Late September or mid October possibly, the tourists should have gone home by then. Can't do first weekend of October (retro ride down here, time to dig out the old Alpinestars).
Usual format, 10ish start at the ferry, stop mid route for a munch/slurp, back to ferry mid afternoon. Just hope the wind doesn't blow.
Any takers?
Im a maybe.
so am i .
Yep
I'm in....
DrP
Definately,would have to stay the night before, but I've been waiting ages to ride thePurbecks.
Was going to ride from Studland up onto the ridge towards Corfe (ain't gotthe details to hand)and back.
Yes but am concerned about the sea crossing as presumably there could be rough conditions at that time of year 🙁
Can't do end Sept/early Oct but if anyone is around over the BH weekend/week after and doesn't mind battling through crowds of grockles then I could be up for a ride as I'll be down that way with a bike.
i dont know what i'm doing tomorrow let alone sept/oct but i'm up for it.
i'm a maybe, fokls caravan permitting, i'm there in 2 weeks time too, is it ok for 29ers?
I'll be there, date pending. Not really that busy then so shouldn;'t be a problem.
@oldgit, we'll definitely be up on the ridgeway, which way we are going is dependent on wind conditions. Its even better up there at night (winter evenings here we come), lovely views over Poole harbour, IOW and Swanage and Corfe Castle. If anyone is coming down before this ride, post on here, as there's always rides going on, over 50 riders out on a group ride Wednesday night this week.
@rocketdog, anything goes bike wise. The fit boys down here can singlespeed it. We'll be dragging 20 year old bits of steel around here in a few weeks time.
@c_g, bring your armbands in case it's too choppy and we have to bale out.
Mulletus, are you bringing your bike down week after next?
We're down for rach's bithday so the bike probably wouldn't go down to well. I can come back down later in the week for a ride if you fancy it?
Bring it down early, stash it here, then wednesday afternoon casually ask if she wants to see my missus, then drop the bombshell. What could go wrong?
This is Mrs MM reading your post. Nice try!!!!
Foiled again, RATS!
CG me and paul will be on hand with a life jacket !!!!!
Thanks oldfart and Paul, very reassuring 8)
CG, [b]sea[/b] crossing? Hardly! it's about 100 yds! Don't try and swim it though...
Great idea RT and I really want to go back to the Purbecks - not been since the last group ride. Will see what date you decide on, have some commitments coming up Sept/Oct. Will hope to be there.
Possibly, depends if I can make my way all the way over to the other side of the Purbecks.
I'd like to join in if I can make it. My only experience of the Purbecks is careering down some bridleway years ago on a rigid Trek 800 (Sport!) hauling on the cantis for grim death, it'd be nice to revisit on a bike with actual brakes.
kona_ona - last year some of us STW'ers went across an ocean (Southampton Water) and I was just about freaking out, particularly when we went past the new P & O cruise liner 😯
Potential dates - 12th/13th Sept or 26th/27th Sept.
I can do Saturdays or Sundays, so will go with what ever suits the majority.
Do any of these dates clash with other rides / events?
I'm ok for any of these dates.
CG, I'll hold your hand on the 'sea crossing' as long as you push me up the climbs 😉
Preferably not the 12th, can rearrange if needed.
hmm both them weekends have multiple southern events on, i'm sure not everyone will want to do them though and you cant please everyone right.
myself i hope to do the Blast on the 20th sept, and MaXx Exposure on the 25/26th sept
possibly cheddar bikefest on the 13th
http://www.numplumz.com/cal/1.htm
rusty - would prefer 26th or 27th if possible.
kona - why, thank you! I now have 3 gentlemen to look after me 8) Not sure about those Dorset climbs though!
Snap decision then, lets make it the weekend of 26th/27th September. Still up for debate over Saturday or Sunday. Holidays are over by then, so Saturday morning /Sunday afternoon traffic should be back to somewhere near sensible (in-laws took over 4 hours to get here from London on Saturday!)
Sods law says this is the weekend we'll be moving house, not sure how i'll square that one with the missus.
