Run Reports |
11/4/99 Shoreham Airport to Ditchling
9/5/99 Three Bridges to Horsted Keynes
10-11/7/99 - New Forest Weekend
10/10/99 - Horley to Coldharbour
12/12/99 - Mince Pie Run from Redhill
The run started at the car park near Leith Hill on a very wet morning. A group of mountain bikers parked up their cars, looked at the weather and the mud and decided to go straight home, but 3 tandems and Clem on his solo braved the elements. From Leith Hill the only way is down and a very fast descent took us South to the fairly flat lanes around Walliswood. A well surfaced bridleway followed (after a few wrong turns) and Dave and Caroline had the first of the day's punctures.
After Ewhurst the days climbing began with Pitch Hill. The route continued to go up and down the Greensand Hills, on roads made orange with fallen leaves. Liz and Ken's puncture provided a welcome rest for everyone else. Another climb to Peaslake then to the Royal Oak in Holmbury St Mary for an excellent meal.
The afternoon ride was shortened slightly, as the hills and sticky toffe pudding had taken their toll, so the sadistic runs leader chose yet more climbing and a muddy uphill bridleway to reach Leith Hill Tower. We all had to walk the last 100m to the tower. Colin and Sally mended their puncture while we sipped our tea and admired the views as the weather cleared.
A short descent took us back to the start. 28 miles covered and about 650m of climbing.
5 crews met at the Sainsbury's in Godalming for the annual mince pie run led by Clem and Sandra. Clem however was not well enough to ride and delegated leadership to Liz and Ken. Despite heckling with alternative suggestions involving extended tea stops and shorter distances they navigated us safely round Clem's chosen route.
It was Colin and Nina's first ride for many months, and they claimed a severe lack of fitness. Nevertheless they left us all behind on the first hill past Charterhouse school! We rolled easily through the Surrey lanes, stopping to admire the view at Puttenham Common on the way to Elstead where we had an excellent meal in the Woolpack.
A short run after lunch took us to Sandra's house for lots of tea, cake, mince pies and gossip.
A short freewheel down to Godalming completed the 25 mile circuit.
Five crews and Clem on his solo met at Harrisons Rocks for a ride through the unfamiliar lanes of Kent.
A fairly lumpy route led us down to the Medway flood plain. We were going quickly with no mishaps so we added an extra loop to avoid getting to the pub in Laddingford too early.
The Chequers provided an excellent meal with cyclist's portions and very good value - highly recommended.
Colin and Sally took the direct route back, while the rest of us followed an attractive and increasingly hilly route circling round the north of Tonbridge. A small modification to the route enabled us to fit in the off-road section that is becoming a feature of Dave and Carolines runs! Liz and Ken narrowly avoided a severe accident as a car overtook us even though we were in the middle of the road indicating right! If Neville hadn't shouted ....
The leaders were by now completely knackered and were generally 1/2 a mile behind everyone else, so Liz and Ken again took over the navigation. The long freewheel down to Grrombridge was excellent and completed the 42 mile run.
Five tandems and a solo met for our February ride in the Crumbles shopping centre car park in Eastbourne. We headed off in bright sunshine around the new marina development and along the seafront cycle path. This path gives excellent views ot to sea but you do have to watch out for shingle washed up in storms.
We continued west past the pier and the many hotels before starting the climb of the downs. The road fortunately has some switchbacks to ease the gradient, but even so we were nicely warmed up by the time we reached the top. We stopped for a rest and to admire the clear view behind us over the town and Pevensey Bay to the buildings of Hastings. Unfortunately, one crew had to turn back with a mechanical problem leaving the rest of us to continue past the Beachy Head pub.
After a brief puncture stop we stopped below the Belle Tout lighthouse (which is in the process of being moved away from the fragile cliff edge) and walked to the edge to look at the lighthouse and the recent cliff fall below. Fortunately, no one felt the urge to jump over, although some did lay on the grass and peer over.
By now the wind had picked up, the sky was clouding over and it was felling colder so we continued towards the pretty village of East Dean. We climbed the steep hill to Friston using quiet housing estate roads, but joined the busy main road for the descent into the Cuckmere Valley. Here we turned right up the valley, past the white horse on the opposite hill, through the village of Littlington and towards our lunch stop at the Cricketers in Berwick. On this last stretch a tandem joined the lane just behind us and Clem tried to recruit some new members. He can't have put them off too much as they took a runs list and joined us for a drink in the pub.
