Hambledon (Not that one…) - Cancelled

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST

A ride to Hambledon, Surrey - NOT the more local village nearer to us at the foot of the South Downs! The route is approx 110km(68m), plus your journey to Rowlands Castle.

Departing Rowlands Castle through Idsworth, we'll climb gradually towards South Harting, before descending and taking the undulating lanes through Treyford and Didling, before turning off at Bepton to Midhurst for a coffee break at Garton’s Coffee House (26km/16m).

Departing Midhurst we’ll head east on the Selham Road, before turning north passing through Halfway Bridge, Lodsworth, Lickfold, Dial Green and Gospel Green.

We then cross the A283 Petworth road turning north at Shillinglee for the last kilometres to our destination, Hambledon village shop (Cyclist friendly, with benches) (30km/19m).

“Deli-café menu - includes hot pies and sausage rolls; sandwiches, wraps, baps and toasties; hot drinks, milkshakes, chilled soft drinks, iced coffee; cakes and traybakes etc.” - Note: Outdoor dining at village shop (Not the fine dining some are used to!)

Following lunch, heading west we pass through Brook before the long climb at the Devils Punchbowl to Hindhead.

After the long downhill section through Grayshott and Headley, we can stop if required for a well earned cup of tea at Cafe Hogmore in Bordon (24km/15m). We then return via Blackmore, Greatham and Liss to Petersfield before we all go our separate ways.

Bookings for this ride/event

Booking is required for this ride. Please let the ride leader know if you want to join. Please do not turn up for the ride unless you've had your booking confirmed or your name appears below.

There are 8 spaces available for the leader and riders. Of these, 3 are left.

Bookings recorded for this ride (Log in to see rider names):

• A PCTC member
• A PCTC member
• A PCTC member
• A PCTC member

To ask to join this ride, please use the 'Contact us about this ride' link above to send an email to the ride leader.

Ride leader notes

Riding a lightweight road bike (during better months) the faster day rides I lead are typically 100-130km (60-80m) and occasionally 160km (100m).

Routes are at best undulating, usually “lumpy” (hilly), sometimes with severe hills!

- Average GOOD speed on “Faster” rides: 23kph (14mph)
- Average TYPICAL speed on “Faster” rides: 21kph (13mph)

Morning only rides are scaled back versions of day rides, usually at the same pace.

I also lead moderate rides as well, where the terrain difficulty is reduced (not so lumpy!) and the speed is adjusted to those attending the ride.

When I lead Waterlooville Community Cycle Club (WCCC) rides, which are generally easy relaxed rides, the pace is that of the slowest attending rider in the group.

About faster rides

Our other rides go at the pace of the slowest rider or we will split the ride to accommodate a slower rider. 'Faster rides' go faster than other rides and people joining are expected to keep up.

We're not talking about professional or even 'club' riding speeds, but trying to ride at any speed faster than you can manage is an unpleasant experience.

If you want to join a faster ride, but uncertain whether you can keep up:

• Consider trying one or two of our other rides classed as A (Demanding) or B (Hilly) first. If you're able to keep up without difficulty that's a good indication you're ready for a faster ride. The chances are you'll be riding with other members familiar with faster rides that can help you with your assessment.
• In any case, contact the ride leader and discuss your experience to date with them. Bear in mind, however, that subjective assessments of average speed and cruising speed are notoriously unreliable even for those that routinely use cycle computers.

Before you join a faster ride, please review the route and prepare to make your own way back if you're struggling to keep up - and we all have bad days. We will not, however, intentionally drop slower riders; nor will we leave riders without first checking they are confident with getting back.