The Findon Gentlemen's Cycling Club

Findon Gentlemen’s Cycling Club rides in January 2026

Saturday 3rd January 08.00am training ride

A bumper turnout for the first ride of the year – a bright sunny and cold day.  Mark and Dean rode over from Angmering to join Paul, Richard, Zachary, Andy, Chris, Tommy and John at OPG.  The peleton was further enlarged with the arrival of Matthew (who rode over from Storrington, route unknown) and Julie and Mark’s sister Charlotte (?) who met us at the Airport for brek.

The map shows the main peleton route (red), ZA and CB return route over Lancing clump (orange), and Mark’s and Dean’s extra to and from Angmering (green).

Saturday 10th January 08.00am post APM ride

PT, ZA, CB, MA, TK, RT

An impressive peloton of six gathered at OPG in spite of the sub-zero temperatures and the after effects of libations and a curry the previous evening at the Annual Planning Meeting. Due to these circumstances and some on time limits a short 4 peaks ride was proposed, later foreshortened to a 3.5 peaks ride.

Up to Cissbury car park and continuing east, turning right just before the barns and sweeping past the east side of Cissbury whilst enjoying the heavily frosted hard ground conditions. Then a left turn to go through Lytchpole Farm and up the gravel track to Langmead and the SDW.

We then headed west on the SDW to Chanctonbury where our Team Chaplain did a celebratory burst round the ring.

Then down the SDW to the car park at which point MA had to resist temptation of a caffeine infusion and across the A24. Due to timing we went round the back of Windlesham and up to join the track to Pukkamuk. However, ZA was experiencing rear end deflation and headed off down the side of the field to return to Findon and switch bikes to join us at the garden centre brek.

The peloton meanwhile continued south and across Long Furlong to then drop down Church Hill to the garden centre, where Mr Roche joined us.

As we were preparing to mount steeds to return home we were met by Team Chaplain arriving for his brek. Apparently the deflation was too much and he had had to stop at Pukkamuck to repair the “blasteet” in freezing conditions while in the near distance the peloton sped past not seeing him.

Total 14 miles and 1390 ft

Saturday 17th January 08.00am training ride

Ride with PT JR ZA TB JC MA MB CB to Dial Post

A large peloton of 8 decided to head for Dial Post for a change. Starting up the A24 we took the track up by North Farm and then round the back of Chalk to the SDW Washington car park. Then up the SDW to the gas transfer station and north through the woods to Chanctonbury Ring road and down to the A283.

Across the A283 and to Spithandle lane and turning onto a northerly track half way along it. This track was selected because there had been so much rain recently and the going through the woods was fine but the open field at the north end decidedly squelchy.

Onto tarmac with the road taking us up to Old Barn Nursery for a great brek. MB departed early due to being MUA with the rest following later, starting across the A24 into Dial Post. Then the road towards Shipley but looping round to Broomers Corner and taking Hooklands Lane and into Ashington. Thence along the A24 and into Washington  and to the SDW car park. At this point the peloton split with all but JR, PT & RT staying for a tea break at the refreshments van there.

The main peloton took the track round the back of Chalk to Findon whilst the 3 sampled the tea at the car park. Coffee not recommended here as it is only instant. Tea’d out and they made use of e-power, with RT on turbo for a bit of fun, to head up to Chanctonbury and then round towards Cissbury. Getting past the top of stable lane would have been better with a ferry but all got through with heavily muddied/soaked feet and descended to the village.

Total 27 miles and 1,700 ft for PT, RT, JR

Total

CB in orange

MA in green

Main peleton in red

Saturday 24th January 08.00am training ride

Soggy ground and a south-easterly wind persuaded the peleton to attempt a ride to the airport.  MA (ridden over from Angmering) PT, RT, TB, TK, MB and CB headed up and over the Cissbury car park, across the Steyning road and over the fields to Coombs Farm.  North on the road, then onto the Downslink and over the bridge.  Battling through the Parkrunners, the peleton reached the wooden bridge to spy a bright yellow ZA across the water.  United at the coffee stand, the peleton proceeded to the airport, ZA tarrying awhile in conversation with friends at the coffee trailer.

RT elected not to brek, and headed home to prepare for an afternoon of medical shenanigans (his route back is a mystery).  The rest had a fine brek then rode down to the beach and turned east for the wind assistance.  TB and ZA peeled off for home at East Worthing.  At the Canadian memorial the peleton split further, with CB and MA continuing to Angmering, while MB, TK and PT rode home through Tarring, Mill Lane, the Gallops and the Superhighway.

Very breezy, but no rain.  The main peleton covered 19 miles and climbed 820 feet.

Main peleton in red, CB in yellow, MA in green and ZA in lavender.

Saturday 31st January 08.00am training ride

Another fine turnout, as seven gather at OPG (and Andy joins later for brek),  MA (green) having ridden over from Angmering via Cote Street and Church Hill-ich.  Time constraints, and brek venues which can accommodate large parties, are discussed and a trip to Ferring is settled on.

The main peleton (red) sets of up Muntham, while ZA (lavender) departs on his road bike southward.  All goes well, along the SDW and down to Burpham, when JR and PT find themselves to have fallen off the back of the peleton.  Assuming the leaders would wait at the next turnoff, PT and JR (orange) missed the turn at Warningcamp and proceeded to the A27.  Meanwhile, the peleton of RT, MB, CB and TK progressed up through the woods to the Dover and down to the A27 that way:

Taking a road route PT and JR reched the brek venue about five minutes before the main peleton, who had lingered in the woods waiting for stragglers, and also been entertained by CB having a comedy lie-down.

Domestic exigencies meant MB was unable to join the brek, and he departed for Findon.  He must have made it, as his car was gone when we eventually got back there.  After a brek enlivened by kitchen confusion, resulting in plates of brek being delivered to the wrong table and eggs incorrectly prepared, finally all were replete.  ZA departed by road, and the remainder took a leisurely route back via the picturesque suburban utopia that is Durrington.

AM’s route to Ferring remains a mystery.

About 24 miles and 1300 feet climbed for the off-roaders.

Meanwhile, a welcome return to the airwaves for the Flying Brit/Dane, who completed a circuit of 17.5 miles and climbed 613 feet, in arctic conditions:

Splendid effort!