Commute - Brighton to Gatwick

[aphextwig]

OK, after realising that there's a restriction on my rail discount card, I have to get the train to Gatwick. Therefore I have to cycle from Brighton to begin with.

So I'll only be leaving my bike locked up during the daylight hours at the station. @GregCollins, is there really that little bike storage at Haywards Heath, is it safe to keep it there too? Am I better off going to Burgess Hill? Thanks also for the link to that Cycle Route Planner, have been searching for a decent one.

I've decided to do a test run at the weekend, that will be the real decider for me I think.

Thanks again!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

So I'll only be leaving my bike locked up during the daylight hours at the station. @GregCollins, is there really that little bike storage at Haywards Heath, is it safe to keep it there too? Am I better off going to Burgess Hill? Thanks also for the link to that Cycle Route Planner, have been searching for a decent one.

HH officially has 36 spaces for bikes, tucked round the back of the station, in racks, in a corner of the car park. Bike theft hot spot for anything decent. See here for a station plan. Colleagues have lost bikes from there. And this at one of the busiest commuter stations in Sussex. A joke really. Unofficial 'chained to railings' bike parking also exists near the rear entrance/exit to the station called the 'Market Place' entrance; though the entry has been remodelled since the pictures linked to the plan were taken.

Can't speak to BH hardly ever go there whereas I bike+train to HH most days in winter.

If riding Bton-HH or B'ton-BH plan your route with care, all the roads carry a high level of fast moving traffic...

 

[661-Pete]

Hi aphextwig, I'm in Burgess Hill so I can fill you in. There are bike stands at the station, 17 Sheffield stands under plastic shelter, theoretically giving space for 34 bikes, but they are quite popular and may be fully occupied! Reasonably safe in daytime, can't speak for overnight though. They are in a walled-off area opening out to the main road behind the taxi stand, so quite visible, you can see them here.

There are other places in the town where you can park a bike, about 5-10 minutes walk away.

Getting into and out of Burgess Hill without serious traffic problems is quite easy. I can suggest routes.

I'm not quite clear what you intend to do now, but I would say, every minor road in SE England has the potential to become a rat run nowdays. There are just too many cars and too many car-commuters. It all depends how comfortable you feel mixing it with cars, and what type of road you prefer cycling on. You haven't really said, on this thread.

If you are going to do the practice run this weekend, you're welcome to drop in at ours if you like, and if we're in: after all I have over 30 years of cycling around Sussex lanes. Drop me a PM if interested.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Getting into and out of Burgess Hill without serious traffic problems is quite easy. I can suggest routes.

what route would you take BH to HH peak times? I'm always getting asked....

 

[aphextwig]

Brilliant advice! Thanks!

The plan is to go the fastest route shown on here to either BH or HH http://cyclejourneyplanner.westsussex.gov.uk/journey/617201/

Is this a good idea?

 

[661-Pete]

what route would you take BH to HH peak times? I'm always getting asked....

You are right to ask that - good question. There is no ideal answer. Rocky Lane (the apparent best choice) is full of boy-racers these days. It's still the route I would take if I want to go direct and quickly. If I have time on my hands, a more roundabout route via Ditchling Common, Hundred Acre Lane and Slugwash Lane*, then into Lindfield and approach HH from the east, would be much more pleasant.

For cyclists who are comfortable riding in traffic, either Isaac's Lane or the main road from Ditchling Common would be the quickest.

Some years ago the local Town Councils put their heads together to plan out an off-road cycle track between the two towns. It was going to be an upgrade and expansion northwards of Freeks Lane* (an existing bridleway which peters out). It would have been gravel surface and really only suitable for MTB tyres, so I wasn't too excited for myself. Anyway the proposal curled up and died, apparently because of non-cooperation from landowners. It would have succumbed to the current spending cuts in any case. But there was definitely some popular interest at the time.

*Yes: I know we have some weird placenames here in Zzaarrrzex!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Brilliant advice! Thanks!

The plan is to go the fastest route shown on here to either BH or HH http://cyclejourneyp...journey/617201/

Is this a good idea?

How comfortable are you with mixing it with fast moving traffic on country roads.....?

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm not local, but I've been riding to Brighton for 40 years, and I have to say that if you're travelling at normal commuting hours you're going to have to be tough. There's no route that I'd fancy on a wet day after dark.

