Hampshire Riding

Cap'n - thought I read on here that some tracks in Black Wood were lost due to the holiday camp being built? It was quite fun there although a bit creepy.

Yep, saw the cabins as I headed N towards the 303.

As I understand it, an MX'er course was originally cut and the odd mtb'er used it. I believe an mtb race was held there years ago too. A group of us met up with a chap from here (can't remember his name) and he showed us around. It was quite hard going with leaves on the ground but very pleasant nonetheless.

Did go there on my own a few times but it was one of those places that felt a bit creepy due to the absence of any other human life!

Stick to the roads CG, don't stray, you never know what is out there 🙂

I know exactly what you mean about Blackwood. Me and Dezzy went and it was bright and sunny , but there was something slightly off with the place. And its not the fact there is no-one else around. I have ridden loads of places and not seen a soul and not felt uneasy.

Meanwhile therre is a chap having a crack at the SDD tomorrow ( sat 11th) 0500 out of Winch , aiming to finish around midnighht .nutcase.

Inspired by your photo I drove to Wilton to ride out last Tuesday (the windy one) and got to Snail Creep before turning back.
Strava here if you're interested.

I haven't been following the thread much but I'd be interested to know about other places worth riding on the doorstep of Wilton. I've ridden around Broad Chalke, along the Ox Drove and all the bits between Shaftesbury/ Win Green/ Tollard down to Pimperne but I tend to assume that it is eternally claggy in that part of the world so never explore beyond what I know when I take the bike when visiting family

Stick to the roads CG, don't stray, you never know what is out there

😀

singletrackmind - weird that both of you felt the same! The only other place that makes me feel uneasy is Collingbourne Woods. I go all over the place on my own and it's never bothered me apart from two locations. Wishing you good luck tomorrow, do report back! 😀

DanW - I can highly recommend a book entitled 'Mountain Bike Guide Wiltshire' by Ian White, it was £8.50 and includes 25 routes. What I particularly enjoy is his descriptions and local info, really makes it interesting.

Additionally check out this website and its cycling routes:

www.discovernadder.org.uk

I rode one of the routes last year, went off piste and ended up in a quarry!

Gratuitous Hampshire thread post ....

Will be picking my Covert up from parents shed this evening so back to some Hampshire riding this weekend - sunny but chilly looks to be the name of the day - probably Sunday morning up along the river the Manor Park then back down East side of the river to the Warsash ferry. Did measure up the ride from Kings Sombourne to Hamble via Winchester/St Catherines/Twyford as per my questions a while ago here but that's 40k and a bit beyond me right now. Happy days and will be out and about a bit more soon. Sadly missed the sign up for QECP Night/Day but hopefully will get over for some spectating.

How are the bluebells looking in Hampshire?

Indeed Jam, what did you think of the beautiful Hamble ??

Should've said you were coming down.. I'd come out with you (I'm in Town ATM, but would met up, we could've done coffee in Manor Park Tea Rooms!)

A coffee stop would have been good and about my level given my dire fitness, wouldn't want to hold anyone up on an actual ride ! Hamble was looking lovely and I got in 3 Ferry rides too (don't ask 🙂 ). Let me know if you are down, I'm there most weekends.

Nice sailing conditions at the weekend, we did a new rig shakedown on a Class 40 on Saturday, sunshine and 22 knots of breeze. Should be at Netley over BH sometime as a friend has bought an RS Aero, might do my ride from Winchester to there.

Gratuitous photo from Sunday posted as I have given up with Flickr. Test of Photobucket

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rode half of the South downs national park ride last night. beautiful day but my heart wasn't in it so cut back early.

but some great views can recommend the loop. i would also recommend not riding the botley - BW road: there are much quieter routes (curdridge road - swanmore)

The only other place that makes me feel uneasy is Collingbourne Woods

I see plenty of bikers in Collingbourne. Well, not so much see, as watch... 8)

Was nearly there the other night, but turned right at Scots Poor and headed over Oxenwood / Buttermere way on the Tripster. Don't find it creepy, but it's my 'local' .. apart from the big old yew tree. I don't hang around there, it's been... decorated..
Got a bit carried away and massively pinched the tyre. Couldn't be arsed to fix with only a mile or two home so picked it up and ran, cue much hilarity from the local 'keeper.

No bluebells yet, will be out tonight to look for some if my lights are charged.

