On Saturday 7 March with winds still strong Richard, Maurice and Steve decided on a short walk along the coast to the village of Playa Quemada. The rest of us, myself, Peter and Harvey took a short ride and met them for elevenses at Puerto Calero Marina. We stopped off on the way back for an Italian Ice Cream on the front. 8 miles for the day.

On Saturday evening Gill and Anne arrived and as Supermarkets had closed I invited them to breakfast with myself and Peter. Their arrival heralded a period of warmer and more settled weather.

Sunday 8 March was light winds sunny and warm at 21C. Breakfast was on our patio. After Gill and Anne sorted their bikes we set off on a short ride along the coast to Costa Teguise. Just after we left the apartments there was a clatter from behind and it turned out Anne’s front chainwheel had been bent by the baggage handlers making it unrideable on the big or middle chainrings. Potential disaster, especially as it was Anne’s brand new Roberts. The bike was rideable on the little ring and we rode a mile to a bike shop which luckily was open on a Sunday and the mechanic was able to bend it back into shape. We regrouped for elevenses at Playa Honda.

We then continued along the Cyclepath to Arrecife which was easy to get through on a Sunday with little traffic. Then on to Costa Teguise and a warm picnic beach stop on the Prom.

On Monday 9^th March it was warm at 21C with scattered clouds. We took a ride to Playa Blanca on the far SW tip of the Island. We first rode on a backroad to Tias.

Then it was via Conil to the top of the plateau and then the smooth lightly trafficked main road along the centre of the Island to a winery bar for elevenses including cakes. Then down to Yaiza and a long gentle downhill on the old road alongside the main road from Arrecife to Playa Blanca. We stopped for a picnic lunch on the Prom in the warm sunshine followed by some ice creams. 

On Tuesday 10^th March it was sunny all day with temperatures of 22C. Steve and Maurice were flying back today so it was myself, Richard, Harvey, Peter, Gill and Anne on the ride. We took a ride to the other side of the Island at La Santa and back. We took a different route out with a lane up to La Asomada. This involved a very steep section with Peter Harvey and I walking.

We stopped at a small supermarket in the village for elevenses supplies eaten  in the shade outside. We continued along a road across a lava field spread out to the horizon and stopped for Photos of a volcano with its top blown off. We stopped for a picnic lunch in a park in the town of Tinajo just before the descent to the north coast.

At Caleta just before Famara we took shelter and regrouped in a handy sturdy bus shelter. Then it was on to Famara where the wind blew gusts of sand from the beach across the road. Beyond the beach the road started to climb back up to the plateau but a change of direction provided a handy tailwind. We took a direct route back via San Bartolome and Tias and then a steep descent on the smooth main road back to town. With a steep straight road and a tail wind I got up to my second fastest speed ever, 49.5 mph. 40 miles for the day again.

On Wednesday 11 March it was clear and sunny all day with lighter winds and a ramp up of temperatures to 25C. Everybody took a rest day except Richard and Gill who took a short 26 mile ride up to the plateau, along some lanes and down to the coast to Playa Honda to return on the Cyclepath.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:28 BST

Updated: Saturday, 14 March 2009 22:28 BST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Lanzarote. Tuesday 3^rd March to Friday 6^th March. Scroll down for local Club Rides.

On Tuesday 3^rd March we had another ride across Lava flows but in a different part of the Island. Weather was generally good and mainly sunny with temperatures of 20C. We caught the edge of one shower coming back, mainly spots.

We cycled up the back lane to Tias and then another lane to Conil. Then it was on to the main road along the centre of the Island which was quiet and very smooth surface and mainly downhill. We stopped at a winery for elevenses at a bar. At one stage 8 coaches were parked outside but the wine tasting absorbed the numbers. We continued down to the small towns of Uga and Yaiza and then on a lane with the road passing across lava flows which had split to pass either side of a hill. Then down to El Golfo, a small town on the coast with many cafes to serve tourists come to view the Volcanic Crater on the coast which had been half eroded by the sea.