Gonna go with the Sunday as that may encourage a few locals to tag along (help with guiding/route). Sunday morning traffic in late September should be fine, and afternoon/evening traffic will be a lot better than this month.
Route will be 'flexible' depending on weather/wind direction. Hope to catch the 10am ferry from Sandbanks, so anyone coming from the west could meet us on Studland side if that's easier. Not sure if car park prices are back to winter rates by then, i'll check next time i'm down there, if not there is some free on-road parking amongst the posh houses.
Route will be plenty of ups, plenty of downs, wonderful views and probably gusty winds. Can be ss suitable if you're fit enough and the pace will be typical stw (steady with plenty of chatting). Can include scenic pub stop and/or Corfe cream tea stop and/or picnic.
Any suggestions / opinions warmly received, and can someone book some nice weather because it's grim over there when it's wet and windy.
Preview of some of the route on Thursday afternoon unless the dentist hurts me too much in the morning. Anyone down here on holiday?
I might well be up for this too. Twas ace last time. Keep us informed!
I might well be up for this too. Twas ace last time. Keep us informed!
Sorry, keep meaning to post on this. Happy to help out guiding, but will have to sweep given current fitness! If you mail me the route I'll make sure I know it all.
Sounds good, added to the diary 🙂
(...wots a Purbeck anyway? Do they bite?)
Not too worried about the route at this stage, there's enough riding for a couple of routes, i'll just see what condition it's in nearer the time, and see which way the wind is blowing.
Wouldn't worry too much about the fitness Rich, mine's shocking. Anyway, the last ferry home's not until 11 o'clck, so there's no hurry.
Purbecks have been known to bite. Little sand dwelling types fed mostly on scones and cream.
I'm going to be on the way back from holiday then..... hmmmmm.... will I ever make another STW group ride?!
It'll be a great ride, good memories of the last one there.
yes, it's reasonable to day trip from here so if your chosen date fits with my other half's agenda 🙂 then I'd love to join you.
boing! This is still going on. Bit early for a roll call, but rough numbers would be nice. Sunday 27th September
Bump. Ok, two weeks to go, better have a bit of a roll call to give rough numbers and plan potential food stops.
Did a bit of a preview ride today, and can report sandy, dusty trails and plentiful cream teas in Corfe.
Sunday 27th Sept, 9 - 9.30 meet up, to catch 10.00 (or 10.20) sandbanks ferry to Studland.
rt just a thought i reckon if we start from the same car park it will be still be summer charges which are £6.50 !!!!might be worth finding out.
Plenty of free road parking on sandbanks peninsula (unless you were here this weekend when animal windfest was on).
I think the car park prices change in October. Once parked, we can meet at the ferry.
Yep, still up for this rusty 🙂
I'm bring my pads too 😳
I could be up for this- be good to ride eon the Purbecks again. Let me know where you're starting from 😉
Will see how my legs feel after the BHF london-brighton off road (75 miles) on saturday....!
Would be great to come along though!
DrP
Never been there before, will a fully rigid bike suffice or should I take the Heckler? Is there an unfit-and-struggling group there? I want to come but am ever so unfit... 🙁
Any bike will do, locals ride any thing from 5 inch bouncers to rigid singlespeeds.
One group only, as it's a social ride/gathering not a race. Pace will be whatever suits everyone. If anyone wants to go quick extra bits could be added to suit, but that's not really the point of these rides is it?
Distance likely to be about 20-25 odd miles more or less depending upon weather, length of food stops, pace, mechanicals etc. Route will be flexible enough to lengthen or shorten to suit.
Lovely, count me in then. Will you be able to give me the post code or something to get my sat nav to recognise, please?
C_G do you still want a lift down?
Hairychested - If you want you could meet me at Rownhams Services on the M27 and follow me down from there. I can lead you to free parking as well.
The 27th is the only date I can't make. My son's birthday and he's off to Uni... 😥
Sure, why not? Anybody coming from my end needs a lift?
