Since British Cycling gave us the green light to start activities again in July, we have been inundated with enquiries – our Facebook and Instagram sites are going very well and pre-rides are completed with new routes being added all the time. Recent guided rides have been a great success with good weather on our side and fabulous feedback from the riders.
Riders who have booked with us to date have been looking for new challenges after the lockdown – such as experiencing off-road riding for the first time, setting new fitness goals, building riding confidence, brushing up existing techniques and learning new ones (for example, using the appropriate gears to match the terrain or just ensuring that the bike is comfortably adjusted). Most importantly, just to have fun and experience the great outdoors
One of our 1st guided rides was around Stockbridge and King’s Somborne which is north Hampshire – a 24km circular ride. This particular ride started from Horsebridge on the Test Way/Monarch’s Way which is an off-road cycle route to Stockbridge. A flat trail to get the legs working first thing in the morning but once we got though Stockbridge, the route started to climb. We eventually headed towards Farley Mount on a byway which undulates though the heart of the countryside – the bridleway afterwards provided good views over to Ashley and beyond.
We picked up a good trail that drops down off the Beacon Hill in the direction of King’s Somborne – this bridleway is slightly downhill with good terrain and lots of twists and turns which made it fun to ride ! Riding back to King’s Somborne knowing that a take away coffee and a rich chocolate brownie at Stockbridge, was well earned.
When being guided on a ride we use byways, bridleways and gravel tracks in the heart of the countryside, and specifically in The New Forest we use the cycle waymarked network. We take a pace that suits all abilities with stops on the way. No need to think where you are going or if get lost all navigation is taken care of.