We continued to ride round to a viewpoint and path on the other side of the Crater and looked at the striated rock and green mineral pool. Then it was along the spectacular coast road built across the lava flow at it hit the sea. The result was a rocky indented coast with waves crashing into the lava. We stopped at a viewing area, Los Herbivoros where waves had eroded under the lava flow.

We continued and rejoined the road further south on the route to Playa Blanca and headed north back to Yaiza and direct back to base on the coastal main road. 38 miles for the day.

On Wednesday 4^th March we did a long ride to the north of the Island to visit the Jameos de Agua caves built from a lava tunnel. Maurice Allen and Steve Underdown of Arun Adur Section had arrived the previous day. We split into 2 groups with Richard leading the harder riders, Maurice, Steve and Harvey up the hill and then on the LZ1 coast road north while I led the easier riders Peter and Bruce on the coastal cycle path to Arrecife and then on to Costa Teguise before a 500ft climb to the LZ1.

We soon found that a strong NE wind slowed our progress. In my group we rode the cycle route to Arrecife and through the City near the coast and stopped on the other side briefly for pictures near the Power Station and Desalination Plant.

We joined another cycle route on the prom at Costa Teguise and stopped at a restaurant for a late elevenses with views over the sea. There was a deal for a hot drink and cake. Bruce was obviously feeling the effort of riding against the wind as he doubled up with 2 cakes and 2 drinks. After climbing up to the LZ1 we joined the main road with a good smooth surface and not too much traffic. The long downhill to the coast should have been easy but the strong NE wind meant we were often pedalling hard to go downhill. With everybody struggling we eventually got to the halfway point of the ride at the caves at 3.00pm. We had a much anticipated picnic lunch and then walked round the caves. These are very large and formed from part of a lava tube. The first part is a café overlooking steps down to a small lake. This has many tiny white crabs unique to this area.

 The next part is a climb to an open area landscaped with a beautiful swimming pool.

Next we headed on back with the great advantage finally of a strong tailwind at our backs. We took the same route back but had to miss a tea stop. The outward ride took 5 and 3 quarter hours. The return ride took 3 hours 20 minutes. We arrived back at the Apartments just after sunset at 7 pm to a cheer from Richard and Maurice. We learned that the harder riding group did not quite have the same endurance as they cut their ride short at 1.30 when about 13 kilometres short of the caves. 58 miles for the day.

On Thursday 5th March we had a rest day.

On Friday 6^th March had an even stronger wind with gusts up to 68 kilometres an hour. Maurice and Steve decided on a short ride along the coast assuming correctly that the wind would be stronger in the hills. I led everybody else on a short ride into the hills and then back down to the coastal cyclepath. We took back roads to avoid risks with traffic in the wind. Although Lanzarote is often windy the strength of the wind today was exceptional and bordering on the unrideable. With a head wind over the hill to the plateau it took 2 and half hours to get over the ridge, an hour longer than usual. Instead of the main road we then took a back road to San Bartolome. Part of this was almost a rough road. It seemed to be the base of a road with no tarmac laid on it. Richard enjoyed it on his mountain bike.

We stopped for very late elevenses, 1.00pm at a café in San Bartolome. Then it was a long fast descent to the coast at Playa Honda. There was a side wind blowing us towards the side of the road and at one point we were riding down while leaning into the wind at about 15 degrees angle. On the more sheltered coastal cyclepath we stopped for a picnic lunch. After another 2 miles we stopped for tea in a café and Richard had a coffee topped with ice cream.

 After a few more miles we stopped for an Italian Ice Cream on the Prom back in town. 21 miles for the day.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 22:26 GMT

Updated: Saturday, 14 March 2009 22:30 BST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

The first three weeks of February were exceptionally good weather even for Lanzarote with clear skies, no rain and temperatures up to 21 C. Thursday 26th of February was no exception with clear blue skies and feeling very warm in the strong sun.  Then at about 3 p.m. about at the time that the plane touched down from the UK carrying, Peter Wilson, Richard Boulton and Bruce McNeil, the clouds rolled in heralding a period of more cloudy and unsettled weather. Harvey Probert arrived a few hours earlier. Unsettled weather in Lanzarote usually involves sunny spells with scattered showers very often in the form of very light rain.

