H&StL CC Ninfield times- Wednesday 29 may

What a fantastic birthday boy ride by Ollie Chapman on his newly built up bike, somewhat lighter than his solid road bike that has clearly built up his strength on his training rides.  His time include an enforced stop in traffic which also resulted in his chain coming off, so room for further improvement!  With rain pouring down as I left Hastings it was a surprise that several had ridden out and we had a field of 10 riders.  The rain had stopped and some of the roads even partly dry for the event, although there was still a hint of rain in the air.  Barny also went a fair bit quicker, as can be the case in damp conditions after rain.  Trevor was also quicker but should really have been docked over a minute for reporting late to the start, as would happen in an open event under CTT regs - the same regs that apply to club TTs so I should really have placed Stuart ahead of Trevor ……..

Club TTs - This Wednesday we are on the Ninfield circuit for last time before the H-R-H classics

The Ninfield sign on (1830) and any car parking is in Downs View (TN33 9JF) off Church Lane which runs past the cricket pitch next to the Kings Arms/Head in Ninfield by the mini roundabout.

                       
Wed     05 June Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830
Wed    12 June  - first of three Hastings-Rye-Hastings classics when we change to 1900 sign on, half hour later for 5 weeks

27 May-Shadoxhurst Circular

Colin Starts The Ride With A Rollie

About a month ago someone on STRAVA had posted a nice circular ride that skirted Ashford passing through a place I had never heard of with the intriguing name of 'Shadoxhurst'. Always on the look out for new places in our locality to explore , I downloaded the route and with a few modifications it was ready for an early bird excursion  . We were blessed with good bank holiday weather for once. First to arrive was Mike Smart. Mike has done a lot of riding abroad and some 'Bacon Butties' but this was to be his first early bird ride. Before long other riders started to appear , including  a very rare appearance  from none other than Colin Enderson. Colin was looking trim, the result of  all his commuting to and fro Eastbourne to his photography shop. Also good to see Club chairman Chris Parker out on an early bird (despite his disapproval of following a GPS) . We started with fast mainroading to Rye where another new early birder, Mark Ingram tagged on.We pressed on through familiar roads to Warhorne , where upon we moved onto roads and places I had never ridden before such as Bromley Green, Shadoxhurst and Brook street. These were lovely quiet roads with excellent surfaces. I must make the effort to explore more of this area in the future. Before long we were back on more familiar turf at Tenterden. Both newbies were strong riders, ahead of both myself and Chris Parker. Paul is still having trouble with his fancy shimano ultra light rear wheel. He has just had the spokes sorted out but now the hub will not spin freely! The road from Wittersham to Brede is one of my favourite stretches of road being a bit lumpy with some fast slightly downhill sections. The short but steep (12%) climb of Doleham lane soon appeared, my efforts last week at the mega leg breaker must have paid off as I found this easier than normal and managed a PB on Strava without really trying. Mark and Mike had never had the pleasure of this hill before. Just Peter James lane stood between us and the end of the ride. This is the final sting of the tail but is a fabulous climb that brings you half way up battery hill, for some well deserved tea and cake at the coastguard tea rooms. Thanks to everyone who came out with us, with all the fabulous weather it was a really enjoyable ride.Hopefully, Mike and Mark will ride out with the 'early birds' again?

Metin Is On Good Form

Newbie Early Birds, Mike And Mark

RTTC 2013 - 10 Miles National Championship - Saturday 25th May 2013

Joe decided to enter the National Junior 10 this year but we failed to realise that the first year A level exams had been brought forward and basically clashed with this event which meant that there was virtually no real training before the event, and only one club TT on the Wednesday to test the latest bike and wheels before setting off 48 hours later.

So on Friday we set off (somewhat ill prepared) for Hingham in Norfolk and for the B10/18 course. The journey up was a nightmare taking over 5.5 hours to travel some 150 miles. It was queuing on the M25, M11, A11 and the rain was nonstop. Anyway, we did manage to get to Hingham and the rain finally stopped. Time just for a quick drive around the route then for Joe to cycle it.

An open course where wind was going to be a problem  The first turn saw a metal drain cover right in your way which could prove nasty in the wet or dry. Further along there were some corners where mud was on the road and also needed care, plus half way round a nasty long drag of a hill and then straight into the wind for the rest of the course until the finish. In it's terrain and lay out the course was very similar to the Tenterden 10. So not exactly a fast course with wind being the main problem.