After a leisurely lunch break we emerged from the warmth to a few spots of rain, but the ploy of changing into waterproofs seemed to work as it didn't come to much. Here Clem left us, taking the short way back as he had to go to work. The rest of us headed through Arlington then turned back towards Eastbourne using part of the Cuckoo trail, arriving back at the start after 32 miles.
Ken and I then pedalled home while the others set off by car to our house for tea and birthday cake very kindly provided in my honour by Sally and Colin. By the time we had filled ourselves on delicious chocolate cake the weather had turned very wet and windy and we were all glad we had finished the ride quite early.
It seemed a long time ago on a wet and windy October ride that Clem suggested we organised a ride for March, well what a difference five Months make.
Five Crews turned up - just - ( Liz and Ken after a road side cassette rebuild) on a glorious spring day .
The route took us past the Grandstand at Epsom and through Langley Vale to Headley. At the bottom of Box Hill disaster struck Ken & Liz again, their rear hub cracked and their ride was cut short as they returned to their motorhome to change the wheel. We would meet them again at a pre arranged tea stop at Box Hill. With one crew down we made our way towards Bookham, but not before we all climbed a 1 in 5 hill (which according to Clem was considered steep). After a very short diversion within Bookham Wood - of the two bridleway`s to choose from we took the wrong one - we arrived at the lunch stop at Effingham. Here we picked up two more crews but lost Clem & Sandra as work beckoned.
Suitably refreshed and watered six crews made their way to Ranmore Common. We hung a left and all sped down a long and sweeping downhill that made up for all the uphills in the morning. The ride then took us along to the Zig Zags at Box Hill where most of the road was taken over by motor bikes. At the top of the Zig Zags we met up again with Liz & Ken plus new rear wheel. Due to the big queue at the tea shop it was decided to divert the route to Headley where a less busy tea shop would await.
After tea and cakes plus 1 ice cream we made our way back to the start point via the racecourse - a grand total of 35 Miles.
By Sally James
8 tandems set off from Shoreham Airport, would 8 tandems reach the lunch stop? - read on to find out. We crossed the main road to Botolphs and on up to Steyning. We were supposed to only be stopping for the loo but Ken & Liz had other ideas. The spokes on their back wheel were loose, so a bit of wheel building was required. For a wheel that has only done 8 miles this was not good. Caroline and David decided to go ahead slowly, as the wheel building was taking a little time and they were getting cold. We all set off again for Partridge Green the couple from Rustington were the next to depart, I am sorry I didn’t get your names, they had cycled from home and had to get back to feed their dog. 6 tandems carried on to Hurstpierpoint, we said goodbye to Nina and Colin just before Hurstpierpoint although we would see them later. We were now wondering whether there was something our best friends were not telling us. 5 tandems managed to make it to Ditchling for lunch at the Bull Inn. Caroline and David were not at the pub but we hadn’t passed them at all. Did we really have a case of aliens abducting tandemists? Clem went off to investigate other pubs, ask the locals if they had seen bright lights in the sky, that sort of thing. Caroline and David turned up about 15 minutes later, they had taken a detour down a bridleway, so it wasn’t aliens after all. It was mud that lured David away not bright lights!
After a good lunch it was down to Brighton unfortunately there was just the matter of a little hill in the way! We stopped at the top of Ditchling Beacon to get our breath back before cycling downish into Brighton. We followed the cycle lane on the promenade, battling against the wind, all the way to Portslade where we crossed the locks up onto the main road into Shoreham. We said goodbye to Clem and Sandra as they were going straight back to the Airport. Thanks go to Nina and Colin who invited us back to their house for afternoon tea, especially as we phoned about 10 minutes before turning up on their doorstep. After being suitably refreshed with cakes and tea, 5 tandems cycled back to Shoreham via Shoreham beach.
This was the first run I had organised and I was worried in case I had forgotten some vital element. First check the route: bits of rough stuff? Yes. Hilly bits? Yes. Pub for lunch? Yes. Tea in the afternoon? Yes. Right, all set.
