Southampton Sky Ride

Title: Southampton Sky Ride
Link out: Click here
Description: On Sunday 25 July Southampton will be opening up its streets to cyclists to host the Sky Ride event.
The event offers people, of all ages and abilities, the chance to dust off their bikes and enjoy the sights and sounds of Southampton on a traffic free tour of the city and its great landmarks. A unique experience we hope you won’t forget exploring the city on two wheels.

Sky Ride is a FREE event hosted by Sky in partnership with British Cycling and Southampton City Council with support from the Primary Care Trust. Last year the five Sky Ride events saw more than 110,000 cycling fans flood the streets. Twelve Sky Ride events will take place in 10 major cities across the UK this summer with smaller local rides also taking place across the country. This year is going to be bigger and better with the aim of 10,000 cyclists participating in the Southampton event!

Sky Ride is for everyone, no matter how old you are and no matter how good or bad you are, you can join in! You can ride around the 7 mile route between 10am – 4pm as many times as you like, or you can take it slowly and make a day of it. For cyclists and non- cyclists alike, there will be lots to see and do. It will be a whole festival of fun with something for everyone and you can expect to see a few familiar faces taking part, including some of your favourite personalities as well as GB’s cycling greats. Sky Ride ambassador and chef Jean Christophe Novelli will be attending the Southampton event. There will be some fun cycling challenges and coaches on hand to provide tips and advice.

Sky Ride is by far the greatest excuse to have fun on your bike. As well as providing a unique opportunity to see the city in a new light, it’s a fantastic chance for everyone to ride together with no fear of cars, and enjoy a day of cycling.

For full details see the page here.
Date: 2010-07-25

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-06-24
End Time: 22:30

Start Time: 18:15
Date: 2010-06-23
End Time: 22:30

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-06-21
End Time: 19:30

* Assemble at the Ferry Gardens in Gosport (next to the ferry pontoon) at 10am
* Travel using on-road and off-road cycle routes via Gosport Station, to near Rowner, Stubbington and through back roads to Hill Head.
* Refreshment stop (either Visitor Centre or Osborne View PH).
* Return along coast road to Lee-on-the-Solent (Solent Cycles on seafront for emergency repairs!).
* Carry on towards Stokes Bay but with optional loop to Gosport BMX track.
* Stokes Bay seafront then cycle path on old railway line back to South Street and ferry.

We aim to finish between 1pm and 2pm. Ferries leave Portsmouth and Gosport every 15 minutes (www.gosportferry.co.uk)
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2009-12-29
End Time: 14:00

Please remember to bring a printed copy of the automated e-mail you receive as it contains your participant number. You will need it on the day to present at the checkpoint.

Title: 2010 Isle of Wight Randonnee
Location: Isle of Wight
Link out: Click here
Description: The Wayfarer Cycletouring Club is pleased to announce that the 2010 Randonnee will take place on Sunday 2rd May. The IoW Randonnee was established by the Wayfarers in 1985.
Free Entry. Any donations welcome.
All checkpoints are open from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. You may find that checkpoints are open a little earlier or later, but remember that people at the checkpoints are volunteers and can’t be expected to be there at dawn!
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2010-05-02
End Time: 18:00

* the roads were safer and
* motorists didn’t terrorise them
* they didn’t feel self conscious and
* it didn’t rain so often
* they didn’t get sweaty or
* have to dress in lycra
* they didn’t have to wear a helmet and
* they were a bit fitter
* they had more time and
* more people did it and
* it was NORMAL . . . .

MEET US 1015 AT BELLEMOOR RD ENTRANCE TO SOUTHAMPTON COMMON AND LET US DISPEL THESE MYTHS and show you how to be simply fabulous. JOIN US FOR A GENTLE RIDE WITH A COFFEE STOP PERHAPS AND WE’LL BE BACK BY NOON.
NO CHARGE (EXCEPT MAYBE A CAKE WITH MY COFFEE?)

