Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

For those of you unfortunate enough to remember the 80s track, BMX Boys Have A Lot Of Fun, it’ll bring to mind the heady early days of BMX in the UK.

“Of course, it will just be a fad,” was said widely. Guess that’s another prediction that’ll be chucked in to the bin of history.

To prove it’s very much alive, there’s going to be a display of BMX skills by Joe Sinclair from Bournemouth, doin’ ‘is ting in Ryde this Saturday.

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Users of the Cowes to Newport cycle track will be all too aware of the extension to works taking place along the track after work started back in October.

Good news reaches us this morning, as we hear that the track will be re-opened this coming Friday (11th).

Problems with drainage in the area resulted in hazardous flooding along the cycle track, sometimes as deep as 1m in places.

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Many thanks to Tim Thorne of CycleWight (pictured here with Roger Geffen) for this report of cycle campaigner, Roger Geffen’s recent visit to the Island. Ed

Roger Geffen the Campaigns and Policy Manager of the CTC1 spent two days on the Island last week meeting various groups about cycling on the Island.

He met David Pugh, leader of the council and Edward Giles, the portfolio holder for Transport and the Environment, as well as several senior Council Officers. He outlined ways in which cycling will help deliver a wide range of benefits to the Island; quality of the environment, increase in space if less dependency on cars and health benefits, amongst other things.

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Daft Old Duffer is back and this week he’s sounding slightly paranoid. Let him know if you agree. Ed

Quite often, my walks take me along a stretch of road that is virtually deserted once the morning school run is finished. Sometimes I cross this road as soon as I’ve turned onto it. At others I cross at random points along the way, or at the far end.

But whenever or wherever I decide to cross, at that precise moment a car will come along. Then, usually another, just too close behind to prevent me crossing between them. Then a third, coming the other way.

Once I’ve crossed, the road is once again devoid of any movement. So devoid you could safely stroll right down the middle of it, end to end.

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News arrives from the Isle of Wight Council that current works taking place on the Cowes to Newport cycleway will continue for longer than expected.

Due to problems with the drainage and flooding being more extensive that predicted, the works will carry on and diversion be in place until Friday 11 December.

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Did you watch the Tonight programme about cycling on Friday evening?

By chance I had already finished a piece on this very subject. And I saw nothing on the programme to alter my opinion. So I’ll present it unaltered.

The government want us all to start using push bikes whenever possible. And to encourage us two new laws are being considered.

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It’s not just a leading cycling campaigner who is likely to be checking out the Island’s cycle routes over the coming weeks.

Anyone who reads the latest Lonely Planet Best in Travel Guide (2010) may well be cycling up to the ferry terminals on the mainland and heading our way.

That’s because Lonely Planet, who produce some of the most popular travels guides, have placed the Isle of Wight in the top ten of cycling routes in the World.

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CycleWight, the campaign group for cyclists on the Island, have been in touch to let us know about the forthcoming visit of leading cycling campaigner, Roger Geffen.

The Campaigns and Policy Manager of the CTC has been invited to the Island by the group and will be giving a keynote speech at their AGM later in the month.

Whilst he’s here he’ll also be checking out our cycling routes and provision on the Island.

Meeting with Council officials and the Cycle Forum
It’s not just the speech at the AGM that Roger Geffen is here for though, he’ll also be addressing the Cycle Forum.

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Don’t forget that that if you have a dog that isn’t micro-chipped, dog wardens will be at the Ventnor Winter Gardens tomorrow.

For just £5 you can get your dog chipped, a fraction of what it would cost to have it done at the Vets.

The team will be there between 10.30am and 3.30pm and as well as the super cheap microchipping, the Isle of Wight Dog Training Society are going to be present and offering pet obedience demonstrations and training.

If you’ve got a bike, you can also get that security wrapped for free.

Image: e3000 under CC BY-SA 2.0

Anther instalment from VB reader and contributor Daft Old Duffer. Ed

Followers of the VB discussion forum may recall I have recently purchased an electric bike.

It’s a little too soon to give my impressions of it, though first reactions are very positive.

What I would like know though are your thoughts on what I should wear when out cycling.

It’s been quite a while for me and I don’t want to look ridiculous. I shall of course shave my legs and stain them with cold tea – a la the Tour de France. And I rather thought lycra shorts in a delicate shade of lilac.

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Thanks to legendary Island skates and filmmaker John Cattle for sending through details of this summer jam taking place tomorrow in Cowes. Let’s hope the weather is kind to the Island tomorrow. Ed

Cowes Skatepark will host the 2nd ‘Kimpo’s Summer Jam and Funday’, this Saturday starting at 10am. The event has been organised by Cowes Youth Forum.

Fun for all the family, bouncy castle, refreshments as well as the Skate and BMX Competition.

