Hundreds take part in cycling event

By Jon Moreno

Monday, May 21, 2012

The cyclists in Yarmouth. Picture by Peter Boam.

MORE than 650 people took part in the first-ever Cycle Wight event over the weekend.

The event, a series of circular routes starting from Yarmouth, from a small family ride up to a much more challenging 154km, took in some the Island’s most stunning countryside.

Cycle Wight was established to encourage families — and those who take cycling more seriously — to discover the beauty of the countryside and to boost the Isle of Wight tourist trade.

It featured a 25km cycle route that was closed off to traffic called the Wight Riviera Sportive.

Co-organiser of the event, Martin Harrison, of Reading, estimated over 650 cyclists took part over the weekend and believes the Island has great potential to host similar events of this type in the future.

"Introducing rolling road closures was key to making this event happen and giving it its appeal. If the Island supports the event, the event will support the Island," he said.

Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk

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by deborah beare

22nd May 2012, at 17:54:16

also trapped by these road closures. Signs advertised roads closed for about an hour mid-morning. Race started at 9.45 and we were caught in it and experienced rudeness from many cyclists.

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by Don Prescott

22nd May 2012, at 15:57:25

Pity the council/organisers could not make these septuagenarians pay something towards the up keep of the roads that they "use".
@ Iain, You should have seen them coming up Blythe Shute 4 abreast.
Idiots. They get knocked off their bike and, of course, it is the car drivers fault.

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by Bob cotton

22nd May 2012, at 08:24:46

It was a nightmare they closed off some of the roads over half an hour before the event even started, if they are going to do it again it need be run by someone who can organise it a lot better

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by Iain Bacon

22nd May 2012, at 08:20:57

What a total shambles, I desperatly needed to get from Totland to Newport and was unable to do so, I was so angry.

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by Paul Wainwright

21st May 2012, at 23:34:08

Wonderful to see so many people on bikes ... the Island is a great place to cycle and I have ridden there many times on my visits from Australia.

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.