I’d intended a mid-week ride since the Bournemouth Sportive last Sunday but the weather was grotty and I was riding on Saturday this weekend so ran out of time.

I travelled down on the Friday and was ready at the event first thing on Saturday morning. After the obligatory pre-ride cup of coffee I was lining up to start the ride.

Loved the first part of the ride to Lepe Country Park and the views over the solent to the Isle Of Wight. From there the route headed up through the New Forest to Lyndhurst and upwards towards the Wiltshire border.

An absolute stunning route which took in all the New Forest has to offer – wooded areas, hilly moorland, water views and much more…

The ride was sold out and there were riders everywhere, which is always very welcome after some of the quieter sportives I have been on where you don’t see another rider for miles and wonder why you didn’t just go ride on your own rather than pay to be in a sportive!

All too soon we were heading out of the last feed station, past the ferry at Lymington and through Beulieu to the start at Gang Warily. I arrived back dead on 99 miles so opted to ride past the finish line, do a loop of the block and get my mileage up to just over 100 miles. Would be rude not to!

Another great day out on the bike in a stunning area to cycle in.

Route: click here