ISLE OF WIGHT CLUB RIDE

On Sunday, July 14th, NVCC embarked on a thrilling adventure to the picturesque Isle of Wight for our "It's not a flat Wight" ride. Three routes were meticulously planned, one for each group (Mochaccino, Latte, and Cappuccino), each offered a unique experience of the island's varying landscapes and elevations.

The Isle of Wight is a gem for cyclists, floating just off the South Coast of England. Easily accessible by ferry, but far enough away to put the rest of Britain out of your mind, if you haven't cycled there before what are you waiting for? The Lonely Planet named the Isle of Wight the best place in the world for cycling, and they clearly know what they're talking about.

Known to natives and other residents as 'the Island' it offers road, MTB and cycle tracks for families, so there's something for everyone. We have three of our coffee paced road rides lined up to have you eager for ice cream at the end.

Meeting in Southampton (Gloucester Square car park  – SO14 2GJ (£11) is ideal), we'll get our bikes ready and then head to the Red Funnel Ferry Terminal. Purchasing a foot passenger ticket, we'll board the 08:00 ferry for the one-hour crossing. After disembarking in East Cowes, we'll take the short Floating Bridge crossing to Cowes, where all three routes will begin.

As we pedal away from East Cowes, all groups will embark on a shared journey, heading in an anticlockwise direction around the island. The Latte and Cappuccino routes are planned to drop into Ventnor for their mid-ride stop, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared experience. The Mochaccino's mid-ride stop is suggested as Niton, which is around 37km into the route. Alternatively, The Garlic Farm (51km) is an option, but booking is highly recommended.

After the respective stops, we continue our anticlockwise navigation of the Island, eventually descending back into East Cowes, ready to catch the ferry back to the mainland.