Whitehill and Bordon Living Streets Group is organising a Glow Ride on 22^nd October, which is next Wednesday! 

They say: “Come join us for the Glow Ride in Whitehill & Bordon! Get ready for a night of fun as we light up the streets with our colourful bikes and glow sticks. Whether you’re a casual rider or a seasoned cyclist, this Glow Ride is perfect for all ages and cycling abilities and a fantastic way to celebrate community spirit and enjoy a unique night-time adventure.

“We’re supporting Cycling UK’s ‘My Right, Our Ride’ campaign to demonstrate that cycling should feel liberating, not intimidating. Glow rides are happening across the UK, filling the streets with light, making cyclist’s experiences visible and highlighting the urgent need for safer streets in every community.”

Together, we’ll light up the night and call for safer streets and better cycle routes, especially for women riding after dark.

These rides are women-led, but open to everyone. By joining in, you’ll be part of a powerful nationwide movement showing that cycling should be safe, accessible and visible all year round.

Meet at The Shed (EV car park), Sergeants Yard, Bordon GU35 0DJ

Time 6pm on 22nd October 2025

Register to ride here: it’s free!

What to Expect:

• A 7km guided ride, split into two loops with a halfway drop-out point (if needed) for little legs. The route is designed to use the cycle infrastructure in the town and minimise the need to be on the road.
• Marshalls will guide the route, manage road crossings, and ensure no one gets lost.
• Bring as much glow as you can manage – fairy lights, glow sticks, neon gear – the brighter, the better!
• Photos will be taken during the event. If you prefer not to appear in them, please speak to a marshall before the ride begins.

See https://www.cyclinguk.org/my-ride-our-right/mass-rides for more information.

Recently we held our annual pace-judging & freewheeling competition.

Eleven cyclists took part, and congratulations must go especially to Daz who won both parts of the contest, and therefore was the overall winner on his first attempt! The photo shows organiser Dan having just presented Daz with his winner’s prize.

The results are here

Thank you to everyone who had a go and made it such an enjoyable event. Here are some more photos

Gary Hodgson is planning to lead a ride once a month for vintage bicycles, starting from Medstead Green at 9:30am. Bikes don’t have to be as old as the one above!

Gary expects the ride will be on the third Monday of each month, but do check the Alton rides list for details.

The next one will be on Monday 22nd September, with the route to be announced.

Contact Gary for more information.

Nineteen members of the Cycling UK North Hants group recently enjoyed a long weekend away, based around the picturesque village of Lacock in Wiltshire.

Rides over three days were planned by Frank which included visits to locations such as Bradford on Avon, Castle Coombe and Marlborough.

The rain on Saturday led to some rescheduling but all the planned rides were ridden, just not necessarily in the anticipated order!

Thanks go to Frank and Dina for organising, as well as to all the others who helped in various ways to make the weekend so enjoyable.

Frank our Chair awarding the Mike Wilson Cup to Gary for winning the Pace-Judging & Freewheeling Contest

The Cycling UK North Hampshire AGM was held this afternoon with about 20 members attending.

A block vote resulted in all the existing post holders continuing for another year, namely:

Chair: Frank Pote

Secretary: Richard Care

Treasurer: Mark Beauchamp

Publicity Officer (website): Bob Bending

Membership Secretary: Richard Care

Welfare Officer: Kaye Hicks

Alton Rides Co-ordinator: Janice Montgomerie

Gary Hodgson was awarded the Mike Wilson Cup for winning the Pace-Judging & Freewheeling Contest, which took place last year.

No additional issues were raised and the meeting concluded in 45 minutes.

We thank everyone for coming, and Dina and Frank for organising the venue and refreshments.

Some of the 50-mile cyclists just before setting off

Cycling UK’s annual Phil Hampton Memorial Ride took place recently, an event held every year to commemorate the life of Phil who was killed while cycling in 2002. 

Organised for the first time this year by Richard Care, 75 cyclists from the local area tackled two new routes devised by Darren Lavender.

The 30-mile option took riders out to Popham Airfield before returning via Axford and Preston Candover; the 50-mile ride took in Petersfield and the challenging Kiln Lane hill at Buriton, before returning via Rowlands Castle and East Meon.

On their return to Medstead Village Hall the riders enjoyed filled rolls and home-made cakes made by the catering team.

The initial estimate is that around £1200 was raised for the Cyclists’ Defence Fund, a charity that was set up to fight legal cases involving cyclists but which now covers all aspects of cycling and the law.

Thanks go to the cyclists for their support, and to all the volunteers who helped make it such a success. Special mentions go to Rupert Jones who did nearly all the washing up, and to the cake bakers Janice, Dina, Chris, Kaye, Sarah, Viv and Viv – thank you all!

Some of the Alton Cycling Club contingent

A family group

Post-ride refreshments were soon devoured!

Volunteers and participants on the final confidence-building bike ride

In conjunction with Cycling UK North Hampshire, Cycle Alton offered a course of four confidence-building bicycle rides during March, aimed at potential cyclists who are hesitant about cycling in local traffic.

The rides started in Chawton or Holybourne, and were led and accompanied by experienced local cyclists.  The routes took riders through the town centre and back, covering about five miles in total. Each ride included many stops to discuss up-coming junctions, correct road positioning, and hazards to be alert to such as the sudden opening of car doors in the path of the cyclist.

At the end of the rides there was a debrief over coffee in an Alton cafe, and the comments were all positive. Louise said “Everyone is so kind + friendly +supportive! You really feel you’re in good hands.” Helen said “Really enjoyed a social ride. Never done that before and would love to do it again.” Emilia said “The trainers are very patient, knowledgeable and encouraging.”

Thanks go to the Cycle Alton supporters who volunteered to help out with the rides, and to Specsavers and the Climate Change Committee of Alton Town Council for funding the hi-viz gilets and snap-on armbands.

Further confidence-building rides are being planned. Check on here for details, or email cyclealton@gmail.com for more information.

There are price reductions on the For Sale page – take a look.

There are a few nice bikes on the For Sale page.

Take a look, and for those who make a sale, please email me so the item can be removed from the page.