Portsmouth CTC - Return To Cycling

Portsmouth CTC are running their Return to Cycling series this summer, with rides on Saturday 8 August, Saturday 22 August, and Saturday 5 September. The routes and start points change each time, so it's a sequence rather than a single trip. The whole thing is aimed at people getting back into the saddle, and it sticks to off-road routes and cycle paths to help you build your confidence back up before you head back into the main traffic.

It's a good way to ease in if you've had a long break from riding. The club is part of Cycling UK, one of the largest member groups of the national organisation, which has over 70,000 members. The Portsmouth branch itself goes back to 8 May 1926, when it started as the Portsmouth District Association, so this is its centenary year. It's not a racing club; it caters mainly to mature riders and runs everything from easy, short, flat rides to long and hilly ones. They also put on Audax events like the CCP Memorial Audax and the 100K 'Time Is Miles' ride, publish a members' magazine called The Pedal, and stage an annual Hill Climb and Freewheel competition.

If you're just starting back, the Return to Cycling rides are the gentle end of that spectrum. They're designed to get you moving again on quieter paths rather than throwing you straight into the deep end. The dates are Saturday 8 August, Saturday 22 August, and Saturday 5 September, all in Portsmouth, with the routes and start points varying between them.