The Wayfarer Cycle Touring Club’s annual Isle of Wight Randonnee returns for the first time since 2019 this Sunday (1st May), which is likely to cause travel disruption for motorists.
Around 2,500 cyclists will follow the round the Island cycle route, which runs in a clockwise direction for 100km – or a shorter route of 50 km – calling at 5 registration stops on the way.
The event gets underway at 09:00 and will conclude by 18:00.
Organisers are asking motorists to be aware of the extra cyclists on the signed route throughout the day.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, has also said:
“Our Island has rapidly become a mecca for cyclists.
“It has some fantastic, challenging and exciting cycling routes, which is partly why the Island will be hosting the final leg of the Tour of Britain cycle race in September. It is also why the Randonnée always attracts a huge number of enthusiasts.
“During the event, please make sure that if you encounter Randonnée participants around the Island that you do follow the revised Highway Code for the safety of everyone.
Article continues below this advertisement “Slow down, stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are approaching, passing, or moving off from a junction, moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic, or travelling around a roundabout”.
The annual cycling extravaganza is said to bring positive financial benefits to the Isle of Wight with any surplus funds raised going to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and other Island-based charities.
The IoW Randonnee was established by the Wayfarers in 1985 and enables riders to see and enjoy the best of the Island’s scenery.
Fantastic news! What a great event! Shame it’s only 1/365
Councillor Phil Jordan says:
“Slow down, stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are approaching, passing, or moving off from a junction, moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic, or travelling around a roundabout”.
How about the cyclists ALSO being considerate of motorists and other road users!
They do not always have priority, despite the total fudge they have made of the revised Highway Code!
I’m always considerate of nearly 2 tonnes of metal heading towards me.
Watch out, watch out there’s a lycra lout about. Mayhem and chaos, oh well watch out for some serious accidents.
Thumbs up if you find cyclists arrogant and annoying
bit rich getting advice from councillor jordan about the highway code, with his track record
the picture sums it up – a load of road hog cyclists and a queue of road tax paying cars queued up behind them.
These lycra clad road hogs should be paying road tax to use the road.
They bring nothing but pollution caused by vehicles trying to get by, they ad nothing to the Isle of Wight economy ex cept poss bottle of water, do not pay road tax and dont even pay for the bike on the ferry and in our narrow roads and lanes just a serious accident waiting to happen
It’s vehicle tax! Not road tax. Everybody pays for roads. Please, car driving entitled lot, learn stuff.
Not everybody pays “vehicle tax” a cycle is a “vehicle” so they should damn well pay for it too. It’s not the everyday cyclists I have issue with, the family out for a bike ride is perfectly fine, but it is these, rod hogging, arrogant, “look at me’s”
If the cyclist is gainfully employed then he, or she, does pay taxes to maintain the roads. Income tax and council tax. Motorists’ ‘road tax’ is on their vehicles, not for roads. So outdated to assume it is. It’s everybody’s highway, under The Queen’s protection. Not petrol heads personal property which they allow the less well off to use at their peril. Learn stuff,matey. Really basic stuff.
The ‘Road Tax’ argument is getting quite boring, it is Vehicle Excise Duty based on how ‘polluting’ your vehicle is.
I dare say a lot of motorists are fuming (pun intended) as they/we pay through the nose for the ‘privilege’ of driving on overcrowded roads.
The transport systems are failing with hold-ups and road works everywhere, being held up by a cyclist for a moment is the least of it.
With the cost of living/fuel there will be more cyclists using the roads ‘for free’ with every week that passes… so, drivers, brace yourselves.
Its just amzing how 2500 people on pedal bikes are allowed to cause so much disruption. Instinct rebellion can learn lot from them as it beats sticking your hands to the road with super glue
Most of this lot probably are tree hugging terrorists!
Sweaty people clad in lycra , that feel the need to spit every 100 yards, that are quite often antagonistic and deliberately awkward. Wow, what a treat having this rubbish to look foward to, NOT.
Should be restricted to cycle tracks.
People who moan about this wonderful event are probably fat lazy shits who are envious they can’t and won’t exercise lol.
Why do you feel the immature need to use an expletive in trying to make your point?
Always aware of cyclists, shame some of them think they have priority over motor vehicles?? Why don’t they pay road tax, insurance, mot on their bikes??
I trust they will obey the road laws, last time they rode mob handed through the Westridge lights despite them being red.