The Findon Gentlemen's Cycling Club

FGCC rides in October 2025

Saturday 4th October 08.00am ride

A strong westerley (gusting to 45mph according to the met office) led the pelefive of JR, MA, PT, RT and ZA to opt for a route to Littlhampton, so that we could be blown back along the seafront (most relevant for JR, as the only purely leg-powered rider).

The route went up Long Furlong to Tolmare, then followed the Monarch’s Way into Angmering Park woods:

Past th Dover, we emerged onto the road to Poling and headed south.  At Poling, we took the bridleway west to emerge at the new bridge (not on OS map yet).  Crossing the new bypass, we took the old road south to gather at the Harbour Lights for brek.

After a fine brek, we were blown along the seafront (at 15mph) and then threaded through the mean streets of Willowhayne to call at Gemma’s, then along the footpath to Ferring and down Sea Lane to the coast.  Blown along to the Sea Lane Cafe, where a restorative coffee was taken by PT, RT and JR.  ZA was under some time pressure, so soldiered on.

Coffees on the table, the serious business of vt was addressed.  Good progress was being made at putting the government under the cosh when a lady from an adjacent table noticed our need for solid nourishment to sustain our deliberations, and gifted us a bowl of chips (she said they had overordered and could not cope with them).

Despite not giving her name, the chip lady graciously agreed to a photo for the blog.  Again Fortified, the now pelethree returned to Findon by the traditional route along the front, up Grand Avenue and through Tarring to the Becket and Mill Lane/Gallops.

PT recorded 25.38 miles and 867 feet climbed.  Breezy but no rain.

Saturday 11th October 08.00am ride

A ride with four crashes – MB, PT, JR and PT (again)

The peleton assembled at OPG, and JR set off up Stable Lane to get a head start on the ebikes of MA, MB, PT and RT.  The remaining pelefour, after some faffing, followed on.  Sorting ourselves into a natural order, Mark and Richard reached Chanctonbury, and Matthew and Paul caught up.  Descending Llama Lane in that order, Matthew and Paul dropped behind.  Matthew found a slippery bit, touched the brakes, and suddenly was lying down with fingers very much akimbo.

You’ve seen The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Legacy: Now from a LLama Lane near you, The Bourner Dislocation

Not wishing to be outdone, Paul also had a lie-down but without the anatomical rearrangement achieved by Matthew.  Both walked gingerly down to the gate, and then coasted to the A283 junction.  Mrs B was finally convinced to pop over and scoop up Matthew to A&E, but it had to be pointed out that maybe the valeting levels in the volvo could be allowed to slip just this once, and slightly muddy trousers be allowed in.  Mrs B (Hattie to us, by then) sped Matthew off on her mission to seek medical assistance.  Her “no nonsense” attitude led some to speculate that, as soon as they were out of our sight, she would pull in to a layby and manipulate the errant digit back into place herself, but clearly the qualified ministrations of the NHS won the day.  The problem of Matthew’s bike was solved by Carole turning her car into a temporary LSV to recover Matthew’s cube to Nepcroft.  The crash site is noted, for a future memorial.

Following this excitement, the peleton continued north up Hole Street, taking the bridleway and then the footpath through the woods, arriving at Dial Post nursery at exactly 10:00 to meet Andy for a sustaining brek.  In Mark’s case it was only a coffee as he had to peel off to attend to domestic exigencies.

Mark’s return route in yellow

Main peleton route

For the return, the pelethree headed south on Honeybridge Lane from Dial Post, and at Peppers farm took the bridleway south to Spithandle Lane, then the bridleway from Beggars Bush Kennels south to the Horsham Road (B2135).  The last part of this bridleway is heavily overgrown, and difficult to find and pass.  Following the B2135 south, we crossed the A283 and continued to Mouse Lane, that majestic gateway to the Kersley Link, which we traversed.

Passing behind the Chalk restaurant on the track alongside the A24, John and Paul opted for a second coffee stop at Cranks Cafe, while Richard continued home.

Restored and overconfident, John and Paul were descending the gravel slope south of Cranks when John lay down, and Paul had to lie his bike down and jump over the prostrate John, so that we could both fully connect with our home county.  The absence of gloves meant that John bled a bit (and so qualifies for a memorial?).  After regaining our feet and leaping sideways off the track to avoid an oncoming tractor, we met Jason (not Bourne, not Kenny, but Townsend) with a group of riders en route for the Frankland Arms pub in Washington.  Pleasantries exchanged in the approved fashion, normal riding was resumed for the return to Findon via the Pest House and Gallops farm.

