About our rides
Alton Cycling Club organises weekly cycling rides in Hampshire (and adjacent counties), which all begin at The Butts, Alton (location what3words.com/reclining.sailor.threaded).
- Sunday morning rides meet at 09:00. Varying pace groups.
- Tuesday morning rides meet at 09:00. 13-14 mph (21-23 kph) pace.
Rider guidelines: All riders are asked to follow our guidelines. New riders are always welcome to come and join Alton CC’s rides. If you want to find out more about our rides you can use our contact page to ask a question.
Insurance: It is recommended that all members join either British Cycling or Cycling UK as both of these organisations provide 3rd party liability insurance to riders; additional discounts and benefits are also available.
Junior Riders: Specific ride guidance for junior riders and their parents is available here.
In wet conditions, please fit mudguards to your bike when group riding.
Depending on numbers, we have up to four ride groups on Sundays to suit varying abilities: Short and Regular Club Groups, a Mid-Paced Group and a Fast Group. No riders are dropped or left behind on any ride. The club rides average between 12 to 14 mph (19-23 kph), depending upon terrain and cover 30 to 50 miles (48-80 km). The mid-paced and fast rides both cover about 50 miles (80 km) with average speeds of about 15 mph (24 kph) and 18 mph (28 kph) respectively.
The Club Group is a mixture of experienced riders and anyone new to cycling. The aim of the group is to promote both the etiquette and the advantages of group riding. During the summer months rides may occasionally be longer than 50 miles (80 km). These will be identified on the route. The group rides may not always go to the same café, but there will always be a coffee stop!
All of our cycling rides in Hampshire are on a Sunday, unless otherwise stated, leaving from The Butts, Alton at 09:00. We have a WhatsApp group that keeps riders up to date on our rides. Get in touch with the Club Secretary using the Contact page to be added to the group. It pays to be added as rides may be changed fairly last minute, particularly in the winter due to inclement weather.
Group sizes: A new group should be formed once a ride group has twelve members.
Ride Leaders: We have developed the following set of guidelines for ride leaders which should be used by all ride leaders.
When planning routes in winter you may find it useful to consult county council websites detailing their respective salted/treated road maps: Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Similarly after heavy rainfall, check your planned routes against the Government’s Flood Service website.
Upcoming Ride Schedule
| Club Ride (Short) | Club Ride (Regular) | Mid-Paced | Fast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 1 | Adrianna | Paul The Fern, Fernhurst Route updated Fri 30-jan | The Fern, Fernhurst Route updated Fri 30-jan | |
| Wednesday 4 | Ruth Elstead and Seale Note: Ride deferred from Tuesday | |||
| Saturday 7 | Simon The Yard, Chilton Candover | Route TBD | ||
| Starts at Veloline in Farringdon at 1000. Coffee and cake at Veloline at ride's end. | ||||
| Sunday 8 | Peter Hilliers GC, Liss 48km | Mike Fair Oak GC | Fair Oak GC | |
| Tuesday 10 | Darren Shawford/Twyford OR Winchester Coffee Roasters Download both, decide which on the day | |||
| Sunday 15 | Adrianna CVS, Preston Candover 49km | Nigel Aylings, Trotton | Aylings, Trotton | |
| Tuesday 17 | Destination TBD | |||
| Sunday 22 | Odiham High Street 51km | Lockey Farm Arborfield | Lockey Farm Arborfield | |
| Tuesday 24 | Destination TBD | |||
| Club Ride (Short) | Club Ride (Regular) | Mid-Paced | Fast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 1 | South Downs Coffee, Elstead 52km | Silk Mill Whitchurch | Silk Mill Whitchurch | |
| Tuesday 3 | Destination TBD | |||
| Saturday 7 | Route TBD | Route TBD | ||
| Starts at Veloline in Farringdon at 1000. Coffee and cake at Veloline at ride's end. | ||||
| Sunday 8 | Sustainability Centre 56km | Midhurst | Midhurst | |
| Tuesday 10 | Destination TBD | |||
| Sunday 15 | Cuppacheeno, West Meon 54km | Poppys Tea Room Wickham | Poppys Tea Room Wickham | |
| Tuesday 17 | Destination TBD | |||
| Saturday 21 | CUK Cycling Defence Fund ride (aka Phil Hampton Ride) from Medstead Village Hall. See Phil Hampton Memorial Ride 2026 web page for details. Routes, cuesheets and entry forms are contained in a zip archive available from the above website. You can also get the routes via the following: Please submit your entry form as early as possible to help the organisers with food/drink logistics. |
|||
| Sunday 22 | Newlyns Farm shop, Odiham 48km | Choc Cafe, Holme Grange | Choc Cafe, Holme Grange | |
| Tuesday 24 | Destination TBD | |||
| Sunday 29 | Milland 53km | Elstead/Seale | Elstead/Seale | |
