A week off!

There was a rare break in the race calendar this week so we took advantage by planning a long training ride across the Downs to QE Country Park.

Four of us met up at Oaks car park on the A27 and headed off towards Eartham. Unfortunately our plans were re-written within 5 minutes when Ian caught a pedal on a stump at speed and took a really hard fall. Eventually we had him on his feet but he was unable to continue so Dave rode back picked up the van and drove Ian home.

Jon and I did a 30 minute loop up to Whiteways and then met up again with Dave for a Coffee at his house. So with much of the morning gone we set off again! The skies were blue and the sunshine made it feel like summer as we rode up to Goodwood via Benges and on over the Trundle. The views across to the Isle of Wight were picture postcard!

Descending down into West Dean we stopped at the recently reopened village store. Settling down with another coffee and some fudge we basked in the sunshine and discussed none of the hot topics of today. The store is set in a courtyard surrounded by old farm buildings, and when two ladies trotted in on their horses and tied them up outside it was the quintessential British country scene!

Jon and Dave enjoy a coffee at West Dean

Eventually we dragged ourselves away and up the horrendous climb that I call puncture alley! No thorns or flints hampered us today and we continued pass the charcoal burners up onto the South Downs Way above Cocking. Again we stopped to admire the view and wonder if there is anywhere better in the world to live than Sussex on a sunny spring day.

Heading back along the SDW we passed a thousand like minded souls enjoying the sun. There was the thrill of the plummet down and then the nightmare long drag back up to Bignor. Followed by the new singletrack west of Whiteways.

By the time I got home I'd been out for 6 hours! 4 hours riding time 4,500ft of elevation gain and 50 miles covered. A nice relaxing weekend for a change but still some good training miles under the belt. Although we won't tell Ian it had been a great day. (Hope you are back on the bike soon mate!)

Elevation Profile