All Practice Rides

Our practice rides have been designed in a graduated order of magnitude, so riders who follow the suggested route schedule will achieve a basic fitness level that should enable them to complete the main ride in reasonable comfort.  Practice rides are also a good opportunity to brush up on your note reading and map reading skills. We do, however, suggest that the practice rides are only a part of your preparation and that you should be aiming to be riding at least 100 miles a week from the middle of May onwards - events like the Channel to Channel can be a great way of achieving this.

The invitation to take part in these suggested rides is not only open to those who wish to participate in the main ride in July. In fact we are very happy for anyone to join us on any of the rides, as individuals or as family groups, whether they plan to join us in France or not. We have made an effort to keep the mileage to a minimum, and always have a social pub stop so that people can meet with fellow riders, new and old, in the comfort of the pub of the day and chat about the day’s - and other - experiences.  We aim to arrive at our pub of the day between 12:00 and 12:30, so even if you can't make the 'official' route you can still join in the social side and do your own thing.

Route notes are written as a guide to the days cycling (start point - normally The Ship Inn at Langstone), so that there is less chance of getting lost. We also try to follow routes that avoid busy traffic. There are no hard and fast rules that say you must follow the notes to the letter, the main aim is to enjoy the rides.

Practice Ride Schedule 2010
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As indicated below. all rides show the distance; degree of difficulty, graded from 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest; date; start time and likely finish time (not taking into account extended stays at the pubs en route!).

Distance: miles. Grade: Date: Times: -
 
West Ashling (Pub - The Coal Exchange - Emsworth)
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A light return ride to the Coal Exchange in Emsworth via West Ashling.

Distance: 18miles. Grade: 1 Date: Sun 28th February 10 Times: 11:00 - 13:30
 
Fishbourne - The Bulls Head
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An easy early season ride to a new pub location - The Bulls Head in Fishbourne. Set off from The Ship at Langstone at 11:00am Please note the details of the Special Event

Distance: 20miles. Grade: 1 Date: Sun 7th March 10 Times: 11:00 - 14:00
 
The Centurion Way (Pub - Lloyds No. 1 - Chichester Gate)
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A gentle ride, maybe for the family, on Mothers Day, that goes toward Chichester and takes in the Centurion Way Pedestrian & Cycle Way. No hills worth mentioning. Pub stop is the Wetherspoons (Lloyds) pub Chichester.

Distance: 27miles. Grade: 2 Date: Sun 14th March 10 Times: 11:00 - 14:00
 
Southwick (Pub - The Travellers Rest)
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A simple route with the introduction of some small climbs. Pub stop is the Travellers Rest, Newtown

Distance: 26miles. Grade: 2 Date: Sun 21st March 10 Times: 10:30 - 14:30
 
Hambledon (Pub - The Fountain - Rowlands Castle)
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Hambledon (The Fountain Inn - Rowland Castle) A 31 Mile Practice Ride. A good starter 31m ride.

Distance: 31miles. Grade: 2 Date: Sun 28th March 10 Times: 10:30 - 14:30
 
Walderton - The Barley Mow
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First decent hill of the new season Pub stop Barley Mow Walderton SPECIAL EVENT - BOWLING ALLEY

Distance: 24miles. Grade: 2.2 Date: Sun 4th April 10 Times: 11:00 - 14:00
 
Buriton (Pub - The Fountain - Rowlands Castle)
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This is a pretty ride, taking you out towards the South Downs and does include a long drag uphill, a very fast downhill and a steep climb. Pub stop is the Fountain Inn at Rowlands Castle .

Distance: 30miles. Grade: 3 Date: Sun 11th April 10 Times: 10:30 - 14:30
 
The Mardens (Pub - The Hare & Hounds - Stoughton)
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A good early spring ride. It's not too flat, though neither is it too hilly. Pub stop is the Hare & Hounds Stoughton.

Distance: 31miles. Grade: 2 Date: Sun 18th April 10 Times: 10:30 - 14:30
 
Littlehampton (Pub - The Arun View)
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A long ride, but flat. A trip to The Arun View pub in Littlehampton. Good practice for the C2C ride in a few weeks. SPECIAL EVENT - Paella Day

Distance: 47miles. Grade: 3.5 Date: Sun 25th April 10 Times: 10:00 - 14:30
 
Goodwood (Pub - The Fox Goes Free at Charlton)
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A tasty little ride that takes you through some lovely wooded areas and up and down some interesting hills. Pub stop is the Fox Goes Free at Charlton.

