29/9 Rye Rotary

Oh Yay, Oh yay!

Dan H suggested riding the Rye Rotary charity ride today. A fair few of us were up for it.Once everyone had signed on were all launched on our way by the town crier.The first part of the route was the Rye Lydd road. This road seemed to go on for ever and there was a moderate headwind in our faces all the time. I rode alongside Marcus and we were able to steadily overtake most of the group, catching up with Alexander at Lydd. It was a releif to change direction here because that gave us some respite from the wind. Now the route headed out over some of my favourite lanes over towards Mary in the Marsh and Burmash. Having fluffed a road junction I found my self out of the slip stream of the others but ended up riding alongside a nice young chap called Kyle who as it turned out had recently made conatct with HSCC. Kyle had never done a ride over 25 miles before so this was going to be a new learning experience for him . I gradually dropped kyle and rode on my own for the next 5 miles a so. The next road sign for the route said go left but after three miles,I came to a road junction with no more signs to follow. Unsure what to do I waited for some other  riders to turn up. Before long kyle and Mark B were there but they too were confused about which way to go. In the distance we could see a block of riders approaching us, this turned out to be John V and Nick S with a couple of friends. Putting our thoughts together we decided we would just have to ride back to the last course marker we followed. This caused some a few choice words (LOL) from one of John's friends who was struggling a bit but I just resigned my self to it. Arriving at the sign we met Alexander and half a dozen riders.They had just come from the only proper refreshment stop . Looks like the wind had blown the sign round and we had gone left instead of right to where some nice hot coffee could have been ours (drat). We decided to join this group rather than continue to the official rest stop, we didn't fell guilty about missing part of the route as what we had just done in error was further than we would have travelled anyway. From here the wind was at our backs and rather than struggling along at 15mph it was comfortable riding at 21 mph. Our enlarged group slowly started to fragment with Nick, John and myself teaming up with some Rye rovers and leaving Alexander and the others behind but after a  short refreshment stop we were all back together. The nice people serving us drinks told us they had had riders complaining about the signage and reluctantly we had to agree that some signs were pointing  the wrong way and also there were not enough of them. Despite tiredness slowly creeping in, I managed to pull away from Alexander and rode ahead with John and Nick.A diversion took us along a wonderful newly resurfaced piece of road along a dyke near Brookland, John said he could imagine he was riding in France on this section. As we neared Appledore John and Nick slowly pulled away from me but graciously waited for me to catch up at Appledore. After a little loop around the village, all that was left was the tail wind blast all the way down the Royal Military canal path back to rye. Nick was feeling good and really put the hammer down, this burst of speed dropped even John. There was no way I could manage that pace and setted down into a steady 20 mph along this rather feature less road. Hearing another bike behind me I turned round to see Alexander. He had a put in a big effort to catch me up and at this point was probably stronger than I was. It was a great feeling as we rode together into rye to sign back in and avail ourselves of the tea and cakes there. Waiting for us was lee who had gotten round much faster than we did having ridden in a group with the legendary Barry G from Rye Wheelers. This was a great day with almost perfect weather. Although the signage could have been better and there was quite a lot of backtracking on the route, we all really enjoyed it and will be back next year. Taking the gps data of my Garmin,I have used about half of this route to create a new club/early bird 60 mile ride, we will have to try it out on a non windy winters ride?