Jam, deffo meet up.. Fitness not really an issue, it's just a ride/catch up.

Glad to hear the Class 40 stuff is going well, be nice to hear some tales of racing do's.

I'm up in Town ATM but will be back next weekend for a good few weeks judging by whats going on at work 😆

^^ ferry ! Grey haired old Man or da Yoof wearing a baseball cap??

Blimey, check out that ferry and shelter. 😯 Clashes with jambalaya's bars. 😉

See that house in the distance ?

I live behind that one 😀

bb - you're lucky that you can't see the ferry then! Looks a great location to enjoy the sea. 😀

Beautiful, it's really beautiful 😀

I am very lucky indeed.

Bluebells are late up here near the head of the river, CG.

Cap'n - oh, that's a shame but won't be far away. There were some gorgeous ones in the Nadder Valley (Fonthill estate, do you know it?) and did post a pic in the official Bluebell thread.

I know the Fonthill very well, CG! Many a drunken weekend shooting and boozing down there! At the Beckford, before it went all glam/gastro.

They're coming out around here, but the usual massive field along the Waltham Lane is just a bit meh at the moment. Not the normal overpowering bulk of colour, sadly.

Hello hampshire people... Not been on thus thread for a while as all my riding has been done at night due to time constraints, and tbh it's bloody dull. However I am likely to be comming into some spare time (to hopefully sort my head out) and will be looking for inspiration from you good people for routes around north hants... But I am also after ideas for an off road route from Southampton to either alton, winchester, whitchurch.
Cheers

Sorry dv can't help with North Hants but the trails at QECP are ace at the moment.

I was broken by tonight's ride, too many ups for my poor legs. Shown up on the final hills by my riding partner and some other speedy types who don't know the meaning of being knackered. Was chased down the final descent as well which was mildly amusing as I ballsed up the top berm and then went down the rest slower than my grandma.

Great to be out in the evening sun, really enjoyed it.

May give qep a go as the last time I rode there was with slackalice of this parish and it was after a Seatpost clamp failure, so slightly shorter than hoped for!

daftvader - that doesn't sound much fun so hopefully you'll soon be out in daylight to enjoy the bluebells. 🙂 As regards route ideas, I shall take a look at my mapping software and report back.

Edit: a very quick glance would indicate that Whitchurch could be more interesting.

Cheers c_g... Much appreciated

OK, you need tomthumb with his encyclopaedic knowledge of Hampshire and he'll advise of the best way to get out of Soton. Hopefully he'll see this thread!

Are you wanting to go the most direct way or would you be happy with some convoluting to use rights of way rather than minor roads? Alton looks tricky!

It's a mostly off road route I'd prefer.... It doesn't have to go to alton, but I can get back from there on known routes, same as whitchurch or winchester...

Working in Southampton, living in Eastleigh and riding around winch I'd suggest.

Taking cycle route out of soton via the river heading towards mansbridge. You then have a cheeky or not cheeky option.

Cheeky- continue on following the river, cutting under the motorway and skirting Eastleigh airport eventually emerging at Eastleigh rugby club- continue up the river until reaching shawford. From shawford go up the road to the left of the pub, pub on right, railway on left. Ride up this lane till end and there's a path leading to a field. Go straight across field and follow path till you reach a Tarmac road that runs alongside m3. Turn right follow and eventually go under m3 to appear at hockly link. See below for route from there or cross over road onto cycle path turn right with viaduct above and to the left, as ramp comes down from viaduct to the right is a path going up. Take this and you've got a nice techy rooty climb onto the top of the twyford cutting, follow this with m3 below and to the right till the end, go through gate and cross m3 on bridge. On the otherside of the bridge is a gate that will take you up towards the golf course mentioned below however you will be riding down to a crossroads where you'll need to turn left to get to morestead road/ chilcomb etc

Not cheeky- follow cycle route through Eastleigh emerging at otterbourne and continue till hockly link (twyford junction m3) there is a bridle way that goes from twyford up past the golf course continuing on to cross morestead road and the descend to chilcomb. From here pick up the southdowns route and follow to cheese foot head.

Well, that was rather lovely!

Couple of hours of road/track/grrravel action around Dummer, Farleigh Wallop, the Candovers etc.

Bluebells aplenty (Didn't stop for pictures, sorry!), the stench of wild garlic up by FW was stunning. Oh, and lots of ickle baby lambs! They're going to taste soooo good! 😀

Oh, and forgot to say, if you're planning a ride through Preston Candover, take at least a gravel bike! They're resurfacing the road and it's a bit of a beast!

