Eastleigh rides

pinarellokid

Going to France on Sunday 26th and will be spending the afternoon/evening in Eastleigh
Is there any riders local to the area who can recommend a nice ride as I don't really know the area at all.
Fancy a spin on some new roads while the misses has a search around the shops.

Pm if you prefer.

Cheers

lostboysaint

Lots and lots of good riding out from Eastleigh. If you are in "proper" Eastleigh (the East side of the M3) then just head straight north out towards Colden Common/Otterbourne and then you've got a huge area to play in. From there to Upham, then up through the Morestead Valley onto the Downs, towards Kilmeston and Alresford. Good village centre with plenty of cafes there. Then take your decision as to whether you just turn around and take a route back through the same area or turn west toward Winchester then drop down South. The traffic will thin out very quickly as you leave Eastleigh and once through Upham you'll be lucky to see a couple of cars. That whole area between the M3, A32 is pretty rural and very nice to ride in. Just the A272 to cross which has a load of traffic on it.

If you're West of the M3 (so actually in Chandlers Ford) head out through Ampfield and towards Timsbury, Braishfield etc. and you've got the whole of the Test Valley to ride in. Again, nicely rural (with a few big houses!) and little traffic.

I'd love to come along but I'm afraid I'm not about that weekend. Have a great ride!

hatch87

Hey, I'm from Eastleigh. What sort of distances are looking at doing?
These are my 25 'sprints' I do. All the roads are fairly safe, wide and straight
http://app.strava.com/activities/54557092
http://app.strava.com/activities/51992453
http://app.strava.com/activities/51581816
I've also got a slightly more hilly one towards Farley mount which I'm yet to try
http://www.runningfreeonline.com/Map/Cr ... urse/19304

noiseboyfeetman

I've got a few that start from Chandlers Ford which is only just down the road. Up round Farley, Lockerley and Stockbridge way is nice or alternatively you could head out towards Owslebury and Winchester Hill, all routes are on nice quiet roads.

http://connect.garmin.com/course/3616750
http://connect.garmin.com/course/2769315
http://connect.garmin.com/course/1263792

pinarellokid

That's great

Il take a good look when I get home later

gryfon23

Stockbridge is great for a cafe stop depending on how far you are planning on going.

Up one side of the Test valley and back down the other.

Plenty of the routes that people have posted will give you good ideas.

lostboysaint

Hatch has got a couple of good rides on there but they are tending to be on slightly busier roads, there's plenty of options to get onto almost traffic free routes if you want. It really depends on what you're after.

I'm a big fan of the Test Valley, there's some great routes around Houghton, Broughton, the Tytherleys, back across to Braishfield, up the Valley again toward King Somborne etc. Most of them are traffic free as well. From Eastleigh you'll struggle to enjoy some of the routes to the north of KS or Stockbridge without it turning into an epic!

pinarellokid

Spending the night at the Eastleigh travelodge so on the east side of the M3

Il just head out towards the north east on the b roads and see how far I get I think.
Nice little adventure. Looking to do around 30-40 miles I guess

Il post my ride on here. Looking forward to the adventure of new roads..

Thanks

TheSmithers

Just to add to the many fine routes suggested so far...:D

I'm from Horton Heath, 3 miles from Eastleigh. Here's my ridewithgps account: http://ridewithgps.com/users/136168/routes. Feel free to scan my routes for any you fancy. They are all of varying distances and difficulty. Happy riding!

hatch87

Meon hilly route looks good, need to give that a go at some point

TheSmithers

hatch87 wrote:

Meon hilly route looks good, need to give that a go at some point

It's a good one. Me and my mate put it together to include all the toughest climbs we could think of in one ride!

You have Sailor's Lane, Beacon Hill, Old Winchester Hill, Butser Hill (Harvesting Lane), some other hill in the Clanfield area which I don't know the name of, although on Strava it's a segment known as North Mercury, and finally Portsdown Hill. Over 4000 ft of climbing over 60 miles, so not a trivial ride by any stretch.

We are going to alter the route to also include Bell Hill (Sometimes called Steep or Little Switzerland) in Petersfield. Reckon we can get it to nearly 5000 ft!

hatch87

Brilliant, I don't know where the hills are round there so just do random routes hoping for the best. I planned a 50 miler with 3000ft but may as well break myself and do yours, only an extra 10 miles and 1000ft

TheSmithers

I'm planning on doing this route on Sunday: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2112508

I attempted this route at the start of the year, but it beat me! Had to call my brother after 2/3 distance to pick me up! With hindsight, I didn't get a good breakfast that day, it was wet, and I'd left it too late in the day so daylight was always against me! This time will be different

If you fancy hooking up for a ride, PM me and we'll sort something out. I'm always looking for new people in the area to ride with. I notice your Strava account in your sig. I will send a request to follow!

pinarellokid

Just added you on Strava also fella

TheSmithers

pinarellokid wrote:

Just added you on Strava also fella

Ditto

hatch87

I will let you know, haven't had time for a weekend ride for about a month now so not sure what speed I'll be doing it, I'll probably be slowing you down as I only do about 17mph on my 90 min rides at a hard push. But will let you know next time I'm planning on heading out

TheSmithers

You wouldn't be holding me up mate. I'd enjoy the company!

pinarellokid

Had a good ride out in the end, you guys certainly have nice roads down here,
and quiet too!!!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/56199850

btiratsoo

Any of you guys up for showing someone new to the area about? I'm not the fastest but it would be nice to ride in some company for a change!