT and TK) left Findon for West Worthing, to catch a train to Seaford arranging to later rendezvous with ZA ( riding) and Pt (LSVing)

Arriving Seaford at 10.30 the morning we made tracks across Seaford Head to Cuckmere Haven and the famous spectacle of the coastguard cottages and Seven Sisters.

Making our way along a ride path ( footpath really) we travelled up the Cuckmere valley taking in fantastic river views before arriving for coffee break at Seven Sisters country park, then enjoyed some off-piste sections through woodland and connecting forest tracks to arrive on hills overlooking Jeavington, heading west to lunch at the George Alfriston whereupon we met PT and also happened upon ZA who has followed our route some 60 minutes later.

The afternoon ride followed the South Downs was requiring a steep ascent out of Alfriston and a ride against the wind over Firle beacon before a steep descent to Southease YHA café to meet up with PT. Suitably refreshed the final 3 miles followed the Ouse River bank direct to overnight stay in Lewes Premier Inn, where we once again met PT who had LSV’d all bags for us (marvellous work).

A convivial evening involved the Rights of Man pub and the Shazam curry emporium and a golden gallon, or was it bakers gallon ..

Saturday 8^th Oct – 31 miles

Breakfast was accompanied by the arrival of KBS to join us for the ride home.

After PT had delivered a masterclass on replacement of gear cable ( many thanks again Paul) PT and ZA left in the LSV leaving KBS, JR MA RK RT and TK to make tracks climbing from Lewes up to the SDW across Ditchling Beacon, down through Pyecombe towards the planned tea stop at Seddlescombe. An uneventful ride to this point ( save for kims splitting of a pair of other riders on the SDW suddenly whilst descending Nyetimber Hill JR had a laydown that sprained his wrist, hurt his pride and caused the immediate calling of a meeting of the memorial committee. It was here decided that no memorial could be created (NB the matter has been referred to national government so expect a U turn soon) because:

* No hospital visit ensued – although the club nurse administered balm and advice post-ride (including “why don’t you grow up for once”).

** We couldn’t be ar$*^d to climb back up to complete the art work.

Stand around and take the p!$$ and also some photos where possible.
Convene a meeting of the memorial committee and carry out any necessary artistry.
See if the rider is hurt and maybe needs medical ministration and counselling.

All riders now had sympathy for JRs situation and thus used all available a safe tracks to make way over Devils Dyke, to Truleigh hill and descending to Shoreham Airport for a lunch stop before the safe ( some might say too much tarmac) route along the seafront and home via west hill and gallops.

Saturday 15th October 08.00am ride

Le Peleton was much diminished by the absence of JR (injured wrist), MA (grandchild duties), KBS (chocolates in Lewes) and AM (on his Grand Tour), but was adorned by the presence of CB on his last day of a brief soggiorno to these shores, and Tommy on his newly-repaired ebike.

Six, being CB PT RT TB TK and ZA, set off from Pond Green up Stable lane to take the SDW to Langmead and onward through the pig camp to the river, where we turned south on the Downslink and arrived at Teddies for this year’s Not Turvey House brek. A diminished domestic establishment and the diaspora of our respective offspring has morphed this event down from the family affair of previous years, but nevertheless Gentlemen enjoyed a hearty Teddies brek to mark the occasion.

The route back followed the beach (into a stiffish breeze), crossed the tracks at West Worthing and threaded through Tarring and the Becket to Mill Lane, with Tommy peeling off at the gallops leaving five to return to Findon. Total 21.5 miles and 869Ft.

Saturday 22nd October 08.00am ride and Trek ‘n Brek at Tolmare

KBS, PT, MA, RT and AM joining the brek.

During the week KBS announced that as he would be a free man over the weekend he would like to host a brek.

AM just returned from his european expedition would join for the brek but not ride as he hadn’t been on a bike for 5 weeks. Amberley loop route with AM being informed that we intended to arrive at Tolmare around 09.45 which proved to be a bit ambitious due to stopping to discuss important matters such as the range of e-bike motors now on the market. Jiust before the High Barn the extent of bovine deposits led PT to remark that it was a visual metaphor for the Tory party – everywhere you step you are likely to land in the sh*t.

