ISLE OF WIGHT TRIP
This long-established event involves a single day trip (on a Sunday) to the Isle of Wight for a social ride and to enjoy the stunning scenery.
The date is normally set in advance (for 2016 it is 19th June) but it is always weather dependent, and a final decision would be made either on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
The date is normally set in advance (for 2016 it is 19th June) but it is always weather dependent, and a final decision would be made either on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
|
|
The itinerary is as follows:
The ride is around 65 miles.
- Leave Worthing in a number of cars, with bike at 6:30
- Drive to Portsmouth where we park in the Cascades car park (cost about £12.50 per car)
- Ride along to Portsmouth Harbour at catch the 8:15 catamaran to Ryde pier (about £18.00)
- Ride round island following the cycle route (blue bike on white background or white bike on blue background), stopping for lunch in Niton or Freshwater
- Return to Ryde to catch catamaran back on the 2:45 crossing
- Back to Worthing around 4:30
The ride is around 65 miles.
Report on this year's ride by Nicky Carsons
|
As I hadn't been on my bike for a month and suffering from jet-lag having flown in from Canada less than 48hrs earlier, I knew the IOW annual ride was going to be tough. I had planned to join the group riding half the island as I felt the distance and speed of the other group would be beyond me feeling the way that I did.
It was an early start to the day with some of us meeting up at the Thomas A Becket at 6.15am to put our bikes in Peter Logan's van. With a quick drive to Portsmouth we met up with other riders at the park and ride car park in Portsmouth. We rode to the Catamaran terminal for a smooth crossing to Ryde to meet up with Clive and Nicole. They had arrived earlier that morning to pop into Nicole's parents to take the opportunity to say Happy Fathers' Day to her dad. Once we had all gathered for the first of many photos and jokes, many about Jon Roper and Simon Steels proudly modeling our pink kit (I can't call it lady's kit now) it was decided that everyone would ride the whole island in two groups in a clockwise direction.....yes big discussions about which was the better way to go round. Robert D led one group and Clive PL the other. The best direction is still up for debate, please join in!! After rain all day Saturday the weather was more settled when we set off, with the sun threatening to make an appearance. The only plan we had was to meet at the Dandelion cafe at Freshwater. Considering we went via 2 different routes and with numerous hills to climb, too many to count, we all arrived at the cafe at the same time. Robert was even able to take mug shots as evidence. I have already seen a headline on the IOW news...... 'Wanted 2 men cycling in the pink' After a chilly lunch outside (I wasn't used to the English weather) and a range of sandwiches ordered from prawn, bacon, and egg and apple and cherry crumble with lashings of 'custard' we set off for the 'easier' second half of the ride....well that was what they told me! By now my legs were telling me to stop but we had a boat to catch. And as it was Fathers' day we had to press on to get the dads home. After a second short break in Gurnard for refreshment and stretching, no not of leg muscles but from laughing at Ken Gormanly's dreadful jokes we set off for the final short ride and hop across the river on the chain ferry to Ryde. After saying cheerio to the 'Patterson-Lett's', who I suspect were off for a big roast dinner and glass of wine or two we met up with Robert's group to find out about the bike issues that Peter had suffered. As I'm not technical at all, all I can tell you is that his bike broke in a very expensive way. So after Peter thumbed a lift from the west side of island and catching the park and ride bus in Portsmouth, we all arrived back to our cars in one group and in one piece, apart from Peter's bike which arrived back in several. With a total of 62.4miles (pier to pier) and 3,903ft elevation and cramp setting in I was grateful to be chauffeured back home by Chris. We arrived back safely in Worthing at about 5.45pm chuffed at having all shared a great day messing about on bikes. A big thank you to Robert for organising the day and to my group for getting me round. The cakes are on me Tuesday night.....if I recover enough to make them      |
