[Closed] "Winchester" area ride - Saturday 8th May. May/may not include bluebells!

Venta Belgarum

glorious downland

Anna - I'm useless on Roman history but that is marked on the map. Am quite good at waffling on about local history and rubbish, as you well know! Undulating means downland. 😉

Hope you can make it. 🙂

put me down as a possible, gotta sort my dates

Hey rOcKeTdOg, hope you can make it. 🙂

I'm free (at the moment) so could be coming along for my first STW meet (pls be nice!).

I like the sound of this so may well pop along for my first meet as well!

Yip yip! I'll be there.

What lemonade for a chalky downlands Pimms?

It would be rude for me not to come along as it's local. 😆

'Hampshire doesn't welcome riffraff' too right, it's so fussy that i had to leave. If i can sneak back over the border then i'll be there.

Balls. Im working this weekend (1st in 3 years!!) also i dont have a bike here in southampton!!

a possible .. hope I can keep up haha 😐

hmm I now have the front half of a bike so I might have the second half in time for this. That will be my Bday weekend too so I can bring cake and Pringles 8oD

I'll check for permissions/plans & hope to be there!

Not sure if I can make it, but I might be able to pass on some local information. Crab Wood had an amazing display of bluebells last year, but bikes are not allowed (officially). Probably best not to have large groups riding through there 🙁

Sounds like a lovely ride but im still banned from the bike by the Doc.

Will it be a rideable distance form the station for the car-less ???

If we're meeting at Farley Mount or Alresford then it wouldn't be a problem for me to give you a lift there. 😀
Where are you coming from?

[b]Sounds like a lovely ride but im still banned from the bike by the Doc.

[/b]

blimey that's awful, what have you got/done??

Hopefully have a car by then and think it's about time I rode with people!

Elaine...

I will try to be there! I'm back in the UK on the 4th of May for a week, and a blubell (maybe) ride would be cracking.

Not sure how bike fit I will be- I'm riding everyday here, but no great distance...

Hope to see you then!

P

Which direction are you coming from hilldodger, if you're between Winchester and Bournemouth i might be able to give you a lift.

[hijack] RT - Ref. your email, It's probably too much too soon, although would love to go. 😥 [hijack over]

If you want it to be rideable from Winchester station the two obvious start-points would be Farley Mount/West-Wood or Cheesefoot head. Both have car-parks and both are about 4 miles from the station but hey, at least you'll have an excuse if you're slower than everyone else!

Wherwell looks rideable from Andover, but i'm not so familiar with that area.

[url= http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/winchester/189126839153023537 ]Winchester to Farley Mount[/url]

[url= http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/winchester/274126839242536786 ]Winchester to Cheesefoot Head[/url]

Slow work day. 😳 Warning: May contain traces of hills.

rd
[URL] http://www.onepictureeveryday.fotoblog.co.uk/p63643875.html [/URL]

Wherwell looks rideable from Andover, but i'm not so familiar with that area

Maybe start in Kingsworthy? We could possibly use the King Charles car park if we promise to spend money their after. They would probably be glad of the custom. Was in their last Saturday and it was dead.
I'm sure C_g will come up with the perfect start point and route though.

C_G, if you recce a ride and would like some company then let me know, always a pleasure riding with you.

Is there any parking at the cricket club in Wherwell MM? Haven't been there since playing table tennis there 20 years ago.

On a bike related point, i watched the tour de france in Wherwell when it came through in the 90s. Just up the hill and round the corner from the pub.

Is there any parking at the cricket club in Wherwell MM? Haven't been there since playing table tennis there 20 years ago.

Yes, but on a Saturday there will be a Cricket Match and they won't be best pleased when we get back havng taken all their spaces in the carpark.

Is that who you play for?

rusty trowel - Member
Which direction are you coming from hilldodger, if you're between Winchester and Bournemouth i might be able to give you a lift.

Thanks, but I'll be coming from Surrey - sure I can ride from station to most of the places mentioned 🙂

Is that who you play for?

Abbotsdown Car Park is an option ,not huge but free to park. Micheldever train Station is pay and display , and handy for those coming on the train. Inpromptu brewery tour for afters is an option , if we are still open. See how it goes in the meantime.
CG if you want some company to do some exploring let me know as its all a few miles from work.

