- Starts: Wednesday 15 July 2026 9:00 am
- Ride leader/Event organiser: Stephen Goodyer
- Category: Wednesday rides
- Terrain: B - Very hilly
- Duration: am - Morning only (finishes before lunch)
- No target pace (we will ride at speed of the slowest riders)
- A - Severe. Route has extreme elevation change, with both short and longer sustained climbs (e.g. Duncton Hill).
- B - Very hilly. Route has major elevation change, with longer sustained climbs (e.g. Harting Hill from the south).
- C - Hilly. Route is undulating with a number of short climbs involved (e.g. Havant to Bishop's Waltham).
- D - Gentle. Route has minor elevation change on gentle slopes (e.g. south coast cycle route to Chichester).
- E - Flat. Route has little or no elevation change (e.g. Portsea Island).
- Cancel or postpone this ride
Our grading scheme
When grading routes we use the following scheme:
Start and stops
| Ride start/event venue | Purbrook Heath Road car park Purbrook Heath Road Purbrook More details and map |
| Coffee stop | Beechwood café, QECP Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP) PO8 0QE More details and map |
All rides return to the start unless stated otherwise. Use the 'Map' link below to see a map of all locations
Contact us about this event
Send an email to ride leader/event organiser: Stephen Goodyer.
Map
A gravel and tarmac ride to QECP. Purbrook Heath, Denmead, Edneys Lane , Hyden Farm Lane, South Downs Way, QECP, New Barn Lane, Rowlands, Havant Thicket, Park Lane, Cowplain, Purbrook. There are 5 gravel sections on this ride. Steep descent out of QECP on gravel caution needed. 26 miles. Suitable tyres required.
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.
The ride leader might increase the size of the ride, especially if they get support from another ride leader. Please don't be put off asking to join the ride if it shows as full.
There are 5 spaces available for the leader and riders. Of these, just one space is left.
Bookings recorded for this ride/event (Log in to see rider names):
- 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
I ride a Scott gravel bike. I am looking to take as much of the ride off road as I can. In keeping with Cycling UK who are championing gravel bike riding with many off road routes. I will ride quiet country lanes to get to next gravel off road section. But the aim is to be traffic free as possible. This involves riding Bridleways, Byways, across fields and grass verges, and of course cycle paths. Average speed between 8-9 mph.
I will always cancel a ride if raining or strong winds or icy.
I always carry a first aid kit. So come and enjoy the countryside, and try to get away from cars.
About Wednesday rides
Wednesday rides usually start from Havant with stops for elevenses, lunch and sometimes tea. If you're unable to keep up or have a mechanical problem, someone will be available to help you - although we obviously cannot guarantee to solve all problems.
Wednesday rides usually provide a range of options to riders as we'll try to arrange multiple rides with different paces, distance and degree of hilliness.
On Wednesdays it is likely that there will be several riders coming back to the Havant area after an elevenses stop - although they might not include a PCTC ride leader. If that is what you'd like to do, please consult the ride organiser before the day of the ride to ensure someone knows and is able to bring you back.
This article describes what you should consider bringing with you on one of these rides.