Andrea Fox: back in the saddle
Juice FM’s Andrea Fox gets on her bike
The summer months rolled in, and then rolled back out again, and I’ve realised I’ve been doing the minimal amount of running. My head has been turned by summer sports and activities instead! Like sea swimming, and erm, sunbathing, and BBQs! Maybe more emphasis is needed on the ‘activities’ rather than ‘sports.’ But as the nights get cooler, one summer activity that I won’t be waving goodbye to (like my bikinis) is another ‘b’, my bike. Oh yes, I have wheels these days. I’d love to give you loads of tips on good brands and models to pick up expensive, snazzy sports bikes, but mine is a loan. I wanted to try out nipping around town and a friend who I didn’t think could even spell bike, never mind ride one, told me I could borrow hers. My best friend has had my trusty steed since her A Levels but, amazingly, it’s in good condition and looks like a grown up bike. Readers, it’s purple, and the best thing about it: it’s got a basket! It doesn’t have a bell, so I’ve come up with a novel way of alerting tourists to my approach as they meander into the seafront cycle lanes. Shouting ‘DING DING.’
What started as a way to get to the supermarket and back quickly is fast getting out of control. I’ve started memorising cycle route numbers! Heck, I even cycled to and from Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Bootique at the Amex! Living in Brighton as long as I have, you’d be forgiven for thinking I’d already be an experienced cyclist, but when I moved here to go to university, to be honest, I was too scared! I hid my cycling nerves by blaming the combination of too many English books and too much rain, but really I just didn’t fancy negotiating the Vogue Gyratory at rush hour. But the flat route from mine to the food shops soon increased my biking confidence, and I didn’t even get my cycling proficiency at school!
If you fancy getting a bit Victoria Pendleton or Bradley Wiggins this autumn, here’s my non-cyclists guide to Sussex cycle routes you can cycle.
First up is the route to Lewes aka cycle route 90. A personal favourite because there’s a high chance of seeing horses and scrumping some apples, and you have the Harvey brewery at the end! Oh, and it’s really flat. The only steep bit is just past the University of Sussex, then it’s pretty much a two mile slight downhill jaunt. It’s barely taxing at all, excellent! And if you are worried about the journey back, there’s always the train.
Next up, the cycle to Devil’s Dyke. Ok it’s mostly the bus route and you do have to negotiate some busy roads and it’s up hill, but the VIEWS! But you will have to cycle back, no bikes on buses. And finally this; the Guildford to Shoreham route. Following an old train line, it’s a 37 mile route that is 90 per cent traffic free. Ok I haven’t done it yet but I’m told autumn is the best time to check it out as the leaves turn. Maybe just one way to start with? Check out cranleighrailway.info/articles for
the info.
Some more I’m reliably told are good: the undercliff pass to Ovingdean, play ‘which boat would you own’ as you go past the Brighton Marina and wear shades if it’s sunny. Route 21 from Brighton to Crawley, watch out for scary forests. The South Downs Way route, which runs from Winchester to Eastbourne running just north of Worthing and Brighton. Expect epic scenery. And try out the Cuckoo Trail north of Polegate on your bike. Find out more on routes here; nationaltrail.co.uk/southdowns
When I think about why I’ve spent so much of the summer on two wheels, I think (if I’m honest) it’s because I like the idea of exercise, sitting down.
Dan Gasser and Foxy Monday to Friday from 6am
