Eight reasons why cycling in Dorset is absolutely great

Think of Dorset and you'll probably think of Bournemouth beach and the Olympic sailing at Weymouth. Maybe even Durdle Door.

But there's much, much more to see. Dorset is quite possibly the best place to cycle in the UK. It has everything we want and few people outside the county have experienced it.

They're missing out as we revel in it. If you feel inclined to take your wheels to Dorset, read on for our highlights of the area.

Enjoy views over the Dorset Downs with the UKCE Wiltshire Wildcat Sportive

Our sister company UKCE hosts sportives all over the country. The Wiltshire Wildcat event on Sunday March 8 2020 kicks off at Salisbury Racecourse, exploring the Medieval drovers' trails, passing through Saxon villages and then routing out to take in the Dorset Downs.

See the event, and enjoy a 10 per cent discount if you sign up with your mates, here.

The stunning Isle of Purbeck

Yes, we know, the Isle of Purbeck is attached to the mainland. Why is it called an isle, then? That doesn't matter. What does matter is that it is simply stunning.

You have Brownsea Island looking back at you from Poole Harbour in the north, the glorious coastal town of Swanage on the east, the cliff faces to the south and then in the centre the historic remains of Corfe Castle.

But the most iconic locations are the ones worth riding to the most: the magical arc of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are sites that you simply cannot go without ever visiting.

And, best of all, the Purbecks are situated on a ridge that stretches for miles, meaning that the roads are as hilly as anywhere in the south. You can't ride a bike in the Purbecks without negating some seriously steep gradients at some point.

The Purbecks are a secret... sort of

Mention the Purbecks to someone who hasn't lived in Dorset and most people haven't a clue what you're referring to. Many will recognise pictures of its landscape and features, but probably not visited it.

Take a look on Strava for proof that cyclists from outside Dorset just don't ride here that often. Climbs on the ridge between Lulworth and Kimmeridge, including Grange Hill, have been attempted by far fewer riders than those hotly contested ascents elsewhere.

It's a secret and thus the roads are almost always quiet. And as for Strava, it makes it a lot easier to claim times in the upper echelons of the leaderboard.

It's our cycling den and we love it.

Rides to the Jurassic Coast are commonplace

Yep, we have a World Heritage Site in Dorset: the Jurassic Coast, all 95 miles of it. 185 million years old, it is.

It is absolutely bloody fantastically spectacular. And it's not just Durdle Door worth visiting on the bike. The Isle of Portland (yes, another Isle), is the Jurassic Coast's most southerly point, and the road that takes you up into Portland is one mile long and averages six percent. It's tough.

Head further west and there's Lyme Regis and West Bay, coastal towns in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Forgot riding to Brighton or Blackpool for fish and chips, there's few places better to tuck into a well-earned chippy than this part of the country.

UKCE Jurassic Beast Sportive Saturday 16th May 

With a mixture of spectacular views, leg-pumping climbs and historical scenery, the Jurassic Beast Sportive has become a ‘must-do’ ride for many cyclists and one of the most popular events in our sportive calendar.

Find out more and enter here

Taking a four-minute ferry crossing is the norm

Like adventure on your bike rides? To get to Studland Bay in the Purbecks from Sandbanks in Poole you need to take the Sandbanks chain ferry which takes all of 280 seconds.

In which other part of the country do most bike rides involve catching a quick ferry? And all for the cheap sum of £1 each way. You're always guaranteed to see another cyclist on the ferry, too.

Ride and race on Bournemouth's velodrome

Dorset may not house one of Britain's six indoor velodromes, but it does have its own Olympic-sized outdoor track.

The Slades Farm track opened in 2011 and replaced the nearby Winton track as hosts of races throughout the summer months. It was the first velodrome to be built in the UK since 1962 when it was constructed.

It is open to the public at all times and track bikes are available to hire.

Best place in the UK to get a cyclist's tan

It is frequently reported that Dorset is the sunniest place in the UK, and though recent reports have disputed that and claimed that towns in East Sussex see the most sun, Dorset as a whole sees more than 364 more hours of the sun's rays throughout the year in comparison to the UK average.

All that sun means that for us bike riders, the cyclist's tan is fairly easy to develop. By May most of us are sporting some sort of mark on our upper arm and legs.

Top quality cafes

Everyone has their own favourite cafe and every county in the country can stake a claim for having one of the best cyclist's cafe options.

A must visit in this area is Velo Domestique in Bournemouth, located on the high street in Southbourne. The cycling decor and the coffee are excellent. They'll even make repairs why you tuck into the latest Cycling Weekly.

There's also The Salt Pig in Wareham which is ideally located if you're en route back towards Poole after a long ride in the Purbecks.

Other options sure to welcome cyclists with open arms include the Yellow Bicycle Cafe at Blandford Forum and Cafe Velo in Ringwood.

Tour de France riders were born here

Yep, that's right. Dan Lloyd was born in Christchurch and still leaves nearby.

He rode the 2010 Tour and two editions of the Giro d'Italia. All those formative years riding around the Dorset lanes and hills is behind his success...