Sunday 25th August Ride to Hooksway

Three of us met at the Cross for the ride to the Royal Oak at Hooksway, myself (Bob) leading, plus Harvey and Sam. Chris looked in on his way to bell ringing and hoped to catch us up for lunch, and Edwin had said he aimed to be there for lunch as well but taking a shorter route after his long period off the bike.

We started down West Street at a good pace in the warm weather, and took the usual Clay Lane route through Westbourne to Rowlands Castle, where we stopped for coffee at the Beehive. There we noticed a small group including our own members Mark and Linda, who it turned out were on their way to a pop up cafe at the Bat and Ball, which evidently opens on the last Sunday of each month, something to remember for future rides.

Afterwards we continued towards Horndean, but turned right beforehand down Pattersons Lane through Blendworth, then down the hill to Chalton. We turned right there to go through Idsworth and after several streams of mini cars (presumably a mega-rally of Minis) crossed the Compton to South Harting road to continue past East Marden and through North Marden to Hooksway.

There as he planned Edwin was waiting and Chris joined us.

We had a good lunch and decided on a hill free route back, so we could all travel together, and as we started off Sam pointed out the remains of the old road to Petersfield at the top of Hooksway and at North Marden.

Edwin continues the report with some of his pictures

We continued the ride from North Marden down via East Marden and the pretty Well in the middle of the road. Then we continues on a narrow road through Wildhams  Wood with a Police Car giving way to us and calling out have a good one (ride) as we passed. Then more gentle downhill past Stoughton and Walderton. We went straight on down the B2147 past the climb to Funtington to the T Junction. After some discussion about 1^st or 2^nd right we turned off towards the lower road from Woodmancote.

Bob and Edwin were ahead and not seeing Sam and Chris assumed they had turned at the second turn. After a short wait at the junction Sam and Chris turned up to report that Chris had a puncture but reported that it had swiftly but messily been repaired because Chris had come gooey tyre repair sealant. More of that anon though.

We continued towards West Ashling turning off on the usual route back when after a swift discussion on the ride a decisions was made for a tea stop at the Fishbourne Roman Palace Cafe, Arthur style. We were soon ensconced in the hot sunshine with refreshments

Soon after Arthur and Lynn coincidently turned up and joined us. When Chris got ready to leave he found his tyre was down again with too much sealant having been lost previously. On the Cafe wall above the Cycle Stands was a friendly and appropriate sign.

Sam reported that mileage from and back to Chichester for the main group was 38.

Report by Bob and Edwin

Thursday 22 August Ride to The Murrell Arms Barnham

This was the last evening Ride of the year with the nights drawing in rapidly. After a sunny day it was a pleasant warm evening bringing out 15 riders to the start with David as the leader.

We took a different and interesting ride out with David taking us first down to the Seafront via the Prom in front of Butlins, Felpham and Middleton. We gained some attention with our numbers.

From near the end of the Prom we retraced via the Summerley private estate and then the cyclepath across the King George V Rec Ground with the setup ready for the upcoming Felpham Kite Festival. Then down the route to Middleton Village and on to Elmer and the private estate nearly to the end before looping back on further roads in the northern parts of the estate.

Then it was on the roads crossing the A259 before continuing to Yapton and Barnham. Most of us managed to crowd in to an open faced shed probably meant for smokers but no room for any so inclined. It was well dark by now so the detail there was in the picture was extracted with editing.

As we got ready to leave in the car park most of the light came from Bike lights. Most the group headed home via the Barnham Path.

Edwin

Ride to Compton Sunday 18th August.

Four met at a blustery Walberton Pond for the scheduled long ride to the Milk churn, Rudgwick. Sam, Mike and Maureen joined with myself leading. Following a recce ride earlier in the week, I had already decided that the original route using part of the Downs Link would not be possible – the unseasonal wind and rain has left parts of the cycle route littered with tree debris. So it was to be an all road route. However whilst discussing this, my Rain Radar app on my phone was going into overdrive. It warned  of a band of heavy rain about 30 minutes away and not wanting to be caught in it  on the busy A29 , I opted to lead the group through Eartham, Goodwood and have an early coffee break at the Downlands museum café.

Unfortunately the heavens opened whilst we were climbing ‘Sculpture’ Hill so it was a very wet and bedraggled group that arrived at a very busy café – there was a special event on at the museum. We managed to maintain decorum by sitting on paper napkins as we drip dried in the warm café.

After 30 minutes or so the rain had passed over but the roads were now very wet, So it was a shortened route, taking in Chilgrove via the back lanes, a quick climb on the B road before dropping into East Marden and then onto Compton, where an early lunch was taken in the by now warm sun. A fairly direct route via watery lane and we were back in time for Sam to get on with some DIY! ( although when doing his post ride bike clean up, as the roads were filthy, Sam found 3 slow flint punctures which needed attention.)

My mileage was 53, the ride mileage from the start would have been a very modest 35 miles.

Russell

Sunday 18th August. Ride planned to Emsworth

The weather today couldn’t be worse arranged for a bike ride planned to start at 10.00. Early sun gave way to cloud followed by an hour of heavy rain from 9.30 to 10.30 and then back to sunshine.

I came over early in the dry and stopped for a Costa Hot Chocolate. Before 10.00 I moved to Chichester Cross with only the Leader Arthur there. We had both decided not to go ahead with the ride or rather shortened it drastically to an early elevenses at the Cloisters Cafe, Chichester Cathedral. As we got there Chris joined us after finishing Bell ringing.

