I WANTED to write and congratulate the organisers of the campaign against cyclists in the New Forest on the success of their actions.

These Wiggle events around the country not only fill the streets with cyclists who are fit enough to attempt a 80-mile ride for a weekend but, through the cycling press, they showcase the areas they are set in to the wider cycling public.

Those that are less capable might feel encouraged to visit in small groups throughout the year and attempt sections of the route or just use the local roads as if they were entitled to be there. The saboteurs and the posters of aggressive notices have done a great job of saying “you are not welcome here”ÿ to all these people.

People like my wife and me who spend our leisure weekends and holidays cycle touring in this country’s beauty spots.

We’re not quite up to 80 miles in a single day but the sportive routes make a good starting point for planning a day out on roads that someone has taken the time to establish will provide interesting and relatively safe (from a traffic point of view) cycling.

With accommodation, food, drink and evening entertainment we’ll probably put £300-£400 into the local economy of wherever we go during a weekend.

Up until now that has included the New Forest twice each year but there are many other lovely parts of the country that don’t display such hostility towards cyclists so we’ll take our spending there; as I suspect a lot of like-minded people will.

Ian Wescombe from Swanscombe in Kent.