- Starts: Saturday 29 June 2019 5:00 am
- Ride leader/Event organiser: John Rosbottom
- Category: Saturday and Wednesday rides
- Route grade: A - Demanding route
- Ride to elevenses grade: D - Flattish route
- A - Demanding route. Riders should already have experience of, and be prepared for distance, hills and, probably, both. E.g. Liss or Arundel via Houghton.
- B - Hilly route. Involves major hills. E.g. Sustainability Centre or Alresford.
- C - Moderate route. Not especially long or hilly (but will involve climbs and descents). E.g. Bishop's Waltham
- D - Flattish route. Might involve some hills, but not major ones. E.g. Chichester or West Wittering.
- E - Short, flat route. Easy route often designed for people new to group riding.
Our grading scheme
When grading routes we use the following scheme:
At: The Spring Centre, Havant
Address: East Street, Havant, P09 1BS
The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre web site is here.
Contact us about this event
Send an email to ride leader/event organiser: John Rosbottom.
Map
Latest: It will be hot; bring sun screen, and consider your clothing options. I have a plan to avoid the worst of the midday sun; we can discuss it over our second breakfast in Salisbury.
Our annual 100 miler, following the traditional BKM route from Havant to Salisbury (second breakfast) to Stockbridge (lunch) to New Alresford (tea) and back to Havant for a well deserved coffee and cake at the Spring Centre!
(distance roundels are in km, click to enlarge)
There are two start points: 5am in Havant at the Spring Centre and 6am in Wickham at the public toilets in Station Road, (about 17km or just under 1 hour from Havant). The early morning start means we will enjoy some exceptionally quiet roads for the first few hours and we will arrive in Salisbury around 09h30, in time for breakfast.
The ride out to Salisbury (at 50 miles / 80 km) is flattish, but we take a more hilly route back.
Our early start enables us to finish late afternoon with around 115 miles covered (so even the Wickham starters complete a full 100 miles). Overall the route involves 1700 m of climbing, mostly in the return part, so if you want to avoid the hills why not take advantage of a bright and early start to have breakfast and a ride around the sights and sites of Salisbury then take the train back? A single off-peak ticket from Salisbury to Cosham, bought in advance with railcard, costs (on 24 June) £11.90.
Do bring some food/emergency rations as there are few eating opportunities on the way out to Salisbury (especially at the time we will be riding). The weather forecast for 29 June is hot and sunny, so do bring sun tan cream. It's very important to bring a water bottle, basic toolkit and at least one spare inner tube. The most important thing of all is to be comfortable on whatever bike you use; comfort is the key to enjoyable long-distance riding. Get some rest the day before the early start, and aim to be well hydrated (try to avoid too much coffee and alcohol the evening before).
If you are using a gpx device you can download the route by clicking here:
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About Saturday and Wednesday rides
Rides 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.
Riders are free to join and leave the ride at various points. Some ride directly to the elevenses stop.
Click either heading below to find out more about Wednesday and Saturday rides:
Wednesday rides
Wednesday rides are the largest of our rides and can provide a range of options to riders. We often split into multiple groups at the start, for example:
- A fast group that takes a longer and/or hillier route to the elevenses stop
- A ride which takes a more direct route to the elevenses stop at a moderate pace
- An elevenses ride comprised of riders going only to elevenses; the elevenses ride will have its own ride leader and might go to a different destination if the route to the main elevenses destination is long and/or hilly
On Wednesdays it is highly likely that there will be several riders coming back to the Havant area from the elevenses stop - although they might not include a PCTC ride leader. If that is what you'd like to do, please consult the ride leader at the start to ensure someone knows and is able to bring you back.
In addition, some rides split after elevenses to go at different paces or to alternate destinations. These are usually announced during the ride briefing. Please ask if you are unsure about the options available.
Saturday rides
Saturday rides are (usually) much smaller than Wednesday rides. As a result they offer fewer options for rides but more flexibility for routes and destinations.
The rides are often shown as 'informal' meaning there is no prescribed ride leader. Unless weather is particularly adverse, however, they always go ahead at the stated time and start point. We try to keep to the suggested elevenses destination to allow for people who want to ride directly there.
The lunch destination does change occasionally but we will always take views of riders into account. In particular, if you join a ride because you think you can manage the distance/hilliness, we would not substitute an alternative if it meant you couldn't join the ride.
If you want to ride with us but only to elevenses and need someone to help you with the route back, please use our general enquiry form to let us know in advance of the ride so we can try to arrange something for you.
This article describes what you should consider bringing with you on one of these rides.