Category Archives: Routes

Club Ride : Sunday 28th August 2016

Dolphin 40-60 miles News No Comments
Pete Gillespie's route, taking in Wells and the Mendips. Meet 9am Priory School. https://www.strava.com/routes/6284003
Total distance: 46.27 mi
Max elevation: 899 ft
Min elevation: 11 ft
Total climbing: 2779 ft
Total descent: -2779 ft
Download

Club Ride 24th August 2016

News Porpoise 20-40 miles No Comments
Meet at 6pm, Priory School
Total distance: 30.32 mi
Max elevation: 463 ft
Min elevation: 8 ft
Total climbing: 1417 ft
Total descent: -1416 ft
Download

Club Ride 21st August 2016

Dolphin 40-60 miles News No Comments
Sunday morning club ride : 45 Miles /72 km - meet at Priory School entrance 9am. Guest riders welcome
Total distance: 44.7 mi
Max elevation: 879 ft
Min elevation: 10 ft
Total climbing: 2526 ft
Total descent: -2524 ft
Download

Sunday club ride New kit special !

Dolphin 40-60 miles News Reports No Comments
Weston Wheelers Cycling Club – Ride report 7th August 2016. A little early morning drizzle could not dampen the spirits of the sixteen riders that assembled at Priory School on Sunday morning; for the Weston Wheelers Cycling Club regular group ride. The club ride had special significance due to the arrival of the newly redesigned club riding kit. A suitably enthused group of riders left Weston Super Mare via the quiet roads towards Wick St Lawrence and headed towards Congresbury. Taking the turning towards Brinsea, the club commenced the long ascent up to Shipham. What goes up, must come down, and even with slightly damp conditions, speeds approaching 40MPH brought smiles to faces before inevitably, the riders slowed as they neared Cheddar. Making progress as a group, the club, made a lesser ascent through Rodney Stoke, passing through Clewer and Cocklake before taking to the Somerset Levels and the arrow straight back roads. It was a little unfortunate that the strengthening wind reduced the riders average speed, but it did provide an opportunity to their 'through and off' technique as they took turns to take the brunt of the headwind. Glastonbury Tor, visible for miles on the flat terrain, provided a focus for the clubs efforts and the relatively quiet Sunday traffic, meant the riders made good time to the base of the tor. The short, sharp, incline to the top of the road encircling the tor certainly woke the legs up, if it were needed; pausing at the top to catch their breath and for a brief photo call. Descending the tor a welcome cafe stop in the centre of the town provided a brief respite from their labours. An improving weather situation, barring the gusty wind, had long since dried the roads and with the sun on their faces, the club enjoyed a beverage in the August sun. Refreshed and with water bottles refilled the Wheelers commenced the ride home. Although the wind was now consistently in their faces and flat terrain enabled a rapid pace to be set through Meare and Mark, and before long, Brent Knoll approached. Skirting the knoll, even though a tongue in cheek suggestion was made to ride over the obstruction, the riders now turned northward and with a final stretch of their legs along a sprint segment, the club returned to Weston Super Mare. The Wheelers welcomed Mat to his first Wheelers group ride today. And although he had to battle through a nagging old injury, Mat completed the ride in the company of the group. Several new club members also took part in the ride, having previously ridden with the club on a number of occasions The route covered 60 miles with a wind affected average speed of around 16 MPH, with approximately 1600 feet of ascent. Any local riders wanting to try group riding are welcome to ride as a guest with the Weston Wheelers on their regular club rides; Sunday at 9am and Wednesday at 6pm – meeting outside Priory School. Details can be found on their website;http://westonwheelers.cc/ Duncan Robertson Club Secretary

Had cake and ate it!

Dolphin 40-60 miles News Reports Routes No Comments
This weeks ride was a re run of a route first cycled in January when the weather was a bit nippier but only just! Ten riders set off from Priory at 9 am and included our new young rider Ben on his first outing with the wheelers and only his second week in the saddle! Heading out through St Georges and under grey skies we crossed the A370 and over a couple of small climbs through the charming villages of Christon and Loxton. With cake on our minds we quickly got into formation and flew through Wedmore up over Mudgley Hill to arrive at Sweets Café for Tea and Cake. Feeling refreshed we continued on our journey in a southerly direction towards Bridgwater and then on to Woolavington when the heavens opened. Soaking wet but with the wind behind us we headed home via Burnham seafront and Lympsham. This weeks ride was a great day of PR's with several members beating there best times on Strava. Because of the tail wind the ride averaged 17.7 Mph over a 52 mile route climbing 1800ft. Well done all who joined us especially Ben who could be a Cavendish in the making. The Wheelers meet every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning why not join us for a ride.

