Bank Holiday Ride -London?
- Thread starter topcat1
- Start date
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StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
The ferry runs from Bosham harbour to Itchenor. I've never used it. When I've been going down towards the Witterings or Selsey, I've followed my usual route into the city & then gone south from there. The ferry could be an nice diversion (Bosham is lovely), but the roads on the amusingly named Manhood peninsula are fairly quiet & the scenery's nice. The southern part of the Chi ring road is busy but passable with care, I've not had any problems. I'm not sure we'd save anything on mileage or time by going to the ferry.
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
Very good! You're turning into Aperitif.
Anyway, I was only a mile out, and I blame it on the fact I couldn't really see where I was going.
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
That sounds good for me as well.
What sort of route does everyone want?
Easiest route without too much thinking about it, would be the traditional Brighton FNRttC route as far as Horley, then skirting north of Gatwick Airport on the back roads to Faygate, then through Horsham onto the Bognor route as far as Ford, then onto Barnham and on the back roads south of the A27, skirting south of Chichester to Wittering.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Adam's taken out the 'scenic' and built in some 'hills' Dave!
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
Ha ha.
The A286 is, as already pointed out, a lovely cycling road, with some stunning views, and I was on a bit of it only a few weeks ago. However, it would be only fair to point out the more northerly bit does have a 15% up slope to get over, as well as some other peaks at over 10%. At night time, you tend not to notice them so much but seeing as this little trip is during daylight hours, you might not appreciate the lumps so much. Plus it's a bit further west than we really need to be.
However, on the plus side, you do get to blast through a little hamlet called Cocking, so in a similar vein we could drop down past Dunsfold where Top Gear is filmed, to pick up the A286.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Ha ha.
The A286 is, as already pointed out, a lovely cycling road, with some stunning views, and I was on a bit of it only a few weeks ago. However, it would be only fair to point out the more northerly bit does have a 15% up slope to get over, as well as some other peaks at over 10%. At night time, you tend not to notice them so much but seeing as this little trip is during daylight hours, you might not appreciate the lumps so much. Plus it's a bit further west than we really need to be.
However, on the plus side, you do get to blast through a little hamlet called Cocking, so in a similar vein we could drop down past Dunsfold where Top Gear is filmed, to pick up the A286.
Dunsfold...Top Gear?
- that really would be Cocking 'up'... 
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Ha ha.
The A286 is, as already pointed out, a lovely cycling road, with some stunning views, and I was on a bit of it only a few weeks ago. However, it would be only fair to point out the more northerly bit does have a 15% up slope to get over, as well as some other peaks at over 10%. At night time, you tend not to notice them so much but seeing as this little trip is during daylight hours, you might not appreciate the lumps so much. Plus it's a bit further west than we really need to be.
However, on the plus side, you do get to blast through a little hamlet called Cocking, so in a similar vein we could drop down past Dunsfold where Top Gear is filmed, to pick up the A286.
+1. Nice bit of road, done Chi to Midhurst, from the south the lumps turned into very pleasant descents
Mark Grant
Acting Captain of The St Annes Jombulance.
- Location
- Hanworth, Middx.
I should be able to get myself out of bed to reach HPC by 8 
Mark
Mark
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Where have you been hiding Mark? Don't turn up to HPC with any trace of suntan eh?! 
Mark Grant
Acting Captain of The St Annes Jombulance.
- Location
- Hanworth, Middx.
Away for family hols in France.
Weather was OK but tan still restricted to areas not covered by cycling gear.
Mark.
Weather was OK but tan still restricted to areas not covered by cycling gear.
Mark.
I should be able to get myself out of bed to reach HPC by 8
Mark
Nice one Mark.. up for another 100 miler then?
I'm telling you that the A286 southbound is about as near to heaven as a bicycle can get - oddly the northbound route is pants. The hill out of Fernhurst is so delightful that I once did it with Simon P 5 time in quick succession - and the downhill that results is just so sweet it brings tears to your eyes (although there is a vicious lefthander on the way in to Easebourne that has bought a stain to the shorts of many a cyclist).
Further north there is a rise toward Brook, and another toward Grayswood that are just gorgeous, with thrilling descents beyond.
From the summit at Cocking you can go like the wind (although, again, there is a smart righthander going in to Singleton that it is very possible to miss) and the run through Lavant is sweet. The only decision you have to make is whether to turn right north of Chichester and go across country to the Bosham Ferry, which is a laugh.
Further north there is a rise toward Brook, and another toward Grayswood that are just gorgeous, with thrilling descents beyond.
From the summit at Cocking you can go like the wind (although, again, there is a smart righthander going in to Singleton that it is very possible to miss) and the run through Lavant is sweet. The only decision you have to make is whether to turn right north of Chichester and go across country to the Bosham Ferry, which is a laugh.
