As advertised, the ride was an easy one after the successful dinner the night before.
13 of us left Langney to go out by Pevensey Castle. We then went accross the Levels where we caught (after some effort) a couple of other tandems who were on their way for the kids on the back to see Father Christmas. It was a lot drier here than expected after the bad weather the day before. We then went by Hellingly and Upper Dicker. We now had the wind wind behind us as we went down to Arlington Reservoir which was still very low and on to Berwick for lunch.
After lunch we followed a cycle route which took us on a wet track through a wood, then with the wind behind us again we took the cycle paths back to Langney and Clems house for warm mince pies and tea.
True to form for one of my rides, the day was wet and miserable - not too bad to start with, but getting worse through the morning.
We left Dorking and started with an early climb as we headed south through Parkgate, Newdigate, Capel to reach Wear Street - one of my favourite roads. Today we were treated to the sight of three deer standing in the road as we rounded a corner - they made off at speed through the woods. As the morning loop started heading back North we took to the first bridleway of the day just after Walliswood. This one had a good surface, not that you could see it for the carpet of leaves. A fairly easy climb over the Greensand hills took us to lunch at the Volunteer in Sutton Abinger.
The afternoon ride started with an immediate steep climb as we headed north to cross the A25. Just before the road started to really climb we took the bridleway to the east and then up the side of White Downs. The combination of Autumn leaves, rain and chalk turned this normally rideable bridleway into a skating rink, causing at least two teams to end up on their sides to the amusement of everyone else. We were now in the clouds, and visibility was poor. The first few teams got to the road with few problems, however a group of off-road vehicles attempted to go along the BOAT towards Shere, but got stuck - blocking the path and forcing some teams to forge a way through the bushes.
Leaving the vehicles to sort themselves out, we turned our lights on and headed over Ranmore, dropped down towards Westhumble and climbed up another bridleway through Ashcombe Wood for the fast descent to Denbies for Tea and Cake.
Suitably refreshed we took the cyclepath along the A24 to return to the start.
Distance 29.8 miles, total climbing 2094ft.
More Pictures
After cycling through the pleasant town, we joined the cycle path heading east towards Lydd. The very strong headwind made progress a little slow and conversation almost impossible. A morning coffee stop had been planned at Lydd airfield, but as we were slightly behind schedule it was skipped and we did a few extra miles to fill in the time instead.
Lunch was at Old Romney, and very pleasant it was too.
After lunch the tailwind was greatly appreciated as we headed across to Appledore for tea and cake in the very cosy tea rooms. What a shame the tea room is closing as they could not find a new owner to take it on.
The return to Rye followed the road alongside the Royal Military Canal.
Total Distance 32 miles, total climbing 573 ft ( it didn't seem that much, but a manual calc showed a similar result )
The ride was a shade under 40 miles, on a very pleasant warm sunny day. We were glad to see the new faces of Brian and Helen on their first ride with the Tandem Club after many years of tandem riding. I hope we were not too slow for them and that they join us on future rides!
A pleasant section of cycle route 21 towards Greenwich took us North out of Horley towards the windmill at Outwood, where we stopped for a breather before the rapid descent down to Horne. We went through Lingfield then skirted the racecourse before the long climb to East Grinstead. Between here and lunch there was a succession of drivers overtaking on blind corners and inappropriate places - amazing there was no accident.
We descended down to the Bluebell Railway station at Kingscote hoping to see a train arrive only to find that the station was locked and the stationmaster was trying to find the key! We were allowed onto the platform by the back entrance, however the train was delayed so we opted to head straight for lunch. A stiff climb up to Turners Hill followed by a fast run past Worth Abbey took us to lunch at the pub near Whitely Hill.
On our way again after lunch, we soon stopped while Keith repaired a puncture with help from Tim. It was all together again and being pumped up when a bulge in the casing was noticed, so the folding tyre was fitted.
