Dorset Miles: "The Club Run"

The staple diet of winter riding, the place we all started, the club run has changed little over the years, a few less riders perhaps, definitely less miles, the days of lunch and afternoon tea stops have gone.The grumpy old-timer moaning about half wheeling and no mudgaurds is still there, (i know, because it is me now). A good turnout of 20 riders leave Kinson library for the Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers run, out to Wimborne and onto the Cowgrove, away from the traffic the chatter takes over. The “Runs Captain” keeps order and sets the pace to suit all, no burn up here, that’s for another day. Tarrant Keynston and up the Cliff to Hogstock, a comfort break allows a few stragglers to catch up before skirting Witchampton, down to Moor Crichel and Gussage All Saints. The stronger legs hit the front on the climbs but the point is to stay together. Wimborne St Giles, Cranborne, Cripplestyle, Daggons & Alderholt pass by in a conversation, leading to the tea stop at Fordingbridge. Those without mudguards sit on damp chamois, those with, look smug. A flat ride home for some, Stuckton, Frogham, Hyde, Hungerford, North, then South Gorley, Mockbeggar through the ford to Poulner , Ringwood and the lanes to the Avon Causeway. The queues of traffic add to the smugness.
3hrs 31
Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers Club Runs
The rides will generally be ~50-70 miles with a cafe stop at the destination. Club runs are not run at race pace, but you do need to be reasonably fit to complete them. You need a robust bike (not expensive) as some of the roads that the club roads take place on are small B-roads so mudguards and 25c tyres are recommended in the Winter Months.
BJW Winter Club Run Schedule 2015-16
13-Dec-15 09:00 Fordingbridge
20-Dec-15 09:00 Compton Abbas
27-Dec-15 09:00 Brockenhurst
03-Jan-16 09:00 Swanage
10-Jan-16 08:30-09:30 Club Reliability 75M
17-Jan-16 09:00 Lepe
24-Jan-16 09:00 Weymouth
31-Jan-16 09:00 Morton
07-Feb-16 08:00-9:00 Club Reliability 100M or 100km