Rob

I'd suggest meeting at the St Catherines Park and Ride in Winchester, it's only £2.70 for the day, is easy to find, easy to get to from the station and probably more secure than leaving a car in a country car park. There's a good pub (the Queens head) near by with a large garden where you can stash the bikes, does good food and they're not averse to muddy mountain bikers.
From the car park you can go straight out round St Cathines hill, over the gallops to Cheesefoot head. Then make up your mind whether to go left or right, we go all the way round (46ish miles) with only a few on road in the summer. Probably a bit heavy going until the mud dries up! but there are plenty of routes back into town for people on tight timeframes or if your just knackered.

I'd like to come too, another first timer. Looking foward to it already 🙂

[b]Everyone[/b] - thanks for all the replies, didn't expect this much interest. 😀 For those who haven't been on a Forum Ride, this is the perfect introduction and it will be good to meet new faces.

Thanks also for suggestions of starting points

[b]TooTallPaul[/b] - I do hope you can make it, have been enjoying your blog but it will be nice to hear more tales. Get that Ro to come along, he's always on holiday when I invite him! Keep in touch, not sure whether you will have a car but could always pick you up from Farnborough Station if that's any good?

[b]Singletrackmind and Mulletus[/b] - will e-mail you both.

Knottie,you'll be ok for May though surely? or ride one handed?

There's a good pub (the Queens head) near by with a large garden where you can stash the bikes

Soma-Rich. I have a spare bike thats right up your street you may borrow.
GT Zaskar SS 32:17 17" frame, currently equiped with CB Candy C's so maybe bring your own pedals? Let me know nearer the time if you need it.

Black Boy is cool, but on street parking for the bikes, and you can't see them that well. Just thought Queens was more secure.

I've just plotted a terrific ride - hills, descents, fast singletrack sections, gully, downland, beautiful views, wet t-shirt contest to finish with but it's 50km 😯

Is that too much? Over to the STW Massiv ...

Oi! That's my manor! I'm in if I'm around that weekend.

50km sounds good to me. Need an option to halve it, if its hissing down down though.
Black Boy in winch has a massive new courtyard , part covered with a proper rustic oak construction.
Might be able to use the brewery dray to ferry people to or from Winch station, depends on timings and weekend farmers markets, but its a possibility.

50k seems fine. It's the same distance as last years Purbeck ride and only 6 miles more than our recent Coombe Gibet jaunt.
They'll be plenty of stopping and the general slackers pace (mine) will make it a very enjoyable day. 😆

CG I like the idea of that, hopefully see you before then on Purbecks ride. 30 miles doesn't sound too bad; I don't think it's as steep as the Purbecks even though it's the start of the South Downs.

Count me in, this will be my 1st STW meet. Birthday weekend as well 😀

Never been on one of these rides but I love the area around Winchester (and the town itself) so have put it in the diary. Hopefully nothing will come up to conflict with it.

I will ask Al, and Paul we could well be up for this as not too far away from us (maybe count paul out as he is gay and has to get permission to ride! haha)

Now whats this about a purbeck ride?? On our doorstep so interested in that one!

Purbeck ride?? Tell me more one of my old haunts.

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-purbeck-ride-24th-april-2010-roll-up-roll-up ]Purbeck Ride[/url]

I'll try and come along for this, sounds good. I think I'm free that weekend, but I've just got back from a 4 day wedding where I managed a total of 12 hours sleep, so thinking is not a strong point 🙁

nice! ill be there

Blimey, thought this would be quite a low-key ride so can't believe the interest 😯

Definitely a good one for Forum first-timers - if you survive one of my group rides, you get a medal! Rest assured I will not get us lost, couldn't possibly cope with the abuse on here 🙄

Urgent call to Mulletus and singletrackmind - reinforcements needed please, extra leaders and sweepers! Will be in touch with a date for a recce ride.

Bit of luck for me Elaine- especially after missing out on the last one..

Im in, Winchester only 15 mins from Home! Looking forward to it Cinnamon Girl.. 😀

Route planning taking place in earnest 😀

The pressure is on ...

