Just like last year, this will be a social ride taking in some of the nicest legal(ish) riding in the area.
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I'm currently working on the route, but it will start at 9:30 (for 10:00) in the same place as last year: Burrington Combe. Details to be confirmed, but I'm planning around 30km distance and 800m ascent over a leisurely 6-6.5 hours. I'm hoping to include two half-hour stops: Lillypool (tea+cake) and The Crown (beer), to be confirmed. I'm also planning to include one of the technical trails in Rowberrow Wood.
To whet your appetite, have a look at last year's thread: [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/pics-stw-forum-mendip-ride-funtastic-outing ]Thread with Pics STW Mendip Ride - Summer 2009[/url]
I was please and scared in equal measure when 30-plus turned up last year. It turned out great because of the help I had from local riders and the trail conditions were pretty good. I hope some of you can make it this year.
Stewart
As I am local would be rude not to, so count me in 😛
I'll be along, hope the weather co-operates again. Last year's ride was a great sociable day out.
Having had a sneak preview of Buzz's route plan it's looking well up to the previous standard.
A beer stop at the Crown (a very characterful place) is an extra bonus 🙂
Ah! Subject to permission from the management, I believe I'm free that day. 8)
Ohh! I might be able to come along again. It was ACE last year!
Aww shucks!
I'll wack it on the callendar before the day gets allocated elsewhere. Hopefully, some more of the Shipham riders will be along ...
Dave
Oh! Down Stoney Lane! 😀
EDIT: And a suspiciously straight line down from the perch. 😯 😈 wonder what that could be?
The straight down bit from The perch is a permissive BW I think? Or is there some scary trail there I should know know about??? 8)
The bit between Lillypool and Shute Shelve isn't quite legal... yet. Honestly, it won't be any bother going that way.
are 1 geared rigid big wheelers allowed???
Um, how do I say this... I'll just say it. Its at the top of Badgers, which I thought you might be hinting at.
That said, with Winscombe Drove aswell, and the crossing from Warrens hill road that might be pushing the illegality factor a little high, if you worry about these sorts of things. 😉 😳
Edit: No tractors Harris! 🙂
Awesome, it was top dollar last year, hopefully I'm about.
Science...will still beat you up the hills , on tractors or not 🙂
Sadly true... 🙁
only for now, if things go the way they are currently, i'll be chasing you
Its at the top of ...
It's the steep rocky lane that comes out at the bottom of the path round the back of the lower quarry. All permissive bridleway from Warrens through some fields... are you maybe thinking of the footpath that cuts across lower down?
I was worried you might be taking 30 people over a very technical feature near Badgers for a second there Buzz.
Very technical feature near badgers?
Do enlighten us!?
Psssst. Fight Club.
😉
By the way PP, can we ask your missus very nicely to make some more of those courgette muffins (pretty please).
Ah, yes. Cleared some of the way back between the feature and the path. Met some chaps from cheddar and we agreed between us we'd chase it back up the hill to see where it went...
Didn't go back for a while and when we did there was said feature there.
Not trying to be a miser
You might want to edit that off, reduce traffic flow as badgers is SSSI don't forget!!!
That's a fair point Climb lord
And yourself scienceman, little bit of editing may save a trail
I'm not sure who actually constructed it, and I've not seen the Cheddar fellas since - But its pretty substantial, although in the wet its bloody lethal - the timber just goes slimy.
How does it read now Cando?
Colin, edit 3 posts back
Nothing to see here, move along people, just a regular forum ride.
These aren't the droids you're looking for. 😐
By the way PP, can we ask your missus very nicely to make some more of those courgette muffins (pretty please).
He he!
I'll put in a request. Will other types of muffin do, 'cos we're not growing courgettes this year....? 😀
I think we can make it...
In the diary!
Missed it last year due to injury 😥
Is the meet point in the car park above Bad Ass Bikes?
Will other types of muffin do
I think we're open to negotiation on that issue. 🙂
@ Philby - most people park at the old garden centre carpark 50 yards down from the bike shop.
Afternoon all. I may well be around for this as well. Subject to me buying the missus something expensive to keep her sweet!
30km ,6 hours thats a walk not a bike ride!
Does 64 refer to your age or year of birth?
If it's your age then that explains alot!
