Isle of Wight 2026 – Hot Laps, Hot Legs and a Completely Pointless Climb

Nine riders met at Waterloo for what has become one of Westerley's summer staples: a lap of the Isle of Wight. The logistics were straightforward: train to Portsmouth, SeaCat across the Solent, and before long we were rolling off the ferry with a full day of riding ahead.

It didn't take long to realise this wasn't going to be a leisurely sightseeing ride. Nobody had said as much, but Joseph's opening pace told us everything we needed to know. This year's Isle of Wight was going to be a hot lap. And we're not just talking about the weather.

The opening miles split the group according to terrain preferences, with Group One tackling an early out and back up Down Lane. We all agreed it was "completely pointless." As far as the extra climbing went, perhaps it was. As far as the view was concerned, it couldn't have been more worthwhile. Perched high above the coast with sweeping views across the Channel, it was one of those climbs that reminds you exactly why you've come to the Isle of Wight.

The reward for the descent was a regroup and coffee stop in Ventnor before the day's main event: climbing back out again.

Anyone who's ridden Ventnor knows that "climbing out" is doing some heavy lifting. With gradients nudging well beyond 20%, it felt less like cycling and more like a mountaineering expedition. Crampons would have been useful.

From Blackgang the routes diverged.

The shorter group headed inland towards Newport, weaving through quiet lanes and secluded roads. The scenery earned a feature on Ajay's bike mounted camera before he suffered the day's only mechanical, a puncture. Tim stayed behind to help get everything sorted and shepherd Ajay safely back to Ryde. His reward was a head start on the post ride refreshments and a couple of extra pints while waiting for the rest of us.

Meanwhile, the longer route settled into an unexpectedly slick team time trial. Somewhere between Niton and Freshwater, all thoughts of a social club ride disappeared. Rotating turns along the spectacular south coast, we covered around 15 kilometres at an average speed of 45 km/h. Everyone contributed, everyone suffered, and everyone was quietly relieved when it was over.

By now, the real opponent wasn't the route. It was the heat.

Temperatures climbed relentlessly through the afternoon, and hydration became less of a recommendation and more of a necessity. The highlight of the day may well have been an unassuming village shop with a walk in drinks cooler. Every attempt to leave was interrupted by someone remembering "just one more thing," extending our stay in the refrigerated air a little longer.

Fish and chips in Yarmouth had been quietly shelved much earlier in the day. Between the pace, the heat and the ferry timetable, we pressed on instead. An ice cream at the floating bridge in Cowes proved the perfect substitute.

Just as we were preparing to board the chain ferry, Calvin appeared through the shimmering heat, having been unceremoniously dropped from the team time trial an hour earlier. He sprinted onto the ferry moments before departure and turned our quartet back into a quintet for the final run into Ryde.

With both groups reunited, the day finished as it should: cold beer, plenty of laughter, the occasional spectacular cramping of various leg muscles, and everyone poring over the Strava data to settle the inevitable debates about who did the most work on the front.

Special mention to Nic, whose bibshorts had clearly given their all somewhere around the Ventnor climb and chose the train home to formally announce their retirement. A round of applause for years of loyal service, and a gentle reminder to check the seams before the next one.

Thanks to Andy for organising another fantastic Isle of Wight ride, despite being unable to join us this year. The pace was relentless, the heat was unforgiving, and the company, as always, was first class. And as for that "completely pointless" climb? Looking back on the day, perhaps it wasn't so pointless after all.