Christmas Ride 2006

Adrian and Julie kindly offered to host this years annual 'Xmas Poof's Ride' from their base in Nywood. Freezing fog may have been shutting down the domestic transport system, with all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick cancelled, but there was no keeping the TCA down! It was a bitterly cold (-3C) pea-souper of a night; a thin layer of ice had formed on both Jon and Al's bikes while they were strapped to the cars for the journey's from Arundel and Hambledon respectively. There was much jumping around the farm yard and clapping of hands to keep warm before the off, from Ad's parents' place, while the final adjustments were made... to the tinsel which adorned the helmets, rather than the more usual technical adjusments the group are more accustomed too.

The TCA Xmas ride is traditionally a gentle, sociable road ride taking in a couple more beers than usual. This year we planned to do a circular route taking in three of the best pubs in the area around Elstead and South Harting. Using country lanes we headed north towards Steadham. The ride was a generally unevenful affair at a slower pace than usual; although it was extraordinarily cold speeding up to get warm seemed to be more detrimental than helpful due to increased wind-chill! Also of note was a bizzare display of Christmas lights in a field apparently in the middle of nowhere, somewhere on a country lane near Iping: A large ring of illuminated tents, fairy lights and festive paraphernalia were strewn around the field with no reasonable explanation. It was an eerie sight with no obvious power source miles from the nearest building. Jon was keen to investigate but the others thought it too sinister - it had a definite touch of the Blair Witches about it - and pressed on to the first pub, The Elstead Inn. Al's first attempt to order a round was unsuccessful as his mouth was so numb with cold he could not enunciate the word 'beer'. However, using the language of internationally recognised hand signals, 3 lagers and 3 bitters where obtained and paid for.

The Executive Committee in Session
(Left to right: Jon, Al, Ad)

As if the festive season wasn't enough cause for celebration Ad pointed out that this was a record turnout for the TCA with 6 riders in force - hearty toasts were made, as is by now customary, to our various absent members and for the continued success of the TCA into the New Year. In truth the first pints didn't really touch the sides and, to the disbelief of the local punters, we were off into the freezing fog again heading for the Three Horseshoes a mile down the road. The distance was covered in record time by Matt - like a horse whisperer Al quietly pointed out to him that the sooner we got to the pub, the sooner we would get our next beer - he shot off like a rocket!

After another swift pint, and more hearty toasts in the 'shoes, it was a fairly flat run to South Harting (albeit quite dark as lights were running low), Al teaming up with Matt to guide the way and, using his new coaching techniques (any mention of beer), coaxed the last ounce of speed out of him! The White Hart was our last stop for a pint (and round of toasts) of the evening; having pronounced 2006 one of the best, discussion turned to activities for the New Year. Ad and Ju move to pastures new over the holiday (Devizes) and a commitment was made to try out this potential new site. With the riders in good spirits for the short ride back to Nyewood a rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas ensued (up until 'eight-maids-a-milking' anyway, as no one could remember nine). If the ride wasn't good enough then what awaited our return was exactly what six-cyclists-a-freezing could have wished for: Chicken soup with crusty bread; cottage pie; mince pies and cream laced with brandy, and all washed down with a bottle (yes, a whole bottle) of Jura single malt donated to Al on his last birthday by Billy-Bob [Cheers! Ed.]. Needless to say, queue more hearty toasts.

The TCA festive party
(Left to right: Julie, Jon, Matt, Ad, Al, Jerry)

Thanks to Ad and Ju for organising a fitting end to a brilliant TCA year, thanks to Ad's folks for letting us crash at their's for the night. Thanks also to everyone who's come out for a ride in 2006, we look forward to seeing you again in the New Year, and finally thanks to all the readers of TCA2006 for your encouragement; your comments are always appreciated!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TCA
...see you on a bike in 2007!

Route Map:

(Posted by: Al)

Ade and Al keeping the Dream Alive

With Jon in Auss, Julie nursing a rugby injury and everyone else either mud-shy or lightless Ade and Al geared-up (below) and set off from Nywood, through South Harting and on up to the downs.