The first ride on Friday was a sort flat ride along the coast Cyclepath to Arrecife and back of 18 miles return. We had a late start after everybody had unpacked their bikes. We stopped at a good bike shop in Arrecife for some people to buy bits and others to look round the shiny but expensive gear. Weather was hazy cloud but dry.

Saturday was a 32 mile ride through Lava Fields and beside volcanoes. Weather was dry with a lot of sun and up to 18C for most of the day. In the late afternoon we got a few spots on the edge of a heavy shower but managed to avoid it. We rode up the big hill taking a back road to Tias and then another back road to the village of Conil at 1000ft. There was a bar there which appeared closed although there were lights on. We settled ourselves at the tables outside and they soon opened up. Being out of the Tourist areas drinks were half the normal price.

We continued across the plateau riding beside the shattered cone of a volcano and lava fields spread out to the horizon in an almost moon like landscape. At a small town we stopped at a handy shaded bus shelter for a picnic lunch. Then it was on across more lava fields into the Timanfaya National Park.

Here we paid an entry fee and rode up to a Visitor Centre. From there it was a bus trip round the spectacular central volcanic area. No pedestrians or bikes are allowed on the circuit for the very good reason that the road is the width of a bus with steep drops.

After watching some demonstrations of the heat in the area including geysers set off by pouring water down a hole we headed on. We descended across a vast expanse of lava fields to Yaiza and then down and back to base. There was a big festival/carnival this weekend with the procession starting along the seafront at 5.30. We did a fast turnaround to get changed and down there in time. We didn’t have to worry. In the end it took 2 and a half hours for the procession to pass. We stood it for an hour  and then went to a nearby restaurant for a meal.

On Sunday we did a ride via Tahiche and Costa Teguise and back through Arrecife and the cyclepath back for a mileage of 33. Weather was clear to start with but then clouding over for the middle of the day with some light rain inland but dry on the coast and temperature up to 18C.. We cycled the usual quiet backroad to Tias

and then a different backroad from Tias between fields and old volcanoes with dried magma visible on their sides. There were many spring flowers at the side of the road. Then it was the central main road with little traffic to San Bartolome and a long downhill to Tahiche and the House of Caesar Manrique a famous architect and Artist whose house built from Lava bubbles left in the Magma flow had been converted to a museum. We had a picnic lunch in a shelter in the grounds and then looked round the house.

When we finished some very light rain had started but we soon left this behind as we descended to the coast at Costa Teguise. Then it was through Arrecife with little traffic around on a Sunday and on to the Cyclepath with a tea stop at Playa Honda on the front.

On Monday we had a rest day with a morning only ride to the nearby small town and Marina of Puerto Calero. 8 miles for the day.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 08:58 GMT

Updated: Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:58 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Please book now for our 25th Anniversary Dinner on 21 March with Guest Speaker Kevin Mayne, Director of the CTC. Last date to book is 1st March. Full booking details including price and menu on the Events Page of the Club Website. http://www.bognorchichesterctc.org.uk/Events.htm

Posted by RideLeader at 19:00 GMT

Updated: Sunday, 15 February 2009 13:54 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Another Saturday ride run in conjunction with WSCC's Walks & Rides programme saw only 4 regulars out, despite a sunny afternoon with no wind; quite a respite from the recent atrocious weather.

Temperature was nudging 6 or 7 degrees as Julian, Christine, Val & myself set out from Bognor Library, through the back streets and alleys of Bognor, to North Bersted and out onto the cyclepath to Colworth and Chichester. 

For reasons that my colleagues declined to explain, they decided not to proceed through the 10+ inches of water lying across Colworth Lane, the remnants of recent torrential downpours, so instead we diverted along the cycletrack following the main road to the Merston turning, where we then followed Merston Lane through Merston village, to Runcton and our tea stop, on the Runcton Nursery site.

There we met Alan & Liz, who had arrived car assisted, Alan 's first trip out since his recent operation.