An eventful day.  The two crash sites are:

PT covered 20.33 miles and climbed 1395 feet.  MA covered 33.77 miles and climbed 2820 feet.

Saturday 18th October Trek n Brek MB

A peleton of six assembled at PG (Mark A, Roy, Paul, John, Tim and Zachary) for a ride to Castle Bourner to celebrate Matthew’s birthday with a brek.  JR had suggested riding in the woods at Spithandle Lane to see the autumnal colours, so a route was plotted to get north of Chanctonbury but avoid Llama Lane.  The peleton headed north alongside the A24, and followed the track past the Cranks Cafe and behind the Chalk restaurant to the SDW, then east to enter the Kersley Link.  Turning north at Chanctonbury Ring Road, we crossed the A283 and continued to Spithandle lane, where we turned right.  Coloured trees were visible,even more as we dived into the woods at Spithand’s Nursery.  Passing King’s Barn Farm, we emerged again onto the road at Moor’s head and proceeded nothward on Honeybridge Lane over Honey Bridge.  Reaching Buckel’s Farm, we took the footpath (one of Kim’s favourites) through Capite Wood and over bridges to Woodman’s Farm.  South to Brownhill, then northwest to East Wolves Farm and across the A24 by footbridge.  South through Ashington and a footpath west to Mitchbourne and then bridleway to Jinkes Farm and the road to Heath Common and chez Bourner.

Hattie, Anita (Matthew’s mum) and youngsters Monty and Beatrice made us superwelcome, and Andy arrived to join in, a superb brek with an iconic cake to mark Matthew’s half-century:

After much brek and vt we dragged ourselves away for the return ride.

PT discovered a blasteet, and resolved to mend it.  JR and RK stayed to watch the fun, while TK, MA and ZA set off for respective homes over Sullington hill.  The blasteet turned into a herculean labour – first the puncture could not be found, so a replacement tube was fitted and inflated.  The valve of this tube was too short to install the speed sensor magnet, so it all had to be removed.  JR supplied a further spare tube, which was duly installed but would not inflate due to being itself punctured.  This tube was removed, and Matthew produced a bucket of water (from a tap) which enabled us to locate the original puncture and mend it.  With the original tube reinflated, and about an hour spent playing blasteets, the pelethree (PT, JR and RK) finally departed for home, taking the short route over the A24 footbridge to Washington and retracing the route south by the A24 past the site of PT and JR’s crash of the previous weekend. then past the Pest House and through Gallops Farm.

MA in green 32.82 miles and 2,382 ft

ZA TK in blue 20.91 miles and 1,656 ft

PT JR RK in red 19.63 miles and 1,431 ft

Meanwhile sur le continong The flying Brit/Dane completed a 17 mile circuit:

Saturday 25th October 08.00am ride

ZA, JR, MA, TB, RT

Mr Mead had advised that he intended to go for a short e-bike ride following his knee replacement so Ferring Country Park selected as destination that might suit him.

The peloton sought a longer route and decided to head east, initially without TB. Cissbury, Steyning Road and straight on to the pylons and then towards Lancing clump. Analogue John took the lower path accompanied by RT while MA & ZA shot up the steep climb on turbo to the trig point.

It was while we were regrouping at the Lancing clump car park that we heard a charging bike massively skidding to a halt. Fearing the worst we then discovered that it was TB who had fortunately spotted us and made an emergency landing.

Down Mill Lane and a zig-zag course through to Lancing and the coast where we then headed west all the way to Sea Lane, dodging a host of runners as we went.

JR present meant of course that we had to follow Ilex way to Ferring and onwards to the Country Park, only to discover that Mr Mead would not be able to join us.

Following an excellent brek as usual the route home was via Hangleton Lane, where MA peeled off to Angmering, Highdown (again an opportunity to use turbo on the e-bikes), past Tesco and east with TB then splitting off from the peloton to head home via the John Selden and the valley. The pelethree turned up Cotswold Road and nearer the top ZA experienced a blasteeet, something that seems to happen quite frequently for him recently. JR under time pressure sped on while ZA/RT replaced the inner tube and removed the offending thorn.

Over the A27 and then Mill Lane, the Gallops and Rogers Farm to Findon.

Total 21 miles and 1,110 ft for ZA and the main peleton, and 22.2 miles for MA,

The main peleton in green, MA in red

Meanwhile in Daneland, KBS rode a relatively short and slow (for him) ride of 18 miles and 700ft climbing from Vordingborg.

…and in Italia CB did a fast ride of 17 miles and 1030 ft.

PT away on the briny, nearing the Azores.