04. April 2026
FGCC rides in April 2026
Saturday 4th April 08.00am ride
AM, ZA, JC, RT & Philip.
Teddies had been visited by AM during the week and he observed a total absence of any other customers so naturally it was felt to be deserving of our custom.
A grey start up Stable Lane with nice dry ground conditions. At the very top rather than heading north to the SDW the peloton proceeded straight on towards No Man’s Land with Philip muttering “Ooh! It’s steep” on several occasions. Onwards up to Langmead to admire the view with visibility by this time down to a couple of hundred metres (?). At this time, in spite of the presence of our Team Chaplain, low cloud rain/drizzle started and soon soaked all as we descended the concrete road.
Then on to the Downslink at Bramber all the way to Shoreham. Thankfully at the lower levels the precipitation reduced and by time we reached Teddies we had all dried off a little.
Philip demonstrated his approval of the brek, with an outburst of laughter, confirming that the most important aspect of the ride had been achieved.
Return along the seafront into a south westerly, with ZA and JC peeling off at Ham Road, RT and PT at the Steyne and AM going all the way along the promenade to Grand Avenue with all making direct returns to Findon from those points.
Total 21 miles and 960 ft
Saturday 11th April 08.00am Not the Monarch’s Way ride
AM, PT, ZA, MA, MB, JR, RT
Not the ride from Rowlands Castle, which has been deferred to a later and as yet unspecified date, but a jaunt over to the Harbour lights in Littlehampton.
Main peleton in red, RT in blue and MA in green. Out of Findon via the crem, gun club and SDW.
Drop down from Chantry to Lee Farm, then west to Wepham Down and southwest to Warningcamp, pausing at the Budd memorial for the Official War Artist to restore this monument to its full glory.
The ode to the fallen was solemnly recited, followed by a moving rendition of “The Last Post” by Richard, on a ceremonial Kazoo.
On to Lyminster and the bypassed road to Littlehampton, where PT and JR took an additional unplanned detour across the A259 bridge before following the peleton to the Harbour lights where a fine welcome awaited. RT peeled off to make a rapid transit home, while the peleton was blown along the coast. MA peeled off at Rustington to head north, and the remainers continued hugging the coast insofaras that is possible. Ilex way and the seafront brought us to Grand Avenue, The Becket and the Gallops.
Twonav recorded 28.29 miles and 947 feet for the main peleton {red) while RT (blue) clocked up 28.66 and 828. MA (green) covered 27.13 and 1216 feet.
Saturday 18th April 08.00am ride
TK JR JC MA MB RT with ZA on road elsewhere.
A ride to Dial Post taking in bluebells along the way. Up Stable Lane and towards Chanctonbury. Then down Llama Lane (aka Chanctonbury Ring road track) for the creation of the Finger Memorial in honour of Mr Matthew Bourner. Appropriately this was a digital style FGCC memorial and it was followed by a recital of the FGCC Ode and salute with hats doffed.
Onwards down to Spithandle Lane and then a turn into a track heading north half way along the lane. A couple of stops to savour the scene and scent of the bluebells, and then onto the road north to Old Barn Nurseries for a brek. MA had headed off south as we joined the road to return to Angmering and MB left at Old Barn to return to Findon reducing the peloton to a pelefour.
After the brek a potentially suicidal crossing of the A24 and into Dial post and a track taking us into the Knepp Estate followed by a track towards Goose Green. At Billingshurst Road JC headed towards Ashington and the route round Chalk Farm to Findon.
The now pelethree continued in a southwesterly direction on Grays Lane to Thakeham street, then onto a southerly track taking us to Strawberry Lane, over Rock Road and into Hampers Lane to the A283. Across the A283 and up a track that took us to the bridge in Washington over the A24 and the route round Chalk to Findon. TK and JR dropped into the Bike Exchange for a coffee before completing the ride.
Total 21.3 miles and 1,500ft
ZA had a ride down a traffic-free Long Furlong (it had to be experienced what with the road closed to through traffic), then over Highdown and to the seafront. Along to Canada point and the usual route via West Worthing and the Gallops for a total 14 miles and 640 ft.
Meanwhile in Italia our continental FGCC member CB had an impressive 44 mile ride climbing 4,200ft in Marche Province with other members of his local mob.
And in Daneland the Flying Dane (KBS) had a somewhat flatter ride with a 704 ft climb over 18 miles, the flatness being due to the local terrain and nothing to do with having just joined the septuagenarian wing of the FGCC .
Saturday 25th April 08.00am ride
A peletwo of Messrs Allen and Avery started from OPG and headed north via North End farm and Chalk to the SDW at Washington. Then across the A24 and up to the High Barn on the SDW. They then continued on the SDW to Kithurst forking left and onwards to Arundel via Warningcamp.
Return route via Crossbush and east through APE with MA returning to Angmering at Swillage Lane. ZA continued east to Patching Church then north to Long Furlong lane and onto the Monarch’s Way to Tolmere and via the A24 Findon church and subsequently home.
Total 21 miles and 1,880 ft.
