TINSLEY GREEN
In the 1932 BCC Ride Handbook Crawley appears 8 times throughout the season as a destination or as a tea stop. The flat basin between the North and South Downs was clearly popular for races, BCC held 50, 100 mile and their 12 hour time trials in and around there that year.
After WW2 Gatwick grew and grew becoming an international airport in the late 50’s and no doubt consumed a number of those well used lanes…and Tinsley Green? Well, that was the old name of what is now Gatwick Airport train station!
Our route starts and ends with some familiar lanes but with a fantastic flat portion in the middle. First stretch heads out past Farleigh, up Beddlestead Lane before dropping down to Westerham. Next the rise to Crockham Hill then we head westward and the roads flatten as we head to Copthorne. Skirting Gatwick we then turn towards Reigate and up the now familiar Wray Lane! Then the run home to Balham.
No less than 3 possible stop options too, Westerham, Copthorne and Reigate Hill.