2010-05-02 - Isle of Wight Randonnee

This was a great ride last year, well worth getting the train/ferry for.
For those that don't know, it's a little under 70 miles around the Isle of Wight, or there is the option of a shorter loop. It's not too hilly, and can be done comfortably on a 70" gear.

The event is completely free to enter, just turn up at any checkpoint and sign up. It's well signed, and run. Can't fault it really.

All details available here: http://www.cycleisland.co.uk/

Check out last year's thread for pics etc.

Edit: Forgot to say... I'm not London based so won't be organising a group from London. Either make your own way down or team up with some other people.

It looks like Wooton or Fishbourne would be a good place to start, depending on whether people want to camp to avoid the early start or head straight off from the ferry.

Obligitory list:

1. Arducius - not sure where I'm starting from yet but hopefully meet up with some people along the way.
   

second of may you say?

In,
1.Arducius
2.Orbital MF
top value ride, with signposting all the way for easy nav, and enough chips and tea at the end to sink the boat going home................

I hope to god i make it this year. Not going on list for fear of jinxing.

1.Arducius
2.Orbital MF
3.Pifko

I may go this year. last year was great.

I'm thinking about camping on the Saturday night at Wooton. It's only £5 a night per person, and there is a checkpoint in Wooton which is convenient. It's also not too far from Cowes or Fishbourne for ferries back to the Southampton/Portsmouth after the ride.
Campsite link.
Anyone else fancy it?

1.Arducius

1. Orbital MF
   
2. Pifko
   
3. joe smith
   

MF and pifko, will you be doing the same as we did last year and heading off from Yarmouth, or you guys fancy meeting up at Wooton? You could get the train to Soton (only about half an hour) and then ferry to Cowes?

If people get the chance jump on this one, last one was all sorts of piratical epicness...
Greasy booked a caravan and we camped out for the two evenings we were there. Ride is doable fixed, though there are a couple of quick descents which would be best done with a front brake...
If I was in the country I'd be on this like White on rice...

Whow, that looks like perfect fun ... I'm up for the 100k, if the Lady lets me. I'll double check.

This is a great ride. fingers crossed i'll be there but work could change that....

interesting....

MF and pifko, will you be doing the same as we did last year and heading off from Yarmouth, or you guys fancy meeting up at Wooton? You could get the train to Soton (only about half an hour) and then ferry to Cowes?

Dont make much odds tbh, if youre coming from Oxford S'ton that would betoo easy.
Piratical costumery did make it a good ol' pieces of eight laugh has to be said,
something inherantly satisfying about circumnavigating a whole island on one ride.

• Chips make it all good too.
  

I'm up for camping. Don't have a tent though...

youre always camping......with your new Condor, new BMC, camp as Christmas...

Don'tgetit

ah, youre so cute. dont worry you will one day.

I have a 2 man tent, it's quite cosy though. I can get hold of something a little larger from the parents. They have a bigger 2/3 man knocking about somewhere. Not sure how feasable it'll be to carry on the bike though...

Question for those that have done it last year: Is it very hilly there? What's the traffic situation? Currently contemplating renting a camper and taking g/f there to have a go at a bit of cycling. The 50k distance might be manageable for her.

Interested.

Yes. There are some hills. Blackgang and one or two other. I was on 44/18 and didn't walk anything but let's say that the pedals weren't turning quickly.

There are loads of cyclists around on the island on the day so the cars should not be surprised. We had no issues with cars at all.

Question for those that have done it last year: Is it very hilly there? What's the traffic situation? Currently contemplating renting a camper and taking g/f there to have a go at a bit of cycling. The 50k distance might be manageable for her.
To echo what Aaaroooogah said, pretty much everyone on the island knows the ride is taking place that day and we had no issues with any vehicles. Lots of the route is along quiet lanes but there are some larger roads. I don't remember there being any areas where the traffic was remotely heavy. On some of the smaller lanes we had to stop to let people pass but only a couple of times.
Wooton is on both the 55k and 100k routes so would be a good place to stay with the camper if you wanted to meet up.

It's not a flat route, but there aren't loads of hills. The biggest of them is Blackgang, which is quite long but not too steep. I did it on 48/18 last year.

Interested.
Excellent.

the views and rum stops are worth it. caravans and tents work well, the camp sites are close to the ferry site so you don't have to carry them around all day.

is the plan to go for two days and do the island both ways????

this is looking back down Blackgang,
I had just munched the geared boys behind me and pifko is just catching me up.