DIY Somerset and Dorset

Ride Details

• Date Ridden - Wednesday 24 July 2024
• Event Type - DIY (Mandatory)
• Points Distance - 200

Ride Stats

• Distance - 205.1 km
• Time - 9h26m20s
• Elapsed time - 10h29m32s
• Avg Speed - 21.7 km/h
• Elevation - 2212 metres
• Bike - Sabbath September AR-1

Ride Notes

Another month, another DIY.

The weather was forecast as sunny intervals and light winds with a low chance of rain… well, I suppose that is the best we can expect from a British summer.

Set off on my route… only to find the Gorge was closed for some film production…. WHAT!!!??? My DIY ride is far, FAR more important than a buch of luvvies prancing around in silly costumes. Had a think and decided to divert up the climb to Westbury Quarry (and no, before you mention it, I wasn’t going to attempt Draycott Steep - I’m not that stupid) to rejoin my route at Priddy. The road across the Mendips from Priddy all the way to Leigh-on-Mendip was misty with damp roads.

Once at Nunney the mist cleared and I took the ridgeway road up and over heading for Gare Hill - this is a lovely climb and you are rewarded with a great descent into Bruton.

Coffee and toast at Castle Cary, follwed by the lovely run to Sherborne, then back into Somerset and on to Crewkerne for a second cuppa (and Tiffin!).

From there the route was what you Audax Bristol chaps would call ‘Rainbow Flat’ - flat…. except when its not. I made good progress until Bridgwater (does this place have ANY redeeming features) where the rain started and the traffic seemed a bit more manic than usual. I was glad to get off the main roads and skirted around to the cycle path at Bawdrip, up over Wooly Hill and home.

July done - 3 to go for RRtY #4.