Club Run to Petals for Plants, Broad Oak
Sunday 20th October by Paget Cohen
After last week's exploits I'd clearly need one heck of an excuse not to be out this Sunday, but I'd have preferred not to get soaked to the skin again. The forecast made choice of attire tricky - potential thunderstorms, but mild for the time of year. Not expecting to be standing about this week I decided to chance shorts, but go for layers up top. Out into light rain I was glad of the jacket, but come Framfield the sun was out and I was feeling distinctly overdressed. Passing 2 ladies planting (presumably bulbs) around the base of the village sign I could see no watering can between them, but there was no need as the heavens had reopened before I got to The Hare & Hounds and I had wet feet and streams across the road to contend with by Birdineye. Huddled under Boots canopy were 2 others who didn't learn their lesson last week - Ian & Mark, plus Bob Evans out for some punishment. The distinctive, hunched, elbows-out, blurred-legged figure of Gibbo on a single-speed appeared through the curtain of water soon after reporting much the same conditions and gardening that I had witnessed. As the rain intensified it occurred to me that we were waiting in a spot renowned locally for flooding, but as it abated slightly we set off South, picked up Darren coming the other way and it was bright and dry again by Palehouse Common. As we made West for Chiddingly the visibility issue was less due to spray than glare off the slick tarmac for those of us too cool for shades.
Darren was buoyant from a new 15second PB up Firle Beacon on the ESCA Hill Climb the day before, but was starting to regret the rain jacket as we approached Cogger's Cross. Ian ordered a halt for him to adjust his wardrobe, but with only a single layer underneath and no pocket large enough to pouch it he decided against disrobing. I took the opportunity, however, and was instantly recompensed as Ian & Paul pulled out onto the A267 ahead of a fast-approaching Range-Rover and, almost as if to spite Darren for holding us up, put the hammer down; although working together the 4 of us bridged before we peeled left for Hellingly village. Around this point the Rhino-Tape on my homemade mud-flap became detached and the remaining section cut from a rubber-glove began fouling the tyre; annoying as the whine was I figured it unlikely I'd be going far nor fast enough for it to penetrate a Schwalbe Marathon and I was right.
What goes down must go up, at least on Club Runs, so from Amberstone we ascended Cowbeech Hill, back down to Stunts Green, then North East towards Bodle Street. Turning North no sooner had Mark reported being struck on the head by an acorn then Bob must have run it over (the acorn that is) as he pulled up with a front puncture. Darren did start to remove his jacket again until we pointed to the clouds and reminded him of the inevitable consequence of doing so, and thanks to Bob's years of experience we were quickly back rolling on the reverse of the Hardriders course. Ian did toy with cutting through to Woods Corner, but took pity on Mark and settled for crossing Rushlake Green and attempting Flitterbrook Lane instead. Not that you can carry much speed through the s-bend in the valley, but we could have done without meeting a horse-rider down there. From Punnett's Town it was a straightforward route past Simon Farmer's and skirting Broad Oak with only a mountain-biker carrying a small dog under one arm providing anything noteworthy before we met Alan Lloyd turning into the garden centre car park.
Three instantly recognisable bikes were already tethered in the lobby and we found Tony G, Chris H and Bob Coleman hiding in a corner of the cafe, but imposed ourselves anyway for char and chat. The Audax crew had some more miles to cram in, but it was the direct route home for the rest of us; less than 40 miles, but enjoyable nevertheless.
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