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Past Ride

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Sat Aug 31st 2013
Round the Isle of Wight 3*
Leader:
John Talbot
Start Time:
8:00 am
Start Location:
Lymington Pier
Description:
A slightly different ride than previous years'. We will be mostly following the End to End route as used by Audax events. It's slightly shorter than the Round the Island Route. It will go via the Battery above the Needles which will be new for this ride. We will be going anticlockwise on a more inland route in the south than we've done before.

We will catch the 08:45 ferry from Lymington Pier (SO41 5SB). We will travel as day return foot passengers (£13.30, tickets bought before sailing), bikes are carried free of charge. The crossing takes 30 minutes. We will be avoiding the Bestival weekend this year.

There is a pay and display car park at the ferry terminal (£6.20 for 2-16hrs). Bring enough change for the machines.

You must arrive at least 30mins before the ferry to allow time for parking, buying tickets and boarding. We will car share as much as possible.

There is limited food on the ferry (tea, coffee, cakes) but there is a café at the ferry terminal if you want to arrive early enough to grab some breakfast!

Also new for this ride will be a late morning break as it can be a long hard ride to lunch. We'll stop at the Old World Tea Rooms in Godshill for a quick cuppa/comfort break.

Lunch stop will be at the CTC Affiliated Toll Gate Café near Bembridge.

We'll aim to stop for afternoon tea/ice cream and comfort break at Cowes. But if we are seriously delayed we will take refreshments on the return ferry (probably the 17:15 or 17:55).

The route is undulating with few flat sections and several stiff climbs but is very scenic. Distance is 102km (63 miles) with 1,390m (4,500 feet) of climbing.

We will cycle at touring pace averaging around 18-20kph (11-12.5mph). Expect around 5.5 to 6hrs of actual cycling time and bring/wear clothing appropriate for the weather forecast.

Please let me know beforehand if you are coming on the ride so I can tick you off at Lymington.
Riders:
Chris Walters
Hugo Pile
John Talbot
John Tranter
Louis Hall
Phil Stubbings
Richard Saunders
Riders = 7

Weather:
sunny
Report:
What an absolutely perfect day for a cycle ride! Sunshine all day long and not too hot. Bliss (sun)

Seven riders arrived in good time for the 8.45am ferry even with Chris having to fix Hugo's brakes before he could board! Hugo also managed to fall off his bike during the briefing before we set off, that has to be a first on a CTCW ride :)

We headed towards the west, ignoring the round the island route and were straight away on undulating roads to the Needles park. The narrow clifftop road with a couple of hairpins was deserted and we went to the end of the tarmac and enjoyed the views (although the views of the Needles is better from the car park below). A nice descent back down and then onto Freshwater Bay.

The climbs along the cliffs on the Military Road were the longest of the day as this route avoids some of the sharp climbs inland and also Blackgang Chine.

It wasn't long before we were at the Old World Café in Godshill which had excellent service and was good value. Highly recommended and surprisingly close to the route we've used in previous years, we should have stopped here before!

The very undulating section to Bembridge was next but it didn't feel nearly as long as in previous years having had a break. We went to the end of the tarmac at Bembridge to complete the west to east end-to-end of the island.

Lunch was taken at the Tollgate Café as we've always done and with all its usual eccentricities ;)

We had a much nicer route from Bembridge past Ryde ignoring the signposted route. We missed out the horrid traffic light junction near Ryde and the hard and busy climb afterwards. We still had to go through Wootton Bridge though which was as busy as usual.

It wasn't long before we were enjoying ice creams on the beach in Cowes having negotiated the rather bizarre route which you take to avoid 100yds of pedestrianised High Street.

I chose to ignore my route soon after Gurnard as I didn't want to miss out on the Old Town Hall and as we were making good time I ignored the direct route back to Yarmouth on the A-road but followed the blue signs through Wellow and Thorley. This added on a few kilometres and a couple more climbs but who's counting :)

We made it back to Yarmouth just in time to board the 17:15 ferry, well most of us did! I couldn't board as my family who were over on the island for the day were on my ticket and were nowhere to be seen. So I was left behind to catch the next ferry after my family sauntered around the corner 5 minutes after the ferry had departed having been in Yarmouth for the past 45 mins (doh)

A humongous congratulations to Hugo on completing his first 100km with consummate ease, his previous furthest ride had been just 37 miles prior to this one. A fantastic achievement and one for the memory banks.

Thanks to everyone for joining the ride and making it a fantastic away day. A classic CTC touring ride (beer)

Distance:
105.40 km (65.49 mi)
Ride Details:
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1726513
Western end of the Isle of Wight
Western end of the Isle of Wight
Cycling past Alum Bay
Cycling past Alum Bay
The Needles
The Needles
Compton Bay
Compton Bay
Old World Café in Godshill
Old World Café in Godshill
Eastern end of the Isle of Wight
Eastern end of the Isle of Wight
Lunch at the Tollgate Café
Lunch at the Tollgate Café
Louis has a new friend hitching a lift
Louis has a new friend hitching a lift
Typical Isle of Wight lane. Hugo put your tongue back in!
Typical Isle of Wight lane. Hugo put your tongue back in!
Ice creams at Davis Jones Locker
Ice creams at Davis Jones Locker
The ferry I wasn't on!
The ferry I wasn't on!
Disembarking from the Isle of Wight ferry
Disembarking from the Isle of Wight ferry
Group shot by the Needles, Isle of Wight.
Group shot by the Needles, Isle of Wight.
Our Chairman taking on energy, Isle of Wight!
Our Chairman taking on energy, Isle of Wight!
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2159002"
Comment on this ride

Ride Filter
Start Locations
WMP
Wantage Market Place
OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove
Categories
1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.
2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.
3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.
4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.
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