Sunday, March 11

A hill session with Paul, and another well supported ride:  me, Elise, Claire, Nikki, Caroline, Mercy, Sandra, Angela, Ali, Fiona plus two friends.

Paul was great...and very patient ...as at times I think we were all a bit of a hand full! Great coaching for riding up hills and descending. Altering our positions, not changing gear while we are out of the saddle, what to eat before, during and after the rides, making sure we are using the correct gears etc. A very worthwhile session - our thanks to Paul.

We started off at Goodwood Hotel and rode up Sculpture Park Hill in pairs then across Pilleygreen crossroads and down East Dean hill, here the front section encountered a stampede of deers right across their path. Must have been about 8 deer in total. On down the hill and turning left at the pond, past The Fox and on up Charlton Hill.

All went well and then on down Kennel Hill and we cut through Goodwood estate and back up Sculpture Park hill again.

Here about eight of us said our goodbyes as we had planned on having lunch at The Fox (it was my birthday).

At the pub

The Fox is quickly becoming our HQ. We had a lovely lunch and were joined by our honorary Belles - Malc and Simon.

Eventually leaving for home around 2.30pm a few of us cycled back via East Dean Hill (Malc, Caroline, Mercy and myself) and the remainder cycled along the CW and back via Lavant.

Once again many thanks to all who came out to make this such a fun day and indeed a great weekend!

As from Monday April 2 we will be starting Monday evening rides, starting at 6pm and finishing by 8pm. Details to follow.

Saturday, March 3

Ironing Fairies and a Willing, Able and Discreet Handyman - is what we all need!

As advertised at the Compton Cafe

The day started off wet and misty but we still met as arranged at the Goodwood Hotel - Angela, Caroline, Sandra, Jane and Mercy. Instead of doing the epic ride I had designed we made our way towards Compton, starting off up Sculpture Park Hill - we are getting so fit now someone said.... hill, what hill?'

From here we cycled past the racecourse, down Kennel Hill and turned right to Lavant. From here we made our way to Chilgrove, cycling the back lanes and coming out at The Fish House. Then up Chilgrove hill, but instead of turning left at the brow of the hill as we usually do we carried straight on and turned left about half a mile dwn the road. On up the two hills and made our way to Compton. Unfortunately, Jane had a puncture and decided to head home.  The rest of us stopped for a cuppa at one of our favourite cafes.

Mud everywhere!

It was so lovely and sunny by now, we even had blues skies so we sat outside. From here we made our way back to Goodwood via Stoughton. Angela and Sandra turned off and went back to Chichester. I reached home at 2.30pm

Mileage: 42 long and bumpy miles

Great ride - thanks to the girls who came out today.

Next Sunday, March 11 - a Hill session at 9.30am followed by a pub lunch. Let me know if you plan to join us.

Saturday, February 11

Another cold but beautiful crisp, sunny morning, we had a great turnout today...welcome new Belle - Ruth and good to see Felicity,Elise, Caroline, Mercy, Angela, Sandra, Nikki and Leyla out today.

We met outside Bishop Luffa school and made our way towards Salterns Way, the going  wasn't too bad considering the amount of snow and freezing conditions we've had recently.

We arrived at the Chichester Yacht club and made our way over the crossing and this is where I slipped and nearly ended up in the water whilst taking this photo......aargh !

Then another disaster hit - my saddle came off as the screw had snapped! No amount of trying to repair it would it stay on. We were close to The Ship in Itchenor so we decided to cycle there to see if there was anyone who could help. Ruth had a brilliant idea as she had spotted a car belonging to a friend and who was the manager at the Itchenor sailing club and a keen cyclist. Louise came to my rescue with the help of Paul and found a screw the right size to secure my seat!  I found the rest of the Belles in The Ship sitting around the log fire drinking coffees, it was so cosy and warm!

My thanks to Louise, Paul and indeed Ruth for helping out and saving me from cycling all the way back to Chichester standing up!!  (I promise Ruth, our rides don't normally contain so many disasters!)

From here a lovely cycle to West Wittering where we found a new cafe - The Landing. I have to say that they weren't very friendly nor accomodating but as we had heard their hot chocolate was very good we stayed and so glad we did. I recommend their hot chocolate which comes with a huge blob of cream on top and their cakes are good also.

From here we made our way to Brent Lodge and met Emma who kindly showed us around the premises and introducing us all to her various and many patients they have at the moment. They certainly do a wonderful job re-homing these injured birds and mammals. I particularly admired their three beautiful owls.

Brent Lodge is one of our chosen charities which we'll be supporting during 2012.

I'm about to set up a Charity Belles Team on the Just Giving website which will show our two charities for 2012 and our names. So if any Belles who would like to be mentioned as part of the Team let me know and I can add your name. If anyone is interested in donating, they can go to the team site and click and donate to any of the two charities we are supporting, which are The Brent Lodge Wildlife Trust and the Sussex Snowdrop Trust.

Two very worthwhile local charites.

Our fundraising appeal will be published in the Feb 23 issue of The Chichester Observer.

Emma Pink in the foreground, who's  the manager of Brent Lodge

Left to right Belles...Felicity, Mercy, Val, Elise, Angela, Ruth, Sandra and Caroline (Nikki and Leyla had to leave for home earlier)

From here we made our way back to Chichester, I had to rush back as I had to be home by 3.45pm to go to London. Sorry I didn't have the chance to say bye to all but I hope you got home safely.

Many thanks for coming out today and so glad we were able to visit Brent Lodge. Hope to see you all again very soon!

Saturday, February 4

A very cold day (the thermometer showed -2 degrees) but lovely blue skies. The average number of layers worn was 4, with Mercy wearing just 3 layers!

