“I was out till midnight having a few drinks…” Liz Pepper put us to shame as we compared loading cars, ironing kit and 9pm bedtimesthe night before our very early start to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight. Nick had suggested the idea a few months back and kindlyplanned and organised the famous 130k Randonnée route, and a beauty it was.
We set off early Saturday morning from our Beckenham clubhouse to Lymington ferry terminal. A mix of Foxgrove’s finest - Racers,Pacers & Chasers representing all cycling levels within the club on what was set to be a family affair. Those travelling with Perry hadHeart FM & Smooth Classics, those with Dave a more Prodigy Firestarter vibe. Music choices aside, a smooth trip for all, albeit arrivinga little late. In a jiff, bikes unloaded, wheels slotted, shoes on, Garmins on, Lewis woken up and ferry tickets to hand.
The Isle of Wight is famous for being the most haunted Island in the world, and the sunniest place in the UK. As the ferry headed intothe mist, a sense of trepidation and excitement built at what lay ahead. A few croissants and cappuccinos and we arrived to glorioussun at Yarmouth harbour.
Click, click, beep and we headed inland to beautiful green farmlands on slick roads with no traffic, no hedges, and no wind. It felt likeBelgium on a good day.
20km of perfect roads and unusually calm weather passed as we approached a gleaming turbine factorybelonging to Vestas, the worlds largest wind farm company. Bad day for them, good day for us. Then onto a lovely cycle path alongthe Medina Estuary, a wealth of natural habitats. For ornithologists, this area has waterfowl, egrets, oystercatchers, black tailedgodwits, grey herons, and redshanks. For Cyclists, it’s just very pleasant.
The pace settled through the industrial heartlands of Newport, then through an area of streams and rivers on the eastern banks ofthe Wooton Creek as we headed towards Ryde. It had been plain sailing/cycling till this point, and then we hit a literal roadblock.Fences, trenches and machinery blocked the road, there was no way through… Of course there was. Expectedly unfazed, Perry andDave led us deep into the woods and out the other side faster than you can say “Bear Grylls”.
Lunch was at The Vine pub in St Helens. We sat in the beer garden doing what you do in beer gardens. Scampi and chips for mewhile Captain Condiment (Roger) enjoyed a burger with his salt, ketchup, mustard and mayo. The tell-tale signs of a party animal.
We descended from St Helens into beautiful Bembridge harbour, and then hugged the coast to Ventnor. Things got special here,how I imagine the Amalfi coast to be. The sea looked gorgeous, plants and trees only a subtropical micro-climate can give rise to.Majestic cycling as we motored along the cliff tops, everyone at high pace.
The first proper climb was up next, Blackgang Road. Helped by the scenery, 3k of 5% was despatched by all with relative ease. If youwondered about the title, then it came. Snow falling as we stopped to eat ice cream from a high cliff at Blackgang Viewpoint.Spectacular and bizarre.
Flattish farmlands followed, Perry “Man on a Mission” set a furious pace out front only to be reined in by Hannah, “Marshal on aMission and Guardian of the Club’s Ethos”.
And then the final climb, the infamous Freshwater. There is a reason it’s labelled one of Europe’s most scenic roads. It’s also tough,3.5k and 12% in places. New member, James Barnes, was having none of it, setting off like Marco Pantani in his prime. Nick led theattack and summited like a group leader should, out in front and full of support for everyone after.
Coming out of Freshwater, Dave (avec MTB) navigated us along an off-road cycling path alongside the Western Yar back intoYarmouth. It wouldn’t be a Foxgrove outing without a refreshment finish, so we decamped to the rather lovely King’s Head atYarmouth Pier. Strava stats calibrated over pints of sumptuous local ales. On the ferry back, Gavin sighted The Shard ahoy (100 milesaway) which after closer inspection was the Emirates Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth). He’s on a half pint of Island Brew next time.
If I had to plan a perfect day’s cycling, it would go something like this… smooth roads, no wind, no punctures, great scenery, a publunch, great company, and no ghosts!
Thanks to Nick for organising and the rest of you for a great day out. Look forward to the next one.
