South Downs (North of Brighton)
June 4, 1998

Distance: 45 miles
Elevation: 2,550 feet
Difficulty: 3/10
Scenery: 5/10;
Route: Ditchling Beacon-Clayton-Hurstpierpoint-Hickstead-Ansty-Balcombe-
Ardingly-Haywards Heath-Burgess Hill-Westmeston-Clayton

This is a clockwise loop in East Sussex starting from a point about 60 miles due south of London. The terrain is very gently undulating, although the rides starts uphill from Ditchling Beacon (which apparently is the last significant hill in the popular London-Brighton annual charity ride held in late June).

Above: Underhill Lane, a quiet open lane just outside of Clayton.
Below: There are several deserted, canopied roads tucked away in an area just east of A23.

Below: Hurstpierpoint College is housed in a group of buildings with attractive architecture. The red color on the road serves as a caution to motorists (and I suppose cyclists, as well) to slow down.

(Below): Going downhill on Buncton Lane, a tricky descent on rough pavement with several blind corners. Fortunately, the road seems little used by motor traffic.

The sky opened up at Balcombe halfway through the ride, giving me the opportunity to eat lunch. It came down in sheets! After finishing my first-ever Cornish pasty (which looks and tastes remarkably similar to the Spanish empanada), I grudgingly got back on my bike. The road out of Balcombe surprised me: there is a very steep climb on the road by Ardingly Reservoir. Although the road was not too terribly busy, it is always unnerving to be passed on a twisty, uphill narrow road in the rain.

Below: A road near Haywards Heath

Below: The final right turn on the B2116 which would take me back to Clayton.