Turbo Club - Meet Ups / Events

[bridgy]

Nice one Andy - brings back happy memories. We were so lucky with the weather that day too!

Great action at 40:07 when Bridgy makes a move to clip off the front with @Breedon on his wheel. @kipster sees the danger as does @<Tommy> a moment later, and they get onto his wheel, but @CXRAndy is dropped and the four go clear. At 41:35 @berty bassett realises he's made a terrible mistake and missed the move of the day and attempts to bridge.....

I agree Andy the views from around 46 mins on the miltary road are fantastic - and we get to see "the crash" too. Are we still sure the passenger in the silver car doesn't put a hand out and push Bob over?!

That's really whet my appetite for May

Sorry just realised this post kind of undermines Andy's reassurance that it isn't a race! I'm only joking of course - we had a bit of fun on that descent - until the crosswind coming off the sea scared us too much so we slowed down and waited for everyone

Do you remember that crosswind at 30+mph @<Tommy> ?

 

[CXRAndy]

I was using a 40t large chainring. Literally run out of gearing, I couldn't sustain 120rpm

 

[bridgy]

I was using a 40t large chainring. Literally run out of gearing, I couldn't sustain 120rpm

Oh yeah, I remember that now!

 

[CXRAndy]

Do you remember that crosswind at 30+mph @<Tommy> ?

Yes I remember too, I was using 60mm carbon rim aswell. Very sketchy on that descent

 

[<Tommy>]

I was using a 40t large chainring. Literally run out of gearing, I couldn't sustain 120rpm

Never bring a knife to a gun fight…

 

[<Tommy>]

Sorry just realised this post kind of undermines Andy's reassurance that it isn't a race! I'm only joking of course - we had a bit of fun on that descent - until the crosswind coming off the sea scared us too much so we slowed down and waited for everyone

Do you remember that crosswind at 30+mph @<Tommy> ?

The epitome of where you don’t want deep rims wasn’t it! That’s still the worst speed wobble I’ve ever had to this day.

 

[bridgy]

The epitome of where you don’t want deep rims wasn’t it! That’s still the worst speed wobble I’ve ever had to this day.

Same! I'd only had that bike for a couple of weeks as well - the wheels were only 40mm rims but were still deeper than what I'd been used to. And I've since changed those Mavic wheels for Zipps and realised the Mavics were awful in crosswinds for some reason

 

[Peter Salt]

Lads, I did some enquiries around the ferries, apologies if this is already know to everyone, a quick summary:
- Normally all ferries allow all bicycles at no extra charge, i.e. you're considered a 'foot passenger' for both the vehicle/passenger and passenger only ferries.
- Vehicle/passenger makes the crossing in circa 60 minutes to East Cowes; passenger only is 30 minutes to West Cowes. The two destinations are basically just on the opposite side of the river but there's no bridge - just another ferry (called a floating bridge).
- The vehicle/passenger is £10.10, the passenger only is £18.90 for 'foot passengers'. If you're in a car it's around £40. All prices one way.

Technically, if you're just on the bike, you can take the vehicle/passenger to East Cowes, go clockwise, end at West Cowes and take the passenger only. £29 and you avoid the floating bridge.

[EDIT]
There's a discount for over 60s

 

[bridgy]

Lads, I did some enquiries around the ferries, apologies if this is already know to everyone, a quick summary:
- Normally all ferries allow all bicycles at no extra charge, i.e. you're considered a 'foot passenger' for both the vehicle/passenger and passenger only ferries.
- Vehicle/passenger makes the crossing in circa 60 minutes to East Cowes; passenger only is 30 minutes to West Cowes. The two destinations are basically just on the opposite side of the river but there's no bridge - just another ferry (called a floating bridge).
- The vehicle/passenger is £10.10, the passenger only is £18.90 for 'foot passengers'. If you're in a car it's around £40. All prices one way.

Technically, if you're just on the bike, you can take the vehicle/passenger to East Cowes, go clockwise, end at West Cowes and take the passenger only. £29 and you avoid the floating bridge.

