View Full Version : Ride Round Exmoor the other way – September 2007
People have asked for a re-run of the Porlocks in September, but in the opposite direction this time.
This post is just to put up the suggestion and get some initial feedback. Any Ideas?
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 09:57 AM
I've got a slightly different route we could do...
Start at Podimore Services where the A303 / A37 meet
From there nice twisy road to Bridgewater, Stop at the Ducati Dealer for a cup of tea etc etc
From there Minehead / Porlock, Lynton.
Then A399, then A361 ( a bit dull but only a short hop ) to the Services at Tiverton
Then down backroads to Cullumpton, then A373 towards Honiton, then A30 back towards Chard, Crewkerne, some nice backroads back to the A303 and then quick blast up to the services at Podimore.
I ran this the year before last, I know the route well and I'd be happy to lead the whole day.
Bridgwater can be a bit of a git especially on Saturday but if we run the drop off again and it works well like it did on Satuday then it wont be a problem.
The A399 and the A373 are particularly fun, and have a better road surface on them than the A396 did.
I'd have to find a decent pub to stop at for lunch though but I cant see that being a problem.
I'm free work wise any of those weekends at the moment, if we wanted to chop some milleage off and make it a little more accessable for the Welsh / Bristol crew we could start at Riders in Bridgwater...
From there nice twisy road to Bridgewater, Stop at the Ducati Dealer for a cup of tea etc etc
From there Minehead / Porlock, Lynton.
Is there a decent route for this? The one I know has continuous (pointless) double whites on it. But I don't really know this area, so I stand to be corrected. :)
New route would be good, something different. But can we go to the little chef?
Fizz, they are some good roads and i quite like the sound of it. I'm in.
Not fussed about which day but have voted for the 15th.
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 10:34 AM
Is there a decent route for this? The one I know has continuous (pointless) double whites on it. But I don't really know this area, so I stand to be corrected. :)
Not really no, it does have a lot of double white lines on the section from Bridgwater to Minehead, but I dont really know of otherway of getting from Minehead from Bridgwater, I think theres a more coastal route, but I dont know what the roads like...
If consensus is for a new route, then I'll get out and reccie that section and try and find a better way to get to Minehead.
If consensus is for a new route, then I'll get out and reccie that section and try and find a better way to get to Minehead.
If you want some company give me a shout:D
I was thinking of Dorset/Wiltshire Area, we maybe able to tempt the softy southerners and I can get a photo of two old relics, Stonehenge and Jabba in one shot.
Unless Viper can guarantee the floor show at Tiverton Little Chef that is!
I was thinking of Dorset/Wiltshire Area, we maybe able to tempt the softy southerners and I can get a photo of two old relics, Stonehenge and Jabba in one shot.
Unless Viper can guarantee the floor show at Tiverton Little Chef that is!
I was out riding yesterday and found some roads that were absolute corkers. from bruton, somerset to mere wiltshire, through the longbridge deveral, Kingston Deverall etc into warminster, a little bit of fast bypass and then up past longleat into frome through my home town of bruton, into gillingham, dorset up to shaftesbury and back to warminster then back to mere and home to bruton. About a 110 mile trip of fantastic twists, turns, straights and some good pubs on the way. Of course an adaptation towards stonehenge would fit in after shaftesbury.
If someONE would like to come out for a reccie with me to see what they think i will buy lunch;)
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 01:16 PM
Zig Zag, that'll be fun, the road around the Deverills into Mere is a hoot as well.
Viper, I'm quite happy to do a reccie with you, expect Liz will to any excuse for a bimble on a nice day.
Oh and if you wanted to come alot more south, theres always the Weymouth to Bridport Coast road, Gives some nice views out across Chesil Beach
Zig Zag, that'll be fun, the road around the Deverills into Mere is a hoot as well.
Viper, I'm quite happy to do a reccie with you, expect Liz will to any excuse for a bimble on a nice day.
Ok your on.
We will pick a sunday and i will bring Mrs Viper as pillion and we will do lunch and have a look.:cool:
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 03:07 PM
Ok your on.
We will pick a sunday and i will bring Mrs Viper as pillion and we will do lunch and have a look.:cool:
Righto, :cool:
I can get a photo of two old relics, Stonehenge and Jabba in one shot.
