North France Touring Trip, June 2025
Simon Potter organised a fantastic tour in north France, part Brittany and part Normandy – 6 riders, who had the luxury of our bags being transported in a support vehicle driven by Simon’s dad, Roland.
Day 1 To the ferry, 55km & 528m elevation gain
6 of us set off riding from Alton, heading to the ferry in Portsmouth for our overnight crossing to St Malo. It was a hot afternoon, so stopping for ice cream on the way definitely helped and got us into the holiday spirit.
Day 2 To St Brieuc, 102km & 1004m elevation gain
We started the day with amazing pastries and coffee in St Malo, which we had to queue out of the door for. A bit of rain then descended on us, but it was already 20 degrees, so the rain didn’t bother us. It got up to 34 degrees, and pretty exhausting with some headwind. Arrived at […]
2025 5 Mile Time Trial
On Sunday 13th July, twenty-six riders, including eight ladies, lined up to take part in our first ever ‘social’ TT on the 5 mile HCC286 course up the Candover Valley. For many this was their first ever time trial.
The TT was run under the auspices of Cycling Time Trials, the UK authority for this type of event, and following their regulations.
Along with twenty-two riders from Alton CC, we were joined by Alison and Michael from North Hampshire RC, having a second attempt at the course, and James and Dan from Alton Santo Smashers having a go at a time trial.
This was the second time we had run a TT on this course and again the riders were faced with a testing headwind (where’s that prevailing wind?); nevertheless, all riders from our trial run in May managed to set new PBs. Meanwhile, […]
Jim Woods Memorial Audax 2025
Alton Cycling club had a great turnout for the 4th edition of the Jim Woods Memorial Audax. More than 80 riders set off from Beech village Hall on a circular 102Km route through some of Hampshire’s most scenic countryside taking in parts of the Itchen, Test and Dever Valleys.
The annual ride is in memory of Jim Woods who tragically died in 2020 from a brain tumour. All proceeds from the event are donated to Brainstrust, a wonderful UK charity who support people affected by this devastating condition.
The ride is organised each year by Alton Cycling Club’s John Heath who says:
“Jim Woods was a good friend and a much loved and respected Alton Cycling Club member. I take pride and comfort from having been able to organise the Jim Woods Memorial Rides for the last 4 years.
This year’s event was another success with more than 80 entrants who enjoyed the ride […]
King Alfred Way Tour 2025
Blood, Sweat and Beers, an off road adventure …
A group of seven Alton Cycling Club members undertook the iconic King Alfred Way, which is an off-road loop around historic Wessex, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Alfred the Great. Five riders completed the whole loop, with two others joining for sections of the ride.
The group had varying degrees of off-road experience and rode a range of bikes from full suspension and hard tail mountain to gravel and adventure bikes.
Day 1 took 5 riders from Alton to Frensham via Alice Holt where we joined the KAW. The first major climb took us over the Devil’s Punchbowl after which we headed towards Liss, then the Hartings and eventually Queen Elizabeth Country Park where we braced ourselves for the final climb of the day up Butser Hill.
Day 2 started with a technical descent towards East Meon from where we made our way over Winchester Hill […]
2025 Time Trial Practice Run
On Sunday 18th May a select band of riders stepped up to take part in the inaugural running of the Alton CC’s 5-mile TT, on our new course up the Candover Valley.
Six entrants, including Alison and Michael who joined us from North Hampshire RC, fought the testing headwind to post our first records for the course. Storming rides from Sarah and Guy set our club best ladies and men’s times (surely to be surpassed under more suitable conditions). Owen takes the prize for the fastest run on an ordinary road bike: who needs aero?
Special kudos to Ruth for completing the course in an excellent time just two days after completing a 100-miler.
Following on from our first successful practice run, we look forward to our full TT and social event on Sunday 13th July when many more members can […]
A Spring Adventure in Dénia
The Alton Cycling Club’s annual spring pilgrimage took a small group of members to the sun-drenched roads of Dénia, Spain, from March 29th to April 5th, 2025. This highly-anticipated trip promised a week of challenging rides, stunning Mediterranean vistas, and camaraderie. In total, the group covered in excess of 400km of riding with 5000m of elevation over the 6 days of riding.
Dénia: A Cyclist’s Paradise
Dénia’s reputation as a top cycling destination is well-earned. The area provides:
- Varied Terrain: The riders enjoyed a mix of coastal plains and demanding climbs, including the famous Coll de Rates, allowing cyclists of all abilities to find their rhythm.
- Ideal Conditions: The spring climate in Dénia offers perfect cycling weather, with warm, sunny days and gentle breezes – although the club encountered some strong coastal wind son the last day on the back of Storm Nuria.
- Pro-Level Routes: The club members rode on roads frequently used […]