Semi-Club trip to Afan Forest

Afan Forest in Wales is a mecca for mountain biking.It has two 44k trails with a third supposed to be opening this year but not by the time we were there. The trails can be split up so you can do whatever you want.
We go for the immense amount of single track riding . There are many steep rocky descents.
The best routes are whites level and W2 but that is my opinion.Also the Wall. Skyline is what it says a high level route with spectacular views but mainly fire break so not very interesting for the group of 30 somethings I usually go with as they prefer the single track. I do to but cannot keep up, airtime is not for me. They patiently wait for me at the end of each trail section wondering if I have fallen off again.
Anyway we go down twice a year and why I say semi club trip is that 2 of our usual 30 somthings pulled out a couple of weeks before. On our earlier trip this year one of the 30 somethings had made a video on a go-pro, a brilliant helmet cam, and I sent it to Steve C , he showed it to Duncan who asked to join us for this latest trip. Duncan told Jozef and he also signed up so we were back up to 6.
We travel down on friday so we can get in a 3-4 hour ride , then back to the cottage we stay in for home cooked  bangers and mash followed by several inevitables. Saturday is the big day. It always rains on saturdays in Wales but do not let that put you off . For some reason it does not seem to matter much because the rock is not slippy and although it would be better dry it rarely is. This is a 6 hour day with a well timed stop at a mountain hot dog and burger bar.
To clip in or not to clip in that is the question. My usual group never clip in , they are former BMX riders and seem to be able to keep their feet on the pedals even in mid air . We roadies like to know that when we  are in the air intended or not we will not come off the pedals . Problem is it hurts more if you come off clipped in.
I have never clipped in before in Wales but Duncan did not even consider it. He was clipping in.
I did for friday as it was dry but bottled out on saturday in the rain but Duncan clipped in and said all in all much happier so there it is , your choice.
We were soaked and muddy by the time we got back . We passed a pub but the consensus was not to go in ( Duncan and I have still not got over this).
Our excellent thirty something cook excelled himself with a pasta and tuna  bake  followed by inevitables and settled down for the cycling on the telly. Our leader had brought a bottle of Jack D which was not scheduled for the return trip.
We normally try to do a 2 hour ride on the sunday but our route masters girlfriend had her birthday that day and quite rightly he decided to take a early trip back and it was raining again.
Its a four and a half hour drive but for mountain bikers looking for a challenge this is a good destination
Steve has kindly agreed to attach the video clip so you can see some fun
Derek M

27/9 HSCC Fri Night Ride- The Rider's Not For Turning

Marcus Joins Us For The First Time

Good turnout for a Friday with seven riders out on a perfect autumn evening. Joining us for the first time was Marcus. Although new to the club , Marcus is a very experienced cyclist and has put in some great times from some years back before starting a family. No problems with the decent of Battery Hill, all the gravel seems to have dissipated.We stayed together in good formation all the way to Rye with only Josef out of the peleton for a while to remove some excess clothing. At the turning for rye I noticed a cyclist coming towards us on the main road, this turned out to be Mark who had missed the start but using the main road had managed to catch up with us. As usual things perked up considerably once we started the broad oak drag. As the stronger riders started to pull away, Nigel was caught napping for a while before putting in an impressive acceleration to get up to the front with Marcus and Ivan. As the drag continued they pulled away with Ivan and gave it all they had to try to go past him. Ivan power is not to be messed with however and once Ivan put his foot down he was able to arrive alone at the top.Not wishing to delay anyone , instead of stopping at Broad Oak, I just kept going . Well before the turn off for Doleham lane, Marcus came flying past me with some of the others trying to catch him up. Unfortunately Marcus was so far ahead before the turn to Doleham lane that he missed it and despite Simon calling out to him he was gone up the main road. He must have wondered where we all went to? A great shame as this meant
Marcus could not be tested on Stonestile lane and our traditional Stonestile lane newbie photo was denied. Perhaps next week?

Now for something completely different

What  is the connection between:

Hastings & St. Leonards United FC, Dunlop Tyres and The Houses of Parliament.

The answer is:  Hastings & St. Leonards C.C.

Last weekend returning from the Warwick Uni Open Day the Jenner family decided to stop at the White Horse pub on the A21 at Hurst Green for something to eat. I decided to go to the Gents as you do and noticed a black & white photo on the wall of Hastings & St. Leonards United FC. It was an old picture taken around the turn of the last century and having taken a picture on my smart phone it provided us with some entertainment prior to our meal arriving, as to what year the photo was taken. We all decided that it must have been taken around 1900 due to the clothing being worn.

Anyway, our attention fell onto the president of the football club namely Harvey du Cros MP. Back home we decided to Google him and find out who he was and this is what we found.

Harvey du Cros MP was elected the Conservative Candidate for Hastings in 1906 and resigned from the House of Commons two years later because of ill health.

