Okay then fellow islanders and friends alike. Following the even HUGER success of the last Strong Island Bike Ride in September 09, and all the amazing feedback I’ve had, I think it’s time to start thinking about the next one.
I’ve initally gone for April 4th, the Bank Holiday weekend. This means no work on Monday, for most. Like before, this ride is by no means a political statement, critical mass, reaction towards the council or statement of any kind and is by no means an event, just friends in Southsea getting together for a bike ride to the beach. All very innocent. It’s all about Sunday fun with friends and bikes.
Initial thoughts are to ride pretty much the same route as before but a little longer again. Nothing major, just a few more miles as feedback seem to point towards a longer ride, yet still not too long for everyone. Standard roundabout fun and Eastney stop off for a beach photograph. Initial thoughts are to end either back at The Bridge Tavern or Spice Island. Many people asked for something at the end, but as a non profit site this is very hard to arrange. Even grouping people on the common would mean getting the Council & Police involved……
THIS is last years route along the seafront and back. Let me know any thoughts on extending it, changing it, ending somewhere else, anything.
Make sure to sign up on the Facebook Events page to keep up to date, or keep checking back here of course. All the best, Tristan.
Wow. What a turn out. After a slightly delayed set off, can’t rush peoples beers, well over 100 riders set off on an 8 mile ride from The Bridge Tavern, along the seafront and back through Southsea ending up in Old Portsmouth at Spice Island for a few more drinks.
With all manner of bicycles in attendance including wheelie popping Chopper riders, Fixed Gear tricksters, Shoppers, Customs, BMX’s, Racers, Trick Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Cruisers and Old Schools, it really was a fantastic mix of two wheeled Strong Islanders. We even had some visitors from as far as Bournemouth.
A great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday I think you’ll agree. You can check out my sketchy over the shoulder photos on my Flickr and stay posted for the group photo on the beach.
I counted 124 people on the video below, but it could be more. Thanks to everyone and lets make next year twice as big again.
Okay, my bad on the last route change taking us the wrong way down a one way road out of The Thicket. Having talked to a few fellow Strong Islanders the route is now a hard left at the end of Albert Road all the way along and down to the common.
Check out some photos from the last ride HERE and check out the Google Map HERE.
Looks like this Sunday could see a fair few people attending the bike ride. With 194 Strong Islanders saying yes on Facebook and quite a few people aside, it could be quite the turn out.
Take a quick look at the route. It’s about 8 miles in total and we’ll hopefully stop off at Eastney Beach again like the photo below.
See you all this Sunday. No doubt there will be a few casualties after Southsea Fest on Saturday but I’m sure the turn out will be great, weather aside…..
A whole bunch of us will be at The Bridge Tavern from at least 1pm for pre ride drinks. Come join us.
You can download the poster HERE and join the Facebook thing HERE.
Hello, hello. I’ve been off the radar for a while so let’s get the Summer Bike Ride in to action huh. Not long now till Southsea Fest & The Bike Ride then Love ALbert Road Day the weekend after.
Feedback seems to point to a longer ride that starts and ends in Old Portsmouth. The BBQ was a good idea but meant people would have to carry food and beer and so forth. So, ride from The Bridge Tavern in Old Portsmouth at 2pm, do the same route as before but extend it up through Eastney and back along Albert Road, Elm Grove and finish at Spice Island & Still & West.
Take a few minutes to check out the ROUTE HERE and leave any feedback. It’s about 8 miles in total and makes for a nice route I think. Sorry for the speedy post but it’s a hectic week. Too little hours in the day etc…
Oh, and there are 187 people confirmed on Facebook. I think it was 150 odd last time and about 80 riders arrived, so lets make it over 100 this time. How good would that be?
You can download the poster HERE and join the Facebook thing HERE.
I’ve have loads of feedback already about the September Bike Ride so I thought I’d share some of the common thoughts with you all. Last April about 80 of us all rode from The Bridge Tavern in Old Portsmouth at around 1pm and headed around The Point and then all the way along The Seafront to Eastney and then back up on to Albert Road and ended up at The Little Johnny Russells.
The main things that have popped up since April and current feedback are as follows. It needs to be longer, not a proper jaunt, just a few miles more. The final destination meant a lot of people couldn’t find space to lock bikes and therefore headed off. More roundabouts. For those involved last time the roundabout was a lot of fun. No need for a theme this time, just freestyle it and come dressed up if you fancy. Although some of you made a great effort naming your bikes.
