Arrivee 135 Winter 2017

Arrivée

Number 135 Winter 2017

the Long Distance Cyclists’ Association

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Contents Richmond Rides

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Cub reporter interviews an Ancient Auk

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Borders of Belgium

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2016 Randonneur Round the Year

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Oh to be RRtY - Part 2

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New Randonneurs

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New Super Randonneurs

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Roscoff to Nice

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Petworth 19 Reunion 20 A Perculier Old 200km

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River Rhone Cycle Route

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Mid Sussex Hilly

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2 x 200km on ElliptiGO Bikes

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Audax Altitude Award 2016 Rolls of Honour 30 AUK Pre-History

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Women and ultra-challenge endurance sports

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Go East Old Man

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Five go Mad in Wales

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Through the Canadian Rockies

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National 400 2017 (or Sleepless in Aberystwyth) 44 Hampshire Coast to Coast & Back

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AUK Trophies & Major Awards

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OCD - Ordre des Cols Durs

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Marseilles to Geneva

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Randonneur Mondiaux Events

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It's London-Edinburgh-London time again!

As I write, the privileged entrants are filling the early LEL places. If you want to ride and find the event full, you can get useful experience by helping at this year's LEL and, in return, you will be offered one of the privileged places in 4 year's time. Even if you don't want to ride, why not volunteer anyway and savour the atmosphere of this superb event? Details at: http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com/ In the meantime, for your enjoyment, we have a lovely mixed bag of AUK and OCD experiences, at touring and brevet speeds, from the UK, the Continent and Canada. Whilst Francis Cooke looks at AUK's pre-history and early history; Kenneth Jessett sets us wondering why so few women, the sex obviously designed for endurance, take part in endurance sports and John Hamilton tempts us with a preview of the 2017 National 400km, a circuit through Wales and the Borders, with the possibility of being, 'Sleepless in Aberystwyth'.

I started out as AUK editor in 1986 and was very grateful, several years later, when Tim Wainwright joined me for 2 editions each year. Later Maggie Lewis joined us and later still she was replaced by

David Kennning and Peter Moir, so for many years I have only needed to produce one edition.

My thanks to you all for your help and reliability.

Now, I feel the need for more winter cycling holidays in warmer climes so this will be my last edition of Arrivée.

Have a good cycling year

Sheila

Front cover: Scouting Mam Tor, Sunday 13th March 2016. Photo: Francis Cooke Arrivée is the free magazine of Audax United Kingdom, the long distance cyclists’ association which represents the Randonneurs Mondiaux in the UK. AUK membership is open to any person, regardless of club or other affiliation, who is imbued with the spirit of long-distance cycling. Details in the Handbook.

MEMBERSHIP: Enquiries: Mike Wigley (AUK Membership Secretary), Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph OL3 5UX

membership@audax.uk

Application Form: www.aukweb.net/memform.php or Fees: Renewal: £14 or £56 for 5 years (price of 4) New/lapsed members: £19 (inc £5 enrolment fee) or £61 for 5 years (price of 4) Household member: £5 or £20 for 5 years - no enrolment fee for new household members.

Life member’s Arrivée: £9 or £45 for 5 years.

ARRIVEE Extra Arrivée copies, if available, £3(UK), £4(EEC), £5(non-EEC) from Mike Wigley (address above) Contributions - articles, info, cartoons, photos, all welcome.

TO ADVERTISE Advertising Manager: Tim Wainwright, address above.

Rates per issue: ½ page £25, pro rata to £300 per page. Payment in advance. Businesses must be recommended by a member. We rely on good faith and Arrivee cannot be held responsible for advertisers’ misrepresentations or failure to supply goods or services.

Members’ Private Sales, Wants, Event Adverts: free.

Views expressed in Arrivée are not necessarily those of the Club.

Produced by AUK: editing, typesetting, layout, design and scanning by Sheila Simpson.

Printed & distributed by: Headley Brothers, Invicta Press, Queens Rd, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH Distribution data from: Mike Wigley and the AUK Membership Team.

Unravelling the Mysteries of Arrows, Darts and even Easter Trails 53

MAY EDITION CONTRIBUTIONS: To Tim by 15th March

Our web site: www.aukweb.net

Off-Peak Return

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Just a Sec

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To subscribe to an AUK email discussion list, send an email to: audax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Note this group is not monitored by the AUK Board, who should be contacted directly with matters of concern.

