Worthing to Brighton

TheJollyJimLad

Morning all!

I live in Worthing and start a new job in Brighton next week as a 4 hours minimum commute to and from London by train/tube per day was starting to drain a little! Thankfully I can now go back to cycle commuting as it's going to be a 22 mile round trip and my new employers have a shower available.

Does anyone cycle between Worthing and Brighton and is the National Cycle Route 2 any good for a road bike on a speedy commute? Are there other pleasant options?

Squiggsy

I used to cycle round that way - not as a regular commute though.

I'd probably go along the coast as default, depending on where you need to get to in Brighton. What other options were you thinking of?

I wouldn't want to chance my arm on the A27 if I were you!

TheJollyJimLad

I'm cycling to near the Seven Dials Roundabout (Hove, I suppose) from the centre of Worthing.

The main coast road (A259?) gets quite fast and furious during rush hour I can imagine and I have already had something thrown at me by some charming Vauxhall Nova boyz by daring to ride something as revolutionary as a Brompton along the sea front so I imagine it gets a little intimidating too.

What I had in mind was using the NCN 2 (The South Coast route) despite the fact that you have to dismount to cross a couple of bridges at Shoreham so firstly I wanted to know if anyone had cycled this stretch on a road bike. In the summer I thought of dusting down the rigid mountain bike, cycling up Dyke Road and going along part of the South Downs Way as the commute home.

Wooliferkins

There is a cycle path along the beach from Lancing to Shoreham then you can either go over the footbridge or the road bridge. I've ridden the Downs way from Shoreham to the Dyke on a tourer. Been away from Sussex for a few years now but there must be a way to shadow the A259 once you are past the industrial estates east of Shoreham. Tried contacting your local CTC

TheJollyJimLad

Thanks for the advice and I am a member of CTC.

I've only lived in Worthing for 7 months so I'll contact the local DA and see what they say.

I'm looking forward to giving the South Downs Way a go!

Squiggsy

I don't think the A259 can get TOO fast and furious as it's 30mph limit virtually all the way along. I used to be fine along there on a road bike, but I guess a Brompton might not be quite as comfy.

You can certainly get a few straight bits of quietish roads running parallel between the A27 and A259 from Shoreham to Portslade, I'll see if I can dig out road names etc over next couple of days. From Portslade to Dyke Road / Seven Dials you've either got Portland Road, or can find some back streets to go along. Give me a couple of days.....

TheJollyJimLad

Thanks Squiggsy. My Brompton is fast but I'll be on the road bike for this commute.

I look forward to hearing your ideas.

Squiggsy

You colud try this: -

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... /146682484

If link doesn't work PM me with email addy and I'll send it from the site.

I've shown the A259 as far as Shoreham from Worthing, but as earlier poster said, there's cycle lanes adjacent to road for a big chunk of this IIRC.

Cheers
Anthony

TheJollyJimLad

Thanks! I hadn't used that website before!

Before I start the new job on Monday, I'm going to do a 'dummy run' on Saturday and I'll let you know how the commute goes.

Ms TheJollyJimLad can't quite understand what all my excitement is about but as she says, she'd rather see me excited about getting back onto the saddle for commuting as opposed to getting excited about games consoles or total wastes of time!

Once again, many thanks

Jim

TheBoyBilly

Jim, it seems to be that the main concern for you regarding this commute is the Shoreham portion and I , being a resident, can understand why. The A259, while being a 30mph limit from Norfolk Bridge all the way to Brighton, suffers from heavy traffic at commute times and many inconsiderate, inattentive and downright dangerous drivers. If you can manage the Cycle route to the Royal Coach you should be okay over the bridge. From the start of the High Street (Ropetackle) I would go left at the roundabout up to the Swiss Cottage where you turn right into Freehold Street. From there I suggest working your way eastwards (not doing any major turns until you reach Shoreham Railway Station. Then a left and right into Gordon Road down to Eastern Avenue. A left then (takingyou away from the second level crossing) up to the lights. Right turn into Middle Road. From here you go (again not taking any major rights or lefts but crossing junctions) to Southwick. You will be following the railway on the northern side. At Southwick Green look for the Cricketers pub and head into Southwick Square. At the eastern end of this (past all the shops) turn left then right into Manor Hall road. this will take you all the way to Fishersgate, about a mile and a half. From the mini roundabout turn right, go under the railway bridge to another mini r/about and do a left (Vale Road). Follow the road (round the one-way bit) to the lights at Portslade and the wide road opposite (New Church Road) will take you all the way to Brighton and it's quite a pleasant ride for most of it. You can go all the way to Churchill Square using this road but I'm not too sure the best way up to Seven Dials. This is, in my opinion,the safest option, avoiding the A259 all the way. You will however encounter school runs at Middle Road and Manor Hall Road but the route, all in all, is enjoyable. Your not going to get a completely traffic free yet fast route into Brighton. I hope this helps.

TheJollyJimLad

Thanks BoyBilly. Shoreham was indeed the stretch where the commute plan was going a bit wobbly! I've caught the bus before from Worthing to Brighton recently along the A259 and I thought at the time that, even though I'm a very experienced cyclist I wouldn't want to put myself through cycling along there day in day out (due to it seeming quite intimidating. I'm sure that Shoreham is lovely!)
Thanks for the option and I shall certainly be trying that out.

JB_2004

Haven't logged in for months, and then I find a post about the commute I do!

I do Goring to Hove (Old Shoreham Road - nr PC World). Have done it for nearly 5 years now.