We met outside Three Bridges station on a spring day, with a promising forecast. The local CTC run was also starting out there, including Frank and Pat on their tandem. We chewed the fat for a bit and then went our separate ways. Seven tandems started out, although Dave and Caroline made their own way, as they will soon be needing a child trailer and wanted to take things easy.
The peleton sped off through the edges of Crawley, using hidden away cycle tracks to escape the worst of the traffic. We then entered Tilgate Park and a track covered in forest bark. This was much harder to ride than when I reconnoitred the route, as we were going uphill, not down. Tricky stuff, gravity. Onwards over the M23 and into Tilgate Forest, through the trees and bluebells on a hard packed forest road and out the other side. We were soon back on real roads, quiet country lanes going through the Sussex countryside. The sun came out, more bluebells and a gentle down hill slope made things very enjoyable. We passed through Slaugham and saw a nice looking trike plus an "Ordinary" (that's Penny Farthing to the uninitiated).
The exit from Staplefield nearly saw disaster as a lady car driver "of a certain age" decided to overtake us all on a narrow B road, approaching a blind summit. Her rear offside tyre being flat as a pancake and an approaching Range Rover didn't help her chances, but thankfully everything got by without disaster.
It was soon time to go off road again, with a bridle way through Borde Hill gardens, where a country craft fair was having a falconry demonstration as we passed. More narrow country lanes followed until we reached another bridle way, to take us into Lichfield. The depth of the tractor ruts proved too much for Mick and Mary and their 9 day old very shiny Thorn acquired a coating of mud as they laid it down involuntarily, accompanied by much shrieking.
Soon we were at The Green Man, Horsted Keynes, where Dave and Caroline were waiting for us, as was a large table - thoughtfully the landlady had put us in the public bar so we didn't have to worry about our shoes on the restaurant carpet. After a large lunch and suitable fluid replenishment it was time to go. So we could all ride together, we shortened the afternoon route, taking a more direct line home. However, this didn't stop it being hard work as we strove to regain all the height we lost in the morning. Chat was very limited as we climbed back up into the Ashdown Forest in the scorching sun. Soon we were at Tulley's Farm for tea and sticky buns, where we met up with the CTC crowd again. After that it was a few short miles downhill again into Crawley and home.
The ride started at Ockley Station. Three crews left, making their way out owards Oakwood Hill, Bucks Green and Lockwood. Here we were ahead of time so we went south to Kirdford then across to Lurgashall for our picnic lunch on the green next to the pub.
After lunch we headed towards Dunsfold, went around Cranleigh and then back towards Oakwoodhill. Liz and Ken had their usual puncture just after Oakwoodhill, giving the rest of us a welcome break. Then back to Ockley for the end of a pleasant ride with the sun present most of the time.
We went down to the Campsite at Ho lmsley Wood on the Friday, as did Ken, Liz, Ann, Tim and Children. The others met us bright and early on Saturday morning. John and Margaret cycled down from their home in Bransgore to meet us.
We set off out the back of the campsite into the woods and down a hill, before we had got to the bottom we had a puncture in our front tyre. As we were stopping we saw Liz & Ken come down the hill a big bang a lot of chalk dust and the front rim half off! Luckily there was no damage to the tyre but the inner t ube was completely shredded and of course the wheel a right-off. Neville offered to take Liz back to their Motorhome where luckily they had a spare wheel.
Eventually after changing of wheels and punctures we set off again. We took the Bolderwood Trail which goes through the forest all the way to Bolderwood starting from Burley. When we got to the end of the trail we found Neville, Trish, Margaret and John missing. Mark said he would run back to see where they were, he came back saying they had a puncture and we decided to wait for them. By this time we had been waiting a while so we went down to see if they were okay. Wires had got crossed and they thought we had gone on. So we agreed to meet up with them at the pub.
We missed out the morning tea stop as with all the punctures it was 12.00 and we had only cycled 6 miles or so. We took a more direct route to the pub with a bit of off road to cut off a corner. Arrived at the Royal Oak in North Gorley just as Tim, Ann & Family turned up. Neville's party turned up not long after. We all had lunch in the gardens as the weather was so warm and sunny.
Neville, Trish, Margaret and John decided to go with Ann & Tim for the afternoon as they didn't fancy the off road sections. The rest of us set off towards Ornamental Drive via off road tracks. We had a Tea Stop in Brockenhurst where we all indulged in some very sticky cakes! The ride back to the campsite was mainly along the disused railway.
