FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast Emsworth 20th April

[StuartG]

A good beginning with a speedy, easy and dry passage through London. It was St Helier where we changed into wet gear but it was dry again by the bottom of Betchworth Hill. The disgusting cold wet wind lashing may have felt like two hours or more but it must have been a lot less notwithstanding Tim's flat.

The pleasure of once again feeling one's fingers made the Leigh to Faygate run almost live up to the usual pleasure. The Horsham Tesco hand dryers gave even more pleasure. And the other flat gave us 20 or so minutes on Pulborough's Arun bridge to enjoy dawn and the sculptured mist banks create a truly ephereal landscape. That was my highlight. Pictures anybody?

Bury Hill lived down to its expectations but I had forgotten that all that effort was rewarded by a great and long descent on the other side. The run into Chichester was pleasant and I though Chichester loked her very best in the morning sunlight. Surely England's most pleasant and livable city?

We all, I think, brought some Bosham mud/seaweed home. So I would have judged the trip a great success in pleasure overcoming the early pain. Sad that those that suffered some of the pain from the incident may not agree. But if cycling isn't about sorting bruises and damage and getting back on the bike - then what is it?

Thanks Simon. You did great.

 

[Tim Hall]

Good, I agree. But that good Stuart?

 

[StuartG]

Good, I agree. But that good Stuart?

Sorry - I was getting an error report every time I tried to post. It was the error report that was the error. Back to one copy now ...

 

[TimO]

Others have detailed most of the ride, and incidents, so I won't go over that again.

Overall mechanically the ride was about what you'd expect. With just under twenty riders, it was a little bit faster. We had two fairy visitations, one mine, and which was only the second one I've had on a FNRttC (the other being back in my first season, a few years back now), that's not too bad for a wet ride. We had a couple of other mechanicals, the chap who had the other visit, also lost a spoke, and at that point decided enough was enough, and so missed the final twenty miles by making directly for a closer station. User482 (iirc) also had a saddlebag problem earlier, that was rectified by him, but also slowed us a little.

At the half way supermarket stop, I gained a dry pair of Tescos socks off of someone (and my useless FNRttC nighttime memory fails), thanks a lot for those. I would have gone on with my slightly soggy socks, but swapping over to a dry pair made things a bit more comfortable. My mitts had dried out completely by the time we got to breakfast, and the final bit in the sun was quite pleasant (aside from the events described lightly upthread).

Just for a bit of variation, my GPS route is here on GPSies. I have a slightly shorter distance of 79.14 miles, but that may be because I edited out the blobs at the various stops, which can up the effective mileage slightly. Overall that was something like 94 miles total for me, which was enough, and I wasn't tempted to edge the total up a bit to get over the imperial century.

So, aside from a damp start, and the very unfortunate final incident it was a nice ride. I'm a little bit knackered, since I haven't really been doing as many miles this years a I should, but I survived. Thanks to everyone for making the ride as enjoyable as it was, and thanks to Remus (spelling?) who hung around, pointed a light, and reminded me to check the tyre before putting the new inner tube in (and saving me from having to do it all again, because there was a dirty big sharp bit of glass embedded in the tyre).

 

[martint235]

I actually enjoyed the ride. Yes my feet got wet, yes my hands got cold. But I just love being out on a bike, riding. I think I missed the "road that will bring tears to my eyes" and I don't agree with Simon on the issue of whether or not the North can build a catherdral (I still offer Liverpool Anglican and will raise you York Minster and Durham).

A good ride with good conversation. And cheers to Andrew again for the time in the pub

 

[TimO]

I always enjoy FNRttCs. This one wasn't the wettest we've had, and it certainly wasn't the coldest.

I'm afraid I don't have much of an opinion about Cathedrals though.

 

[ChrisBailey]

I gained a dry pair of Tescos socks off of someone (and my useless FNRttC nighttime memory fails), thanks a lot for those.

Determined to do something about my cold, wet numb feet I bought a pair of socks at Tesco, only available in packs of five, so Eddy & Tim go a free pair, Eddy being close and Tim suggesting it was a great idea.

A fast ride (for me) but that meant I was back home in bed before 10.00am. My abiding memory will be the rivers of water on various roads, but Tim was right neither the wettest nor coldest FNRttC, nice stretch into Chichester where Eddy & I turned left for the station and the London Travel card I was sold turned out cheaper than Groupsave, not sure how that works.

A men only ride, a first I can recall on a FNRttC, I wonder why that was.

 

[TimO]

A men only ride, a first I can recall on a FNRttC, I wonder why that was.

