See our Diary page for a list of our current rides and other events
Information for Ride leaders
Ride Leaders Guide and Rides Record Forms - follow the links.
(added 20 March 2010)
Information on some of the upcoming rides
See, touch, smell, hug, lick - the vastest tree in the British Isles - 16th October 2011
Brief Description : We will track the Avon & Kennet canal to Bradford On Avon then - (see maps below) on road to Corsham Court to see this unique tree - the Oriental plane. Although this is just one tree it is as big as a football pitch.
With an average spread of 64mtrs it has been identified by the Tree Register of the British Isles as the country's vastest tree.
The Oriental plane is so vast its lowest branches rest on the ground & some have taken root.
'Confusing tree'
Owen Johnson, registrar at the Tree Register said "Several trees rest their branches on the ground but this exceptional tree extends in each direction with branches like elephant trunks snaking across the ground - it's a very confusing tree."
Originating in the Middle East, the plane was planted as a specimen at the privately owned stately Corsham home.
A tree surgeon suggested taking 3m off all the branches around the tree for health & safety but the present owner - James Methuen-Campbell - decided it was such a huge, old tree he wanted to leave it to age naturally.
After Corsham Court we cycle to Chippenham for a train back to Bristol. As much as I resist the idea of train assisted rides I have succumbed otherwise the ride would be very long. I would strongly advise anyone coming on this ride to use a folding bike. Folding bikes present British Rail with no problems - apparently. If anyone comes on a non-folding bike then please be prepared to be messed around by the rail people.
Length : 42.5 miles Grade : Medium Suitable for beginners : No Tea Lunch Stop : first pub after 12:00noon other breaks at will Start time Location : 09:00am Arnolfini
.JPG)
>.JPG)
(added 25/8/11)
Other Rides Groups
Details of other Rides Groups
(Click link and it will replace this window.)Ride reviews etc
(Click the link to jump to your selection or simply scroll down the page to browse them all.)Blue Plaques II - 21 August 2011
Reg's Ride to Tyntesfield - 10 July 2011
Martin McD's Avon Cycleway SW Ride - 14 Nov 2010
Wickwar ride on 7 Nov 2010
Chris's Castle Combe Ride - 5 September 2010
Discover Bristol Rides
Big Spring Ride - 24 April 2010
Other ride related stuff
Discover Bristol - Blue Plaques Ride - Fully Orliked! This Sunday 21st August. Choice of start times/duration.
A different route and a new set of plaques and stories about the famous of Bristol.
very pleased to say that Christopher Orlik is able to join us for another Blue Plaques Ride - and this time he'll stay for the full ride. See the Diary page for details.
Route map and notes on the plaques can be downloaded here.
Pictures of our Blue Plaques Ride and other recent rides available on our Bristol Cycling Campaign Flickr site (look for the collection called "rides").
Don't forget tonight (Saturday) its the Boikzmoind premiere (Bristol fixed gear scene) - Millenium Square 8pm www.boikzmoind.com
(updated 20/8/11)
RIDE TO TYNTESFIELD (10:00am 10th JULY) - ALL ABILITIES - photos at BCyC photos and also at a rider's view.
Race for Life starting at 11 may mean that it's a bit busy around our start point (the Water Tower on Durdham Down) and anyone travelling from the other side of the Downs or bringing bikes by car may need to allow a little extra time to get to the start.
Tyntesfield in Wraxall, North Somerset is a spectacular Victorian country house & estate overlooking the beautiful Yeo Valley just 8 miles from Bristol city. As part of the 'Big Green Weekend' Tyntesfield will be providing free access to cyclists and BCyC will be cycling there at a leisurely pace starting in Bristol. The ride will have a tea stop as noted, and will also visit Gatecombe Farm and a private free-range chicken coup near Long Ashton.
See map of route
for anyone who misses the start or decides to join later. The route is: Downs Water Tower > Hazel's Cafe > Tyntesfield House > Gatecomb Farm > Wendy's Chickens > Bike Polo @ Dean Lane.
