Its been a couple of months since my last blog, what with working in Scotland , the school holidays , the Olympics and walking Bosley the Beagle , it hasn’t stopped me cycling I’ve just been making the most of the late evenings.
I’ve had some amazing rides out in all sorts of conditions from deep mud to scorching sun.
The ride to work has been a pleasure , riding across the Twin sails bridge in the morning , flat calm water the squawk of the seagulls and hardly any traffic , leading to to a spectacular sunrise over Bournemouth Airport makes the effort of getting up at 5am all the more worth while.
And its been good to see more people cycling to work.
On the downside I have been knocked off my bike. Riding home from work a car pulled out of the petrol station at the Mountbatten roundabout - I managed to brake but still hit him and went straight over his bonnet landing in a heap in front of the car, luckily I slowed enough to only end up with slight grazing to my knees and an undamaged bike .
I was totally amazed when as I was still lying in the road the driver tried to blame me rather than asking if I was ok!!!! But thank you to the lady who stopped to see if I was ok.
Which leads me to cycle helmets being made compulsory. It's up to the individual if they decide to wear one or not, but in my opinion I think everyone should wear a helmet. That one accident just proves a point - going over a car bonnet with my head hitting the ground and all I suffer is slight grazing to my knees.
I have been wearing a helmet for over 20 years and feel uncomfortable if I don’t wear one, the same feeling I get when I get into a car and not putting on a seatbelt.
As a mountain biker I have come off my bike a few times and ended up with a broken wrist , cracked ribs , various knocks and bruises and would have had some serious knocks to my head if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet .
But the choice is still yours to make.
As I have said I’ve had some great rides out over the past couple of months , from fairly easy tracks to very steep climbs , but still taking in Dorset’s beauty.
Cranborne Chase and Ackling Dyke.
An area of outstanding natural beauty , Chase meaning hunting grounds. Starting at Gussage All Saints, ride up to Harley Gap via the roman road saying hello to John Ironmonger who looks over the Chase we carry on to Sixpenny Handley and some single track and onto Pentridge crossing the Neolithic Curses at bowling green lane , a nice fast run into Cranborne and up past Squirrels corner and back to Gussage.
22 miles of flowing tracks a few climbs and magnificent views.
Horton Tower and Ferndown forest
Starting at the white sheet plantation near Holt heath we head towards Horton Tower through Ferndown forest , this was supposed to be a summers day ride but ended up as mud more mud with mud thrown in.
Having to push the bikes the last 100yards in priors copse after Andy my mate snapped his chain.
Past Horton Tower, a five storey gothic observatory that stands like a space rocket , Then onto Chalbury and a 13th century church that’s well worth a visit, We gave up trying to miss the puddles and mud and ended up just ploughing through it all as it was so wet ( it was good fun though ) Onto Woodlands Park and Holt Heath , a very muddy 15 miles . See the route
Corfe Castle and Swyre Head.
This next ride was a 50 mile epic on a fantastic summers day, riding down to the Sandbanks ferry and over to Studland, over the heath to Old Harry Rock a hard climb to the Obelisk and a very fast descent, followed by a lung busting climb up Godlingston hill and along nine barrow down with Corfe Castle standing proud.
Onto Swyre Head via Kingston through Heavens gate to a teeth rattling descent and onwards to Steeple leaze Farm and tricky descent.
Heading for Grange Arch a folly built in 1746 to a very fast downhill past the quarry and a good piece of single track to Norden, Back to the ferry via Rempstone Heath, Then stopping on Poole quay to replenish our fluids with some water called Grumpy Govener, And onto Cobbs Quay and the Boathouse for a bacon and brie baguette and cheesy chips.
This was one of the best mtb rides we have had, sun sea and single track. See the route
Wareham Forest and Gore Heath.
Starting in the carpark in Gore Heath we head into the forest for 17 miles of awesome single track, that’s if you can follow my map.
Then over the road to wareham forest to stroud bridge over the Piddle to Bere Regis, A short stop at the church for an energy bar and dodge a rain shower, then onto Bloxworth via Bere Heath, back into wareham forest and past Woolbarrow hill fort and back to the car.
A total of 33 miles of single track, woodland a water splash and a piddle.
Bere Regis
Heading towards Bloxworth with a steep climb and through Bere wood, past the church , Onto west Morden, Winterborne Zelston then Great Coll Wood for some epic single track.
If you can head towards Winterborne Tomson to stop at a 12th century boat shaped church ( a hidden delight ).
Down the roman road into Winterborne Kingston along Bagwood road and a muddy Burt Lane Hollow and back to Bere Regis waiting for ages to cross the A35.
A good 15miles a quick change and straight onto the next ride.
The Lower Piddle Valley.
Riding through Bere Regis looking at the Olympic scarecrows, into Shitterton ( yes it’s a real name ) A climb up Black Hill, see if you can spot phone mast disguised as a tree at the top.
Heading towards Milborne St Andrew turning left down Stag Lane and a blast into Tolpuddle, Onto Athelhampton and long section of bridleway all the way to Briantspuddle, A good section of single track following the river to throop through a deep ford ( at least it cleans the bike) and back to Black Hill.
15 miles of mud again and wet feet .
Puddletown Forest and Hardys Cottage.
We did this route twice. But need to go back to ride the single track.
From Puddletown we go over the A31 along the Ridgeway/Gaddys lane and into Yellow ham wood and past Hardys cottage, a blast through Puddletown Forest and onto Rod hill lane and back to The Blue Vinney for a pint.
Chaldon down
Starting at Winfrith Newburgh we take the bridleway past the five marys and just keep riding on a long stretch of bridleway coming out just before Osmington, turning left for Upton and a nice fast downhill, but then a very long steep uphill to Ringstead Bay, and onwards for a flowing track to daggers Gate, and then a nice fast sprint back to the car.
Maiden Castle and Hardys Monument.
Leaving the carpark at Maiden Castle which is the largest iron age hill fort in Britain.
We head towards hardys monument along the national cycle route and up Rew hill.
Hardys Monument is a 72ft monument erected in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, of the battle of Trafalgar fame.
Onto Portesham via Benecke wood, then the old railway line to Abbotsbury, and now for the hard bit a very hard climb up past jubilee coppice to a excellent rocky downhill, just don’t come off as it will hurt, Heading past the stone circle for a very fast sweeping downhill at littlebredy ,this take a lot of nerves on the grassy corner.
But if you go down you have to go back up again a very steep climb and a nice forest run back to the monument , taking the coastal bridleway and then a flat downhill back to Maiden Castle.
22.5 miles of mud sweat gears and stunning views with a very big smile.
Charminster Down.
From Charminster we ride the national cycle route to Maiden newton, A big climb leading to Sydling St Nicholas, but an even bigger climb up Shearplace Hill and a nice long ride back to Charminster.
17 miles of easy to follow route.
Hooke park and Eggardon hill fort.
From Maiden Newton to Higher Wraxall via a very washed out lane,( how much rain did they get).
Onto Hooke and Hooke park and a nice downhill to South Porton, to one of the best single tracks to west Milton ( its starts with a drop off washed out stone sweeping path to a deep sided gully awesome ) Up to Nettlecombe and one very long and very steep ride up past Eggardon fort, to a fast ride down Shatcombe Lane and Toller Fratrum and back to Maiden Newton.
20 miles of Dorset at its best and meeting a Jaguar XK120 at Eggardon hill.
This is what mountain biking is all about stunning rides, stunning views, and seeing things you would never see, and of course a cup of tea and danish at the end ( and the odd beer ).
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