Well, what a great day! Weather was a bit overcast and chilly when met at the ferry.
Jonnyboy was there before me and, while we chatted, a steady stream of amazing retro rides started to appear.
A brilliant turn out (over 20 riders ) assembled and checked out each others rides.
Once the group was all there we boarded the ferry for the short trip across to Studland.
Once across, we headed along the coast road for 1/2 a mile and then turned off onto the fire road.
Soon we were onto our first climb. A short but tricky bugger that soon blew away the cobwebs. This coincided with the sun coming out, so a few jackets and jumpers came off!
It was then a very quick, and rocky, decent where we had our first mechanical(s). Thanks Jonny for helping out with my mates bust brake cable. I owe you one mate!
It was onto a blast across some open fields before a splash through the stream (only remembered the bridge after getting soaked) and then a mix of firetrack and the odd road before we stopped before our first serious accent.
This was a leg-sapping climb up an ever increasing gradient on a gravely and rocky path before we emerged at the top of the Purbecks overlooking Corfe Castle.
A short stop for breath, but lunch was calling us in Corfe, so time for a quality quick downhill into the village.
Most had tea and cake, but I had beer and a prawn bagette
With full bellies we then negotiated the hill we decended before lunch, but took the gentle lower route.
With prawns weighing heavy in my tum, the steeper climbs really told but we all made it backuptothe top to be rewarded with some fantastic sea views.
Time to head back towards the ferry (and for some great singletrack downhill sections ). Highlight of this was riding behind my mate when he went straight over the bars! Still laughing at it now
Rounded the ride off with a pint in Poole bay.
All in all a fantastic day with a great crowd and some cracking bikes!
Thanks to Raymondmole and his mates for sorting a brilliant route that kept all riders involved.
Bring on the IOW!!
Some pics......
On the ferry...
The short and straight road
Top of the world!!
Tea?......and cakes? Oh no
The last of the steep climbs...
Team pic while waiting for stragglers (and golfers!)
My ride for the day... 1993 Jamis Dragon
Jonnyboy was there before me and, while we chatted, a steady stream of amazing retro rides started to appear.
A brilliant turn out (over 20 riders ) assembled and checked out each others rides.
Once the group was all there we boarded the ferry for the short trip across to Studland.
Once across, we headed along the coast road for 1/2 a mile and then turned off onto the fire road.
Soon we were onto our first climb. A short but tricky bugger that soon blew away the cobwebs. This coincided with the sun coming out, so a few jackets and jumpers came off!
It was then a very quick, and rocky, decent where we had our first mechanical(s). Thanks Jonny for helping out with my mates bust brake cable. I owe you one mate!
It was onto a blast across some open fields before a splash through the stream (only remembered the bridge after getting soaked) and then a mix of firetrack and the odd road before we stopped before our first serious accent.
This was a leg-sapping climb up an ever increasing gradient on a gravely and rocky path before we emerged at the top of the Purbecks overlooking Corfe Castle.
A short stop for breath, but lunch was calling us in Corfe, so time for a quality quick downhill into the village.
Most had tea and cake, but I had beer and a prawn bagette
With full bellies we then negotiated the hill we decended before lunch, but took the gentle lower route.
With prawns weighing heavy in my tum, the steeper climbs really told but we all made it backuptothe top to be rewarded with some fantastic sea views.
Time to head back towards the ferry (and for some great singletrack downhill sections ). Highlight of this was riding behind my mate when he went straight over the bars! Still laughing at it now
Rounded the ride off with a pint in Poole bay.
All in all a fantastic day with a great crowd and some cracking bikes!
Thanks to Raymondmole and his mates for sorting a brilliant route that kept all riders involved.
Bring on the IOW!!
Some pics......
On the ferry...
The short and straight road
Top of the world!!
Tea?......and cakes? Oh no
The last of the steep climbs...
Team pic while waiting for stragglers (and golfers!)
My ride for the day... 1993 Jamis Dragon