I'm in the area at the minute and is £6.50 over four hours .But found some street parking Just as you come round the road into the Bay opposite yachey club
sat nav details
Ferry Way
Poole, Dorset BH13, UK
[url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hl=en&tab=wl ]Google Map[/url]
Try Panorama road or Brownsea road for parking, should be ok if your prompt (read early) for free parking
Oh and count me in
Probables so far then -
ReallyOldGit, Cinnamon Girl, Mulletus, Hairychested, oldfart, eviljoe, Dr P
Few locals likely to be turning up too. Anyone else?
I'm hoping to make it. First time down there for years.
I will be there 🙂
Knottie ?
Evening Rusty, Dave here, saw you in the Corfe Cafe on Sunday, am def on for this and can help with guiding etc...
sounds good to me Dave, i'll check in with John and Rich this week too.
Count me in for this.
I don't want to make it a what-tyre-for-Purbecks but apart form black, round and made of rubber, any other special needs? I only hope I won't need DH ones ❓
double posting, sorry
@Hairychested - the amount of sand around this time of year, a paddle tyre could be usefull in some sections! But seriously, anything allround should do the job. Conditions vary from deepish sand, to hardpack, to chalk, to rock gardenish to grassy, with a bit of tarmac thrown in for good measure. My summer set up has been a conti vertical pro on the front for some grip, and a bonty revolt on the back for a bit more speed.
Any other special requirements - plenty of cake, a slightly warped sense of humour and the ability to ignore the locals when they're miles faster than us despite being on rigid singlespeeds!
I'll be on a bouncy bike blaming the setup and tyres anyway. If my singlespeed was built-up I'd be just as fast as them, ehem...
So probables
Hairychested, C_G, Mulletus, oldfart, Lovell, RichPenny, DrP, olderthandirt, Reallyoldgit, ChrisP_ss(can't remember your username), local John
possibles
Knottie, johnners, Bat1, eviljoe, Kona-ona, oldgit, dobo, rocketdog, luke, annabanana, PeterPoddy, elliptic, buzz-lightyear, Ride Rich
Any advance on that? Possibles likely to be probables? Any +1s?
7 days to go.
can't make it, i'm going to movie mania at the national space centre 🙂
Just been reminded it's the lad's family camp with beavers so it's a no from me.
about 15 confirmed so far then,including a few locals. Sandwiches mid route and pub stop near the end, or cafe stop mid ride?
Count me in
I really should come as you will go past my house
great trails good for rigid and ss
also I insist we stop at the best pub in the world
best bring your speedos and we can go for a dip
sweet looking forward to it
we can also poach some sweet singletrack
Cafe must be in corfe model village
pub must be square and compass and then the bankes
do you guys want me to plan a route with the best local bits????
Hey Charlie any chance you can save me some stickers for next week please ? 😯
Not sure we're gonna fit that many in/outside the model village cafe, hence the sandwich proposal. Pub at the end will be the Bankes, controversially i much prefer the Scott Arms to the compass.
Shouldn't have too much trouble with the route. Got most of it in my head, and we'll just wing it a bit depending on wind directions, mechanicals and pace. I think Rich, Johnny and Dave from Ride are coming along, so guiding shouldn't be an issue. Cheers though, the more locals the better.
Just hope it doesn't rain.
The Scott arms is a harvester in discuise and an insult to a world class location. Shame on you 🙂
must squeeze in franks tank. Great bit of st
I will bring some stickers and go with the flow. Might ride the big dummy and haul big sandwiches
Probably going to be +2 Steve. The Square and Compass is the most bizarre pub I've been in, only makes it better IMO. It doesn't seem to be laid out for drinking in at all 🙂 Where is the Scott arms?
Franks is definetely on the hit list, down and possibly up depending on the route back.
Rich - Scott arms is in Kingston, out the back of Corfe, but not as far as the compass. To be fair to the compass, i've only been there a couple of times and it's been a queue for a drink each time, maybe i'll give it another go now the holiday makers have gone home. Just prefer the views and garden of Scott arms.
What time are we meeting and where Rusty?