[EDIT]
There's a discount for over 60s

It's the Southampton Red Funnel ferry that goes to Cowes right?

Last time we got the Wightlink ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth (£18.60 for foot passengers/cyclists), and I think this was tentatively the plan again this time. Appreciate it might be easier for some people to get to Southampton for the ferry though. If people do use different crossings though, we'll need to think carefully about how to meet up - Cowes is about a 45 minute ride from the Yarmouth ferry terminal

 

[Peter Salt]

It's the Southampton Red Funnel ferry that goes to Cowes right?

Last time we got the Wightlink ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth (£18.60 for foot passengers/cyclists), and I think this was tentatively the plan again this time. Appreciate it might be easier for some people to get to Southampton for the ferry though. If people do use different crossings though, we'll need to think carefully about how to meet up - Cowes is about a 45 minute ride from the Yarmouth ferry terminal

Yes, I've only looked at the Southampton ones. I think @BurningLegs and @<Tommy> mentioned going from there?

TBH I'm totally on the fence in terms of ferry selection/start time and place. 30 minutes more to drive if I'm already doing 5h is no issue, and I will be there the day before. Would be good to agree something sooner rather then later though as I need to book a place to stay.

 

[bridgy]

Yes, I've only looked at the Southampton ones. I think @BurningLegs and @<Tommy> mentioned going from there?

TBH I'm totally on the fence in terms of ferry selection/start time and place. 30 minutes more to drive if I'm already doing 5h is no issue, and I will be there the day before. Would be good to agree something sooner rather then later though as I need to book a place to stay.

Ah OK - sorry, didn't pick up on that. Well not a problem either way. See what the concensus is and what's best for most people this time round. If I decide to go from Lymington and everyone else is Southampton I'll just get the earlier ferry and meet people in Cowes on the day

 

[BurningLegs]

Lads, I did some enquiries around the ferries, apologies if this is already know to everyone, a quick summary:
- Normally all ferries allow all bicycles at no extra charge, i.e. you're considered a 'foot passenger' for both the vehicle/passenger and passenger only ferries.
- Vehicle/passenger makes the crossing in circa 60 minutes to East Cowes; passenger only is 30 minutes to West Cowes. The two destinations are basically just on the opposite side of the river but there's no bridge - just another ferry (called a floating bridge).
- The vehicle/passenger is £10.10, the passenger only is £18.90 for 'foot passengers'. If you're in a car it's around £40. All prices one way.

Technically, if you're just on the bike, you can take the vehicle/passenger to East Cowes, go clockwise, end at West Cowes and take the passenger only. £29 and you avoid the floating bridge.

[EDIT]
There's a discount for over 60s

The "passenger only" ferry is known as the Red Jet - it's a much smaller boat with a faster crossing time, but it is usually over subscribed because it has lower capacity, and if you can't take your planned departure (either early or late) they are not able to be as flexible as the car ferry (except for allowing you to take the car ferry as an alternative). I wouldn't recommend using it on the return to be honest. Fine on the way out though when you can be certain of arriving for your scheduled departure.

Lymington will be tougher for Londoners like @<Tommy> to get to for a crossing because it's further from Southampton (all the Brockenhurst trains go through Southampton central) and you have to change at Brock onto the branchline for Lymington or ride it (approx 20 min ride, probably longer on the train including wait time).

I think this leaves us with the following options:

1. 🟠We have a group on the 10AM ferry from Southampton, arriving in Cowes at 11AM, and a group on the 10AM Lymington ferry arriving in Yarmouth at 10:40AM. The Southampton group will be waiting approx 15 minutes for the Lymington group to arrive in Cowes. This should work, bud a bit of added complexity of groups joining up
2. 🔴We all go from Lymington - I can meet @<Tommy> and anyone else on the train. Earliest departure from London Waterloo at 07:53 gets to Lymington at 10:09 which means the 11AM ferry, starting the ride at 11:40AM. I think there must be engineering works or something - timetables suggest no trains leaving Waterloo before 7:53. This probably means returning to Lymington at 4PM or 5PM, which is too late for me (and probably others????) so I'd need to be the Hare starting at Cowes that you Hounds are chasing from Lymington in this scenario!
3. 🟢We all go from Southampton at 10AM. I think this is the best option. Lymington might seem closer to the west country for @bridgy and others, but Google Maps says it's fewer miles and a faster journey to Southampton ferry terminal than Lymington (Motorway all the way into Southampton rather than forest roads). Not sure whereabouts you are Bridgy but Wincanton to Lymington is 63 miles at 1h 41m whereas Wincanton to Southampton ferry terminal is 58 miles at 1h 27m