Dilys Gartside
CycleWise ‘change your travel habits’
t. 023 8077 7472
e. CycleWise@aol.com
Start Time: 10:15
Date: 2010-10-24
End Time: 12:00

As usual, Southampton will host many cycling events during and around Bike Week. Highlights include:

Saturday 13 June 10am at The Bargate, FAMILY BIKE CAVALCADE

Mainly on cycle routes and some on road. A loop to Mayflower Park then up the parks to the Peace Fountain. Suitable for all abilities. If parent/guardian is happy that children are competent on their own two wheels, they are more than welcome, as long as under 18 year olds are accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the child. Decorate your bikes and yourselves if you wish! Do join us with your picnic lunch afterwards. Just turn up www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/

Sunday 14 June 10am at Weston Shore, on National Cycle Route 2, the BIG BIKE CELEBRATION.

The main attractions include the try-a-bike arena with The Company of Cyclists (this is great – it’s how we tried trailer and tandem then bought), mountain bike displays by M.A.D. (Europe s largest stunt/trials display team), a bicycle smoothie-maker, The Bike Dr who can check your bike for free, led rides, cycle training and fun! Just turn up. (Natalie Gledhill, streettread@sustrans.org.uk)

Saturday 20 June 10am, Southampton Common Bellemoor Road entrance: Five Miles to FABuloUS

Shift the ‘L’ from FLAB – lady cyclists WEAR SMALLER smalls! Easy flatish five mile led ride for ladies on cycle paths or quieter roads around Southampton City

Full details of these events are available in the Events section of this web site, and more Bike Week events can be found at www.bikeweek.org.uk and www3.hants.gov.uk/whatson-cyclehampshire.

]]> http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2009/news/bike-week-13-21-june-09/feed/ 0 http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2008/news/summer-news/ http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2008/news/summer-news/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:50:03 +0000 admin http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/wordpress/index.php/2008/08/19/summer-news/

During Bike Week we had several pleasant rides. It’s always good to find new cycle routes or cycling routes. Here we are in Hamble after following the splendid route from Woolston along Weston Shore and through Victoria Country Park. more here

There was also a good showing of bikes at a BBQ in Hythe. Below are three cycling campaigners investigating Brompton’s folding mechanism:

more here

more summer updates shortly!

]]> http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2008/news/summer-news/feed/ 0 http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2008/rides/new-forest-ride-17-may-2008/ http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/2008/rides/new-forest-ride-17-may-2008/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:18:46 +0000 admin http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/wordpress/index.php/2008/06/09/new-forest-ride-17-may-2008/ – Thanks to Eric for the report!

The Campaign members had been discussing the subject of a ride in the New Forest at the recent monthly meetings and the agreed date of 17 May arrived. The weather forecast was not too good, so it was a case of deciding what clothes to take—or how much water proofing to carry anyway.

People travelled to the appointed start location at Brockenhurst station by various means—some arrived by train, some cycled , some went by car.

Whatever means people chose to get there, the idea was to meet up and travel along Forest lanes and tracks, following one of the routes in the little booklet of suggested Cycle rides that had been given away with a national newspaper last year.

So at between 10 and 10.30 , the group expanded until there was a gathering of eleven eager participants to start their way wending around the route which Lindsi had previously tested out for us with her son Robin.

The ride left Brockenhurst on the main A337 Lyndhurst road , but soon cut off eastwards into a forest campsite and then it was up a fairly steep forest gravel track, which Lindsi assured us was about the steepest on the circuit.

That over with , it was a case of follow the leader as we made our way amongst the trees on peaceful trails .

Another group of cyclist was encountered, but otherwise only a couple of other dog walkers before we emerged from the forest just south of Lyndhurst onto the busy a337.

A short pedal up the main road into Lyndhurst and it was time for a coffee stop at the Mad Hatter tea rooms for those who wanted to partake in shop bought refreshments.