So the suggestion is, the same starting point at The Bridge Tavern, whatever we fancy in between and then end up at Eastney Beach for a BBQ. The only problem I can foresee is that everyone will have to carry their BBQs, food & drink on their bikes.
Let me know your thoughts as this is as much your ride as anyone else’s. A BBQ finale would be a really cool way for everyone to meet up and have a laugh whilst eating burnt food and drinking warm beer.
You can download the poster HERE and join the Facebook thing HERE.
Okay then. Following the HUGE success of the last Strong Island Bike Ride on the April Bank Holiday, and all the amazing feedback I’ve had, I think it’s time to start thinking about the next one. I’ve initally gone for Sunday 20th September. This falls the weekend after Bestival, the day after Southsea Fest and the weekend before Love Albert Road Day. I had a short chat with Ian Parmiter and friends this week and all feel that a date near LARD all goes towards increasing that sense of community.
I’ve created another Facebook Group which I’ll use to update people. Sign up for it HERE.
What an amazing turn out it was on Sunday. I’ve never seen so many happy cyclists in my life. General estimations were about 80 people in attendance. Huge thanks to everyone that came along on all manner of bicycles from fixed gears, shoppers, BMXs, customs, racers, cruisers, mountain bikes, hybrids and even vintage 1920s bikes.
Highlights being random route extensions, seafront group photos, crashes, blocking the roundabout, the police and lots of happy faces. Look out for the Summer Strong island Bike Ride, but in the mean time check out some of the photos on Tristans Flickr, Jill Gates Flickr, Tiger Noahs Flickr and then send some to the Flickr Group.
Check out SIkes’ video clip. Classic. Sorry it’s on it’s side. I keeps uploading funny.
Well I must admit I never expected such a huge response for this. With 129 people confirmed on the Facebook Events page and at least another 30 people outside of Facebook and not including friends of Southsea Fixed coming over from Bournemouth and also some of the Portsmouth Cycle Forum members. Even if a quarter of the people turn up we will still be looking at a large gathering.
To recap for anyone who has no idea what I’m talking about we come up with a short 5 mile ride. All based around Southsea and the Seafront. Starting at the Bridge Tavern opposite the Fish Market and finishing up along Albert Road. An easy, casual ride that is accessible to everyone and their various types of bikes.
As I mentioned before this is strictly for fun and is open to anyone and everyone on any bicycle. We’re not out to make any points or be political and is by no means intended to be a Critical Mass or even a race. Just a good laugh on a Bank Holiday Sunday.
As you may know each year we run a home brew competition in February where the winning brew has the opportunity to be brewed by Irving & Co Brewing Co. and sold around the city in the summer. Last year’s brew, the Strong Island Hopper Ale, was hugely successful being one of Inving’s best selling ales and selling out so quickly it went through a second brew run. This year’s winning ale is Dry Dock No. 1, originally brewed by Lee Immins, went on sale in some of Portsmouth and Southsea’s pubs over the weekend.
We spoke to The Hole in The Wall in Southsea who said the new ale went down a storm with it being their best seller on Sunday and with almost two barrels empty by the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Those guys at the Hole in The Wall and their regular ale drinkers know their stuff so for us this was amazing early news with the ale.
To officially launch Dry Dock No. 1 we are having a launch party with the lovely souls at The Belle Isle on Thursday evening. The ale will be on full flow, come down and try a pint or two. As well as being on sale all around the city the ale will also be available in Chichester’s Belle Isle too, so you can drink it away from home for the first time too.
Just over a year ago, a group of Strong Islanders were sat on the Isle of Wight ferry on our way to the yearly Randonnee cycling event; 60 miles around the island spread across 5 checkpoints. Whilst on the crossing we couldn’t help but admire various enthusiasts and their custom team jerseys. Fast forward a year and it is my great pleasure to unveil the Strong Island cycling jersey. Made as a one off for the event, the jersey is our way of representing this city and all the values that come with it. Thanks to the combined designing efforts of Chris Ballingall and Tristan Savage, we were able to produce this clean, retro looking jersey that 11 of Southsea’s finest could wear to conquer the island’s endless hills. Well done chaps.
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