Mr Harvey Du Cros was a millionaire Irishman who made his fortune from the pneumatic tyre industry. He ran many companies in the trade, and was the one-time owner of the Dunlop tyre company, which he sold for £3 million in 1896 (how much is that in today’s money ?

Du Cros made his first ‘public appearance’ on 6 January 1904 at the annual dinner of the Hastings and St Leonards Cycling Club, in the Castle Hotel. Chairman of the event was local Liberal MP Mr Freeman-Thomas.

Cycling was a popular local sport and there was a very large attendance. Du Cros had always been a keen cyclist, and it was this that made him realise the need and market for pneumatic tyres, first with cycles, then motor vehicles.

So there we are, amazing what info you can find from an old photo.

HSCC Fri Night Ride 20/9- Gravel Travels

Susan Arrives For Her First HSCC Friday Night Ride

Very different conditions to last week for a good turn out of eight riders including Barney's other half Susan. We were all dismayed to see warning signs at the top of Battery Hill informing us that there was loose gravel. The council had been at it again, scattering gravel all over the road as a cheap fix rather than repair the road properly. As we descended Battery Hill (more gingerly than normal) we were relieved to find that unlike the Rye-Broadoak (B2089) road they had been relatively sparing with the gravel and it wasn't too bad. Unlike last week we went at a more steady pace along the coast and through the harbour reserve before arriving at Rye. For once I had some company up the long drag up the B2089, Malcolm's legs were done in and he was content to sit behind me in my slip stream. Having Malcolm there made me push harder than normal but any chance of a PB on this Starva stretch were thwarted when we hit the gravelled section about half way up. Despite slowing us down it didn't seem quite so bad as last week, the cars must be slowly spreading out the gravel? There were no such hindrances on the super smooth tarmac decent from Broad Oak and I gained a PB without too much trouble. Malcolm's legs were so tired he decided to keep going on the main road to Westfield rather than take the cut through but met up with us again at the start of the Stonestile ascent. Susan and Barney were going particularly well and both managed to get their second fastest Strava times for Stonestile. Chris P says we must not call this ride a chaingang any more so hence forth it shall be known as the 'HSCC Friday Night Ride'.

Susan Gets A Great Time On Stonestile

Cevennes Summer 2013

The Cevennes was the right choice for a summer holiday for an aspirant but slow hill climber. Such a beautiful place with some sensational hills, long climbs and exhilarating descents from the pine woods on the ridges. 

I was fortunate enough to come across some dutch riders who were no slouches climbing despite the absence of hills at home. 

   

  

Refreshments on the way and Salade aux Gesiers in a beautiful cafe.  

   

Logging the miles, it was easy to allow yourself the odd slice of pepper saucissson.

 Hill tops and ridges led to spectacular views. Having squeezed in a few long rides, the hills back in Sussex seem a lot smaller and much more easily overcome now. The advent of autumn in Sussex is now a cooler pleasure, riding in the rain along Rye harbour nature reserve spotting the curlews and avocets. Looking forward to wintry bacon butty rides across the levels with the club. 

Alexander

15/9 End Of Season- The Hidden Valley

At The Top Of Ditchling Beacon!

last year was the first time we had ridden the 'hidden valley route' and myself and Derek were keen to do it again. We were all a bit worried about the weather forecast ,as rain had been predicted for the early afternoon but as we set off for kingston and climbed up past Lewes prison, there was hardly a whisper of any wind and the skies were a dazzling blue. Good to have Jon S out with us at last, this would be a good workout for his new mtb. We made good time to Ditchling Beacon, from there we descended through the hidden valley and along the off road stretch parallel to the A27. I was looking forward to tea and scone at the Stanmer tea stop but no sooner had we sat down before the skies turned dark and the wind started to pick up, looked like the predicted rain was on its way. So we didnt linger as long as we usually like to and got on with the job of  climbing back  up towards the  beacon before taking a southern 'dog's leg' towards St Mary's farm. Here I misread the gps and we took the wrong track north wards. Eventually I realised my mistake and was all for turning back but Ivan persuaded me to keep going as eventually it would reach the SDW way anyway. This track turned out to be just as good as the one I had intended to us, perhaps we can use this track on a different ride? Once on top of the downs it was easy fast riding all the way back to Folkington. Sure enough by 1:00 the first rain drops appeared but now we were safely tucked up in our cars we no longer cared.
This is the end of the offroad season for me, I wont be organising any more until June next year, its back to the road for me although Derek and josef are off to Wales for some more serious mountain biking next weekend. Its been the best season for many years, lets hope next year is just as good.

