Portsmouth CTC
Our activities
About us
As well as organising rides, we campaign locally for improvements to the cycling infrastructure. We were directly involved in the successful bid to make substantial improvements in the South Downs National Park; and we were behind the petition to create a cycle way through the Butser Cutting which was recently completed.
Information about the group rides
We organise a wide range of different rides with riders coming from Lee-on-the-Solent to the west to Chichester in the east:
Easy rides
These rides are an ideal introduction to 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.
Saturday and Wednesday rides
The full ride usually leaves from the Spring Centre, Havant and 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 the ride with the more energetic group taking a longer and/or hillier route.
Sunday morning rides
These are designed to appeal to people who want to explore the local countryside by bike, with a sociable group at a medium pace. They start from one of three different locations to the North of the City and last for about 3 hours, plus the mandatory stop for coffee and cake of course!
Faster Sunday rides
Sunday morning rides from Cosham with a stop for elevenses. A ride for the fit cyclist. Average speeds are brisk. The group rides in a tight formation. Some riders may opt to continue to lunch and tea.
Tuesday rides
We are experimenting with a new set of rides on Tuesdays. The initial format is 60-70 mile rides at a moderately fast pace while maintaining the social nature of the Saturday and Wednesday rides. The rides will start at locations more suited to people coming from the west side of our area.
Friday rides
We are experimenting with a new set of rides taking place on alternate Fridays from the Stride Centre in Denvilles. They are short, sociable, easy rides designed for people new to cycling on public roads, or in a group. The ride destination shown for a given date is a suggestion. Sarah and Martin are flexible about routes and destinations so can accommodate a range of experience and ability.
Evening pub rides
Take place on Thursdays during the warmer months. They start from the Spring Centre, Havant and take a relaxed ride out to a local pub for a drink and a bite to eat.
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.
Tandem rides
Rides for tandems and solos on Sunday, starting mid-morning, usually taking in a visit to one of the club members for sustenance.
Club nights
No cycling required! We organise club nights on Thursday evenings during the colder months.
Our members also organise ad hoc tours in the UK and abroad.
If you need help starting, or getting back into, cycling we can also arrange training sessions with Bikeability-trained members to help get you going..
Find out more about our programme from our web site