In the evening we had a barbecue. Everybody bought their own meat and potatoes, salad and bread were shared. Two work mates of Mark's had asked if they could come down as after doing the London to Brighton they are keen on cycling more. So they came down with their tent. Margaret and John joined us along with some friends of theirs who owned a Tandem Trike. It was a good evening made better by the fact we could all sit outside until late as the evening was so warm.
More pictures available in the photo gallery.
We were up and ready to go out at 9.30, everyone set off to John & Margaret's house in Bransgore where we met up with them. They led the ride to the Coffee break at the Motorbike Museum in Bashley. We had a leisurely tea stop, John & Margaret said they would take Tim, Ann and Family on a ride. So we set off with 5 tandems and two solos, a mixture of trails and road led us to a pub, I cannot remember the name, just outside Lyndhurst where we met Caroline and David who had come down for the day. Sat in the gardens again as it was so hot.
Caroline and David were going to go for a walk and would meet us for tea. So we set off ending up in Burley at the Tea Shop at the end of the disused railway. Met Caroline & David again we all had huge cakes and tea, especially Trish who had the biggest Meringue I have ever seen! After our huge tea we cycled back al ong the disused railway back to the campsite.
It was then time for everyone to start the slow pack up ready to leave. The weather and Company was good making a great weekend. In all we had about 9 punctures and one rim failure!
The August ride started at Broadbridge Heath. 4 tandems & 1 solo braved the wet morning. We had two Hungarian ladies out for the ride. We went by Baynards and Dunsfold through some heavy showers. We then took a track where Neville & Tricia had the first puncture of the day. By now the rain had eased off and the sun was making an effort to come out. We then carried on a few miles further where Ken & Liz had the second puncture of the day. While this was fixed Colin noticed bubbles coming from his back wheel which was standing in a puddle. So this had to be fixed as well. We then made our way to Chiddingfold for lunch.
After a pleasant lunch, the sun had come out and we made our way through Plaistow, Loxwood, and then up to Rudgwick, where Neville had problems with his front hub, with the spokes pulling away with part of the hub. We made our way along the Downs Link to Slinfold, for afternoon tea. Then we finished with a gentle ride back to Broadbridge Heath.
Five crews started out from Horley on a lovely October morning. Clem led the ride following a well prepared route sheet prepared by Tim, who unfortunately had to to America on business.
Clem and krisztina set a blistering pace, so much so that the route had to be diverted via Brockham and Dorking to avoid arriving too early at the Plough in Coldharbour. The long drag from Dorking to Coldharbour sorted out the fitness - Clem and Krisztina were at least 3 minutes ahead of the next tandem!
Caroline, Dave and 11 week old Christopher were waiting outside the pub. As it was Christophers first outing in his Burley Solo trailer, and his parents legs were out of practice, they had made their own slower way to lunch.
After lunch Tim's route was again modified to take in an extra tea stop at Brockham Village Hall and to allow some gentle group riding with the trailer (Clem and Krisztina had to leave early to go to work). From Brockham the group went through the lanes to Reigate where Caroline, Dave and Christopher left to take the short way home and the rest carried on down Lonesome lane back to Horley.
Three tandems and two solos threaded their way through Merstham to the first steep climb up the North Downs.
Once we had regrouped at the top we took the unexpectedly muddy North Downs Way for a short distance. An unscheduled stop was required to free Kirsty's scarf from the chain tensioner on their new tandem. The rider on the front rides in a recumbent position while the rider on the back rides upright.
The long descent to Caterham was followed by a gentle climb on the tarmac bridleway past Woldingham School. This normally pleasant route was marred by the wet, cold and windy weather making everyones feet cold. The fast descent to Godstone was particularly chilling.
The Hall family had a party to go to in the afternoon, so they took the direct route back to Redhill, while the remainder cut the route short and took the direct route to the cosy Fox and Hounds in South Godstone for warmth, beer and food.
The weather improved during lunch, so we took some more wet bridleways past South Park, Cuckseys Farm and Henshaws Farm to reach tarmac again at Nutfield. One last climb took us back to Redhill and the mince pies, tirimasu and tea prepared by Caroline.