9 persons turned out at the Cross on a cold ,cloudy but dry day with no wind to bother us.

 Very encouraged after all the awful weather recently. We went via the quiet back roads and tidal road to Bosham for coffee before carrying on via Westbourne to Rowlands Castle.

Most went indoors for refreshment at the tea rooms. There we met up with old member Peter Bond, out with his young 6 year old daughter on bike and kiddy bike attachment, from Havant. Nice to see him after a long absence.

Posted by RideLeader at 21:51 GMT

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The last week here has seen a good variety of weather. Last Sunday was warm and sunny and I got in a good 55 miles into the northern mountains up to 2000ft and 4000ft of climbing for the day. On the way over there I saw a giant flying saucer settling down onto the mountains!

The early part of the week turned a little more unsettled. Monday morning it actually rained for 2 hours (horrors!) Tuesday and Wednesday were dry but fairly cloudy. Then Thursday, Friday and Saturday there were clear blue skies. All week even, on the cloudy days, temperatures were around 22C.

Then today (Sunday) there was a lot of haze especially in the morning and it got seriously hot. Online weather records for the Island showed it got to 27C today and it felt like it.

A few weeks ago I paid a visit to the Cycle Shop in Arrecife and bought a sleeveless cycling top and also a buff to use as a headband or cap to stop sweat dripping in the eyes. Both came in useful today.

I set out early soon after 9.00 and cycled up to the main road and up to a roundabout near Uga. Then it was left up a very steep climb on the road to Fermes which is a village in the mountains south of Puerto del Carmen en route to Playa Blanca. The climb later levelled out and continued more steadily up a high valley. I was probably climbing twice as fast as the majority of club members would have with some notable exceptions such as Anne. It was put in perspective though when 3 German cyclists flashed past me at about 3 times my speed.

At the top in the village there is a nice café overlooking the precipitous road going down the other side. I stopped there for elevenses, pineapple juice and a donut. Then it was onwards and downwards taking care on the first part of the descent, probably about 25%. I was not going to Playa Blanca today but turned off at a roundabout for a fast descent down the side of the mountain. Then it was under the main road and onto the El Gofo circuit past lava fields. After a bit of a climb I stopped at a viewpoint looking towards the mountains I rode over earlier.

I continued back to Puerto del Carmen for an Italian Ice Cream. The sea was calm as a mill pond and reminded me of a rare hot summer’s day in the UK.

47 miles for the day.

Scroll down for local Club rides.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 18:37 GMT

Updated: Monday, 8 February 2010 08:45 GMT

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Last week temperatures were very high for the first 3 days at 25-26C and later in the week 23C. This week though it was cooler at only 20C most days and stronger winds.

Today is was sunny with scattered clouds and again about 20C. I took a back road out of town up to Tias at 700ft and then another back road between old volcanoes up to the plateau at 1000ft. I stopped at a junction for a quick elevenses stop of some raisins from my bar bag. Then it was a fast ride along the super smooth main road which nearly gets as many cyclists as cars on it.

I stopped at El Golfo for a picnic lunch on the beach. The village is mainly restaurants serving the tourist trade come to view the adjacent crater which has been half eroded by the sea.

40 miles for the day.

Scroll down for local Club Rides

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:25 GMT

Updated: Thursday, 28 January 2010 19:35 GMT

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Weather today was still quite cold especially early on. It was a lot better than previous weeks though with temperatures eventually reaching about 7C. It was  cloudy to start with more sun later and with light winds. After weeks of snow and ice making back lanes too risky to ride on members were glad to at last get out for a ride.

Harvey was the leader and he was joined at the Cross by  Alan and Liz. Gill and Avryl met up with the group by car. Gills foot is still in plaster.

Harvey led the group via Clay Lane and Westbourne to stop for elevenses at Stansted House Garden Centre Café and some welcome warmth.

The riders continued to The Victoria Inn West Marden for lunch.

The return ride was via Funtington and a tea stop was planned at Fishbourne Roman Palace Café but this was closed so the group diverted to Hilliers Garden Centre Café near Bosham.

From and back to the start was about 25 miles.

Harvey

Posted by RideLeader at 21:03 GMT

Updated: Monday, 25 January 2010 21:05 GMT

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Thanks to Jeff Lander for these snow pictures taken while out walking. The first one is taken looking down Charlton Hill towards Charlton.

The second picture is the back lane at West Dean looking towards West Dean Church.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 18:34 GMT

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Over the last week I have not been able to do much in the way of hard rides due to a cold. It was probably caught in that colds and flu incubation chamber otherwise known as an aeroplane. I treated myself with Lemsip, packed just in case and 1000mg Vitamin C tablets, 2000mg in the morning and 2000mg in the evening. I managed 3 flat rides along the Prom cycle path, about 17 miles return.

