08. August 2024
Saturday 3rd August 08.00am ride
PT and RT convened at OPG and met ZA on his road bike, somewhat delayed by domestic entomological difficulties. PT and RT branched off the SDW at the Tank site and completed a ride to Arundel (medieval jousting day) and brekked at the Moat House, while ZA went for a short road ride (see below) to accommodate a family gathering later that day. Clan Allen were gathering to see their Laird (The Allen of McAllen?) off for a trip to the north of Watford.
At the Moat House, the absence of our dear CCTV was noted by his superfan Erica, who agreed that forsaking his pals (and also Erica) just to see his family was a poor show.
On the return journey via Dover Lane, Highdown and the Gallops PT was had a slightly weird encounter when he stopped at the cemetery waiting for analogue RT and a senior lady started talking to him saying that she was looking at a memorial and “I see things, you see”. Subsequent discussion after we had set off speculated on the reasons for her statement, amongst which Del-boy Thomas suggested that she might be some type of “voyeur” when meaning clairvoyant (as naturally corrected by PT).
23.6 miles and about 1400 feet
Team Chaplain later informed us that his route was :
Bost Hill, Salvington Hill, Arundel Rd, Ivydore Ave, New Rd, Romany Rd, Yeoman Rd, Limbrick Lane, Mulberry Close, Mulberry Lane to access St Mary’s, Goring via footpath to north of Library.
Returned via Sea Lane, Marine Crescent, Alinora Ave, Clive Ave, Barrington Rd, Shaftesbury Ave, The Boulevard, Strathmore Rd, Terringes Ave, Ringmer Rd, Roedean Rd, A Becket Gdns, Salvington Gdns, Stone Lane, Half Moon Lane, The Plantation, Offington Lane, A24 Findon Rd, Lime Tree/May Tree Aves, Cross Lane, Southfield Rd, Northview/Westview Terraces
The FGCC was well represented abroad, with CB hurtling through the Italian Alps on a circuit of 12 miles and about 450 feet:
While our Team Aromatherapist sallied out from Mottistone on the famed Isla de Blanca to inspect the Ewart Keys memorial, which has suffered from climate damage (calm down, Greta. We’ll throw some paint on it later!)
16 miles and about 200 feet climbed.
In yet more international news, the now wholly amphibious Fling Brit/Dane again put the French to shame by swimming in the unpolluted waters off the Danish coast, with a now routine “Ride-dip-ride” of about 6 miles and 70 feet:
Rumour has it that Matthew celebrated his first year with the FGCC by taking his children out for a ride, but no details as yet. If Tim was out, he never said.
TAMITS – del-boy RT
Saturday 10th August Trek ‘n Brek Nepcroft
PT, PT, RK, MA, RT with AM and TK meeting at Nepcroft,
TK had originally intended to join the peloton, but had to pull out due to injury – pulled muscle.
With a target of arriving at Nepcroft around 10.30 the peloton opted for a shortish local peaks+ ride. Cissbury and onwards towards the Steyning road and up the gravel track to Langmead, with Philip enjoying sightings of the sea. Continued to Chanctonbury and then down on the SDW to Washington car park and across the A24. A short debate between the analogues as to whether to take an easy route back to Findon via Windlesham, but the challenge of the climb to the high barn was taken on.
MA split off to head home for grandparenting via Leigh farm, Windy Ridge and the wonderfully-named Swillage Lane
Peloton back to Findon via Tolmere and Long Furlong arriving at Nepcroft at 10.20.
Expecting AM to arrive by car we were greatly surprised and pleased to see him arrive on a pretty pink ultra-lightweight “Andy Mead” bike demonstrating that the knee is getting back into action which is excellent news. And then by contrast youth wing member TK hobbled in with walking stick. It transpires that after his strenuous analogue ride on 27th July he had continued his exertions at a party with an excessive bout of “dad-dancing” to the Killers “Mr Brightside” and had seriously pulled (a calf muscle!).
AM’s short ride was to the valley and back?
