FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - Brighton April 26th

[StuAff]

Ditchling is (IMHO) much better than the alternatives. The climb is more than justified by the views from the top (most days) and the run into town.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Pyecombe and the ghastly A23 cycle path. Flat but, well, ghastly. In fact, well ghastly.
Divils Dike and the horrid right turn at Saddlescombe.
Shoreham via Horsham Steyning then along the coast NCN?2? or the coast road. Ghastly industrial estate. Basically the way I go home.

Isn't there an up and over from Falmer/the Uni to Woodingdean (been a long time since I live in B'ton)

 

[dellzeqq]

the alternatives are

1. that crazy road in from Lewes
2. the B2036 which leads to the A273 which leads to the dopey cycle path beside the A23 (or the A23 itself)
3. Devil's Dyke

1. No. It's miles out of the way, and the road down past the university is no fun
2. sort of. We've done it a few times, but the ascent of Clayton Hill can be intimidating, and the cycle path is nasty, strewn with glass and very slow. We have gone the last few miles down the A23, but on small rides, and not for a long time.
3. No way. We have done it and it's too damn dangerous. The right turn on to the golf course road is really tricky, and continuing straight up takes you along a narrow road with blind summits and 70mph traffic. It's not a bad road going north, though

 

[StuAff]

Devil's Dyke (bit of climbing, views aren't as good); on the November '09 run we took a not-terribly-pleasant bike path alongside the A23, if memory serves.

Edit: Great minds thinking alike

 

[kimble]

Do the ride on the bent and then, on reaching the top of ditchling beacon, borrow a proper bike, roll back down, and do it again. Best of both.

Nahh, for the best of both you have swap bikes with an unsuspecting upwrongist at the bottom of the Beacon, and swap back again at the top.

Having done the ride on both, I reckon the descent from Turner's Hill to Lindfield is wasted on an upright.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think the view from Devils Dyke Road, or, rather, the golf course, is the equal of the view from Ditchling. Doesn't make it any safer to get to, though

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A23 path. It's safe. But I'm vroom completely meeeong sure zzzaaaaaaaa it zroom is nwaaah ghastly on a normal day. south of Pyecombe is the best bit though. Dell did take the CTC LGBT ride to pride down that way once upon a time though.

Falmer. Yep I'm getting my fat tyre routes and my thin tyres mixed up. On knobblies there's a perfectly good route on a white road up and over from Plumpton to Falmer. HELL of a climb going south.

Otherwise to the east it is the A275 isn't it?

 

[Wobblers]

Do the ride on the bent and then, on reaching the top of ditchling beacon, borrow a proper bike, roll back down, and do it again. Best of both.

You have a talent for suggesting things that are entirely logical whilst at the same time being entirely over the irrationality horizon. I'd doff my hat off to you - if I ever wore one.

 

[Aperitif]

You have a talent for suggesting things that are entirely logical whilst at the same time being entirely over the irrationality horizon. I'd doff my hat off to you - if I ever wore one.

Take precautions Andrew...

 

[Wobblers]

Don't I know you from somewhere? I seem to be remembering something about the fear of a constant barrage of puns emanating from the back of the ride. Are you going to be joining us? Even Adrian's promised to be not in the slightest bit grumpy if you do.

 

[AndrewClark]

I've just sent Simon an email........ It was this or an evening listening to Norwegian jazz and drinking beer......
I'll be training back to London and then on home to Liverpool.

 

[dellzeqq]

Andrew C
Chris F
Daniel R
Davy S
Els V
Emma C
Francine H
Gary J
Georgios V
Gordon P
Greg C
Ian At
Jenny M
Kim W
Lindsay R
Lisa H
Mark P
Mark W
Martin A
Martin T
Martin W
Nick L
Nigel Cro
Olaf S
Pippsy G
Richard G
Ross C
Sahar A
Simon C
Simon W
Sonia W
Steve R
Steve W
Susie F

 

[Recycle]

Richard G
???
Ross C

SMIDSY! I'm being ignored. Was it something I said?

 

[Lee_M]

I'm not on the list either, I assume we'll get there eventually

 

[Recycle]

I assume we'll get there eventually

That's what my brain keeps telling my legs up Ditchling.