BBC weather is more often wrong the right.
Try Met Office or even better the Norwegian yr.no app or web
England : London London to Brighton Veteran Car Run - 2 November
- Thread starter rb58
- Start date
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BBC weather is more often wrong the right.
Try Met Office or even better the Norwegian yr.no app or web
frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
This has come around quickly this year, it I haven't been paying attention!
I'm planning to join, at Croydon or sooner depending on logistics. I'll most likely get the train back, unless I feel inspired.
Forecast looking great now, sunny all day - apart from an early shower
I'm planning to join, at Croydon or sooner depending on logistics. I'll most likely get the train back, unless I feel inspired.
Forecast looking great now, sunny all day - apart from an early shower
It sounds like a nice day out. Wish i could join in but it's a little too far to come.
OP
OP
rb58
Enigma
- Location
- Bexley, Kent
Costa Coffee. See you there.
bobcolover
Guru
- Location
- south london
Anyone like to post some photos of a great run.
OP
OP
rb58
Enigma
- Location
- Bexley, Kent
A most excellent day. Even the weather held for us. Sorry to miss some of you for the finale - I made the turn after Clayton Hill and cycled back north, attempting to get home before the dark. Plans were scuppered by a puncture on Handcross Hill, which I was unable to find the cause of. With a new tube it seemed okay, I thought it better to head for the station than ride all the way back to The Smoke, just in case it happened again. Great to catch up with some folks who I haven't seen for absolutely ages.
lazybloke
Ginger biscuits and cheddar
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
Sorry not to see everyone; would have loved to have time for a pint + fish & chips at the coast, but there was a roast dinner at home!
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Another excellent day out on the bicycle. Saturday overnight in these parts experienced torrential rain, leaving all roads extremely wet. (Note to self to proceed with caution on minor roads wherever the autumn leaves have fallen). I set off at a brisk pace to warm up - temperature approx 8°/9° - along familiar lanes and enjoyed the deceptive 2 km climb, false flat and sharp left and steep last 250 m to Warninglid. Pleasant descent, right turn to Staplefield and its triangular village green, full of jolly folk watching the cars. Up the long, vehicle free in my lane, drag to Handcross and Pease Pottage to have a short break and snack. A few veteran cycles and Ordinaries passed me in the opposite direction, including a chap I chatted with last year.
Set off downhill towards Crawley to meet up with fellow CC’ers at the Parkside caff. Nearly there when I saw a familiar tandem on the opposite side of the road, Tim (ex this parish) and Vicky. At the next junction/lights, I turned around to catch up with them, knowing I would, somewhere on the straight incline back to Pease Pottage. We stopped for a welcome hot coffee and superb buttery flapjack from scouts at Handcross, raising funds for their World Jamboree next year.
Thoroughly enjoyed the descent to Staplefield, which had possibly become busier, in glorious sunshine, where I stopped to wait for @lazybloke. On through Cuckfield, Ansty and the Burgess Hill bottleneck, where it was fairly easy to chat with the passengers in the old cars, especially those seated in the rear. There was a re-group before Clayton Hill with @tdk27, @rb58, Adam (ex this parish), Dan and one other. Clayton Hill was its usual slow effort, the reward being the descent down to Pyecombe where it seemed I ignored a marshall’s instruction ‘cars only’.
As I had missed catching the tail of an old car, I turned around to take the correct route looking for the others. They had disappeared. I guessed they took the NCN 20. (Also see report here). Back to the BP garage which had a slip road to join the busy A23. I was soon in the coned-off lane 1 and going slightly faster than the modern cars in lanes 2 & 3, all the while doing right shoulder checks for any old cars approaching. Soon one caught me up leaving him plenty of room for him to pass. I quickly jumped into his slipstream and received a lovely 40-45 kph tow down to Patcham. Staying on his rear to Preston Park where traffic slowed, we chatted all the way to the seafront. Passing the Royal Pavilion they asked if I would like to join them for a celebratory glass of champagne! Offers like this do not occur often, yet I still had nearly 2 hours to ride home and ideally wanted to arrive while still light, so I sadly declined but said I would happily next year.
