Ring them on 01323 735620 for more details
Ring Keith on 01323 761575 to book your place at the dinner
This ride will start from the station car park Witley, Surrey
The car park is free on Sundays. Lunch will be at Binsted, distance about 40 miles, finishing before dusk.
Tea available after the ride
Ring Chris or Helen on 01428 683302 if you wish to ride
See the new Gallery system trial October.
There was a very good turn out for this event held in the New Forest, 10 camping units met up on Friday evening on the practically full Hollands Wood campsite to be joined by another 2 on Saturday.
12 tandems and 2 solos set off on Saturday morning rather later than intended after mending a puncture whilst still in camp, and this was to set the theme for the rest of the day. We took forest tracks in a loop to the east and eventually all arrived for a late lunch in Lyndhurst after mending at least 7 more punctures on the way.
We re-grouped after lunch and split into two groups – some with no inner tubes left who preferred to stick to the roads to avoid the gravel with damp tyres caused by the occasional showers, and the others who persevered on the tracks.
We all met up again at the top of the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive for an ice-cream stop and to look at the Fallow deer resting after their afternoon feed. After the climb we could enjoy the swoop down the drive between the impressive broad-leafed trees. The afternoon had now brightened up nicely and we only increased the puncture total by about 4. After another on-road, off-road split we met up back at the campsite after 27 quality miles.
The evening continued to be dry and quite warm and we all sat around a number of barbecues with only candles for light (except for the occasional head torch for reading stories to our younger members), eating, drinking and chatting until we all started to wilt around 10pm.
Sunday dawned overcast but dry and as hoped the day brought far fewer punctures. The theme for this day was falling off, 4 in total and all solos from a total of 5 solos and 10 tandems. The day’s route took us along the old railway path to the coffee shop at Holmsley where we were joined by John and Margaret Steggles who had come over from the IOW to see us all. Lunch was in Burley after which the group split up a bit, with some needing to set off for home. The rest of us followed more forest tracks through Bolderwood and Rhinefield then back to the campsite. 29 miles for the day.
Thanks to everyone who joined us to make a most enjoyable weekend and congratulations to young Jake on his solo who spent most of the weekend at the front of the group.
Eight Tandems gathered at West Worthing Station for the start of this varied ride. We started by heading to the sea front and then heading west, following the coastal cycle route to Angmering, for a well used toilet stop.
From here we started the climb to the top of the South Downs at Chantry Hill via Patching, Michelgrove and Lee Farm. The last few miles of the climb were off road on fairly easy tracks, though the first field was a little soft.
The descent down into Storrington was spoilt a little by a slow car, but was still a great roller coaster ride - we nearly took off on some of the bumps!
After a very pleasant lunch we headed west out of Storrington, took a loop north past Hurston Place, through Northpark Wood to reach the Tea Room by the bridge at Houghton. The Gooseberry and Ginger cake was fantastic.
Another climb up the downs to Camp Hill followed, though it was not as long as the morning climb. Another section of fast but bumpy bridleway took us back to tarmac at Burpham.
Having just come back from the tandem rally in Denmark, the standard of the cycle track along the A27 towards Angmering was a joke - the road markings even asked us to give way to traffic coming from overgrown gates into fields that could never be used. And then it just stopped with the "Cyclists Dismount" sign - useless. When will they change cycle paths so that cycles have priority as they do in Denmark?
From Angmering we retraced the route to Ferring, collected some milk then went to Phil and Verna's house for some very welcome tea and cake.
Distance was approx 38.4 miles with 1993ft of climbing.
Saturday saw a group head off North through Glynde for a tea/coffee/bacon sandwich stop at the station cafe in Isfield. The ride then continued north via Nutley for lunch in Fletching.
Here we were joined by Tim, Anne and Brendan, all very hot after travelling from home to the campsite, putting up the tent then cycling to lunch.
The afternoon took us along some very pleasant lanes and two good bridleways to reach Lewes, where some shopping was done for the evening cooking.
As we returned to Glynde we were passed by the bunch taking part in the stage race taking place over the weekend winding up for the finish
Distance approx. 36 miles.
Sunday was hot again, and we all started early and climbed part way up the hill from Firle to the top of the South Downs to watch and encourage the riders in the Hillclimb stage of the race. We were glad we didn't have to climb all the way to the top on such a hot day. The descent back down to Firle was fantastic, even from our half way point.
After a brief visit to the campsite we headed east on the Coach Road bridleway then up to Middle Farm for Coffee after, well about 4 miles!
We were all feeling rather lazy as the day was so hot, so we headed slowly up through Ripe and Golden Cross then a short loop for an excellent lunch at Chiddingly, complete with live music.