Saturday morning proved to be dry, cold and very windy. The event started at 08.31 with the Womens race with the Juniors starting at 09.51 and the Men at 11.01. So it was nice to have a bit of a lay in !!!!

The Juniors comprised of competitors from all over the UK and from small clubs to young men and women who are knocking on the door of pro riding with the support of some serious professional teams. So it was into this mix that Joe found himself and as rider number 104 went off at 10.14 to have ago and do his best. He said the ride was ok although halfway round his seat moved forward and dropped down at an alarming angle which did not help and apparently it was murder into the wind for the last half of the course. But he posted a time of 25.36 which bearing in mind the lack of training etc was very good and put him into 41st place.

The Junior event was won by British Cycling Olympic Development Programme rider Chris Lawless who clocked 20.49.

The Mens race went to Michael Hutchinson of InGear Quickvitt Trainsharp with 19.20 and Pete Tadros was 8th with 20.36.

The Ladies race was won by Julia Shaw of www.drag2zero.com with 22.19.

Simon Is Selling His TT Bike

Simon Grogans is selling his Felt b 16 tt bike. Its all original spec and in good condition. He wants £950 for it. For more details contact simon on

grogans18@hotmail.com

H&StL CC Ninfield times- Time Trial 22 may

It was great to see Club President Stuart Crabb turn up and push off.  He has had shingles for over a month now and is still not right, plus Connie has a long way to go on for a full recovery from her recent heart operation.


Club TTs - This Wednesday we are on the Ninfield circuit for 2 more weeks - all sign on at 18:30

The sign on and any car parking is in Downs View (TN33 9JF) off Church Lane which runs past the cricket pitch next to the Kings Arms/Head in Ninfield by the mini roundabout.

               
Wed     29 May  Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830  
Wed     05 June Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830
Wed    12 June  - first of three Hastings-Rye-Hastings classics

Note that after crossing the finishing line at Ninfield riders now continue for 200/300 yards and assemble in the bus stop on the right opposite the village store.  Ideally someone with a car (any supporters who turn up are most welcome to offer to help out with this!!!!) will have tops and rucksacks and lights etc left by those competing ready to pick up as everyone chats awaiting the results to be finalised and carried up to the bus stop.  I kept time  this week and left my car there with an early finisher picking up my car keys.  Can someone also take the initiative to collect the race numbers, thanks to John Vidler yesterday.

Wednesday TT- 15 may

Olly Before A Gravel Slip

We are needing signing on people, timekeepers, pushers off, course signers etc so please please offer your services.  Many thanks for Steve Curtis and Steve Butcher for timing for the first three events, it is now time for others to chip in.  Some are saying they may come out and help but do not commit and it is pot luck if there turn up.  If we operate like this we may end up with e.g. no timekeepers some weeks !!!!  Pushing off is the first thing to go.  We may have self starting or one of the riders volunteering to push off and go off last.

So if injured or saving yourself for another event please or just wanting to do your bit for the club please commit to turn up a week in advance (ideally) letting me know that you will definitely help out.

HSCC Veteran Tim Miles 

First Ever TT For Tom

Note that after crossing the finishing line at Ninfield riders now continue for 200/300 yards and assemble in the bus stop on the right opposite the village store.  Ideally someone with a car (any supporters who turn up are most welcome to offer to help out with this!!!!) will have tops and rucksacks and lights etc left by those competing ready to pick up as everyone chats awaiting the results to be finalised and carried up to the bus stop.  Can someone also take the initiative to collect the race numbers.

