20 CLASSIC SPORTIVES – SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
by Colin Dennis
2 POLICE SQUARE MILNTHORPE CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Author
Colin Dennis has been riding bikes of one sort or another for longer than he dares to remember. His passion for road and off-road cycling has taken him all over the UK and continental Europe, both leading expeditions and for personal pleasure. Plotting, planning and escaping to new locations are pastimes that have driven him for many years, and working as both freelance copywriter and cycle guide provides a happy balance at home and work. Colin is never happier than when he’s struggling up a steep climb behind a group, usually covered in mud, but as long as there’s a warm tea shop involved – everything’s possible. No legs were shaved in the making of this guidebook!
© Colin Dennis 2015
First edition 2015
ISBN: 978 1 85284 743 2
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs © Colin Dennis
Dedication
For Matthew – a Dolphin riding a bike
GPX files
for all routes can be downloaded for free at www.cicerone.co.uk/member
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to the friends and family who have helped in getting this book out of my head and onto paper. Special thanks go out to Tony Gifford, Henry Bisset, Garry Du Ploy and Lottie Dennis for the extra photos, their wise input and fun company. I’m very grateful to Paligap for the loan of the bike, and to all at Mulebar for their energy and support. Also, a huge debt of thanks must go out to all the willing cyclists who were just out for a spin but played such excellent models in many photos; you were all heaven-sent. Finally I’d like to thank my wife Sam for her tireless support and patience, but especially for the homemade chocolate cake supplied from the broom-wagon.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/743/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: All smiles on the summit of Box Hill (Route 12)
CONTENTS
Getting there and getting around
Route 1 Rattle and Hum: Brockenhurst (New Forest)
Route 2 Pony Express: Brockenhurst (New Forest)
Route 3 Kings of Meon: Portsdown Hill (Hampshire)
Route 4 Top and Tail: Queen Elizabeth Country Park (South Downs)
Route 5 Windoverstoke: Andover (Hampshire)
