Brighton and Hove Section of the Clarion Cycling Club

A record turn-out (augmented by Clarion CC riders from across the UK) at the Eastbourne Easter Meet, 4 April 2010, for a ride up The Cuckoo Trail and around the Pevensey Levels

Please note that this website will no longer be updated. For the latest news of Brighton and Hove Clarion, please go to our new blog.

The Clarion Cycling Club was founded in 1894/5 as an offshoot of The Clarion weekly socialist newspaper edited by charismatic journalist Robert Blatchford. Unlike other Clarion organisations, the Cycling Club survived through the 20th and into the 21st centuries. For more information see the national website www.clarioncc.org.

The Brighton and Hove Section was formed at the end of February 2004. An earlier Brighton section disappeared in the 1950s(?). It included one of our current members. At the moment we are concentrating on organising fortnightly rides. Usually these involve meeting at a railway station. For this our basic principles are:

• Start at a relatively civilised time
• Avoid busy roads, long or steep hills as far as possible
• Distances of 20-25 miles (or less particularly in winter months)
• Return to Brighton station before dark in the winter.

Anyone who wishes to is welcome to join us; it is not necessary to join the Clarion in order to participate. Safety is, of course, a paramount concern but we all participate at our own risk. Browse our archive to get a better idea of what we do.

The Next Ride

Please be clear that while all are welcome to join us we each take part in rides at our own risk.

Sunday 6 February
Berwick circular, c 14 miles only

This is what should have been the last ride of 2010 - which had to be cancelled because of ice and snow. It's a really short and flat one that maybe will tempt everyone out unless the weather is atrocious. We'll do the usual loop round the Berwick, Ripe, Chalvington area and stop for lunch at the Yew Tree pub.

Distance: c 14 miles.
Hills: If I say there aren't any hills, someone is bound to point out that the road went 'up' for 10 or 20 metres at some point - but it really is pretty flat.
Off road: None.
Traffic: Quiet roads.
Catering: Yew Tree for lunch. Possible tea stop (depending on train times and our own progress) at the Berwick Inn.

Catch the 10.20 from Brighton station (platform 8) or meet at Berwick station at 10.43. Trains back at 14.35, reaching Brighton at 15.06, or 15.35 (16.06). There is an in-between possibility at 14.53, which involves two changes - on to Polegate and then back again changing at Lewes. Don't think I'd fancy that one if I was using the train.

(Be at Brighton Station by 10.05 for Groupsave.) Ian's mobile number is 07770 743287

Anyone fancying a longer ride from Lewes (meeting the rest of us en route or at the pub) please contact Jenny to discuss the possibilities on 01273 400896.

Ian

It is not necessary to join the Clarion to participate in our rides. Equally it is not necessary to participate in the rides to join the Club! If you're interested in racing, Audax rides or strenuous touring, contact Bob Harber at bobharber@tiscali.co.uk.

To join the Clarion CC please print out and fill in the PDF membership form making sure to sign the declaration at the bottom. The membership fee if you're 18 or over is now £7 (£4 for under-18s): £6 for the National Clarion subscription and £1 for the local section subscription. If paying by cheque or P.O. make payable to Brighton & Hove Clarion Cycling Club. Jim will then send it on to the national membership secretary, Donald Lever. Email me on i.bullock@ntlworld.com if you have any queries or if you would prefer a paper form.

Send completed form to Jim Grozier, 92a Springfield Road, Brighton BN1 6DE with the appropriate fee.

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