Bristol and Cheddar Gorge Road Ride

Bristol and Cheddar Gorge Road Ride

Join Tom and team for the exhilarating challenge of cycling to and through

the UK's largest limestone gorge.

Grade:

FAST ROAD RIDE

This will be a club-style road ride with some long hills, travelling reasonably fast as a group without many stops. We will average 13-15mph over the route.

What does ‘club-run style’ mean?

Like a cycling club’s weekly training ride. It’s relatively fast, with few stops. Riders tend to have lightweight road bikes or thin-walled hybrids. Luggage is kept to a minimum, usually stashed in the rear pockets of a jersey or a small bag hung from the saddle. Lunch is a light snack and a coffee in a cafe along the route. Lycra is recommended, helmet and glasses essential. Shaved legs optional! If you’ve never ridden in a group before, please check out British Cycling’s guidance.

Summary:

How far? 50 miles Route ? Sat Nav start point BS41 9JN Route Map here What are we riding on?

Mostly rural B-roads and lanes, with a short stretch of A-road where unavoidable.

Pace? Reasonably fast (13-15mph) How hilly?

There are several noticeable hills on the ride. The hardest of these, the gorge itself, climbs 248m over 10km. There’s one really short steep bit. Don’t be put off by the numbers; the gorge isn’t that hard and is cycled by thousands of people every year.

What about the weather?

The ride will go ahead unless dangerous conditions are forecast. You will be alerted by text the evening before if the event is cancelled due to weather. If you choose not to ride due to a depressing forecast, please let the leader know in advance.

Lunch arrangements? Please have a packed lunch and energy snacks with you. WHERE ARE WE GOING

If you cycle in Bristol, the chances are your regular route is “Cheddar Gorge”. Whilst there are almost as many different ways of doing this ride as there are people, they all share the experience and challenge of cycling between the buttresses of the UK’s largest limestone gorge, and stopping at one of the many tea and cake shops clustered at its base.

This route decends through the nearby Burrington Combe, which is just as much fun but without the tourist traffic, before threading through the maze of tiny lanes overlooking Blagdon Lake.

What Do I Need To Bring

Apart from your bike remember the following:. Puncture repair kit (or better still a spare inner tube) and tyre levers. Also any special tools that your bike needs. Cycle Helmet - Outdoorlads policy requires you to wear a helmet on this event. At least one bottle of water. Eye protection - The constant wind when cycling becomes very irritating to eyes over time. Glasses will also keep grit and insects out of your eyes. Clothing: choose suitable clothes and footwear for the weather forecast and time of year. You will be exercising so choose lightweight layered clothing. Lycra shorts or tights are best even in rain, as they allow free movement of your legs. If you’ve not got shoes with cleats, you'll need trainers or similar with grippy soles. Gloves - even if it’s not cold (choose fingerless gloves). You will be going fast and if you fall onto Tarmac, your hands are often the first thing that hits the ground. It hurts a lot less with gloves. Jersey with pockets or small saddle-mounted pannier to carry your tools and extra layer of clothes. Lightweight snacks for riding (some swear by a bag of jelly babies) and some cash for the cafe. Cafe lock - a very lightweight cable lock which makes opportunistic theft less likely. Think very carefully about bringing anything more substantial: we’ll be with the bikes all the time and do you really want to lug 2 kg of steel around?

GETTING THERE / MEETING POINT:

The ride will begin at Ashton Court, by the house in front of the Gothic porch with the magnolia trees (see photo). There are three car parks at Ashton Court, each with a small charge. The one closest to the house fills up quickly on sunny weekends.

For Satnav, the nearest postcode is BS41 9JN (for the house)

Getting there:

By car from the north: Take the M5 south to Bristol and leave the motorway at J18, signposted Avonmouth. Follow the A4 towards Bristol city centre. After passing underneath the Clifton suspension bridge, follow the A3029 across the harbour swing bridge then the A370 and B3128.

By car from the east and south Wales: Follow the M4 to Junction 20, and take the M5 southbound before following instructions as before.

By train: Bristol Temple Meads is 3 miles from Ashton Court. It’s possible to reach the house mostly on reasonable off-road cycle lanes. See http://tinyurl.com/n32ffx8 (google maps link) for my preferred route.

Cycle reservations are often required on faster intercity and cross country services. Check out www.nationalrail.co.uk for more information.

How Do I Register ?

Log in and Click the 'Register' button on this page and put the details in your personal diary.

Event limits are dictated to ensure the event goes well and for safety reasons. There are usually 8-12 places for cycling events. However, if the event is full you can still register and you will appear on the event reserve list. When a place subsequently becomes available then it will be filled from the event reserve list on a first-come, first-served basis. You should receive a text message if you have gained a place; please ensure your phone number is correct on your profile

Please check your diary at least a week beforehand, and if you are not going please be courteous and un-register yourself from this event quickly! This will free up a space for someone who wishes to attend. If you have to unregister after the event closes please let the leader know well before the starting time

Your First Event ?

OutdoorLads members come from all walks of life and are as varied as our events. You will meet some nice mates and have a great time. The Event Leader will ensure you are made welcome and introduced to others.