SDW to Kithurst then Amberley mount via the vines with the tracks everywhere generally muddy and slowing progress. Usual return route with a couple of stops to inform AM of our delayed arrival. KBS was invited to press on rather than wait for RT with PT on his e-bike going ahead to open gates so as to not slow down the Flying Brits progress, with MA accompanying RT.

A magnificent brek was speedily and most impressively provided by our host having prepared much of it before the ride, and during the brek Marco Polo Mead described the many places visited on his travels.

Total 17.7 miles and 1,511ft.

Saturday 29th October 08.00am ride

PT, MA, RT meeting AM at Arundel.

Team Chaplain had ridden to the start point to greet the peloton and then headed off to take son’s dog for a walk while he rides – who needs e-power when you have an energetic dog to exercise! This led to a discussion as to whether his short ride to and from his house warranted points towards the bling record.

Due to ground conditions following all the rain the peloton took the route to Arundel via Muntham, SDW and Burpham, coming across Mr Mead by the river finishing off his first coffee of the day. Another excellent brek at the “Moathouse Bakeaway” cafe and AM headed off to Ford to sort out an order for wheels at Strada. The peloton decided to follow AM a little later and then on to Climping Beach, LA, Rustington and to Highdown at which point MA parted company to return home and the peletwo returned to Findon via the Gallops. Total 29.5 miles and 1,346ft.

A more expansive record of the rides from Mr Topley:

Enthusiastic and committed Gentlemen should be commended for representing the FGCC in Distant lands last week (22 Oct)

Our dear CCTV was staying at Greenways Leisure Park in a static caravan in Welsh Wales. Setting out from there, his route went down the hill, passing Oxwich Castle and thence along the road behind Oxwich Burrows to join the A4118: heading E towards Penmaen, where the energetic evangelist turned L up the Lane to join the Gower Way (see the attached map), up and over Cefn Bryn. The committed cleric then continued to Hillend, through Burry, Llandewi and Scurlage, turning L off the A4118 before Port Eynon to head E to Hangman’s Cross, following a stretch of bridleway then turning R up a steep incline and back towards Oxwich Green.

The stretch along the Gower Way evoked memories of the Tennyson Trail, IOW in that it afforded spectacular views of the whole Peninsula, just as one has a good view of both Solent and Channel coasts of the IOW from the Tennyson trail.

Meanwhile, in a crumpled part of that hotbed of comparatively stable government which juts defiantly into the Mediterranean, Mr Budd again drove i Signorini wild by circulating on mountainous tracks thus:

29 October

After meeting the assembled Gentlemen at OPG, our CCTV rode his bike, with 4×4 Fred on foot (feet), up Nepcote Lane, across the Gallops and up the track towards Chanctonbury before turning L down towards Findon Park Drive. Fred then loped down towards the A24 before turning L up towards New Cottages, R towards and through Gallops Farm and back down Stable Lane to return to Cherry Cottage. A duly worn out Fred was a worthwhile quid pro quo for ZA later being at the footie (Brighton 4 Chelsea 1)

After encountering ZA (sans Fred) at OPG, a peleton of three comprising RT and the turbo twins resolved to meet AM at the Moat House in Arundel for a spot of brek. A road approach through Burpham was adopted, to avoid the closed section of Bridleway by Warningcamp.

Following a fine repast, the pelethree resolved to take in Climping and Littlehampton while AM disappeared in the direction of Ford in search of new wheels.

Mr Budd meanwhile calmly completed an urban half marathon:

A report has flooded in from A Mead, who took the quick way to Arundel via Findon Valley, the cemetery, A27 through Patching past the World’s End and the Fox and along to Poling.

Through Crossbush and down the hill to Arundel.

10•15 miles. After a splendid breakfast and much ribaldry the return was via Strada Wheels at Ford Station, Clymping, LA, Rustington, EP, Ferring, Goring, Durrington etc up the A24 to Findon and home via the papershop. Cateye says 27 miles in total, but Plotaroute says 29.95 (but it may have got the East Preston section a bit wrong):