For those of you coming over to race at Sherborne I offer the following observations from this morning’s 2 lap ride. The roads on the lower loop are predominantly chip seal and therefore rather rough, most of the road from Dorchester back up to the Castle are repaired and therefore of varying levels. Neither of this is a problem but may affect your choice of tyre, also (as I found out today) if it has been raining grit and gravel washes onto the road in places. As the local geology is predominently flinty in nature, you will be more suceptable to tyre carcass cuts than normal, my Continental was slashed from the wire to the tread which required a Pwerbar wrapper boot to get home!
The roads North of the Castle on the smaller loop are rather narrow and very technical in nature. But there are no nasty or dangerous descents, which seems strange given the number of ascents!
I strongly ecommend that you ride the larger loop on arrival, and if possible the smaller loop too, although driving the Northern loop would suffice.
Good Luck to all participating.