May 18- Mega Leg Breaker

Victory On Yorks Hill

This was a ride I had planned to do some time ago. It took in four climbs featured in the book '100 Greatest Cycling Climbs',
( http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Greatest-Cycling-Climbs-Cyclists/dp/0711231206), this is why I decided to call it the meg leg breaker ride, as it would require our legs getting us over four of the largest hills in our area. The ride began at Dene park forestry commission car park. We had trouble locating it, as the post code was correct but the google map was not. With four cars in convoy having to stop and turn around in the road several times before we eventually found it, was pretty stressful.We rode West initially on nice quiet gently undulating roads but on reaching a little place called Winkhurst Green, there was a sign warning of the first leg breaker hill ahead, 'Yorks Hill'. This was a 1.2 mile hill with an average gradient of just 6.3%, however on the final part of the climb it reached 16%. Both myself and Steve B found this to be our hardest ride of the day, maybe we had not paced it well enough? Next up was another famous leg breaker, Toy's Hill. We didn't realise that we would be turning left before the end of the climb so got to the top only to have to come back down again before turning right for some lumpy riding up to a place quaintly name Froghole.The next six miles gave our muscles a rest as they consisted of six flat miles which was just as well as suddenly the tallest hill of the day reared up, 'Chalkpit lane'. This had an average gradient of 7.9% but the final quarter reached over a 20% gradient. For most of us, this was the toughest climb of the day and eclipsed even Ditchling Beacon for height gained.We now lost most of that height as we plummeted down Titsey hill. Our next objective was to go up the infamous 'Chalkpit lane ' which joins the Titsey descent some way before the bottom. Unfortunately as we were decending so quickly, we missed the turn (which was far from obvious) and so had to climb back up. White lane was the shortest leg breaker of the day but also the second steepest, briefly reaching 19.9% at one point.A fantastic descent of seven miles followed before the last leg breaker hill of the day. This climb up to the top of Hubbards Hill was nice and steady and did not really deserve to be called  a leg breaker. Now began our favourite part of the whole ride, five miles of slightly downhill riding along the 'Greensand Way'. With hedge rows lining the road on both sides it gave us a tremendous sense of speed. After a 30 minute stop in a very posh (and expensive pub- sandwiches £8) we were treated to almost continuous down hill riding as we dropped from an altitude of 550ft back down to Tonbridge at 150 feet. John S reckoned this is the best route I have ever planned, who am I to argue? This is definitely   a classic which I aim to repeat next year. Thanks to John V, Steve B, Derek, Paul, John S, Simon G and Dan for making it such a great day

'Lovely' Profile

The Infamous 'White Lane'

12 may- Ditchling Double

Onwards To 'The wall!'

This was a new all day early bird special- the Ditchling Double. This was based on the official Puncheur  Sportive that Simon G told us about but modified to take it further east to incorporate the greatest climb at Ashdown forest, 'Kidd's Hill, aka 'the wall'. Up for the challenge were myself, Duncan, Dan , Malc and Ivan. The ride started in Stanmer park next to sussex uni in a nice free car park. A narrow but still mostly tarmacked lane from the  car park took us out on the main road leading up the southern slope of Ditchling Deacon. The easy steady ride to the top of the beacon was followed by the hairy descent down the much steeper (12%) north side. Having only ridden my Giant SCR/Defy for the last week it was a shock to remember just how badly my Rayleigh Avanti handles downhill and it was a relief to reach the valley floor at Ditchling village.From here we headed North through some lovely quiet roads and picturesque villages before heading east into and through Ashdown forest. Dan was having trouble with his gears, the chain jumping between the cassette teeth. We tried adjusting the cable but it made little difference. Lack of cable lubrication was the most likely culprit. Before long we were flying down the fast slightly down hill road through Wych cross and onto Coleman's hatch before taking a sharp right for the decent  down to the bottom of 'the wall'. There was just a moment to glance enviously at the people sitting outside supping lager at the Coleman's Hatch pub'. Ivan was on his fixie and wasn't sure what to expect on this climb. He needn't have worried as Ivan power has been restored (after faltering during the winter cold) and he comfortably stomped up the hill with Malcolm for company. I found the hill quite a bit easier than the last time I rode this hill a month ago and managed to knock exactly a minute off my time. Now we headed due south on the lookout for somewhere to eat. A pub at Nutley was tempting but I knew there was a better pub at Fletchling (the griffin inn). The people working at the pub were very friendly and the sandwiches were excellent, They also serve Harvey's Best which Ivan couldn't resist. With only 17 miles to go, we seemed to have the ride beaten. However, the weather had clouded over and the cold head wind had picked up, These last 17 miles were going to be tougher than we thought. Ivan doesn't normally like cold weather but with a pint of Harvey's inside him he was really enjoying battering into the wind and on some sections raced ahead only to cycle back down to us slower ones and go back up again. On reaching Lewes, Ivan and Malc broke away from us. The rest of us rode steadily towards Ditchling knowing that there was one more 'big push' before the end. The start of the climb is very stark and jumps from 0 to an elevation of 9% almost immediately. This famous climb is the highest one in East Sussex. I had put my garmin onto profile mode to help me judge the length of the climb. After four minutes of climbing I thought my GPS had stopped working as the black dot on the profile didn't seem to have moved up the profile line at all, but there was nothing wrong with the GPS, It was my tired legs that were not working so well. In the end it would take me another five and a half minutes to finally make it to the crest. I had really been looking to the ride down the south side back to the car park but the moment we reached the crest a blast of cold air struck us head on and to keep moving we had to keep pedalling all the way back down to the car park. All in all we thought this was areally good route and although not quite as thrilling as the 'Hell of Ashdown' it is definitely one to repeat next year.