You cheeky git - you're older than me :smt045
I don't mind where we go really, but I like the idea of somewhere a bit different.
Speaking personally, the earlier the better as there's more chance of decent weather and its less likely to interfere with my football coaching duties.
Would i be welcome haven't been on a rideout yet..i know bridgwater, taunton, minehead, porlock well,,i'd suggest riding to taunton from bridgwater and then minehead that way,,i love the A358 to minehead from there,,plenty of bends and loads of overtaking if needed.. Just a suggestion. the road from bridgwater to minehead is boring when you get bogged down behind traffic..Still a nice route with some overtaking but for a decent ride not the best road really!!!!
Rich!
Ignor that bit about going Taunton, abit of a long way around. I checked the map and best route is A39. I like Riders though that would be a good meeting place!!!:rolleyes:
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 08:21 PM
Ignor that bit about going Taunton, abit of a long way around. I checked the map and best route is A39.
Yep it woud add a few miles to the route. TBH the A39 does give one the chance to hone ones overtaking skills between Bridgwater and Minehead
I like Riders though that would be a good meeting place!!!:rolleyes:
Trouble is, theres no Fuel at Riders, there is a filling station and a McDonalds around the corner, maybe the Sainsbury's carpark would make a better start point as it has access to both.
Trouble is its always busy on Saturday
tee jey
02-04-07, 08:34 PM
Zig Zag, that'll be fun, the road around the Deverills into Mere is a hoot as well.
Viper, I'm quite happy to do a reccie with you, expect Liz will to any excuse for a bimble on a nice day.
Oh and if you wanted to come alot more south, theres always the Weymouth to Bridport Coast road, Gives some nice views out across Chesil Beach
Have you considered a run up to Broadway and Fish Hill? There's a good food stop at the Gloscester and Warwickshire Railway terminus.
.
fizzwheel
02-04-07, 08:40 PM
Have you considered a run up to Broadway and Fish Hill? There's a good food stop at the Gloscester and Warwickshire Railway terminus.
Nope because I have no idea where that is :oops:
As long as the roads have some fun twisties I'll be up for the blat.:smt045
Nope because I have no idea where that is :oops:
Near Evesham, past Cheltenham Fizz - only a few miles down the road for me but a long, long way for most of the surfers.
fizzwheel
03-04-07, 08:42 AM
Near Evesham, past Cheltenham Fizz - only a few miles down the road for me but a long, long way for most of the surfers.
Umh that is a fair old ride to get up to that area...
tee jey
03-04-07, 11:35 AM
Nope because I have no idea where that is :oops:
About 16 miles NE of Cheltenham.
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new route would be nice(must include the little chef)........ any date will do as long as its saturday
tour of the ancints was good? some faster roads than the pollocks?
If things plan out right I wouldn't mind joining you on this one if that's ok. Only be my second rideout with a group. Mrs T (Kamakazy) may also be pursuaded to join in.
caz650s
04-04-07, 08:06 PM
Ok ...I feel left out now so put me down for the 15th and ignore my vote for the 29th :)
Ok ...I feel left out now so put me down for the 15th and ignore my vote for the 29th :)
No one here wants to put you down Caz.;)
I'm looking forward to the entertainment.... err.. rideout I mean :D
caz650s
05-04-07, 06:48 AM
No one here wants to put you down Caz.;)
I'm looking forward to the entertainment.... err.. rideout I mean :D
I'm getting worried now what do you mean 'entertainment' .. is my riding that bad ? :smt022
I'm getting worried now what do you mean 'entertainment' .. is my riding that bad ? :smt022
Thinking Little Chef type entertainment. :)
caz650s
05-04-07, 12:34 PM
Thinking Little Chef type entertainment. :)
Phew ! Cheers Beenz :thumbsup:
why wait until september? :confused:
:thumbsup:
If we give plenty of notice then there a good chance of a sizable turnout.
I don't want to clash with the AR or the North/South Run.
A good run needs to be recce'd.
Inn and pubs have to be sampled, the ".org" are a fussy lot.
Restaurant entertainment has to be arranged - it does happen by accident you know.
Suicide pheasants have to bred and trained.need I continue?