After Handcross we went to Pease Pottage then on a pleasant if sandy track through Tilgate Forest, passing a mobile phone mast camouflaged as a tree, complete with needles. The cafe in Tilgate Park brought a welcome rest and refreshments, while some explored the maze, colourful gardens and the collection of animals.
We then left taking the busy roads through Crawley Industrial Estate before joing route 21 again to pass under the Gatwick Airport Terminal buildings and return to the start at Horley.
Distance 38.4 miles,
climbing 1,751 ft Highest point 609 ft
If we take the riding and eating as read, let's concentrate on the highlights:
Brian and Helen, a new couple were there, from sunny Guildford. Having been members for 3 years they'd finally decided to go an a TC run. It was then we learnt that Neville and Tricia had been members for 8 years before they went on a run. Now they lead the SE London branch. This could be addictive.
Appalling driving from the citizens of Surrey and West Sussex. Anne and I approached a side road with a car waiting to pull out. He waited until he could see the whites of my eyes and then moved into our path. I braked and waved to indicate there were two of us on the bike. Keith and Jane were offered free advice on where to ride by a driver who thought overtaking on a blind bend was a Good Thing until he met someone coming the other way. We waved at them too.
Nature spot: A bundle of feathers plummeted downwards to separate into what Anne said was a pigeon and something trying to eat the pigeon. The so far lucky pigeon then narrowly escaped doom by nearly flying into a car.
We didn't get to see any steam trains as the first one of the day at Kingscote station, although due in “just a minute” wouldn't in fact arrive for half an hour and lunch was calling.
Nature spot 2: We marvelled at a metal tree, painted to look like Pinus Sylvestris or Scots Pine. The existence of microwave dishes and a power cable suggested it was infact Pinus Vodofonus or a mobile phone mast.
Nature Spot 3: The tea stop at Tilgate included a visit to the nature centre to see the Ugly Pigs, rabbits and Tarantulas.
A good day.
The teams gathered on the hottest day of the year, eager to see Clem's well prepared route sheets and questions.
The morning route took us past Arlington reservoir, Lower Wick Street, Ripe, Chiddingly, East Hoathly to an excellent lunch in the garden of the Star Inn, Waldron.
The afternoon brought a few short hills on the way to Horam before joining the Cookoo Trail through Hailsham to the Old Loom Mill for a very welcome tea/ice cream and the marking of the answer sheets.
A short ride using some bridleway took us back to the start.
The questions were well thought out and had just the right level of difficulty to enable our team to win - though maybe the rather slower pace that we took had something to do with the result. Many commented on how the questions made them look around and appreciate the scenery and buildings they were riding past much more than normal.
Click here for the question sheet (240k)
| Place | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dave and Caroline | 69 |
| 2nd | Ken and Liz | 68 |
| 3rd | Neville and Tricia | 67 |
| 4th | Tim and Anne | 64 |
| 5th | Keith and Jane | 61 |
| 6th= | Harry and Mary | 58 |
| 6th= | Jon and Di | 58 |
| 8th | Mike and Rose | 37 |
Total Climbing 1412ft,
distance 28 miles
This ride started from the entrance to Eastbourne Miniature Railway, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne.
10 Tandems finally arrived for the start at EMSR after an unscheduled tour of Eastbourne, Seeboard had closed the road overnight - work overan.
| The ride set off down and along Eastbourne seafront past a Bus and Motorbike Rally. A climb to Beachy Head was rewarded with the obligatory ice cream. A fast descent during which Keith and Jane followed by Neville and Trish overtook a car and a bus attaining a speed of 48mph, took us past Belle Tout lighthouse. A severe climb which took a few by surprise through the private estate of East Dean resulted in 3 bikes slipping chains. Another decent took us to lunch at Jevington Tearooms. |  |
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Tim and Anne took the short option after lunch as they had get back to pick up Brendan from Cub camp. The remainder of the group cycled back through Friston Forest passed the Long Man of Wilmington into Abbots Wood, and then back down the Cuckoo trail to the start. Tea and cakes were consumed by all and some couldn't resist the Miniature Steam Railway ride. | |
Everyone returned to Keith and Jane's for a barbeque which lasted well into the evening.
