It looks like Saturday will be the start of another period of warmer weather and currently a sunny day with a westerly breeze is forecast. As usual there are three route options and initially all the routes head down the Piddle Valley to Piddletrenthide and then up and over to Cerne Abbas.
The White route then heads north past the Giant and down Lyons Gate to Glanvilles Wootton, Stourton Caundle and back through Stalbridge.
The Blue and Pink routes continue west from Cerne heading over to towards Sydling (watch out for the ford at the bottom!), with the Pink route dropping down to Maiden Newton then north through Rampisham and onto Yetminster. The Blue route heads to Chetnole and Leigh before merging again with the Pink route. The routes pass through Holnest and Boys Hill on the way to Stourton Caundle and through Stalbridge. For the cafe hunters, a small change of route at Stourton Caundle would enable a stop at Spires Farm cafe.
Meet at 9.00 am at the Wheels car park, Station Road, Gillingham. Please ensure you download your chosen route to your GPS device, and remember to bring your ride essentials, particularly sufficient liquid refreshement.
The routes all finish at The Old Brewery Cafe in Gillingham where you can stop for coffee, cake or lunch.
There is nothing to stop a group splitting into a ‘light’ and a ‘dark’ group, and a slower group can take on a longer route or a faster group ride a shorter route. All rides are no drop rides but please select a group suited to your ability!
Pink Route: 102.8 kms, 1,133 m elevation – est speed 28 kmh+ / 17.5 mph +
Blue Route: 90.8 kms, 1,023 m elevation – est speed 24 kmh / 15 mph
White Route: 74.0 kms, 790 m elevation – est speed 20 kmh / 12 mph
If you haven’t done so already, please join the Whatsapp group for your ride:
White WhatsApp group : Blue WhatsApp group : Pink WhatsApp group
For those who have issues downloading their routes, here’s the guide for a Garmin device and here’s the guide for a Wahoo device.