Others chose to sit with their bikes and make sure they were not nicked whist having a break and watching the traffic passing through the village and guests arriving for a wedding reception at an adjacent hotel

Refreshed, we clambered back on our steeds, no problems thus far and off the merry band set towards Emery Down. A turnoff the main a35 at swan Green led up a short sharp incline that had everyone puffing, so a quick rest on the summit allowed a breather before turning left led along a pleasant lane towards the Boldrewood area.

The road was fairly level so progress was easy with little motor traffic to bother us and the ponies were steering clear of our approach as well.

After a couple of miles, it was a right turn into the woods again .

On and on we travelled into the back of beyond, it is easy to see why people get lost in the forest as it is difficult to make our which routes on OS maps are which. A group of walkers was encountered pondering with a map looking lost.

Being a goodly bunch, , we stopped to render assistance and direct then on what we hoped was the right path—nah—be positive—was the right path (or I heard no subsequent reports of fifty something walkers trying to be tracked by the Police spotter plane)

After this it was more steady climbing onward and upward until suddenly the forest ended and we popped through a gate on to the road by the Canadian monument.

This is a memorial erected to commemorate the role of Canadian soldiers in WW2 who were encamped in the forest. There was a memorial tablet and Lindsi kindly read the wording inscribed to the listening group.

Following the little history lesson, we crossed over the road and headed off downhill for a speedy descent on well graveled tracks, but in a valley bottom there was a few really bad pot holes that could have caused a tumble of they had not been spitted in time .

By this time hunger pangs and tiredness were beginning to arise amongst some members , so it was with welcome relief that the forest tracks eventually rolled out on to the Burley road which took us to our lunch stop at the King’s Head pub in Burley.

We had pre-ordered food, so after we set ourselves down at an outside table, it was not too long before the meals arrived.

So far the threatened rain had not arrived, though the clouds looked dark and menacing. A few spits came down and we thought that was the start of something more , but stopped again.

So we sat out and enjoyed our luncheon.

Some took the opportunity to join the tourists’ trail and wander around the huddle of shops in Burley, quaint little place that the village centre is.

The bike hire shop had a good range of cycles for hire and used machines for sale which I glanced over.

After everyone was replenished , there was discussion on which way to return to Brockenhurst, either by more woodland routes or via the old railway route known as Castleman’s corkscrew which had recently featured on TV.

A decision was made to take the latter, as it was to be on more open land and was flatter than through the woods.

We climbed out of Burley past the village cricket square where a match was in progress and were surprised at the apparent sudden drop of temperature in the more open heath land compared to when we were in the forest plantations.

On we rode , passing the Old Station tearooms at Holmesley and riding along a dead straight section of road formed on what was once the route of the railway for half a mile or so.

It was then a turn right which led on to the now grassy and gravel disused railway track bed that crossed Long Slade Bottom by way of two newly refurbished bridges which had been restored with Sustrans funding. This route forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 2 across the forest between Hythe and Ringwood.

Riding along this section was easy with it being level and well surfaced, more people were around both walking and cycling .good views from the top of the embankment on which the route runs gave views of wet boggy ground to the sides of the old railway route, the Victorians certainly knew how to survey, plot out and build the engineering works to support the railway tracks.

The railway corridor route ended on the B3055 Brockenhurst to Sway road, and we followed the B3055 into the centre of Brockenhurst, where we stopped for an afternoon tea break in village tea rooms.

Suitably refreshed, it was time for the group to break up and head off in their separate ways.

A jolly day’s excursion on some out of the way tracks, no soaking, no punctures amongst the group and no mishaps either.SCC rides strike lucky again!!

Many thanks to Lindsi and Robin for doing route checking and organisation.

For the records, bikes used by participants included two Dahon Speed D7 folders, one Brompron T3, an Edinburgh Revolution tourer the rest a range of hybrid and mountain bikes

Photo Gallery

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