Year of birth , how would it explain a lot if the other. 30km in 6 hours round there is walking speed at any age.!!
its his age! 😉
Hi Nige 😆
Ace i should be able to make this one
It's a social ride with about 30 people: we ride a section and chat, exchange jibes and sweets while re-grouping, and someone goes off ahead to indicate the next junction. We take two 30 min stops. So the average speed is about 3-4 mph!
I'll come!
Is this still on?
If I can get my bike rebuilt and my physio says its ok I'll be along for this.
Put me down as a possible 🙂
As far as I know it is. Buzz will be along shortly I expect.
Bumpity bump.
Mendip trails are riding very nicely at the moment... weather outlook is promising.
Were you guys on Dolebury last night?
We were over that way later on, yes - stopped for a bit while Dave the Paint sorted out his 947th puncture of the last few weeks 🙂
Where did you guys get to?
Tomorrow afternoon I going to have a look at the state of that bit of trail along the Shipham road that's near Lillypool Cafe. Armed with shears. I think everything else en-route is in fair to excellent nick.
Possible here too!
I thought I knew the Mendips pretty well and most of the techie stuff, but I didnt know about a trail from Warren Hill to The Perch, thanks, will take a look next time I'm out that way. Guess it joins the top of Badgers.
OK if I join you? I'm surveying the Mendip borough for CycleCity Guides that week so I could work and play at the same time 😛
"trail from Warren Hill to The Perch, ... Guess it joins the top of Badgers."
Not quite. You go ~ a quarter down Warrens Hill and there is a gate on your right (permissive BW) - go slow or you miss it. It's a short push up then grassy along to a gap linking meadows on either side, at the top of The Perch.
The non-secret way is an obvious singletrack permissive BW that goes down at about "2 o'clock" and joins a wider stony track with 2 gates leading down to the road. The usual climb up Badgers is on your left near the bottom of that stony track.
"I'm surveying the Mendip borough for CycleCity Guides"
All welcome 🙂 Many local riders will come so you will get lots of opinion about this.
Thanks Buzz, never noticed anything off to the right on Warren Hill, too busy hooning towards the tea cakes in Cheddar. I've taken a turning on the left about 1/4 way down, down some wodden steps with a tight right hander at the bottom. Footpath I think, but the farmer likes bikers.
The BW you mention doesnt appear on my OS map, God bless Google Earth. Heading back from Minehead on Sunday, so might drop by
That other turning is the Bottle Bank, those steps went in a couple of years ago, before that it was just a steep slippery earth bank. Which a certain rider of ours always bottled. Hence the name 😉
elliptic, yep, and it gets pretty steep after the right hander. Is the gate on the right before or after those steps (heading towards Cheddar obviously!)
This has been in my diary for what seems like ages! Still planning to come, looking forward to finally cycling on the Mendips.
agentd - it's before that, only a short way down from the top.
Elliptic - I was on my way up the road to the Swan at about 10. I looked over and saw you just below the fort, just about where the steps start down.
We'd been working on a little something on the Yeo valley side of the fort. Its not ready for public consumption yet though.
Tomorrow afternoon I going to have a look at the state of that bit of trail along the Shipham road that's near Lillypool Cafe. Armed with shears
There were just two sections that were a bit overgrown and have had a little prune back. All set.
everything else en-route is in fair to excellent nick
Correction. [b]Every trail is in excellent nick.[/b] The heavy rain yesterday morning just seems to have evaporated and several trails were kicking up dust and the rest were warp speed ahead.
I'm really bushed from 5 sweaty hours riding today with no lunch 😀
looking forward to it, is it usual time & place to meet?
Oh yes: 9:30 (for 10:00) in the same place as last year: Burrington Combe.
Large free car park 100 metres down from the Burrington Combe Inn.
See ya!
cheers Buzz see u there 8)
I really want to come on this ride, but Mrs PP does some charity work once a month and it falls on this Sunday, so I can't use the car. 🙁
I've just checked and it's not really possible by train (2.45hrs to Bristol, then a 12 mile ride!) and was wondering if anyone is coming from my direction (Farnborough, Hants) or close enough for me to get a train to you easily so I could cadge a lift? I can pay in cake if that helps? 🙂
Ignore me. I've looked at it every which way and it's just not practical to get there without a car.
Bugger. 🙁
Hire a car or buy a £50 or less heap.It could be laugh to see if it gets you there and back plus theres always the RAC if it doesnt
