IOW Randonee 2010 Sunday 2nd May

[redjedi]

(My bike doesn't 'do' foreign soil.)

You're not taking orders from your new ride already are you?

You've got to show her who's boss

 

[ufkacbln]

The south part of the Island is a bit of a slog and there are lots of hostelries to distract you as well.

 

[yoyo]

The south part of the Island is a bit of a slog......

I call it very hard and have to confess to walking some of it after a Dutch car overtook me so close that it almost touched me.

 

[ufkacbln]

I'm in the 2008 gallery!

.and there can be some queues for the ferry at Cowes

 

[mistral]

I could be persuaded, have to check with family though

A ride down from Farnborough sounds attractive. Did 60 miles this morning and the lack of miles due to adverse weather since before Christmas was telling. Lots of huffing & puffing through the Surrey Hills!

 

[Bollo]

.and there can be some queues for the ferry at Cowes

Just to clarify, that isn't the ferry from the mainland, but the 'chain bridge' that crosses the Medina at Cowes and frequent scene of discontent between the Saxondale-a-like operator and cyclists.

MacB et al - you've got two choices for the ferry - Southampton or Portsmouth. I don't know which is easier to ride to from London or F'boro?

 

[StuAff]

Just to clarify, that isn't the ferry from the mainland, but the 'chain bridge' that crosses the Medina at Cowes and frequent scene of discontent between the Saxondale-a-like operator and cyclists.

MacB et al - you've got two choices for the ferry - Southampton or Portsmouth. I don't know which is easier to ride to from London or F'boro?

Like Bollo, not sure which port will be easier to get to. Six of one half-dozen of the other which ferry route is better- car ferry from Pompey is a bit quicker, but a little further from the nearest Randonee checkpoint (East Cowes checkpoint right by the terminal, whereas Fishbourne to the Wootton checkpoint is about a mile, so not too inconvenient).

 

[PpPete]

I will have to apply for permission, but could be there.
Southampton ferry for me. If anyone coming down through Winchester would love to join in from around Eastleigh.

 

[Bollo]

I will have to apply for permission, but could be there.
Southampton ferry for me. If anyone coming down through Winchester would love to join in from around Eastleigh.

Eastleigh's as good a route as any to Scumton from Winch. I'll get my people to talk to your people nearer the time .

 

[ufkacbln]

Just to clarify, that isn't the ferry from the mainland, but the 'chain bridge' that crosses the Medina at Cowes and frequent scene of discontent between the Saxondale-a-like operator and cyclists.

MacB et al - you've got two choices for the ferry - Southampton or Portsmouth. I don't know which is easier to ride to from London or F'boro?

One of the best parts of this ride is the hundreds of cyclists taking over the ferry from Portsmouth!

 

[StuAff]

One of the best parts of this ride is the hundreds of cyclists taking over the ferry from Portsmouth!

+1. Southampton may be the same, but I'm hardly going 20-odd miles (and for a longer journey to boot) to find out!

 

[Bollo]

The Southampton ferry is also fun but not worth the detour from Pompey - the trek down Scumton Water is has some sights and allows enough time to stuff a decent ferry fryup down your chops. It all adds to the event.

 

[PpPete]

The Red Funnel vehicle ferry from Southampton..... Cafeteria & food onboard is remniscent of a 1970's motorway service station, but the prices are very reasonable, especially as they have a captive audience. I used to travel over to IOW quite regularly, as had business in East Cowes - always had fry-up breakfast.

By the way - anyone thinking of driving down to ferry .... Parking at that end of Southampton is horrendously expensive. Train would be better bet and Station to Ferry is only a mile and flat.

 

[StuAff]

The Red Funnel vehicle ferry from Southampton..... Cafeteria & food onboard is remniscent of a 1970's motorway service station, but the prices are very reasonable, especially as they have a captive audience. I used to travel over to IOW quite regularly, as had business in East Cowes - always had fry-up breakfast.

By the way - anyone thinking of driving down to ferry .... Parking at that end of Southampton is horrendously expensive. Train would be better bet and Station to Ferry is only a mile and flat.

Ditto for Pompey- there is a car park by the terminal, £7.20 for the day, many metered spaces particularly in Southsea... another option would be to park somewhere quiet (like the industrial estate just east of me) & bike down.

 

[PpPete]

£7.20? Always knew Pompey was "cheap"

Southampton is £20 /day during the week, not sure about weekends.