Wheelers do the Great Weston Ride 17/07/16

News Orca 80+ miles Reports No Comments
    There was mist in the air as the Wheelers left Weston-super-Mare at 07.30 Sunday 17th July for a circular ride taking in the Great Weston Ride in aid of Prostate Cancer research. This year it had been agreed that the lead riders would not tear up the road at 25 mph leaving a trail of blue and yellow jerseys in their wake and, for ten minutes or so, we kept strictly to the plan. We regrouped at Brockley coombe where our lady members joined us and set off again for the Long Ashton Park and ride; the departure point for the GWR. The plan was to complete all the additional loops to make a round trip distance of about 100 miles. The goal was to stick together so the public would see a phalanx of almost 20 Wheelers jerseys passing through each village. All went well until the first climb began after half a mile, and the group became a chain which broke in several places as the different climbing styles emerged. We regrouped at the top and split apart during the descent of Belmont hill as the heavy, the reckless and the ones with poor brakes left behind the those with a more measured approach. The mist burned away, the sky cleared the sun shone and after the frantic dash across Chew valley into a head wind, the slog up Burrington Coomb, the mind-blowing drop down from Shipham quarry to Cheddar which saw some of the Wheelers reach 50 mph, the ascent of Cheddar gorge we renewed our commitment to keep the pace steady, avoid becoming strung out and move as a coordinated unit. At the official refreshment area at Hugh Sexey’s school coffee was drunk, and some excellent cake consumed as we consolidated once again. We set off together for the final push for home and maintained a reasonable formation until we turned into the wind at Bridgewater. The Wheeler’s disintegrated; the big guys pushed to the front of each fragment as the rest of us sheltered behind. A final regroup at Uphill and we rode to the finish line as we started, together. You would be wrong to mistake this for a tale of dysfunction and disagreement. The Wheelers are not clones, we are individuals with our own strengths and weaknesses, but we respect our differences and nobody minds waiting at the top, the bottom, or the end of along drag. What might seem like chaos is camaraderie and you are welcome to become part of it. Jonathon McMillan - Wheeler  

One way ticket to Taunton and back

News Reports Routes No Comments
    One Way Ticket This week’s route was created by yours truly and for a change the ride started with a train journey. We all met at Weston Station to catch the 9.00am train to Taunton. The GWR bike policy states that no more than 3 bikes are allowed at one time, so we were extremely lucky for all eight of us to be allowed on to the train. Luckily the very lovely conductor Zoe, was also a keen cyclist. Once we reached our starting point in Taunton the route kicked in and we were off on our 60 mile journey back to sunny Weston Super Mare. The first part of the route, took us north along the A358, through Bishops Lydeard, from then on it was climbing all the way. The first real challenge was Triscombe Hill and although the GPS showed this as a road, in actuality it was slightly worse than a bridal path, more suited to mountain bikes than a carbon road bike! This was confirmed at the top of the 12% climb when we were greeted by dozens of muddy mountain bikers. Although we looked out of place, they were all very friendly and pointed us in the direction of the nearest road. Next came the well earnt downhill spectacular as we twisted and turned through the picturesque ‘Great Wood’ forest. Now completely lost we were fortunate to encounter a lady on horseback who directed us to the Pines Café for our scheduled cake stop. However there was another 2 miles of climbing before we would reach our cake reward. Once refreshed, we continued on our epic journey and after a quick puncture repair, came a 3 mile descent into North Petherton crossing over the M5 and on to Othery. Staying on the A361, we worked together in a group pedaling against a tough head wind all the way to Pedwell. The final journey back to Weston, took us through some beautiful villages and our final climb was over the steep side of Brent Knoll, through Lympsham and home. This week’s ride totalled 60 miles and averaged 15.7 mph and 2841 ft of climbing. A big thank you goes to Alex, Paul G, Duncan, Andy J, Wayne, Dave, Andy P, Pete and Zoe the train conductor. The Wheelers meet every Sunday at 9.00am and Wednesday at 6.00pm at Priory School. So why not join us for a ride!

Sunday Club Ride 08/05/16

Dolphin 40-60 miles News No Comments
QuantockView-200This week we are trying something new! Please all meet at the Weston Train Station for 8.50am ready to catch the 9am train to Taunton. We arrive in Taunton at 9.30am and then cycle back to Weston via the Quantocks. The train ticket is £8.10. They may not let us on so as a back up plan we will be cycling to Enmore and back. Please click on the link below for Locomotive cycling action! https://www.strava.com/routes/4897628