Westwards along the seafront, I took the sliproad down to the outer edge of Shoreham Port, in a desperate attempt to diminish the effects of the super strong headwind. The banking of the shingle shore and the industrial units made no difference, so struggled to maintain a speed of 16 kph. Over the lock gates at the other end of the port and headed north quickly to escape the wind. Over the wooden Old Shoreham Toll Bridge and north again along the Coombes Road where even the short, sharp climb of Annington Hill seemed benign after the block headwind.
The sun was just above the horizon for the last few, slow km home. A shower was soon followed by an apero or four of a tasty, unusual white blend from Valle Pradinhos, Tras-os-Montes (PT), chicken wrapped in taleggio and parma, accompanied with a pinot noir from Flat Rock Cellars (CA).
Good day, good to ride and chat with CC’ers, alas no sign of @frank9755, @bobcolover or @Gordon P.
Set off downhill towards Crawley to meet up with fellow CC’ers at the Parkside caff. Nearly there when I saw a familiar tandem on the opposite side of the road, Tim (ex this parish) and Vicky. At the next junction/lights, I turned around to catch up with them, knowing I would, somewhere on the straight incline back to Pease Pottage. We stopped for a welcome hot coffee and superb buttery flapjack from scouts at Handcross, raising funds for their World Jamboree next year.
Thoroughly enjoyed the descent to Staplefield, which had possibly become busier, in glorious sunshine, where I stopped to wait for @lazybloke. On through Cuckfield, Ansty and the Burgess Hill bottleneck, where it was fairly easy to chat with the passengers in the old cars, especially those seated in the rear. There was a re-group before Clayton Hill with @tdk27, @rb58, Adam (ex this parish), Dan and one other. Clayton Hill was its usual slow effort, the reward being the descent down to Pyecombe where it seemed I ignored a marshall’s instruction ‘cars only’.
As I had missed catching the tail of an old car, I turned around to take the correct route looking for the others. They had disappeared. I guessed they took the NCN 20. (Also see report here). Back to the BP garage which had a slip road to join the busy A23. I was soon in the coned-off lane 1 and going slightly faster than the modern cars in lanes 2 & 3, all the while doing right shoulder checks for any old cars approaching. Soon one caught me up leaving him plenty of room for him to pass. I quickly jumped into his slipstream and received a lovely 40-45 kph tow down to Patcham. Staying on his rear to Preston Park where traffic slowed, we chatted all the way to the seafront. Passing the Royal Pavilion they asked if I would like to join them for a celebratory glass of champagne! Offers like this do not occur often, yet I still had nearly 2 hours to ride home and ideally wanted to arrive while still light, so I sadly declined but said I would happily next year.
Westwards along the seafront, I took the sliproad down to the outer edge of Shoreham Port, in a desperate attempt to diminish the effects of the super strong headwind. The banking of the shingle shore and the industrial units made no difference, so struggled to maintain a speed of 16 kph. Over the lock gates at the other end of the port and headed north quickly to escape the wind. Over the wooden Old Shoreham Toll Bridge and north again along the Coombes Road where even the short, sharp climb of Annington Hill seemed benign after the block headwind.
The sun was just above the horizon for the last few, slow km home. A shower was soon followed by an apero or four of a tasty, unusual white blend from Valle Pradinhos, Tras-os-Montes (PT), chicken wrapped in taleggio and parma, accompanied with a pinot noir from Flat Rock Cellars (CA).
Good day, good to ride and chat with CC’ers, alas no sign of @frank9755, @bobcolover or @Gordon P.
Last edited:
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
There were at least half a dozen and plenty of pre WW One bikes. One intrepid young female was riding an 1890 bike!
tdk27
Active Member
I brought a colleague along and we both had an excellent day. Nothing too strenuous and the weather really held up remarkably well. The mini velo performed very well, and it was nice to get it out for probably the final ride ahead of a planned full rebuild this winter.
I think people were largely just a bit strung out at Pyecombe - I went past the garage (and the flood) to get onto the A23, and hopped on a convenient passing car to navigate the A27 junction before picking up a couple of others again well inside Brighton.
I think people were largely just a bit strung out at Pyecombe - I went past the garage (and the flood) to get onto the A23, and hopped on a convenient passing car to navigate the A27 junction before picking up a couple of others again well inside Brighton.
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