Despite a very wet and bleak start to Sunday morning 6th December, it was decided to wait until 10:15 before any decision was made as to whether the inaugural would go ahead as planned.
14 riders turned up at the shop at 10:00 to be greeted by brightening skies and a strange orange glow from behind the clouds. By 10:40 the sun shone brightly and the roads and paths dried rapidly.
11 riders took to the roads and 3 brave souls, led by Andy Goodyer took their leave and headed toward the Southdowns.
The road riders headed off east toward Washington and an hour or so later, after finding some of the largest puddles in Sussex, stopped for tea and cake at the Camellia Botnar Garden Centre just off the A272 west of Cowfold.
After a warming beverage and large slices of cake, they headed off on the second half of the ride, through the country toward Southwater taking the scenic route through Copsale.
Southwater, the Bax Castle and Barns Green soon followed as the group made its way South, back toward Storrington, through Coolham and West Chiltington, before finally getting back to the shop at around 14:00. Approx 35 miles covered and, apart from being slightly damp from the wet roads, we hadn’t seen a drop of rain which, considering how the day started was a most pleasant surprise.
On returning to the shop the hardy MTB riders had already left, but we were assured that they too had had a most enjoyable ride, if a little muddier.
Everybody seemed to have enjoyed themselves and are all looking forward to a repeat on Sunday 13th December, 10:30 at the shop.
Anyone who would like to join us is more than welcome to come along.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it.
SUB ZERO TEMPS 
