The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...
Discussion
Fulking Escarpment. They've smoothed out some of the South Downs Way from the youth hostel towards Devils Dyke. The bogs in the dips have gone, and I didn't miss fighting my way through ankle deep mud/cow s
t but somehow it's wrong. I don't have a cx bike, so if I am off roading I want a bit more than a "rough" road. The climb up Fulking Escarpment is hard as ever though, with a spike of 36% according to my Strava Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Saturday 29th December 20:15
From my last ride of 2018 at Cannock Chase:
Top of Devil's Staircase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Selfie at the bottom of Devil's Staircase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The Devil's Staircase has been a bit of a bogey section for me, but some changes to the trail and improvements to my riding meant I could ride the full section for the first time!
Top of Devil's Staircase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Selfie at the bottom of Devil's Staircase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The Devil's Staircase has been a bit of a bogey section for me, but some changes to the trail and improvements to my riding meant I could ride the full section for the first time!
Daveyraveygravey said:
My local stomping ground too. Shout if you want hints on routes or cafe/pub stops
Thanks Davey. I've a soft spot for Shoreham region as it's the most direct seaside route from home in Dorking and minimises the hills if I'm not in the mood for a climb. The airport cafe is a bit too smart for cyclists. Steyning is quaint (in a nice way) - Cobblestone Tea shop and Steyning Tea Rooms both seem fine (and no need for a bike lock at the former). Any other recommendations in that area welcomed! I did an Audax last summer that started near Steyning Leisure Centre but that part of the town seemed quiet.Slightly further afield I'm often drawn to Climping beach as we frequently went there for day trips decades ago when I was a nipper. But the beach cafe is basic and last summer I found the pub on the link road from the A27 poor for food - all they could offer us was a bag of nuts. Baliffscourt must be far too smart for sweaty cyclists!
In terms of routes, we've done most stretches of the seafront from Rottingdean to Bognor, though that makes for a 120 mile round trip from home. Slow progress in summer with all the congestion around Brighton/Worthing and mixed-use cycle paths chocka with jaywalkers. And the sea breeze was always against us! I've not tried the infamous Bostal Hill you mentioned, so that's earmarked for a future trip.
Further West, I've also done Amberley/Arundel/Chichester/Goodwood a couple of times. Don't much care for the traffic on the A29 at Fairmile Bottom, but found the parallel track through Dale Park and Madehurst quite rideable on road tyres.
Any ideas for South Sussex routes (epic or otherwise) or eateries much appreciated, now the days are getting ever so slightly longer!
millen said:
Thanks Davey. I've a soft spot for Shoreham region as it's the most direct seaside route from home in Dorking and minimises the hills if I'm not in the mood for a climb. The airport cafe is a bit too smart for cyclists. Steyning is quaint (in a nice way) - Cobblestone Tea shop and Steyning Tea Rooms both seem fine (and no need for a bike lock at the former). Any other recommendations in that area welcomed! I did an Audax last summer that started near Steyning Leisure Centre but that part of the town seemed quiet.
You are making the opposite trip to me a lot of the time! We head north more often than not. The airport cafe is usually ok - a bunch of mates go there so often the manager invited them in specifically over the Christmas break, so don't be put off. There's also Carat's Cafe near the power station, you can get to it from Hove along the sea front road or over the lock at Shoreham. The best one is Stan's on the road from Partridge Green towards Ashurst/Steyning. It's also on the Downslink so you get mountain bikers too, and they have a small stock of bike spares and tools, as well as coffee and cake. We've recently started going to the Jungle Cafe which is just south of Ashington in the Big Plant Nursery. It isn't huge so can be packed but the big plants really do give it a jungle feel. Loads of nice pubs if you want something different from trad cyclist fare. millen said:
Slightly further afield I'm often drawn to Climping beach as we frequently went there for day trips decades ago when I was a nipper. But the beach cafe is basic and last summer I found the pub on the link road from the A27 poor for food - all they could offer us was a bag of nuts. Baliffscourt must be far too smart for sweaty cyclists!
I'd probably go to Littlehampton from there, lots of places, some a bit hit and miss. On the seafront there's the arty farty cafe, going away from the river towards Worthing. They have a hatch they serve through so you don't have to go inside. Past Worthinig at Lancing also on the beach is the Perch cafe. It's over the green from the road, there's a kids play park in front and a gym to one side.millen said:
In terms of routes, we've done most stretches of the seafront from Rottingdean to Bognor, though that makes for a 120 mile round trip from home. Slow progress in summer with all the congestion around Brighton/Worthing and mixed-use cycle paths chocka with jaywalkers. And the sea breeze was always against us! I've not tried the infamous Bostal Hill you mentioned, so that's earmarked for a future trip.
There are two routes up the Bostal, the "famous" one (in Simon Warren's book) starts as you head out of Steyning up Bostal Road. This is two steep parts split by a level section of 300m approx so you can gather yourself a bit there. The other one starts opposite Steyning Tea Rooms, past Whites pub through some houses. Then the steep bit comes, and although it is shorter there's no flat part and it is very narrow.I know what you mean about the coastal path. There are good parts to it, but on a nice day you do really have to slow down and keep your wits about you. If you can get beyond Rottingdean, at Newhaven the roads are a bit quieter. The climb up from Cuckmere Haven is good but the busy road can be a nightmare on a good day. I love the road back down from Beachy Head towards Birling Gap and East Dean, but that would be a t least 100 mile round trip from Dorking. The nearer to Bognor you get, the worst the driving in my experience. If we're going up to Dorking, we usually go PG/Maplehurst/Nuthurst/east around Horsham/Rusper/Newdigate(check out the farm cafe just south of Newdigate) then maybe west to Leith Hill or carry on north on the smaller roads. Near Horsham, have a look for the road through the Hammerponds, worth a detour if you don't know it. Further east there is a great road over Ardingly reservoir, but anything parallel to the A23 or 24 is usually much quieter. West of the A24 there's a cafe at Sumners Ponds just south of Barns Green and the Old Mill cafe at Wisborough Green is also a favourite. If you are there, head south west towards Bedham, two great climbs called Horsebridge Hill and Wakestone Lane. From there continue south to Coates and Burton Park road past some lakes. The climb at Duncton is good, but the toughest in the whole south east I know is at Bignor. A short part is getting on for 30% so it might be better to leave that til the summer, the road vanishes at the top too so you have to come back down unless you are on a gravel or cx. Even then it might be borderline.
