Friday, 7 November 2008

S2. 47 km (29.2 mi) Route via Maiden Bradley, Mere and the Deverills


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Description to follow...

W3 (extn). 115.7 km (71.9 mi) This is an extension (54.2 km) to the previous route which takes in Brent Knoll and Cheddar Gorge

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Like the previous route, I've not ridden this but I like the idea of it. Apologies for the return from Brent Knoll along the same road, but I didn't fancy cycling the A38. Cheddar Gorge had to be included! You still get to have lunch at The Hunters Lodge. Again, let me have your description if you do this first.

W3. 61.5 km (38.2 mi) Route via Oakhill, Wells, Chewton Mendip and Kilmersdon

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I've not ridden this route in it's entirety yet, so if you beat me to it please leave a comment and let me know what it was like. Having said that, I know most of the roads and I've tried hard to keep away from the traffic as much as possible, although that becomes harder as you travel west of the A37. Sorry for the route being over several maps, it's almost impossible to read any of the place names if I squeeze it onto one screen.

(1.) LEAVE Frome on the Nunney road (as per route W1.) and follow the lanes through the villages to Oakhill. Only really one hill to get your teeth into, 5% up from Bulls Green. Take care crossing the A37 near Little London, traffic comes down the hill (from your left) fairly quickly. The hill up to the Wells road, past the golf club, is not the nicest tarmac but it beats trying to cycle up the A37. It's almost all downhill to Wells from there. Have a look at the second map for how to get through Wells.
(2.) TURN right in the middle of Wells and head out on the Old Bristol Road, up hill towards Upper Milton and Rookham. Bit of a climb (6.5%) is rewarded with a stop at The Hunters Lodge (Hotel on the map).
(3.) CONTINUE over the cross roads after the pub, the turn right at the next cross roads onto the B3135 and after about a mile, take the left fork downhill towards Chewton Mendip. Go straight over the crossroads in the village and head uphill to Emborough. Once through Chilcompton, go straight over the rounabout and enjoy good roads all the way to Kilmersdon. Get on the Colliers Way (Cycle route 24) at Kilmersdon and follow back to Frome, or rather Great Elm where it ends. Follow the cycle track sign posts through Great Elm and Vallis and up the final climb (good luck) back into Frome.
I'll write a proper description when I've completed this route...or will publish someone else's, whichever comes first!

Thursday, 6 November 2008

W2. 15.8 km (9.8 mi) Time Trial - Loop via Chantry


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Short Time Trial for roadies with a couple of hills to make it interesting (see route profile).
Drop out of Frome on the Nunney road, past the golf course on nice tarmac for before descending again into Nunney itself. Turn right over the bridge and up a short slope before turning left at the top and maintaining a gradual climb. Straight over at the crossroads and follow this superb road as it sweeps down and back up the first main hill (5%). Turn right at the crossroads at the top and head towards Chantry. Becareful on the first left hander if it's been raining, very occasionally it's plastered in mud. Ride through the village, drop down hill and again becareful over the narrow bridge, it's usually damp and cars can come the other way in the middle of the road.
Right then left into Whatley and continue towards Frome. The climb out of Egford gets steeper towards the top, but the tarmac is good and the end is near.

S1. 33 km (20.5 mi) Route via Tytherington, Horningsham, Longleat and East Woodlands



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Another quick route for roadies on reasonable tarmac and a great pub to finish.
A very easy start leaving Frome, although take care through the lanes in Little Keyford which can become slippery during winter. The route follows good roads 'past' the Fox and Hounds in Tytherington, then right towards Trudoxhill. The road towards Gare Hill (7.4%) is the first of two climbs on this particular route, which is followed by a steady decent towards Horningsham. Remember to turn left at the top, towards Maiden Bradley, just before the road descends. The roads past Maiden Bradley are great for riding on. The convex hill out of Hitcombe Bottom on the road up to the entrance to Longleat starts steep but works out at around 4% overall.
Great ride down through the estate (although watch for traffic that will not be looking for you!) can be topped off with a pub lunch at The Horse and Groom in East Woodlands, before the easy (depending upon lunch??) ride back into Frome.

Wednesday, 5 November 2008

W1. 36km (22 mi) Route via Oakhill, Nettlebridge, Holcombe and Mells




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A nice route on decent tarmac and (mostly) quite roads, with a few hills to clear the cobwebs.
Starts downhill from Frome before gently climbing back up and then dropping into Nunney. The first hill comes at Bulls Green (5%), but it's not too long. It then follows fairly quite roads through Leigh-on-Mendip, up to the highest point of the journey, just North of East End, before decending into Stoke St Michael. Continue through Stoke to Oakhill and turn right onto the A367 to Bath (only major road of the trip) which winds down hill (mostly) for a mile and half before riquiring you to put some effort in (7.5% climb) at Nettlebridge. Worth a stop at the pub in Nettlebridge. The lanes to the East of Nettlebridge can get slippery so becareful on the bends.
Holcombe is your next hill (6.1%). Try the Duke of Cumberland at the bottom of the hill if you didn't manage a stop at Nettlebridge. It's downhill after that for over 3k through Coleford (watch for the turn on the right in the middle of the village by the fish and chip shop) and The Kings Head marks the start of the 3rd hill (5%) up to Soho, before dropping down to Vobster. You can take this hill out by carrying on through Coleford and going straight to Vobster. There's a short climb (6.2%) out of Vobster before turning right and heading towards Mells. The route takes you past Mells rather than through it, but if you've not been to The Talbot it's worth a detour...as is the rest of the village. The 4th hill (5%) is the climb away from Mells back towards Frome before a long straight road to recover. There's another very short climb out of Murder Comber (7.5%) and then your final ascent back into Frome from Egford (6.8% becoming 9.8%).