Bearprint Cheddar Gorge 34 mile roundtrip completed :-)

[bazwaldo]

Hello everyone,
A while ago I posted that I would like to attempt a 34 mile roundtrip from my home town of Street in Somerset up through Cheddar Gorge and back to Street via Wells.
This idea was inspired by fellow members AlanB and scarrabri who have posted details of some terrific outings of their own.
Well yesterday with the Summer sunshine arriving late in the year but carrying on over the past few days I decided to give my proposed trip a try.
The planned route was Street to Wedmore to Cheddar Gorge to Priddy then the Old Bristol road back to Wells and back to Street.

The day seemed pretty perfect with warm sunshine and little wind.
I made up a packed lunch and picked up a camera and set off.
Everything went really well, my battery lasted the whole 34 mile trip and so did I!?!
The toughest moment was cycling up through Cheddar Gorge, most of it was ok but there is one short twisting climb which was so steep that even with the motor and 1st gear the only way I could get up it was to stand up on the pedals and work really hard to avoid having to stop and push the bike.
I was puffing and panting but managed to keep going over this worst part and then carried on up to Priddy.
It seems to be a continual climb all the way from Cheddar to Priddy on top of the Mendip Hills.
Being such a lovely day there were other cyclists travelling up the Gorge including some "Lycra" enthusiasts. I passed several and they responded cheerfully to my "Good afternoon!" as I went by, I have to take my hat off to them completing this ride just by leg power only!

Coming back into Wells via the Old Bristol road was fun as it was mostly down hill all the way.
I was hoping to attempt membership of the 50 mile per hour club but the road was a bit bumpy and having gone as fast as 43.8 mph I had to use my brakes to feel safe on the descent!

My Cateye Velo 8 computer said that the actual cycle time excluding stops was 2hrs 4 mins.
My average speed was 16.4 mph with an estimated 1086 calories used!

I stopped at various places to take some photos which I will attempt to place into this post.
A leisurely lunch was also enjoyed at the green in Priddy.
My previous attempts to embed photos have failed miserably but here goes!
Well only the text links show without the photos, I will remove the IMG code to leave just the link itself.
How frustrating!


1) Starting out from Street
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4TccHafgptBqDzxPN_RFDw?feat=directlink

2) Church at Meare
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Tqvavg8k9-V43HDIQTgWfA?feat=directlink

3) George Hotel at Wedmore
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BI5z2ciusEvY9m1V8cKNzg?feat=directlink

4) My bike on the road towards Cheddar
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SIa6z6S5O48B-r5W6Ev_rg?feat=directlink

5) View towards Cheddar Gorge
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/765jwe4vdUEzp90Hi6cqpw?feat=directlink

6) A nice pint of St.Austell Tribute Real Ale in Cheddar, it cost £3-20p which is a lot more than I pay in my local Wetherspoons I suppose this is the Tourist price day trippers have to expect!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Kns_Z0Ar1jV-4M2XfN025w?feat=directlink

7) The White Hart Inn at Cheddar where I purchased my pint
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7LI9bmFqyfZttEIkNcJWww?feat=directlink

8) The Original Cheddar Cheese shop
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R4cnhwBhZHhDopCB-xkHGg?feat=directlink

9) Lower Gorge
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bJHCN26UuctLT0jzkmB2yg?feat=directlink

10) Higher up the Gorge
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-vS1DPzF9n2WgajWo3eq4Q?feat=directlink

11) Lunch at Priddy green by the thatched hurdle store
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIFoPOVnPcpef7mkNwP1Pg?feat=directlink

12) The sign dating the Priddy hurdle store from the Black Death of 1348!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MIQeCredzSqpBANlArKrgg?feat=directlink

13} Wells Cathedral
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dta3_1qYSgw8M_4RVhtczA?feat=directlink

14) Wells Cathedral zoomed in!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I4Vwbs8PlieTR597-wC2dw?feat=directlink

Well I really enjoyed my challenging trip and was really pleased that my battery lasted the distance even after the 5200+ miles it has assisted me to travel over the last 11 months.

Best wishes to all!
Barry.

 

[Spinalot]

A very nice write up. I look forward to having some adventures like this myself.

 

[eddieo]

jeez those panniers look full! where you expecting to be away for the week! well done...

Odd the bike looks identical to my old wisper 905SE

spinalot, what was Nec show like..awaiting your first impressions with interest

 

[bazwaldo]

Hi eddio, yes it does look as though I have everything incuding the kitchen sink!?!
I try to take everything I might need in case of breakdown, hurricanes, etc!
My flask of tea went down a treat on Priddy green.
This is my usual setup I use for my work commute.
The Bearprint does look like a cheaper Wisper although at £1200 it is not much cheaper!

Barry.

 

[funkylyn]

Great report Barry and great photos.....
Have you never thought of ditching all those panniers and maybe getting up the gorge without so much effort ? LOL

I was thinking of cycling up there myself but not sure I am up to it....but sure the Tonaro would be.......

Lynda

 

[bazwaldo]

Thanks Lynda,
It's definitely a worthwhile trip and with your new Tonaro with it's gearing amplified through the crank drive I reckon you can do it!
Mind you I chose a very good day, sunny and warm with little wind which helped both me and the bike to perform to our best abilities.
As I mentioned the Gorge itself wasn't too bad apart from one very very steep left hand bend - if you try it you'll know which one!!
Good luck if you are able to take it on.
Barry.

 

[Alan B]

Well done Barry, my sort of trip.

I know the bend you mean, I managed OK in the granny gear, but had to work a lttle.

I was there on Saturday (on the motorbike) watching the cyclists coming up as part of a 70km Audax event. My ambition is to do one of these on a normal bike, but don't know if the bad back will ever allow it.

Regarding the photos you should be able to load them so they're viewable, but don't ask me how. Mine are always resized and loaded to the site first, and then attached to the message. This provides thumbnails, but image quality suffers.

cheers,
Alan

 

[Artstu]

I like this one

and this one

 

[flash]

Really enjoyed reading the account of your ride brought back many happy memories.