2012-09-22 - Isle of Wight Randonnee (A TNRC Affair)

In case any one was wondering, 3 of us went, 3 of us came back, the Isle of Wight was left largely unharmed.

My life would have been made a misery had I come.

:-(

Hope it was good -even with so few..

In case any one was wondering, 3 of us went, 3 of us came back, the Isle of Wight was left largely unharmed.

I was indeed wondering, glad some of you made it! I'll be heading out there before season's end I should imagine. See y'all at the RotFL then?!

Boo!

It was very good - the pub at the beginning was good in a scary way (covers rock band and locals mixing tramadol and cider). The route was very good - I imagine it was pretty (it was dark)and once we got out of the headwind, really lovely riding. My legs were pretty much giving up by the end, but fry-up in Ryde was good - in a Wetherspoons, full English for £2.99 sort of way.

I think Benjam needs to send one of special transport complaints letters to the Cowes Chain Ferry Company, though, as the first service on a Sunday isn't till 6.30 - cue long wait in a draughty shelter.

Thanks for a lovely evening/night/day guys. I need to do this ride in daylight now - I also got the distinct impression it was beautiful.

[Matt, cheers again for managing all the navigation. FWIW the Garmin issues seem to be down to me trying to use a GPX route rather than a GPX track (I just tested that and it works). How I have managed to avoid that happening hundreds of times before I'll never know - I thought I was always using routes! We live and learn... at least a couple of minor detours probably saved us another 30 min wait for the chain ferry. :)]

Good to read of your enjoyable ride. Wish I could have joined you.
I'm considering doing this before the end of October as a day ride.

Am going to the Isle of Wight in November and want to try this. Would people
recommend clockwise or anti-clockwise route. Will be starting at East side of island if that makes a difference.

John:
Would love to do it in the daylight and I think there would be a few more takers if you wanted to organise it. I've got lots of stuff going on currently but pick a date and I'll see if I can join you.

Poots:
Same distance whichever way you go round!

I have actually only ever done it clockwise so I really can't compare but my instinct tells me the climb up Blackgang is tougher when going anti.

I think Benjam needs to send one of special transport complaints letters to the Cowes Chain Ferry Company, though, as the first service on a Sunday isn't till 6.30 - cue long wait in a draughty shelter.

Um, I had a look at the map and going round via Newport would have been nowhere near as long as I thought. Would have meant navigating on the fly/guessing our way along which we probably could have managed ok. Sorry.

anti is also fine, I would recomend you ride in the direction that leaves the cowes chain ferry until the end. This way you are stright off your boat and out into the countryside. By the time you reach cowes you can take a breather and decide how you are going to attack the final stretch (slowly is the normal answer).

Um, I had a look at the map and going round via Newport would have been nowhere near as long as I thought. Would have meant navigating on the fly/guessing our way along which we probably could have managed ok. Sorry.

Ah well - to be honest I was pretty broken by that point and had no desire to ride in the rain. When I run away to sea (to work on small, short hop passenger ferries, maybe in the canteen) I'll be glad of my crash-course in sleeping on hard surfaces in the cold. Maybe.

Apologies, had to pull out of this.... marital shite... Was so bloody looking forward to it!

I would have done it with you guys but I had been asked (back in april!) by a friend to do it, I did it saturday just gone during the day

Grainy close up of the needles :)

Those first two shots are taken where a had our cliff top picnic and watched the ships pass. Looks a bit different in the day.