Phil and Verna wished to visit the church at Berwick, so we decided to try out a bridleway from Chalvington, which was quite rideable, though a little bumpy for some. The next bridleway was totally impassable as the farmer had not left a passage through his field, but we found another one from Wickstreet to Arlington Reservoir which was fine once we worked out where it went!
The church in Berwick was interesting, with frescos painted on the walls by members of the Bloomsbury Group staying at nearby Charleston Farmhouse. For more info and pictures of the church click here.
We returned back to the campsite in Firle along the old coach road - a fantastic piece of bridleway, rolling up and down with great views of the South Downs and over the Sussex Low Weald.
Distance was a lazy 23.5 miles, but we were back in time to watch the finish of the last stage of the race and to wander round the trade stalls.
The trailer for this ride asked if we were going to be cruel and head north into the hills or head south for some rolling countryside. Well the faster ride did both, while the shorter family ride just kept to the rolling country. Perhaps a little too rolling for some!
The family ride (really a South East London region ride) started by heading South along the Downs link as far as Rudgwick. The climb over the hill just south of Baynards (the railway line used to go through a tunnel - we had to go over the top through some pleasant woods) had many struggling for traction on the loose surface, but the swoop down the other side was fantastic!
At Rudgwick we left the Downs Link and headed through Ellens Green, Rowhook and Warnham to reach Horsham via the cycle path across the golf course.
Here we were joined a few minutes later by the faster group who had taken a route over the Greensand Hills before heading south for Horsham.
After lunch and a play in the superb playpark for the kids both groups stayed together and headed north through some quiet lanes and some hills to reach the church in Capel, where teas were being served. No Surrey and Sussex run would be complete without Tim having trouble with his tyres, and today was no exception - anyone else remember the problems trying to keep tyres on the old Weinmann rims?
We were treated to some excellent tea and cakes and a very friendly welcome inside the church before carrying on back to Cranleigh via Wear Street, Walliswood, more bridleway and Ewhurst Green.
Total distance for the family ride was 33 miles. Young Jake managed this rather hilly and long ride with no problems, staying at the front for most of the way back. He also displayed excellent awareness of other riders and road users, shouting"Oil Up" and "Inside" at the right times. Well done Jake.
This ride headed North through Ottershaw, Lyne, Egham, a steep climb up Cooper's Hill and a nice swoop down to the cafe at Runnymede.
After elevenses a short run through Datchet (where we met Darryl and Alison, who missed the start as they forgot their front wheel!) to the pub in Eton.
Crossing the River Thames we followed its bank heading West, then joined the cycle route no 4 to cross Windsor Great Park to Blacknest, observing the preparations taking place for a Polo match. A bridleway past Coworth Park and then we cycled through Wentworth to see how the other half live.
Quiet lanes took us back to Woking and some refreshments to complete a very enjoyable ride.
This ride started and finished at the excellent cafe in Stanmer Park.
We headed up to Ditchling Beacon, fortunately climbing the easy side, before the fast descent heading towards Ditchling Village. Tim must have used his brakes too much as his front tyre exploded, fortunately just as he was stopping to turn right towards Plumpton. After some manipulation we managed to get the tyre to stay on, though it did seem rather loose.
We then followed the lanes through South Strree, Barcombe Cross to Ringmer, where Tim's tyre finally died. As it was not too far to lunch at Glynde, he and Anne left their Tandem with a friendly homeowner and started walking. When the others reached the pub, two returned without stokers to collect them.
After a pleasant lunch the main group headed south through Little Dene while Tim returned to the start by train to collect his car and recover the Tandem and stoker. After another puncture and level crossing stop we continued through Rodmell and Lewes to join the cycle track running alongside the noisy A27 to return to the start and a very welcome cup of tea and ice-cream.
Down (after a small bit of up) towards Horsted Keynes, then Piltdown for lunch. Then up to Nutley and lanes to tea at the Llama farm. Down to Forest Row, then cycle track back to East Grinstead.
On leaving home to travel to the start at Glynde we were treated to sleet blowing horizontally across the road - it was very tempting to return back to a warm cosy bed. However when we arrived at Glynde the weather was clear, though still windy and cold.
The stiff climb out from Glynde was a shock to our cold legs as eight tandems headed North wandering through the lanes past Hawkhurst Common to reach Roser's Cross before heading back South down through Waldron, Lions Green and Muddles Green to our lunch stop at Golden Cross.
After a pleasant lunch while it snowed lightly outside we continued heading South in fine weather, passing through Chalvington and Selmeston before crossing the busy A27 and joining an excellent well surfaced bridleway (the Old Coach Road) running westwards along the bottom of the South Downs towards Firle. A short run then took us to our tea stop at Middle Farm.
We then returned to the start along the cycle path close to the A27.
Thanks to Clem for an excellent ride and welcome to the couple from Plumpton who joined us for the first time.
Distance 33.8 miles, 1569 ft of climbing.