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Putting together a Mendip ride including a Cheddar stop off.
Normally I come 'back out' of Cheddar using the bridleway further east that is part of the old MBR ride.
I was wondering if this bridleway might be more interesting. Anyone got the knowledge? Does it ride at all? Better in one direction.
This one, the green line.
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Any help much appreciated.
urrg image fail, hang on
Theres only one BW next to the Gorge. It's a fun, fast rocky descent, heavily populated by tourists. Or a difficult but doable climb.
Mind your P's and Q's and manage your expectations for a clear run (depending on time) on the descent or accept stares of incredulity and 'well done mate, keep going' comments if you ascend.
Worth doing either way IMO.
Have ridden it starting from cheddar up descending to black rock. The climb is mostly a push, pause for the viewpoints, and the descent is technical but doable by mere mortals - unless it's raining, or there are walkers coming up - which there almost certainly will be.
The final about 30m down to the road at black rock is a straight out rockfest with minimal braking opportunities. Elected to walk that bit.
thanks, yep we're talking about the same one here. Black Rock - Cheddar.
Ok that's good to know. Looks like from Black Rock to Charterhouse is also BW, is that right?
Black rock to cheddar was always my prefered direction. Mainly because I didn't have the skills to ride the descent down to the road at black rock.
We did this a few years ago. Rode up on the road then "hike a bike" up the steep embankment to the BW. I remember it as being wet and very slippery over the rocks, put the brakes on and you just kept going downhill! It's gnarly but all doable. We had a good laugh all the way down, definitely dropper post terrain!. Is the watch tower still there about half way down? Great views from the top of it.
There's a particular rock on the way down that towards Cheddar on which I pinch-flatted both wheels simultaneously, on two separate occasions. Watch out for that one. HTH
Did it today. Blackrock to cheddar. Pretty much pushed up from Blackrock and then really enjoyed the across and down into cheddar.
We were polite to the max and all the walkers were smiley and waved us through.
Really glad I did it. Probably not a route I'd choose often but would ride it again.
Descending into Blackrock with a bit of rain sheen would be interesting, especially that last 100m.
Ps thanks for the advice
Looks like from Black Rock to Charterhouse is also BW, is that right?
Nope.
Have ridden it starting from cheddar up descending to black rock. The climb is mostly a push
You do need to be moderately fit to ride it.
Inspired by the thread I took this trail today too. Definitely hike-a-bike for me up to Black Rock gate from the road. A fun descent from the gate down to Cheddar, alternates between fast and smooth and rocky. It wasn't busy apart from the bottom section by the lookout tower.
Unfortunately the bridleway at Blackrock is one of the bridleways that turns into a footpath part way. Otherwise it would be a good link from Cheddar to Rowberrow.
I went back up Draycott Hill. I wouldn't recommend it, its a brutal climb, narrow and busy too. I won't be doing it again until I've forgotten how steep it is.