Sunday 30 July. Bognor Chichester and Arun Adur members riding back

Sunday 30 July. Tea at Sutton Vicarage

Wednesday 26 July. Evening Ride to Dell Quay. Felpham Start

 

 

I (Edwin) led the ride meeting Graham and Chris at The Fox. We headed along the Seafront road to Pagham and then on to tracks. First on Summer Lane and across the fields to Honer Lane. Then up to South Mundam and another track across fields to Hunston. Then both sections of the Canal to come out by the entrance to Chichester Yacht basin. We then took the road to Dell Quay to meet up with the Chichester group including Phil and Mary, John and Richard and family.

 

As we had drinks in the Garden there was red sky to the NW as the sun set with ominous dark clouds with occasional lightning flashes to the SE. The weather radar on the Internet had shown massive storms tracking up the channel and moving inland further east. We had escaped rain so far but decided to make an early return. Chris headed straight back to Littlehampton and John joined Graham and I for the ride back. As we headed down the Pagham Road at a fast pace a little light rain started and ahead of us forks of lightning pierced the gathering dark clouds ahead of us. I reached home without needing waterproofs.

 

About 28 miles from and back to Felpham.

 

Edwin

Wednesday 26 July - Chichester start

Sunday 23 July. Rowlands Castle from Chichester Cross

Exton - 23 July - early start

Sunday 23 July - 11's at Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Evening Ride: The Black Horse, Binsted (Felpham start)

After a poor start to the season, the weather for the last few evening rides has been excellent, and tonight was no exception. A blisteringly hot day had cooled down a little, and with no wind, riding conditions were perfect.

 Four of us set out from the Fox - Julian, Val, Alan, and myself - and we threaded our way through the housing estates of Felpham and Middleton, heading to Binsted via Yapton, Ford Lane and Ford.

After Ford station we turned into Tortington and began the short, but noticeable, ascent into the foothills of the South Downs, before turning south again for the descent into Binsted Woods.

At the very bottom of the hill, the tarmac ends and the lane becomes a rough stony track. Caution is required in order to avoid an unplanned dip into Binsted Lake, presided over by the mysterious shrine to the Madonna. This part of the wood is always a very lonely spot and with the sun slowly setting as we arrived, it did seem to be particularly atmospheric tonight.

We did not linger, but climbed up the hill past the ancient ruins of Tortington Manor, to re-join the tarmac, and, eventually, the lane ended up at the pub.

No Chichester contingent this week, but we were joined later by Edwin, fresh from his time trialling, who came all the way back with us.

For the return route I followed a more direct line over Hedgers Hill and back to Yapton via North End. From Yapton it was straight to Felpham via Middleton Road.

Mileage from the Fox, back to the Fox,  a modest 18.

Graham

 

 

 

 

Sunday 16 July. Chichester start ride to Ayling Garden Centre, Trotton.

Another day of cloudless blue skies and temperatures rising to about 28C.

I was leading the ride and Avryl and Harvey joined me at the Cross with Adrian meeting us at Compton. We rode via West Ashling and Funtington to stop for elevenses at Compton Stores.

We continued with a fairly easy climb up the southern side of Harting Hill and then a sharp descent to Harting Village. We saw a large group of veteran motorbikes coming towards us. I heard my name shouted and saw Richard Carlisle in the group.

We continued via Nyewood and then a narrow quiet country lane to Trotton.

At the Garden Centre John Maxim was waiting for us and we were later joined by Alan and Liz who came direct and then Colin and Gill the Walberton Pond starters. Sam and Graham joined us after riding large parts of Hampshire first. The meeting of Cyclists was completed when Arun Adur members joined us led By Ernie.

We headed back on lanes via Didling and Cocking to stop for tea at West Dean Gardens.