Friday Chaingang Will Now Run All Year Round

Now that a good number of new riders have become Friday chaingang regulars, we have enough riders to run both the Friday chaingang and the Bewl water off road .We have therefore decided that the HSCC Friday chaingang will not officially close at the end of May but will continue all the year round, hurray. Despite enjoying riding  Bewl water offroad, I must admit to enjoying the Friday chaingang more. I intend to do about 50% Bewl, 50% chaingang during the summer months.
The Friday chaingang meets at the top of battery Hill (Fairlight road) every Friday evening at 7:30 sharp.

10 May Friday Night Chaingang- New Steed For Steve

Giant Defy lives Up To The Reviews

Good dry weather but unseasonally cold for the time of year. Apart from Trevor, who braved the conditions in nothing more than a thin jersey and shorts, the rest of us were back to fleecy tops and tights. This was going to be my first proper ride on my most recent eBay purchase, a barely used Giant Defy 2.5.Plunging down Battery Hill, I was immediately impressed with how stable the defy felt, even more so than my much loved SCR, without even trying STRAVA gave me a PB on the descent.At the nature reserve they had made some progress on the section they are repairing but we still had to walk our bikes around it. Josef was going much faster tonight and so I ended up with a lonely solo climb to the top of Broad Oak.To make up for any time I had kept the others waiting , I didn't stop but just rode straight  past.The descent from Broad Oak was great fun on my new steed but before long all the others had caught up with me.They were careful not to sit directly behind me, as with the new saddle bag fitted to the defy, my extra bright rear light was blinding riders behind (will have to swop with the one from the SCR). I was looking forward to seeing how the Defy performed on the Stonestile climb. With straight through forks rather than curved ones, the handling felt tighter than on the SCR which tended to wonder a bit on climbs.Once I have upgraded the rear wheel and the cheapo crank, the defy should easily be able to best the time set on my SCR. Meanwhile up at the front, Barney, Trevor and Stuart had worked together chaingang style, each taking turns at the front encouraging each other on. This helped both Trevor and Barney to get PBs on the climb moving up to 4th and 9th respectively on the all time list.

Trevor And Barney Move Up The Leaderboard

H&StL CC Broad Oak Club TT 8 May times

After 19 riders last week, 6 of the 19 going quicker than in 2012 (several PBs) and 7 first timers could this week be any better?  Conditions were good for the field of 15 riders (it would have been 16 but for Malcolm's puncture after signing on, with the foam not fixing it) and it was dry with moderate to stiff wind.

Club Chairman, Peter Campany

Of the field of 15 riders 14 had ridden last week and 6 of them went quicker.  The biggest improver was a fantastic ride by 14 year old Ollie Chapman (23.16) who was really going for it as he crossed the line, using a borrowed bike to go almost 4  minutes better, amazing.  The other two big improvers were Andy Foster (23.22) and 14 year old Oliver Grainge (26.59) who were almost a minute quicker. Of the others Barny Willard had problems dropping his chain twice so ended up with a good time despite the delays.

Dan Harwood (21.54) won the event (did anyone spot my deliberate typo last week?), with Ivan Johnson (22.13) second and Stuart Hodd (22.23 PB) third. It was great to see Club Chairman Peter Campany ride, he is usually resting Wednesday evenings after a big ride in the morning but had saved himself for an evening ride this week. A big thank you to [big mileage Audax rider] Steve Butcher for starting the sign on and signing the course and having another go supporting Steve Curtis timekeeping.

I will put out a points table soon, remember a maximum of 10 rides count so turn up every week to bag points, especially if the weather is not good and the turn out lower so more points up for grabs!

Pete Tadros was of course the fastest again with a private time trial of 18.00, two seconds quicker than last week and tantalisingly close to recording his third (?)ever 17.**.

Members can ride private time trials in other club events, the vast majority anyway apart from a few exceptions e.g. SDW's on the Q10/19.  Some of us do some of the Eastbourne Rovers or Rye Wheelers TTs and occasionally a Lewes TT.   There are limits to the fields of club events in the evening due to the light but it is very rare for full fields to turn up.