Calendar of Events

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Audax UK Long Distance Cyclists’ Association (Company No. 05920055 (England & Wales) Reg Office: 25 Bluewater Drive, Elborough, Weston-super-Mare BS24 8PF

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© Arrivée 2017

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Board and delegates Chair: Chris Crossland 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 1EF 01422 832 853 General Secretary: Graeme Provan Marlborough House, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford CM1 1LN Graeme has the following assistant: Les Hereward (Registrar) 20 Webster Close, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0SF Finance Director: Paul Salmons 25 Bluewater Drive, Elborough, Weston-Super-Mare BS24 8PF Paul has the following Assistant: Nigel Armstrong (Accounts) Director and Membership secretary: Mike Wigley Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph OL3 5UX Mike has the following Assistants: Peter Davis (Enrolments) Peter Gawthorne (Renewals) Richard Jennings (Enrolments) Allan Taylor (Renewals) Findlay Watt (Renewals)

Regional Events Delegates Nigel Hall (Scotland & Northern England) Geoffrey Cleaver (Midlands & Eastern England) Pat Hurt (South East England) Ian Hennessey (South West England & Wales) Director and Permanents secretary: John Ward 34 Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9GJ 01590 671205 DIY Regional Representatives: Joe Applegarth (North-East) Andy Clarkson (Yorkshire & East) Julian Dyson (North-West) Martin Foley (Scotland) Tony Hull (South-West England and South Wales) Chris Smith (Midlands, North and Mid-Wales) Paul Stewart (South-East) OCD Delegate: Rod Dalitz , 136 Muir Wood Road, Edinburgh EH14 5HF Event Services Director & Recorder: Peter Lewis 82 Pine Road, Chandlers Ford, EASTLEIGH, SO53 1JT 07592 018947 Also note

LRM/ACP correspondent Chris Crossland 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 1EF 01422 832 853

FWC (Fixed Wheel Challenge) and Super Fixed Wheel: Richard Phipps, 77 West Farm Avenue, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2JZ.

Communications Director Ged Lennox Spring Cottage Harley Wood Nailsworth Gloucestershire GL6 0LB

Production of Permanent cards is handled by: John Ward 34 Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9GJ

Publications managers: Winter Arrivée Editor: Sheila Simpson 33 Hawk Green Road, Hawk Green, Marple, Cheshire SK6 7HR sheila@aukadia.net 0161-449 9309 (fax: 0709 237 4245)

Brevet card production secretary: Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 9DG

Validation secretaries: Sue Gatehouse and Keith Harrison 11 Heather Avenue Hellesdon Norwich NR6 6LU Systems Manager (www.aukweb.net): Francis Cooke Assistants: Pete Coates, Matt Haigh, Terry Kay

Spring Arrivée Editor: Tim Wainwright 4a Brambledown Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BL twain@blueyonder.co.uk 020 8657 8179 (fax: 020 8651 4515)

AAA Secretary Oliver Iles

Summer Arrivée Editor: David Kennning Little Orchard, Pean Hill, Whitstable CT5 3BQ 07734 815133 or 01227 471448

AUK Forum administrator: Martin Foley dave@widdersbel.co.uk

Autumn Arrivée Editor: Peter Moir 2 Peel Close, Ducklington, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 7YB peter@moir.co.uk 01993 704913 Director and Calendar events secretary: Martin Foley 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU

aaa@audax.uk

RRTY Award Secretary Caroline Fenton

Assistants: Peter Lewis, Les Hereward (Moderators) Directors Without Portfolio: Chris Boulton 15 Adel Towers Close, Leeds LS16 8ES John Sabine 107 Victoria Way, London SE7 7NU

Patron: vacant. President d’Honneur: Sheila Simpson. Vice Presidents: Peter Coulson, Peter Hansen, Mick Latimer, Pam Pilbeam

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Richmond Rides

Ian Kellar at the finish

Daniel Ben & Alan Holmes brave the cobbles

Steve Gee and organiser Dave Atkinson

The Richmond Series: two 100s, a 150 and 200km on 17th September 2016 - photos by Dean Clementson

Cecil Isley finds a smoother ride 4

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Sarah Freeman arrives www.aukweb.net

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This & That Cub reporter interviews an Ancient Auk Cub reporter: Does AUK depend entirely on its website?

Ancient Auk:

That’s a strange question young fellow, we have a club of thousands of enthusiastic members and dozens of event organisers, officials, helpers.

That’s AUK for you – invincible!

Cub reporter: What does the website do then?

Ancient Auk:

Well, you only have to look. It collates our event calendar, takes event entries, displays results, takes membership subscriptions. All that sort of thing.

Saves having to pay for an office and dozens of clerks. It’s the modern way you know.

Cub reporter: What would happen if it broke down?

Ancient Auk: It does break down from time to time. A team

of dedicated Auks springs into action and

repairs the damage.

Cub reporter: That sounds rather worrying. How old is it?

Ancient Auk: Oh… (sucks tooth). Bits of it are… Well, they

must be… 16 years old.

Cub reporter: That’s awful. It must be totally incompatible with modern systems!

Ancient Auk: Don’t worry. There are plans for a new website.

Cub reporter: That’s great! Tell me about it.

Ancient Auk: It’s going to be huge, professionally designed, state of the art.

We started on it 5 years ago and revise the plans annually to keep them up-to-date!

Cub reporter: (********! censored.)

Above: Dale and Lindsay in Antwerp Here: Dawn in the Ardennes The Borders of Belgium 1,000km.