My mileage for the day from Pagham was 53

Edwin

Sunday 16 July. Elevenses at Compton

Sunday 16 July. Getting ready to leave the Garden Centre at Trotton

Evening Ride - The Anchor, Sidelesham (Felpham start)

Another evening of excellent cycling weather with glorious sunny conditions and no wind to speak of, as 4 of us (Edwin, Julian, Janet, and myself) set off bound for Sidlesham. Our planned destination had been the "Crab & Lobster", but we had heard at the last moment that it was closed for refurbishment, so instead the ride was diverted to the nearby Anchor.

We headed west right through central Bognor Regis to meet the seafront at Aldwick. The tide was out and good views were had of the Bognor Rocks, protruding like dragons teeth out of the shallow water in the distance. Then leaving the sea behind, we continued inland to Nyetimber, where we took Summer Lane and a very rural route across fields, crossing the Pagham Rife en route.

From hereon it was narrow roads and farm tracks all the way.

Our route via Chalder and Bramber Farm has been well established by the club for many years, although the "No Cycling" signs and "Footpath Only" notices may give the unwary the impression that cycling is discouraged. On this occasion, as we opened a gate to proceed along the lane to Bramber Farm, we saw the farmer coming towards us in his landrover. Somewhat disconcertingly he pulled up on  the track ahead of us, stopped his engine, and got out, heading towards us. 

Never one to back away from a challenge, I nonetheless felt it prudent to allow our ever present solicitor (Edwin) to go ahead of me, whilst I attempted to integrate myself at the back of the ride. However any thoughts of confrontation were quickly dispelled as the farmer wished us good evening, commented on the fine weather, pointed us in the direction of the pub, and offered to shut the gate behind us! He then went about his business as we rode across his land, through the farmyard, crossed the route of the old Selsey tramway, and into the pub garden. As is becoming the norm, the Chichester group were already halfway through their beer as we arrived.

We left the pub about 9.20pm and as it was still daylight, we headed south, then crossed the fields to  to reach the edge of Pagham harbour nature reserve and cycled along the embankment back to Pagham and Bognor Regis. The harbour is an isolated place at the best of times, but in the silent twilight it becomes a very beautiful spot to cycle around.

From Pagham we returned to Felpham using nearly the full length of the promenade  to round off an evening of almost entirely traffic free cycling. Return mileage to Felpham was 18.5.

 

Graham

Sunday 9 July. Tichborne near New Arlesford

Today we had a long ride from Chichester meeting up for elevenses at Tesco Cafe, Petersfield with riders coming there direct by car or bike.

I led the ride in place of Phil and Mary who were not able to make it. Weather was not promising at first with constant light rain and a strong SW wind. This however cleared by 11.00 with good sunshine in the afternoon.

Gillian, Colin and Chris joined me for the ride to Petersfield. We rode via Funtington, Compton and Harting. We had a welcome break at Tesco where we were joined by Steve, Ann, Adrian and John Wickens from Arun Adur.

Gillian and Chris headed back from Petersfield. The remaining 6 of us headed on by way of a lane to East Meon and then along the Meon Valley to West Meon. Then along some quiet lanes to Cheriton and on to lunch at the Tichborne Arms, Tichborne.

In the afternoon we did a lot of meandering up and down quiet Hampshire lanes near Privett and High Cross. The planned route was to descend down to Petersfield on the hairpin bends of " Little Switzerland" near Steep. However when we arrived at the top the road was firmly closed with 2 lots of substantial barriers preventing even bikes getting through and a notice about serious subsidence.

The map was consulted and the diversion by road would have been quite long. There was a bridlepath on the map down a farm track so we headed down it. After following the ridge a little way the track plunged steeply over the edge with deep ruts and slippery chalk which we all walked down. At the bottom we rejoined tarmac at Oakshott and took winding lanes to Steep and Petersfield.

Everybody agreed it was a memorable and challenging Ride. By the time I returned to Pagham my mileage was 85 and from and back to the Cross it was 73.

Edwin

Sunday 9 July.Outside Tesco, Petersfield

Sunday 9 July. Road closed