10. October 2026
FGCC Rides in October 2026
Saturday 3rd October 08.00am ride
A peleton of six (PT CB JC MA TK and AM) assembled at OPG and opted for an airport brek. The outward route climbed to Cissbury and continued over Lancing Clump, along the gentrified portion by the College and under the A27. The route back was along the beach then north through Sompting to Lychpole and Cissbury. A short ride of 16.15 miles and 1286 feet climbed. (32 miles and 2370 feet for Mark, who “went the extra mile” or 15!)
MA’s route:
Saturday 10th October 08.00am ride
On a beautiful sunny morning ZA and Nala (who had been out dogging) greeted the assembled peleton of PT, AM, JC and MA (who had ridden over with a somewhat depleted battery), and TK signified his impediment from a timely start due to meeting builders. The pelefour resolved to tackle the Amberley loop, and headed off up the (closed) Long Furlong and turned right to cross the field. The traditional route was then followed;
with the peleton dawdling a bit so that Tim would catch up, before returning along Collarbone Alley and across the Furlong to climb Church Hill-ich and descend to the Garden Centre.
Mr Kersley, departing late, had followed the traditional route to Kithurst, and then resolved to execute the loop in a clockwise direction, descending the newly-tarmacked road down to North Stoke. Not finding the peleton, he turned round and retraced his tracks to the Garden Centre.
Therein lay the debacle we so value at the FGCC. Had the peleton not dawdled, or had TK continued for a few more yards, a happy rendezvous might have ensued on the Burgh, earlier than the actual meeting of riders which took place at the Garden Centre.
Over a tasty brek, details for the upcoming “Go West” ride were disseminated by Tim, and plans for a rendezvous at Amberley were laid.
The pelefour completed 17.6 miles and climbed 1500 feet.
Friday 16th/Saturday 17th October Go West Ride
Outward on Friday:
Findon to Rowlands Castle – TK JC ZA
Amberley to Rowlands Castle – PT (blue)
ZA helpfully points out the CB Memorial above Cocking.
TAMITS: ZA unplugging PT’s bike charger to make a cup of tea.‘ “Paul E’ put the charger on ( repeat three times) .. to avoid ‘range anxiet E’ .. ‘Zach E’ turned it off again (repeat three times ) , Paul went a different way …” TK.
Back on Saturday:
Rowlands Castle to Findon – MA TK ZA (red)
MA rode up from Havant to meet the peleton at the digs, and with bags stowed in the ESV our ESV driver set off on foot for the station, and the peleton set off for the Standen Garden Centre to enjoy a fortifying brek. TK writes: “our route was the classic Monarch’s way to West Dean shop and then over Roche hill and Bury hill as far as Amberley tea rooms, we then went North Stoke to Lea Farm and rejoined the Monarch’s way at Michelgrove / Myrtle grove and followed Monarch’s way to Tolmare where we took the Long Furlong back to Findon, arriving at Findon at 3 pm. The only item of note being the loss of your and John’s company at the “mother in law”.
Rowlands Castle to Chichester – JC PT (green)
PT lacked confidence that his steed’s reduced range would allow a ride to Amberley, so opted for a shorter ride to Chichester, and JC opted to keep him company. The entire peleton made it to the top of Stoughton Down, whereupon PT and JC turned right for Chichester
ESV with bags to RC and back – JR
Consolation for ZA, in that in future he will likely not be reminded of the pre-punctured tube quite so often, as alternative reminiscences may be offered instead.
Saturday 24th October 08.00am ride
PT, RT, ZA and MA were met at OPG by MA, who had ridden over. A quick Amberley loop was settled on, as rain was forecast from 10:30.
For a bit of variety we went north by Chalk, detoured into a field to get round a fallen tree just south of Cranks cafe, and crossed the A24 using the footbridge at Washington. We then headed west along the foot of the downs to climb up to Chantry car park, passing a second fallen tree on the ascent. From Chantry, the traditional Amberley loop ensued, with a minor split at Downs Farm, where ZA and RT followed the SDW, while AM, PT and MA went round by the farm. AM then sped off, convinced he was the “lanterne rouge”, and the peleton finally caught up with him on the ascent of Camp Hill.