DJ on the day will be Leeboy from NPT who will be playing a bit of reggae, soul, and funk as the soundtrack to the proceedings.

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You all know how much we love helping to support good causes. Well here’s one worthy of read through (and hopefully a donation).

Avril, a regular visitor to Ventnor wrote to us asking for our help in spreading the word of this sponsored bike ride that is taking place on the Island later this month (27th/28th).

Just one week after the world famous Round the Island Sailing Race, a group of 19 children from all over England, some as young as just 10 years old will attempt to cycle round the Island.

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The Isle of Wight Festival’s Eco Action team have teamed up with the London Bicycle Tour Company this year to give festival goers a chance explore a bit more of the Island than just Seaclose Park.

You can hire a bike to take off on your own (times and details below) or join in with The Big Festival Bike Ride which is taking place on Saturday and Sunday mornings leaving at 10am, from the London Tour Company hire point in the campsite.

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This Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May 2009, sees the 25th annual Isle of Wight Randonnee.

It’s an organised free cycle tour around the Island – actually it’s two routes, a 100Km one following the Round-the-Island cycle route, taking minor roads and lanes where possible and a 55Km route around the north east of the Island, both anti-clockwise.

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We learned last weekend about a very hilly 67 mile sponsored cycle ride that it planned for May by the son of a friend of ours who lives on the Island.

On Saturday 16th May, Sam Jarman will be joining a number of others (19 people to be precise) to cycle 67 miles through the Cotswolds to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Toy Trust.

Sam has a target of raising £500 and is already nearly 25% there, so hopefully those of you able to spare a few pounds for these great causes will help Sam achieve his goal.

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A free event on the Isle of Wight has made it into The Telegraph’s Top 20 Free Things to do at Christmas.

Coming in at number four in the chart is the Pie Cycle from Alverstone.

The event is described as a gentle, but jolly tour of lanes and tracks suitable for all the family.

Pushing off from Alverstone Village Hall, at 11am on 27 December, organisers invite you to munch mince pies and swig mulled wine on this free eight-mile family cycle.

Ring beforehand to confirm place (01983) 520529.

The Telegraph’s Top 20 Free Things to do at Christmas

Image: psd

The West of Wight will be getting two more bicycles for the police to spread their coverage further – all thanks to Freshwater and Totland Parish Councils, who have paid for the bikes.

Many people have commented that police patrolling in their cars puts a barrier between residents and the police – bicycles are an interesting medium that enables them to cover a lot of ground but still make them accessible.

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The Isle of Wight featured in the National Broadsheets again last weekend, with the Troll Trail scoring high on the list of great cycle paths.

The Troll Trail from Shide to Merstone came in at fifth place out of cycle routes around the UK featured in The Telegraph.

Island 2000 and Gift to Nature have been involved in developing the Troll Trail – here’s what they have to say about the work

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Thanks to Helen Cunningham of Vintage Vacations for sending through this cautionary tale. Ed

I’d like to offer a ‘heads up’ to all Blog readers.

Yesterday, a lovely family from Southsea came to stay in one of our trailers.

They made the decision to leave their car at home and come on bikes. They have planned all sorts of routes for their stay, using the cycle path network but there are sometimes when you HAVE to go on the road.

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The Island police have sent us this appeal to help with the knocking down of a cyclist on the Ashey Road near Ryde – Ed.

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With the Walking Festival now out of the way, those with an active inclination will be pleased to hear that another festival starts this Saturday.

The Big Wight is the new name for the Wight Diamond Challenge/Festival which is held each year at Ninham Holiday Camp in Shanklin.

There are a number of rides you can take part in over the weekend, including the 100km endurance race and the Wight Diamond Navigator – which takes you all around the Island allowing you to choose your route. (more…)

The SQ2SQ 2008 team are group of firefighters who will be cycling from St Thomas’ Square in Newport to the Vatican Square in Italy this coming September. The purpose of their marathon cycle is to raise funds and awareness for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

Recently, John Giddings, the organiser and promoter of the Isle of Wight Festival donated a pair to Festival tickets to the group and they are today launching a prize draw that anyone can enter. (more…)

Sitting at the desk looking out onto the sea this morning, just caught sight of a brightly clad pair on a tandem.

“Ooh look a tandem,” I piped up “Oh another, another, another, another, another, another and another!” (more…)

The Big Wight is the new name for the Wight Diamond Challenge/Festival which is held each year at Ninham Holiday Camp in Shanklin.

The festival takes place over 23-26 May and whether you live on the Wight or will be travelling from over the water, the schedule of events is jam packed.

There are two major events taking place, The Big Wight and the Wight Challenge as well as the Pick and Mix. (more…)

We see on the Motor Boat and Yachting website today that a new event called the Great Island Challenge is planned for later this year, taking place around and on the Wight.

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