LATEST NEWS
February 2023
Top of the Gorge Adventure Weekend - Update
In case you weren't aware, the Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride is actually just ONE part of a wider weekend of activities celebrating the great outdoors in the fabulous Mendip Hills AONB - and it all comes under the umbrella of the 'Top of the Gorge Adventure Weekend'.
Having seen everything disappear in 2020 due to Covid, a number of local events businesses together with very supportive local partners, including the National Trust and the Mendip Hills AONB Ranger team, are now in the process of gradually re-establishing the concept as an activity-led weekend of outdoor fun and adventure for the whole family.
The aim is to keep everything pretty chilled and laid-back and, having re-introduced a 'no-frills' cheap & cheerful camping option in 2022, there are a few more new activity additions this year that should broaden the appeal even further.
Click on the image below for more detailed information on the activities that are already planned across the weekend this June, and obviously we'll bring your further updates if/when any more activities get added to the list.
And, of course, there will be local food & drink providers on site across the whole weekend this year so, if you do choose to camp, there will be plenty on offer to keep you nicely fed & watered!
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So come & join us - and bring lots of friends & family too!
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January 2023
2023 Rider Medal
We're pleased to say that we've settled on our rider medal design for 2023 and, once again, a fab-looking bespoke medal will be waiting at the finish for everyone who completes the 2023 Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride :)​
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The Lakes & Lumps route is spectacular with some fabulous scenery along the way and, while it's not without its challenges, it isn't overly long and so it's a really nice way to start the Summer.
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However, it is just worth noting that a good chunk of the climbing comes in the latter stages - so it's definitely a good test, and you WILL know that you've well & truly earned your medal when you cross the finish line.
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Also, please just be aware that places are limited for this event and, as of the end of Jan 2023, about 40% of the medals we've ordered are already spoken for - so don't wait too long if you don't want to miss out!
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All you need to do to get your hands on one of these is to make sure that you get signed up for the Ride via our Online Entry page, then get some training in over the coming weeks if you can (the more you can do the easier it will feel!).
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Thereafter it's just a case of going out and enjoying the challenge on the day, so please do come and join us if you haven't entered already and bring as many friends, colleagues, family, etc with you as you can.
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Sign up NOW and make sure one of these medals has got YOUR name on it!
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January 2023
Camping at the Top of the Gorge
We're absolutely delighted to be able to say that there will once again be a 'no-frills' camping option available to everyone who's taking part in any of the challenges that form part of this year's 'Top of the Gorge Adventure Weekend'.
The onsite camping is an optional extra that's exclusively for people taking part in at least ONE of the Top of the Gorge activities (which of course includes the Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride), and it's open to people staying in tents or in campervans - click HERE for further details and to book your pitch.
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We can also confirm that all of the well-established running and cycling challenges will be back again this year (MTB as well as road cycling, plus trail running options from 1km to full marathon distance), and there will be food & drink available onsite across the weekend for anyone who chooses to camp.
Plus - for 2023 there will be a range of other activities on offer over the weekend, eg adventure walks, archery, axe-throwing, Land Rover safaris, and much more (final details TBC in due course).
So there's certainly going to be plenty going on for active, outdoorsy people who like a challenge (or two!), and it's great to be able to offer a cheap & cheerful camping option that will enable people to make even more of the weekend if they wish.
This means that it should be a lot easier to take part in events or activities on BOTH days if you want to or, if it suits you better, you could just go off and do your own thing in the area on the Saturday before jumping on your bike to join us for the Mendips Lakes & Lumps challenge on the Sunday morning!
And, of course, families and partners etc are very welcome to camp too (they don't need to be entered for an event if they're accompanying a participant), so feel free to bring along some company if you wish and make a real weekend of it :)
So get your entries in & get ready for a great start to Summer 2023!
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November 2022
New Charity Partner
Following on from the recent announcement of a new charity partnership for our flagship Great Weston Ride event, we're absolutely delighted to announce that Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity will also be the new official Charity Partner for the Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride into 2023 and beyond.
