Wight Prestige 2022 – ENTRIES OPEN! – Discover the Isle of Wight's Gravel Cycling and Gourmet Food this September

The Wight Prestige Tim Wiggins
Many know the Isle of Wight for its spectacular road cycling routes, but one of the better kept secrets is the vast network of varied and challenging off-road gravel bike routes that is waiting to be explored.

Last September, I launched the inaugural edition of The Wight Prestige, in collaboration with The Garlic Farm. The three day event offers gravel cyclists with a bespoke experience weekend: discovering hidden gravel trails, eating sumptuous locally produced food, and staying in one of the beautiful yurts at The Garlic Farm.


A Weekend of Gravel Cycling on the Isle of Wight

The weekend shapes up like this...

On the Friday evening, riders are met off the Wightlink Fast Cat at Ryde Pier Head, and their baggage is transferred safely back to The Garlic Farm by electric cargo bike. Riders then have just a short warm up spin to get over the Downs and reach their base for the weekend at Mersley.
 
On arrival, guests check into their four person yurts (bookings must be made in a group of four), and can relax with a welcome drink in the communal area in the centre of the five yurts.

A shout from the Garlic Farm Restaurant kitchen comes as stomachs begin to rumble, and riders are welcomed into the cosy restaurant for a two course meal—setting themselves up for the riding adventures ahead…

Wight Prestige 2021



Saturday – The Big Ride Day

Saturday is the Big Ride day. Riders need not worry though; everything is planned down to the finest detail.
 
The day starts with a grand breakfast spread in the farm restaurant, before a short ride briefing by the five 'Local Expert' riders (I am one of them): the route on the first day is approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) with 1500 metres of elevation gain. Riders can select to be in one of two ride groups, one slightly faster and one more relaxed.

Breakfast Wight Prestige 2021


The riders head out onto the trails of the Isle of Wight: exploring hidden single-track, wide open downland and hidden forest paths. There is plenty of variety on this bespoke made route.

A mid-ride café stop at a secret location is provided: with an incredible spread of homemade cakes and freshly brewed coffee – the perfect fuel for this challenging Island adventure.

Wight Prestige 2021

Wight Prestige 2021


With tired legs, and faces covered in dust and smiles, the riders return to The Garlic Farm at the end of the day. Then, after warm showers and a much needed Isle of Wight beer, it is time for another mouth-watering meal in the Garlic Farm Restaurant; all made with fresh local produce, often straight from the farm.

The drinks and the merriment carry on late into the Saturday evening, before riders collapse into their cosy yurt beds and get a good night's sleep ahead of more adventures the following day…

Wight Prestige 2021


Day Two – Sunday Social

Sunday's ride is a shorter 50 kilometre route, but still with some lung-busting climbs and spectacular Island views. After fuelling up again on an impressive (garlicky as you wish) breakfast, the riders take to the trails in pursuit of the best gravel on offer.

Local Experts are always on hand within the group to coax riders up the hills, and warn them of the most challenging descents! The ethos of the rides is 'fun for all', and no-one is left behind no matter how steep the gradients become.

Wight Prestige 2021


Riders return to The Garlic Farm by lunchtime on Sunday, and are welcomed to a full mezze board of fresh garlicky goodness. The group can then choose to have their luggage transported back to the Wightlink Fast Cat at Ryde so they can begin their onwards journey home; having experienced some of the best riding and best food the Isle of Wight has to offer.

Wight Prestige 2021


About the Event – Tim Wiggins (Founder)

This event was designed to offer gravel bike riders a way to experience the Island at its very best, with no worries about transport, logistics, meals or accommodation. We have combined everything you could wish for in a weekend cycling break, into one inclusive package.

Keeping the event small – there are just 20 weekend rider slots and 5 day rider slots (no accommodation) – means that we can offer a personal experience where riders can socialise and get to know each other in comfortable surroundings. This, as well as aspects like the 'secret café stop' on the Saturday ride, really help this to feel like a weekend riding with friends and a discovery of the 'trails less travelled'.

Last year's event was a huge success, and everyone went away grinning ear-to-ear. This year we are looking forward to more laughs, great food, and spectacular riding. See you there!



Tim Wiggins Wight Prestige

Labels:


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SwissStop Disc Brake Pads Comparison Test Review – Are All Disc Brake Pads Made Equal?