Today I was fit enough to venture back into the hills.

Temperatures since I arrived have been above average for January here. Usually it has been about 23C rather than the average of 20 or 21C. I think it is because the Jet Stream moved south bringing you arctic air and warmer weather further south. Today though it got seriously hot with a southerly wind and maximum temperature of 26C. It was a little hazy on the east coast where all the resorts are but clear blue skies inland.

I cycled inland on the back lane to Tias at 650ft. Then it was another little lane above Tias for another 400ft of climb to the plateau.

I then cycled north along the main road going along the centre of the plateau. There were a lot of other riders out, some in big groups. After passing San Bartolome in the centre of the Island I continued to Teguise bypassing the Sunday market. I turned off on a back road with 500ft of descent back towards the coast.

Then a few miles along an empty service road alongside a main road. A car slowed down beside me and the lady who was navigating tried to ask me directions in Spanish. All the while the husband insisted on driving the car on slowly!   Later I turned off onto another back road and a further 500ft of descent to Costa Teguise.

I stopped on the prom for a late picnic lunch managing to find a shady spot to get out of the heat. I noticed a local with a shirt on saying in Spanish something to the effect of Beach supervisor. He was getting around by cycling , pedalling with bare feet doing the occasional wheelie. Somebody has to do jobs like that I suppose!

I returned on the coast route past the Desalination plant and through Arrecife. A Sunday is a good time to ride through the city with little traffic around. Then it was back on the prom cycle route with a tea (fresh orange juice) stop at a café.

40 miles for the day.

Scroll down for local Club Rides.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 19:12 GMT

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Hi Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:17 GMT

Updated: Sunday, 10 January 2010 17:27 GMT

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I flew out of Gatwick at Midday on Tuesday, escaping the big freeze in the nick of time before Gatwick closed down on Wednesday. Temperatures are a little different here. 23C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and a little chillier today at 19C!

For those coming to Greece in September Thomson had no problems with CTC plastic bike bags and the bike arrived safe and sound. Now well settled in and larder stocked and getting into a routine. Started out with some quite short rides to get back in the swing of things. 15 miles, 17 miles and today 30 miles. Basically climb up 1000ft to the plateau along the top a bit and then back down.

With the aim of building up fitness, on 2 days did some hill climb intervals. Short very hard efforts for about 40 seconds and then rest and repeat. The magazines say this is the best way to get fitter.

Finished the ride today with a stop at Puerto del Carmen Prom for an Italian Ice cream at the ice cream kiosk. Scrumptious.

Back home looks interesting but much better to view it from afar. Used the laptop to listen to the radio and look at snow pictures on News Websites. Also some of the UK papers are printed in Tenerife and available the same day.

Anybody takes any local snow scenes whether or not on a bike ride please email them to me and I will put them on the Blog here.

Scroll down for local Club Rides

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:44 GMT

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Today was another bright sunny day but bitterly cold below freezing to start with and reaching a maximum of 3C.

I was worried about ice to start with as the roads were very frost covered early on but there had been no snow or rain in the last few days so I rode carefully the short distance on the estate to the main route which was treated. Then it was straight up the B Road to Mary’s house at Runcton.

Mary had laid on the usual great spread of mince pies and cakes. Everybody arrived, some by car and some by bike. In the end there were 33 there including Mary.

Most people had various plans for the middle of the day before going to Avryl’s with some riding home first and then going there by car. In the end Ernie, David and I rode there direct from Mary’s and gave the Pub a miss.

We took a longer route via Merston, Shopwick and past the Airfield. Then it was the lane past Goodwood Park Hotel and then across to Boxgrove. I got an extra 0.3 mile in going over the many hairpins of the Tangmere Cycle Bridge.

We arrived at Avryl’s first at 1.30 and her warm house felt very pleasant. Gill was also there as Avryl had given her a lift as Gill had her leg in plaster with a possible fracture after falling down stairs last week. Breaking a leg is usually my trick!

Again everybody gradually arrived and tucked into warm mince pies and Stollham Cakes.

I headed back across the Airfield to Oving and then lanes via Colworth. We had seen no ice to worry about during the ride, just some frozen puddles at the side of the road. On the lane towards Colworth there was a flood across half the road from rain earlier last week. Ernie had encountered that in a more frozen state in the Morning on his way to Mary’s.