HSCC Friday Night Ride-Wet Wet Wet!

Ivan gets A Few Minutes Shelter from The Rain

Simon G was pleasantly surprised to see so many of us out despite a dodgy weather forecast predicting rain.I reassured him that I had just checked the weather forecasts on two internet sites and they both said no rain until 10:00pm, so we would be finished by then. On the flat part of the ride towards the nature reserve, super fit post LEL Steve B decided to put in a huge effort and touched 30 mph with the others trying to hang on. As we rode together at a more steady pace through the reserve, the first few spots of rain started to appear but as we got to the bottom of the Rye Broad Oak drag they were falling more steadily. We were shocked at the state of almost the whole Rye- broad Oak ride, as the council appeared to have scarified the road and there were chippings all over the place. My bike was vibrating so much that it shook my light bracket loose causing my light to drift over into the spokes. Steve b was running carbon wheels with about 120psi in the tyres so he was having problems holding a line on the terrible surface whereas Ivan with 90 psi and a summers worth of mtb riding wasn't so bothered by it. By the time we regrouped at Broad Oak , the rain was now full on so we decided to main road it rather than do Stonestile Lane.We all took the two main descents very gingerly, aware that the roads were going to be extra slippery after such a long dry spell. It was a relief to get to Westfield were the road was flat. By now the rain was falling heavily, my spectacles were covered in water and I could hardly see anything. Ivan very considerably had waited for me and I was then able to follow his red light, this was just as well as at one point three cars were waiting at a junction and with the light scattering all across the surface of my specs, I could literally not see where the curb was. The people in the white Heart pub must have thought we were mad as we we turned up dripping pools of water around our feet. We had to find some chairs with vinyl covers instead of fabric otherwise the next person to sit on them would have got a nasty surprise. When we left, it was still raining and the wind had now picked up, so it was a very wet, cold and windy decent back down to the seafront
. All good fun though, LOL.

7/9 Annual Off Road Ride To Brighton

Josef On A Superlight Ridgid 29er!

This was our annual off road ride to Brighton. Joining us for the first time was Paul Fuller on a recently purchase Giant Anthem full suss and Mark Ingram on  a Boardman cyclecross. While assembling at the Bridge cafe we saw the familiar figure of Stuart Hodd coming back from a training ride, Stu warned us how strong the South westerly wind was before wishing us good luck. Colin has no love for mountain bikes and turned up on a new steel fixie, his plan was to leave us at Eastbourne and cycle to Brighton on the road meeting up with us later.We set off at a gentle pace along the coast road to Eastbourne where we had arranged to meet up with Dave HH. For the last two months Dave has been recovering from a neck injury he sustained on a 'drop off' at Bedgebury. He was a bit apprehensive how he would get on especially as he was carrying an enormous backpack with him! Dave led the way to the start of the downs and struggled at first as unlike the rest of us his legs muscles had not had chance to warm up. Josef was on a super light weight carbon 29er hard tail with a single chainring, 42 tooth rear cassette and rigid carbon forks, this meant he could climb any hill extremely fast. Steve D was struggling as his knee was hurting from a twist he must have sustained playing football for Tackleway during the week. The route up to the top of butts brow is relentless but I actually found it  easier than when we did it last year, my muscles being stronger because of the great mtb season we have enjoyed. Just before the juddering descent down to Jevington, Steve realised he had a puncture.

Dave Is Back On The Trails!

