England : Isle of Wight Night Ride Around the Coast 2016 (June 3)

[redfalo]

Sorry, I'm out of this one, as I have a workshop on June 4 I don't want to miss.

 

[StuAff]

Sorry, I'm out of this one, as I have a workshop on June 4 I don't want to miss.

Unlike, but quite right to pick that!

 

[Nigel182]

will be booking ferry and train tickets in the next week or so......whats the bike parking like on the deck have only used DFDS from Newhaven to Dieppe bikes were roped together by the crew is WightLink similar ??

 

[StuAff]

will be booking ferry and train tickets in the next week or so......whats the bike parking like on the deck have only used DFDS from Newhaven to Dieppe bikes were roped together by the crew is WightLink similar ??

Absolutely no need to book ferry tickets- there's no advance fare discount (and no return discount if you're not going back across via Fishbourne either, as fares on the cat are higher) and I have never had problems getting on. On the car ferry, bikes usually get rested against the bow doors, naturally we'll be first off. The cat has stands.

 

[Flying Dodo]

will be booking ferry and train tickets in the next week or so......whats the bike parking like on the deck have only used DFDS from Newhaven to Dieppe bikes were roped together by the crew is WightLink similar ??

Assuming you're getting the ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, you just rest your bike against the side of the boat, usually at the front. Coming back, if you get the catamaran from Ryde, there's specific bike racks, enough for at least 30 bikes, at the back of the boat.

 

[StuAff]

Great minds thinking alike. Possibly!

 

[tatr]

Ask a local for where to wedge your bike to keep it away from the salt spray. (The further forward the better?)

 

[StuAff]

Ask a local for where to wedge your bike to keep it away from the salt spray. (The further forward the better?)

Any further forward and they'd be in the sea. No risk of salt spray on the cat either.

 

[Nigel182]

Absolutely no need to book ferry tickets- there's no advance fare discount (and no return discount if you're not going back across via Fishbourne either, as fares on the cat are higher) and I have never had problems getting on. On the car ferry, bikes usually get rested against the bow doors, naturally we'll be first off. The cat has stands.

Assuming you're getting the ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, you just rest your bike against the side of the boat, usually at the front. Coming back, if you get the catamaran from Ryde, there's specific bike racks, enough for at least 30 bikes, at the back of the boat.

Thanks for replies getting to the can't wait zone now

 

[PaulRide]

Email sent to you, Stu! I've just abandoned my Randonnee plan and this sounds like an excellent alternative. Diary is clear.

 

[StuAff]

Have pencilled in May 6/7 for the night recce.

 

[StuAff]

…And the weather's looking excellent for a recce, so I will be going ahead with it.

 

[PaulRide]

I look forward to hearing how the recce goes. I've just booked a ticket from my local station for the princely sum of £5 that gets me to Portsmouth Harbour with an hour to spare before the ferry sails.

I'm undecided about the timing of travel home, but will probably aim to return to the mainland by 4.30 or so on the Saturday afternoon. That should allow some time for food and even a snooze on a bench somewhere. Does anyone know if tickets back to London are likely to massively more expensive if I buy them on arrival at Portsmouth?

 

[Bollo]

I look forward to hearing how the recce goes. I've just booked a ticket from my local station for the princely sum of £5 that gets me to Portsmouth Harbour with an hour to spare before the ferry sails.

I'm undecided about the timing of travel home, but will probably aim to return to the mainland by 4.30 or so on the Saturday afternoon. That should allow some time for food and even a snooze on a bench somewhere. Does anyone know if tickets back to London are likely to massively more expensive if I buy them on arrival at Portsmouth?

Neither Portsmouth Harbour or Southsea are big stations so I think the ticket offices are shut around 7pm, so you'd be left with what the machines have to offer, which isn't much. Best wait until the journey home unless you can get another advance discount.

 

[Bollo]

Enjoy the recce @StuAff! It looks mild, dry and not too windy.