I don't think there is anyone in this thread who would have a shorter journey time to Lymington over Southampton - even from Yorkshire @Peter Salt

 

[bridgy]

The "passenger only" ferry is known as the Red Jet - it's a much smaller boat with a faster crossing time, but it is usually over subscribed because it has lower capacity, and if you can't take your planned departure (either early or late) they are not able to be as flexible as the car ferry (except for allowing you to take the car ferry as an alternative). I wouldn't recommend using it on the return to be honest. Fine on the way out though when you can be certain of arriving for your scheduled departure.

Lymington will be tougher for Londoners like @<Tommy> to get to for a crossing because it's further from Southampton (all the Brockenhurst trains go through Southampton central) and you have to change at Brock onto the branchline for Lymington or ride it (approx 20 min ride, probably longer on the train including wait time).

I think this leaves us with the following options:

1. 🟠We have a group on the 10AM ferry from Southampton, arriving in Cowes at 11AM, and a group on the 10AM Lymington ferry arriving in Yarmouth at 10:40AM. The Southampton group will be waiting approx 15 minutes for the Lymington group to arrive in Cowes. This should work, bud a bit of added complexity of groups joining up
2. 🔴We all go from Lymington - I can meet @<Tommy> and anyone else on the train. Earliest departure from London Waterloo at 07:53 gets to Lymington at 10:09 which means the 11AM ferry, starting the ride at 11:40AM. I think there must be engineering works or something - timetables suggest no trains leaving Waterloo before 7:53. This probably means returning to Lymington at 4PM or 5PM, which is too late for me (and probably others????) so I'd need to be the Hare starting at Cowes that you Hounds are chasing from Lymington in this scenario!
3. 🟢We all go from Southampton at 10AM. I think this is the best option. Lymington might seem closer to the west country for @bridgy and others, but Google Maps says it's fewer miles and a faster journey to Southampton ferry terminal than Lymington (Motorway all the way into Southampton rather than forest roads). Not sure whereabouts you are Bridgy but Wincanton to Lymington is 63 miles at 1h 41m whereas Wincanton to Southampton ferry terminal is 58 miles at 1h 27m

I don't think there is anyone in this thread who would have a shorter journey time to Lymington over Southampton - even from Yorkshire @Peter Salt

Can't disagree with any of that Nick - and you're right, Southampton is actually slightly quicker and closer for me (although the ferry journey is 20 minutes quicker from Lymington so you potentially still end up on the Island sooner!). Now I think back to it, I'm not sure why we chose Lymington last time?! I do prefer Lymington though - it's just smaller and quieter than Southampton I suppose.

Anyway, not a problem - I think the 10am ferry from Southampton sounds like a good plan. Even if I still decided to go from Lymington I could get the 9am ferry and be in Cowes to meet you so it works either way

 

[bobinski]

I am pretty sure that’s a covid timetable. So there may be earlier trains by the time of the meet up.

 

[BurningLegs]

Southampton parking details for those who will be driving on the day:

Loads of options available as you can see, the two recommended ones are the ones with prices on.

£10.50 for all day on Sunday at the "Town Quay" car park on the pier. This is the closest you can get to the terminal, and it is off road parking.
£6.00 for all day on Sunday on the roads around Queen's Park (Queens Terrace and Orchard Place). It's £1 per hour but charges only apply for six hours of the day and it's free outside of those times.

Whatever you do don't go into the West Quay shopping centre car park - it's crazy expensive!