"The scenery was stunning", "thoroughly enjoyed it", "lovely ride” – just some of the comments from the last time we did this ride - October 7, 2006. Click on gallery and go to 2006 to find report and pics – the weather this time may be even better of course and we may take advantage of it to sit outside one or two of the rather nice pubs we’ll pass – depends on the conscensus of the ride.

A fairly demanding ride but we’ll have all day to do it and it’s worth it, honest – Sussex lanes and by-ways, you’ll almost certainly see a bunch of llamas, you may even see a camel – and that’s before the delights of the Snowdrop Inn in Lewes, our lunch stop. Vegetarian and usually even Vegan options. As normal though, bring snacks to keep you going as lunch is 40 miles into the ride and will be relatively late because of our latish start from East Grinstead.

The ride begins with a longish jaunt down the Forest Way traffic-free path. This may cause issues for full on racers – all other bikes fine.

Total distance: about 65 miles.

Arrive early at New Cross Gate to maximize your chance of 4-for-2 Groupsaver discounts. Cheap day return fare can be less than £4.00 if you get in a group of 4.

If you know my personal email address, feel free to email me

Report

Seven of us at New Cross Gate, three at East Croydon and Catherine met us at East Grinstead. The eight who had got on the 4 for 2 deal managed the return fare for £3.85 – one of those odd bargains UK train fares throw up amidst other fares that would get you across the Atlantic and back.

New Cross Gate fares are noticeably cheaper than  from London Bridge – folks coming from north of the river can get there easily enough after getting through the Greenwich Foot tunnel or crossing Tower Bridge and zapping down the Old Kent Road; nowhere near as bad as it sounds what with bus lanes.

And Kathy crossed the river by the East London Line, which takes bikes. Good to see her – reports had circulated that she found my rides a bit fast – not really – I do have a reputation for going ahead but partly to take pics with my slow camera and partly to scout ahead to check route directions on a ride I may only have managed to reccie once.

Through east Grinstead, down the Forest Way to Eridge and then onto the NCN 21 to Rotherfield where we paused mid-morning for Arek to have a snack that looked rather like a full lunch to the casual observer.

Then onto some wonderful quiet lanes, some climbing but some great descents. Some wondered whether the FA Cup Final was keeping the cars away but these Sussex backwaters are usually very quiet and peaceful. It’s also amazing just how green and unspoiled the crowded south east of England can be – though not if you’re in a car of course. You’ll be whizzing along the big roads or zapping through all the wonderful countryside without really seeing it.

Just before Lewes we had to cut across on a largish B road but the traffic was still light, then we turned towards Glyndebourne Opera House and its incongruous industrial extension. Just before we hit it, a field full of llamas and, just round the corner, a camel. Yes, you read right. A camel. Jurek was just too cool to stop to take a look but a few of us grabbed photo evidence in case you suspected the last report.

On to Lewes and lunch after 40 miles – a fair way in but always best to get over half way before lunch and folk had been warned to bring snacks on the invite. Always bring snacks in any case – it’s best to snack and drink regularly as you go. The Snowdrop’s a vaguely hippy sort of pub, good beer and food and the FA cup final was limited to a small screen inside. We sat in the garden though we could have done without the over-ambitious palm trees filtering out the still weak and variable Sussex sun.

Three left after lunch to get back to town early for various commitments while Cem left for a planned visit to a nearby tourist attraction. Next time I’ll start the ride earlier – just before 9 is a bit tough for folk after a long week but it gives us more time to amble along and maybe even stop for that second pint.

The after-lunch 25 miles actually wasn’t as tough as both myself and Jane had remembered – hey, we must be getting fitter. There are still several floats downhill and all of the climbing is in the last ten miles before east Grinstead. And you can even avoid these if you like by taking a four mile detour to Haywards Heath after about 50 miles for a fastish train back to town.

The trip back was uneventful apart from a wrong turning. Soon corrected and it did allow me to explore the alternative road past the reservoir – may use it next time as it’s a safer descent and more scenic.

Apologies if my pics don’t give an idea of the advertised sheer beauty of this ride – I was too busy enjoying it to keep stopping. Thanks to Cem and Nick for additional pics.

Final tally.

65 miles. Fair bit of climbing, lots and lots of downhills, three snakes (well two of those may have been one chopped in half by Kathy’s speeding wheels), no punctures or mechanicals at all, average speed while moving of about 11.8 miles per hour, lost count of Arek’s sandwiches/rice cakes/chocolate bars consumed – where does it all go we wondered?

Paul