See page 6 Photos: Dean Clementson

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Borders of Belgium 1,000 km 1,000km with Dean Clementson Belgium, Land of Chips and Waffles

straight through, going Full Euro (bib shorts and nowt else - it was a popular look in the 30-degree temperatures we were having).

different was that De Panne at 140 km was the first control, and the next control wasn’t until Houyet at 450 km.

I rode with Rob Wood and Dale Ramage, and we carried bivvy bags so we could have a

That took some getting used to - we stuck to the (mandatory) route, but we rode 450 km

couple of hours’ kip to break up the first night. Given the pan-flat nature of the start, this seemed entirely possible, and we hooked into a large group until the first town. We peeled off to top up our bottles, and to escape the large group, which seemed to be teetering on the edge of catastrophe, blatting along two-up on narrow bike lanes and overtaking slow cyclists, of which there were plenty.

with no more than a bit of information from the monument at De Panne, and it was almost a relief to get a proper stamp at Houyet the next day. Pity poor Rohnny, who had no idea where any of his riders were between setting off and the sleep stop at 540 km – that’s a 24-hour window where anything could happen.

Iper takeaway

Rohnny at the start

Rob, Lindsey and Dean at the start

I entered Rohnny’s Borders of Belgium 2016 early, as I’d missed the previous versions in 2012 and 2014. I love cycling in Belgium, from the canalbanks and cyclepaths of Flanders to friendly Limburg and from picture-perfect Brugge to gritty Antwerp, and we’d get to see all of it, all the different cyclescapes of Belgium. It was my favourite ride in a year with lots of long rides, and I’d recommend it to anyone thinking of a long ride in Europe. The start is about 60 km from the port at Zeebrugge, and if you enter early, Rohnny can arrange a lot of support which makes it all a bit easier.

The ride was set up with a range of different options, Ryanair-style. At its most basic, you could enter the ride for 10 Euros and make all your own arrangements out on the road.

However, for those who entered early enough, Rohnny laid on accommodation, food and bag drops at the controls. I booked every option!

There were about 70 riders at the start – loads of Brits, obviously loads of Belgians and Dutch, a sole Bulgarian, and a few Germans including Heinrich, the utter misery of a recumbentist. We were chatting about how so few Belgian cyclists had waved or nodded at us on the road, and I asked his opinion: “Hey Heinrich, do German cyclists wave or acknowledge one another on the road?”

“NO, I WOULD NOT LIKE THAT”, came the booming Bavarian reply. We waved to everyone as we went, and called it the Heinrich manoeuvre.

We asked other riders about their plans for the ride – with a 2pm start on Thursday afternoon, and no manned control until 560km, the majority planned to ride through the first night, but some such as Fast Bruno had booked a hotel in Roubaix (240 km) for a few hours. Tom the Velomobilist just rode

We settled into a steady rhythm around the Belgian coast through Knokke-Heist and past the ferry port at Zeebrugge where we’d disembarked a couple of days ago. De Panne was actually a control, though the official cafe was closed, and we wrote our back-up info answer on the card. The card was an interesting difference from UK audaxes - you wrote the controls and times in yourself rather than it being pre-printed. Yet more 6

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Night came, and we expected few or no places to eat en route. Ieper/Ypres was probably our last chance to eat, and we all ordered varieties of kebab in the Last Chance Takeaway. We needn’t have bothered, as we hadn’t reckoned with the multiplicity of vending machines in the tiny villages, vending everything from fresh bread to roast chicken, strawberries and, in the middle of the night somewhere in ridges of Wallonia, enough fresh veg to form the basis of a nourishing stew which Dale brewed up on www.aukweb.net

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1,000 km his stove, an hour or two before our bivvy stop in a quiet churchyard. Quiet apart from our snoring, that is - Dale said it was so loud that he feared we’d be found, but I was too fast asleep to notice. Dale had been careful to bed down at a spot away from Rob and I, but apparently not far enough.

The Ardennes Come morning, places started to open, and we ran into Lindsay and the slightly bonkers German Sounds for Children rider. I wanted coffee after only a couple of hours’ kip, so it was lovely to walk into a garage and get a big hug from Lindsay. Not from the German fella, though later on he did say that he’d seen me sleeping, and he’d also videoed me, which is the most sinister thing anybody said to me on the ride. Imagine it in a German accent to feel the true horror. He packed in the end, after trying to blag a lift from Chris Smith, who was trailing the route to offer support to Lindsay and sarcasm to the rest of us, and who had no space in the van for an extra bike (he said).

The roll of the land became far more noticeable. A deceptively easy section along a ravel, or old railway line, led us gently into the proper hills, and after crossing a valley, climbing a 10% hill into a town, then up and over a ridge, down into another valley and up again, Dale declared, “That’s it, I’m calling this the Ardennes”.

Not only was this definitely the Ardennes, it was definitely warm. We did have a bit of kip in a shady spot along the ravel. We had the time, and it was lovely, especially for the likes of me who are acclimatised to UK weather and consider temperatures in the high teens to be unreasonably warm. We weren’t the only ones to spend the afternoon napping in the shade, and finding a quiet corner was tricky amongst the snoozing crowds of randonneurs.

