Early bird report 30 July

We did our favourite short early bird ride on saturday (Beckley 35 miler). This route may be short but it sure is hilly. Joining us for the first time was Doug Downs. Doug regularly commutes to Robertsbridge from Hastings so he definitely has the fitness and really enjoyed the ride. Hopefully he will become a club regular. Duncan had had a break from cycling for a few weeks and had dropped a little fitness but it wont take him long to get it back. Having ridden bewl the night before, both Paul K and I were feeling a bit stiff in the leg muscles so we didn't have our usual 'zing'. We are both looking forward to not riding for a couple of days now!
S.C

Bewl water 29 July

Great conditions at Bewl Water on friday. Present were just myself, Paul K and Ivan. Also Dave E was there with his young son on a brand new perfect miniature little mountain bike. Ivan was feeling unusually tired due to to a busy week at work, paul and myself found it as hard as normal. My foot was playing up badly due to me moving the cleat forward. I may have to start riding off road with look road shoes and pedals!!
S.C

Lewes prison Ride 24 July

At last some decent sunshine for an off road South Downs ride. We met up at 7;30 at Firle for the 30 mile 'Lewes prison ' circular. There were only four of us: myself, Ivan, Paul K and Dave HH. Starting off at firle village means you immediately hit the long road up to the firle beacon car park (this is used as hill climb TT in the Autumn). I love this hill but dave didnt like it and felt unwell with a chest infection so decided to abandon the ride. The rest of us continued riding the SDW until we got to sussex university and Stanmer park. Our usual tea stop at stanmer park had not opened yet so we pressed on up the long climb to the top of Ditchling beacon (hard!) before enjoying the fabulous decent down past lewes prison and into lewes. Here we decided to have some bacon butties. We stopped at a riverside cafe which was almost empty and propped up our bikes. A woman came out and told us to move our bikes and put them on the other side of the railings (even though we told her we had no locks), as she was rude we decided to move on and found a much nicer place about 300m away where the bacon butties were very expensive but also very tasty. After Lewes there is the horrendous 'white climb' back onto the Downs ridge, this is so steep very few people can mange to keep the bike moving but somehow Ivan made it. After this there was just one more hill to go which is the horrendous Rodmell hill. At this point paul was suffering and couldnt wait to get to the end, climbing hils on the downs can be horrendously hard and every Kg of extra weight makes a difference. paul and I were releived to get to the firle beacon, from there there was the fantastic decent back down to firle vilage where we were doing about 40mph. best ride on the downs so far this seaon!
S.C

Off road Chanctonbury ring ride Sunday 10 July

My first South downs way ride of the season and Paul K's first ride on his brand new Specialized rockhopper (he won this on ebay and saved himself £200). After a few adjustments to paul's new steed we were off (Steve, Paul K, Ivan and Duncan)
It took paul a while to get used to the handling on an off road bike but he soon got it. The decent off the side of Chanctonbury bury ring is treacherous at the best of times but with the recent wet weather it was lethal. Myself, paul and Ivan decided to walk down it but Duncan managed to ride down it (slowly!). There was another muddy section at the base of Chanctonbury hill, but eventually we got through it all. We had a cake stop at a big garden centre just outside wiston. The climb back up to the top of the downs was as hard as expected, but duncan rode it very well, leaving myself and paul bringing up the rear.
S.C

Friday chaingang 8 July

As it was too muddy for bewl we decided to switch to the Broadoak chaingang instead. There was a good turnout with me, Paul K, Paul B, Ivan, Duncan, Rohan and Chris W. Despite the forecast being dry it started raining at wesfield. This led to a wet ascent of stonestile lane. By then the rain was easing off so three of us decided to head for the pub. By the time we left the pub , the heavens had opened again and we were absolutely soaked through. Still strangely enjoyable though.
S.C

Early bird report sat 2 july

Myself, Ivan, Paul K, Josef, Malcolm and Duncan were all present. This was a new route of only 35 miles but what it lacked in distance it made up for with lots of lovely hills. A great ride with fantastic weather. We had coffee and sandwiches at the little Beach hut Cafe on Bexhill sea front near the bottom of galley hill. Average speed was only 14mph which shows you how hilly it was.
S.C

bewl water July 1st

Much better conditions at bewl water this week. Quite warm , nice and dry and dusty. Ivan's old smoke tyyre from the 90's finally gave up the ghost and left him stranded about a mile from the end. Paul B and Malcolm are feeling the benefits of their epic SDW randonee last sunday
S.C