I've been on other stag FNRttCs, but not recently. We also had no recumbents, tandems, single-speeds, fixies or Bromptons, all fairly conventional bicycles, with only a couple using straight handlebars, the rest on drops.

Thanks for the socks. Do you want them back, freshly laundered, and only slightly slept on by cats?

Do you have any further information on this London Travel Card? The Groupsave cost us £10-50 each, since we had six people, so three for the price of two. If we'd had four or eight, it would have been £7-87½ each.

 

[Tim Hall]

So, as Simon and I waited at the Tadworth roundabout while TimO fixed his puncture a mile or two back up the road I ventured that the rain appeared to be easing off. Our gallant leader gave what is usually called "an old fashioned look". Anyway, it did stop and I did warm up, banishing previously held notions of abandoning by riding straight home along the A217. Or by turning left at Rusper. Or by going home from Broadbridge Heath.

Quizzed by a Tesco lady as to where we were going I told her Ems-something, near Chichester. "Emsworth?". That's the one. And where have you come from? What was great was that she was completely at home with the fact that a bunch of cyclists would ride through the night from Londontown Divine to the seaside. It was about this time that I bought a bag of Emergency Double Chocolate Cookies.

A bit of uphill towards Five Oaks warmed us nicely, then it was a good run down through Billingshurst and onto Pulborough, where I offered not so numb hands to help with a puncture fixing. Sun was coming up of mist cloaked fields as we crossed the river, the birds were deafening. It was all good. Bury Hill went up, as did we. Then down like a homesick rock into Fairmile Bottom and through Slindon, keeping an eye open for Crimson window frames , the mark of the Slindon estate. Then down past Fontwell , wiggle a bit and into Chichester. Nice cathederal. Breakfast was calling, but had to wait whilst <stuff happened>, but when we finally got to Emsworth it was worth the wait. Didn't get to see the Empress though.

Then back on the train with Greg, who scared some young ladies by removing his cap.

A few photos here

 

[StuAff]

Determined to do something about my cold, wet numb feet I bought a pair of socks at Tesco, only available in packs of five, so Eddy & Tim go a free pair, Eddy being close and Tim suggesting it was a great idea.

A fast ride (for me) but that meant I was back home in bed before 10.00am. My abiding memory will be the rivers of water on various roads, but Tim was right neither the wettest nor coldest FNRttC, nice stretch into Chichester where Eddy & I turned left for the station and the London Travel card I was sold turned out cheaper than Groupsave, not sure how that works.

A men only ride, a first I can recall on a FNRttC, I wonder why that was.

Doesn't sound right. Groupsave would be £31.80 for four. Off-peak single with railcard discount £10.50. Off peak day travelcard £13.15....

 

[Aperitif]

Nice one Tim - as per.

Who made those cardboard models of Simon, Davy and Stu?

 

[StuAff]

Nice one Tim - as per.

Who made those cardboard models of Simon, Davy and Stu?

Cardboard persons were made by art students.

 

[Aperitif]

Oh - not real people then.

 

[thom]

Blooming weather. One thing and another I found that one of the more tiring fnrttc rides (I slept at least 14 hours and missed User10571's early morning marathon route ride). Must have been the cold and wet in the first half which did have me doubting the sanity of the expedition. Tescos was a great relief - back up Liquorice Allsorts acquired but not subsequently required as the rain seemed to have passed. Dawn was not far off and we were repaid by new views and mostly quiet roads. There are a good few memorable parts of the route, Pulborough, Bury, going up the creek at Bosham, so the parts we suffered were well rewarded. The weather was not a surprise this time so I think this route from the top of the North Downs onwards will be particularly good with better weather. Perhaps there are better breakfasts but none with bearded lady models as seen in Tim's excellent pictures. Some pictures from cycle cam here.
So thanks again Simon for all the work gone into finding a great new route.

 

[ChrisBailey]

Thanks for the socks. Do you want them back, freshly laundered, and only slightly slept on by cats?
.

No Tim, the cats can have them.

Do you have any further information on this London Travel Card? The Groupsave cost us £10-50 each, since we had six people, so three for the price of two. If we'd had four or eight, it would have been £7-87½ each.

For me the cost of a single to home with Rail card was £17.50'ish, the ticket man said that's far too much, is your station in the London travel zones? Yes says I, then he sells me the £13.15 Travelcard. Full fare would have been £26.50'ish based on the Rail card discount, so that's how I reckoned 1/2 price at £13.25'ish for Groupsave. If I had been going to Victoria then I'm sure you're right about Groupsave being a better deal. When I say 'ish it's because I was only slightly aware of what prices were being offered and may easily have got my calculations wrong.