I’ve ridden in the Ardennes before, and the long ridges and broad valleys were no surprise . The secret to easy riding is to follow the ridges, or follow the valleys, so naturally enough we did neither as we were following the border. There were some big valleys, and an especially big, big valley to cross. Rob was Dale Ramage in the Ardennes www.aukweb.net

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good enough to provide a running commentary on the upcoming hills from his Garmin, even after I asked him not to.

The sleep stop at Habay broke up the hills nicely, and Rohnny’s hospitality at Habay was excellent - loads of food, beer for sale, and he gave us the penthouse suite. Solo riders had a room to themselves! Like a lot of hilly places near populous areas, the Ardennes is a mix of wilderness, remote communities and tourist hubs. My Belgian mate had told me there were bears in the Ardennes a few years ago, though I decided not to mention this to my riding companions. We didn’t see any bears, but in the pre-dawn on the edge of a sleepy tourist town, the three of us had to brake sharply to avoid a herd of wild boar bursting out of the hedgerows in a regimented line from largest to smallest like an Asterix cartoon. The fifth in line performed a scrabbling u-turn in front of my wheel before retreating - probably muttering “these cyclists are crazy” to itself.

Welcome to Germany (or not) Another ravel didn’t lead us out of the hills as the first one had led us in, it was merely a lull amongst the hills and the heat. Dale went for the world’s most tenuous claim to have visited Luxembourg, nipping off over the border and searching in vain for a Welcome to Luxembourg sign. I visited Luxembourg too, not to mention France, Germany and the Netherlands, at least according to my mobile phone provider.

Later, we entered Germany properly, but not before entering the German-speaking part of Belgium, where I’m pleased to report that the German approach to customer service thrives, and peremptory demands for exact change and refusals to top up water bottles for free are the cyclist’s lot.

We controlled in Monschau, which was a frustrating chocolate box-looking tourist hell under the blazing sun, at the foot of a narrow gorge surrounded by medieval buildings where no wind blew to ease the heat, and the sound of oompa bands lingered in the air. We ate an overpriced meal in the unpleasant heat, then when we left the Altstadt and climbed the hill, we found an entire, proper town where the real people live with loads of supermarkets and even a McDonald’s.

We stopped at a handy Aldi to top up with suncream and snacks. Despite the grotsome nature of Monschau and the lack of shade, Aachen was appearing on the roadsigns, and as well as sounding like a Dutchman clearing his throat, Aachen nestles up against

the Dutch border, and we all know that the Netherlands are flat, so our mood was uplifted even as our wheels were downwardheaded. We knew we were about to start leaving the hills and back into Flanders, where the roads are flat and the cyclepaths are easy.

And this was where Rob’s freehub decided to give up the ghost. The thing had been grinding away for ages, but as we could do nowt about it, we chose to ignore it and hope that it would last the ride. It didn’t. Rob could nearly ride his bike, as long as he didn’t mind stepping off, lifting the rear wheel and unjamming the chain after every half-turn of a crank. He was, I think, resigning himself to checking into a B&B in Aachen and training it back to the start, but he’d reckoned without the intervention of Our Mr Smith, who not only came out to meet Rob en route, but lent Rob the bike he’d brought with him for the odd chance he’d have for a bimble himself.

We had checked with Rohnny that this was OK and permissible within the rules, and of course, since Rohnny is utterly brilliant, he merely told Rob to do what he needed to do to keep riding.

The Miracle of Lommel Dale and I left Rob to wait for Chris, and despite the delays, we had plenty of time in hand. We were about 100 km from the final sleep stop at Lommel and about 250 km from the finish, and confident we’d finish in time, we went in search of chips, expecting Rob to catch up after we’d been abed for an hour or two.

As it turned out, he was there five minutes after we arrived. I hadn’t even had time to grab a beer when he rolled up out of the darkness at Lommel, and I spent ten minutes gaping at him before I could really believe it.

I didn’t think we’d faffed all that much, but clearly queuing at two different friethuisen before getting our chippy goodies had given Rob the edge, as he simply hadn’t stopped. It was a heroic effort.

The True Belgian Experience Rob said after the ride that his favourite part was seeing Dale’s enjoyment of the whole thing. It’s fair to say that Dale loved, loved, loved the finish, which was due west into a headwind straight off the sea. It really is flat around there, and there‘s none of the UK topography which creates gust and swirls.

Someone somewhere had flicked the switch on for WIND, and it was a solid wall. Dale was having a blast, shouting about echelons and cadging a tow off a handy local, then taking turns with him into the wind.

And that was it! We picked up Lindsay on the way and finished in comfortable mid-table obscurity with three hours in hand, and cheered the rest of the riders in while we tried to run through the range of Belgian beers on offer at Puyenbroeck. Rohnny had even arranged for cyclists to be able to use the pool in cycling kit for just one day – Dale and Lindsay went Full Euro, and went for a dip.