This is where our run of punctures started last year when we had around a dozen, were we in for a plethora of punctures this year? As I am a bad descender I held back to go last down the decent but I was finding it a lot easier than Mark and Josef who had no front suspension and were in all sorts of difficulty on this descent. We rode up the long man by the longer but easier way before another rocky descent down to Alfriston. Both myself and Ivan had begun to get the shakes, we needed refuelling.There is an excellent shop in the centre which makes bespoke sandwiches and pasties so we were able to get refuelled. Outside the shop was an Ozzie named Luke who asked if he could tag along with us, Luke was on a cheap mtb but was a strong rider, he told us that he has lived at Eastbourne for two years but has not found a group to ride with, I have given him our business card so hopefully we can meet up with him again.Eating here  turned out to be a very wise move as the next part of the ride was by far the hardest and would require an awful lot of energy. We took the downs head on by climbing up Kingsdrive. The climbing went on and on, not surprisingly as we were ascending from sea level to an altitude of about 700 feet. Having made the top we were hit by the full force of the south westerly wind which made the undulating route across the top much harder than in previous years.It was also so cold that I had to stop to put a gillet on (we have been spoilt this year with all the warm weather) . For the next five miles everyone was quiet as we all retreated into ourselves to just focus on keeping the pedals turning and not thinking about the wind which was buffering us . Dave was going surprisingly well by now but Steve's knee was getting worse and was beginning to swell up. Eventually we reached the brilliant curved descent of Rodmell hill. We could breath a little easier now as the end of the ride was in sight. Just one more big climb up Swansborough hill (aided by half of it being concreted) and all that was left was the mainly down hill ride to Brighton. On reaching the main road to Brighton we had a choice, either stick to the road which is downhill all the way getting us into the centre in ten minutes or try to locate the beginning of the track marked on the map which would take us down to the sea front. All of us apart from Steve whose knee was painful ,wanted to do the track. This time

Only One Puncture This year!

using the gps we found it straight away. I am very glad we did as the first section was a glorious fast descent on very firm ground, disappointingly the next section took a sharp 'dog's leg' onto a very steep grassy unpleasant climb before redeeming itself with a fabulous decent right through the middle of a golf course. The golfers gave us some dirty looks but there is a nothing they can do as this is a public bridle way. Another benefit of this track is that it ended up at Madeira drive and only a short distance from the laines so this is definitely the best way to get into the town. After meeting up with Colin , he directed us to an excellent Thai restaurant (would definitely use this one again) A couple of beers at a pub by the station and it was off home on the train. We all agreed this has been the hardest ride to Brighton we have done but was very enjoyable, roll on next year!

Refuelling At Alfriston!

7/8 Return To Birling Gap

ee by 'eck, you think yer 'ard lad!

Paul and Ivan needed to get back home for about 12;00 so we decided to do our local favourite off road ride, 'Birling Gap'. Setting off very early meant that we were the first to arrive but as we were offloading our bikes we heard a call and John Cordner from the weds chaingang appeared, out riding on a carbon cyclo cross bike. It turns out that John quite often gets out for a early morning blast in this area. Glad to have some company John rode with us as far as 'Butts brow'. From here its the incredibly bumpy decent down to Jevington, this is the one stretch where I am envious of those with full suspension. Surprised that my bike was still in one piece we pressed on up the long climb to the top of the 'long Man' before another rapid bumpy decent down to Alfriston. From here rather than tackling the Downs head on, we skirted around their base and then ascended the remarkably steep looping road to  Bopeep car park at the top of the downs. Then began what is arguably the best descent in the area, the four mile decent down to the Golden Gallon. With the ground so dry we completed this scenic decent in record time. Next up was Friston Forest. last time  we were there, to get through the forest we had to fight our way through nettles and overgrown branches but this time we bypassed all the difficulties by sticking to the family trail (Dave HH would be disgusted!) After a short road climb to the top of the forest we were spotted by none other than Dave HH. Dave had hoped to join us but he his still in recovery mode from the neck injury he sustained at Bedgebury some weeks ago. Dave is however hoping to make it on the Brighton trip on Sat 7th. Fantastic views of the channel were our reward as we dropped down over some grassy tracks back down to Birling Gap. Completing this route in two and a half hours meant we got back home early as planned, an excellent route.