The Findon Gentlemen's Cycling Club

FGCC rides in January 2025

Saturday 4th January 08.00am ride

PT, TB, CB JR, MA, RT, ZA & Philip.

A crisp frosty morning for a ride and Ferring Country Centre chosen to receive our custom.  ZA on road bike (green) for a solo ride there, and the main peloton (red) set off up Church Hill-ich, where Philip took a tumble courtesy of the slippery green chalk greatly concerned that he had mud all down the side of his jacket.  MA (blue) came to his rescue to launch him off again.  At the top we headed south to then descend Cote Street where this time Philip fell victim to a vicious bramble that was half way across the path and massacred his not not-waterproof trousers, resulting in even more concern.  He showed great relief later when he learned that he was not the only victim, the other being Mr Roche whose new bright orange jacket suffered a badly torn sleeve.

Across and alongside the A24 where Mr Budd, and subsequently the rest of the peloton, was harangued by a senior lady plus dog even though he had politely and diplomatically stated that he knew it wasn’t his right of way but wished to pass. She must have had some instinctive knowledge of his ways of dealing with dogs.

Down through the new Durrington housing estate and over a new crossing of Titnore Lane and up Highdown to the very top. Then down the other side onto Hangleton Lane, across the A259 and through Ferring to the Country Centre for a fine brek.  MA made an early departure for domestic duties in Angmering, and shortly after that ZA arrived from his circuitous route to get there.

Return route via Ilex Way , sea front, Grand Avenue and the gallops, where Tommy peeled off for home.

Total: 16 miles and 850ft.

Philip, Mark and (below) John climbing Church Hill-ich:

Saturday 11th January 08.00am Post APM ride

After Gentlemen had foregathered at OPG, MA MB PT RT and JR were offered a glimpse of ZA’s new ebike.  Having just adjusted the saddle height, however, a case of extensile disfunction of the dropper seatpost was diagnosed.  Various treatments and fettlings failed to maintain load-bearing rigidity, and ZA headed for home to swap steeds.  The peleton meanwhile set off for Cissbury and continued over to Coombs on crunchy frozen ground.

Richard, Mark and Matthew approaching Coombs

John likewise

Dropping down to the road, we headed north for Botolphs and the Downslink bridge.  PT was “lanterne rouge” at this point, as ZA caught up to the peleton.  He (ZA) had cured the seatpost problem by adjusting the control lever (or maybe by rubbing viagra paste on it in the privacy of the garage), and hared off in on road pursuit of his fellows.  Sadly his catalogue of mechanical eptitude took a knock when a passing lady driver pointed out a puncture to his rear tyre.  PT and ZA set about the repair, slowed down by neither of them knowing how to remove the rear wheel, and by ZA’s spare tube being the ideal size for his road bike.  Despite not finding any thorns in the tyre, PT’s spare tube was installed and progress continued.

Shortly, and to throw PT’s title of TM into serious question, the tyre redeflated.  As the peletwo drew to a halt, MA appeared on scene, having ridden back to the rescue.  ZA then decided to walk to the airport, releasing PT and MA to proceed breakfastward.  Making brisk progress south, PT calculated that ZA’s walk would last a good hour.  Sending MA on south to the airport, PT returned  northward to re-encounter ZA and a session of blasteet rectification ensued.  The offending thorn was never found, despite removal and detailed inspection of the tyre, but this time the repair was successful and the festive board was finally completed as we arrived at the Hummingbird cafe to encounter the peleton, augmented by AM.

RT had to depart for home, and took a route over Lancing clump.  AM set off for the fort, and the reainder took to the seafront, the Becket and the Gallops while MA continued west to Angmering, thus:

Red – peleton 20 miles

Yellow – RT 15 miles

Orange – MA 33 miles

TAMITS: ZA having a spare that did not fit his steed.

Saturday 18th January 08.00am ride

PT, MB, JR, MA and RT with AM on road.

A delayed start enabled Mr Roche to faff a bit longer following a failed attempt at the golden gallon the previous evening. The flies had yet again felled Mr Mead, so destination telegraphed to him and the peloton set off.

Up Muntham dodging the convoys of 4×4’s heading for the pheasant shoot gathering, and then up past the gun club, High Barn and onto the SDW. Chantry Post, Kithurst and then Pepperings Farm, Burpham and to the A27. Arundel by-pass and the long Ford road where a struggling MB was given a break by the level crossing, Climping and into LA and the Harbour Lights.

At this point MB headed back home as MUA while the rest settled down for a good VT session.

Return via seafront, Ilex Way, Goring bridge and the gallops.

Total 30 miles and 1,200ft

ZA (blue) made a short foray to the coast, combining an FGCC ride with grandchildren-minding activities.

In a first for the FGCC, and qualifying as the remotest outpost of civilisation to be embellished by the benign influence of the FGCC, Tommy completed a 17 mile ride on the island of St Helena:

providing a stunning view, complete with the sought-after “Man of Destiny” look:

Saturday 25th January 08.00am ride