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2016 Randonneur Round the Year “Randonneur Round the Year” is the award for riding at least one 200km (or longer) Audax ride per month for 12 consecutive calendar months. It can be started at any time, and riders can have more than one RRtY series running concurrently (starting in the same or different calendar months). It was started by Peak Audax but is now administered by AUK, and seems to be growing in popularity.

Last year the roll of honour published in Arrivee had 501 names on it.

This has now increased to 597 so this time we are publishing only the names of those who have received the award for the first time, and

New Randonneurs Round the Year (since Arrivee Feb 2016) Lee Anderson Alan Barnard Steve Beard Peter Bell Stuart Birnie Christopher Breed Stephen Britt Rebecca Broadbent Bernard Brown Jake Brown Michael Browne Jason Burns Nigel Calladine Jack Camplin Duncan Carson James Clarke Richard Clements Dean Clementson Alex Cook Andy Corbyn George Cory Paul Cre Martin Croxford (2) Kevin Cunniffe Sefi Dakar Kevin Dennett William Dickey Bob Donaldson Richard Evans Ian Ewart Hugh Falkner Tim Ford Chris Forrest Ricki Goode Arthur Green Robert Hampson Shaun Hargreaves (2) Graeme Holdsworth Andrew Hoppit Nick Jackson Richard Jennings Paul Johnson Chris Jones Nigel Kelly Alison Kenny Lee Killestein Simon King Yvonne King 8

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Marcus Lancastle Stephen Laycock (2) Oliver Liney Alan Mcdonogh Ivo Miesen Suzannah Minns Liam Morris Ian Negus Ian Newall Rick Nice Robert Norris Steve Ogden Steve Orchard Andrew Packer Malcolm Page Gary Parmenter Nigel Pitt Julian Plummer Andrew Preater Jane Prowse Richard Pye Trevor Richards Eric Richardson Steve Riglar Steve Rogers Steve Rosewarne Richard Salisbury Jackie Sayer Arup Sen Neil Shand James Shaw (2) Mike Sheldrake Paul Smedley Stephen Smith (2) Andrew Sutton John Tetley David Tobin Angus Tree Dominic Trevett Andrew Turner Ronny Vanmarsenille Andrew Waddington Tim Wadsworth Joss Wallace Liz Webb Thomas Webb James White %%Stephen Agnew (6)

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those who have achieved additional series since the last list. For the full roll of honour go to http://www.aukweb.net/results/other/rrtyroll/ The award is not calculated automatically, you have to submit a claim and it is manually checked. Maybe at some time in the future I will be replaced by an algorithm, but for now please follow the process detailed at http://www.aukweb.net/results/other/rrtyclaim/#claim.

Another 81 riders have added one or more series to their record since the February 2016 list, and some have now achieved the coveted x10 award Nigel Armstrong (2) Simon Ashby (2) David Atkinson (3) Rob Baird (6) Jon Banks (4) Sean Barker (10) Paul Beebee (2) James Bradbury (2) Ashley Brown (3) Cathy Brown (3) Nik Brunner (2) Russell Carson (4) Lisa Chichester (3) Andy Clarkson (2) Geoff Cleaver (7) Ian Collins (2) Roger Cortis (14) Andy Curran (9) Martin Davey (3) Ivor Davies (3) Tony Davis (13) Simon Daws (2) Tom Deakins (5) Ritchie Dixon (3) Mike Eades (5) Dave Ellis (2) Nicholas Firth (4)

Peter Gawthorne (6) Steve Ginty (6) Tony Green (4) Jonathan Greenway (10) Derek Heine (9) Mark Higgins (4) Martin Hilbers (2) Rob Hilderley (5) Francois Hugo (13) Joe Jord (5) Nic Ketley (5) Richard Kitson (3) Mike Lane (19) Maggie Lewis (3) Pete Lewis (5) Terry Lister (6) Martin Malins (12) Brian Mann (6) Archie Marshall (7) Paul Martin (2) Ian Milne (2) Jack Neal (6) Phil Nelson (2) Alison Newman (2) Richard Parker (4) Tim Pickersgill (2) Nathan Poulton (2)

Andy Preston (5) Stuart Proctor (3) David Randerson (6) Tim Rusbridge (2) Ian Ryall (7) Gavin Simmons (2) Dave Smith (4) Daniel Staley (3) Olaf Storbeck (2) Ian Straughan (3) John Straughan (3) Paul Summers (2) Pete Summers (2) John Talbot (2) Allan Taylor (10) Andy Terry (8) Pete Tredget (4) Jack Tyler (2) Andrew Uttley (5) Trevor Wale (21) Peter Walton (3) Richard Warner (8) Steve Whalley (2) Paul Whitehead (6) Nick Wilkinson (5) John Wilton (4)

As of Jan 2016 there were 170 claimed RRtY series which finished during 2016.

January and February proved to be the most popular completion months, although December is probably really higher than shown as not all claims are in yet.

