Road and off road

20/11/16 Due to a bad neck I have not been cycling over the 12 months and have missed it. My favourite off road ride involved parking on Sandbanks, just before you get to the ferry there is a road on right with free parking if you are there earlier enough. Then catch the ferry, once over onto Studland there are several marked tracks but check with an OS map 1st, I prefer the one lopping around Corfe Castle, great views and cake in a cafe over looking the castle, just go past the ticket office and it is on the left...


11th and 12th April 2015. This is a great start to the cycling year, the New Forest Spring Sportive run by Wiggle and starting at Matchams Leisure Park, Hurn Road, Hampshire, BH24 2BT. There are 2 course options, an Epic 84 miles and a standard of 62 miles. I have done this route a couple of times and it is always fun (even when raining, honest!!!). Their website is www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk 

Waterside, Self catering holiday accommodation for Mudeford, Christchurch, Avon Beach and Hengistbury Head and The New Forest in Dorset

21/07/14

I can recommend the Isle of Wight clock wise circular road bike route, http://http://www.sunseaandcycling.com/Files/Documents/RTImapA3.pdf we took the ferry from Lymington and arrived in Yarmouth at 9.40. The route from Yarmouth to West Cowes is very well sign posted and a great place to stop for coffee and cake. The small chain ferry from West to East Cowes is free for foot passengers and cyclists, but be aware the hill straight after the supermarket! The signage from here on is a bit hit and miss and we ended up going down into Ryde (wrongly) at the big roundabout take signs right instead  and then had to climb back up a long hill, but worth seeing the outside of Osbourne House and the views across to Portsmouth. Also Bembridge has a great little café on the harbour front (don't eat too much as again it is followed by a long hill). We went down into Ventnor and worth a look (be aware the road to St Lawrence is closed)but a 1:4 hill on the way out kept the blood pumping. Enough of my moaning, the ills were a challenge but a fun one. The downhill into Freshwater Bay is fantastic. We didn't swim this time but last time it was well worth the stop. Then a few miles and back in Yarmouth. We should of ridden 63 miles and finished at 78 with the mistakes but what a day.

Waterside, Self catering holiday accommodation for Mudeford, Christchurch, Avon Beach and Hengistbury Head and The New Forest in Dorset

27/06/14 Short cycle route from Christchurch Quay to Hengistbury Head, suitable for hybrid, road and mountain bikes.


Christchurch Quay R on Quay Road
L at Boathouse Café on Quomps Walk
Bear L at WC’s to Paddling Pools & River Stour Walk
R on Stour Walk to Wick Ferry
R on Sopers Way
L on Willow Way
L on Willow Drive
L at Stour Road RBT
~ River Stour Crossing Tuckton Bridge ~
L at Tuckton Bridge RBT on Wick Lane  
SO on Wick Lane to Wick Lane Bridleway
L on Thornbury Road L at School still SUSTRANS-NCN Route 2 on Rolls Drive
L on SUSTRANS-NCN Route 2A              
SO on Broadway to Hengistbury Head Car Park                                  


 (Total 7.3 Miles)

Waterside, Self catering holiday accommodation for Mudeford, Christchurch, Avon Beach and Hengistbury Head and The New Forest in Dorset

11/05/14 The Wiggle Jurassic Beast road ride 63 miler was on my list of to-do's today, however with a 30mph wind and predicted rain we took the decision to spend the time windsurfing instead. Great idea.

Waterside, Self catering holiday accommodation for Mudeford, Christchurch, Avon Beach and Hengistbury Head and The New Forest in Dorset

13/04/14 The New Forest Sportive ride on 12th April was well organised by the Wiggle team again. I did the 63 mile standard distance and was aiming for a sub 4 hour time. The rider I was to pedal with woke up with a bug and had to miss out, real shame. I ended riding with several people and gained from drafting some keen riders. For the most part all the drivers I met were courteous and with a few exceptions most cyclists were not riding more than two abreast and single file on busy sections. The last 5km were tough as the wind had picked up and I did not get my food and liquid intake right, but the finish line came in site (up a hill!!) and I finished on 3:50 so I was happy with that. The next big ride on my list is the Wiggle, Jurassic Beast on Sunday 11th May. See you there.

Waterside, Self catering holiday accommodation for Mudeford, Christchurch, Avon Beach and Hengistbury Head and The New Forest in Dorset

07/04/13 Weekend of 12th and 13th April sees the New Forest Sportive organised by Wiggle, it is a great event and is very well organised. Great views of the Forest and this year it starts from Matchams over near Ringwood.

10/03/14 For cycling activities have a look at www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk

14/08/13  Mudeford is ideally situated for both road and off road cycling. We have a secure lockable shed that you are welcome to use. I will post detailed routes for both road and off road bikes. One of my favorite road bike routes is approx 23 miles and heads up into the New Forest via Hinton Admiral, onto Bransgore then across the staggered junction onto Ringwood Rd, until you see Braggers Lane on the right then the hill to warm up. Once there, at the top of Thorney Hill you have magnificent views over the heath and long straight road heading to Burley. There is bike rental shop at Burley together with a cafe for coffee and cake. Moving on up a short hill your route is again up on the heath, heading past the cricket club and east on Station Rd then under the A35, take the next right and down a short hill followed by a long steady climb....... More to follow