Image
The market for disc brake pads for gravel bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes is saturated; there are hundreds of different brands producing disc brake pads claiming to last longer and perform better than the competition. So, what is the difference between a set of low cost disc brake pads from eBay/Amazon versus the high-end pads from SwissStop? Are SwissStop disc brake pads worth the extra money? To find out, I have been doing some extensive disc brake pad testing over the last few months. October to February is obviously a period of wet winter riding, and I have been testing the following list of brake pads on road, gravel and mountain bikes—to create the ultimate test for any disc brake set-up. The disc brake pads on test:  SwissStop Disc 34 RS (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 32 RS (SRAM Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 31 E (MTB SRAM Avid)  Superstar Sintered Shimano Road Disc Brake Pads (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SOMMET Resin and Semi-Metallic Disc Brake Pads (SRAM Road/Gravel
Keep reading

Recipe – The Ultimate High Energy Flapjacks

Image
This traditional flapjack recipe is packed full of energy for long days on the bike. The oats supply a great low-GI fuel source, while the dried fruit offers instant energy and sweetness. Whether on or off the bike, these flapjack bars are a great high-energy snack for cycling. You can adapt the recipe by adding in other dried fruit, seeds, nuts, and spices to make these even more varied and flavoursome. I particularly like pumpkin seeds and chopped crystallised ginger added to the mix. Ingredients 200g butter 100g brown sugar 1 tbsp golden syrup ½ tbsp black treacle 300g porridge oats 100g raisins 75g soft-dried figs 50g soft-dried apricots Method Set the oven to 150°C or 140°C for fan-assisted oven. Place the shelf in the middle Stick a big pan on the scales and measure in the butter and brown sugar Heat the pan on the hob until the butter and sugar are all melted Add a tablespoon of golden syrup and half a tablespoon of treacle to the mix Add the porridge oats and y
Keep reading

Review – Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle S3

Image
The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle is designed for gravel bike riding. Featuring gel inserts to reduce vibration, titanium saddle rails to absorb trail buzz, and a sleek low-profile design to offer style and performance—this is a saddle made for adventure. The SLR Boost Gravel is Selle Italia's latest offering for the growing Gravel segment of the market; engineered specifically to enhance riding comfort on difficult terrain and during endurance gravel events. Available in two sizes, I opted for the smaller version (S3), and have been testing it out over the last month… I have become a great advocate of the cut-away design for saddles—it offers greater flexibility in the centre of the saddle and reduces pressure on the sensitive perineum region. The SLR Boost Gravel Superflow is a superb example of this kind of saddle design; with a cutaway section, short nose, and flared sides to effectively support your seat bones. To improve comfort on rough terrain, Selle
Keep reading

Review – TRP Spyre SLC Cable Disc Brakes

Image
Cable actuated disc brakes get a lot of bad press. There is some justification for that — most of the systems lack the modulation and performance of their hydraulic counterparts. There is however one set of cable disc brakes that shines above the rest: the TRP Spyre SLC Disc Brake. This lightweight and sleek cable disc caliper excels in both design and functionality. My Kona Private Jake arrived in 2016 with a set of TRP's Spyre-C disc brakes fitted as standard. Those brakes worked very well for over 25,000 kilometres of use and abuse; I rode the bike for daily commutes (including a salty daily ferry journey), and I rode the bike fully loaded over the highest cols in the Pyrenees on the #CoastsandCols tour. The Spyre-C took all this abuse in hand and always produced the stopping power I demanded. This year, with the Kona Private Jake hitting a 25,000 kilometre anniversary, I decided it was time to upgrade and replace a number of the parts. To be honest, most of the component
Keep reading

Best Gravel Bike Cycling Routes on the Isle of Wight

Image
I ride a gravel bike on the Isle of Wight more than I ride any other; it is the perfect way to explore the vast network of quiet roads and exciting open trails. In this post, I have tailor-made a selection of the best gravel cycling routes on the Isle of Wight, with suggested pit-stops and highlights. The Isle of Wight roads, trails, and tracks are my home. I have toured all over the world, but whenever I come back to this small island off the South Coast of the UK I am amazed at how diverse and beautiful the riding is here. 'The Island' is very easy to get to with a bike—use one of the three car ferry routes from Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton; or come as a foot passenger and bring your bike for free on the Wightlink FastCat  from Portsmouth Harbour train station. You can get to the Island from Central London in just a little over three hours. Once you are here, there is a plethora of bike-friendly accommodation: from hotels and B&B's to campsites and Eco-l
Keep reading