Saturday 11 May:  Leave Bridge café at 10:00, coffee at 9:45 - a couple of you have indicated you intend to be there but a leader has not yet been designated.  Turn up a sort yourselves out for a 30 mile or so ride, if a leader volunteers before the morning I will let anyone know who texts me.  Last week we did the extra few miles via Herstmonceux and across the marsh to Chilley Farm for the first time this year.


Sunday 12 May:  Steve Curtis Double Ditching Downs Ride - see his emails


Club TTs - This Wednesday we are on the Ninfield circuit for 4 weeks - all sign on at 18:30
       
Wed     15 May  Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830  
Wed     22 May  Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830  
Wed     29 May  Ninfield circuit (14)           GS/883  1830


Ride London Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August

A massive event a year on from the London Olympics: a cycling extravaganza in London. I have had a few replies about riding the 100 on closed roads on the Sunday out to Surrey to Box Hill etc but here are more spaces in a team up for grabs if you get back to me ASAP.  See my missive of Tuesday 7 May.


Chris Parker

07902 630574  /  01424 715561
ChrisParkerPett@aol.com

Work: 020 7215 8690
Christopher.Parker@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Fri Chain 3/5 - 'Angels On Bikes'

A record breaking and eventful Friday chaingang . With all the regulars plus Chris W and Josef we had a new record turnout of nine riders. A fast descent down battery hill left Ivan on his fixie struggling to keep up, but before long we had all regrouped at the sea defences. On entering the reserve there was a mature lady struggling to pick herself up, having  just slipped on the uneven tarmac. Simon G and Jon S rapidly went to her aid and helped her to her feet. She was very grateful and said that we were 'angels on bikes! Simon later joked that this was "the first woman he had picked up on a Friday night for 25 years"!

We were extremely Lucky To Miss This!

On the way out of the reserve there was a sudden loud hissing sound and jets of liquid started shooting out from Malcolm's rear wheel. This turned out to be a puncture in Malcolm's rear  tub and the strange spray was sealant coming out. After about 30 seconds the spray died down, the sealant had managed to plug the hole. We all stopped, expecting Malcolm to pump up the tyre but after giving it a squeeze he decided not to bother as it was till about 60% inflated.

Dan meets Us In Reverse

As usual everyone dropped me on the Broad Oak drag, but this time I had Josef just behind me for company. As we rode up I could hear sirens and soon I could see flashing blue lights through the trees. A badly crashed  sports car surrounded by police ambulance and fire engine came into view .Someone had driven down the road too fast, lost control and crashed the car. (the people in the car were sitting in the police car ,and seemed to be OK). If we had been coming up the hill about 15 minutes earlier , would we have got caught up in this accident? Fortunately we will never know the answer. On arriving at the Broad Oak junction I was very surprised to see Dan Harwood there. It turned out, Dan had meant to do the chaingang but had ended up running late and rather than chase us down had decided to ride in the opposite direction, good plan! This extended our new attendance record to ten riders.
We all road together until the base of Stonestile where Dan closely followed by Chris W and Simon attacked the climb. Nobody else went with them as Ivan's legs packed up , while Stuart and Malcolm were content to ride up with me as they were saving their legs for a big TT on Sunday. In the event it was Dan who got to the top first. Hopefully he stravared it, so we can see where he placed on the all time Stonestile rankings.

Victory For Dan On Stonestile

It was good fun to have Dan and so many of us out on the ride .We know how busy Dan is with his large/young family but he really enjoyed it and hopes to come more regularly .
 

HSCC Broad Oak Weds Time Trial May 1

What a great start to our Wednesday evening TT series. The road works were clear of the course so after the concerns we would have to cancel the event we were very pleased it went ahead with many sections now having a lot better road surface than last year.

It was fine sunny evening but a bit cool in a stiff breeze for the field of 19 riders. The fastest two times were private time trials by In Gear duo Pete Tadros (18:02) and Barny Willard (21:01). Both aim to come back next week with a faster finish! Pete is the only rider to have broken 18 minutes (just the once from memory) and wants to do it again. The BLOG recently noted Barny's top placing in the Tour of Malta stage race, although it was said to be Crete, getting wires crossed with my leisurely touring tour in Crete.

Event winner was last year's points series winner Malcolm Daly (21:10) with 15 year old Joe Kingsman (21:39) producing an incredible PB to push Dan Harwood (21:42) in to third place. Joe has had the benefit of some winter training rides with Pete Tadros, as did Dan Harwood five years ago when he last rode with us before working in Oman/Yemen for several years.