HOLD FIRE, just reading back on the first page it say's

wet t-shirt contest to finish with but it's 50km

you haven't seen me in a T shirt though have you, you might want to reconsider

Elaine if you want some help I can volunteer my services. Also if you want some company when you "recee" the ride count me in. I havn't riden at Farley Mount for a few years now so it would be good to discover some new stuff.

Let me know?

Matt

wet t-shirt contest to finish with but it's 50km

Well spotted Bigface0_0 😀 Not sure whether that has encouraged more to come along or folk were just thinking it's another one of C_G's jokes! My luscious lips are sealed. 😉

Matt - hi and thanks for the offer! Will copy you in on e-mails with Mulletus and singletrackmind.

Actually, I'm amazed at how many Hampshire riders there are on here.

[b]cinnamon_girl said: Route planning taking place in earnest! Surely we should be planning the route around Winchester not Earnest! Earnest is no where near Winchester!

Just a thought?

Matt

cinnamon_girl, I think its bettter to take a chance and come along just in case it does happen..I would hate to miss out (.)(.) 😆

Wish I could join this. Were always too busy seeing the folks to do anything when we visit.

I'd love to come, but we'll be in Delhi (Yes that Delhi, in India) that weekend.... 🙂

Have a good 'un!

hi CG,
sounds good, should be there, if you're doing any scouting happy to come along, email is <profilename>@<notcold>mail.com

Cheers
Gus

I'd love to come, but we'll be in Delhi (Yes that Delhi, in India) that weekend

Blimey, Pete 😯 the lengths that some folk will go to avoid a C_G ride 😉

Actually, does that mean we will not have a photographer? Probably a good job if wet t-shirts are involved 🙄

Hi gus! Thanks for the offer 🙂

Just a little resurrection folks. 8)

It will be a fun day!

Hi c_g, just come across this, put me down for a possible, not guaranteed just yet, but looking promising.

hi i would like to come me and a mate currently ride a lot in winch and are looking for more people/ groups to go riding with.
so if it's open where will it all be happening?

we were over farley mount on saturday last and although muddy was pretty good going, crab wood is off limits to bikers but we went through and every one we met just said hi hows it going.

look forward to it!

Just a few pics from todays ride with C_G and singletrackmind.
No bluebells but lots of sun, stunning views, newborn lambs and a few hills too 😀
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Just a little update for you:

As there's such a lot of interest, it is highly likely that we will have two groups. Whippets can ride around 50km (with just under 900 metres of ascent) whilst Slackers will do a bit less. 🙂

Ride will be starting from New Alresford, which is east of Winchester, and just off the A31. Link will be posted nearer the time. Definitely undulating with a mixture of downland, wooded singletrack, gully etc etc. All climbs do-able.

There will be an amazing finish to the ride and that's in addition to the wet t-shirt contest. 😉 Something has been planned, it can't be revealed until the day, but please bring along a couple of pounds for a charity donation. 8)

An idea of group sizes for Whippets and Slackers would be appreciated.

Fingers crossed that these super conditions continue. 😀

Woo and hoo - nice pics Mulletus. 8)

Looks super...let's hope for similar weather. I suspect I'll be a slacker, but would be interested to see comparitive routes if/when you have them. Looking forward to it!

Actually you've done well with the last one. 🙂 Beautiful scenery for sure.

pedalhead - you a slacker? Tell you what, let's swop bikes otherwise I will keep admiring yours! Let me know if you decide to sell. 😉

Well, I'm thinking there might be more trail snacks available in the slacker group 🙂 . Hopefully I might have my Sirius Ti by then, although the "2 weeks" lead time has already become 6 weeks...and counting. I think you will just *have* to bring your shiny one if I do!

Ti is always worth waiting for ... which means you will have no need for your Blur. 😉

Yeah, shiny one will be used as she's feeling neglected these days due to the new pretender. 🙄

Put me down as a slacker please!

yep another slacker here

Can't make it now as some friends are coming to stay 🙁 Have fun all.

As I have never been on one of these group rides before and have no idea what the pace may be like I will opt for being a slacker too.