Isle of Wight Through the Night (a ThNCR deluxe edition)

Round the Isle of Wight following the Cycle Island Route: http://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/dbimgs/RTICycleMapNew.pdf

We will aim to get the last ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde which leaves at 22.45. We will then waste a bit of time, possibly by sitting in the King Lud, possibly another pub depending on how busy they are, and set off in a clockwise direction. The ride will have to be slow enough to arrive at the floating bridge in Cowes after it starts up at 5.00

There are trains from Waterloo and Victoria, the ones from Victoria seem to be quite a bit cheaper. The viable trains are:

Victoria 20.05 arr 22.05
Waterloo 20.30 arr 22.02

There is a later train from Waterloo that gets in at 22.37 which might be cutting things a bit fine.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/665774

two competing rides, around the same island, on the same night!?

https://www.lfgss.com/events/2219/

There's only one thing for it. FIGHT.

You can book train tickets to Portsmouth on megatrain. Around £7 each way. Imagine this is cheapest?

Sorry for asking a IoW newb question but are we able to just ride around the east crowes bridge, it only looks like a 10 mile diverson?

For info, you now have to pay to use the floating bridge at Cowes, this includes foot passengers.

There are a couple of routes that avoid the floating bridge and they only really ad a few extra miles but they all mean you don't get to ride the chain ferry.

For info, you now have to pay to use the floating bridge at Cowes, this includes foot passengers.

Good point, it is now a quid to ride.

Yes you can divert around through Newport, there is a tarmacced cycle path from Cowes to Newport that follows the side of the river Medina (probably the shortest and quickest. From Newport take your pick, past Seaclose park or up Staplers road.

FYI to those that have not done the cycle island route before, the section in the West which tracks alongside the River Yar to Yarmouth is all gravel, so don't be using your delicate pista tubular tyres!

Probably best to bypass that bit if it has been raining it can get quite muddy and rutted. Go up Copse lane/Pixley hill instead.

But that's my favourite bit.

This would be the expected route of a detour via Newport...

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16747652

Ah ok - it's whatever works! I didn't mean to cause problems, just curious. I'll just make sure to bring extra supplies for sharing (read: whisky) in case we need to do some waiting. I bumped into @balmain today and he helped me understand that, logistically speaking, there is no point in rushing around.

I'm going to book my tickets now, going for the Victoria train 20:02 (currently £8) and thinking of getting the 8:15 back to Waterloo (currently £15). Unless someone wants to shortly confirm a group save for open return I'm going to book ASAP

I'll probably join you on the 20.02 from Victoria but I'm thinking an 08.15 return could be a bit early. You'd have to be on the 7.47 sailing, which should be fine, but I'll aim for a slightly more leisurely departure. The off peak single to Victoria is £17.80 and not fixed to a specified train.

A open return from Waterloo to Ryde, returning anytime on the Saturday is £43 including the ferry with a network railcard. The 21:00 dep on Friday gets in at 23:07. I'm probably going to shoot for that as I'd like a more leisurely Saturday return after a post breakfast pint. Can get another 3 tickets on the day for the same price if anyone's interested.

a more leisurely Saturday return after a post breakfast pint. Can get another 3 tickets on the day for the same price if anyone's interested.

I'd be up for this Des - I assume you think the 9pm train will give us enough time to squeeze on?

That's the direct train that connects with the 22:45 ferry - virtually everybody on it at that stage is getting on the ferry, think they hold the departure if the train is running late so all should be good. You're welcome to one of the tickets.

Excellent. Thank you..

Due to a technical misalignment of preconceived childcare coverage expectations I am no longer able to attend this ride. Please very much have fun all, I'll see you for the last few thursday rides and season-ender drinkypoos.

Noooooo. That's a shame, it won't be the same without you man.

Just been doing my sums and if this offer is still open I'd be interested. I was planning to go from Victoria as I work right by the station and it's cheaper to Pompy. But it all goes wrong when you factor in the ferry.

Sure - think it's a bit cheaper than Groupsave because you get a discount on the ferry as well. Only does 4 people max though, so 3 down and one slot still free.

anyone up for arriving early for food before heading across? going to book tickets soon.

Comes in about £10 cheaper than the groupsave as far as I could see. Important part is the open return, makes things a bit easier. I would like a leisurely departure from the island but if the weather (or Weatherspoons) turns nasty it would be good to have the option of a quick exit.