The Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...

 Randonnée

Randonnée

Randonnée can refer to:* Brevet , an organized long-distance bicycle ride* Isle of Wight Randonnee , a yearly cycling event held on the Isle of Wight* Ski touring, a form of backcountry skiing...

is a yearly cycling

Cycling

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

 event that takes place on the Sunday of the early May bank holiday weekend. The event is organised by the local Wayfarers Cycle Touring Club and consists of two rides - a 100 km round the Island Route, and a 55 km Ride that cover the East side of the Isle of Wight. The Randonnée is the largest event of its kind on the South Coast of England, attracting around 1500 cyclists each year.

Wayfarers Cycle Touring Club

The Wayfarers was founded in 1983 by several like minded individuals who enjoyed the gentle pursuit of cycletouring. The mainstay of the club is the Sunday morning club run - details of which can be found Wayfarers website. During the course of the year there are numerous kinds of ride such as 'easy riders' (slower paced rides), 'stove rides', mainland rides, Summer Solstice ride, camping and 'off road rides'. At other times club members can be found taking week long tours of the Lake District or exploring the by-ways of France.

Event history

The Isle of Wight Randonnée was established by the Wayfarers in 1985 and like the yearly Cycle the Wight event follows a route around the whole of the Isle of Wight, taking minor roads and lanes where possible enabling the rider to see and enjoy the best of the Island's scenery.