2011-05-01 Sun - Isle of Wight Randonnee

Once again I will miss this as I'll be on holiday. That'll change next year as my boy will finally be in school.

Time for my one a year posting of my brother riding in the fog on the climb from Shanklin towards Ventnor in 2005.

Yes beautiful people!--In the diary for a week, discussed, sorted. Camping night before, perhaps be some swimming or other action over the weekend- its gotta be a sunny one this year.

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    
13. BenJam (anyone else feel like camping night before?)
    

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    
13. BenJam (anyone else feel like camping night before?)
    
14. laner
    

As an islander I cant miss this. I'll be starting from the Yarmouth checkpoint 9(ish) probably with a few other locals.

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    
13. BenJam (anyone else feel like camping night before?)
    
14. laner
    
15. Alacycle
    

Possibly interested - could do with something to aim for and get fit for.

Apologies if this is a stupid question but how feasible is this on a SS, as a relatively new SS rider. If I get in some longer ride training, I could prepare for it right?

never heard of it. want to do it!

/ignorant

I'll probably be doing it geared, I've heard there's a fair few steep climbs

Possibly interested - could do with something to aim for and get fit for.

Apologies if this is a stupid question but how feasible is this on a SS, as a relatively new SS rider. If I get in some longer ride training, I could prepare for it right?
You should be able to get around no problem so long as you know what to expect from a 65 mile ride. There are quite a few checkpoints (5 I think) so you can stop and have a breather fairly often. All checkpoints have drinks and snacks you can buy, and two (Yarmouth and Bembridge) have "lunch" food like rolls, cake, etc.

never heard of it. want to do it!

/ignorant
You are right to want to do it! It's a really nice route and very well signed.

I'll probably be doing it geared, I've heard there's a fair few steep climbs
It's a lot of ups and downs but only a couple of noteworthy climbs. Blackgang is the longest but isn't too steep, but for the most part they are short lumps.

6pt will probably be doing it on about 86" fix if that helps?
and rinsing the hills

Quiet Jason, that only helps the rest of us feel inadequate.

in

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    
13. BenJam (anyone else feel like camping night before?)
    
14. laner
    
15. Alacycle
    
16. Superprecise
    

Just one big climb but it rolls quite a bit, perfectly doable fixed or SS. There is a 55k route too.

6pt will probably be doing it geared if that helps?
and enjoying the scenery.

though may is a long way away, so you never know...

Quiet Jason, that only helps the rest of us feel inadequate.

you dont need to feel inadequate, you got the calves of a 16 year old athlete sweetie ;-)

You should be able to get around no problem so long as you know what to expect from a 65 mile ride. There are quite a few checkpoints (5 I think) so you can stop and have a breather fairly often. All checkpoints have drinks and snacks you can buy, and two (Yarmouth and Bembridge) have "lunch" food like rolls, cake, etc.
You are right to want to do it! It's a really nice route and very well signed.
It's a lot of ups and downs but only a couple of noteworthy climbs. Blackgang is the longest but isn't too steep, but for the most part they are short lumps.

Thanks! I know the Isle of Wight pretty well, but have never seen it from a bike! I am mostly a short lump, so we should get on fine!

Just one big climb but it rolls quite a bit, perfectly doable fixed or SS. There is a 55k route too.

I would deffo be doing the 55k route fo'shure although will try and get in some longer rides in the next month or so when the weather starts picking up and see what occurs!

If you are thinking of doing the 55k route ,I would definately reconsider doing the 100k.
I am shall we say the wrong side of 60 and will be doing the 100k this year as last, hopefully the weather will be an improvement on last year.
Here are the distances between checkpoints
Bembridge Wootton 10.5 Wootton East Cowes 4.8 East Cowes Yarmouth 16 Yarmouth Whitwell 19.16 Whitwell Alverstone 9.9 Alverstone Bembridge 5.7 (miles)

Hmm...somehow looks much more manageable when you present it as distances between checkpoints. Thanks!

This looks good. Four years in Southampton and I never know the island over the water had so much to offer. I'll try to get the rest of the guys from southie in too.

If you are thinking of doing the 55k route ,I would definately reconsider doing the 100k.
I am shall we say the wrong side of 60 and will be doing the 100k this year as last, hopefully the weather will be an improvement on last year.
Here are the distances between checkpoints
Bembridge Wootton 10.5 Wootton East Cowes 4.8 East Cowes Yarmouth 16 Yarmouth Whitwell 19.16 Whitwell Alverstone 9.9 Alverstone Bembridge 5.7 (miles)

Hmm... No plans. No knowledge. No experience. Only one bike - geared, but tempted. Sanity will prevail by the morning, I'm sure.

Do the 100k. Give yourself time and take it easy. Piece of piss.

This photo is on the 100k route

Did the randonee with Fiddy and Katttt and Greasy, and GinaG and Dropout, a couple of years back, good times. The 100k is eminently doable fixed, the only long slog as has been mentioned is blackgang, the rest are short sharp affairs, but there are a lot of them and they usually come along when your huffing from the previous climb and descent.

Anyway my point was if you want to stay for the weekend you can hire caravans, which is what we did, about 7 of us between two caravans in all, and it didn't work out to be that expensive. Have a word with Greasy as he booked it last time if I recall.

Tentatively maybe in for this, money, time and track schedule permitting...

Screw it...am in! And going to aim for the 100k which I'm thinking is do-able after getting in some longer rides. Want to cycle more and more this year so this is something to long forward to/aim for.

1. Velocio
   
2. Pifko
   
3. Soul
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Kirth + a bunch of other non-forum
   
6. braker
   
7. Tiswas
   
8. kattiep + crew
   
9. smiff
   
10. Arducius
    11.m.f + the 1 who never gives up.
    
11. 6pt
    
12. spybot
    
13. BenJam (anyone else feel like camping night before?)
    
14. laner
    
15. Alacycle
    
16. Superprecise
    
17. pootsmanuva