10. October 2024
Findon Gentlemen’s Cycling Club rides in October 2024
Saturday 5th October 08.00am ride
JR represented us all on a ride including Camberley; He writes:
MA PT RT and TK convened at OPG, to meet AM (no flies on him today). RT on Philip’s hardtail ebike with no clips, as the repairs to his ebike were disappointingly unfinished. MA (blue) rode over from Angmering as usual, and “Two Homes” TK (green) rode over from Steyning, despite now being a property owner in Findon
AM on road bike and the remainder on off-road bikes went off for a brief inspection of the Kersley country estate, after which AM headed down the road for an rv at Ferring for brek. The off-road peleton (red) set off up to Cissbury and over the top to head south through the golf course to the A27. TK turned for Findon to confer with tradesmen at the new Kersley Towers, while the remainder headed to the sea front and west taking in the Ilex way and its Art Deco architecture, to meet with AM (where he had been is as yet a mystery) in Ferring.
Fed, AM again vanished along the road south from Ferring, while PT MA and RT climbed Hangleton lane to Highdown. MA turned west for home, while RT and PT went north over Highdown to the A27 and Holt Lane/Church hill to Findon. About 17 miles and 1300 feet.
Meanwhile, our CCTV was sur le continong representing us in Germany. He writes:
Nice easy route along riverside cycle path from Oschenfurt to Eibelstadt: saw a fisherman catch a pike in the river .. from Eibelstadt headed up into vineyards and down into Sommerhausen to enjoy a glass of local wine: back up steeply sloping side of the valley through woodland before long descent to regain riverside cyclepath back to Oschenfurt, visiting beautiful church, Die Pfarrkirche Maria-Schnee, Kleinochsenfurt en route. About 13 miles and 350 feet climbed.
Margaret snapped our CCTV, explaining the Civil war to a local lass:
She tried to look interested, but….
Saturday 12th October 08.00am ride
PT, MB, MA, RT assembled at OPG waiting for potential newcomer Nigel, but with RT & MB both suffering from “earworms” on the same subject following a FGCC WhatsApp exchange the previous evening.
Time constraints resulted in selection of the Amberley loop as the ride for the morning. Up through the crematorium and up towards the High Barn and the SDW. The peloton continued along the SDW to the Kithurst earthworks at which point RT parted company heading south east along a track to rejoin the SDW for a return to Findon via the outward route.
The remaining peloton descended Amberley mount around the side through the vineyards and then all the way down to New Barn Road and left to Amberley station. Then left onto the road to North Stoke followed by the road and track to take them back to Kithurst Hill and the return to Findon via Muntham, for a brek at Dee Dee’s. MA then went home via Church Hill, Holt Farm, Arundel Road and Dappers Lane.
Totals: RT. 12.8miles and 891ft
PT/MB 16.6 miles and 1,371ft
MA 30.2 miles and 2,363ft
Saturday 19th October 08.00am ride
CB, RT
A very wet morning only saw 2 out to face the elements. In pouring rain CB & RT opted for a short ride and brek at Dee Dee’s.
Up Stable Lane and through Gallops Farm, up the track to the Cissbury – Chanctonbury path and then on the SDW to Langmead, with strong winds and torrential rain demonstrate that our waterproof clothing was anything but that. Down the gravel track and then west to Cissbury car part and down to the village, to deliver huge puddles of water into Dee Dee’s, but still welcomed there.
Total a mere 8.5 miles and 894ft but felt like three times that.
Saturday 26th October 08.00am ride
JT resplendent in new cycling camo-suit, risking becoming lost if he fell into long grass.
Up the A24 then to Chanctonbury by the long steep route, SDW to Langmead and down the concrete road, Maudlin Lane to join Downslink down to Shoreham wooden bridge and brek at the airport, joined by TK. Back along the beach, MA peeling off at the Canadian monument. Back via the Becket, Mill lane, Findon Valley gallops, Bost Hill and the superhighway. About 23 miles and 1000 feet climbed (more for MA!).
Peleton in red, MA in turquoise
TAMITS: JT in full khaki outfit, only needing to fall again in the mud to complete his military camouflage.