We all met at the Goodwood Hotel - Sandra, Elise, Claire, Angela, Mercy and Caroline. There were a few problems today, starting off with gear problems for Elise, she thought she might have to go home but suddenly they started working again!

We made ur way up Sculpture Park Hill, turning right along the track and down the hill into the woods. The ground was hard, icy in parts but in places very uneven, we had to be very careful.

Up one long hill, here Claire had gear problems but happily sorted them out. We crossed the main road and back into the woods, here we did a circuit (actually I got lost but I don't think they  noticed!) changing direction and down a steep hill (which was great fun) and into East Dean. I know we keep saying this but we are so lucky to live and cycle in this area...

Two pups in a field in East Dean - there's a pup in the background on the left hand side of the pic, he always likes to wear a coat, according to his owner....very sweet

From East Dean we made our way to West Dean cafe, which has just re-opened since the new year.  No major changes here, so happy with our teas, coffees and bacon butties we then set off for home. Along the back lanes and through the fields to Lavant. We seemed to get separated here with me, Elise and Claire cycling back via the estate and to the hotel but Angela, Sandra, Mercy and Caroline turned right in Lavant and Caroline and Mercy had punctures! Not a good end to the day as Mercy had to be in Winchester for 2pm, I think.

Hope you all got home / Winchester safely. Another fun ride today, even if it was cold. I'm looking forward to the snow overnight tonight!

Hope to see you all again soon - next weeks ride is a new one and should be fun.

Sunday, January 29

Another great ride today - 42 miles, lovely quiet route, plenty of hills and we found a new cafe in Petworth.....

A chilly start this morning - we all had cold feet! We met outside our usual venue, cycled up Sculpture Park Hill and on towards East Dean, turning right at the pond and made our way towards the Upwaltham road. From here we cycled on towards Duncton Hill but turning right halfway down towards Barlavington. A pretty route from here all along to Byworth - we heard quite a busy woodpecker going about his chores while we were changing Leyla's flat tyre.

We did our best to repair it but by the time we had finished our tea and cakes in Petworth it was flat again. Leyla's dad came out to collect her and took her back home.

New cafe in Petworth - Chocolate Cafe and Sugar Lounge - well worth a visit and has a good selection of cakes and chocolates.

The rest of us carried on and made our way along the Midhurst road, turning left just opposite the Halfway Bridge pub towards Selham and Ambersham. Another pretty route all along here towards Heyshott, eventually coming out on the Midhurst - Chichester road. On up Cocking Hill and turning left once we arrived in Singleton.

To end on a high note we all cycled into Charlton and up East Dean hill, we were all getting tired now and the hill seemed longer than usual. Bit of a treat to cycle down Scultpure Park hill and back to the hotel.

A great ride, thoroughly enjoyed it and so did ...Angela, Caroline, Leyla and Jane. Good to see you all and thanks for coming out. Back home for a long, relaxing bath for me!

42 miles and I arrived home at 2.30pm just in time to see the final few games of the Nadal v Djokovic final, sadly, Nadal didn't win.

Saturday, January 21

This was a very good ride...long, challenging and hilly.....perfect!

There aren't many photos today as I was too busy cycling up hills!

It was cloudy and was raining lightly when we first met, however it cleared up and we actually saw blue skies by the time we reached Treyford.

This was our route and was the first time we'd cycled it, I think it worked well.....we met at our usual location, cycled through Lavant to Chilgrove and along the back lanes and came out at The Fish House - (encountering a lunatic 4x4 driver who thought he was on the M25 and not a quiet country lane - he was part of the shoot which was going on in the area). At the Fish House we turned right onto the main road and carried on along the road, up Harting Hill  - which was a long slow pull to the top and then a reward of a fast run down the hill into Harting village. Here we regrouped and were so pleased with ourselves for successfully completing the Harting Hill - from both sides.

From Harting we cycled along quiet lanes to Elstead to Treyford to Didling and eventually coming out in Cocking, almost opposite our usual cafe. However, we were dissappointed to see it was closed (wih mattresses piled high in the restaurant, so it could be a while before it opens again).

Caroline offered us all some high energy sweets which helped us carry on up Cocking Hill, which seemed a great deal easier this time around - so our fitness regime looks like it's working!

A peculiar folly in Treyford....

We avoided the Singleton cafe as it was packed, so we went on to The Partridge for cold drinks, coffee, sticky toffee puddings and ice cream....and cheesy chips! We said goodbye to Jane as she had decided to cycle along the road back to Lavant and the rest of us cycled through Charlton and up East Dean hill, again this seemed a lot easier this time around.

A thoroughly enjoyable ride and I think we all enjoyed it! Thanks to Caroline, Jane, Angela, Sandra and Mercy for coming out today.  Hope to see you all again soon.

Mileage: 35 and hilly

Saturday, January 14

We had planned on doing the 40 miles Petworth / Midhurst ride but as Angela still had her cold we thought we'd go a different route which proved to be a lovely ride, we ended up in Bosham for a cuppa.

From Goodwood Hotel we went up Sculpture Hill, straight across the crossroads down to East Dean, past the Fox Goes Free and all along towards West Dean (to note our lovely cafe is closed for most of January) along the back lanes and onto the CW until we met the sharp left hand turning down the CW - here we went onto the Midhurst / Chichester road towards the church in Lavant where we turned right,  past the Kingley Vale car park and all along to Hallidays in Funtingdon, turning left at this point.

Passing the village pond in Walderton we saw a beautiful black swan, she seemed to be all on her own.....

Once in Bosham we had a lovely cuppa at our usual cafe.

The tide was out so we continued around the bay back towards Chichester and home. I reached home at 2pm, approx mileage was 25 miles. Long flat ride and a lovely cold but sunny day.