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Sun Aug 25th 2013

Cheddar Gorge	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: Shepton Mallet - Great Ostry Car Park - BA4 5TT
Description: UPDATED: Start time 10:00 by popular demand. Start from the Great Ostry Car park: http://carparkmaps.co.uk/carparks/view/14661 An interesting away day ride across the Somerset Levels and including the classic climb up Cheddar Gorge. 70km ride, but be prepared to get tired - most of the effort is in the back part of the ride. Please let Chris Walters know if you intend to come - this ride will not run without support.
Riders: Andy Newell Andy Pixton Chris Walters David Smith John Talbot John Tranter Katherine Boyce Nicole Pethybridge Richard Pethybridge Ursula Hallam Riders = 10 Weather: Report: The weather forecast was not quite right - it never quite managed "warm" and at times the wind was more ferocious than "gentle". I'm sitting here reflecting it could have been worse, as no more than 30 minutes after arriving back home, the heavens have well and truly opened! The ride really is one of four halves. Lots of undulations (even a couple of quite mean hills, and great views of Glastonbury Tor) before hitting stage 2 in the Somerset levels, before the main event of the Cheddar Gorge climb, followed by undulations back to Shepton Mallet. The first moment of note was the excellent brunch stop at Sweet's museum and cafe, which also revealed such esoterica as the engine and other bits from a Junker JU88 WWII crash wreckage, a Sinclair C5, several organs (of the keyboard variety), a pianola, a Stylophone (original) and a Van Der Graaf generator. Suitably fortified, the ascent of Cheddar was without major incident, save for Richard carrying on and missing the descent and subsequent re-ascent that five hardy souls tackled. Back on top of the plateau, we had a great wind assist most of the way to the Rocky Mountain garden centre cafe, which came at just the right time as the undulations took their toll. Afternoon tea taken (and much discussion about GPS), the remainder of the ride was relatively painless with the fantastic descent into Shepton Mallet, where our Chairman promptly threw his house and car keys down the drain, only for a team effort to retrieve them to avert a disaster. Great ride, great people - thanks for making it a memorable occasion!
Distance: 81.60 km (50.70 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1694140
Descending onto the Somerset Levels Rock Cake Coffee Shop Glastonbury Tor
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2291523"
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Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information