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BWHC fundraises for TEN hospitals across Bristol and Weston specifically to support services above & beyond what the NHS itself can provide, and in fact some of the initiatives that they fund in our hospitals actually serve the WHOLE of the South-West.
The ten hospitals include the Children's Hospital, the BRI, and Weston General, and over 1 million patients are treated each year across these hospitals - and, of course, the vast majority of our riders are from the local area, so they and their families are precisely the people that BWHC is helping to care for and look after when they need hospital treatment.
BWHC focuses on providing additional support for its hospitals wherever the need is greatest and, as an example, in 2023 there's a major project at the fantastic Children's Hospital that we're keen to try to support with our riders' help.
Bristol's Children's Hospital is in the top four children's hospitals in the UK, it serves the whole of the West Country, and it sees over 45,000 emergency attendances each year (as well as around 120,000 outpatient contacts) - but it's currently the only big children's hospital in the country without a dedicated clinical research facility (CRF).
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Places like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Sheffield all have a CRF in their children's hospitals, and the lack of such a facility in Bristol actually deprives children and young people across the South West of access to the latest treatments.
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So BWHC is determined to do something about it - fundraising for the facility is already underway, and it would be fantastic if we could get this great new partnership off the ground by also helping to address this huge health inequality for families across our region.
So we'd like to ask ALL our riders to consider if they could possibly join #TeamBWHC at the Lakes & Lumps and fundraise for projects like this game-changing facility in the South West - please go to our Charity Partner page for all the info you need & to sign up to fundraise.
THANKS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING LOTS OF FANTASTIC SUPPORT FOR OUR NEW - LOCAL - CHARITY PARTNER :)
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June 2022
2022 Rider Photos
We're pleased to say that the official professional photos from the 2022 Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride are now available to view. Below is just ONE great example, and please just click on the photo to take you to the photographer's website where you can see the rest of the official images online!
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We can't guarantee that everyone was captured but if you enter the letters MLL followed by your one-, two-, or three-digit rider number in the SEARCH box on the left of the page you'll be able to check to see any photos that were taken (provided that you displayed your rider number properly & clearly on the front of your bike!) and hopefully you'll see something in there that you like :)
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And if you can't find any images by using your rider number then have a flick through the 'unidentified rider' photos by entering MLL0 and you may find something in that little collection.
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June 2022
2022 Route Confirmation & Other Info
Following a full route check by bike on June 2nd we're pleased to say that everything is in good order and therefore we're able to provide our first-choice route for 2022, as well as the ENTIRELY OPTIONAL new section that we're also offering this year.
So BOTH route options are now confirmed & available to download from our Route Details page, and please note that the standard route will be clearly marked on the day with our YELLOW & BLACK direction arrows bearing the Great Weston Ride logo.
The optional section will be easily identifiable as it will be marked by its own BLUE & BLACK direction arrows (also bearing the Great Weston Ride logo) from its start point and until it re-joins the main route, and riders should ONLY follow the blue signs if they wish to take on the extra section (otherwise they should just continue with the Yellow signs).
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NB the optional section would add approximately 5 miles in distance and it consists of a very challenging descent AND climb - specifically, an extremely steep and fast one-mile descent (the steepest in the Mendips) followed shortly after by a very challenging & steep 1.5-mile climb.
So this option is most certainly not suitable for everybody, and we would strongly recommend that only very experienced riders should consider tackling it.
Please also be aware that the road surface in the section of the route around Blagdon lake (miles 29-33 of the main route - just a few miles after the refreshment stop) could ideally be better, so please take particular care in this section - especially on the downhills. We'd just advise everyone to take the descents very steadily, and also to give other riders time & space to pass through safely.
And if you've previously downloaded the route we'd recommend that you do it again now just to ensure that you have the most up-to-date version.
