A Possible Ride To The Coast (or FNRTTC Revisited) (or Not?)

Please declare an interest by contacting either me or Dave (preferably email).

Longtime SWL members will remember the FNRTTC rides organized by Simon Legg; some may still have the official uniform.

Provided there's interest and subject to successful recce(s), C&M may stage a 2021 replica. Like its inspiration it would be one way trip returning by train. It's based on a well used FNRTTC route but it would not start under the Wellington Arch (Hyde Park Corner) at midnight Friday! So we'll call it SDRTTC (Sunday Day Ride To The Coast). The following are merely suggestions.

Weather will be the defining factor. Leatherhead to Felpham or Climping would be around 50 miles. You can join or leave where ever you like (hopefully by prior arrangement).  A likely route might be: Dorking, Rusper, Horsham, Coolham, West Chiltington, Amberley, Arundel.

Horsham (20 miles), Amberley (38 miles) and Arundel have refreshments and an hourly rail service back to the Smoke if it gets all too much. This may apply to the leader! Bognor and Littlehampton have rail links, but inland towns like Barnham may have a better service. Regular fares are £20+; advanced tickets are cheap (around a fiver)  but so far I've not found any!

Waiting for the roadies in Arundel

 

Finally this is not a route for panniers, MTBs, trikes, tandems, ordinaries nor probably skateboards, e-bikes/e-scooters. Discarding mudguards is optional. 

UPDATE

Yesterday's recce started from Horsham. The four stiles between North and South Stoke are now (tight) kissing gates. Four rather than two hands are now almost essential!  And the route is much overgrown and muddy (last week's rain?). A ride would likely stop at Amberley just as it did 15 to 20 years ago on the C&M "nearly 100" rides.  

On my next recce I'll try Broadbridge Heath (garden centre), Barnes Green,  etc