My mileage for the day was 19.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:50 GMT

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Today was bright and sunny all day but barely managed to get much above 3C with a bitter northerly wind.

I was worried about ice so I left a little later and went direct to the Pub for lunch.

At the Pond Anne, Ernie and Phil and Verna from Worthing met. They took the usual route via Madehurst and Houghton. We met a lot of riders from Arun Adur at the Pub, Richard, Dave Fox, Brian and Sue, Dave Fox and Graham.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 19:42 GMT

Updated: Saturday, 2 January 2010 19:45 GMT

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With weather warnings of extensive black ice and temperatures barely getting above freezing I decided to avoid any more broken bones and stay at home in the warm. I packed my bike ready for departure to warmer climes in Lanzarote in the New Year.

Well done to Arthur Lynn and Colin who turned out for the ride today. They limited the ride to riding to Bosham for Coffee. Even on that short flat ride one of the roads near Bosham was very treacherous. Continuing to Funtington would have been very tricky with untreated roads and hills so they returned to Chichester.

It was a shame about the ice and the temperature. It was a beautiful day otherwise with unbroken clear blue skies.

Merry Christmas to everybody.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 16:12 GMT

Updated: Sunday, 20 December 2009 16:14 GMT

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There were 2 rides today. I led the early start Appetite Improver Ride and Richard led the short ride starting later. We were all ending up at Aldingbourne Country Centre Café for the Club’s Christmas Lunch.

Weather today was very cold, dry with sunny spells in the morning and showers in the afternoon. Overnight low was 3C and it didn’t get much above 6C during the day. I suffer from cold feet so having read a tip in Cycling Weekly recently I decided to give it a try. First Kitchen foil over the socks and then cling film over that. (it works for Turkeys so why not feet?) Anyway next it was the shoes and next Tesco plastic bags (re-cycling) and finally overshoes. The overshoes have the added benefit of hiding the kitchen foil sticking out from the shoes. It did seem to work for added warmth.

Anyway at the Cross at 8.30 just the usual hard riders were waiting, Gill and Anne.

We headed out via Maudlin and the gradual climb to the ridge of the Downs at Pillygreen. Then it was along the ridge road with fine views down to the coast. Then it was along the main road via Upwaltham and a fine descent of Duncton Hill.

With less traffic than usual due to the earlier hour, for a change, I continued on the main road through Duncton Village before turning off on lanes via Burton Mill Pond. Then we rode another lane to Coldwatham. There were still floods in fields near the Arun but much less than last Sunday.

Then it was on to Wiggonholt and a welcome break after 2 hours hard riding. The Appetite Improving was working very well and a large bread pudding cake was very welcome. Not long before we left 6 riders from Horsham Cycling Club arrived.

The return was direct via Amberley and Houghton. Just before The Spur I turned off on a very steep climb to Slindon and then over to Aldingbourne. 40 miles just for the morning.

Richard was joined by just Harvey but more cycled there direct and some came by car. There were 18 in all for the lunch.

I headed home direct and my total mileage was 49. From and back to Chichester would have been about 40.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:04 GMT

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Weather today started with torrential rain. However the Weather Forecast and Internet weather radar promised a clearance and a good day to come. So it proved and the rain had cleared by 9.15 at Pagham giving me time to get to Walberton for the start at 10.00.

I got as far as the A29 and there was a sign, Woodgate Crossing closed so the direct route was blocked. I might have got through on a bike but it was 3 miles up there and 3 miles back. I decided to retrace to Bersted and then lanes via Colworth to Westergate. I was 20 minutes late at the start but with clear blue skies and a rare chance to get out on the bike after many days of rain I pressed on. I headed up to cross the A27 and a rare sight, not a car in sight. The A27 was closed on all carriageways in both directions between Fontwell and Arundel. Signs indicated it was closed due to a Traffic Incident. I later learned on the Internet that this was due to 2 car crash near the White Swan at 9.00am with 3 people trapped in cars

With the A29 and A27 closed one could be fairly certain of a large amount of traffic chaos in the area. Traffic was being diverted up to Whiteways and then down to Fontwell so I was glad to get away from it all onto the quiet Madehurst lane.

Then it was a fast descent to Houghton with parts of the Arun Valley clearly flooded south of Houghton. The torrential overnight rain was on top of a record rainfall over the last month. After Amberley I had clear views of the large lake stretching across to Pulborough. It did occur to me that if the Arun Crossings Ride had been today we would all have needed Pedaloes.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:50 GMT

Updated: Sunday, 6 December 2009 17:56 GMT

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 The longer ride today was from Chichester Cross to lunch at Queen Elizabeth Country Park Café near Clanfield. Colin led the ride and he was joined at the Cross by myself, (Edwin) Gill and Anne.

