Favourite cycle route leaflet winners are revealed

Five routes that are suitable for riders of all abilities were selected to be turned into cycle leaflets for other cyclists to enjoy.

Two of the rides in the Midhurst area have been produced by the council and are available to download or will be available to buy for 50p from local cycle shops and the district's tourist information centres. The three remaining winning routes will be produced during the summer and autumn to create a total of nine cycle routes in the leisure series.

The winners are:

• John Andre from Woolbeding, a member of Midhurst Area Cycling. His ride is a circular 16 mile route that meanders west along the lanes of the Rother Valley starting and finishing in Midhurst.
• Anne Connor from Rogate. Anne's ride is called the 'Foot of the Downs' route and starts and finishes in South Harting, passing through the villages of Treyford, Dumpford and Nyewood.
• Colin Chatfield from Midhurst Area Cycling. His winning 15 mile ride to the east of Midhurst is suitable for adventurous cyclists who enjoy combining quiet country lanes with bridleways across varied terrain.
• Councillor Simon Oakley, who represents Tangmere on Chichester District Council. Simon's six mile ride is ideal for families and is a circuit around Tangmere aerodrome and the villages of Aldingbourne and Oving.
• Alison Beckett from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy. Alison's 11-mile loop south of Chichester takes in country lanes to link elements of the Salterns Way and the Bill Way cycle routes.

Entries were received from across the district and the winning routes are very different. Some routes involve off-road bridleways and tracks while others meander gently through the district's lanes.

Anne Connor, says: "I'm very pleased my route has been included. I am an enthusiastic cyclist and would encourage everyone to take up cycling. My route is very scenic. I have cycled it hundreds of times, so it was very easy for me to enter the competition so that I could pass it on to others."

John Andre says: "I hope my route will give people the chance to understand our heritage and the importance of preserving our historic churches."

Cllr John Connor, Chichester District Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, says: "Well done to all our winners and a big thank you to everyone who submitted routes. It was interesting to read through them and I know the judging panel had a tough time deciding on the winners. The winning rides are suitable for riders of all abilities. Visitors looking to do a cycle ride in the district can now get a 'local's view' of great rides. Plus if you are local why not hop on a bike and see what makes these rides special?"

The winners' names are printed on each map. The winning routes were selected after careful consideration by the judging panel from Chichester District Council and leaflet sponsor Summit Bikes of Selsey.

As well as each one providing a comprehensive map, the leaflets also include fascinating local facts and information about nearby attractions, such as places to eat, village shops, cycle shops and bike hire locations.

The council also has three established leaflets in the leisure series. These feature:

• Centurion Way - a popular, short, easy ride, which is ideal for families, from the Market Cross in Chichester to West Dean;
• Bill Way - suitable for riders of all abilities starting from the Market Cross in Chichester to Pagham Harbour taking around one hour and 15 minutes; and,
• Itchenor Bosham Circular ­- a circular 14-mile ride from the Market Cross to Itchenor/Bosham. The route includes a crossing on the seasonal ferry from Itchenor to Bosham.

For more information on cycling in the Chichester District see our cycling pages on the right hand side.

Date: 19 July 2012

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