Hi all.  I am leading a cycle ride on Sunday 30 August.  It will involve going out by train to Horsham and cycling back to Croydon.  Meet at East Croydon booking hall at 8.55am sharp.  (Or join train at later stations, see below.)  Preferable already with your ticket.

It will be possible to avoid cycling the whole route back to Croydon by catching a train from somewhere on the line between Horsham and Croydon.  (e.g. Merstham)  You should adopt a flexible and patient attitude.  The precise route back to Croydon will not be known until we are underway.   Therefore it is not possible to say how long the ride will be.  Having said that, I aspire to come back over Farthing Downs and likely a fair bit of Brighton Road from Coulsdon north (rail geek pun).   The whole route would likely be between 30 and 40 miles.  We have the whole day.  Few big hills!

Bring some food / snacks and plenty of drink to keep you going.  We will hope for a cafe or pub stop or stops along the way but a full pub meal cannot be guaranteed.

The train I intend to catch is the 9.12 Thameslink service to Horsham (arriving 10.06).  This is a slow stopping service but the benefit is the generous space on such a train for lots of cyclists.  Cos obvs I’m expecting  hoard!  The disadvantage is it only hourly.  Bring a packed breakfast / coffee!?

The train will call at these intermediate stations:  Purley 9.17; Cousldon South 9.21; Redhill 9.31; Gatwick Airport 9.44.

As it is a Thameslink service, don’t buy the ‘Advance Single’ for use only on Southern trains.  I suggest buying an anytime single which is £17.60 or get a third off with a suitable railcard.

The cycle will be predominantly on road.  Or off road tracks with a firm cycling surface such as a bit of the ‘Downs Link’.   So very narrow tyres will be uncomfortable.

Look forward to seeing you.

Andrew

07985 936953