[Closed] Can we do a forum group ride on the Isle of Wight?

Sounds good.

[url= http://www.sunseaandcycling.com/ ]IoW Cycling Festival[/url]

I live in Winchester.

DAVE

Love to if I can get a pass. We used to live in Southsea and once did a splendid road loop of IOW on a sunny summer's day.
STW IOW weekend camping/cycling trip?

Sounds great,I am in Southampton and have never made it over to the island 😕

ide be up for it potentially.
would your legs be coming? 😉

(joking, not ACTUALLY a massive letch/stalker/rapist)

I'd be up for it too. Please don't do it on the 19th Sept, can't make that weekend. There are a few potential STW based rides coming up so might have to think carefully about which weekend. Camping and riding sounds like a good plan.

MM are you thinking of the Purbecks ride mid September?
Not ridden either, like the sound of an IOW ride, go there every year to chill out in that unique IOW 1950s way but never ridden.

i'd but up for that, was thinking of IOW in 2 weeks when i'm down in Dorset, anyone know of any routes suitable for a beginner?

I'll decide on a date for the Purbecks ride this week. May well be up for IOW as well.

Of course I'd be up for it.....

Ok, well here's a start - riding from Ryde, as it's easy to get to from Portsmouth rail station, and the catamaran sets off from there. £14 return or half price ticket is apparently available after 9.30 am.

We got the train from Brighton, 6.50 am, and were boarding the 'cat' at 8.30ish, not bad eh!

Be great if we can get some local knowledge/guide as map reading and trying to find the good stuff is a bit of a faff in a day..

dependant on the date I'd be interested.

never ridden on the IOW and its riding distance from my house... so i'd be up for it

Ditto Dobbo

Not too late as the nights are drawing in already.

It sounds a great idea but I have a problem ...

Can anyone guess what it is 🙄

i'd be up for that - as i'm originally from down south my folks can look after the kids if need be!

Purbecks ride weekend of 26th/27th Sept, if you're looking not to clash.
Hope not, then i can do both.

CG, how about if we hire you a human cannonball team and fire you across?

How about Saturday the 12th of September? We have kids so just have to get the Grandparents to sit for us 🙂
Check out the timetable here
http://www.wightlink.co.uk/timetables/portsmouth---ryde/30-march---20-september-2009.aspx
for the fast cat ferry, takes 18mins, was thinking about getting the 9.15am crossing. They return up till 23.45, if you like playing out that late. Now just have to get a route sorted!
Any ideas?
My man said that the mud on the island last time he went riding was very 'claggy' and made any down hill very slow and sticky but he had a great time anyway and the views were stunning as well as the cake.
Will check out the route he did when he gets back from work travel tommorow. yay my first STW ride, hope you can make it and it doesnt clash with anything else.
As far as Dorset goes, did a ride last month (family hols) up to Hardy's Monument and then some coastal singletrack it was superb, although all our rides took place after 7pm. We had to wait till kids went to sleep and then granparents baby sat. Had great fun one night following our OS map, getting covered in cow s**t and climbing under an electric fence, if only our kids knew what we got up to when they are dreaming.

Can't do the 12th. 13th would be ok though.

Oh no, Sundays I do a special needs Sunday School for kids with autism etc. The following Sat perhaps?

Following weekend i'm at a wedding. Don't worry about it. The date isn't going to suit everyone. I'll come on the next one.

I can get there, the last train back in 9.30pm though, I'd prefer not to need lights, and if we move the cat crossing forward 15 mins it's two for one (may need to check that still applies for weekends).

If you click on the 'trail guide' tab on STW home page, it brings up a route from Ryde - I didn't do that one when I visitied last week, so no idea what it's actually like. It would be ideal if we could get a local to show us a day's ride, I think we would be back at Ryde early eve....

Have a search under my name, I have started some Isle of Wight threads recently.

Pete aka Woodsman

Hi,

Just a suggestion but why not all meet up at the Big Bike Bash on the 22nd/23rd. We have details about the IOW festival in the welcome pack. The money you save on the ferry will help towards the ticket price.