I'd not consider going any other way than over Ditchling, through Haywards Heath, up Borde Hill Lane to Balcombe, and then take the B2036 north. You might go up Slugwash Lane, through Lindfield and Turners Hill and then down Effingham Lane in search of variety, but the Borde Hill Lane route is 27.5 miles, and that's about as good as it's going to get. The Burgess Hill/Crawley route is slightly longer and, whatever the virtues of those two towns, they're not readily apparent to the cyclist. Crawley is a totally crap town to cycle through unless you have time to spare and a fondness for roundabouts,

The path beside the A23 north of the A27 is horrible, slow, and laced with glass.

There's a short cut through the Schlumberger car park from the Balcombe Road to Gatwick, but I'm sure you'll find that.

Where will you park your bike in Gatwick?

 

[661-Pete]

The path beside the A23 north of the A27 is horrible, slow, and laced with glass.

This is not true. It is well segregated from the dual carriageway, reasonably surfaced, clean and straight. It is not particularly busy with cyclists or pedestrians, and you can go at a fair speed. North of Muddleswood it in fact follows the line of the old single-carriageway A23, now called the B2116, for a mile or two. It is, admittedly, noisy where it runs close to the A23.

 

[aphextwig]

OK, so going on what you've all suggested, I'm looking at now taking the safer option of via Ditchling and Wivelsfield instead.

@Greg, I'm not sure to be honest, I need to see how aggresive they are first.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

OK, so going on what you've all suggested, I'm looking at now taking the safer option of via Ditchling and Wivelsfield instead.

@Greg, I'm not sure to be honest, I need to see how aggresive they are first.

Well on the sections north of HH (my regular patch) I'd say...

Be prepared for an unsettling mix of 2" gap overtakes at 60mph, people juddering, in fact kangarooing, past you in top gear whilst travelling 1mph faster than you, oncoming 4WD's that don't slow down on narrow sections even though there is not quite room for a bike+4WD, and people on their mobiles coming past over the double whites when there is a car coming the other way, people whose indicators don't work,

Ride assertively, use lights (even consider doing so in daylight), wear something bright (and reflective in the dark) and don't be cowed or bullied into the gutter by them and you should do fine.


Were I starting out I'd be inclined to leave VERY early, and go via Clayton, Ditchling (or, my preference, over the Beacon, it isn't so bad from the south, to Westmeston) Spatham Lane, Hundred Acre Lane, Wivelsfield Green, Slugwash Lane to HH.

 

[Broadside]

30 miles each way as a commute will be a very tough deal unless you are super fit. My work commute is 27miles each way and I tend to do it once a week, in summer I have done it a couple of times in one week but it is a lot of repeat miles to put in - as others have said you will get bored of doing that distance every day. Of course it is possible but whether you will be able to make yourself do it 5 days a week is another matter. Good luck though, I'd like to hear how you get on.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

I've done Gatwick Airport to Shoreham on my Langster in a best time of 1hr 45mins for 28 miles (on a bright Sunday morning with the wind favouring me for the most part)
The Gatwick to Handcross bit is relatively easy but boring and can be very, very busy. I have never tried a northbound journey as that doesn't fit with my work as I do early starts and wouldn't want to have to set off at 2am. For that I use the car and have seen quite a few cyclists riding up the path alongside the A23 seemingly without too much problem. You can then go via Sayers Common using the B-road that used to be the old A23 and work your way over to Cuckfield, Balcombe then into Three Bridges via Worth.
As far as the trains go, I have seen many full-sized bikes on trains even in the rush hour but it definately gets up the noses of commuters when they block doorways etc. Some guards can be over-officious too.
I know you are trying to find a good value commute but you will need a folder in reality. I absolutely love my Brompton but I wouldn't use it for HH to Gatwick every day. It would do it for sure but I feel you would be better off with something like a Dahon Jack folding hybrid with it's larger wheels/better gearing and which will still satisfy Cycle regulations on trains. Look around, 2010 models can be still picked up at a discount.

Bill

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You can then go via Sayers Common using the B-road that used to be the old A23 and work your way over to Cuckfield, Balcombe then into Three Bridges via Worth.

If you go that way, and as a route it has its merits, then for pity's sake stay of the A272 at peak time

 

[aphextwig]

Right, plans have changed again and my route seems to be getting ever shorter. I have a friend in Burgess Hill where I can leave my bike safely and then walk few minutes to the station where I can get the train to Gatwick.

Gonna do a dummy run soon via Keymer and along Ockley Lane.

Thanks again for all your help and advice, it's much appreciated. I'll let you know how I get on!