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Finally, our exclusive refreshment stop is a lovely setting at Chew Stoke Bowling Club, after about 26 miles. There will be toilets, water and free tea & coffee available for everyone, and you'll also be able to buy some delicious homemade cake if you wish - please just bring £2 (in cash please) for this, with all monies raised going directly towards supporting the club.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the start! :)
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May 2022
2022 Rider Medal & Other Goodies
As you can see below, our rather lovely 2022 rider medals have now arrived and one of these will be waiting at the finish for everyone who completes the 2022 Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride :)
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It's worth noting that the route itself isn't overly long so it's a good way to start the Summer, however we're always keen to make the point that a good chunk of the climbing comes in the latter stages so it's definitely a good test and you WILL know that you've well & truly earned your medal when you cross the finish line.
And, of course, this year for the first time we're planning to offer an additional - and entirely OPTIONAL - extra section for any experienced riders who'd like to add another testing Mendips descent & climb to the collection!
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So just make sure that you're signed up for the Ride via our Online Entry page, and then we'll have one of these fab-looking medals waiting for you at the finish.
And don't forget that there's plenty more on offer with this event, including FREE hot food, a FREE bottle of beer from Butcombe Brewery, and also an option for some cheap & cheerful weekend camping if you fancy it.
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So sign up NOW if you haven't done it yet - book your Ride, your food, your beer, AND your medal!
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March 2022
2022 Route Update & NEW Optional Section
We're well into our route planning work for 2022 and we're pleased to reveal that, this year, we're going to include an extra OPTIONAL section for the very first time on the Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride!
The main (standard) route will almost certainly remain the same as in previous years (subject to final confirmation nearer the time), while this new additional section - which, again, we must stress is entirely optional - would add approximately 5 miles in distance for anyone who chooses to take it on.
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However, we want to make it absolutely clear that the extra section consists of a very challenging descent AND climb - specifically, an extremely steep and fast one-mile descent (the steepest in the Mendips) followed shortly after by a very challenging & steep 2-mile climb.
So, while it definitely adds to our 'Lumps' collection, it's most certainly not suitable for everybody and we would strongly recommend that only very experienced riders should consider tackling it.
And, of course, we will only include this option on the day itself if we're fully satisfied that overall conditions are favourable, given the level of challenge it presents.
So the standard route will still present more than enough challenge for most people and we expect the vast majority of riders to continue with this, but the Route Details page on our website has been updated to also include information and a separate link for the route INCLUDING the extra section.
As usual, the main (standard) route will be clearly marked on the day with our YELLOW & BLACK direction arrows bearing the Great Weston Ride logo, and riders will easily be able to follow these.
And the optional section will be easily identifiable and distinguishable as it will be marked by its own BLUE & BLACK direction arrows (also bearing the Great Weston Ride logo), and riders should ONLY follow the blue signs if they wish to take on the extra section (otherwise they should just continue with the Yellow signs).
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Notwithstanding the above, obviously we reserve the right to amend the route as a whole if we anticipate or become aware of any unfavourable conditions that might adversely impact safety and enjoyment on the day, but hopefully that won't be the case and final route confirmation will follow at the start of June.
And just don't forget - nobody is OBLIGED to do the extra blue section!
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January 2022
Raising a Glass to Butcombe - AGAIN!
With the third Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride fast approaching, we're absolutely delighted to announce that Butcombe Brewery has confirmed that it will be supporting us again this year.
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Most people are aware that Butcombe is very much a major national brand these days, but the brewery still has a very strong affinity with the West Country and its Bristol heartlands and it's keen to promote the area as a great place for leisure activities.
This is because, as well as their excellent beers, they also have a growing number of lovely Butcombe pubs & inns dotted around the South West, and of course the wonderful Mendip Hills AONB area that hosts the Ride is right on the brewery's doorstep.
It's also worth noting that, as a cycling-friendly organisation, their pubs & inns are always pleased to welcome people on bikes for a bit of refreshment and refuelling when they're out & about, so it's a perfect fit for us.
And the really great news for our riders is that this partnership means that Butcombe will be providing every rider in the event with a FREE BOTTLE OF BEER at the finish - making a great day out exploring the wonderful Mendip Hills by bike in June even more worthwhile!
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We'll also be looking at other ways to get the most out of this great West Country partnership, and the bottom line is that we're going to have some of the best beer in the country available for our riders - and that's definitely something to celebrate!
CHEERS!
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