Leisure Cycling
The Group welcomes new members of reasonable ability and roadworthy bikes. Electric bikes are welcome.
We meet on the 1st Friday and 3rd Thursday of every month at 10am at Bolton's Bench War Memorial, unless otherwise stated.
Rides tend to be between 10 and 15 miles and mostly off road on cycle tracks or on our quieter lanes.
If you like cycling and have a roadworthy bike then join our friendly group and enjoy the fabulous opportunities for exploring our lovely forest and local countryside using the official cycle tracks and forest lanes.
There are some great routes and its a great low impact way of keeping fit. We usually include a coffee shop/hostelry for refreshment.
The group is a social group of men and women, special bike clothing is not necessary, helmets are not mandatory but are advised, as are high visibility tabards. We carry basic tools, tyre repair kits and puncture aerosols, spare inner tubes and first aid kit. We have back and front marker riders.
For indemnity reasons, you must be a U3A member, have reasonable road sense, and a roadworthy bike (ie good brakes, wheel spindles nuts, handle bar nuts, saddle bolts all secure).
Please ensure you are able to cycle 10 to 15 miles at a reasonable pace, including uphill so that the group can ride together. Please also check that you understand how the gears work and when to select, and the importance of correct saddle height to gain maximum leverage from your legs and tyres inflated hard to about 60 psi, to ensure smooth riding with the group, thank you.
Please get in touch if you have any questions by clicking on the link, leaders and routes are usually advised by email nearer the ride date.
Happy pedalling,
Geoff
April 2023: We are very active and riding every 1st Friday and 3rd Thursday of the month.
Contact me on 07933741768 for next ride details, Geoff Aston.
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For reports on latest rides click on Ride Feedbacks .
Some example Past rides:
Boltons Bench to Fritham and return. 15 miles.
Forest ride to Brockenhurst for coffee and a return to Lyndhurst on a New Park route to Pinkney Lane.
From Bolderwood Car Park on forest tracks to Burley to refuel then back to Bolderwood. One or two Hills!
Short ride: Bournemouth Promenade starting at the junction of Southbourne Coast Road and Broadway Road for a 7 mile ride along the promenade to the Jazz Café for refreshments and back.
Long ride: Red Funnel Ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, then the chain ferry and along the official railway line track to Newport and the Sustrans Route to Carisbrook and back.
Short ride : A local ride around the quiet lanes, 10 am at the Bench, Ashurst, Woodlands Road, Bartley, Minstead, Lyndhurst.
Long ride about 15 miles, steep long hills, Bench to Burley and back mainly on tracks, limited escape routes.
Bench, Ashurst, Longdown café and back.
A ride on the South Side, Lodge Heath Camp Site on the Brockenhurst to Beaulieu road (B3055) https://www.bing.com/maps/ , OS ref 50.818251 -1.526089 ride of about 5 miles , George provided refreshment from his motorhome.
Happy New Year Bikers! A brilliant ride of about 12 miles with 3 hills starting at the High Corner Inn pub http://www.highcornerinn.co.uk/home at 10am and returning to the pub for refreshment.
Meet at Bolton's Bench at 10am for a shorter ride of 5 miles along Southampton Road cycle track to Ashurst, Deerleap Enclosure, refreshments in the village. Prize for best Christmas decorated bike or rider.
Egg Benedict ride, Hengistbury Head to Sandbanks along the promenade, 15 miles.
Meet at 10 am at the car park on Southbourne Coast Road just before the road leading to the Hengistbury Head café.
Ride along the Beaulieu River. Meet 10 am at Beaulieu Village Car Park (entry is to the left side of the classic car sales in the main road through the village, Palace Lane).
Ride to Furzey Gardens and back, refreshments at the Gardens.
Off road ride from the War Memorial, Bolton's Bench to the Balmerlawn Hotel and back, distance about 9 miles, about 3 hours.
A ride along the Lymington sea wall. 10:00 start with a refreshment stop at Keyhaven or Milford.
Start at Cadman's Pool,(near Stoney Cross) OS map grid reference 229 / 122 for an exciting new 8 mile ride around this beautiful part of the northern forest with all it's interesting terrain.
A shorter ride, meet at the Bench 10 am for one of our old favourite rides along the cycle track to Ashurst, then to Church Place , Deerleap and back to Lyndhurst along the track, about 5 miles, 2 hours at the most. A good route if this is your first time with the group.
Test Valley Ride . 10 am meet at Bolton's Bench Memorial for taking the bikes in the car or on carriers, drive to Stoneymarsh car park north of Timsbury on A3057 (OS ref 335 269 or sat nav 51.041788 -10523107) then cycle on the old railway track (flat with slight uphill gradient) to Stockbridge.
Ride through Denny Wood to Brockenhurst via the National off road cycle route to Brockenhurst then back through Holland's Wood to Cattle Breeder's Lyndhurst about 10 miles , virtually all off road .
Meet at the White Hart pub at Cadnam roundabout for a 6 miles local ride through the lanes to Bramshaw.
Taking the bikes on bike carriers to Hengistbury Head car park for 20 mile ride along Southbourne and Bournemouth promenade to Poole and back. This is a nice winter ride , absolutely flat - guaranteed no hills ! and tempting cafes along the way and magnificent sea views. Depending on numbers we should have spare space on the carriers . This is the first of planned future carrier rides, such as Test Way cycle track Stockbridge etc
Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.