Polite
Über Member
I thought I would share my most recent adventure, of cycling around the Isle of Wight, clockwise, and post a few snaps from my day and a half tour of the island. For someone like me I find this type of sharing invaluable so I hope you do too.
Day 1.
I got an early train to Portsmouth and had planned a trip to the ferry terminal but I received the added bonus that you just walk off the train into WightLink ferries, in my case for the catamaran to Ryde, it's less than 20 minutes and bikes are free. A return ticket is £23. There are also ferries to Fishbourne which take a bit longer. I arrived at Ryde at approximately 8.45am. I had a map of the island but just cycled from the ferry pier and followed the signs (blue, in my case, for clockwise, white for anticlockwise). I cycled for about 50 miles on day one to my destination of Totland Youth Hostel (£26 for the night) however I made a couple of detours including a visit to the old battery of The Needles (National Trust £4.80 or free if member), well worth it. With a couple of sandwich stops I arrived in Totland at 3.30pm. It was a beautiful day and mainly wind assisted though still quite chilly. After a fish and chip supper I chatted to a couple of other cyclists then slept like a log. For me the highlights were Ventnor, Chale and The Needles.
Day 2
An earlyish start, I jumped on the bike at 9am. This time I headed to Freshwater then followed the signs. Weather was much colder and facing the wind so I just got my head down and cycled. One mini stop to eat some fig rolls and drink some water. I found it quite hilly, consistently, nothing major but then perhaps yesterday had caught up with me. I arrived back in Ryde just in time for the 13.47 ferry, so about four and a half hours in the saddle. Cowes looked nice though I didn't stop.
The trip could be extended for longer and there are quite a few cycle routes mapped out along the way though mine was merely a cycle round the island. I clocked just under 80 miles including cycling to and from my home station in Hove though I think the official route is 64 miles! They say it's slightly more forgiving if you tackle it clockwise though you can do either route from Ryde. I'm sure some people do it in a day though for me this was perfect and quite leisurely - average 10.1 mph - and that included enjoying the views.
I hope you find this useful, I know I would, and feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks.
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Day 1.
I got an early train to Portsmouth and had planned a trip to the ferry terminal but I received the added bonus that you just walk off the train into WightLink ferries, in my case for the catamaran to Ryde, it's less than 20 minutes and bikes are free. A return ticket is £23. There are also ferries to Fishbourne which take a bit longer. I arrived at Ryde at approximately 8.45am. I had a map of the island but just cycled from the ferry pier and followed the signs (blue, in my case, for clockwise, white for anticlockwise). I cycled for about 50 miles on day one to my destination of Totland Youth Hostel (£26 for the night) however I made a couple of detours including a visit to the old battery of The Needles (National Trust £4.80 or free if member), well worth it. With a couple of sandwich stops I arrived in Totland at 3.30pm. It was a beautiful day and mainly wind assisted though still quite chilly. After a fish and chip supper I chatted to a couple of other cyclists then slept like a log. For me the highlights were Ventnor, Chale and The Needles.
Day 2
An earlyish start, I jumped on the bike at 9am. This time I headed to Freshwater then followed the signs. Weather was much colder and facing the wind so I just got my head down and cycled. One mini stop to eat some fig rolls and drink some water. I found it quite hilly, consistently, nothing major but then perhaps yesterday had caught up with me. I arrived back in Ryde just in time for the 13.47 ferry, so about four and a half hours in the saddle. Cowes looked nice though I didn't stop.
The trip could be extended for longer and there are quite a few cycle routes mapped out along the way though mine was merely a cycle round the island. I clocked just under 80 miles including cycling to and from my home station in Hove though I think the official route is 64 miles! They say it's slightly more forgiving if you tackle it clockwise though you can do either route from Ryde. I'm sure some people do it in a day though for me this was perfect and quite leisurely - average 10.1 mph - and that included enjoying the views.
I hope you find this useful, I know I would, and feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks.
View attachment 21603 View attachment 21604 View attachment 21603 View attachment 21604
