A somewhat belated report on the night recce. In the wee hours of Saturday self and Adam (Rebecca absent due to knee problems) got the ferry over to Fishbourne (surprisingly, or not surprisingly depending on one's viewpoint, busy) and embarked on what proved an even longer haul (even allowing for the extra few miles) than Wednesday's solo effort, for various reasons. For the most part, we followed
this route (as mentioned in #110) but further alterations proved necessary- to start with, the 'road' we were going to take right after the exit from Fishbourne terminal proved to be firmly in the lumpy-muddy-heavily-rutted-track category. L'enfer du Wight is not the plan, so we went back to the actual road and then the usual route to Ryde (though we ended up going to Ryde Pier and then along the northeast coast for a bit before back down to Tesco, no harm done). Trip to Tesco proved somewhat essential for me- I only realised on the ferry that I hadn't brought any bottles
. Fortunately, as an Extra, this Tesco had cycling gear, so that's yet another bottle for the stock (and another cage). Selection of sandwiches etc proved perfectly adequate, and as Adam noticed, the McDonalds next door is also an option for those who want it. Refuelled, on we went, back up to the coast. Coastal path at Seaview looked impassable except by walking, so we backed up and followed the main road (as does the regular round-island route) to Bembridge, which (thankfully) was straightforward as usual. Went a different, better way from Wednesday's ride down to Sandown esplanade, and then along through there and Shanklin. Route up from Shanklin was very, very steep indeed so we both ended up walking- climb I took up from the esplanade on Wednesday was fairly nasty but six of one...on to Bonchurch (beachside community toilets were open
), and Ventnor (climb up is, you'll never guess, very steep). One numpty driver at Bonchurch who sped past the only moton all night (apart from the opening stretch in Fishbourne/Ryde, we hardly saw a car until first light).
Onto Whitwell (to avoid the impassable Undercliffe Drive) and then Blackgang, which in the clockwise direction is a steady climb rather than thoroughly unpleasant. Adam sped off down from there, feeling the cold, and I was intending to stop (whoops). Couldn't see him in the distance. Got to Chale, found I was in a mobile reception blackspot, went up the hill again to get a signal. Adam waited while I caught up again, then on all the way down the Military Road to Freshwater. By this time it was first light, and a refuelling stop was in order. Facepalm moment #2 for me as I rooted around my bag for my USB battery pack (the Garmin had given me the low power warning- the cold, mapping and backlight use taking its toll)…I'd charged the batteries for it and then left it at home. Nonetheless, we were both powered up a bit. On to the Needles Park (road down there looks perfectly OK) before onto Yarmouth. A brief detour to the Yarmouth-Freshwater bike path was needed to avoid the A3054 roadworks closure, but most of it was passable with care (handy, as the road I'd put on the intended route turns out to have been closed anyway). Adam nonetheless suffered our one and only puncture on this stretch, a large thorn the culprit. On to Cowes and the chain ferry (a very pleasant stretch, certainly nicer than the 'motorway') and back round to Ryde at 9.30 or so (so nine hours ferry to ferry). Adam was keen to make his booked train at 10.30, and had therefore had a catamaran to catch. I opted to join him rather than breakfast alone, and despite a long queue for a ticket I made the sailing OK (on the ramp at 9.45, two minutes before departure). Plenty of time for Adam's train (which arrived after its scheduled departure time, good old Southern). Then back home for breakfast and an extremely sound nap.
This reinforced my view from Wednesday's ride that it's a tough one, (un)comfortably tougher than any FNRttC. Worth the effort, I hasten to add. It'll be a lot slower than the regular round-IOW route, for those who've done that, so be forewarned. We are, I would say, highly unlikely, especially with a larger group, to be back in Ryde any quicker than Adam and I were. Bear that in mind if you're looking for advance rail fares. There will be walking, those who favour road pedals might want to think about having SPDs on for the night. Even though the Trek is heavier than the
Condor, the triple crank and bigger range cassette seemed to make it easier to be in the right gear for the heavily undulating conditions. Mudguards are a good idea. And check your brakes, they will be getting heavy use. @
JoeyB and @
HorTs, I don't know what lighting setup you gents have, but you'll be wanting something fairly powerful and with decent batteries as a large part of the route is unlit, and it's a lot better to see the potholes before you hit them…
