Cycle the Wight

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Has anyone done any of these rides and if so would you recommend them?

I'm thinking of the 70 mile ride but am just wondering how many people take part and what it's like.

I've just done the London to Brighton and am after a new challenge.

Gosh it can't be as busy as the L2B can it?

Not heard of this one - but there are plenty of sportifs around

www.cyclosport.org/events.aspx

they have entry limits and show how many people can enter - they sometimes have a sweep van!

Thanks ivykaty, I'm assuming it's much more low key than L2B but hopefully not too serious IYSWIM.

I would be a bit worried of entering a ride for serious cyclists, I'm not that fast and I may stand out a bit on my filthy mountain bike! I'm a bit of a beginner at road cycling, more used to off road cycling and running but loved the L2B so may give the Isle of Wight a go. Nice place to go for a weekend with the ds's anyway

a lot of the sportifs have two and usually three lots of milage for all people of different ages and abilities - usualy remember cyclists want others to enjoy cyclking as much as they do.

Give it a go - it is only 17 ish more miles than the L2B

Thanks for your help ivykaty, I think I will go for it, the ds's are quite keen on a weekend on the Isle of Wight anyway.

I looked at the cyclosport website, I may give a sportif a go next year. I think I need to get a road bike first. My mountain bike did me proud on the L2B and I got up all the hills no problem but I'm sure I would be faster with a road bike.

I take it you are a keen cyclist yourself? If you don't mind me picking your brains for a second, do you have any advice on what I should look for in a road bike? I'm worried about the gears in particular and whether I will be able to get up the steep hills, (Ditchling Beacon type hills) on a road bike if the gears are different?