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Has anyone with experience of both got an opinion as to which would be most fun?
Ta!
Depends what you want - Purbecks for more techie fun singletrack and short-sharp climbs, IoW for bigger, more long-day-out rolling hills stuff.
Not a local to either, but thats IME, before I'm shot down 🙂
I live on the IOW but did a day's riding in the Purbecks this one time. Better off with the IOW I reckon. Similar coastal scenery etc but the IOW is on a bigger scale - more variety and scope for different types of riding. No doubt someone who lives on the Isle of Purbeck but has been to the Isle of Wight this one time will tell you the opposite. Best to rope in a bit of local knowledge either way, if you can.
Did a 50 miler around purbecks the other day, great stuff. Can't say nowt about IOW, not ridden over there.
For the purbecks - generic route, across the chain ferry, down ferry road, break off to the right at the left hand bend, head towards agglestone (cheeky footpath is good, challenging steps down to the east from the stone), then up to old harry rocks, up to the ridge (get to the trig point without stopping!), then either go to swanage for fish n chips, durlston head to see the globe and possible dolphins, then to corfe, or alternatively along to corfe straight along the ridge.
I've set myself the challenge of getting from old harry all the way to lulworth and back along the ridge, in a day at some point this summer. plus the 10 miles each side from my house to the chain ferry.
Slight hijack but has anyone got any decent routes for the IOW as i'll be spending a week there with a bike and apart from riding from Shanklin to Sandown on the seafront know very little else.
Purbeck, and stop by the shop for a coffee.
Can also print out a map with the secret single track marked up.
I found a few bits and bobs for the IOW:
http://www.extremists.co.uk/guide.html
http://www.extremists.co.uk/randonee.html
http://www.singletrackworld.com/trailguide/uk/south-east/the-isle-of-wight/
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15763732
Based on the above evidence (i.e. both seem positive, no clear cut choice) I am tempted to do whichever turns out to be the the easiest to get to (travelling by train)...
EDIT: Hadn't seen Charlie's post!
longwayup - there's plenty of IoW locals on the forum, who I'm sure would show you around. Post up a new thread when you're on your way over there.
IOW for a big day out (or two). Don't forget the ferry companies charge a fortune to take a car across this time of year, so travel as a foot passenger and the bike goes free. Best go from Lymington.
As for Purbecks, the Dorset Rough Riders are doing a ride this coming Sunday 08:45.
Brain failure - Purbeck ride is Sun 15th 😳
Either are great.
The IOW has some fabulous long routes around the south half of the island. And great pubs in most villages.
BUT - I had a great ride on Purbeck a few years ago, the best bit was eating sandwiches in a graveyard and spotting a slow worm.
As a preference, I'd go IOW, but simply cos there's a tad more choice and the coast is generally a larger part of the ride.