Club News - April 2025
In this edition:
Dates for Your Diary: Calendar for Away Days and other events
A Free Lunch for club riders on Sunday 4 May
Weston-Super-Mare/Cheddar Gorge split ride arrangements
Arrangements for Road Closure between Yatton Keynell and Grittleton
Ride Safety and Ride Etiquette
Corsham Town Council Family Cycle Ride
Committee membership
Dates for Your Diary
Provisional Calendar for 2025 (updated April 2025)
Set out below are the events, in addition to the usual route schedule, that we are planning for 2025.
May: A Free Lunch for riders on Sunday 4 May
May: Split ride 1 WSM/Cheddar Gorge (Sun 11 May)
May: Long weekend to Belgium 16-18 May
May: Active travel group family ride (Sunday 18 May)
June: Challenge weekend (14/15 June); overnight in Taunton
July: Green+ weekend (5/6 July); two rides from Hereford
July: Century Challenge (Sun 20 July)
Aug: Flat 200k/120k (green+ oriented) (Sun 17 Aug)
Sept: Split ride 2 (Sun 14 Sept)
Dec: Christmas do (date tbc)
Dec: AGM (date tbc)
Many thanks to those of you who signed up for one of the three events which involve stays away from Corsham. These are:
The Long Weekend to Belgium (16-18 May): still time for some late bookings.
The Challenge Weekend (14/15 June): Corsham - Taunton - Corsham.
The Green Plus Away Weekend (5/6 July) is now full but there is a waiting list!
If you are interested in any of these but have not yet contacted the club, please get in touch via corshamcc@gmail.com asap.
A Free Lunch for Riders on Sunday 4 May
Our esteemed chairman has moved into the next Strava age-group category! To mark this event, Tom (the aforementioned Chairman) and Margaret would like to invite all riders for a bite to eat immediately after the club ride on Sunday 4th May. We can cater for a good turnout but we need to know who is coming along and whether they have any dietary requirements. To this end, if you would like to join us please text Margaret on 07745 015163 and indicate any dietary requirements.
Weston-super-Mare split ride Sunday 11th May
Here is your chance to ride up through the iconic Cheddar Gorge.
The long route
Start from Springfield at 7.30am. This is a challenging ride of 103 miles with 6861 feet of climbing. The route goes down Burrington Combe to WSM and back up Cheddar Gorge. Arguably the hardest climb is the short but sharp climb from Farleigh Hungerford towards Westwood in the second half of the ride, a real sting in the tail.
The short route
The meeting point for the 50 mile ride to WSM and back up Cheddar Gorge is at the Forestry England car Park at East Harptree, postcode BS40 6DA. The route is 49 miles with 2717 feet of climbing. Most of the climbing is up the Gorge. The climb has a couple of steep hairpins near the bottom after which it eases out to a steady 2-4% drag. If you can cycle Bowden Hill, you can do Cheddar Gorge.
Please note at the car park there are no toilet facilities and there is a height restriction of 1.98m (6ft 6in) - take care if you have bikes on the roof rack - although there is room to park outside the barrier if needs be. Arrive in good time for a 9am start.
Riders doing the short route should make their own arrangements for transport to and from the meeting point. It will be helpful if you have a lift with someone who rides at a similar speed as you!
The planned cafe stop for both rides is Stones Cafe, Weston-super-Mare
Road Closure between Yatton Keynell and Grittleton
Our oft used road between Yatton Keynell and Grittleton has road closure signs to 9 May. To date the road has been passable for cyclists on most occasions. However, if the road is completely closed, ride leaders/experienced riders should have an alternative in mind. To this end please check your routes for alternatives before setting off.
Ride safety and etiquette
Over recent months we have had a number of new riders join the club. On club rides, rides leaders and/or experienced riders should make sure all are aware of how we try to ride: stick together as a group - no dropping; waiting at the top of hills and allowing the last riders up time to get their breath back before setting off again; be aware of others in the group - no overlapping wheels; help each other - call out or point to potholes and other hazards.
Corsham Town Council Family Cycle Ride: Sunday 18th May
Corsham’s Active Travel group (of which your club chairman is a member) is organising a Family Cycle Ride using cycle paths and quiet lanes in and around Corsham. It is a 10km ride and is mostly flat. Entry will be limited to 50 participants who would ride in smaller groups.
We are looking for volunteers who could give up an hour or so on that Sunday to operate either as guides i.e. ride with small groups of families or help with road crossings where the route crosses main roads. If you think you could help out, please let us know at corshamcc@gmail.com
Committee membership
We say a big thanks to Alec Wright, who has recently stood down from the committee after several years sterling work including looking after membership procedures, organising taster rides and group skills rides at Odd Down. Tom White now looks after membership but we still need a replacement committee member. If you are interested please get in touch via corshamcc@gmail.com or by chatting to a committee member on a ride. Current committee members are listed here.