This is a southern based, southern organised event. Everyone is welcome but lets get as many local riders there as possible. Even if you are not going to ride there is a beer festival and music festival with 2 days camping thrown in for £10.

Thats a great idea! We are going to the BBB, taking my autistic son too so should prove interesting 🙂

The trail from Ryde looks good, sure we can go a bit earlier, plus we cant be back too late because of the kiddies.

LoulaBella - Look forward to seeing you there. Have you bought your tickets yet?

We are actualy in profit at the moment so lots of money for UK Youth Charity. Yippee!

I am a gibering wreck though.

Sounds good to me, I can just about cycle to the ferry if necessary. Which date is this converging on?

Anyone fancy an IOW ride on 22nd August?

I'd definately be up for it depending on the date! Like Aleigh i'm from down south so can use the parental hotel before and after to make life easier!

Well up for it, done plenty of road riding around IOW, but never managed to get the mtb there..

Im on the island in ryde, so im happy to meet up and show you lot around!

bigyinn that sounds perfect! Are you free Saturday the 12th for a ride and being a guide to all?
Yep got my BBB tickets, WorldClassAccident do you fancy meeting for a beer at the BBB for a heads up? We are going Sat and Sun but not camping because of Joel and his autism needs. If you fancy it we can arrange a time/place (like beer tent) for STW forum users to meet up.
Lou x

I and at least one other can make the 12th, how about meet on the Ryde side of the Catamaran docking point (there is a cafe and plenty of space for bikes) at 10, and maybe aim to get back to that point 6 ish?

Bigyin - whadya reckon?

Definitely meet at the BBB. I will be wandering around looking worried. Beer sounds like a good idea.

carbon - 22nd is Big Bike Bash weekend, why don't you come over. It is only a tenner if you just want to camp, listen tot he music and drink.

Hi all.
12th sept is cool, pretty much any weekend is fine by me.

12th September eh? Hope I can do it. Haven't had a ride with that Woodsman fella for a while 🙂 Will stick it on the calendar and see what I can get away with.

I was over at the weekend and would concur with the claggy mud situation, brightstone forest had some nasty deep patches and even in decent weather there always tends to be patches of the stuff in my experience.

Just been out in the sunshine all day, sat on the beach looking at the IOW and the island seems to beckon me. Woodsman, 10 at the cafe sounds good. Claggy mud will be a pain in the arse, maybe good for the skin though? Anyone got a route plan? Remember I'm fairly a newbie although after the Sierra Nevadas I should be able to cope o.k.
Check out www.strong-island.co.uk if your interested in all things south coast/southsea. We are doing a collective mass bike ride in September around Portsmouth

for the facebook group.
Cant wait for Big Bike Bash next weekend!

Cant do the 12th - biking mate is getting married!

Maby next time

tim - sort your priorities!

depends what weekend as i'll be in the IOM sometime over september.

If its the 12th I've got the southern sportive on the 13th, and I think were planning on doing the 100 mile route, so I dont really want to tire myself out for that.

So, what will the route be? Think I'll have to give it a miss unless its kinda short, say 30 miles or less.

I would hope it's 30 miles or less - so count yourself in RealMan!?

Just be great to be shown some local stuff rather than ride with head in a map, and some insider info on the best lunch stop of course, and after ride beer maybe! 😉

Two definates here - maybe more to come.

Pete aka Woodsman

Hope you can make it Dez

Just a wee bump for anyone who missed this.

good timing after todays Mendip group ride . Anyone got any pics of what we can expect on this ride ?

Count me and my other half (Dan) in on this one. Are we still meeting at the fast cat cafe in Ryde? What time? Just have to confirm Grandparents can have the nippers and pray for good weather.
Lou x

i can't make the 12th but have a superb time anyway!

Can't come 🙁

Because I'm at a music festival 😀

Shame, like the idea. I'd say that you'd be likely to get people driving for around 2 hours to get to portsmouth, so starting about 10 would be sensible.

