Words and photos by Mark Tearle

 

 

Hampshire is a very green and lush county, something I never really appreciated growing up in the relatively urban surroundings, concrete and spaghetti of ring roads and the roundabouts of Basingstoke; which belied its rather humble market town beginnings.   

 

Sparsholt College hosted the inaugural Winchester 100; recently added to a list of extremely successful 'Take Action 100-mile rides' supporting the work of Action Medical Research.  Action Medical Research is the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children.

 

The College lies approximately 4 miles west of the Cathedral City of Winchester off the Stockbridge Road.  The venue offered ample parking and scenic panoramic views across the Test Valley; arrival and registration was relaxed and simple. 

 

I had already received my rider pack in the post, with plenty of instruction and helpful information for the day.  On registering I was handed a rider number for my bike, another for my jersey,  a coupon for a free tea or coffee at the end and a voucher for entry into a Zipfit competition to win a rather expensive Cervelo bike. 

 

 

Today's route would head in a westerly direction, out into the Test Valley's gently undulating terrain.  I left the start line with a decent sized bunch just before 8am and latched onto the wheel of Mr. & Mrs. 'hisandherscubebikes' - I call them Mr. & Mrs. but I have no idea if they were a couple, but for the purposes of this review they are married.

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. 'hisandherscubebikes' took off at a pace and I make no apologies for surreptitiously stealing their draft as I took in the surroundings.  We passed by a few groups who had set off earlier and settled with a few others into a nice rhythm. 

 

It is a great shame my bike is a bit naff - about 15 miles in my chain slipped, any effort to adjust it with the crank failed, so I was forced to get off and get my hands dirty as my well coordinated (but unsuspecting) hosts slipped away.

 

 

Mechanical issue all sorted I soon got in with another group but as we passed over the river Test I couldn't help but stop and marvel at the clear water and the beauty of it.  I seem to be drawn to large bodies of water - possibly why I live on the coast now. 

 

 

First feed stop was at about the 35km mark in the village hall at Pitton and Farley.  Toilet facilities were available and a table top full of food; fruit and biscuits, flap jacks and more...extremely generous with plenty to go round.

 

 

Not wishing to be a glutton I helped myself to a banana and topped up my water bottles and carried on westwards towards Salisbury.  Just after crossing the A36 it started to rain quite heavily.  I had planned for this and extracted my rain jacket from my jersey pocket.  I was thankful for wearing overshoe covers too!

 

 

The route now went south towards Fordingbridge and the New Forest.  At Woodgreen, on the north westerly tip of the New Forest the course split, with the 100km route continuing into the New Forest and the 100 mile route heading west into Dorset towards the villages of Cranborne and Wimborne St Giles. 

 

 

The course began to loop back towards the east just after the villages of Moor Crichel and Witchampton.  I had spent much of the time from the last feed station alone but I was caught up by a man that looked remarkably similar to Lance Armstrong, though much taller and broader in the shoulders.  The rain had started to ease off as we rode and chatted, eventually arriving at the 'lunch' stop in the village hall at Hinton Martell.

 

Lunch: words simply couldn't do justice to the veritable feast that greeted the wet riders.  Here, I will allow the pictures below to do the talking.

 

 

I sat with 'Lance' (for now that is his name as I rudely forgot to ask - I later found out that 'Lance' is really called Sean) and we chatted of cyclosportives and fitting in training around family life. We were joined by Lance's friend as we ate and chatted.  By now the small hall was filling up with riders, each with astonished faces at the variety of choice and abundance on offer and the comfort of tables and chairs to sit at to eat. 

 

 

Lance and his friend soon made tracks, whilst I finished my coffee in a leisurely way (it's not a race after all).  By the time I had stepped out of the village hall the sun was making an appearance and warming my shoulders.  Up until now I could probably count on my fingers the amount of cars that I had seen.  Had Action Medical secretly arranged rolling road closures or was it that the roads were just quiet? 

   

The course continued east through small Dorset villages and the busy little town of Verwood and then Alderholt.  Just after the Heavy Horse Centre I caught up with Kim.  Kim had just suffered a puncture, and was just getting back into a rhythm.  As we rode I learnt that she is a regular sportive rider, who last week completed the Bath to London ride and in the previous year managed the Take Action London to Paris ride having taken up cycling only 2 years ago. 

 

 

Modest, charmingly self deprecating, and great company, Kim and I continued en route through Fordingbridge and back into Hampshire and onto the New Forest.  As we continued into the Forest the route gently slopes upwards into the exposed heath land, a strong and persistent head wind lashing at our cheeks.

 

 

There was no let up in the head wind until the route headed north up to Nomansland.  Here at the village hall was the third and final feed stop.  Again, generously laid-out with plenty to choose from, seating and toilet facilities available and for those needing a sugar fix; Jelly babies!

 

We had some conflicting reports about the distance back to Sparsholt; 17 miles, 20 or 23?  I had clocked 83 miles so I was hoping for 17 as the head wind and the false flats in the forest had done their job to undermine my confidence! 

 

It turned out to be another 20 miles with some stiff little climbs along the way.  The sign for Sparsholt College was a very welcome sight and Kim and I crossed the finish line together with claps and cheers by the Take Action volunteers.

 

I was awarded a very nice medal and handed a pack full of energy products, a bottle and a Paddington Bear (my children appreciated the bear).  Exhausted but very pleased to have completed the 104 miles I took my coupon to claim a well deserved cup of strong black coffee.

 

 

Action Medical have done a marvellous job of organization and have single handedly managed to re-connect me with my home county - much of which I ignored whilst I was in my teens, foolishly believing that life was to be found in the big towns and cities; London, Guildford, Southampton, anywhere but Basingstoke (it is true to say now of course that Basingstoke is a busy business centre with near 100% employment, a thriving arts scene and a redeveloped town centre)!

 

For me this was a wonderful ride which was perfect in every way.  It wasn't unduly taxing but fresh with its own challenges (including the extra 4 miles on the 100).  The route was well considered and very well marked with various points of interest shared on the route sheet, and for rider safety busier junctions were marshalled by friendly volunteers.

 

Action Medical has a number of rides organised for the rest of September.  If you get a chance I would highly recommend signing up!  These rides are charity events aiming to raise additional funds for Action Medical Research UK; they are well organised, extremely generous with provisions, come with endorsement from the highest level of British Cycling and great fun!

 

We liked: - The route and the scenery through the Test Valley and the New Forest.  Lunch was amazing and the other feed stops weren't bad either

 

We didn't like: - The head wind was just horrid!