Cheers lummox... Will have a look and see if I can translate that onto garmin maps.

Gentle spin and exploring around, a few too many stiles and cow pie though 🙁 stopped off to see my mates new dinghy (RS Areo) declined to have a go as water freezing. Continuing getting the FS back into service as Alps soonish I hope

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Bluebells looking good in Collingbourne. It's almost Hampshire.

Didn't go too far off the track to get a proper 'carpet' pic as the singletrack was in perfect form.

South Downs where looking lovely yesterday. I have a pic but can never get it right trying to upload on here 🙁

Two fantastic days of pootling in Wiltshire. 8)

What have you guys been up to then, besides bb moaning about his rubbish soup. 😆

I have been falling off a lot CG. Mainly at the QECP day/night Enduro, in retrospect it was great fun and very well organised, at the time I was a little annoyed with myself.

QECP is whack

I've knocked up a short vid of me chasing my mate down QECP Red Route on a slippery morning in the other day (just before the enduro race)! I had forgotten how fun the Red Route is since it has been overhauled.

Check out the corner dabs! To be fair its pretty hard not to hang a foot out on those chalky berms, especially when wet

It is in 720p! For some reason youtube shows it in 420p as default.

Check it...

Well then.. Well then indeed.. My soup debacle. A simple choice turned complex... Unlike the riding I've been doing.

Most of my riding during the early months of the year had been out of my door, up into the Downs and a bounce or two then home. Structured intervals for me with some really hard escapades during the dim winter months, then a flurry of springtime rides a sougern into Yorkshire for some block training all intermingled with hard road Hacks with the club around Hertfordshire/Kent/Surrey. A wide and varied landscape, pictured by barren swooping fields, scratched mud surfaces, flint, sullen sheep, ice and freezing temperatures during the early season. A vast variety of courses and routes on both CX'er and Roadie, a myriad of weather fronts from stunning cold sunshine to blistering winds freezing snot dribbles... Then spring turned up, a few early warm days, legs grew longer into the warmer temperatures and extended days in the saddle, deep winter clothing jettisoned for thinner breathable jackets, long legs disappeared cast into the wardrobe for another two seasons rest. Short arms and legs (shaven) and no gloves now form the late spring season, warm sunshine now bakes my back and shoulders, tan lines have appeared along with a burnt nose.

I have seen the seasons change in 3 counties (Hampshire, Londonshire(covering Herts/Kent/Surrey)Yorkshire) each allowing me to witness a vast diverse wildlife culture. Stunning landscapes, hedges turned from barren see through twigs into full blossom leaf filled curtains. Bugs and birds dancing through blustery forests, wind blown chop on Solent waters, mirror flat Hamble prickled with unused boats. Stark granite outcrops and mellow moss with slithers of streams gravity driven into valleys as old as time. Poncy faux Tudor New Biuld houses in spurious locations, buildings springing up left/right and off centre, mud strewn roads more akin to Bridleways and sublime singletrack.

I came home from a stint in Town, 5 weeks of working back in an office, away from my heartland, my soulland, my glorious Hampshire. Green, green and more green and very pleasant Land, it's changed, it's woken up, it's reawakened blooming flowers, leaves heavy with dew, fields bursting with growth. Warm winds off the Sea, calm winds, wind that carries a subtle scent of life.

I'm home and Hampshire is stunning.

Hampshire is a hidden gem. A little secret. Only those who know, know. Get in with the locals if you want to find the best places. 30 years of riding dh, dj, xc road and i am still discovering mind blowing places on my door step. Hampshire is the best.

john - it's all about having fun but hope you're not too sore!

My word bb, that is really poetic and pleased that you're enjoying being home. 😀 You wouldn't get ready-made soup in Hampshire would you!

dhmky - yeah, Hampshire is good. Was up there a couple of weeks ago visiting my favourite bluebell woods followed by lunch at Lasham Gliding Club. 8)

Anyone riding Sat morning ? Thinking of a couple of hours at QECP perhaps as I have a borrowed car so mobile.

@john send me your photo and I'll post it. I gave up with Flickr now using photobucket.

Picture sent to gmail account jambalaya.

Off to swinley tomorrow and then maybe QECP Friday afternoon, unfortunately Saturday I am on childcare duties as wife is away.

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