RAPID ROADS - B3081

The second instalment in a new series that takes a closer look at the roads our coaches use as part of their training courses takes us to the Cranborne Chase area of natural beauty, and is a B-road used regularly by Rapid pro coach, Alan Thomas.

Rapid road. The B3081 heading east, through Dorset.

The B3081 runs across the Cranborne Chase. Heading east, through Dorset, the road goes through Shaftesbury, at the edge of the area of natural beauty. From there the road snakes through stunning countryside, and up the famous Zig Zag hill, a magnet for many motorcyclists. The road eventually heads to Cranborne, though the section I focus on is the run to Sixpenny Handley.

This stretch is ideal at helping develop a number of skills, from reading the road and gear selection to the use of the throttle through fast, sweeping bends.

Zig Zag Hill, a great section to develop skills.

Zig Zag Hill comes pretty early into the ride from Shaftesbury, and, here, planning, gear selection, and positioning for the first bend are so important, otherwise it impacts your run through the rest of the hairpins. This really brings into play the ability to read the road, and really forces you to move your head and look where you want to go, to help you get around the turns.

Further on there are a number of fast, sweeping bends where positioning and throttle application come into play, and also allow for variations of pace. But, throughout, the opportunities for sound planning will aid the flow of the ride.

Technical elements, including sweeping bends to test positioning and throttle application.

Aside from the technical elements, the road provides outstanding views out over the hills of King Arthur’s Wessex, and can form part of an excellent route around the rest of the county of Dorset, with options to run south as you’re just 30 miles away from the Jurassic Coast, or continue eastward into the New Forest.