Carrying on from my videoing of Devon Lanes I've volunteered to Record lanes for the Dorset Group aswell. I planned a 115 mile Route with 46 Lanes. Being Midweek I wasn't expecting much of a response but the ride was full within a day of posting! I think Tony won the furthest travelled award 2 Hours from Bideford to Bridport. 6 Riders started but only 4 finished the full ride. More on that later!
Me Husky 350
Tony KTM 500
Russell Beta Xtrainer
Tim KTM 350
Geoff Gas Gas 350
Giles Gas Gas Pampera
First problem of the day before we even left the carpark. My bike was totally dead on the electric start. No Kicker backup. The day could of been over before it had even started. I had greased the headbearings so thought i might of interrupted some wiring. Luckily noticed the problem straight away. Plug for the starter switch was half unplugged. Pushed back together and fired right up!
We set of from Bridport just after 8:30 and right into the stunning Holloway of Shutes Lane. On reaching the Crossway at the top where 4 green roads meet we took the right hand turn. This is a great dead end lane which is well worth riding. On the way back down this lane I misjudged a series of small dips in the lane and managed to knee my satnav and completely snap off the Quadlock mount. Second problem of the day! Luckily Geoff was running an identical mount that he let me borrow for the rest of the ride.
We rode the series of lanes around Seatown to Morecombelake which are all nice easy gravel lanes. Next lane worth mentioning is past Butts Farm. Up through a field with several ruts to choose from. Luckily its still so dry and was nice and easy. I've been here before and struggled to keep upright !
Onwards to Stoke Mill Lane which has minimal water compared to usual which runs like a river in the winter months normally. Bit of roadwork after this and more lanes near Melplash making our way over to Leigh Gate Lane. We rode this downhill. The drop off from the road has been made much easier but the deep washed out gulley is still very tight. Footpegs and handguards were bearing signs of the yellow soil at the end of the lane.
Riding Castle Hill Lane we were able to ride the correct route through the stream as Dorset TRF Members have done a sterling job of clearing back the Brambles that were taking over and forcing riders to use the footpath along the bank instead. Nice and easy to ride the proper route now.
Now heading to Marsh farm and up the wide stoney track which ends on Eggardon Hill. Huge Views of the Rolling Dorset hills from up here and more great lanes aswell. The Field lane at West Compton even had the gate open on the correct route. On our last visit there they had used about 30 bits of string to tie it up which meant we had the use the higher gate instead (Not on the correct Route for the GRM Videos which have to be right)
Dead end lane next down near Toller Porcorum. A real cracking lane and its a real shame its not a through route. Parish boundary where the lane ends and its a bridleway for the remaining distance in the next parish. Frustrating! Me and Geoff rode the full Distance with Tim waiting at the gate middle way down the field. On the way back no other riders had emerged. I assumed they were just waiting but then Russell came up the field with bad news. On the exit from the woodland there is a small ditch and Giles had decided to try and show off some trials skills and hop over it on his Pampera..
It didnt pay off and he came down heavily on the landing and wasnt quick to get back up! He had landed on his ribs and was in alot of pain. After dusting himself off and accessing the situation he said he would carry on but after a few more lanes and us reaching our fuel stop in Maiden Newton he decided to call it a day and head back. Definitely a good plan as after an A&E visit and MRI scan he had broken a Rib but luckily no other damage. Fingers Crossed for a speedy recovery Giles.
The fuel station was actually closed for refurbishmentWhoops! Bad planning on my part. So a detour over to the A37 for fuel. We did a few more easy lanes after this before getting to Chetnole Ford. This was quite deep as always but we were through with no issues. After this we rode the Dorset TRFs new Byway. A Successful DMMO submitted by the TRF back in 2004. It used to be part Bridleway/Footpath/White Road which after many years work is actually a new Byway and not Restriced! What a result. Dorset TRF have built bridges here over some ditches and marked the route so it's easy to follow. It's an absolutely cracking lane. Well worth the ride. It's not on the GRM but I expect that could well be intentional for the time being.
Several more easy lanes followed before we reached the infamous Cosmore Drove. Me and Tony rode through the first deep muddy wallow before deciding it was more sensible to ride along the side of the lane like the others were doing. There is no way of gauging the depth of these holes which have been carved out by the 4X4s. We all got through here with minimal problems. I remember it was a hell of a lot wetter on previous visits. The last was in 2023 I think.
We headed to the lane at Buckland Newton before working our way South down to Charminster. I had always wanted to ride the river lane which pops out over the Garden here. As it was so dry I thought there would be no time like the present and we all rode it with no problems or any grief from the house owner.
Wrackleford Crossings were as deep as ever. We stopped here for a spot of late lunch bought at the garage earlier and Tim decided to head back for the van from here. So we were down to 4 riders for the last few lanes. The usual lanes ridden here including Parks Dairy and Berwick lane where I managed to break the borrowed Quadlock Mount. Haven't broken one in 3 years then Manage 2 in one day!
Heading back towards Bridport now. Decided the bikes were too clean so went down Berwick lane through all the Slurry! That place never dries up. Last lanes of the day were around Loders before getting back to the vans just before 4pm. 120miles and 46 Lanes in the end with the fuel detour. Great day out and thanks all for coming!
