Author: Andy Henderson

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Havant’s new Cycling and Walking Plan!

Havant now has a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, an LCWIP, pronounced ‘Elsie-Whip’.

This is REALLY important because :

  • A formal plan unlocks much more future government funding
  • Implementing it becomes a formal policy of the whole council, not just the cycling team
  • It forces developers to show how their housing plans fit into OUR bigger plan
  • It forces all of us to plan for the best long term solution, rather than just for quick wins

Continue reading “Havant’s new Cycling and Walking Plan!”

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I can’t do hills

Well, Hayling Island is the right place to be. There are some that claim there is a ‘hill’ in St Peter’s Road but it’s an undulation at most.

Once you get off the island, however, it’s a different story. We have some fantastic cycling in the South Downs Country Park but hills are virtually unavoidable if you want to enjoy the scenery, or commute any distance.

Let’s be clear about one thing: there’s no shame at all in getting off your bike and pushing it up a hill. None at all. Everyone’s had to do it. If you’re not used to hills, the chances are you’ll be pushing at some point. Don’t let it spoil your ride.

I’ve written an article that explores different aspects of cycling hills. You can read it here.

 

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Hayling Islander article January 2019

This is the article we submitted for the January edition of the Hayling Islander. The published article was subject to editing by the Islander. Also, depending on the timing of the Infrastructure report’s publication and the Hayling Islander deadlines, we might make some last-minute changes.

Made any New Year revolutions yet? No, that’s not a mis-print, I’m talking about pedal revolutions on your bike. I’ll be regretting all those mince pies, and looking gingerly at the weighing machine. Exercise is the best medicine.

New Year’s a great time to challenge yourself to do something positive. Why not resolve to enhance your health, your wealth and our island environment – by cycling more in 2019?

Continue reading “Hayling Islander article January 2019”

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Hayling Islander article December 2018

This is the article we submitted for the December edition of the Hayling Islander. The published article was subject to editing by the Islander.

We were saddened by the death of Tony Higham, a long term supporter of HIRA, Hayling and of Cycle Hayling. His knowledge, quiet tenacity and engineering skills were at the heart of the crusade to protect Hayling from being over-run by commercial and house-building pressures. Our thoughts are with his family.

Tony’s traffic modeling provided key inputs to the Hayling Infrastructure Report, due to be published in mid-December. It’s a tragedy that he did not live to see it published, and it is up to all of us to make sure that his work lives on.

Continue reading “Hayling Islander article December 2018”

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Hayling needs Haylink…

… a safe, child-friendly, all-weather cycle route to the bridge.

This is the article we submitted for the November edition of the Hayling Islander. The published article was subject to editing by the Islander.

You may have seen the road works in Langstone alongside the main road. Havant and Hampshire councils are building a shared path to allow cyclists to ride safely between the Billy Trail at Mill Lane and the Langbrook Restaurant. The next phase will link all the way to Tesco and beyond.

Continue reading “Hayling needs Haylink…”

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Hayling Islander article October 2018

This is the article we submitted for the October edition of the Hayling Islander. 

Fancy an electrifying experience!

Wilf asks if an e-bike might help you get bitten by the cycling bug

E-bikes have come of age. 

I just tested one of the latest models, a Kalkhoff Sahel, and it was, well, electrifying. And a lot of fun. We see more and more of them, especially from Germany and Holland.

Purists often say it’s cheating, and less exercise. But you might find you actually get more exercise, not less, because e-bikes tend to get used more often, and they’re a bit heavier when you’re saving the battery. You still get the health benefits, because you still have to pedal (that’s why they’re called pedelecs). They just detect when you’re pedaling, and amplify your leg power to help you go faster.

Continue reading “Hayling Islander article October 2018”

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Hayling Islander article September 2018

This is the article we submitted to the Hayling Islander for September 2018

Get into the habit of everyday riding!

Thanks to everyone who visited our cycling stand at August’s 3 Churches Fete. I hope you noticed our new banners! And congratulations to the winners of our 60 second turbo-challenge, who won prizes, including our new Cycle Hayling hi-vis slap wraps!

Continue reading “Hayling Islander article September 2018”

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Riding for better cycling routes

This is the article we submitted for the August edition of the Hayling Islander. The published article was subject to editing by the Islander.

Well done to everyone on the 33rd Hayling cycle ride to Versailles, through beautiful northern France – both riders and support. Another great one, I hear. Why not subscribe to their newsletter to find out about the 34th in 2019. It’s at haylingcycleride.org.uk. Who knows, you might be tempted!

But you don’t need to go that far to cycle in beautiful countryside. Right on our doorstep in Havant, we have one of the best touring clubs in the country. Portsmouth CTC leads 6 to 8 rides a week during the summer, for varying abilities, speeds and distances. And they’re free to members of Cycling UK, the cycling charity.

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Our 2018 ‘Preview’ social ride

Thanks to all Cycle Hayling supporters who ignored the rain clouds and came out on Friday 27th July for our 2018 ‘Preview’ social ride to preview the Council’s planned cycling improvements, chat about future ones, and celebrate cycling on Hayling.

It was great to see everyone, including two of our councillors, and several new riders.

We did a near ‘figure of eight’ around the island, with some more great photos here.

Continue reading “Our 2018 ‘Preview’ social ride”

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A cycle ride around Langstone Harbour

This very accomplished video from Mike Beel shows guides you round the Langstone Harbour Ride shown on the back of our Cycle Map.

The illustrated route uses the shared cycle path from the Langbrook Carvery south along the main road to Mill Lane (in red here). This is narrow in places, and passes several obscured drives.

A quieter alternative (shown in blue) is to cross the main road at the Langbrook Carvery into Woodberry Avenue which becomes Southbrook Road. Turn left into the small cul de sac after Hamilton Close (also called Southbrook Road) and use the tucked-away cut-through on the right at the red dot to join the Langstone section of the Billy Trail and on to rejoin the described route at Mill Lane.