All week the weather had been unseasonably warm and the forecast for our Sunday ride was for a temperature of 23 degrees and with Cinders Café at the Lavender Line in Isfield as our destination a lengthy scenic ride was indicated.
The ride was also going to be special as it was the first on which we would be able to wear and pose in our new club kit. About half of the fourteen riders who started out from the Angel were thus attired and we made a very colourful peleton as we headed for Smallfield where we were joined by three of our racing members out on a training bash. We managed to hang on their wheels through Lingfield but they left us at Dormansland when they took off on the climb. In normal circumstances Steve W would have probably have tackled the climb with them but having undertaken a fast 94 mile the previous day, age and experience dictated he remained in the bunch. But the group was not hanging about though we did have time to enjoy the lane alongside the lake near Cowden and see a grass snake crossing the road on the way to Withyham after which we joined the road from Groombridge, which crosses Ashdown Forest towards Maresfield. This like most roads in the forest goes up and occasionally down but has the advantage that it is at least two miles long with a gradual gradient. Good training for Pete Yates’s End to End ride in July, which probably explains why he shot off the front at the start of the climb quickly followed by Keith and Rory. Leading as I was from the back I had the best view of the action as Michelle decide to put some power down and quickly drew away from the rest of us but as the leader was the only one who knew the route a regrouping took place at the top of the climb.
The ride along the ridge is always pleasant with good views on either side after which comes the long descent to Fairwarp followed by a right turn to Crackle Street which several riders overshot as they hammered down the hill. After regrouping yet again we rode along the quiet lanes of Sussex through Down crossing the A272 near Piltdown and continued on to the peaceful village of Isfield and Cinders Café. Cinders cater for cyclists with quick service, honest café grub at sensible prices and home made bread pudding. Taking advantage of the warm weather we sat outside on the old station platform and enjoyed seeing an old steam train chuff up and down the line whilst being entertained by the ladies in the group discussing the intimacies of the female anatomy in relation to being comfortable in bib shorts.
Suitably refreshed and educated it was time to make the homeward leg towards Balcombe and the lane to Ofham followed by the B2116 to West Meston where we took the narrow lane that runs at the foot of the South Downs. We left this at Keymer rejoining the B2116 to Hurstpiepoint where a right turn put us on the road to Ansty after which Deak Lane led us to the top of Staplefield Hill and a fast descent through Staplefield and a steady climb to Handcross. Now we were on home ground as we rode through Colgate, Faygate and on to Rusper and back to Reigate.
The ride was scheduled as 70 to 75 miles but it was such a lovely day and we were all riding so comfortably that we just kept going and at the end most had covered 85 very enjoyable miles. Considering several of the group were relative novice riders a year ago the club now has some very fit and dedicated cyclists as members.
Event / Article Type
No burn out after club ride to Cinders!