The Findon Gentlemen's Cycling Club

FGCC rides in February 2026

Saturday 7th February 08.00am ride

PT, JR, CB, RT.

After a well-attended EPM the night before only 4 turned up at OPG at the appointed time, though ZA passed at the start undertaking dog walking duties.  Something to do with the forecasted heavy rain?  AM announced that he was battling with the “flies”, but promised to join us later.

As in recent weeks the constant deluge limited our options for a relatively manageable ride.  Teddy’s chosen as somewhere that we hadn’t treated to our company lately and route selected was the now familiar to all (blue) route via Coombe farm and then south along the road to join the new cycling highway to the Shoreham footbridge and then into Shoreham to Teddy’s.  Even the track up to the Steyning road was somewhat treacherous with us all sliding in and out of the ruts.  The field below the pylons was so wet that one sunk into the ground even when on grass at high points.  However the real challenge came when we traversed the steep hillside above Coombe Farm what with it being so slippery.

Arrival at Teddies was much earlier possibly due to the need to get out of the soaking conditions, needing us to wait some time until AM arrived.  We had said that we would get there at 09.35 but by that time there was no sign so we ordered.  However a large “drowned rat” appeared not long after and delivered a massive puddle at the end of our table.

Return journey via the sea front, West Worthing and Mill Lane as in the past, the Lancing clump route being rejected as being not worth it.

Total 20 miles and 850ft

ZA (lavender) later road ride for Team Chaplain. 9 miles and 188ft

Saturday 14th February 08.00am ride

PT and RT met at OPG, and decided on Harbour Lights for brek.  This was broadcast , and the peletwo (red) set off up through Muntham, along the SDW and down into Burpham.  Bright blue sky, but definitely chilly.

Andy, beset by flies, set off a little later on a more direct route to the HL, arriving just as the peletwo’s bikes were being locked up.  Meanwhile ZA set out by road to loop through Washington, Houghton and Ford to arrive at the brek venue about ten minutes later.  All proceeded as a pelefour back along the sea front, Grand Ave, Mill Lane and the Gallops, ZA peeling off at The Becket as he was on road tyres (in keeping with the rest of his bike).

The peletwo did 30 miles and climbed 1000 feet, ZA did 33 miles and 1075 feet.

Saturday 21st February 08.00am ride

CB, PT, JR, MA, RT plus ZA on road.

Soggy ground everywhere and with a proposal for a visit to the island of Henfield it was concluded that the only viable route would be via the Downslink. The selected destination was Truffles at Henfield following having had a good breakfield at the Steyning cafe a couple of weeks ago.

The ride started via Cissbury and over to the Steyning road and up to the Concrete Road that descends the bowl. Half way down our Team Mechanic spotting a cyclist in mechanical trouble skidded to a halt, even though there were two other cyclists present. A long wait at Maudlin Lane before it was agreed that CB on analogue plus JR & MA would head on to the Downlink whilst RT would have another opportunity for a bit of e-turbo by going back to see what PT was up to.

It turned out that the problem was a double blasteet with a difficult tubeless tyre and even after that the squashiness of the re-inflated tyre indicated that there might be more problems. The victim decided that it was sufficient for him to get back to Steyning and miss out on his ride.

RT & PT then put the power on and caught up with the others in Henfield outside Truffles where we found Team Chaplain enjoying a coffee and a cake, but with the bad news that they had closed the cafe there over 2 years ago.

Thoughts turned to taking a brek at the cafe in Golding Barn industrial estate so we headed off there, only to find that it doesn’t open on a Saturday. After this second debacle, why not go back to Truffles in Steyning, but on our way there CB spotted that the Castle Hotel in Bramber was offering breakfasts so we stopped there for a very satisfactory refuelling.

Fully satisfied the route back was via Mouse lane and the track round the north side of Chanctonbury, then round Chalk and to Findon, though CB went for a faster route up the Bostal and via Cissbury to Findon.

ZA headed from Henfield down the Downslink to the coast and along to Worthing and back up to Findon.

27 miles and 2,200ft (37 miles and 2,900ft for MA with his route via Highdown to Findon and back to Angmering afterwards to be with the peloton) .

Meanwhile ZA on road:

31 miles and 1,300ft

Saturday 28th February 08.00am ride to the Moathouse inn Arundel

CB, PT, TK, JC, RT, MA the Findon peloton and ZA near Burton on Trent.

The ride started with a sticky climb through the Crem, and then the usual route to Arundel via High Barn, SDW and Burpham.

Return route via Warningcamp, Dover Lane, A27 to the Worlds End pub and then up the North face of Highdown. CB, in spite of being on analogue pushed for this way up Highdown in spite of it being anticipated that the lower section would be a bog – and it was, with several riders coming to a stop having to trudge through thick mud to get going again.

At the top MA parted company from the peloton to head back to Angmering and the peloton continued via the new housing estate by Tesco, A27, Salvington Hill and the gallops.

TAMITS: the glutton for punishment award for CB

24 miles and 1700ft peloton

27 miles and 1980 ft MA

11 miles and 400ft ZA