San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

First of all thanks Simon for a fantastic route yesterday. A good ride, a lovely day (all be it a bit warm ) and great to catch up with everyone and find out whats been happening during the racing season.

Joe and I discussed yesterday the idea of maybe starting somewhere else i.e. not Marden with a view to take in some different ups and downs. Is this something the regular A riders would be prepared to do now and then ? We would probably need to communicate this a couple of weeks in advance so that "lift sharing" could be organised etc.

For example would you be prepared to travel to Heathfield for a 60 mile route that takes in Ditchlin Beacon and follows the undulating coastal road with a stop in Eastbourne before returning ? I would anticipate similar kind of start and finish times i.e. 10am - 2pm just with travelling either side.

Thoughts ?

Sounds like a good idea to me. We'd have to make sure we kept together (not that anyone ever gets dropped) as the roads may be unfamiliar and navigating if dropped could be tricky.

Nice idea riding somewhere different and have never ridden up Ditchlin Beacon so i'd be up for this. 60 miles is a bit short for a 45min drive each way
i think at least 80miles or more riding or would justify the driving distance and fuel cost, either way its now and then it will make a nice change, i'm happy to pick someone up on route or someone can park at mine.
Robs route of marden to eastbourne and back sounds good and i'd have thought its more likely that the bunch would stay together at all times over a longer distance.
Thanks for a great ride yesterday simon - don't worry about the beer!!

Have just checked out google maps, heathfield is only 22.5 miles so i'd ride out there, i thought it was further just hope i don't miss the ride as there are a few events yet to do

You can do Ditchling Beacon on a 140 mile ride!

Details from when I did the ride last year:
http://www.runsaturday.com/TabId/64/Act ... fault.aspx

Isn't Marden the ONLY really proper place to start a Fairies Saturday Club Run?

Where riders new and old can ride to, get organised, meet and greet, make choices about destinations and which group suits how one feels that particular day, fill up the car park!

I think a celebratory skirmish to a farther place sounds good-need to ensure good weather so late cancellation if it looks iffy.
Would we need a 9am start ?? Heathfield is 30 mins away by car but gives access to the South Downs area.
Also anyone not keen can still join a run from Marden. Do some of the other groups choose different start points??

On a similar theme, I've volunteered to lead an A run ride on 17th Oct and the route I've got planned would be far better starting from Wateringbury village hall car park rather than Marden. This is not because I live in Wateringbury but because it will mean that we can cut out the long boring flat bit between Marden and Wateringbury and add some new and more interesting stuff at the extremity of the ride.

Would anyone object to this or do club rules mean I have to start it at Marden?

boring flat bit between Marden and Wateringbury

You can make it more interesting by going via Hunton or Barn Hill.......................

Trust me Ron, I've got plenty of hills in mind to wear out any takers of the A run that day!

I'm washing my hair that day.

We have tried to Start rides from other places in the past but always end up back at Marden. One of the biggest problems we get is that there is always some berk who goes to the wrong Start place. IE ride starts at Headcorn Rider still goes to Marden. The problems then happen where we try our hardest to accomadate the rider who then finds themselves in a group of riders of a different ability

OK, Marden start it is then. And c'mon Phill! I doubt anything I can ride will trouble you.

The problems then happen where we try our hardest to accomadate the rider who then finds themselves in a group of riders of a different ability

In this case you will have an A group berk trying to keep his speed down

an A group berk

No particular person in mind