B Group ride to Shoreham - 10th June '26

John A writes :

Thank you to TimG and Francis for taking on the significant task of leading groups on the long ride from Tanhouse to Shoreham-by-Sea. Thank you also to everyone who joined us for the day. I hope that, despite the changeable weather, you had a good day out at the seaside.

The first group got a bit wet going south and again cycling towards Horsham. But the main wet weather was a very heavy burst when we were riding westwards along Shoreham’s Beach Road. We then made it for the hourly train from Horsham with seconds to spare.

Team JA

Lunch at Brighton City Airport cafe

Francis D'S writes :

The annual Shoreham ride to the coast is always one that club riders look forward to in the summer. Usually, in lovely sunshine. It's great that my middle group of seven was a mixture from different groups - the Wednesday group, Saturday group and the C&M group so it was so good to ride and talk with people I’ve not seen recently or at all. 

Team FD'S

We set off from Tanhouse Farm under foreboding black clouds and optimistic that we’ll beat the rain to Shoreham. Soon we hit the first significant hill, Tower Road and once over it, Eric our back maker, loudly announced to the group that it was now all down hill to the coast. That’s more of a porky-pie that I’m used to telling!!

About halfway there !

Unfortunately, around noon, the rains came on and off but it was still pleasing to ride on Mark Gladwyn’s fabulous route through quiet and picturesque lanes most of the time. 

Soon, a sight of sea gulls over the Downs Link gave us an indication we were very near. At the Swiss Cottage pub, a couple stayed for lunch, as the waiting time had halved to 20 mins whilst the rest of the group sought other venues for lunch before heading homewards by train. 

Thanks John for organising the ride groups etc and my group of John, Anne, Karen, Christina, Lilian and Eric, my back marker, for your company. 

Nothing like the sea air at the beach in Shoreham after a long day’s ride. 

...and Tim G writes ;

After a group reshuffle four of us left in the last group for our trip to Shoreham. A smooth ride south followed the familiar annual route and led us via Faygate, Colgate to Warninglid where we stopped for a photo opportunity courtesy of a couple of local walkers. 

Team TG

We cycled with a sense of optimism as the weather had been very kind to us. Sadly this was short lived as we headed into a heavy downpour just north of Upper Beeding causing us to take shelter under some roadside trees. 

Scenic Warninglid

Undeterred we soldiered on only to be met by further heavy rain along the Downs Link, eventually arriving at the ‘Swiss Cottage’ soaking wet ! We were surprised to find only three fellow cyclists inside who were waiting patiently for their food order. Everyone else seemed to have sought sanctuary elsewhere. 

Further grey skies persuaded me to think twice about heading to the beach for a glimpse of the Shoreham coast so instead headed straight to the station to get my train home. 

Thanks to everyone who made today’s ride a success. A good day out despite the changeable weather.