Sorry but will give this a miss as it sounds like an expensive day out when you take into account petrol, parking charge and £14.20 sea crossing 🙁

Try communting on the fastcat daily, then you'll know financial pain! lol

Times and dates really depend on the those who live on the "North Island"
IIRC The preferred dats was 12th Sept, meet at the end of Ryde Pier approx 10am for a relatively easy 30 miler.(ish)

Are we on for the 12th then?

Haven't run this past MrsDezb yet, as I'm not long back from the Alps (leaving her alone with child and dog 🙂 ) will try to remember tonight.

AFAIK Its still the 12th, Loula is still up for it, what about the rest of you, go on go on go on go on go on!

Still planning the route. Those who are going, what are your skill / fitness levels like?

bigyin, two possibly more from this group (see galleries) http://brightonmtb.org/ are 99% sure of making it, Singletrackmind and DezB above also ride with us from time to time. I would say all are competent but we're not looking for a training type of ride, just a day out on the bikes, bit of local singletrack would be a treat, some open riding - what ever really. Social with some nice grub/drink stops and back well before dark would be good.

🙂

Just a wee bump for this to remind you all that its still on for the 12th

6 days to go.
Route pretty much sorted (ahem!).
Should have woodswman +5 ish, lollabella + SO.
Any other takers?

Pretty sure I'm going to make it... as long as I'm back for an evening out (pre-arranged for mate's birthday)!

Cool +1 more.

What time were you all thinking of meeting up then?

The cats from Portsmouth Harbour Station to Ryde Pier Head leave at xx:15 and xx:45 and take approx 20 mins to make the crossing. Just walk through the station and down the ramp into the ferry terminal opposite the Departures Board at the bottom of the platform (dont go out the station)
If we arrange to meet in the ferry terminal off the 09:45 sailing (from Portsmouth) that would be good.
If anyone wants to get in touch for my contact details, feel free to mail me and i'll pass on my mobile number.

Oh and the day return fare is £14.20 and the bikes are free.

Wighltink have a 2-for-1 deal on footpasssengers at the moment, take a print out of this webpage with you when you buy your ticket
http://www.wightlink.co.uk/special-offers/offers/2for1-foot-passenger-day-return.aspx

Cheers hilldodger, will see if Singletrackmind (Rob) has any cunning plans for leaving the car in Portsmouth.

Hi Paul, yep, we'll be in the cafe at the Ryde side drinking coffee by 10 am!

Glad you and Rob can make it Dez. I wouldn't mind getting back to Ryde 4ish if poss Paul, it's not crucial though.

That's a good heads up on the two for one, we'll print out some of the special offer pages - or one of our group will hopefuly as my printer has popped!

Looking forward to it, I'll mail my mobile over Paul.

Cheers

Pete aka Woodsman

4pm should be ok sort of time to finish.
Nothing too strenuous honest. Looking for good ride, not a mega fast one!
Paul

Oh one thing to bear in mind is there is a music festival on the island starting friday (The Bestival) so the ferries might be pretty busy with festival goers, so best to get to the ferry at least 20 mins early from previous experience. I'll update on friday as I commute across every day with the bike.

Woodsman. If you're a non big Pete then i'm hurt that you're not gonna pop in and see me after all we've been through 🙂

Adrian! Ha ha - yeah I did think about it, but my knowledge of your island is limited to my one trip to Ryde..... obviously!

No doubt you'll be manning the shop Saturday am or, dancing like Bez(think Happy Monday's) to Bestival! If not, why don't you join us?

I've missed your grumpy charm! 😉

Hey guys,
Im coming on my own because my husbands going to a mates wedding party. So I will get the 9.45 from Pompey Harbour station, am a bit nervous so please take care of me.
Lou x

Mwahahahaaa!!!

You'll be fine and if you stay away from the back you wont get picked off by the tigers!

