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.
| Walderton (Pub - The Barley Mow) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
A 15 Mile Practice Ride |
|||
| Distance: 16miles. | Grade: 0.5 | Date: Sun 2nd March 08 | Times: 11:30 - 13:30 |
| West Ashling (Pub - The Coal Exchange - Emsworth) | |||
|
A light return ride to the Coal Exchange in Emsworth via West Ashling. |
|||
| Distance: 18miles. | Grade: 1 | Date: Sun 9th March 08 | Times: 11:00 - 13:30 |
| Bosham (Pub - The Richmond Arms - West Ashling) | |||
|
A relatively flat, family-friendly ride, taking you to Bosham harbour, then back home via the Richmond Arms in West Ashling. |
|||
| Distance: 22miles. | Grade: 2 | Date: Sun 16th March 08 | Times: 11:00 - 13:30 |
| The Centurion Way (Pub - Lloyds No. 1 - Chichester Gate) | |||
|
A gentle ride, maybe for the family, 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 23rd March 08 | Times: 11:00 - 14:00 |
| Walderton - The Barley Mow | |||
|
First decent hill of the new season Pub stop Barley Mow Walderton |
|||
| Distance: 24miles. | Grade: 2.2 | Date: Sun 30th March 08 | Times: 11:00 - 14:00 |
| Southwick (Pub - The Travellers Rest) | |||
|
A simple route with the introduction of some small climbs. Pub stop is the Travellers Rest, Newtown |
|||
| Distance: 26miles. | Grade: 2 | Date: Sun 6th April 08 | Times: 10:30 - 14:30 |
| Hambledon (Pub - The Fountain - Rowlands Castle) | |||
|
A good starter 31m ride. |
|||
| Distance: 31miles. | Grade: 2 | Date: Sun 13th April 08 | Times: 10:30 - 14:30 |
| Buriton (Pub - The Fountain - Rowlands Castle) | |||
|
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: 2 | Date: Sun 20th April 08 | Times: 10:30 - 14:30 |
| The Mardens (Pub - The Hare & Hounds - Stoughton) | |||
|
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 27th April 08 | Times: 10:30 - 14:30 |
| Littlehampton (Pub - The Arun View) | |||
|
A long ride, but flat. A trip to The Arun View pub in Littlehampton. Good practice for the C2C ride in a couple of weeks. |
|||
| Distance: 47miles. | Grade: 3.5 | Date: Sun 4th May 08 | Times: 10:00 - 14:30 |
| Goodwood (Pub - The Fox Goes Free at Charlton) | |||
|
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 11th May 08 | Times: 10:00 - 15:30 |
| Saturday C2C Salisbury route | |||
|
For those that did not wish to travel to Weston Super Mare , but still want to join the event. Day two notes as for the C2C ride. |
|||
| Distance: 53miles. | Grade: 4 | Date: Sat 17th May 08 | Times: 11:00 - 17:00 - 18:00 |
| Dog & Crook Ride (Pub) | |||
|
For those that could not spare the Saturday to participate in the Channel to Channel in any way, here is a ride to go on and meet the rest of the gang. |
|||
| Distance: 54miles. | Grade: 4 | Date: Sun 18th May 08 | Times: 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Oving (Pub - The Gribble Inn) | |||
|
A gentle flat ride to Oving with lunch at the Gribble Inn. |
|||
| Distance: 40miles. | Grade: 3 | Date: Sun 25th May 08 | Times: 10:00 - 15:30 |
| The Seven Hills (Pub - The Fox Goes Free - Charlton) | |||
|
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 1st June 08 | Times: 10:00 - 15:00 |
| The British Heart Foundation Round the Harbours ride | |||
|
This established popular bike ride is now in it's 12th year. |
|||
| Distance: 32miles. | Grade: 2.5 | Date: Sun 8th June 08 | Times: 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Selbourne | |||
|
A very challenging alternative to the Round The Harbours ride |
|||
| Distance: 52miles. | Grade: 5 | Date: Sun 8th June 08 | Times: 10:00 - 15:30 |
| Liphook | |||
|
New ride - Liphook (Pub The Green Dragon) |
|||
| Distance: 55miles. | Grade: 4 | Date: Sun 15th June 08 | Times: 10:00 - 15:30 |
| The Solent Coasts Sponsored Cycling Challenge 2008 | |||
|
Although this is not organised by the Paris to Hayling Charity Cycle Ride, this makes a great practice ride for our main event. This ride includes 6 ferry crossings and the coasts between Portsmouth and Lymington and, on the Isle of Wight, between Yarmouth and Fishbourne via Freshwater and Cowes. |
|||
| Distance: 66miles. | Grade: 5 | Date: Sat 21st June 08 | Times: TBA - TBA |
| Cheriton (Pub - The Flower Pots - Cheriton) | |||
|
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. |
|||
| Distance: 56miles. | Grade: 5 | Date: Sun 22nd June 08 | Times: 09:30 - 16:00 |
| Littlehampton (Pub -The Arun View - Littlehampton) | |||
|
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 29th June 08 | Times: 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Walderton (Pub - The Barley Mow) | |||
|
The last (and first - see 2nd March) route. A light return ride to the Barley Mow and back. |
|||
| Distance: 16miles. | Grade: 0.5 | Date: Sun 6th July 08 | Times: 11:30 - 13:30 |
| Reunion Ride (Pub - The Royal Oak - Hooksway) | |||
|
A pleasant ride to this lovely spot, with a big garden. A chance to meet again. |
|||
| Distance: 30miles. | Grade: 3.5 | Date: Sun 24th August 08 | Times: 11:00 - 14:30 |
| Santa Ride to Wetherspoon's, Chichester | |||
|
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! There is also a plan do some some fundraising in connection with St Richard's Hospital as a part of this event. |
|||
| Distance: 30miles. | Grade: 2 | Date: Sun 21st December 08 | Times: 11am - 4pm |
| latest News | Sign up for the newsletter | |
|---|---|---|
| Reunion Party 2008 and AGM Le Tour de Tours |
If you want to be kept informed of all the latest news and information on Paris to Hayling practice rides, then please feel free to sign up for to our mailing list. |