 After a suitable break for refreshment, we returned back to Bognor via Lagness and the Park Farm lanes, which were surprisingly dry and much more pleasant a ride than along the main road.

My mileage from, and back to, the library, was a modest 12 and a bit. However from home back to home with a few diversions in between, I covered 18.

Graham. 

Posted by RideLeader at 18:38 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Three of us, Gill, Avryl and Harvey, met at Walberton Pond on a frosty and cold morning. Ann arranged to meet us on the other side of the icy downs. We cycled via Amberly to Wiggonholt. There was snow on the downs and a few rather dubious patches of ice on the roads. Ann was awaiting us at the RSPB centre where we joined her for coffee.

The four of us continued on our way through West Chiltington, Thakeham, and Ashington. We passed a field full of llamas which all had their heads turned towards us as we passed. Who looked the silliest?

Onwards to Wiston to the welcome Tea Room where we were glad to be in the warm. The snow coverage had been increasing as we moved eastwards. This was the remnants of the complete 'white-out' of the whole of the country the previous Monday. Fortunately the roads were clear but the verges were still covered. We were kept entertained while we had lunch by the antics of geese large and small hens, two pigs, a pregnant goat, shetland pony and rider, a turkey which appeared to be displaying to anything in, or not in, sight, a strutting hen doing a goose march, and a man trying to keep a bonfire going by jumping on top of it.

We headed back in sunshine and blue skies with diminishing snow coverage. The expert navigation by Harvey took us under the A24 at Washington and thence to Sullington, Storrington and Parham. In the Park we stopped and watched a group of deer. The next stop was for tea at the lovely little tea room at Amberley where we were made very welcome and all treated ourselves to some cake.

It started to rain and the sky looked very threatening and so we climbed on our bikes again and returned homewards.

43 miles for the day.

Reported by Avryl

Posted by RideLeader at 22:30 GMT

Updated: Monday, 9 February 2009 22:24 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Weather today was sunny with some scattered clouds and about 18c

A week ago as part of a gradual increase in the climbing I was doing I rode up to 600ft. However the next day it was clearly too early with the hip very stiff and a little painful so it was clearly too early for the hills. In December my Physio said nothing strenuous like hills for 6 months. Obviously I ignored that and still intend to but I need to get more miles in on the flat first.

There is only one route out of here which is flat and that is NW along the coast on Cyclepaths to Arrecife. This is 8 miles so 16 miles return. After some resting early in the week with some walks and sunbathing I did this route on Wednesday and today.

There are a good variety of cyclepath styles on this route. In the middle of town there is a new cyclepath built while I have been here along a widened prom and coloured red. The locals are starting to use it which tends to sweep it clear of the wandering Tourists.

Further out of town there is a really neat one built in the last year. This is on a wide road which has been narrowed to accommodate it. None of this painting silly lines on the road though. Instead it is well separated from the traffic with plastic bollards making it impossible for traffic to pass too close and no way can any motorist park on the cyclepath.

This takes the route to Matagorda which is another resort merging into Puerto del Carmen. Here the route is back onto a wide Prom with the cyclepath coloured grey going down the middle.

The prom continues somewhat narrower past the Airport with the cyclepath separated from the pedestrians by a white line. Then on to the locals town of Playa Honda where the Prom is very wide again but no marked cyclepath although everybody cycles along it. This is a beautiful area with wide sandy beaches and cafes on the Prom and no traffic anywhere near. A series of dead end roads come down to it.

Beyond Playa Honda there is a relatively new cyclepath along the Prom built in 2003. This is a red bricked lane in the middle of the Prom which continues to Arrecife.

Mainly the number of cyclists using the paths kept them cleared of Pedestrians. However it was noticeable that even when the path was clear and coloured differently occasionally I would come across Tourists wandering along the path and whenever I heard them talking they were always British, never German and never Spanish. Interesting but not really surprising.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:06 GMT

Updated: Monday, 2 February 2009 14:38 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Over the last week I have gradually increased activity levels with walks and short bike rides. Wednesday it was 12 miles out and back along the coast and today 18 miles out to the end of the cyclepath at Arrecife and back.

