Clarion Cyclists Conquer Chichester for the Autumn Meet!

The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and that can only mean one thing: it's time for the Clarion Autumn Meet! After fantastic weekends in Ipswich and Bedford over the last two years, it was the beautiful cathedral city of Chichester's turn to host our annual gathering.

As is tradition, we set up our base of operations at a conveniently located Premier Inn, ready for an action-packed, fun-filled weekend. We had a great turnout, bringing together London Clarion members with fellow Clarion cyclists from as far afield as North Yorkshire, the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895, North Lancs Union, and Borders Clarion.

The weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a delicious group dinner at the Astoria Turkish Restaurant, just a short stroll from the hotel. Fuelled up and ready to ride, we were all hoping for some decent cycling weather... and Saturday did not disappoint!

A Visit to Hayling Island

Saturday was absolutely perfect, especially for mid-October, with mild temperatures and a light, encouraging breeze. A group of twelve set out on a lovely 35-mile ride.

Our route took us past historic landmarks, including Fishbourne Roman Palace, and through the town of Havant before making a beeline for Hayling Island. The highlight? A well-deserved stop for coffee and cake before we completed a relaxed loop of the island. It was a delightful, mostly flat ride, enjoyed by all, and we even managed a pit stop at a lovely pub on the way back to the hotel in Chichester. We were very fortunate to find Barreg Cycles near Fisbourne Roman Palace on the way back to Chichester who quickly managed to mend one of our fellow Clarion Cyclists Bikes. Well worth a visit if you are nearby.

The Sunday Challenge

Sunday, however, proved to be a slightly more demanding affair. The weather turned a little wet, but that certainly wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of the hardy Clarion riders!

We tackled a 40-mile route that was a little more strenuous, taking in the scenic Centurion Way and paying a visit to the recently refurbished Singleton Railway Station. Our final push took us all the way out to the coast near East Wittering. A brilliant, if slightly damp, finish to our two days of cycling!

Huge thanks to everyone who travelled and made the Chichester meet such a success. It's always a highlight of the year to bring together the various Clarion clubs for good company, good food, and great cycling.

Where should the Clarion Autumn Meet head to next year? Let us know your suggestions in the comments!