Travelling east we tackled the sharp series of climbs and descents on the way to Elsted and a new pub for Al to tick off. We arrived at either the Three Horseshoes or the Elsted Inn (remind me Ade, Ed.). Beer served straight from the cask we plumped for the obvious choice - the local Ballards. The return route of this relatively short route was road-based, via East Harting and back to Ades for a pizza and a commemorative snap (below).

Route Maps:

Map 1

Map 2

Posted by: Al
Pics by: Jules

Jon Ditches it at Ditchham

Present: Jon; Julie; Scott

The ride kicked off at Julie and AD’s with Scott as keen as beans, turning up on his bike from Petersfield. Jon arrived late after a mad dash back to Chichester to pick up his helmet and Campelpak. We set off up toward the Harting Store before turning right and taking the track that would lead us to the bottom of Torberry Hill.

Scott – the new recruit and keen local biker guided the ride and led us on a similar route to that which AD took us previously. We climbed to the top of the hill and then, after a brief photo stop, raced down the track, passing some very startled (terrified more like!) mountain bikers in yellow who watched in trepidation as we careered over the numerous speed bumps and up the other side.

The next part of the ride saw us biking through arable crops with wonderful views toward Ditcham. We followed tramlines along the downs for awhile enjoying the sunshine, peace and quiet when the next thing Jon had toppled head over heels over his handle bars after hitting a deep rut (above, left) at reasonable speed (off-spot pictured!) – go the veteran TCA member! Jon picked himself up and dusted himself off ready for the next downhill stretch.

The remainder of the ride to the Victoria Pub in West Marden was relatively un-eventful except for the numerous run-ins with stinging nettles and brambles gradually overtaking the narrow tracks, all par for the course. We stopped at the pub for a pint (Julie still on fizzy lager!) and crisps before starting off again up the hill toward the back of Uppark.

We biked along the top of the downs until arriving at West Harting Down (above, right) and the most challenging part of the ride – the Devil’s Toilet. Once again with our hearts in our mouths we tackled this demanding stretch of down hill and reached the bottom with relief. Then it was plain sailing home to the ‘Caravan’ and Julie’s basil, lemon and feta chicken with greek salad and strawberries and ice-cream to finish. The ride was completed in record time, attributed in part, to Julie’s improving fitness (now only 1 mile behind the boys instead of 2!).

(Posted by: Julie)

West Marden Meltdown

Ride: Harting Route #1 - Victoria Inn, West Marden

Present: Ade, Al, Jon, Julie

We set off at a frantic snails pace as Ad was poncing around with his hair before the off: The hair was good but lights and spares for both his and Julie's bike were sadly lacking. Much abuse from the eager Al and Jon (who had cycled around the yard at least five times trying to get Ad to move his ass) obviously ensued.

The ride out and up onto the Downs was fairly uneventful other than Ad having to return to base for his helmet (prompting yet more abuse) and then peddle like the wind to catch up. We peaked near Foxcombe above South Harting and traveled downhill through Forestry Commission woodland, mud and puddles to Hucksholt. Julie's Chain broke (under extreme peddle power) on the descent so Al whipped the bike over and fixed the chain in a flash with his nifty kit and well honed skills.

We met the Chichester Road for a short while then got back onto the preferred surface, Mud... and plenty of it, through the sheep fields and the mini Deer Park (no sightings though), along to West Marden. Although it was a beautiful, warm sunny evening the previous week's heavy rain had left the trail very wet and boggy. On the descent into the village Al and Julie both heard the tell-tale hiss of punctures so proceeded as fast as possible to maximize pub-based fixing time so we could get back up to full strength. We found a wicked downhill jump section (seemingly through a private garden) just before the pub which we look forward to trying out again at faster speeds! In Ad's haste to guide the way to the pub, he braked far too late before turning in and skidded sideways down the tarmac trying to correct it. After about 10 meters or so it was corrected, but (ooops!) too far and he flipped round the other way, just managing to keep upright using all the luck available - a good TCA effort. If only Al, who was following closely, had had a video camera replays would have been shown ad nausium!

