Description
Ride Overview
Our sportive season starter takes us to the South Coast and beautiful Swanage. Choose between the 165km long route or 95km medium route taking in the stunning hills in Purbeck and beyond. Ride past coastal sections, Corfe Castle and rolling terrain in Dorset, this is a perfect April ride to get your season going 👊👊
Long Route: 165km, 2349m
Medium Route: 96km, 1362m
Key Climbs:
Bullbarrow Hill: 5.0km, 3.2% avg gradient
Cerne Abbas: 1.1km, 8.2%
Creech Hill: 0.9km, 9.1%
Kingston Hill: 1.6km, 6.9%
Countdown to April 10th
Ride Highlights
Glorious scenery: A varied route taking in coastal stretches, rolling hills & through pretty villages and castles.
Classic climbs: This part of Dorset contains some punchy climbs including Bulbarrow Hill and, right at the end, the sharp Kingston Hill.
Perfect early season sportive: You can choose on the day which route to ride – the long 165km option if you have trained well over winter or the shorter 95km ride to get you into season gently.
The Route
The Dorset Beast: April 10th 2022
Pick between the 165km long route or 95km medium route over the glorious rolling terrain of the Dorset countryside. The long route has an extra 70km and 1,000m of climbing, both routes finish with the climb of Kingston Hill before a descent back into Swanage.
Start Time: From 8am
Finish Time: Ride Village closes at 6pm
Start / Finish Location: Swanage
Long Route
Long Route: 165km, 2349m
A punchy season starter. The Dorset Beast starts in Swanage and the sportive year begins with a climb away from the coast in the first 3km before a quick 50km up to Blandford Forum – time to get in a group, share the work and enjoy the views.
From here, the route is up and down for most of the remaining 100km featuring the long (5km) Bulbarrow Hill, short and sharp (1km, 8%) Cerne Abbas Climb and finishing on the challenging Kington Hill, one of the UK’s Top 100 Climbs before a fast descent back into Swanage for some food and a hard earned medal.
Medium Route
Medium Route: 95km, 1362m
A perfect way to get your sportive season up and running. The route follows the long course for the first 20km with a ride down to the coast and then climb out of Swanage. Most of the first half is rolling and easy to stay in a group and warm up the legs before the punchier second half featuring some longer climbs including Durdle Door (3.5km at 2% gradient) and then Creech Hill (the full climb is 3.5km at 4.1% with a steep top part).
The ride finishes with the climb of Kingston Hill and then a quick descent back into Swanage for some food and a first medal of the year.
FAQs
Is the route marked?
Yes, the route is fully marked. We also suggest bringing a bike GPS to follow as well, we will send you a GPX file with the route one week before the ride.
How do I find out my start time?
Riders start in groups of maximum 6 at a time. We will send you an email after you have booked to choose your start time between 8am and 10am, if you are riding with a friend you can choose to start with them.
Where is the start / finish?
The ride starts and finishes in Swanage. There is free parking onsite as well as a toilets & refreshments.
What happens if I have a mechanical / accident?
It is important you prepare properly ensuring your bike is in good condition & physically ready for the challenge. If you have an accident or mechanical, we have support at the feeds and sweep van at the back.
What shall I pack with me for the ride?
You need to have two water bottle, basic kit to repair punctures, inner tubes & riding with a helmet is compulsory. Our feed stops have water, cake, fruit & bars.
Do I get a medal at the finish?
Yes, when you finish the ride you will go through the finish line and get your hard earned UK’s Hardest Hundred medal.