Distance: 40miles. Grade: 4 Date: Sun 2nd May 10 Times: 10:00 - 15:30
 
Bambridge Dog & Crook Ride (Pub)
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For those that are not going on the Channel to Channel, here is a ride to go on, to see some of the route they will be taking.

Distance: 54miles. Grade: 4 Date: Sun 9th May 10 Times: 10:00 - 17:00
 
Selbourne
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A good ride to stretch those muscles - with the return of Harting Hill after many years absence. Pub stop The Queens Inn

Distance: 52miles. Grade: 5 Date: Sun 16th May 10 Times: 10:00 - 15:30
 
Salisbury - C2C
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C2C - two day ride

Distance: 115miles. Grade: 3 Date: Sat 22nd May 10 Times: 10am - 5pm
 
Pagham
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This ride is an alternative to the week-end Salisbury ride. The ride takes us to Pagham Football Club where, at 14:00, there will be a charity football match between an Avisford veterans XI and an Ex Saints XI, so come and watch the stars of yesterday play football again. There is a bar in the ground and an entrance fee of £3.00. All proceeds go to charity. As it is a 30 mile route to the ground, a departure time of 11:00 from The Ship should give you time to arrive before kick off.

Distance: 47miles. Grade: 3 Date: Sun 23rd May 10 Times: 11:00 - 16:00 - 18:00
 
The Seven Hills (Pub - The Fox Goes Free - Charlton)
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A great ride with some significant & long climbs and some great views. The 'official' pub stop is The Fox Goes Free. *********************************************************************************** NOTE: If you want to get your fitness up to a reasonable standard for the main ride, you should be riding more miles than just doing the featured Sunday ride by now. Try doing one of the earlier rides mid week, or before the main ride on Sunday.

Distance: 43miles. Grade: 4 Date: Sun 30th May 10 Times: 10:00 - 15:00
 
Liphook
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Liphook (Pub The Green Dragon)

Distance: 55miles. Grade: 4 Date: Sun 6th June 10 Times: 10:00 - 15:30
 
Cheriton (Pub - The Flower Pots - Cheriton)
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A ride favourite: this is a ride with some significant, though manageable, climbs and some stunning scenery. It's definitely a ride for a clear and warm, not hot, sunny day. Pub stop is the Flower Pots. There are alternative notes for the outbound journey on the PDF notes. There is a Farm Open day in the Village with a Hog Roast BBQ. Middle Farm, Cheriton, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0PW

Distance: 56miles. Grade: 5 Date: Sun 13th June 10 Times: 09:30 - 16:00
 
Littlehampton (Pub -The Arun View - Littlehampton)
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The same ride as we did at the begining of May - but it should be easier this time, because you should be fitter!

Distance: 47miles. Grade: 3 Date: Sun 20th June 10 Times: 10:00 - 14:00
 
Oving (Pub - The Gribble Inn)
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A gentle flat ride to Oving with lunch at the Gribble Inn. SPECIAL EVENT - Meryl's Practice Ride - BBQ

Distance: 45miles. Grade: 3 Date: Sun 27th June 10 Times: 10:00 - 15:30
 
Walderton (Pub - The Barley Mow)
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A light return ride to the Barley Mow and back. See route used on 4th April

Distance: 24miles. Grade: 0.5 Date: Sun 4th July 10 Times: 11:30 - 13:30
 
Reunion Ride (Pub - The Royal Oak - Hooksway)
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A pleasant ride to this lovely spot, with a big garden. A chance to meet again.

Distance: 30miles. Grade: 3.5 Date: Sun 29th August 10 Times: 11:00 - 14:30
 
Santa Ride to Chichester and back
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Our annual 'Santa' Ride. We all dress as Father and Mother Christmas on a Sunday before the festival and wend our merry way around East Hampshire and West Sussex - there were over 60 of us last year!

Distance: 30miles. Grade: 2 Date: Sun 19th December 10 Times: 10-10.15 The Ship for 11am at Wetherspoons - Finish at about 4pm
 

 

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