Group ride: Winchester and back 2015

Our Autumn ride was a little late this year, we set the date of the 4th December and had are fingers crossed for fine weather.

The bike of choice was the Transition Smuggler 29, the more I ride this bike the more I am convinced a short travel 29'r is the way to go for a trail bike, and as such a perfect bike for the South Downs Way.

weapon of choice

I headed over Portsdown Hill to meet up with Chris, Greg and Simon at Cosham train station in time to catch the 8.20 (ish) train to Winchester.Well that was the plan and like all good plans they get scuppered by Chris going to Costa.

When we got to Winchester after an amusing train journey where we we told by South West Trains employee that each train can now only take 3 bikes (seriously, WTF SWT?), we headed through the town to hook up with the South Downs Way.

You cross the M3 on a foot bridge and follow the signs that that take you along side the A31 then cut off to ride through Chilcomb village. The road climb gives way to the South Downs Way proper all the way up to Cheesefoot Head. We crossed the A272 and headed down to the farm (with the massive dung heap) and turned right on to the SDW.

Chris, Greg and Si

From here is a few ups and downs via a few gates until we come back to the A272. The tracks were actually pretty dry and fast rolling and the sky was crystal clear and sky blue, a perfect day to be riding a bike!

We cross the 272 through Holden farm and past some 'country types' to a chorus of 'mourning', very civilised! We stop at the end of the track where it meets the road for some photos in this amazing clear sky.

Greg and his San Andreas

A climb up the road to the Millburys pub and folow the SDW to Wind Farm where we stop for nibbles in the sunshine.

Greg and I spot a Red Kite soaring in the sky, you see loads of these on the M6 and A34 but never one this far south.

Red Kite

We press, on and head up to the nature reserve on top of Beacon Hill, we head left and take the down hill route to Droxford. This change of route was a massive improvement over the road or the grassy knoll routes.

At Droxford we head up Old Winchester Hill on the road. Previous years we have struggled with the mud on the off road climb, so much so it was an off road push.

We stayed on the top of the hill all the way to the old HMS Mercury, from here we took the tried and tested route of the 'Speeder Path'

I have never ridden the Speeder Path is such muddy conditions, so we were of the pace a little, however we still caught another MTB rider who was also descending probably at 2 or 3 times his speed. I get past him and push on to the top of Murder Mile.

Murder mile was tough, again not as bad as it has been but the top section was definitely challenging with he mud.  At the end we cut back up the road to Harrowgate Lane, this was in to a headwind now and we lost the sunshine, really grinding and tiring. At the end of the lane we head south on the road back to Denmead.

Once back in the 'Mead' I say good bye to the guys as the ride back to Cosham. All in it was about 30 miles, not to bad especially considering the mud, but a massively brilliant ride and a fantastic day out. Better think of something new for 2016!

South downs Way, Winchester to Havant via QECP

After last year’s Amberley ride back along the South downs Way we had the idea of catching the train the other way to ride westerly end of the SDW.

On Friday 15^th November I set of on my bike to meet Paul in Southwick, I jumped in to Paul’s car and we both went to Havant Train station, this would be the rides ‘official’ start and finish. We caught the train which took us down to Fratton and changed for a train that went directly to Winchester, Chris, Greg and Si jumped on the train in Cosham,

Greg, Si and Chris waiting for a train...

At Winchester we made our way through the city to the start of the South Downs Way, here the green ribbon stretches all the way to Eastbourne 99 miles away!

I got 99 problems, but the SDW isn't one...

After crossing the road bridge you are presented with two SDW signs, one for walkers, one for bike, although we plotted our route on the walking path we took the cycle path. This led us around the road eventually getting off road for the climb all the way to Cheesefoot head. We crossed the A272 on to familiar ground, as we have ridden this section many times but always the other way.

We follow the track to the bottom and turn right, after the first decent there was a mud bath, Simon loses the front and takes a tumble, he is fine apart from his muddy left side!

Not 100 yards later I have the first puncture of the day in my rear tyre. Frustratingly it was the tube I fixed the previous night (puncture on the seam), so a simple tube swap gets us going again.

first puncture of the day goes to....

