Saturday 15 April. New Forest Ride

Today's weather was generally cloudy with light rain in the afternoon.

Our ride was mainly on some very good cycling tracks on forest trails. John led us on some tracks near Burley to start with with a few comments from the peleton about going round in circles. Then on an old railway cyclepath to Brockenhurst and a stop for tea.

Then on to East Boldre near Beaulieu well known among cyclists for its giant sized portions. We all overate at lunchtime.

More tracks in the afternoon and on to a tea-rooms near Burley for tea. I had 2 punctures during the day and Richard one. With my tyres well worn I decided to buy new tyres at the bike shop in Burley.

Mileage for the day was 39.

Edwin

Saturday 15 April. Phil and Mary on the hill out of Burley

Friday 14 April. New Forest Trip
8 of us met at the Cross for the trip organised by John Maxim to the New Forest. Myself, John, Colin, Sam, Phil and Mary and Richard Boulton and Peter Wilson from Arun Adur.

We took lanes via Rowlands Castle to stop for elevenses at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Then the long climb to H.M.S Mercury and a short sharp shower while riding along the ridge.

More lanes across to Bishops Waltham and a brief lunch stop. Then a back route north of Romsey and a stop for tea and some substantial refueling. Then SW into the New Forest and the usual Cattle Grids and loose ponies. Weather was brighter as we took a 5 mile track down to Burley and the Youth Hostel.

68 miles from Chichester

Edwin

Friday 14 April. On the lanes near Burley

Friday 14 April. Elevense at Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Sunday 9th April 2006
The ride started at Chichester Cross at 10am, there were nine of us to
start with including two new riders, a lady called Sarah and an
aquaintance of Edwins from the photography club and I'm sorry but his
name escapes me, the two Brians came over from the Isle of Wight, nice
to see them again. The ride took us to Chichester Yacht Basin 'where
Adrian joined us' via Fishbourne and Apuldram Lane for elevenses. The
ride down Apuldram Lane was particularly pleasant because of the new
cycle path which is completely separate from the road the only drawback
was the difficult gate at the end of the path. Then on to the Beach
House Cafe at West Wittering where we met up with Edwin and his group
and some riders from Arun Adur nice to see them all again it's been a
while. After a pleasant stop we rode on to Heathers Cafe via Earnley,
Siddlesham and Runcton meeting up with Edwin again. The weather was
glorious and we had a great ride.


Arthur

Sunday 9 April, Walberton Pond Start, Ride to Beach House Cafe, West Wittering
Weather was chilly with a NW wind but bright and sunny. I led the ride from the pond and another 7 joined me including 3 from Arun Adur who came direct to the Pond. Another 3 from Arun Adur rode from their start at Littlehampton but decided they needed an early elevenses at Ernie’s. The rest of us rode via Oving and Runcton to Chichester Yacht Basin for elevenses where we met up with another 8 on the Chichester Cross start ride. 2 more came direct to the Yacht Basin. I made it a total of 15 out from our Section.

We rode part of the way with the Chichester group and then split off to take the road route while they took the Salterns Way. The rest of the Arun Adur group soon joined us for lunch. We rode back with the Arun Adur riders while the Chichester group followed on a little later at a slower pace.

We all took the same route on the back lanes via Earnley and then the track from Sidlesham to Fisher Farm and then on to stop for tea at Chichester Garden Centre.

Edwin

Sunday 9 April. Meeting at Walberton Pond

Sunday 9 April. Tea stop at Chichester Garden Centre

SATURDAY 8 April 2006 - Ride to Littlehampton (Look-Sea Centre)
In conjunction with WSCC's Walks and Rides programme, a coastal ride was arranged for today, commencing from Bognor Library. Unfortunately the publicity showed a 1pm start in the WSCC programme, but a 2pm start in The Pedaller and our local runs list. Luckily your dutiful leader was there to meet two visitors from Lewes who had arrived for 1pm , and persuaded them to sample the delights of Bognor Regis until the ride left at the re-arranged time of 2pm.

Seven of us eventually set out in deceptively warm weather, only on the return leg was it clear exactly how windy it was!

Our route ran via Felpham, Ancton, Elmer, Climping Beach, Climping School, and Rope walk, to Littlehampton. Our guests from Lewes had done most of the south coast run and were interested to find a route westwards from Littlehampton, so for the return I decided to show them a 2nd alternative as we went via Wickbourne, and under the railway to reach the “official”, if isolated, cycle track between Littehampton Tesco and Ford Lane. From there we went via Horsemere Green, Yapton, Bilsham, Middleton and back through the Felpham estates to Bognor. Mileage start to finish was 18.4.

Graham

Sunday 2 April. Meeting at Chichester Cross

Sunday 2 April. Tea stop at Fishbourne Roman Palace Cafe

Sunday 26 March



Four hardy riders gathered at Walberton Pond with waterproofs at the ready for our Mothers Day ride to West Chiltington: Edwin, Sam, Phil and Mary. Phil decided to avoid Madehurst and instead detoured to the south through Ford and then north again to Arundel and up the long climb from Arundel to Whiteways. We then followed the usual route through Houghton Bridge and Amberley to the bird sanctuary at Wiggonholt. It was not raining when we started, but a light drizzle had set in by the time we arrived at our coffee stop. From Wiggonholt we took the direct route north towards Pulborough and then east to the Five Bells at West Chiltington.

The Mothers Day rush had not yet started, but three members of the Horsham section were already into their first round, and we settled at an adjacent table. In due course, Colin arrived having taken the high route over the Kyber Pass with Tom (who had returned from Amberley). Colin joined us for the run back to Houghton Bridge in a steady drizzle, then chose to return over the pass. We pressed on up the hill then down the A29 to Fontwell, and back to Chichester.

Sunday 19 March. Ride from Chichester Cross to Coastguards Cafe, South Hayling.

Weather today was brilliant blue skies all day but still cold with the usual NW wind originating in the Russian Steppes. The wind strength was down on the last few days and temperatures were up a degree or two reaching a balmy 7C.

Numbers were down on those we normally see on a Hayling Island ride with some away and some no doubt put off by the cold. I led the ride and was joined at the Cross by Harvey, Phil and Mary and Alan and Liz. Phil and Mary were having a warm down ride after completing a 200 kilometer (125 mile) Audax ride yesterday.

We took the usual Clay Lane route to Westbourne and then down to Emsworth for an elevenses stop at the Greenhouse Cafe where we settled for a table outside in the sun.

We continued to Havant and then down the Hayling Billy Cycle track down the west side of Hayling Island. Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower showed up well on a very clear day. Nobody was inclined to have sandwiches in the cold wind so we all had a meal in the Coastguards Cafe on the front.

The return route took in lanes on the East side of Hayling Island and then across to Hillier’s Garden Centre Cafe near Bosham for tea. Near the Cafe they had a set of Conservatory chairs for sale called the “Edwin Suite” and there were some comments that I ought to buy it. After tea we headed home in different directions.

My mileage for the day was 43 and mileage from and back to the Cross was 31.

Edwin

Sunday 19 March, meeting at Chichester Cross