10 - Viva Lewes

CyCliNg
iN l e w e s
A map makes it easy
I’d cycled since I was a teenager,
for fun and for getting around. It
was just a normal part of my life,
and when we moved to Lewes 16
years ago I was delighted to find it
surrounded by a marvellous network
of quiet country lanes, with some of
the best off-road riding in England
on the South Downs. The local
councils then thought Lewes was too
small and too hilly for bikes to be
much use. But it’s perfectly possible
to get around town by bike, and if
you haven’t tried a bike for a decade
or three you’ll find modern gears, which comes out by Offham church, from where you can follow lanes
brakes and lights are in a different to Barcombe. For the South Downs, take the bridle path up to the left
league from the unreliable equip- of the road to the old racecourse, then turn right to Black Cap and
ment you probably remember. Ditchling Beacon.
Lewes now has two cycle shops, To get started you’ll need to decide what kind of bike you want. Espe-
and some streets seem to have bikes cially for children, it’s worth avoiding ultra-cheap models, which can
chained outside every other house. be offputtingly heavy. Hybrid bikes blend features of traditional and
It’s a sight that would have pleased mountain bikes and have useful items like lights, mudguards and racks
Elisabeth Howard, the veteran included. Electric bikes have developed amazingly, and might be the
campaigner who was my first contact solution if your hill-climbing ability is limited.
in the Lewes cycling world. She en- Despite all the technological advances, chains and brake cables still rust,
couraged some of us to put together so aim to store your bike under cover. A sturdy cable or D-shaped lock
a route map and article for Lewes will deter opportunist thieves and modern tyres have fewer punctures
News, which eventually turned into (tip: carry spare inner tubes so that you don’t have to try to glue a patch
the 2008 Cycle Lewes map, paid on while you’re out). You can also get training in cycling confidence and
for by a Lewes District Council air cycle maintenance, from local cyclist Mike ‘onyerbikemike’ Bray and
quality initiative.
from Bike for Life in Brighton.
The idea of the map is to encourage More hints and tips on cycling in and out of town, cycling with
cycling by showing where Lewes children, cycling and trains and background on local issues such as
cyclists actually go. For example the long-awaited Ringmer cycle path are on the Cycle Lewes website
New Road provides a very useful cut – please do get in touch if you would like to help to develop this as an
across from the Pells to Westgate. organisation. Anne Locke
A good way out of town – though Cycle Lewes map free from Tourist Info or www.cyclelewes.org.uk; oth-
it can be muddy – is north from erwise contact Anne on 475381. Cycle training www.onyerbikemike.co.uk,
the bottom of Landport, on a track 07740 947 892 or www.bikeforlife.org.uk, 676278 or 07982 230881
W W W. V i Va L E W E s . C o M
c y c l i n g
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