Rough Stuff rides for LFGSS folk, join regular rides that avoid tarmac

while you can SEE the bike path along the Adur, all gates offering a potential route to it are padlocked.

Downs Link was Downs Link

That's odd, done that loads of times and never seen a locked gate. Did you turn left at the A road? (There is a path behind the bush that runs parallel so you don't have to go on the road, just cross it).