Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside…!
Yes folks, our big Summer ride is back…….it’s our annual jolly down to Weston-super-Mare!
This year, the route has been given another tweak, meaning a few less hills than our last outing in 2019 and more riding along the lovely coast, giving you extra time to breathe in some of that fresh sea air and the best bit? Well, other than chatting with your mates all day, taking in the stunning scenery and cycling up Cheddar Gorge, is that you get to enjoy a nice spot of Fish ‘n’ Chips sat by the water fountain opposite the Grand Pier (or as in previous years, sat ‘in’ the water fountain when it’s been an absolute scorcher!) on the infamous ‘Wheelers Mound’ (it is a thing, honest!)
Our morning coffee stop will be at Salt n Malt cafe, right next to Chew Valley Lake. After admiring the lake view we’ll head over to Clevedon to see its lovely Pier. After Clevedon we’ll head to Yatton from where we’ll use a short 3km stretch of the Strawberry Line Cyclepath to avoid the busy Congresbury junction. After a much-shortened stretch along the unavoidable A370 we’ll soon get ourselves back onto some lovely flat lanes through Wick St Lawrence and into Weston SM passing the old Birnbeck Pier on our right. When you get to the Grand Pier grab yourself some Fish n Chips from any of the take-aways and meet on the grassy ‘Wheelers Mound’ by the water fountain.
We’ll head out of Weston SM via Uphill, niftily avoiding a bit of the busy A370 route we used to take and then take the gently rolling road over to Cheddar. Did anyone mention we ride up Cheddar Gorge? How much fun can you pack into one day?!!
After re-grouping near the top we’ll wend our way onto the traditional re-fuelling at Chilcompton Texaco services (a classy stop, for the essentials to keep us going). Rolling downhill to Kilmersdon look out for the signs of the famous “Jack n Jill Hill”, which we don’t actually climb, but it’s interesting if you click the link. In fact, we sneak through the lane in Kilmersdon to leave the roads behind us for 6km of blissful riding along the Colliers Way cycle path. At the end of the cyclepath we’ll turn right and meander home on our traditional route.
A note about Challenge Rides:
All riders should be comfortable with the challenge of riding longer distances. It’s intended to ride the routes at a steady pace, so the group can stay together. If some people prefer to ride faster and/or if there are sufficient numbers we’ll split into separate groups. All participants should be competent and completely self-contained, carrying tools, tubes, spares etc, and enough food/drink/money to see them through the day. There is no ride-leader, no back-marker, and no route sheet. Everyone is advised to familiarise themselves with the route in advance and to carry relevant maps and directions (paper or GPS, or both!). Lights are recommended on the longer rides, in case it’s getting dark at the finish.
Please note that attendance of this ride requires advanced booking for COVID track and trace purposes. Please use this simple booking form using the name you are registered with in Rider HQ. Please complete the form for each member wishing to attend.
The form is a mandatory for all riders, so we can make our rides as COVID safe as possible for all of us. Your cooperation to complete this in advance of the ride will help the start go smoothly and will be much appreciated.
The Club’s Covid Risk Assessment can be seen here.
Any issues with the above process can be directed to leisureride@chippenhamwheelers.org.