Ride=32miles. Keith, Jane and family would like to thank all who attended the ride for a great day.
Total Climbing 1,927ft
More Pictures
Sunday started overcast and damp. By the time 10am came the sun was coming out. The ride was a combined ride with the South East London Group.
Four tandem joined me on my solo to leave Guildford on the Old London Road to ride around Woking via Jacobs Well and Pirbright. In Pirbright we found the road through Bisley camp has now been closed so we had to go back through Knaphill and Ottershaw to Pyrford. Here I got the pubs mixed up but a quick phone call saw us meeting up with the family group for lunch at Pyrford Lock.
After lunch the two groups rode together past Ockham Park and East Clandon for the steady climb up the North Downs to join the North Downs Way to Newlands Corner for tea or ice cream. The group then returned to Stoke Park and a spot of kite flying.
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Two rides did indeed take place, starting from the miniature railway at Stoke Park, Guildford. The family ride was led very ably by Andy, the faster one by an under the weather Clem. The family ride started not with a bang, but with a puncture as Derek and Gail punctured on our way out of Stoke Park. After the short stop the group weaved its way north out of Guildford, avoiding the busy roads with the help of a footbridge. After Jacobswell and Sutton Green another short section of footpath brought us to Triggs Lock where we crossed the Wey and followed the towpath north to Send, where we took Tannery Lane past the oddly named Crack Processing Company premises, through Pyrford Green to our lunch stop at Pyford Lock. |
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Here the children enjoyed helping to operate the lock gates for the passing boats while the adults enjoyed watching two cars battling to get over the narrow single lane bridge - neither party wanted to reverse so no-one went anywhere!
As we sat down to eat Andy's mobile phone rang - it was Clem wondering where we were - he was at the wrong pub! There had been extensive discussions on the route over some beers at the rally in Moyaux - maybe too many for Clem? A few minutes later and they were with us.
The two groups rode together after lunch as we rode past Wisley Gardens, over another footbridge (poor Henry) and a short section on a badly overgrown cyclepath alongside the very noisy A3 to join quiet lanes to Martyr's Green, Ockham and a long grind into the wind up to East Clandon. After the regroup Chris and Helen Juden stormed effortlessly up the hill to take pictures of everyone else struggling. Impressive. Another regroup at West Hanger then a fast ride along the North Downs Way to Newlands Corner for light refreshments.
Another fast ride along the old Drove Road, through some muddy puddles (poor Henry) then a great descent down to Guildford - cries of Brake! - Brake! were heard from Anne as Tim asked her how late to leave the braking!
Back at Stoke Park Michael got out his kite which flew perfectly in the strong wind, Daves was not so sucessful, much to the amusement of the kids, while the adults chatted and enjoyed the sun. All in all an excellent day out - thanks Andy and Clem!
For an alternative report and more pictures visit the SEL web site.
This ride attracted a record 35 riders, including the children, split into two groups - those who opted for quality miles rather than quantity, and the fast group.
For a report of the short ride by Dave, see the South East London report.
The five tandems participating in the "long" ride left the café in Horsham only a few minutes after 10 o'clock, leaving the family riders to finish off their bacon rolls. We left the town to the east and after a couple of short sharp rises climbed steadily up to Pease Pottage. The route then took us through quiet undulating lanes to the pleasant bridleway past Sermanbury Church. Shortly after we met up with all the others and followed the bridleway across the river Adur to Dial Post for lunch. The pub was slightly overwhelmed by 35 cyclists arriving all at once but fed us all well. We all left together and after a couple of miles the long riders, now reduced to four tandems, headed off up the hill to West Chiltington (to work off the lunch). From here the route headed back northwards to the visitor centre at Southwater for tea, where we were eventually reunited with the family riders. So far we had mostly managed to miss the showers that had threatened all day, but we weren't so lucky on the return to Horsham which began in heavy drizzle. However it had more or less dried up again by the time we returned to the car park after a pleasant (and hopefully not too fast!) 48 or so mile route.
Having carried out detailed planning I was hoping that I'd get a good turnout for the ride. I need not have worried as when Anne and I arrived at the start at Chichester station, last as usual, we brought the total number of riders to 16! I was amazed and extremely pleased. We had the "usual suspects" plus a new couple, Phil and Verna who have just moved to the Surrey and Sussex area, having travelled round the world with their tandem.
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So the peleton set off for a morning spin round the very flat countryside around Chichester harbour, getting extremely nautical on arrival at Itchenor as we took a ferry ride across to Bosham. There was only space for four tandems at a time, but the ferryman didn't turn a hair at this strange cargo and was very helpful when it came to loading and unloading. |  |
Lunchtime saw us at the Fox and Hounds at Funtington. Food was good enough, but several riders were shocked at having to pay £3.20 for a pint of orange juice and soda. Should stick to beer is my view!
The afternoon saw us joined by yet another tandem and we ascended the South Downs, mostly slowly although the very fit Darryl and Alison decided to get more exercise and rode back down one hill to do it again. The afternoon tea stop was at West Dean, which I found using the Refreshments page on this very website. Thanks Dave! Then a quick whiz down the Centurion Way back to Chichester to make it a touch over 40 miles.
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Four tandems and a solo left Oxted on a windy and overcast morning. The wind was behind us along the Pilgrims way from Titsey towards Brasted, but the long climb to Toy's Hill got everyone warmed up - maybe too warm. Dave's descent of the steep narrow twisty lane towards Tootings had Clem accusing me of being mad because his solo slid around as he tried to keep up. The next stretch along a rutted muddy bridleway left everyone in no doubt - I am mad! Now the wind was in our face as we cycled via Staffhurst Wood to our lunch at the Barley Mow, Tandridge where William met us for his first ride with our group, on a very shiny solo. |
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After lunch a short stretch of "Road Closed" took us to Godstone for the cruel climb up Tilburstow Hill, then back on to bridleways past South Park towards Horne. The thick mud and uphill climb was very hard work on the tandems, and Williams bike was not quite so shiny any more. We had planned to stop at Bannisters in Blindley Heath, but it was closed so we tried Lingfield and were rewarded with tea, milkshakes and cakes at Joyces. Our legs were feeling a bit tired now so we needed the tailwind as we rode back to Oxted in the evening sun. All in all 42 miles of a typical Wilde ride - mud, hills and closed roads! |
A total of seven tandems and one solo braved the wet morning to meet in Uckfield for a fairly hilly ride. We set off up on to Ashdown Forest and dropped down to Duddleswell Tea Rooms for coffee, where we rapidly steamed all the windows up.
Next the route undulated westwards along the very pleasant Ketches Lane and then up hill again to Horsted Keynes for lunch. Reluctantly we left the pub and went out into the wet again. An after lunch climb took us up onto the forest again where we huddled under a tree for the obligatory puncture mending. Nobody seemed very keen to take the longer afternoon loop so we took a fairly direct but non main road route back to the start for tea at the fire station.
Only 32 miles but plenty ups and downs so it seemed further. The rain only let up a few minutes before we finished and everyone headed off home feeling ready for a hot bath.
The January ride started on a clear and frosty morning at Broadbridge Heath. Four tandems started while Dave and Christopher planned to join the group on the way to lunch.
Out via Slinfold to Wisbourough Green for a coffee and hot chocolate stop then through Plaistow to Dunsfold for lunch with Dave and Christopher chasing us to the pub.
After an excellent meal and warm up we made our way towards Loxwood, though we had to retrace to find Christophers glove which he dropped a mile or so back without telling anyone.
At Loxwood Dave and Christopher left us while the main group joined the Downs Link at Rudgwick back to Slinfold and Broadbridge Heath.