Look what Santa's brought the Isle of Wight!
OK, I admit that as presents go this doesn't look too exciting, but this is the smoothest stretch of tarmac on the whole of the Isle of Wight and it has just been laid at the Sandown end of NCN23, the Newport to Cowes cycle track.
The path has been closed for several weeks now (it doesn't officially reopen until Friday) so that major remedial works could be carried out. I don't know how much it cost but I understand that it has been funded by other sources than the Isle of Wight council so island council tax payers have nothing to complain about. The previous surface was a lumpy hardcore that was most unpleasant to ride on a road bike. The river Yar runs alongside and frequent flooding worsened the already poor surface. Local cyclists knew to avoid the path after heavy rain as it was impossible to tell what was path and what was river! Wayfarer legend tells of a pair who were lucky to avoid drowning when returning that way slightly the worse for drink after the Xmas dinner!
Not hard to see why it floods
I've previously posted this picture from the Daily Telegraph in a comment but, in case you missed it its here again to illustrate the extent of the problem.
Before
The surface of the track has now been raised and a new culvert constructed to divert the water away.
After
I rode along this new stretch on my way to work on Tuesday and it was an absolute delight. Normally I would have taken a narrow lane that is currently covered in mud and hedge clippings. Its pleasant enough in summer but it's steep hills , blind bends and lousy surface make it no fun at all in the dark. The cycle path provided a beautiful smooth, flat ride. The Newport to Sandown cycle track is now excellent at both ends. I suppose it would be just being greedy to hope for something being done about the mud bath in the middle!
I think I have cycled along this track Hilary – before it was resurfaced. Did we not go that way last year, from Cowes on our way to meet you and Dennis? If so, you cycle a long way to work!
December 21st, 2012 at 9:43 am
I celebrated too soon! I tried to cycle that way today only to find the bridge in the second photo completely submerged – maybe 18 inches of water over it! After heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday the whole valley is completely flooded. I went round to the next road crossing and that looked to have a couple of feet of water over it. I tried to get pics with my phone but failed. Looks like that beautiful tarmac will have lasted a whole 3 days!
I would have thought you only cycled on the Newport end of it (it all looks fairly similar) or else you went a very long way round! Work is about 11 miles away.
December 21st, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I now see where Sandown is, and we didn't go there. We cycled along the Cowes to Newport cycle track (River Medina). It's a pity you got no pics but the tarmac path might still be there when the water has gone.
December 21st, 2012 at 8:10 pm
It's a good start
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Your wish is my command! Its rained heavily all day again today so I went for a little ride armed with my camera and had to pedal through 2 floods just to get there!
The bridge shown in my second picture
Where the track crosses the road
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Well done! I hope the upgrade wasn't damaged. Not much anyone can do about it either way (except wait).
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:22 pm
The flood waters have dropped a bit and the track is now passable again. There is a lot of mud on it by the bridge but that lovely new tarmac has survived unscathed – which is more than can be said about the surface on most of the islands roads!
December 31st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Have you been out on your bike Hilary? I've forgotten where mine is! Some sunshine tomorrow morning though...
December 31st, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I've been out a few times but endless wind and rain hasn't been too conducive to cycling.
I've just added up my annual mileage total – 8919. I'm quite pleased with that but I'll have to make 9000 next year!
December 31st, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Well done Hilary. That is way more than me (probably less than 5,000 miles – must try harder in 2013).
December 31st, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Well done indeed – that's an incredible number. I blush to think what my own stats would look like. Fortunately I took my computer off my bike year before last
.
Happy new year everyone from the deep, dark, snowbound woods – may it be safe for all.
January 1st, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Yes, happy New Year. Those woods sound like a place to be.
January 2nd, 2013 at 8:09 pm
I took the pic of the bloke in red on the bike and sent it to the Telegraph who have yet to pay me for it.
It is in fact the road in to Grandborough in Warwickshire !
March 4th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Well I never! You can't trust anyone! I was assured that it was the cycle track! I did wonder about that post though!
March 4th, 2013 at 8:42 pm