Route is now sorted pretty much, fairly gentle start to get everyone going with nothing too technical before lunch!

See you all at the end of the pier 10ish on sat.

BTW I ride a silver Spesh Enduro '04 so you can recognise me!

I can handle tigers! I will bring some homemade cake maybe that way I can throw it to the tigers. Looks like the weather is going to be pretty much perfect too, Looking forward to it. We are moving house on Friday so I might be a bit tired, nothing like a ride to de stress though.
I will be riding my beautiful blue Rockhopper 🙂

Hi, we'll be at Pompey station too, we plan to get the 9.15 crossing or failing that the 9.45. There'll be six to eight of us, we'll look out for you LoulaBella - you won't miss us I'm, sure! 🙂

bigyin - 'nothing too techinical before luinch' - I like your style! 😉

Mmm... cake

🙁 No cake..

Guys, i'm really looking forward to this. Trails should be lovely and dry. Im aiming to be up the end of the pier about 09:30 or thereabouts, so if im held up just wait around mob handed and i'll be there.

Just to restate a few points i made earlier, get to the ferry a good 20-30 mins before departure due to the crustys attending the bestival, its been pretty busy the last few days.
Also i checked the 2 for 1 offer is still available tomorrow ([i]Offer valid until 31 December 2009 excluding 10, 11 & 14 September [/i]) and i've confirmed this with Wightlink just now.

Make sure you have plenty of water and food as we are kinda isolated where we are going. Also weather looking great tomorrow, so bring some sun block!

Im all set, just need to lube up the bike in the morning. Been in touch with woodsman, looking like there should be about a dozen of us all told. I've managed to get a couple of mates to come along too.
Weathers good, so get a good nights kip and i'll meet you all up the end of the pier by 10.
I'll be riding a spesh enduro in silver and i'll have a nice bright orange SS jersey on.
Safe trip over to pompey and i'll see y'all in the morning.

Oh Im so sad I couldnt make it, was chasing after Joal all day and un packing boxes cause we have just moved house, joy.
Squeezed in a sympathy ride last night to see the sunset whilst Dan put the kids to bed. I live just near the beach so took a pic of the Solent and you can just see the IOW in distance.
[img] [/img]
I was thinking of you guys today and I hope you had fun.
[url= http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/media/TSSGGsep09.pdf ]Im working this event next Sunday[/url]
Doing my cycle guide thang.
If you have kiddies we are doing a hike,bike or trike ride along the seafront from adventure playground to canoe lake from 2-4pm.
Now lets see some pics from today so I can be truely envious....

I am sure the pics will be up tomorrow. For those who failed to make it , you missed a fatastic day of riding. All met at 10 am at Ryde then headed south on hot hot and dusty dry trails , well guided and running super fast. Unfortuantly i cannot tell you where we went, but there was some superb singletrack, and lots and lots of hills. A couple of forced stops for punctures, but a good pace . We had a lunch fail in a very busy pub, which was probably a good thing, then another lunch fail where a chippy was closed.
Dead tired now with a beer on the go , and thinking about tea. All in about 35 miles 0915 out and 1715 return, then got stuck in the traffic coming out of the football in Portsmouth.
Big thanks for the local guides who led us round safely and managed to get Dez home in time for his big night out.

rob

Shame you couldn't make it LoulaBella, we had a great day out. Thanks to Paul and the IOW trio for showing us round their lovely island - and for the beer recommendations!

Some pics here http://picasaweb.google.com/BrightonmtbClub/IsleOfWhiteSept09#

I'm the one sitting on the fence

Pete

[i]I'm the one sitting on the fence[/i]

As usual eh? 😉

Yes, thanks to all those who made it over. T'was a good day indeed, even with my 'off' and tube traumas!
Hope you had a good time on your 'do' dez.

Now to get over to brighton before winter.....

Oh BTW Peter is actually called John. lol!

Just got my internet back (after moving house) and checked out the pics, im uber jealous, looks like a great time was had by all.
Are you thinking of doing any more southerly rides?