Weather today started dry but deteriorated to showers later in the morning, clearing to sunshine in the early afternoon and a few more showers in the late afternoon, all mixed in with strong SW winds and gale force squalls, a bit of everything really.

An early elevenses was planned for Rowlands Castle and we headed out at a brisk pace on Clay Lane via Woodmancote. We were just on the outskirts of Rowlands Castle when the first light rain started and we got into the cafe in time without needing waterproofs. We were then treated to what the Met Office call a band of organised showers. I think they mean by this that a lot of showers gang up and dropping their loads on you all at once. I looked at the weather rainfall history on the Internet. This indicates rain with colours from light blue for slight to red for very heavy to white for downpour. We got large areas of red and white. This lasted a good 30 minutes. The result was a fair few flooded patches.

Colin had planned on a longish loop via Horndean and was ready for the off when the rain had eased but not stopped. I decided to wait until it stopped and take the direct route to lunch. Gill had visitors this afternoon so headed home when the rain stopped. Anne went with Colin. Leaving the Café the rain had gathered in a nice flood under the bridge.

I headed on via Finchdean and Chalton. Soon after Chalton some lighter rain started again but with a gale force squall. Rather than climb up the hill into the open I sheltered in the lee of a high hedge until the clearance came though and the sun came out. A beautiful rainbow formed among the departing clouds.

 I continued to lunch at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Colin and Anne arrived 30 minutes later. Their route had taken them up to Horndean and Cathrington. Then it was up to the ridge at HMS Mercury and down to East Meon and lanes round to climb up Butser Hill up the very steep approach. Anne was happy to go that way as it was the first time she had conquered that hill.

The return was in sunshine via Chalton and Ibsworth and the long climb over the ridge to Compton. Then it was was pretty wet and muddy lanes across to the Mardens.

We turned off on the lane via Upmarden to Walderton. Anne had never ridden this lane before so she had a very good day.

We headed back via Funtington and West Stoke where we split to make our separate ways home. One point to note was that as I headed back though Chichester I had to do a diversion due to a 2ft approx flood in the cyclepath underpass near the college.

Despite a fairly atrocious day I stayed dry apart from wet feet due to floods.

Including Colin’s loop in the morning mileage from and back to Chichester was about 45. My total mileage from Pagham was 51.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 18:53 GMT

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I was leading this ride starting at Walberton Pond with an early 9.00am start to get to Wiggonholt in time for the AGM at 10.30. After the torrential rain and gales of yesterday it was quite peaceful with light winds and sunshine and showers. I caught the edge of one shower on the way to the start but it soon cleared. Temperatures were quite mild at 14C. On the way to the Pond I had to negotiate floods, one across the main road at Westergate. It was interesting to note that at Bersted at the location of the proposed Site 6 Housing Estate there was a lot of flooding on the fields

I was joined at the Pond by Anne, Gill, Avryl, Harvey and Colin. We took the usual route up to the main road and then the lane via Madehurst up to Whiteways. On the Madehurst Lane there were about 4 locations where a tree appeared to have fallen across the road and been cut up and dragged out of the way. It was good to see that a lot of Autumn leaves had clung on despite the winds.

From Whiteways we had a fast descent to Houghton and then on to Amberley and the lanes round to Wiggonholt. Arthur, Alan, Liz, Eric, Richard and Mary attended by car. There was a good overall attendance with round about 26 in all from all Sections. Richard Bates our local CTC Councillor attended and answered various questions. Arthur chaired the meeting and managed to wrap it all up in about 1 hour 20 minutes.

All of our Section had sandwiches to eat in the Hall so I joined Arun Adur to ride over to The Black Horse Amberley for lunch. Then it was back home direct via Houghton Hill.

Mileage from and back to the Pond was 24. My mileage from home was 40.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:05 GMT

Updated: Sunday, 15 November 2009 17:09 GMT

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Weather today was atrocious with gale force winds and heavy driving rain although this did clear by the afternoon. I decided to stay at home along with most people but I do have a report from the brave souls who ventured out regardless.

Colin was the leader and he was joined at Walberton Pond by Anne and Gill. Anne gained a puncture at the bottom of Bury Hill which was mended in a bus shelter. This however was followed by 2 more and Colin and Gill donated tubes. The group stopped for elevenses at Tiffins leaving a puddle behind!

As time was getting on and everybody had sandwiches they stopped at Ebernoe, gave Kirdford a miss and headed home.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 17:10 GMT

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