From here the Downs are undulating and we cross fields, back across the A272, then climb up to the Millburys Pub, where we elect to have a food stop by Wind Farm.

from the left, Chris, Greg, Si and Paul

After some photo’s and some home-made chocolate brownies (thanks Mrs J!) we sent off for the nature reserve at Beacon Hill. Here we have a decision to make, follow the SDW down to Exton and brave possible mud or do the Nature Reserve downhill and do the climb of Old Winchester Hill on the road. Everybody votes for the SDW to Exton.

the view from Beacon Hill is stunning

The down hill was fine but leads out to the road for a long tarmac decent, Greg and I have fun slipstreaming, gravity style! At the bottom you cross the A32 then jump on the old Alton train line to the start the climb of Old Winchester Hill.

Here the famous mud (more like clay) took hold and the bikes soon became un-ridable and the wheels stopped turning…. We push them out of the mud, and try our best to clear them. From here it’s a spin up to the top, electing to stay on the bridleway and after a slight de-tour we make the road.

Simon's clay wheel

Gregs San An, not looking happy

Another food stop and we press on along the road only for Simon to get's his first puncture… After the fix we press on to Butser Hill, then hammer down the grass slope to the café at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. We all have lunch and a cup of coffee and Simon has to repair yet another puncture...

Butser Hill with the A3 was blocked

We take the Staunton way to Charlton with the intention of following this to Finchdean. Here it is elected to road it to Finchdean to save time and pick the off road up from there, however we are not sure of the route due to a battery out on the sat nav, so we road it to Rowlands Castle. Here we pick the cycle path up which takes us back to the train station.

Chris, Greg and Simon head off on their bikes for home, I jump in with Paul who drops me of at the top of Pidgeon House Lane and I cycle home.

It was a long day, but good day, my knee’s are feeling worse for wear and I have a little cramp, but the whole team made it even if the end of the ride didn't go to plan. We started as five and we ended as five, job done.

Time 3:47:45

Elapsed Time:5:54:14

Max Speed: 42.5mi/h

Avg Speed: 8.7mi/h

Distance: 33 miles

Elevation: 1964ft

route profile

Here is the mapped ride with downloadable .gpx file 

"Upham Epic", a old school XC loop

Upham Epic (and short Upham) are rides we did when we did a lot company rides. Its about 20 miles round and should take about 2 - 2.5hrs. Its a bit of an old school XC type of ride, but we still like to do it at least once a year. - images to be added...



Park by Upham duck pond, there is plenty of space.
Head out on the road with the farm on your right, head down the hill to Bigpath Farm. Look for the track on your right that runs just left of a barn.
Head up the path, stay on track. Steep climb up pig shit hill, keep on path to the end.
At three way road junction turn left, look for path on right.
Follow path downhill to road, turn left downhill to T junction, and turn left.
As road turns left take gravel track on right, as you get near a house keep left. Follow copse until end, cross filed on path; enter small copse follow to the end gate at the road.
Turn right, climb hill, small descent on road turn left at bottom at St Clairs Farm.
Road climb all the way to the top of Beacon Hill, at junction turn left follow rd around the corner to pick up the South Downs Way.
Follow SDW all the way to Wind Farm and back on the road. Turn left keep on SDW.
At the Millburys PH turn right then left follow SDW. Downhill on the road, then on to the dirt track, follow SDW.
Past Holden Farm, cross A272, be careful.

Follow SDW/ Kings Way to Keepers cottage, (it’s a farm and it usually smells a bit…), turn left (still SDW, climb. When path ends at gate, go through and climb to Cheesefott Head.
Turn left on to A272, at corner turn left on to Kings Way (Warren Lane). Head down, when path turns left, ignore it and keep going straight on to gate, go through.
Look for track on the right side of the path that goes straight ahead, take it. Fats track, be careful of roots. At bottom, keep going straight, climb to road.
Cross road, climb. At top keep straight, edge of field. Fast downhill, carful for 90 degree corner at bottom. Follow to road.
Cross road in to trench, follow, keep straight all the way to the road. Turn right.
Follow road, turn left. Take second dirt track on the right.
Climb to shoulder, turn right, climb and take the first left.
Follow track until it runs out and heads back to the road.
Turn left and head back to the car.
Pub Check: Brush Makers Arms, Upham. Great food, gest busy, and has visits from Morris dancers…