My mileage from Pagham to Chichester and back was 17 with a longer route back

Edwin

Thursday 15 August Evening Ride to Littlehampton Seafront and Fish and Chips

It was a beautiful evening for the club Fish and Chips Ride to Littlehampton with blue shies and temperatures starting at 20C. The earlier strong winds died down by evening. John was the leader and 10 in all started out from Arun Leisure Centre including 3 newcomers. Julian joined us at Littlehampton.

We headed out on the usual route through back streets and the new estate before crossing the bypass and along a pathway to the Barnham Track. The pathway first was a little damp with low hanging vegetation. The Barnham Path was in better condition being mainly dry with the occasional puddle. We came out by Barnham Church with the gate unusually open and then straight up Church Lane.

From Barnham we took a quiet Lake Lane to Yapton North End. After waiting for 2 trains at the crossing we took Ford Lane across to Ford Road and south past the prison. Then on via back lanes to Ferry Road to the Foot Bridge and into Littlehampton.

By the riverside there are 2 chippies. One Freds was still open at 8.45 and we got our supplies and settled down on the prom beside the river.

As the sun had set it was a pleasant scene looking north up river

For the return we retraced our route to start before taking the cycle path alongside the A259 and taking different routes home from Middleton and Flansham. The distance from and back to the Leisure Centre would have been about 18 miles My distance from and back to Pagham was 26 miles. For the route see map below.

Edwin

Sunday 11 August Ride to Portsmouth Kite Festival

The Ride today was to Southsea Common for a picnic lunch and to view the International Kite Festival. Harvey was the leader and he was joined at Chichester Cross by myself (Edwin), Samantha, Maureen and David Sinclair. Arthur and Lynn joined us later for elevenses so there were 7 out on the day.

The weather was cloud and some sunshine with a brisk SW wind but well down on the storm of the previous day. We headed out via West Street and Clay Lane and on to Westbourne. Then on to Emsworth and elevenses at The Greenhouse Cafe and pleasant refreshments in the sunshine. Arthur and Lynn met us there when we were nearly ready to leave after getting rid of tardy guests.

We joined up to continue via Havant and down the Hayling Billy Cycle Trail down the west side of Hayling Island down to the ferry to Southsea. After a short wait we got the Ferry. Then it was along the Southsea Sea Front and on to the War Memorial in sight of the Kites for lunch.

After lunch we walked along past the Kites viewing area.

I, Arthur and Lynn took a train back while the rest of the group returned along the seafront before picking up the Eastern Road Cycle path and more cycle paths to Havant where a stop for a drink was made at McDonalds.

Then a fast direct return via the A259 with a strong tail wind and some cycle paths alongside the main road.

Edwin

Saturday Ride 10 August 2019- Bognor library to Pagham

The ride today wasn’t far as the crow flies but offered plenty of scope for a circuit around the countryside. That was however before the weather took an unseasonable turn for the worse.

The Cyclebognor no rain guarantee was never in danger of being tested as the problem today was wind. At the ride start time a South- westerly was blowing at 32mph with gusts of 53mph.  Many local events had been cancelled due to the forecast conditions.

With this in mind I didn’t expect to see anyone at the start point. In fact there were 5, with Edwin joining us at Pagham making 6 out in all.  Apart from Steve, David, Sam and me, we had a brand new rider, Fiona with us.

To avoid as much wind as possible I decided not to go too far afield and took a sort of “tacking” route from the library over Highfield Bridge to South Bersted, then Hawthorn Road, Nyewood Lane, some contortions through Aldwick to Rose Green, then Nyetimber and after 6 or so miles, to Pagham where we stopped at the Beach Cafe.

The route back was much easier with the wind    now behind us.

I took the group through the Bay Estate and then, new to us all, a detour through Bluebell Wood at Craigweil, thanks to Fiona’s local knowledge.

Then estate roads to Dark Lane. As a born and bred Bognorian I used to go to the beach at the bottom of Dark Lane when that was where Dark Lane went to. Now Dark Lane is no longer dark with overhanging trees, instead it is severed by new roads serving new estates. And it seems some of the riders weren’t aware the beach was accessible. So we took a very short detour to see it, and noted the restored memorial there as well.

From there we joined the prom and with the wind behind were literally blown along all the way back to Bognor.

A slightly shorter ride than normal due to the bad weather, the round trip mileage was 12.

Graham

Sunday 4 August DA Picnic West Wittering Beach

It was a pleasant warm and dry  day today. It was mainly cloudy though with some sunny spell and temperatures up to 25C. I was the leader and I was joined at Chichester Cross by Peter Wilson of Arun Adur plus Fred and Dawn Latimer. Arthur and Lynn joined up with us at lunch and for the Ride back. Numbers were a little disappointing compared with the other groups with 7 from Arun Adur and 16 from Horsham Crawley.

I led the group out via West Street and then south on the Salterns Way alongside Appledram Lane and further south on the path to Chichester Yacht Basin and a stop for elevenses at The Boat House Cafe. Great views there but they have a problem with slow service especially when busy.

Then it was further south on the Salterns Way via Birdham Pool and passing Birdham Church before more paths across fields to Itchenor and on more of the Path to West Wittering and riding on through the gates with nothing to pay as the cars forked out their £8.50 car parking fee. We settled for our picnic on the beach front facing Chichester Harbour just past the big red flag. We arrived about 12.30 with Horsham Crawley group already there and Arun Adur arriving immediately after us. The pictures show just us and some of Arun Adur group with most of Horsham Crawley group a little further along the beach.

For the return we took a different route back via East Wittering, Bracklesham Bay and Earnley. We stopped for an early tea stop at Earnley Butterflies. They don’t always allow access to their cafe without paying the full entry fee but they let us through after checking it wasn’t too busy.

We continued back via lanes towards Sidlesham and then on to Hunston where Arthur led everybody else back to Chichester while I turned off to head back to Pagham.

Edwin