A second split occurred at Muntham, with PT and MA turning left for Muntham and the A24, while ZA, MA and RT went straight along Collarbone Alley and up and down Church Hill. The descent was very slippery. Rain started right on time at 10:30 as PT loaded his bike into the car at OPG, then drove to the Garden Centre to join the others for a brek very similar to last week’s, as both Findon and Standen GCs are part of the same chain.
The peleton completed about 20 miles and climbed 1900 feet, while MA completed 34 miles and climbed 2800 feet.
Meanwhile, CB was tearing round the mountains of Italy, clocking up his 2nd fastest 10k:
CB completed about 22 miles and climbed 2200 feet.
Saturday 31st October 08.00am ride
NG, AM, MA, RT
No Wing & Prayer ride due to other demands for the organisers. AM announced on arrival that he had a very slow blasteet so he would see how it goes.
A sunny, cool day with light easterly winds, but MA needed to get back home by midday so we headed to the Harbour Lights at LA.
Route Muntham, High barn and onto the SDW, Kithurst, down to Burpham with a diversion through Burpham. Through to the A27 and round Arundel by-pass to Ford road. Onward to Climping and LA via the road by the west bank of the Arun.
After the brek we found AM’s bike with a flattened rear. All hands and a quick repair with a huge thorn extracted from the tyre. As we set off we only got a few metres before the tyre started to deflate again. At this point MA parted company and headed home. A quick tube change instead of a repair and the pelethree could then set off east along the sea front into a now stronger wind.
Route through Rustington and E.Preston estates, across the Ferring gap with a long stop to discuss motorhomes/campervans. Then Ferring and Ilex way stopping to read about the Holm trees – Ilex Aquifoleum Holm.
Mulberry tunnel and up to the A259 then a wiggle through the houses to Mill Lane and the Gallops, A24 and Cross Lane.
Total 30 miles and 1,180ft
Meanwhile in Horsham PT, whose ebike was in bits due to a delay in receiving a new cassette, set off for a local ride down to Dial Post, covering 16.6 miles and 665 ft on the 10-year-old Camber analogue, thus:
spotting a spectaculat toadstool just north of Ashington:
And ZA took the train to Haywards Heath and then rode on road to West Hoathly, then returning to HH via Horsted Keynes, with a coffee stop at the station and to admire the Bluebell Railway. Total 25 miles and 2,000ft.
ZA writes:
Departed Findon 11.00 on road bike for Worthing Station, and took the 11.33 train from Worthing arr Haywards Heath 12.12
B2028 through Lindfield, R after Lindfield Bridge (over R Ouse) Park Lane,
Keysford Lane passing under Bluebell Railway bridge just after the BR’s ‘Golden Arrow’ Pullman dining car service had crossed.
L Horsted Lane, next L to Horsted Keynes station for a bit more train spotting and a cup of tea at the station refreshment room
Back to Horsted Lane to join Top Road – L through Sharpthorne, L at pub to West Hoathly to join my brother, Daniel for 14.30 Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, St Margaret’s (where my parents and brother, Crispin’s ashes are interred in the churchyard)
C. 15.40 From WH, Hammingden Lane through Highbrook to join Lindfield Rd and thus return to Haywards Heath station to catch 16.36 Littlehampton train back to Worthing, riding home from there. STRAVA recorded over 40 kms.
Hard work on high-geared analogue road bike but well worth the effort. Service carefully crafted, sensitively led, and – for both Daniel and I – obviously poignant.
Couldn’t help muse on how wholesome are the church’s celebrations of All Saints/All Souls are when done well. Quite a contrast with what seemed to be the rather vacuous absurdity of ‘Halloween’ as represented by costumed revellers catching trains to Brighton 