Dorset Ride Sunday 20th May

[MellowYellow]

That bloody airfield.

It's a marmite place. Great when quiet and sunny, nightmare on other occasions.

Hate the zigzag but have taken several groups up there as a 'rite of passage'. My elder brother (75) enjoyed it en route to Swanage.

[billinom8s]

nah, i went there one day - had a puncture on the way, eventually left there and got a puncture on the way home. left about 8 in the morning and didn't get home until gone 11 in the evening. recovery trucks and their relay distances, then swap overs, then another delivery of a bike.

it just went on and on.

[Gimlet]

Airfield was fine. Not overly busy for a sunny Sunday and we had no problem finding a table. Even Lulworth Cove wasn't that hectic. The car park was full, it always is, year-round. I confess I'd never ventured into the cafe before Sunday and I was slightly concerned it might be a congested rip-off but it wasn't. There were plenty of tables, we got served quickly, chips were good too and the prices reasonable.

Zig-zag wasn't a destination in itself, it was just on the route. It's just a novelty anyway, not a serious biking road, the surface is too poor. It would be great if it was a dirt track and my 1190 was an R with knobblies on. The supermoto boys like it though as do some of the local boy racers in evenings with their rear wheel drive BMWs. Had a bit of fun with them on a few occasions. Perversely I actually find it more fun going downhill.
What is thoroughly worthwhile though is the sweeping high speed section that comes between Zig-zag and Tollard Royal. It's worth the ascent for that alone which is precisely why we went up it. On this occasion we were stuck on the hill behind a blond women in a Jag XKR who was unaware the car had an accelerator and had no idea how to steer round corners. She was soon history when the road opened up.

[billinom8s]

Did anyone use a tracker to map the route out?

[Gimlet]

I've got a feeling someone did. either Chr1s or Jug Inspector I think. I've got it all recorded in my head as they're all roads I ride regularly. Did try to draw the route on Google maps for other people's reference but the useless thing would never allow me to complete it no matter what I tried.
I could ride it again tomorrow or show you exactly on a paper map.

[ptolemyx]

Sounds like y'all had a blast. How about doing it again later in the year when I should be able to come out to play?

[Jug]

Yes Si, I have the track log.

[Gimlet]

Did you record it all from start to finish Richard? That would be cool if you could let Simon have the exact route. I could ride it again in my sleep or trace it on a paper map with ease but trying to give written directions that are easy to follow for the whole route, some of which was on unmarked roads, might be tricky.

Very happy to do it again Brian. Best to avoid the school holidays as the Purbecks will be well and truly rammed then. I'm pretty tied up till the end of June with a trip to Scotland so July or September might be doable.

[Jug]

Yep, from the kick off at Axminster all the way to Westbay.

Si, let me know what format you'd like it in, or how you'd like to view it.

[AndyW]

.gpx (Garmin) for me please and maybe .kml (Google Earth) for non satnav'ers.
ITN Converter
http://www.benichou-software.com/index. ... =3&lang=en

[Gimlet]

Do we have a members-only route library where routes can be posted up in whatever format for other members to follow? If not maybe we should.

[billinom8s]

there is a section in the subscribers area where routes can be posted, would have to dig it out though as i don't think its been used in a bit.

hi Rich, could i have it on google maps please? i don't have a sat nav so would only be looking at maps other than that.

thanks