DIY Up and Down Somerset

Ride Details

Series 6 Audax Season 2024-25, Ride number 4

Ride Stats

Ride Notes

Being a bit of a lightweight (motivationally rather than actual weight, obviously) I deferred this ride from Saturday to Sunday because it was a bit wet! I’m glad I did because actually it was a lovely morning as I set off on quiet Sunday roads from Home towards Cleeve and the first of four #bigclimbs. I haven’t been up this hill for ages and it was very lovely indeed with a weak winter sun trying to break through.

Very quickly after came the second #bigclimb…. Burrington. Those who know me well will attest that I’m not keen on this one - I think, after some introspection, that the last upward section after the second cattle grid plays on my mind - its just wrong in so many ways! However, I rolled up nicely and was making good time towards coffee at Middlewick. Guy had planned his ‘social Sunday’ to meet me there, and I was joined by a rabble of 5 after arriving slightly early - glad I did as I’d have been waiting ages. Once back on the road things seemed chillier but the craic with the chaps had given me a lift and I pressed on south to Sandford Orcas via Castle Cary (which was closed), looping back around to Yeovilton/Ilchester - oops - major flooding issue after Chilton Cantelo which I couldn’t avoid meant wet feet for the rest of the ride. Langport came quite quickly and there was more flooding, with the cycle path closed. However this time I could route through the town rather than having to get wet again.

The second stop was at the North Curry Community Cafe - labelled forever by Trev (PBUH) as the Communist cafe. The ladies serving didn’t look like left-wing radicals and they provided me with a lovely coffee and what has to be the best Cheese Scone in Somerset, all for the ludicrously low price of four quid. It was warm as well…. and I could’ve just stayed there TBH, but once fed and rested I headed out towards the Quantock hills for the last two #bigclimbs. The first was rather benign as it happens - up towards Broomfield from Thurloxton - before a sketchy descent into Kingston St Mary. Obviously I saved myself for the last one - the ‘Alpe de Cothelstone’. Its a brute (max 17%), seems to go on and on and is best avoided when you are tired, which I was. I winched up pretty slowly and was glad to get to the top. The final 26km down Enmore, through a relatively quiet Bridg and home on the A38 was cold and grey and I was glad to finish in a not so shabby time.

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