05. May 2025
FGCC rides in May 2025.
Saturday 3rd May 08.00am training ride
A grand peloton of 9 assembled at OPG limiting options of destinations that could take such a number.
ZA, AM, MA, TB, TK, RK, RT, Irish John and newcomer Nigel
Nigel on another new Cube electric further diminishing the proportion of analogues. However, Team Chaplain having noted that RK could be a sole analogue chose to accompany on his analogue. The other surprise of the morning was that AM had warned of the presence of a swarm of those flies but managed to beat them off and arrive on time an also on analogue.
Ferring Country park destination with a ride through APE to savour the last of the bluebells. Up Church Hill and then north across Long Furlong and onto the Monarch’s Way into APE, with a “gate race” emerging between TK and RT, with youth unfortunately having the upper hand.
A circuit within the woods then took us to the wonderfully named Swillage Lane and to the old a24. Then under the A24 and up to Highdown, over the top and down to Hangleton Lane, into Ferring and to the Country Centre for a fine brek.
At the brek TB recounted an event during his ride the previous day when he attempted to rescue a French damsel in distress, who was attempting to repair a “blasteet” at the top of Truleigh Hill. His offer of assistance was kindly rejected as apparently the husband had gone to get some “tools”. Maybe the rejection had something to do with his classical “Franglais” accent?
However just as TB was about to depart the husband arrived with an ice creams and promptly asked TB if he could assist. Tommy got out his big lever and helped sort out the blasteet in true FGCC style – a TAMITS?
Return route same up to Highdown and then Durrington, Mill Lane and the Gallops to Findon with MA and TB parting along the way.
Total 18 miles and 1,500ft
After the ride The Croc led a small FGCC expedition abroad to the Isle of Wight to ensure that all would be safe for our ride in June.
Meanwhile:
Somewhere about half way between Crete and Sardinia, PT cycled for 22miles with zero ft climbed at an average of just under 20 knots (according to Strava😉).
Saturday 10th May 08.00am training ride
TK, TB, PT, JC, RT meeting JR at Old Barn Nurseries. MA turned up at OPG from Angmering to then go directly home for duties.
An all e-bike ride. Started off round the back of Chalk Farm restaurant and then up the SDW west to the gas facility and round the north side of Chanctonbury. North on Chanctonbury Ring road and across the A283, then continuing north on roads and bridleways to Dial Post. A couple of “computer says no” moments for JC requiring switching off the bike or disconnecting the battery before it could get going again.
A surprise and welcome arrival of Mr Roche in the middle of our brek.
Return route was through a very dry Knepp Estate and then along roads to take us to Sullington where we stopped for a coffee break with TB obtaining an extension to his pass for a relaxed break.
Up to the SDW at the High Barn and then straight south and across Long Furlong to Church Hill where TB continued south and the remainder of the peloton descended Church Hill to Findon.
Total 23 miles and 1,735 ft.
Meanwhile in Italy CB challenged the local hills to complete a 24 mile circuit climbing 2,200ft in the process.
Also ZA sallied forth. He writes:
“Dep Cherry Cottage c.09.00 on GIANT (road bike) for Portslade to collect my brother, Daniel’s Membership Pass for Sussex County Cricket Club; arrived at County Ground c.10.30 in time to watch pre-lunch session, Day 2 Sussex v Worcestershire, County Championship, Division 1. (Approx 15 mls). Left the Ground c.13.10 to return Membership Pass to Daniel …(2mls)
Caught 14. 50 train from Portslade to Angmering; rode to Favourite Daughter’s (1.5 mls) to join Family for fun & chips on the beach at East Preston from where -later – rode back to Findon (7 mls): neglected to turn Strava off when boarding train 
Reckon total distance ridden 25-26 mls.”
Saturday 17th May 08.00am Adrian Swall preparation ride.
PT AM RK TK RT and Nigel with MA at start and brek
The plan was for a ride whilst MA acquired the van and then to load the van. MA appeared at the start of the ride and then rode to the hire shop only to find that they weren’t ready and so proceeded to the brek location, the Harbour Lights in LA.
The e-peloton set off over the field and then up to the SDW, down to Leigh Farm and along the Gallops and onto the Monarchs Way to Warningcamp. Along to the A27 and then to the Ford Road and into LA.
Post brek MA and AM set off to the hire shop whilst the peloton returned to Findon via the sea front, A259, a turbo charge up Highdown and then Mill Lane and the motorway to Findon.
By this time the van had arrived in Findon and was subsequently loaded with bikes in readiness for the trip, with Mr Avery demonstrating a range of nautical knots to secure the bikes for the journey.
Total: 29 miles and 1,375 ft climbed
TAMITS: MA and his nautical knots – oh of course they are not knots, especially when racing.
Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th ‘Adrian Swall ride
All gathered at OPG at the appointed time of 08.00am to load luggage into the vehicles and get going by 09.00. Surprisingly in spite of the usual faffing we were away by 08.30, with AM leading the way at high speed in the van, followed by RT and ZA in their vehicles. RT vehicle diverted to collect PT.
