The Perils of an Un-Reconnoitred Route

As a fairly experienced cycle rider the 35 mile ride from Sandown to Cowes via a lunch stop at Carrisbrook Castle was a good ride, particularly on a mountain bike. To lead my team of 8 stalwart riders, many of whom had not ridden a bike for a number of years, successfully to Cowes along Sustrans cycle route 53, was a privilege.

It was perhaps over confidence that was to mar the day. Resumption of the ride after our lunch stop resulted in a moment or two of difficulty route finding in Newport, resolved by some very keen eye sight spotting a well hidden Sustrans sign.

The return through Newport was an altogether greater problem, when once again I not only failed to find the route but managed to lose the whole cycling group. One minute they were there, the next swallowed up by the one way streets and pedestrian precincts that had evolved after Sustrans had sign posted the route. My excuse is that the Tourist Office were only to happy to provide the information that I was not the first to discover the problem and would I please write to the Council to complain. If anyone would care to attempt the route themselves the trick is to know that cycle route 53 changes to Newport Council's Troll Trail and is signposted accordingly. Although I am told that once again our eagle eyed sign spotter saw the one remaining cycle route 53 sign, which I understand was handily at the top of lamp post column & under some later sign bracketry.

I was saved by the vigilance of our sharp eyed sign spotter who even spotted me, lost in the wastelands of Newport's one way streets and led me out of town to regroup with the others.

Phew I thought, that was enough for one day, but no. Our attempt to catch up with the advance party resulted in poor John Eyre slowing with what proved to be the cyclist's nightmare, the dreaded puncture and yes I cycled past carrying all the repair kit you could wish for in the cycle hire rucksack tool kit. Too much later I found our party was one short and yes I had managed to lose John. A frantic ride over quite a number of miles back to Newport, peering into the old track side ditches, fearing the worst I can tell you, weighed down by failed responsibility and with what proved to be quite an uncomfortable and superfluous tool kit - no sign of John.

My return ride to the riders awaiting my return after my failure was not one I would care to repeat. This became worse on the long ride back as I was going as fast as I could manage back to Sandown and, just to add to my discomfort, as I was speeding around a corner I had to avoid a head on collision by taking to the nettle filled ditch that I deserved.

Oh Joy! My relief on returning to the hotel to find John comfortable ensconced there was palpable to all. Well John's comfort that is, apart from what I was told, was a long wait and parking of the bike in a kind Islanders' house, a bus trip to Sandown and dare I say the effects of a long bike ride!

Peter Ewart