Types of ride

All our organised rides have a leader who takes responsibility for planning the route and managing the ride. We have a general policy of not leaving people behind. If a rider can't keep up with the group, we either cycle at that rider's speed, or we split the ride.

Anyone can join a Portsmouth CTC ride - even if you aren't a member of Cycling UK (our national organisation). We ask, though, that non-members and riders under 18 complete a ride entry form. We also ask that you observe our guidelines for club rides.

We organise a wide range of different rides:

  • Easy rides
    These rides are a great way to start group cycling. Typically we spend two to three hours cycling with a break for coffee and cake somewhere on the way. We don’t do big hills and we try to keep to quiet roads or cycle paths where we can. See more...
  • Wednesday rides
    Wednesday is our most popular day for riding. To ensure no ride becomes too large for the leader to manage we run a registration and booking system:

    • We ask people who want to ride on a given Wednesday to register, letting us know what kind of ride they are looking for
    • Ride leaders review the registrations and offer rides to meet at least some of them.
    • People then book their place on a suitable ride.
  • We collate all the information about rides, registrations and bookings on an organiser page. See more...
  • Saturday rides
    A day ride usually leaving from the Spring Centre, Havant with stops for elevenses, lunch and, sometimes, afternoon tea. Some riders go to elevenses and come back from there. Others meet us at the coffee stop. We often split larger rides to allow for a range of riders. See more...
  • Friday morning rides
    Half day rides targeted at new/lapsed members. They are moderate or more demanding rides (see above for easy rides). You can book a place on a Friday morning ride, but that is not compulsory (at least, for the time being).
  • Faster rides
    Rides that go at a faster pace than normal. People joining faster rides are expected to keep up or be prepared to make their own way back. We will not, however, intentionally drop slower riders; nor will we leave riders without first checking they are confident with getting back. See more...
  • Faster Sunday morning rides
    Sunday morning rides from Cosham with a stop for elevenses. A ride for the fit cyclist. Average speeds are brisk. See more...
  • Evening pub rides
    These rides take place on Thursdays during the warmer months. They start from Havant or Farlington Marshes depending on direction, and take a relaxed ride out to a local pub for a drink and a bite to eat. See more...
  • Pop-up rides
    Pop-up rides are created ad hoc by individual ride leaders so can happen on any day or any time. See more...
  • Waterlooville CCC rides
    We have established a Community Cycling club for Waterlooville - a series of cycle rides in the Waterlooville area for people who are new to group riding or who haven't cycled for a while. All are circular routes in moderate terrain that avoid steep inclines but may include a steeper descent. As far as possible we will avoid busy roads. Routes are all less than 50km long (most substantially less). Our aim is to make cycling enjoyable, safe and welcoming for all. See more...
  • Cathedral challenge rides
    These are a sequence of rides that start with some short rides followed by a modest (bronze) challenge: a flat, mostly off-road ride to Portsmouth Cathedral and back. It continues with slightly more demanding rides culminating in a (silver) ride to Chichester Cathedral and back taking in a few hills. The final (gold) challenge is a ride to Winchester Cathedral and back. The challenge rides start after Easter and continue into the summer. See more...
  • Tandem rides
    Rides for tandems and solos (‘ordinary’ bikes) on Sunday, starting mid-morning, usually taking in a visit to one of the club members for sustenance. See more...

Our members also organise ad hoc tours in the UK and abroad.

In addition, we organise club nights, special rides and other events.

If you need help starting, or getting back into, cycling we can also arrange ad hoc rides, and training sessions for you. If you have physical or mental issues that are holding you back, we might be able to help. Find out more.