Total 12.6 miles and 1,319 ft
23.6 miles and 2,517 ft for MA
In more detail:
MA in black, peleton in red
TAMITS. TK dad dancing award
Meanwhile the usual dip-dip ride took place in Denmark.
..And Team Chaplain made a cunning excuse about poor weather (Hmm) to slip the leash for a pleasant ride through parts of the Peak District, details as follows:
(on Margaret’s ebike) from Blackshaw Moor Caravan & Motorhome Club Site, nr Leek, I accessed Route 12, CYCLING IN THE PEAK DISTRICT, A Cicerone publication via Thorncliffe and Whitehouse, which hopefully will be apparent from the image of p98 of the above guide. Having completed the route, I turned of the Morridge Rd to descend the steep lane to Thorncliffe (and thus back to the CAMC site) shortly before the spot height 415 marked on the map (again, p98) A great route which included The Manifold Way (which I think those of us on the 2015 Peak District Long Ride rode on the Saturday …)
TAMITS. ZA for using the weather to slip the bridle and use the Memsahib’s bike for a ride in the Peak District.
Saturday 17th August 08.00am ride
A Findon Peleton of RT, ZA and PT convened at OPG and decided on a jaunt to the Old Post Office in Henfield. The route was up Stable Lane past the gallops, then north toward Chanctonbury to coast down Llama Lane and cross the A283 at Wiston. Right at Spthandle lane, to Horsebridge Common. By bridleway to the river and across to enter Henfield.
During a fine brek, our waitress displayed the skills of a wild west gunslinger, with a quick draw producing sauce bottles concealed about her person.
Return leg was via the Downslink to Steyning, then Mouse Lane to take the Kersley Link back to the bottom of Llama Lane, then carry on westward to the gas pipeline site and down to the A24. Round the back of Chalk, through Gallops Farm to return down Stable Lane. About 22 miles and 1600 feet climbed:
Nigel was also out, up in’t north, on a 23 mile ride to Bakewell (300 feet climbed):
While sur le continong our Italian Stallion disported himself hugely on a ride through the Alps or Appennines covering a mighty 27 miles and 1930 feet climbed. The crinkliness of the countryside makes for exiting riding, no doubt!
Saturday 24th August 08.00am ride
With biblical storms forecast, Mr Kersley was first to crack. Following his whatspp, all but the hardiest stayed tucked up in bed, leaving PT to sally out from Horsham to the north. Adopting a more efficient procedure than the Fling Brit/Dane’s sequential riding and immersion protocol, PT was soaked to the skin while actually riding the 15 miles round Rusper:
Team Chaplain was also out having hitched a lift from RT who was driving to Chichester to 99 Bikes. His route to Findon was 21.5 miles, climbing 518 feet, as below:
In possibly better weather, Kim did his now customary 6 mile Ride/swim/ride in the Baltic (or is it the North Sea?):
Saturday 31st August 08.00am ride.
Nine Gentlemen ventured out on the final Saturday of August.
PT MA MB JR TK and ZA gathered at OPG, MA immediately to depart for home and a drive to remote parts of our sceptered Isle, the rest to depart for a four peaks ride ending at the Garden Centre in Findon. Despite the ministrations of his personal trainer, a longish absence from vt and riding left Matthew unprepared for the savage assault of Stable Lane. He soldiered on to the Last Post near Chanctonbury, then reluctantly turned for home. At that point, PT presented him a medal to mark one year of riding with the FGCC. The route was :
MA (12 miles and 1200 feet) in red, the rest (about 10 miles and 1000 feet) in blue.
Meanwhile up in’t midlands, Nigel hared round 15 mile, 1400 foot course to circumnavigate Matlock:
The Continentals were out in force, with the (by now pretty soggy) flying Dane ripping up his local coast road with a six mile and 70 foot ride (shortest of the day, but wettest):
and CB tore along the ridges and valleys in Italy, with a 20 mile, 1300 foot ride – putting all other Gentlemen out that day to shame!
Tamit – The early bath for MB’s return at the Last Post.