Why don't you have a bash at organising one Hovi5?
Why don't you have a bash at organising one Hovi5?
"asking for trouble" & "utter choas"
spring to mind
although a "tour of the anciants" would be good in mid summer
count me in for that ride out ..starts and finishes about 5 miles from my house so no excuses!!!
Inn and pubs have to be sampled, the ".org" are a fussy lot.
Only the best quality burgers will do for the Surfers :thumbsup:
I can't help thinking that a different route might be fun so long as it starts and finishes at the Tiverton Little Chef.
phil24_7
17-04-07, 11:19 PM
This all sounds very interesting. Haven't been on a rideout yet but am lookin to go on one of the .org's ones, as long as it ain't too far from me.
Anyone gonna go on this from the depths of Devon or Cornwall? May ride up wiv ya.
Are non SV's allowed?
Regards.
This all sounds very interesting. Haven't been on a rideout yet but am lookin to go on one of the .org's ones, as long as it ain't too far from me.
Anyone gonna go on this from the depths of Devon or Cornwall? May ride up wiv ya.
Are non SV's allowed?
Regards.
Theres a significant view for a start/end at Tiverton, is that close enough? Stingo maybe pursuaded to join us. Chances are that the route won't be Porlock again (thats Pollocks to you - Hovis :) ) . Personally I would like to stay south of the M5 maybe Sidmouth and the Lyme Regis area, but I dont know the roads so I'll take the advice of the locals.
Non SV's are of course welcome.
fizzwheel
18-04-07, 07:27 AM
Personally I would like to stay south of the M5 maybe Sidmouth and the Lyme Regis area, but I dont know the roads so I'll take the advice of the locals.
No but I do, sounds like then perhaps we have some options
1. Porlocks again, but in Reverse
2. Slighty different version of the Porlocks route ( start at Podimore Services, Bridgwater, Porlock, ( not on A396 though )Tiverton, Honiton, Chard, Finish at Podimore )
3. Dorset / Somerset route - Taking in Zig Zag hill near Shaftesbury
4. Tiverton, then Honiton and perhaps down to Lyme Regis, all along the coast to Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Portesham Hill ( Nice views out across to Portland ) Weymouth, Then pop up through Cerne Abbas ( Pass the Cerne Giant ) Sherborne, back through some local twisties to either Services at Sparkford or Podmore ( both good access to A37 back to Bristol or A303, or M5 via Bridgwater.
Probably a bit of work to sort a route out for Options 3 or 4, but I'm guessing that alot of you wont have ridden in those areas so it might be good for a new set of roads...
I quite like the sound of 3 & 4 above. I've heard of Zig Zag , but no idea where it is.
fraser01
18-04-07, 10:33 AM
I wouldnt mind doing this, be typical that i am bliming working! (used up all my leave so would have to land during my rest days) :)
fizzwheel
18-04-07, 11:57 AM
I quite like the sound of 3 & 4 above. I've heard of Zig Zag , but no idea where it is.
Its on this bit of road, B3081- Cann Common to Tollard Royal, Dorset/Wiltshire
Read more here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4683276.stm
Its on this bit of road, B3081- Cann Common to Tollard Royal, Dorset/Wiltshire
Read more here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4683276.stm
Cool. That is indeed ziggy (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=zig+zag+hill&layer=&sll=51.035565,-2.215462&sspn=0.189987,0.431213&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=50.998308,-2.158985&spn=0.047535,0.107803&om=1).
Theres a significant view for a start/end at Tiverton, is that close enough? Stingo maybe pursuaded to join us. Chances are that the route won't be Porlock again (thats Pollocks to you - Hovis :) ) . Personally I would like to stay south of the M5 maybe Sidmouth and the Lyme Regis area, but I dont know the roads so I'll take the advice of the locals.
Non SV's are of course welcome.
I might you know - I just might. I was going to come on the Porlocks but ended up having to do stuff of a domestic nature - it's the way of things I suppose.....alas - options 3 & 4 do look good.
tee jey
19-04-07, 03:24 PM
Theres a significant view for a start/end at Tiverton, is that close enough? Stingo maybe pursuaded to join us. Chances are that the route won't be Porlock again (thats Pollocks to you - Hovis :) ) . Personally I would like to stay south of the M5 maybe Sidmouth and the Lyme Regis area, but I dont know the roads so I'll take the advice of the locals.
