When:
17th September 2017 @ 9:00 am
2017-09-17T09:00:00+01:00
2017-09-17T09:15:00+01:00
Where:
National Trust Cafe
Tadworth KT20 7LB
UK
Tadworth KT20 7LB
UK
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Meet at the car park on roundabout of A264 near Faygate at 9:00 – All welcome. Groups to be decided on the day.
Garmin Routes:
Circular Route (39.00 miles)
Shorter, flatter route (34.66 miles)
For those wishing to ride up to the meet point in Faygate:
Burgess Hill to Faygate (14.79 miles)
Special Notes:
This ride starts from the car park on the A264 near Faygate, just East of the roundabout, NOT Ditchling Village Hall.
Start point location: The Cabin Cafe on the A264 – RH12 4SE
If you haven’t started a ride from Faygate before and are not sure which car park to head for, there’s a picture of it in the Gallery, here: https://www.sussexnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Faygate-Car-Park.jpg
If you’re riding this route for the first time, have a look at the profile in advance …
There are three climbs:
• Leith Hill: hits you after a 15km warm-up. At a touch under 200m high, it’s a bit bigger than the Beacon, and a more consistent slog. There’s nowhere to rest until it’s over, but don’t overcook it at the start and you’ll be fine;
• White Down Lane: the tough one. It peaks early at about 15%, and stays that way for 1km. The hard bit is hidden from you until the last minute as you round a sharp double-bend and its verticality is suddenly in your face; and
• Zig Zag Road: yes, that is its official name. It’s the nearest thing that we have to an alpine climb in the South, with hairpin bends, stunning views and not much traffic apart from the unending stream of cyclists, many of whom you will be able to overtake in a highly satisfying manner as soon as you realise that the gradient is as nothing compared to what you’ve experienced earlier in the day.
As for descents, watch out for:
• The second half of the descent from Leith Hill, starting at about 20km, which is narrow and can be slippery and gravelly. If it’s rained recently, you may prefer to bear right at Abinger Common after 19.5km (by the pump on the green) until you hit the A25 after 2km, then turn left and follow the A-road for 1km before turning right to re-join the normal route;
• The descent from Ranmore Common (between the second and third climbs), which has a hairpin bend a third of the way down, at 29km. Keep your eyes open, and you should have plenty of time to brake. The remaining part of the descent is a delight; and
• The final descent from Box Hill, which is taken on wide, well-made roads, which feel very safe. Just pay attention at the two junctions between 39km and 40km, where you have to turn right onto busy main roads.
Is anyone meeting at Tesco, Burgess Hill for an 8am start up to Faygate?
– Whitedown Lane is closed so we won’t be climbing that one tragically….
Gary, looks like there’s a Brighton group leaving early, a Burgess Hill group leaving the small Tesco at 8:00, possibly passing the Warninglid pub for a pick-up at 8:15.