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Looking at the split between female and male riders (based purely on first names, no official information was available) it is much as you would expect from looking at participants at a 200km event! However it’s good to see the proportion of women first timers was high.

CTC Lancaster & South Lakes

Bowland Forest Populaire 14th Edition: 23rd April 2017

This year’s event is being held in conjunction with the established Wray Scarecrow Festival.

A new venue has been provided with the start & finish at the Wray Village Institute; Wray nr. Lancaster.

Grid ref.: SD 604 675 Any validated ride of 200km or more can be counted for RRtY – so that includes calendar events, perms, DIYs and ECEs. Generally most people use a mix of types. The chart below shows the percentages of completed series using calendar rides only, perms/DIYs only and including one or more ECEs. Only 4 riders counted purely calendar events – probably the most difficult way to continue through the winter months. 15% of series only consisted of 200km rides – so the other 85% had at least one longer ride. And thanks to the 18 of you with a very neat series of one ride per month - you make the RRtY claim validation job much easier.

New course (approx.102km) once again making full use of minor roads within the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Café facilities available en route in Chipping, Dunsop Bridge and Slaidburn.

Car parking and food available in the village of Wray at reasonable cost.

Entries £5 to members of AUK or CTC/Cycling UK. £2 extra for non members to cover insurance.

Route details and entries: Mike Hutchinson, Heatherdene, Whinfell Drive, Lancaster LA1 4NY Phone: 01524 36061;

e-mail: mikehutchinson@fastmail.fm

Most riders seem to be happy to ride one series at a time, but 9 riders achieved completely concurrent series, with either 2, 3 or 4 rides every month. Another 10 riders managed a degree of overlap with multiple series on the go for at least one month.

There will be many special achievements somewhere in the long list – but particular mentions for the following that I am aware of: Alan McDonogh for the first Elliptigo RRtY James Shaw for two series, one completely on three wheels Andy Curran for an SR every month Paul Smedley for full set of AAA rides (I suspect there are others who can claim this but no-one else drew it to my attention) I have enjoyed my first year as RRtY administrator and look forward to corresponding with you all again soon.

Caroline Fenton www.aukweb.net

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Oh to become a Randonneur around the year Part 2 In the first instalment (Arrivée 132), in the depths of winter, we learnt how the author set out to attempt to complete a first RRtY. Stumbling at the half-way ride, he brushed himself off and completed another three months of a renewed challenge. In this instalment we may well find out whether he makes it into the hallowed membership of perennial randoneurs, or be left gnashing his chain and grinding his gears.

Gavin Greenhow posseses the most threadbare Carradice saddlebag in the known world. Rumour has it that it was a hand-me-down from Noah when he gave up sailing and took up club runs around Mount Ararat. All that I can say is that somehow the remaining threads and gaffa tape manage to make it between his charming and friendly rides around Middle Earth.

With autumn leaves falling and the season’s colours in full display a small group of us clambered over the Cotswolds from Droitwich to Witney by way of a seldom trod track with five gates and back in early October. At Witney we surreptitiously jumped a rather lengthy queue at Huffkins by purchasing our pasties and cakes as takeaways and then sitting outside and eating them on the very cold seats and tables provided. I was even inspired to write the following poem (as National Poetry Day was just a few days after the ride): Down sunken lane Up misty vale The randonneur will go While falling leaves And chilling breeze The randonneur will know Of moments passing with friends a-chatting And of many miles to go The sunrise over frosted fields The vapoured light begins to glow And spinning steady onwards, upwards The randonneur will go.

Throughout the many varied seasons O’er all the land so pleasant, green In howling storm by swollen stream The randonneur will know That final bend and hearthside friend Long tales shared, proud-hearts aglow

As we rode around together as a group, I got to know a few other riders as well as Roy Bishop and Jim White whom I’d met on events earlier in the year.

Phil and Mary Dyson certainly know how to organise an event. You might wonder how a route that takes in both the cheeky Chilterns and the punchy Cotswolds, has both heavy rain and strong winds in good and roughly equal measure, and even features a RAF flypast could be bettered. But if I told you that you ride into a marvellous display of fireworks only to be greeted with tables literally groaning with wonderful homemade food and part of your entry fee goes towards a fine and charitable cause you might be thinking that you’ve found AUK’s Nirvana.

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Well, such was the Upper Thames 212k on a typically blustery early November day.

Waterperry Gardens tearoom is an old favourite haunt for my children who have grown up on their oversized scones and marvellously moist cakes while sipping handpressed apple juices grown in the Waterperry orchards. But it was a transformed tearoom that welcomed a hoard of sodden cyclists noses a-dripping into their bacon baps and mugs of tea with puddles forming around their wet footwear while outside the storm raged while the windows steamed up in a rather pleasant and comforting way. But it was only a brief respite from the wind and rain as we clambered into the Cotswolds and into a driving headwind towards Chipping Norton where the next control, manned by Stephen Rogers, awaited us. It’s a little known fact that many of the agricultural implements on display in the Waterperry Museum came from the Antiques shop that Ronnie Barker owned in Chipping Norton, including the fine collection of ‘ose!