Non SV's are of course welcome.
Tiverton is a bit far west for me, I'd prefer Fizz's sugestion for a ride in Dorset / Somerset.
.
fizzwheel
19-04-07, 03:29 PM
At the moment, the consensus is for a new route on Sat 15th September... Any dissenters say aye now.
TBH I dont really care, but there are some beautiful parts of the country around my neck of the woods. Seems a shame not to ride them.
phil24_7
19-04-07, 09:38 PM
15th sounds cool, should still be sunny!
Route 1, 2 or 4 look fine to me as I've not been on one before but as many seem to want to change the route then 4 would be best for me!
Don't wanna ride too far up country as my baby may get scared and home sick (my bike can be quite sensitive!).
Regards
fizzwheel
21-04-07, 04:35 PM
Nice day, been out for a bimble and worked out a route for Option 3 that I posted about before.
Covers, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire.
Start and Finish at Podimore Services, where the A37 & A303 meet, Has a little chef, and fuel and plenty of room for bikes to park.
A quick hop down the A303, and then take the A356 to Crewkerne, stay on the A356 and head to Dorchester. ( this is a mix of twisty technical B roads and A roads with wide sweeping bends and straights )
This comes out on the A37, head for Dorchester after a few miles take a left for Charminster, and Follow the A352 through Sydling St Nicholas and Cerne Abbas, ( more twisty B road fun, Theres a car park and an Ice Cream van by the Cerne Giant at Cerne Abbas, so could stop here for a leg stretch )
Keep Following the A352, Just before Sherborne take the A3030 towards Sturminster Newton. ( nice fast road, some twisties and open sweeping corners, good road surface )
Then Pick up A357 towards Blandford, Looks like a good pub in a village called Fiddleford, had a tarmac carpark and seating outside and was open all day for food, This is reached after about 60 miles so is probably a good time for a lunch stop.
Again mixture of twisties and wide sweeping bends, good fun and surface, theres a weird optical illusion / blind summit just before Durweston you'll think your going into Orbit but you wont.
After Durweston at the traffic lights for the bridge over the River Stour, take a left Follow A350 towards Stourpaine, then stay on that road all the way to Shaftesbury, its nice this bit, good surface and some really tight hairpin corners seperated by longish straights, a chance to test your braking and cornering skills very enjoyable.
At Shaftesbury, follow the A30 towards Sailsbury for a couple of hundred metres and then take the B3081, this will take you up the Infamous "Zig Zag Hill" its not as steep as Porlock, but it has more bends and they are tighter, on the GSXR this is a 1st gear clutch slip set of bends right on maximum steering lock. Good fun.
Then out across Cranborne Chase towards Sixpenny Handly, then take the A354 towards Sailsbury.
I peeled off before Sailsbury following Signs fo Sailsbury race course, then once I had passed that, I continued on towards Wilton. ( This was good as it means we dont have to navigate our way through Sailsbury on a Saturday afternoon, trust me you dont want to do this )
At the traffic lights in Wilton take a left ( you have to ) and the follow the A30 back towards Shaftesbury again, then at Shaftesbury ( about 120 miles covered by this point, theres a Tescos in Shaftesbury that would make a good fuel stop at this point ) Then take the A30 towards Sherborne.
This is 40 odd miles of sharp bends, agian with Long sweepers and straights I really opened the bike up along here. Good fun.
Then at Sherborne take the B3148 towards Marston Magna, follow a few back roads back to Podimore Services.
All in all a good ride I thought, a nice mixture of corners and straights, some technical some not, plenty of over taking oppportunities and apart from the A30 b*gger all traffic even on a Saturday afternoon.
All in all approx 140 miles.
How's that sound ? Interested ?
tee jey
22-04-07, 02:06 PM
All in all a good ride I thought, a nice mixture of corners and straights, some technical some not, plenty of over taking oppportunities and apart from the A30 b*gger all traffic even on a Saturday afternoon.
All in all approx 140 miles.
How's that sound ? Interested ?
Excellent, count me in for the 15th.
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