CYCLING EVENTS 2023
There are Cycling New Forest:
CALENDAR EVENTS, which as the name suggests are run with support on a specific day, and
PERMANENT EVENTS, which may be ridden on any day without support
Between them there are event distances from 50km (30miles) to 300km (200miles) run at different minimum speeds to suit cyclists of all abilities.
CALENDAR EVENTS, which as the name suggests are run with support on a specific day, and
PERMANENT EVENTS, which may be ridden on any day without support
Between them there are event distances from 50km (30miles) to 300km (200miles) run at different minimum speeds to suit cyclists of all abilities.
2023 CALENDAR EVENTS
These events are adapted from John Ward's original classics. There will be a car park start (with tea, coffee, biscuits provided and a Community Centre finish with slap up pasta and/or chilli type feed with cake etc, all included in the modest entry fees.
SPRING EVENTS - Sunday 21st May
New Forest Day Out - 107km (66miles) Starting at 10.00
This event event starts from Lymington with Controls at Breamore Country Museum Cafe and Lymington, plus 3 information controls. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available The route explores the centre and west of the New Forest with a turning point at Breamore near Fordingbridge. Suitable for: Adults and older teenagers. You have ridden this distance before or you have cycled recently or regularly and want a challenge that is demanding but realistic. With a bit of regular practice beforehand and then taking it steady you should succeed and enjoy the 'day out'. Entry fee: £9 (No SAE required for postal entries.) (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee ENTER (Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries New Forest Excursion - 207km (125miles) Starting at 08:00
This event starts from Lymington with Controls at Cranborne (Garden Centre), Lepe Country Park (Cafe), Lymington Community Centre and Lymington, plus 4 information controls. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available The route explores every corner and all of the varied New Forest landscapes. The route visits Burley, the western escarpment of the Forest in the Avon Valley, the edge of the Wiltshire Downs, and Cranborne Chase, before returning through the heart of the Forest across Stoney Cross plain, through Lyndhurst and Beaulieu to the Solent coastal nature reserve at Lepe. Then a loop back northwards to Redlynch and Hale before a grand finale down the Ornamental Drives, Through Brockenhurst and more coastal fringes to the Arrivée back in Lymington. Suitable for: Adults and older teenagers. You are a regular experienced cyclist. If you have not ridden this distance before you will have taken part in a 100km or 100mile cycle event, or similar distance 'Sportive' or charity ride, and be prepared to put in some pre-event training to step up to a new challenge. You will have the re-assurance of riding with experienced cyclists who have done it before. Entry fee: £10 (No SAE required for postal entries.) (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or CTC) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee ENTER (Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries AUTUMN EVENTS - Sunday 3rd September
to the ISLE of WIGHT
Mandatory RiouteNew Forest On and Off Shore - 206km (129miles) Starting at 07:00
This event takes in the spectacular Needles and south west cliffs of the Island cutting inland through the lanes reaching the easternmost point at Bembridge. cafe control in Bembridge near the eastern point. A return through the sailing capital of Cowes (small chain ferry, £1) and the Solent shore leads to a return ferry from Yarmouth to Lymington and a jaunt among the forest ponies. Pass the majestic trees of the Ornamental Drives to the Avon Valley and the quiet lanes skirting Cranborne Chase. Then a fast run back to the coast passing beaches and saltmarsh nature reserves and finish at Lymington Community Centre about 1.5 kms from the ferry terminal start location. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR MORE FREQUENT FERRIES. The event has a Mandatory Route and there may be one or more 'secret' controls. Community Hall finish in Lymington with hot food and all the trimmings included in the entry fee. Brevet Cards are given out before you board the 07:10 ferry in Lymington. Ride time starts from scheduled disembarcation at Yarmouth IoW. (07:50) IMPORTANT: PLEASE BOOK A DAY RETURN (Cost: £20.80 at time of writing) BEFORE ENTERING AND THEN YOUR EVENT ENTRY IS GUARANTEED. Lymington to Yarmouth and back on the 07:10 sailing. Check for Seniors discounts and offers which sometimes include Tesco Clubcard etc. Book here: https://www.wightlink.co.uk/book. For your return sailing consider how long a hilly 102km ride with stops will take. Relevant return sailings are currently at 12:05, (not recommended, why rush?) 13:05, 14:05, 15:05. There is a cafe control and approximately 15 minutes to allow for the Cowes chain ferry. Foot passengers with bikes will always be allowed on to a different Wightlink return sailing if you are early or late. A further, much easier and faster 104 kms remain after your return to Lymington. BOOK Wightlink ferry ticket
ENTER On and Off Shore Event
(Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries or STAY in the FOREST for a SHORTER RIDE
New Forest On Shore - 107km (65 miles) Starting at 10:00
This event starts from Lymington with Controls at Cranborne Garden Centre and Lymington., plus 3 information controls. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available The route explores the heart of the Forest, the Ornamental Drives and quiet lanes of Cranborne Chase with a finish leg down the Avon Valley and along the Solent shore. ENTER On Shore Event
(Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries 2023 PERMANENT EVENTS
These events are for experienced and self-sufficient cyclists.
They may be ridden at any time, but entry should be made well in advance. The routesheets are written for a particular start location, but you can ask to start at any other control along the route. Entry fee for all events: £4 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) New Forest National Park 100km - 100km (60miles) Permanent version of the 'New Forest Day Out' Calendar event. A ride around the New Forest visiting most of its different landscapes. ENTER New Forest National Park Permanent 100km New Forest National Park 200km - 200km (60miles)
Permanent version of the 'New Forest Excursion' Calendar event. Explores all corners and the heart of the New Forest ENTER New Forest National Park Permanent 200km New Forest Goes West 300km - 300km (190miles)
Permanent version of the 'New Goes West' Calendar event. Heads west through the Forest and across the Somerset Levels towards Weston-Super-Mare, returning via Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips. ENTER New Forest Goes West Permanent 300km Isle of Wight End-to-End - 100km (60miles)
Permanent version of the first part of the 'New Forest On and Off Shore' Calendar event. Starting in Yarmouth, a short warm up to the Needles sets you up for a hilly End-to-End to Bembridge lifeboat station, then back to Yarmouth via the Cowes chain ferry. ENTER Isle of Wight End-to-End Permanent 100km BOOK Wightlink ferry ticket New Forest and Wiltshire Century - 162km (100miles)
Across the New Forest and through Wiltshire to descend ZigZag hill to Shaftesbury. On to Blandford via Spread Eagle Hill. Return through Wimborne and the New Forest to Lymington ENTER New Forest and Wiltshire Century 160km |
Public transport to Lymington
Lymington Town railway station is very close to the events start and finish in the town centre. (Lymington Pier railway station is where the September IoW events start) There are earlier/ later and more frequent trains on the main line to Brockenhurst, which is about 10km from Lymington. Audax UK Events You are provided with a route sheet to follow (the route is not signed on the road), and a brevet card, which you should get stamped at various Controls (checkpoints) on your way round. There will be opportunities to feed at the Controls, and we will feed you at the end. Use whatever bike suits you. Mudguards are not required. 100km events have a minimum speed of 10kph, which will give you lots of time (all day) to finish. Longer events are harder. You should be an experienced cyclist with fitness and stamina. There is a minimum speed of 15kph for these events. Don't worry about the maximum speed of 30kph - you won't get near it. If you have ridden a 'Sportive' event and you want to try something a bit more challenging in terms of distance and self sufficiency, then an AUK event is for you - And the entry fees are much less too! Prepare your bike carefully for any of these events. Further information Audax UK CTC Wessex Cycling  |