By now the rain was behind us and soon the wind was too as we coasted back towards Cholsey via the end of RAF Brize Norton runway, just in time to see a huge Hercules fly only a few feet over my head and land on the nearby runway – a truly uplifting sight.

Firework displays were cracking off the first of their many fireworks as we made it back to Arrivée and Mary’s fine cuisine. A wonderful day in the saddle on a proper winter ride.

To round off the calendar year I decided to treat myself to some overnight accommodation at The Royal Hop Pole Hotel in Tewkesbury (I normally get up at some ungodly hour and drive to the starting point and then get back very many hours later late at night). While checking through the paraphernalia that one finds between the mock-leather covers of the Guest Services I discovered that Sam Weller, and Mr Benjamin Allen were fictional characters from Dickens’ Pickwick Papers who visited the Royal Hop Pole en route to Birmingham from Bristol in a poste chaise. While this unearthed one of the great unanswered questions of my first year of audaxing, it did not enlighten me to where Wochma is.

The event, Kings, Castles, Priests and Churches 202k was a fine Mark Rigby ride from the aforementioned establishment out to Ludlow via Bromyard and Tenbury Wells and then back via the wonderfully named Wormelow Tump and quiet lanes back to the Arrivée. It was a very windy day although mild and with no rain. At Ludlow there was a market in the town square and a gust blew a pile of plates off a stall-holders table. I cycled around with a chap called Steve from Bristol, Ian from Chester and later that magnificent tandeming couple from Huddersfield, Cathy and Aidan. So strong was the wind that I actually almost managed to keep up with their tandem – which is saying a great deal.

It was wonderful to not have to hurry back in the car and instead spend a leisurely evening tucked away in the corner of the Royal Hope Pole with a pint and a full roast chatting with

Mark Rigby and others about routes across Wales to Holyhead (for I planned to take part in The Celtic Knot 1000k next July) and then amble upstairs to my waiting bed.

And so the cycle began again. Early January and a clockwise edition of The Poor Student run by Pat Hurt. I arrived a little late at the start but by the time I was approaching Malmsbury I had caught up with several other riders. It was drizzling but not too cold and the Summer Café was very welcome. The next leg, which runs from Cirencester up and over Compton Abdale and across the A40 and through Salperton Park, which dates back to the Domesday Book, is one of favourite cycling routes. After this point the roads ramp up and over Snows Hill before dropping down into Chipping Campden. I completed the ride with Ben Hudson and Dave from Gloucestershire, the three of us working well together on the final side of the triangle back to Oxford and a welcome seasonal hot chocolate covered in whipped cream to welcome in the new year.

Perhaps Wochma was in the heaving wind that blew the breath out of your lungs while sweeping up another stiff ascent on the rolling road to Monmouth, or the swirling sinkhole in the lake at the foot of Birdlip Hill, or yet again amid the torrential rain that turned roads to rivers and fields to lakes? This day trip was a monumental effort of skill and survival against the elements. While weather presenters warned people to only venture out if absolutely necessary (it was after all, a named storm), the emboldened randonneur donned waterproofs and neoprenes and casting caution to the howling breeze bowed head and dug deep into a headwind that almost brought you to a standstill on the tops of hills and had passing motorists gawking from steamed up car windows.

This was epic cycling which promised a generous tailwind for those who made it far enough to appreciate its benefit. It was rather like a club ride to the Alenmore Services for the first control before riding solo into a stiff headwind down to Chepstow where I joined forces with Joolz and Drone crossing the Severn Bridge (and amazing and noisy experience in such high winds which closed the bridge to motorists) to Malmsbury (where I changed into some spare dry clothes I’d brought along with me) and then rode from there back to Tewkesbury with Stephen Rogers. At the foot of Birdlip Hill we helped a poor chap into a conveniently situated pub to get warmed up and rescued.

It was a relief to be back at The Royal Hop Pole after such a hard day in the saddle.

Two weeks later I started Chiltern Grit, but I DNF. The forecast was not good and the wind was building once again. I found a fine route to Aylesbury and sunk my teeth into a welcome bacon bap while chatting to Steve and some others – it was a good showing for a winter ride. The route stuck mainly to main roads and they were quite busy. I decided to peel off at the A40 and got back just before large dollops of rain started pounding on the conservatory roof and the tree swayed www.aukweb.net

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RRtY furiously from side-to-side. Later I learnt that it had been a hard ride and I was relieved that this was a ride I could afford to miss as I had already completed my February ride in the torrential rain and storm force winds earlier in the month and didn’t need to repeat the experience.

In March I went mad and was back in Tewkesbury for a considerably drier 209km March Madness – just a little rain for the first half-hour and last half-hour. Cycled around with Steve and, unlike the previous year, followed the canal route back into Gloucester which was far more pleasant than the main road that I cycled down the previous year – probably helped by the fact that there was a little cluster of us riding together by this point. I recall slipping off the back of this group as we sped along the A38 towards Tewkesbury and watching the line of red lights disappear up the road ahead of me. As always a welcome cluster had gathered around tables in the back of The Royal Hop Pole and I nattered for a short while before heading back into the cool dark evening.