Since I last wrote there has of course been the dreadful news of the death of Phil Turner. Even today a week later I find that I think of him a lot. He was a very good friend who will be badly missed by me and many in the Club and our sympathies go to Mary and the children. See the home page of the Club and DA websites for a notice about the funeral on Friday and the cyclists’ procession which is being arranged to follow the cortege. I am in the process of drafting obituaries for the Pedaller and Cycle Magazine.

Weather today was sunny with scattered clouds and temperatures reaching 20C. There was a strong headwind on the way out and a good boost on the way back.

I still have the same difficulty of getting on the bike. There is no way I can get a leg over the saddle yet. However I can get there by laying the bike down flat, stepping over it while improving balance with the walking stick and then bring it up underneath me and then reversing the system for getting off. The walking stick folds up to fit in the barbag. I am starting to get used to the system which is a lot safer than it sounds

The muscles are gradually increasing in strength and I find I can do gentle slopes but nothing steep yet. Riding a bike on the flat is a great deal easier than walking and with no ill effects. I followed the seafront cycle path out past the Airport and on to Playa Honda. I stopped here at a bench on the seafront for a picnic lunch break and some sunbathing. Then further on to the end of the Cyclepath at Arrecife.

Then it was back on the same route. Although the path is wide with a designated coloured cyclepath in the middle everybody was out, it being Sunday, and care was needed to avoid stray dogs and children. The path passes very close to the Airport with the perimeter fence next to it. At one point the path passes the end of the runway with the baffles for the exhaust of planes taking off next to in. Planes landing come in at the same point passing 100ft over the cyclepath. This makes for a lot of interest and I stopped for a break on a bench to take pictures and got talking to a couple about bikes.

Then it was back on the front to town and an ice cream. The roadworks are now half finished with a one way system for cars to cut down the traffic on the front road and the space saved used for a wider prom and new cyclepath. Previously the cyclepath started on the northern edge of Puerto Del Carmen, now it will go all the way in, very sensible.

18 miles for the day.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 19:33 GMT

Updated: Monday, 2 February 2009 19:16 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

The Trip here went well. I took a Taxi to Gatwick and the Taxi man helped me get the luggage and the bike onto the trolley. I soon checked in with no queue. Hand luggage was in a rucksack. No alarms at security over the leg metalwork. Managed the walk to the gate ok if a bit slow. The Plane was half empty and I had 3 seats to myself. Great view of Lanzarote on the approach and we flew in low over the Puerto Del Carmen to Arrecife Cyclepath which runs between the Airport boundary and the sea. A Taxi to the Apartment able to take a bike was easily obtained.

 I put the bike back together Wednesday but started out building up strength with some walking first. I find I am much more inclined to get out with temperatures 18 to 20c. I find I can walk further than I expected but I still need to use a walking stick and expect to for some time yet.

Suncream is a necessity even at this time of year.  Lanzarote is a long way south, about level with the southern border of Morocco.Today,

Sunday I finally got in my first bike ride in four months.  The first difficulty is getting on the bike.  There is no way I can get a leg over the saddle yet.  However I can get there by laying the bike down flat, stepping over it and then bring it up underneath me and then reversing the system for getting off.  The walking stick folds up to fit in the barbag.

I had planned to use totally flat routes to start with. However my usual route down to the seafront was blocked by massive roadworks along part of the seafront.  I had to first get over a short hill of a few hundred yards but I soon found towards the top that the mind might have been willing but the muscles were not yet up to it and I had to go off and walk.  The rest of the ride was fine after descending to the seafront Riding a bike on the flat was a great deal easier than walking and with no ill effects.  I followed the seafront cycle path to a cafe overlooking the beach at Matagorda and enjoyed the sun with a fresh orange juice.

The ride out was 4 miles and a similar distance back so 8 miles for the day so a reasonable start to cycling recuperation. 

Edwin 

Posted by RideLeader at 17:58 GMT

Updated: Monday, 2 February 2009 19:17 GMT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink