Sunday Ride: 7th August 2016

Twelve gathered for the off and in Tom V’s absence Stuart G was leading with TomTom as ‘all-up’ man. Farthing Down is really the nicest exit from Croydon and a man on a bench turned out to be Jeremy making us thirteen until Des D turned for home in Bletchingley.

There was an impromptu re-running of the downhill freewheel which Jim M managed to get over the hump and declared the winner. We took a quick stop opposite the Outwood Post Mill for Dave S to relax on his eponymous seat:

A gentle canter on to, but avoiding, Turner’s Hill. Ajay was introduced to the traditional art of English aerial goat husbandry at Tulley’s Farm. Here two returned and ten pressed on:

Down and down we went whistling south of Hands Cross and under a handsome stone bridge that no one on the A23 can admire. We should have stopped at the Victoria Inn in Staplefield. A real pub overlooking a real English Village Green and only a mile or show short of Slaugham and the scheduled pub. The Chequers did not check out. Under new management they had only salt & vinegar crisps and the vinegar connection extended to the first two pints.

At least the only Grade 2 listed white telephone box was … still white.

It was also a mistake to mention we were only 15 miles from Brighton ‘as the crow flies’. Frank whose curfew time was imminent decided to dash there and get a train home. With no map and no … will we see him ever again?

We rode west and then north through the beautiful gap between twin monstrosities of Crawley and Horsham. Through Colgate, Faygate and Newdigate stopping at Tanhouse Farm for ice creams and checking out these two delightful beasts.

There was some discussion about the route home. Eventually everyone succumbed to the decision to ‘do’ Pebblecombe. Short and sharp rather than adding to the distance of a longer than average Sunday ride by going via Box Hill or going round to the A23. We were held up at Betchworth Level Crossings TWICE ‘cos the second train arrived before we had let the queued traffic go ahead.

Everyone did Pebblecombe – so self-congratulations all round there. However, success clouded the leader’s mind and hence the tiniest bit of disorganise chaos in regrouping at the top and losing riders we hadn’t lost. A discreet curtain will be drawn here. However, Lady Luck was on our side and we magically all came back together for the final descent into Coulsdon.

61.32 miles at an average moving speed of 13.57 mph.

LATE EXTRA – JUST IN FROM FRANK WHO IS ALIVE AND IN DEEPEST SELSDON:

“Thanks for superb ride to Tulley’s farm and The Chequers Slaugham. You tried to shake off Tom Tom and me by being invisible at Slaugham so we went passed not seeing you up at white pub. We had a good discussion as to best route to Brighton as my curfew was already broken. 15 miles according to your OS map. Brexit came up as well as Jeremy poss move to Devon! Dave asked about the source of the cycleway at side of A23. [ There is route from Crawley to Brighton but parallel to A23 on West side]. It was fine down the A23 when 3 lanes but 2 lanes too tight so took to narrow margin outside rumble strip with my yellow top blowing in the head wind as a marker. Double deckers gave a good side wind effect. As I ‘climbed’ over downs passing Esso garage on far side I found a guy waiting for a bus. He told me how to get on the cycle way over a distant bridge to the west side of A23! Way interesting until it ran out due to railway next to A23 so back over A23 foot bridge. Then on to Brighton was a white/pink marked cycle zone. Arrived at Brighton front at 3.25pm, high tide, then to station for 4.10pm fast to Victoria. Found usual place for cycle outside rotating toilet door. Train packed, standing only and 2 rowdy young guys put off at Gatwick. Climb back to Selsdon arrived 5.45 pm by which time you were home no doubt. Locked out as Julie took Denzel for a walk. Watered garden and horizontal snooze on the grass…..”