First stop Oxford Services on M40 with the van getting there first.
Lunch stop at T-bay services on the M6.
Arrival in Whitehaven by around 4.00pm
An entertaining evening meeting others in the hotel bar, particularly the couple who had been married twice and the colourful manager. Dinner in Whitehavens classiest (?) pizza house (actually a good meal with good service) followed by a walk to observe a brilliant sunset followed by a pub visit in yet another entertaining location – another proprietor with interesting facial decoration.
TAMITS: AM white van man award for high speed van driving.
Monday 19th; Day 1
All assembled at 08.00am to remove bikes from the storage room and sit down for breakfast, which was served by our host running around at high speed (was he also doing the cooking, excellent though it was?).
After the brek the drivers, JR, ZA & RT set off to refuel at a local very low priced station only to lose JR in the process. Drove to the next hotel at Wheyrigg where we left the cars, returning to the proposed lunch stop at the Stag Inn at Crosby. This involved a circular 2 mile route through narrow lanes back to the start point in Crosby only to find the pub a few hundred yards down the main road, all courtesy of the lady on Google maps.
It then turned out that no food was being served at the pub, where we had intended to park the LSV, but just as we were deliberating what to do a call came in for the LSV to be put into use as Mark’s freewheel had failed. Car drivers cycled to the new stop at Maryport while JR drove the LSV there.
Meanwhile the main peloton had set off from the hotel down a track to the port for the official start, but no wheel dipping due to lack of access. From there the route took a road parallel to the railtrack out of the town past Parton to find a track again parallel to the rail track but with a 40m climb onto the adjacent hill. The route continued along the ridge to Harrington followed by a mix of on- and off-road through Workington, continuing to follow the coast rail line off road all the way to Flimby, where Mark’s free hub failed. PT then towed MA to Maryport which was only a short distance away for a rendezvous with the drivers and the LSV.
Lunch for all at the Harbourside cafe after which our TM inspected the failed free hub but concluded that it would have to be taken to a bike shop for more major surgery. MA then took his bike in the LSV and headed for Carlisle and then to meet all at the hotel.
The peloton then set off in a north easterly direction along the promenade and coastal path up to Silloth in anticipation of seeing some evidence of Roman times. There only being a mound that might have been a coastal fort, the peloton settled for a tea stop at the Post Office cafe.
Following the advice of the proprietor the peloton then set off again in a north easterly direction to Skipburness and then turn south east to go through the Nature Reserve, a freezing ride due to the continuing easterly wind .
A wandering mostly road route in a generally south easterly direction took us to Wheyrigg and the hotel, though this included an interesting off-road bridlepath, close to the hamlet of Calvo, that the farmer clearly intended should lose its right of way. The first section of track was made up of broken up paving slabs that caused Andy to have a little lie down. Following a few paces behind RT was presented with the entertaining view of “Badger Mead” with only backside and legs displayed from under a hedge.
Injury limited to a grazed knee and damaged pride we continued to a gate consisting of two loose gates tied together and the Lemo penknife was put to good use to clear the way. The Flying Dane then sped off through the long grass to the next difficult gate, but it proved no match for a rampant viking.
The next gate had large gauge wire mesh nailed across it leading to a debate as to whether we should proceed further. But this was clearly a right of way so the wire was released with a combination of careful extraction of one part by RT and a heavy boot by PT to let all through. Wire reinstalled to ensure no animals could get through and the peloton ploughed through yet more long grass until we arrived at a proper gate by a field and the farmhouse buildings.
Although we were anticipating some negativity we were waved across to the correct exit and continued on our way.
Officious Landlady taking orders and keeping control
Brothers tour in moggy and prostrate cancer fund raising
Tuesday 20th; Day 2
JR took the van, and PT and RK the cars, and headed off to Carlisle to pre-position the cars at the next digs. Routemeister PT excelled by turning right instead of left as we exited on to the main road for Carlisle, necessitating a squadron U-turn for the cars. Eventually reached hotel, but JR missing. Located him on other side of hotel, so a 1/4 mile walk by PT and RK reunited the trio. Proceeded to car park on Solway firth, and set off a velo to meet the peleton after 400 yards.
Andy and Paul have quiet interlude by riverbank mending 4 punctures.
Wednesday 21st; Day 3
Frustrated by closed-off viaduct
Thursday 22nd; Day 4
Friday 23rd; Day 5
Cross Tyne three times – Millennium bridge, bike tunnel and ferry
Saturday 31st May 08.00am
To Littlehampton, with a peleton comprising PT MA RT RK JR AM and Nigel. Out via the Crem, SDW, Warningcamp, Crossbush, Lyminster and L’ton. MA peeled off, and the rest rode back through sea estates and footpath to Ferring, Goring, Durrinton, Mill Lane, Gallops and superhighway. 27 miles, 1050ish feet climbed.
ZA was out for a jaunt to the beach and over Lancing Clump, covering 13 miles and 950ish feet.
In Denmark, Kim was out for a spin of 17 miles and 600 feet.