The only problem areas are:
- heading East towards the Shoreham Beach roundabout in the morning, but normally plenty of room to ride between the two lanes of traffic
- Shoreham high street. Got knocked off for the 1st time ever 3 weeks ago - someone pulled out in front of me from the left.
The rest is all fine on the A259, and even those bits are not normally too bad.

The cycletrack by Widewater Lagoon is nice now they have done it up, but the bit by Lancing trailer park and sailing club is still bumpy, and it's very dark there in the evening, and it's longer. If you use the footbridge in Shoreham to re-join the A259, it does however cut out the worst of the traffic.

Two other options:
1) heading east, once you cross the Norfolk Bridge, hang a L and follow the river to the mini roundabout, then head R up Upper Shoreham Road, then on to Old Shoreham Road, and eventually to 7 Dials. Bit more hilly (good training), but misses out the worst of Shoreham High St. I go this way in the evenings.
2) come home on the Downs in the summer - it's wonderful! I take the remainder of the old Hove to Devils Dyke railway path from the back of Hove up to the Dyke, then just follow the SDW to Cissbury Ring.

Enjoy the Westerly winds in the mornings!

Cheers
jules

TheBoyBilly

Jules, I haven't got the bike for a South Downs ride but I would like to give it a go. What is the route from Brighton? Is it clearly signposted? I think I could borrow a suitable bike to try it out and hopefully make it to the Truleigh Hill area where I can whizz down Mill Lane in Shoreham to home. Then I would have an excuse for another bike in the shed....huzzah!!
Bill

TheBoyBilly

Jules, I haven't got the bike for a South Downs ride but I would like to give it a go. What is the route from Brighton? Is it clearly signposted? I think I could borrow a suitable bike to try it out and hopefully make it to the Truleigh Hill area where I can whizz down Mill Lane in Shoreham to home. Then I would have an excuse for another bike in the shed....huzzah!!
Bill

JB_2004

Bill

Hopefully this shows the way:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... /576160109

The old railway track from the top of Hangleton Way, and going on the foot bridge across the A27 isn't shown on the may, so I've approximated it. There's an obvious car park where it starts, just after a row of shops on the L.

SDW is obvious when you get to it!

I have left the map at the point where you can bear R through a gate and head down hill to cross the A283 and Adur, or hang a L down Mill Hill back to Shoreham.

Good luck with the new bike!

Jules

TheBoyBilly

Good luck with the new bike............

this begs the question.........which one would you suggest?, lol

Oh my poor credit card,

Bill

JB_2004

Bill

Toooooooooo much choice!

I've got a really nice French steel-frame hardtail which I've built up.

Jules

TheBoyBilly

I'd like to stay with Spesh. My budget (which would still allow me to talk to "her indoors") is in the region of £400, maybe a stretch to £500 at a push. Not too sure if I'd like suspension though, what do you think?

JB_2004

Bill,

Personally I wouldn't go full suspension - unless you spend heaps, there's still a weight disadvantage, and I'm keen on as light a bike as poss. Yes - go for front suspension, and maybe a suspension seat post to take the sting out of the downs when the ground gets hard in the summer. You should be able to get a Spesh Rockhopper for under £400 - prob a 2007 model. Go for discs if you can. There's always good 2nd hand deals around - worth it if you can apply a bit of TLC. How about something off www.retrobike.co.uk? Some cool machines there!

Jules

TheBoyBilly

Thanks for that Jules. I will keep an eye out for a bargain of some sort. Actually the SDW route would be a nice way of popping over to the Shepherd and Dog at Fulking on a sunny Sunday lunchtime. I'm trying to work out if that's feasible from your aerial shots. I think it is, just. A nice traffic-free route, just the job.

Bill

JB_2004

Bill

yes it would be a great way of getting to the pub in Fulking (don't know why I never figured that before!) Nice steep decent off the SDW, then a big climb back up when you're full of pie and ale!!!

J

TheBoyBilly

On that note Jules, I could always wimp out, avoid the climb and return via Upper Beeding and the old railway line. Which brings me to this: have you ever ridden that route, and if so how far did you go? You will notice the pub theme going on here.....but I would be interested to know how nice a ride it is up to say, Henfield, and back where I can reward myself with a pint or two in the Red Lion. Or even just as far as Ashurst for the lovely Fountain Inn (with log fire and all) Oh, how I love country pubs....and real ale!!
Just got to try and borrow my mates Rockhopper at some point.

Bill

TheBoyBilly

Oh Jules, I forgot to ask. Looking at your the aerial shots I notice that quite a few of the paths pass by farm buildings etc. Are there any restrictions that you know of. The last thing I need is to come home and have to remove shot pellets from my ar*e, lol.

Bill

TheBoyBilly

How did you get on with your recce Jim lad :?:

TheJollyJimLad

Hi!

Sorry about the late response but the new job is going very well and haven't had much chance to go online in the evenings. I did the National Cycle Route as my recce which was OK (apart from the leaving drinks I'd had the night before!) but it's only really good as a leisure route as I would hate to have to stand with my bike at the harbour lock whilst a large ship drifts out to sea. Must be quite a sight though.
In the end I settled on the A259 as I wanted to keep it direct and the recent storms meant parts of the coast path couldn't be ridden on a road bike due to washed up shingle and wood. The ride to Brighton has been VERY fast (cutting up via Portslade Station and Hove) but heading home has been like pushing a brick wall up a hill for 11 miles. It's all good fun though. It's worth it for passing all the motorists going into Shoreham and the other cycle commuters always give a friendly nod.
Hopefully by the summer I'll be incorporating less direct more scenic routes but for now by body is adjusting to 22 miles a day from a very long break!