FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - Brighton 28th September

[mmmmartin]

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1755347
is the route on Mapmyride, but of course

• walking across the field at Telscombe YHA throws it into a right old wobbly, so it has taken riders along the roads of the chavvy estate nearby. YMMV.
• the damned thing gets to the level crossing at Southease and takes fright and does a reverse ferret, which obviously you needn't do as you can just cross the line.
• Also, the "walking across the dual carriageway and popping through the hole in the hedge" trick on the approach to Hailsham produces massive heart failure. again, YMMV.

 

[ianrauk]

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1755347
is the route on Mapmyride, but of course

• walking across the field at Telscombe YHA throws it into a right old wobbly, so it has taken riders along the roads of the chavvy estate nearby. YMMV.
• the damned thing gets to the level crossing at Southease and takes fright and does a reverse ferret, which obviously you needn't do as you can just cross the line.
• Also, the "walking across the dual carriageway and popping through the hole in the hedge" trick on the approach to Hailsham produces massive heart failure. again, YMMV.

Yegods man.. we would want to get to Bexhill before dusk....
You have obviously never cycled with Martin, Ross or myself on a SMRbtH when we want to get somewhere...the direct route is always the way to go as is up rather the round... A roads? pah...

 

[mmmmartin]

mapmyride gives a direct route brighton to bexhill via beachy head as 54k with 600 metres total of ascent. the hailsham variation is 17k longer and flat. up to you.
googlemaps has a direct route that takes you along the A27. rather you than me.

 

[CharlieB]

My plan probably differs from everyone else. Adrian of this parish told me about the undercliff path to Peacehaven. So - by the time you get to Peacehaven, you're practically in Newhaven - it's then flat to Lewes, and then I intend to follow Jenny's route that she so diligently and thoughtfully detailed on the Bexhill thread. Through the rain we could see it was a nice route with minimal climbing. I'm only looking for a pootle, that would at least get me a hundred for the day.

 

[mmmmartin]

the newhaven-lewes road is busy and fast though, perhaps very much so mid-morning on a saturday

 

[martint235]

IIRC it's a nasty climb from undercliff back up to the road. Plus you have old bints telling you off for cycling on it.

Me, I'm only going to Bexhill for the bus so route 1 is my vote. I intend to do Jennys ride next time she runs it so I'll see the flats then.

 

[rich p]

The A27 is a shite road to cycle on but there's a cycle path from Brighton to Lewes and Lewes to past Firle. The by-pass round Lewes is do-able and not too bad with a shoulder and 4 lanes. The worst part is after the cycle path where it goes down to 2 fast lanes. It's obviously okay but not a route I'd do for pleasure. Charlie/Jenny's route is nicer but would add quite some time.
Charlie, take the Piddinghoe road from Lewes to Newhaven (not the A26 - it's awful).

 

[rich p]

the newhaven-lewes road is busy and fast though, perhaps very much so mid-morning on a saturday

You have to cross the better road at Southease to reach the A26 - the Piddinghoe. Rodmell road means you have to do a bit through Lewes to get back on route but it takes you to the station where Jenny's route started anyway.

 

[martint235]

Right I've just bothered to have a look at the map. The route I'm taking is A259 from Brighton to Pevensey and then cos it's good to have a change (and it looks like a straight line) Sluice Lane to Bexhill. RWG has it as 33 miles.

 

[mmmmartin]

one of mmmmartin's barmy off-piste audax madness routes

Ahem. I was referring to heart failure in RidewithGPS faced with something a car couldn't do, not heart failure of cyclists.
and ........
I have never slept in a bus shelter. And it was perfectly sane to ride to Bexhill on Sunday. In the rain. To look at a bus. Alone.

 

[mmmmartin]

A259 from Brighton to Pevensey and then cos it's good to have a change (and it looks like a straight line) Sluice Lane

Good choice, that is on some audax events, and has some excellent thrilling downhill sections, especially the steep downhill after Friston, which twists and turns like a twisty turny thing. At Pevensey you need not turn left at the traffic lights (newsagents on opposite corner) but can continue straight on to Normans Bay and across the level crossing to turn right for Bexhill. The road looks a bit dodgy but is merely poor quality tarmac and you get the advantage of passing the campsite. All human life is there. It avoids the second set of traffic lights and the two sides of a triangle, not to mention the annoying little lump that is the only hill on the marsh.

 

[Sketchley]

I have nothing planned for Saturday. So riding back or somewhere else, or staying for beers are all options for me.so I may or may not join some of you.....

 

[CharlieB]

The A27 is a s***e road to cycle on but there's a cycle path from Brighton to Lewes and Lewes to past Firle. The by-pass round Lewes is do-able and not too bad with a shoulder and 4 lanes. The worst part is after the cycle path where it goes down to 2 fast lanes. It's obviously okay but not a route I'd do for pleasure. Charlie/Jenny's route is nicer but would add quite some time.
Charlie, take the Piddinghoe road from Lewes to Newhaven (not the A26 - it's awful).

That was my intention, I did that road in both directions last weekend, and it was fast, but OK.

IIRC it's a nasty climb from undercliff back up to the road. Plus you have old bints telling you off for cycling on it.

Adrian said it was OK to cycle on it?

 

[martint235]

That was my intention, I did that road in both directions last weekend, and it was fast, but OK.


Adrian said it was OK to cycle on it?

Charlie, just follow me and Ross. Although I may drop you off at a train station if you insist on being ahead of me on MCL!

 

[rich p]

That was my intention, I did that road in both directions last weekend, and it was fast, but OK.


Adrian said it was OK to cycle on it?

It's fine to cycle it. I do frequently and as long as you're prepared to ride considerately it's not a problem.