Frozen Bird & Chilled Drink Sun 9 Jan

Myself, Ivan, Paul K,Simon G, Konrad and Mike set off at 8:05 on the first early bird of the year. None of the forecasts had said anything about ice so we were quite surprised to see icy ground to the sides of the road leading up to Crowhurst. Still the road itself seemed ok so we pressed on to Little common and Pevensey before riding on the main road up to windmill hill. Simon wasn't too happy with the roads and so peeled off but the rest of us pressed on. Mike then had a couple of punctures and decided to give his wife a ring for a lift home and abandoned. The rest of us pressed on towards Wood's Corner. From here on the temperature started dropping rapidly and ice started to appear on the road. We therefore decided to cut the ride short and head eastwards towards Ninfield. Konrad needed to get back early and so split off from us at this point heading on a more direct route to Battle. Now, us three remaining riders pressed on following a route that Ivan knows well. The roads became increasingly icy and at several points we had to get off and walk. Eventually we got to Ninfield and joined the main road. From then on we main roaded all the way back to Hastings. An unusual but still enjoyable ride! distance covered 37 miles.
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Meanwhile I like that extra hour in bed and was at the Harrow as usual just after 9. There were seven Bayeux tops there but I am not going that well at the moment so set off on my own. I did think of texting the old lags, who were due to meet on the sea front at 9, to find out where they were having their coffee stop but decided to do a non stop ride and get home early for the Man U thrashing of Liverpool. Yes I am capable of doing a ride without stopping for coffee / bacon butties / cakes, but not that often.

I stuck to the main roads, always easier on your own. Westfield, Cripps Corner, St John's Cross, Battle (forgotten what a long drag that is on the A2100), North Trade Road, Boreham Street. I saw rider a long way ahead on Boreham Street Hill who later turned off to Wartling, as I did, so drew up along side and had a good chat with the guy on custom Chas Roberts before leaving him for a burst of effort up Spooks Hill and the run back in to Coden and St L.

It was one of those mornings that as you came down the hill at Wartling on to the Marsh the Downs from Eastbourne to Lewes were crystal clear with the sharpest of crests, it was fantastic to drink in the view. It seemed a pity to go back early after 38 miles (not actually sure, computer battery was dead!) when it was such a glorious warm (by then) morning to be out. Another reason for the 9.00 meet and not 8.00 !!!!

Chris Parker