It was great to see 14 year olds Ollie Chapman (27:02) and Oliver Grainge (27:46) riding their first club TTs and looking to be closely matched. Unusually both already have two open time trials in their legs. They were well matched in ESCA's Hard Rider and had pretty similar speeds when one did the recent ESCA 10 and the other the ESCA 25. Hopefully they will be able to ride the GHS heats on 6 July at Fowlmead, which is held in conjunction with an open 10 mile TT at the superb and maturing cycle park on the site of the former spoil heap of the Betteshanger colliery just the other side of Dover. If Joe Kingsman rides as well we could aim for the winning team and winners for each age and qualify for the national final on 7 September near Northampton. It is a few years since we have had the winning South East District team and there are some very fast youngsters around but it is something to aim for. In the past some runners up in the age groups have also been offered places in the final. The age limit is under 17 on the day of the final so does anyone know of any more youngsters that can give it a go, especially any girls since there is a good chance to qualify as some of our girl triathletes did quite a few years back now.

Ollie Starts The HSCC TT Season Off

I would recommend the supporting senior event. Why not also take your mountain bikes over for a ride off road for your cool down routine. Check out:
http://www.fowlmead.co.uk/

Many thanks to Steve Curtis for timekeeping and Steve Butcher being assistant time keeper and having a first go at timing to learn the ropes. Thanks to Tim Miles for pushing off and Romana Miles for looking after spare tops and lights etc to be picked up at the finish. Steve Butcher lives very close to the course and has the signs, paperwork, numbers and stop watches for next week at Broad Oak. We will be needing more volunteers to look after the kit and bring it along early each week to be in place by 18:15 ready for 18:30 signing on since Stuart Crabb is not likely to be around until later in the season as he recovers from shingles and Connie a heart operation.

After the event several of us popped in to the Plough in Westfield. Sat at the bar was James Sharples who rode with us a few years ago and was pretty quick as you would expect with his genes. His brother John started cycling as a junior with H&StL CC (about the same time or just before Barny Willard) and is now a well known coach: Trainsharp as in In Gear Trainsharp and the new this season women's team Trainsharp RT. He has also guided several of our members in recent years to make dramatic improvements and break  hour for the 25. I had not realised but the guy who runs the pub was an Eastbourne Rover and as we chatted about all manner of things, Pete was commenting on several riders who would do better with smoother techniques (watch him in full flight to see what smooth riding is) Barny was explaining his breathing techniques for running, cycling and swimming, a complimentary dish of curry with rice and poppodams arrived at the table to welcome us back. The last two years we have had our end of Wednesday TT series club meal there on curry night and will have to do so again! The curry was rather good and our whip round to pay for it was declined so we will have to go back for another drink next week and may be order a curry up front, presumably the curry and drink deal is still on or just ask for another big dish between a table.

Fastest Riders - Pete And Barny

Ceilidh in St Mary in the Castle Sunday 5 May as part of Jack in The Green

Last year a groups of Dutch cyclists came over from our twin town at the invite of HUB and I joined them for some riding and social events.  The ceilidh in St Mary in the Castle (an amazing venue if you have never been there) was great fun: a caller tells all what to do "barn dancing".  Several hundred people were there with FiLo supplying the beer. £9 for seniors or £4 for youngsters.  I aim to be there with Pippa Sunday evening (I cannot make the Saturday evening, BLOG's show in Battle instead) so if anyone else fancies joining the crowd feel free.  No doubt see many of you in town for Monday's procession etc.

Ninfield TT on Wednesdays May 15, 22 and 29 May plus 5 June

The Ninfield course is quite straightforward. Ride it in advance to know your way round since locals do not need signs or marshals for directions……...

The sign on and any car parking is in Downs View (TN33 9JF) off Church Lane which runs past the cricket pitch next to the Kings Arms/Head in Ninfield by the mini roundabout.

Go back a short way towards Bexhill and after the turn to Hooe is a large bus stop lay by with a bus shelter.  This is the start.

Head back to the mini roundabout and straight over it then down Standard Hill then up towards Windmill Hill.  Just before entering Windmill Hill take the left turn to Wartling, going past the entrance to Herstmonceux Observatory.

At Pevensey roundabout turn left on to the main A259 towards Bexhill.

Just before the Lamb on the Marsh take the little slip road sign posted to Battle / Ninfield and TAKE GREAT CARE after a few hundred yards when joining the road opposite the pub.

Take the road through Hooe to finish at the Ninfield village sign some 400 to 800 yards before rejoining the Bexhill to Hailsham road.

 Simples !!!!

Chris Parker