millen said:
Further West, I've also done Amberley/Arundel/Chichester/Goodwood a couple of times. Don't much care for the traffic on the A29 at Fairmile Bottom, but found the parallel track through Dale Park and Madehurst quite rideable on road tyres.
Any ideas for South Sussex routes (epic or otherwise) or eateries much appreciated, now the days are getting ever so slightly longer!
My absolute favourite area is in the triangle between Haslemere, Petworth and Midhurst. This route covers most of it - Any ideas for South Sussex routes (epic or otherwise) or eateries much appreciated, now the days are getting ever so slightly longer!
https://www.strava.com/activities/723009629
The road from Tillilngton to Lurgashall is a peach, rolling, but more downhill this way. Blackdown is the highest point in Sussex, the climb is hard for a few hundred metres and then backs off to a drag for a km. Bexley Hill is proper hard, like a slightly shorter Barhatch Lane (Maison du Velo bike shop in Cranleigh do good coffee too) with the steep part right at the top. There's then a long swooping but gentler descent down to the edge of Midhurst.
I could go on!
millen said:
Thanks Davey. I've a soft spot for Shoreham region as it's the most direct seaside route from home in Dorking and minimises the hills if I'm not in the mood for a climb. The airport cafe is a bit too smart for cyclists. Steyning is quaint (in a nice way) - Cobblestone Tea shop and Steyning Tea Rooms both seem fine (and no need for a bike lock at the former). Any other recommendations in that area welcomed! I did an Audax last summer that started near Steyning Leisure Centre but that part of the town seemed quiet.
Slightly further afield I'm often drawn to Climping beach as we frequently went there for day trips decades ago when I was a nipper. But the beach cafe is basic and last summer I found the pub on the link road from the A27 poor for food - all they could offer us was a bag of nuts. Baliffscourt must be far too smart for sweaty cyclists!
In terms of routes, we've done most stretches of the seafront from Rottingdean to Bognor, though that makes for a 120 mile round trip from home. Slow progress in summer with all the congestion around Brighton/Worthing and mixed-use cycle paths chocka with jaywalkers. And the sea breeze was always against us! I've not tried the infamous Bostal Hill you mentioned, so that's earmarked for a future trip.
Further West, I've also done Amberley/Arundel/Chichester/Goodwood a couple of times. Don't much care for the traffic on the A29 at Fairmile Bottom, but found the parallel track through Dale Park and Madehurst quite rideable on road tyres.
Any ideas for South Sussex routes (epic or otherwise) or eateries much appreciated, now the days are getting ever so slightly longer!
I did this in the South Sussex area back in April 2018. There are a few nice eateries and pubs en route as wellSlightly further afield I'm often drawn to Climping beach as we frequently went there for day trips decades ago when I was a nipper. But the beach cafe is basic and last summer I found the pub on the link road from the A27 poor for food - all they could offer us was a bag of nuts. Baliffscourt must be far too smart for sweaty cyclists!
In terms of routes, we've done most stretches of the seafront from Rottingdean to Bognor, though that makes for a 120 mile round trip from home. Slow progress in summer with all the congestion around Brighton/Worthing and mixed-use cycle paths chocka with jaywalkers. And the sea breeze was always against us! I've not tried the infamous Bostal Hill you mentioned, so that's earmarked for a future trip.
Further West, I've also done Amberley/Arundel/Chichester/Goodwood a couple of times. Don't much care for the traffic on the A29 at Fairmile Bottom, but found the parallel track through Dale Park and Madehurst quite rideable on road tyres.
Any ideas for South Sussex routes (epic or otherwise) or eateries much appreciated, now the days are getting ever so slightly longer!
https://www.strava.com/activities/1493205581/share...
I'm determined that 2019 doesn't go the same way as 2018 so popped out to deliver a letter and get a loop in whilst the roads were quiet. I certianly didn't feel like 3 degrees, unil I dropped off the Greensands ridge, and I found out the hard way, why people wear cycling caps, brain freeze isn't funny!!!
Have to say, it was really rather pleasant out on the roads, next to no cars, and no one on the bridlepaths.
Then a mile from home coming back, I got my first mechanical of 2019!!! Spot whats wrong
Thats 1/4 of 2018's mileage completed already and its only the 3rd Jan
Have to say, it was really rather pleasant out on the roads, next to no cars, and no one on the bridlepaths.
Then a mile from home coming back, I got my first mechanical of 2019!!! Spot whats wrong
Thats 1/4 of 2018's mileage completed already and its only the 3rd Jan
GOATever said:
I did this in the South Sussex area back in April 2018. There are a few nice eateries and pubs en route as well
https://www.strava.com/activities/1493205581/share...
Thanks! Sounds interesting, though I can't get the Strava link to open. It just says "The requested activity could not be found".https://www.strava.com/activities/1493205581/share...
Maybe privacy settings or the fact that I've not gone for the new Summit thingie?
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