09. September 2026
FGCC rides in September 2026.
Saturday 5th September 08.00am ride
AM, NG, MB, DC, RT
Team chaplain turned up at the beginning of the ride on road bike but then headed off on a short ride to Worthing and back – see map below.
The peloton initially were going to ride to LA but changed to Arundel so that MB could join for a brek before returning home to attend to his duties. Route to Arundel across the field, over to the high barn, Chantry car park, Kithurst, Peppering Farm, Warningcamp and into Arundel and the Moat House cafe.
After a splendid brek and service as usual, the peloton split with MB and DC taking a direct route home via Crossbush and straight through APE, and the remaining three taking the Ford route to LA, turning east along the seafront, through the estate to East Preston, getting a bit lost again (RT, AM), across the Ferring gap, Ilex way, Mulberry lane tunnel and over to Mill lane and the gallops.
Total 29.7 miles and 1,170ft
ZA’s ride: 12 miles and 680ft
and in Italy, CB’s ride in the mountains on road : 42 miles and 4,600ft
Saturday 12th September 08.00am ride on Sheep Fair Day
AM, MA, TK, NG, RT
For the first time in at least 3 years Mr Kersley was free to go for a ride on Sheep Fair day having relinquished his duties there.
Amberley loop route selected for a slightly shorter and quicker ride starting up through the Crem.
At the top of the steeper climb and just after the gate AM declared that he hated the straight section immediately after the gate due to the roots everywhere. However on turning right after that into a narrow path through the thicket he had to stop as TK in front had been caught up in a bramble, and in a few seconds the narrow path was significantly widened as Andy tumbled into it in a slow fall as it gave way. True to form photography was RT’s first reaction before offering assistance:
With little damage to AM other than pride we carried on up to the high barn and on to Kithurst Hill, then down Amberley mount via the vineyards to then return via Stoke Road back up to Kithurst Hill, stopping to maintain the Flying Dane memorial and recite the Ode.
Back along the SDW and continuing south to Tolmere, over Long Furlong and up to and down Church Hill, during which AM suffered a blasteet. Brek at the Garden Centre before parting company with AM walking his bike home to repair it there.
Total 18 miles and 1,560 ft for the main peloton, 30 miles and 2,800ft for MA with his additional ride to and from Angmering.
Team Chaplain participated in the Churches walk or ride event by visiting local St Mary churches, starting with Clapham St Mary, but for which he was too early, then East Preston church and finally St Mary’s Goring via the Ferring gap and back to Findon.
Total 18 miles and 870ft
…and in Italy CB was also out on his road steed in the foothills of the Sibillini Mountains with a total of 37 miles and 1,860ft.
…and Mr Topley cycled a total of 12 miles and zero ft in the St Lawrence Estuary
Saturday 19th September 08.00am ride
AM, JR, MA, RT
AM arrived at OPG on his road bike having just discovered that his replacement tube after last week’s Blasteet had deflated.
An alternative destination discussion concluded that we should try the Black Horse at Climping though this required us to get there by 10.00am for a brek. JR said that he had a full day of freedom and that after the brek he would continue further west as he wanted to get some miles in.
Road route selected in order to accompany AM and the peloton set off down the high street and into a mini debacle. At the Findon Black Horse RT observed that JR was not with the peloton and so went back to see if he needed assistance only to realise that JR had taken the short cut to the A24 via Cross Lane – so much for getting the miles in. RT had to then catch up finally rejoining the peloton at the Canada memorial.
The peloton split at Sea Lane cafe in order to accommodate JR’s regular fix of riding along Ilex way and across the Ferring gap off-road with AM heading up to the A259 and continuing on road to Climping.
Full exposure to the very strong westerly wind as we continued along the Littlehampton sea front and relief as we headed up and over the river to the A259 and into Climping to find AM waiting.
Although we were there just before 10.00am, the time when breakfast service was due to end, we were welcomed into the Black Horse restaurant. A very pleasant barn style room and service with a splendid brek.
After the brek and as planned JR parted company to head off west and the pelethree turned east and down into LA to enjoy a spin along the sea front with a strong wind behind us. Through the estate to the EP crossing and along the A259 to the Ferring turn off. At this point AM continued south to follow mostly the outward route while MA/RT headed up to Highdown parting company at the top of Hangleton Lane for MA to return to Angmering and RT to continue over Highdown and up Salvington hill and down to the village.
Total. 35 miles and 1,030ft for MA and similar for RT and probably longer for AM. JR?
Meanwhile:
In Italy CB was out on his steed again for a total of 31 miles and 2,400ft
and representing the FGCC in the Grand Banks south of Cape Cod Mr Topley covered a total of 13 miles heading west and somehow a climb of 200ft according to Strava.
Saturday 26th September 08.00am ride
In response to an appeal for information on this ride, TK wrote:
if this looks like a ride to shoreham lock gates and then north over southwock tunnel heading SDW home then John Carney , Nigel and I were also in attendance … pausing at Coombes farm to scrimp apples .. pausing at the ‘Allen tap’ near the cement works to refill bottles .. and enjoying fantastic views whilst traversing truely hill
ZA writes:
I have little (little? – Ed) to add to what Tim shared Friday re 26/ix, except …
(You will have our route from my Strava ..) 
Besides pausing at Coombes Farm to scrimp apples, we also inspected their meat vending m/c (tho none of us actually availed ourselves of any of the products for sale)
From the Old Bridge at Shoreham we followed a route which I have taken when riding over to visit my brother, Daniel (lives in Portslade) picking up NCR 2 from Buckingham Rd, Shoreham. Near St Julian’s Church, Kingston Buci, we passed the Vicarage which Tim’s father, the Revd Stuart Kersley occupied whilst he was Vicar there …
The Port Kitchen wasn’t especially busy, but there was some confusion over Tim’s order, for which he had to wait rather longer than he would have wished ..
Tim’s choice of return route was a good one as, from Southwick Hill up to the meeting of (five) ways at the top of Mill Lane, W of Truleigh Hill, we followed the Monarch’s Way, though in the opposite direction to the FGCC venture of 2021.
As Tim mentioned, we paused briefly at the drinking trough/tap, pretty much adjacent to the A283, just E of the bridge over the R Adur which my Aunt Peggy (1919 – 2012) helped get installed whilst she was Chairman of the local branch of the Sussex Downsmen.
Following the SDW we paused awhile at the Langmead Memorial as FGCC peletons are inclined to, before making our way back to Findon c.12.30
Having been prevented from riding En Peloton on a Saturday with Gentlemen of the FGCC since 29 Aug, yours truly – for one – really enjoyed this outing 
Meanwhile, holidaying in Switzerland en famille, our Flying Dane/Brit completed a circumambulation of a Swiss Lake (Sorry for the mention of Cantonland, Richard)
Chris was out on the roads of Italy:
and Paul made a marine excursion by static bike southeast of Newfoundland
