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2 hours
Mobile ticket
This is a unique experience because there are hardly any cycle lanes in Hampshire and most people are too frightened to go on the roads. However your guide has lots of experience in running a school cycle bus and shielding children from the traffic. You will therefore be in a unique position to learn what it is like to cycle from the leafy village of Colden common, through the ancient streets of Twyford and on to Hockley link, in the knowledge that you will be protected by the cycle bus. Here you will enjoy the beauties of one of the rarest resources in the Winchester area. It’s called a cycle lane. We will laugh at the the fact that it just stops at hockley and chortle at the terrible junction design. We will guffaw at the incompetencies of HCC and explore the car focused mindsets of leaders of the council with fun quizzes and diabolical facts. This is a comedic romp through the cycling mayhem of the winchester active travel strategy.
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
A fully equipped Bike bus trailer which you can admire
A super caffeine charged coffee at the handle bar cafe
You will arrive at Colden common community centre where you will meet the bike bus. This is a fully equipped trailer to defend you against the Hampshire traffic and prevent close overtaking. You will have a safety briefing to help you cope with the peculiarities of hampshire drivers We will have music and cycle along to the greats "I want to ride my bicycle". We will ride along the B3335 where all the history of the development of cycle lanes will be explained to you, the fascinating workings of local politics and and the dastardly deeds of HCC. You will hopefully get to see the blue bike campaign, the "WOT no cycle lane" iconic sign, the lovely people of the 20's plenty crossing who will wave and cheer you by and the living blue sign communications with HCC "You can remove this sign but not the message", "just build a cycle way" We will arrive at the handlebar cafe for coffee to stock up on caffeine for the return trip.
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Dream27335914022,
May 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
There is nothing like this in Holland, my heart was pumping all the way to the cycle path, then it got a bit pedestrian. Could not have done that at home. 5 Stars, will be back.
JohnM694,
Mar 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
I've done paragliding off cliffs and flown helicopters in and out of trees. I've travelled far and wide. Who'd know there are such extreme sports opportunities so close to home! The required kit is a lot more accessible as well. A bit of navigation and organisation - and Bob's your uncle.... A cheeky note (but I'm sure the organiser won't mind me saying, as this is all about the experience and spreading the word far and wide) ... you can go solo,and there are other less stressful routes nearby if you lose your nerve on the day. Of course in an organised group there will be lots of video evidence of those close calls you'll want to share with your family, friends and of course the police, but some say that takes something from living in the moment.
dangX7107DB,
Nov 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
Words cannot describe the joy I experience as I turn the corner to see this cycle bus. As an avid SUV driver, these cyclists must feel so entitled wanting SAFE TRAVEL into winchester!!!! Sometimes I perfect a drift just so they can feel the gust of wind from my 3 tonne car. I’ve already managed to hit three of them, it always makes my day so much better. These people are impeding my RIGHT of FREEDOM to go 75 in a 60 zone. I think the council really need to build an 18 lane super highway instead of a cycle lane so I am able to hit these entitled cyclists at 100mph+ speeds. Please continue this cycle bus, it brings me so much happiness hitting cyclists in the morning 🥰🥰🥰
L8668YFsd,
Oct 24, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
This is an extraordinary tour. We gasped in surprise at the audacity of the County Council's highways department. The funniest part was learning about how the Council's budget will never find enough money for cycling and active travel, despite it being an extraordinarily cost effective investment with the UK government's own estimates that every £1 spent, between £5 and £6 is returned to the local economy (see Cycling UK's briefing about the benefit of cycling to the economy). With the County Council's budget being shaved to the minimum, it's hilarious that it is diverting money away from the solution that will reduce long-term NHS spending, that will reduce carbon emissions and congestion, that will reduce air pollution, traffic noise and improve physical and mental wellbeing. These guys are clowns!
edcV4594CQ,
Oct 24, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
I’ve done the Alps and the Pyrenees and loved the adrenaline of flying down free ride trails with cliff drops. I’ve won Redbull Rampage 10 years running, enjoy base jumping without a parachute and used to be Eddie Kidd’s stunt double. But this is proper off the charts white knuckle thrill seeking. My kids love it and think I’m the best parent in the world for introducing them to this dare devil sport. In a modern world full of health & safety constraints that shackle fun, the B3335 Cycle Tour stands out as a nod to the good old days of kids playing on train tracks, handheld fireworks and driving without seat belts. Staying in the past appears a suitable metaphor for the HCC approach to sustainable active travel. Sustain the minimal spending, actively talk about it and travel nowhere. Well done Cycle Bus volunteers for achieving what HCC and £millions of public transport spending could not. I hope rumours of an M3 Junction with A34 kids bike park come to fruition, the trap door drop into the motorway sounds awesome.
cyclemanc2023,
Oct 23, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
What an amazing time! Almost got knocked off at least twice, nothing like feeling the wind rush through your hair as HGV’s caress you from the side. Please never build this cycle lane council, the blood of children on the roads keep the tyres spinning a little quicker and I can hit new personal bests into Winchester
335stevep,
Oct 23, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
What a fantastic cycle ride into Winchester! Witnessed lots of inconsiderate motorists. Marveled at the numerous pot holes in the road. Enjoyed the ridiculous cycle crossing at the Hockley traffic lights. Highlight of the trip was learning new abusive language from drivers as well as new gestures as we cycled in strict formation along the ‘peaceful’ B3335. Come on HCC, get your act together and build proper cycleways to link the outlying villages with Winchester city centre. You could make a start by reducing the speed limit on the B3335 to 40mph.
hannahgB5666WA,
Oct 23, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
Cannot recommend this tour enough. So well organised and friendly with DJ musical accompaniment. We started out nice and gentle but were soon shrieking as we dodged death-defying potholes, wet to the bone as speeding drivers passed us at close range splashing through poorly drained rivers of water on the road. All of this with the perfect safety shield of human flesh. Our tour guides helpfully pointed out that this exciting experience was only made possible due to the 60mph speed limit and the lack of cycle lane. So great! Leaving Colden Common and coming through Twyford we breathed in the delicious exhaust fumes of the congested traffic, noting the number of cars with only one person in them. We then took a beautiful detour off the main road, which was frankly less thrilling. But did allow my heart rate to reduce significantly and my shoulders to fall back into their normal place. Ready for the climax: crossing our fingers and holding our breath we edged back out into the traffic travelling well over the 40mph speed limit. Hair raising! Then headed into a short section of road that is national speed limit. This was truly the pinnacle moment of the trip: overtaken at close range by HGVs, feeling your body sucked towards them and the wind and fumes in your hair. When we arrived at the Hockley Link traffic lights there was a final treat of having to join the motorway traffic and then cross onto the cycle path with no phase of lights for cyclists. The ride then takes you on a beautiful (but frankly safe and boring) ride into Winchester. If you want to come away feeling you have diced with death and (hopefully) won, like a superhuman on 2 wheels, if you want the ultimate cycling adrenaline experience with which to enthral your friends then this trip is for you. I loved it so much I am planning to take the return journey next time, when we get to cross the carriageway of speeding HGVs coming around a corner. Can’t wait!!!
Operated by Chad