StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
New date: AUGUST 21....
Yes, ladies and gents, it's back. Last year, six hardy souls joined me for a ride around the Isle of Wight. That thread is here. This year, I'm hoping a few more peeps will come along. If it's a lot, additional planinng will be required, which is why I've started this thread now.May 15 has been pencilled in as the date, but as a few interested parties might be audaxing on the Sunday, I'm thinking of possibly moving it back a fortnight to the 29th, Now moved to May 29, when I have time off- this also gives the option of an an earlier start if it suits people (on account of working a late shift that's simply not an option for me without taking leave).
Assuming for a moment it's the 15th, Outline is the same as last year. Meet at the Portsmouth car ferry terminal (a short ride from Portsmouth Harbour station) in time for the 2359 sailing- you'll need to be checked in by 2344 at the absolute latest. Anyone going via an alternative route or an earlier sailing will need to be at the Fishbourne terminal to meet us at quarter to one or so. After the safety talk and letting The Traffic get on its way (I kid you not, on both the night recce and the main ride we saw about half a dozen cars between leaving Ryde and the break of dawn, the rest of the ferry vehicles massively outnumbered that), we will head south and then east- in a change to last year, we'll pick up the IOW Randonnee route for a while, thus avoiding the exciting nightlife of Ryde. Round to The Only Shop That Is Open On The Entire Island, Ryde Tesco, for all your retail and rest stop needs. Then on clockwise to Bembridge, Sandown, and Shanklin. If we're very lucky, the useless quango that is Wight Roads will have sorted Undercliffe Drive (landslip took it off the route menu last year).
There is a further rest stop opportunity at Bonchurch (community toilets, which were open last year) before our half-way stop. Now, last year, this was alfresco at the Blackgang picnic site. Excellent view, plenty of bushes, but obviously not ideal for a big mixed group. And the problem is anything that opens will be opening especially for us. There are plenty of church halls, cafes and so on in Ventnor and assorted villages, but they're not going to be interested if it's not worth their while. And I'm sure some people might be more interested if there was a more civilised half-way. I did try dropping the local CTC group (the Wayfarers, who organise the Randonnee) a line last year, but they never responded. Hence starting the thread now- with enough riders it would be worth looking into the options. Ideas on refreshment opportunities welcome.
After that, the coastal road all the way to Freshwater- even if I say so myself, an absolutely glorious stretch, and then to the Needles and Alum Bay. View from the Needles is absolutely glorious, and you don't get it on the Randonnee. Then back north Yarmouth and on to Ryde, probably via Cowes and the chain ferry to East Cowes (the alternative via Newport is rather more prosaic and much busier). Breakfast in Ryde (Wetherspoons were very helpful and did an excellent job last year, many other options available). Return to the mainland either from Ryde (catamaran to Portsmouth Harbour station- ideal for trains but you'll need to buy two singles, and cat tickets are more expensive as well) or four miles back west to Fishbourne (others may prefer to leave us at Yarmouth or East Cowes if it suits better).
As Olaf's Brighton ride, this is not an 'official' FNRttC, but it will be run firmly in that vein- with waymarkers, TECs, gentle pace and no-one left behind, and full & affilliate CTC or BC members for insurance purposes. Please be aware that this is considerably lumpier than any of the usual FNR routes, something in the region of 4,500 to 5,000ft of climbing. In comparison, London to Brighton, and then back to Pompey, is less than 3500ft, in 50% more miles. This is not a ride for those who are hill-phobic. There are flat sections of road, some visible without the aid of an electron microscope, but it never really settles over the 65 miles or so. Nothing really nasty, there are no Ditchling Beacons (those who did last year, Cowleaze Hill will not be on the route this time....) but it's a lot of ups and downs. Compact or triple chainsets and sensible cassettes strongly recommended. I have seen people doing the Randonnee on fixed. Suffice to say, on your head be it....You will need good lights- large sections of the route are well-lit, but as much isn't. In view of the very limited bail-out opportunities (there are ferries during the night, but you might have a bit of a wait both to get back to the port and for the boat), please take extra care to check over your bike and kit, and make sure you have spare tubes, tools for non-quick release wheels (been there, done that....), and so on.
If you're interested, please PM or email me (stu underscore affleck at yahoo dot co dot uk) to get on the list, including your CTC or BC number, mobile number and confirmation that you've read the basics. Please also state if you have a preference for one date or the other- or are equally happy with either- and if you'd be OK with an alfresco half-way or would only want something more civilised.
Yes, ladies and gents, it's back. Last year, six hardy souls joined me for a ride around the Isle of Wight. That thread is here. This year, I'm hoping a few more peeps will come along. If it's a lot, additional planinng will be required, which is why I've started this thread now.
There is a further rest stop opportunity at Bonchurch (community toilets, which were open last year) before our half-way stop. Now, last year, this was alfresco at the Blackgang picnic site. Excellent view, plenty of bushes, but obviously not ideal for a big mixed group. And the problem is anything that opens will be opening especially for us. There are plenty of church halls, cafes and so on in Ventnor and assorted villages, but they're not going to be interested if it's not worth their while. And I'm sure some people might be more interested if there was a more civilised half-way. I did try dropping the local CTC group (the Wayfarers, who organise the Randonnee) a line last year, but they never responded. Hence starting the thread now- with enough riders it would be worth looking into the options. Ideas on refreshment opportunities welcome.
After that, the coastal road all the way to Freshwater- even if I say so myself, an absolutely glorious stretch, and then to the Needles and Alum Bay. View from the Needles is absolutely glorious, and you don't get it on the Randonnee. Then back north Yarmouth and on to Ryde, probably via Cowes and the chain ferry to East Cowes (the alternative via Newport is rather more prosaic and much busier). Breakfast in Ryde (Wetherspoons were very helpful and did an excellent job last year, many other options available). Return to the mainland either from Ryde (catamaran to Portsmouth Harbour station- ideal for trains but you'll need to buy two singles, and cat tickets are more expensive as well) or four miles back west to Fishbourne (others may prefer to leave us at Yarmouth or East Cowes if it suits better).
As Olaf's Brighton ride, this is not an 'official' FNRttC, but it will be run firmly in that vein- with waymarkers, TECs, gentle pace and no-one left behind, and full & affilliate CTC or BC members for insurance purposes. Please be aware that this is considerably lumpier than any of the usual FNR routes, something in the region of 4,500 to 5,000ft of climbing. In comparison, London to Brighton, and then back to Pompey, is less than 3500ft, in 50% more miles. This is not a ride for those who are hill-phobic. There are flat sections of road, some visible without the aid of an electron microscope, but it never really settles over the 65 miles or so. Nothing really nasty, there are no Ditchling Beacons (those who did last year, Cowleaze Hill will not be on the route this time....) but it's a lot of ups and downs. Compact or triple chainsets and sensible cassettes strongly recommended. I have seen people doing the Randonnee on fixed. Suffice to say, on your head be it....You will need good lights- large sections of the route are well-lit, but as much isn't. In view of the very limited bail-out opportunities (there are ferries during the night, but you might have a bit of a wait both to get back to the port and for the boat), please take extra care to check over your bike and kit, and make sure you have spare tubes, tools for non-quick release wheels (been there, done that....), and so on.
If you're interested, please PM or email me (stu underscore affleck at yahoo dot co dot uk) to get on the list, including your CTC or BC number, mobile number and confirmation that you've read the basics. Please also state if you have a preference for one date or the other- or are equally happy with either- and if you'd be OK with an alfresco half-way or would only want something more civilised.
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