To cool the nerves, Al (shoes off, as we were very muddy indeed) took to the bar of The Victoria Inn to supply the liquid refreshment (three pints of Timothy Taylor's 'Landlord' for the boys and a fizzy lager for Ju). After some debate about appropriate portions Julie, being probably the cleanest member of the team, entered the pub for the traditional packets of crisps each. We then set to fixing punctures, Al's had intriguingly disappeared (only to be apparent again when back at base), but Ad had also developed a puncture by this time (perhaps precipitated by his near-off antics?) so the puncture fixing tally remained at two. Jon and Al agreed that it had been some time since the TCA had encountered such a technical meltdown on a single ride, and that it was significantly less trivial sorting these problems out if you had not made it to the nearest pub to tackle the problems, had not got the right spanners, it was dark and the temperature was sub-zero!

After demonstrating our team-work on the repair efforts we traveled down through the village and on up the other side past Locksash Farm and up to the first Telegraph Hill. There followed an exhilarating, long down-hill section off Telegraph, punctuated by a series of speed bumps which Al and Ad relished for the air! That fun over we had the long drag through the very grassy track and over the Chichester/Harting road and on up the gully between Harting Down and Beacon Hill. Through a stroke of luck Jon and Al saw to it that we took the higher of two tracks as the National Trust have erected a new fence straight across the tracks and only placed a gate in the higher one.

Once at the highest point it was a nasty drop down to East Harting through the cutting along the side of the Downs (subsequently christened 'The Devil's Toilet', as it was strewn with slippery logs, Ed.). Everyone had their own series of 'offs' and 'near-offs' before we took to walking in case we damaged ourselves. Once off the downs we were all very keen to get back to the farm for other fill of Julie's home cooking (Coq au Vin Blanc). This almost redeemed her broken chain incident, and after a generous slice of home made cake Al had completely forgotten the spare links he donated!

(Posted by: Ade)

Rendezvous at the Cocking Blue Bell

Ride: Monday 15th May, East Harting to Cocking

Present: Ade, Jon, Matt

On a damp and gloomy Monday evening we met [historically, for the first time without either of the founding Fathers - Ed.] at Ade's place in East Harting, on the North Side of the South Downs Way, in a bid to meet fellow TCA associates (Al & Tee) at the Blue Bell Inn, Cocking (below). We kitted up on the farm and readied our bikes for the off, this took much longer than expected and, in true TCA fashion, we were an hour behind schedule once we set out.

Realising that time was against us we set out at a blistering pace, until we reached the (v) steep incline up the side of the Downs, we tried in vain to cycle up the track (which even a goat would struggle to climb), so we pushed the bikes until the track levelled slightly and we could mount our trusty bikes again. Once we reached what we thought would be the highest point in our ride, we looked East to find that we would again be pushing the bikes up to the real summit (Harting Down). This we did and delighted in the down ill that greeted us, we surveyed the route and pressed on past Buriton Farm and once again up to another High Point in the South Downs Way. This part of the journey was fairly uneventful other than Matt's low-key 'accidental dismount' due perhaps to over-zealous brake use..? But he dusted himself off and we would have been none the wiser had he not mentioned it to Jon and I.

Making up time we kept pushing on and were found ourselves flying across Treyford, Didling and Bepton Down. Then came the delight of seeing Cocking; the route down the hill to the pub seemed to be calling us down it. I then felt like I was back home (as I spent my first 13 years growing up atop Cocking Hill) and thus spurred on by the beckoning beer arrived at the Blue Bell.

Al and Tee were already in the pub and primed to buy us a well deserved pint, they were resting up after day 3 (of 8) into their hike along the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne. A packet of crisps later and we set lights to 'stun' (above) and pushed on; leaving the walkers safe and warm in the pub while we were peddling to warm up again after stopping. We opted to follow the lane that skirts along the North side of the Downs back to Harting, which was an inspired decision as the Three Horse shoes at Elstead was on the way, so we had to stop for another pint, which we drank quickly, mounted up and heading for home, being welcomed by the lovely Julie, who had cooked a gorgeous meal of Shepherds Pie and veg, washed down with some cool beer.

(Posted by: Ade)