• Date . . . . . . . Sun 10/07/2011
• start . . . . . . . 10:00 Downs Water Tower
• Distance. . . . 18.2 miles
• Duration . . . . 5h 00m (including breaks)
• Ascent. . . . . . 1701 ft
• Descent . . . . 1959 ft
• Food Stops . . . . . . Hazel's Cafe, Tyntesfield House, Gatecomb Farm.
On the printable map the red flags show start, break, finish points. The route is marked in blue .
Details of our other rides on our Diary page.
(added 9/7/11)
-->
Martin McD's Avon Cycleway SW Ride - 14 Nov 2010
see below for a map of the ride or download the route to your GPS Avon SW.gpx (Right click and "SaveAs")
View Avon Cycleway South-West in a larger map
Wickwar ride on 7 Nov 2010
Review to follow - Click the photo to see more pictures of the ride. See below for a map of the ride or download the route to your GPS Wickwar BCyC 10-11-07.gpx (Right click and "SaveAs")
View Wickwar BCyC Ride 2010-11-07 in a larger map
Chris's Castle Combe Ride - 5 September 2010
A 42 mile ride from the start of the Bristol to Bath Railway Path to Castle Combe and other picturesque villages, returning via Dyrham Park.
Here's what our leader reports:
Despite blustery wind and showers six people turned up, and at the end of the ride several people said that they had enjoyed the day.
Only seven miles in to the ride we were already stopping for coffee and shortbread at one of the two Garden Centres on the edge of Westerleigh due to popular demand. Duly refreshed we made good headway through the golden Cotswold stone villages of Littleton Drew and Acton Turville to arrive at the Neeld Arms. This is featured in the CAMRA guide for 2010, and serves (amongst other fine ales) a tasty drop of the dubiously named ‘Pigswill’ bitter from Bunces Brewery. This is in the heart of Grittleton, which seems to have been preserved in aspic from a bygone era. By way of rounding off our lunch stop in a civilized way we then cycled off to Castle Combe for coffee in the charming Castle Street Inn. After Castle Combe the route climbs a narrow forested track uphill and then opens on to wide open rolling countryside where at on point the horizon line is several miles away in whichever direction you look. The route then dropped steeply down to Dyrham Park as created by Restoration period civil servant William Blathwayt and featured in the film ‘Remains of the Day’. We had a look around the adjacent church recommended in Simon Jenkins ‘Thousand Best Churches’, featured partly because of its particularly lovely setting. There is a distinguished Renaissance tomb to the local squire, an early fifteenth century brass rubbing and a bell that dates back to the reign of Edward 1st. We had one final stop on the edge of Pucklechurch to try eating some local fruit and berries as recommended by our in-house vegetarian guide Jeremy.
This ride can now be found on the BetterByBike website.
In addition to the 30mile trip shown you have to add on the six(ish) miles up the Railway path to accrue the 42miles quoted.
Added 11/092010
Discover Bristol Rides
Discover Bristol rides - know Bristol better ... by bike
Our five gentle town rides ran in summer 2009 and we ran similar (but shorter!) rides again in 2010. We plan to follow up with more rides in 2011. Riders will be guided from place to place with plenty of stops. To assist new or unconfident riders a qualified cycling trainer from Life Cycle UK will be in attendance. "We were very excited about this new concept for enjoying your bike and getting to know your way around Bristol at the same time. Everyone can join in. If people want guidance on riding in traffic or with adjusting their bike, we are there with skilled help." Philippe Cazalis, rides leader, Bristol Cycling Campaign
Find out more at www.discoverbristol.org.uk
Big Spring Ride - 24 April 2010
The ride was a great success with about 100 people enjoying a day out in the quiet lanes of the Bristol and North Somerset countryside and a picnic in the sunshine by Chew Valley Lake.
There are some pictures and a map (4mb)
and a video clip:
Hopefully more to follow.
(updated 26 April 2010)
Other ride related stuff
Philippe Rides a tallbike - 30 April 2010
Park Street
Here's a preview of our Cycle Chic blog - you'll find it here
and here's a potental campaign blog - you'll find it here