The Dean is a proper grown-up audax ride with an early start on a cold steely-grey morning from one of the Park & ride car parks and has the Cotswolds covered before breakfast and Newent and Chepstow by lunchtime where the Severn Valley services provided a welcome break for Steve, Andrew and I. Then it was into a headwind to Malmsbury where the Waitrose café provided rather luxurious audax fare before heading out into the night and our second motorway services of the day at Membury Services and another refuelling. A pleasant stretch over the Marlborough Downs (where Steve and Andrew disappeared off ahead of me) and Oxfordshire twinkling in the spring nighttime. Passed a Welsh chap and a few other cyclists on the road towards Appleby and then down the last hill and back to the Arrive where I went to hand in my brevet only to find that it must have dropped out of my pocket somewhere between Malmsbury and Oxford! Steve had his car and drove a few miles down the road and back but couldn’t see any obvious sign of the missing paperwork. No brevet – no record – no evidence of a completed 300km ride. The 17 hours and 17 minutes might have been spent lying flat on my back on the sofa.

I cycled home feeling rather dejected and slept badly while demons burnt the brevet cards in my fevered mind after carefully ripping out each carefully collected receipt and feeding them to three-headed dogs who breathed their foul breath inches from my face. I stumbled out of bed in the early hours and clambered back onto the saddle. I had to find that brevet if it took me all day. I retraced the route back from the car park and slowly pedalled along the last few miles of the ride.

To my amazement I found my card dumped in the dirt in a roadside layby. The scattered receipts stuck in the mud beside it. O what joy! I collected them up and made my way home with renewed energy and quickly had my form signed and sealed in an envelope www.aukweb.net

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and soon popped into the post – an uncomfortably near miss.

Still in March and I was about to add a 400k to the earlier 200k and 300k as the lure of an outing to York drew near.

I’d read about the Easter Arrow somewhere obscure like yacf and, being northern, the lure of cycling so far north in only 24 hours, very much appealed. I checked various route on google and found that, by jiggling the route across to Cambridge from Oxford and then in more-orless a straight northerly line from there I had a route of slightly longer than 400km. As all audax routes went a good few k over their stated distance, I saw this as a positive sign and duly promoted the ride in the hope of attracting enough people to form a team (min. 3, max 5). To my surprise and joy a few like-minded individuals emerged and, on gathered on Good Friday morning at 10am sharp to set-off on what could only be described as a breeze of a ride. David (Smethurst) and Steve (Stephen Rogers ) were seasoned audaxers; Adam Clark and Ben Hudson significantly younger but with plenty of miles experienced in their legs and up for the long challenge that lay ahead. The day was fair and mild the so’westerly wind was kind to us. Despite a minor chain irritation en route, the first leg had got off to a flying start. Being a fast day, we feasted on a fine supper of fish and chips before setting off to St Ives via the most pleasant cycling route you may encounter in the UK. The flatlands stretched on via Boston, Lincoln and Gainsborough. It remained mild even through the night and by now the wind had picked sufficiently to literally push us along the roads with wide open skies all around us.

This effectively meant that we were travelling far faster than the estimated pace and we ended up wiling away the small hours in dubious fast-food outlets with the youff o’the land staggering around us. Our last

checkpoint was a breakfast treat in Selby before we span the last few k off the busying roads and onto a fine cycle path into York. We posed outside York station at 10am, collected our last receipts and then headed to the Punch Bowl where hordes of randonneurs were gathered and exchanging stories of how their arrows had quivered through the long night. Most of Storm Katie blew through on the train journey back to Oxford.

Three Counties Revisited took place on St George’s Day and Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary on 23rd April. Gavin confessed that it may actually have been more than 3 counties covered in the route which makes this delightfully lumpy ride exceptional good value. We were blessed with fine weather and the route took in many fine lanes in Herefordshire and Warwickshire – the bard’s own backyard. Once again I was inspired to write some poetry: On this, the Bard’s day, four-hundred years’ past, Sir Gavin rode out with his well-merrie throng.

For we went not slow and we went not fast, As the wandering way was both grittie and long.

Full heartily at Weobley didst we take our fill On tatties and pastries and swette currant bun.

Thus reinforced did we climb up o’er hill, For the day it was joyous, for springeth had sprung.

O’er Herefordshire hills and homeward bound, Didst our steeds rattle along, as if to say, This scepter’d Isle, this hallowed ground Was made for such - a pedallers way.

So long as we have breath, and eyes to see, So long lives us to raise a toast to thee!

Bob Donaldson To be continued

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Randonnées

New Randonneurs We welcome 486 members to the ranks of AUK Randonneurs.

They have ridden 200 km or over for the first time in the 20015/16 season.

(NB this list is generated automatically from our records so may be incorrect if you have changed your name, or if you have returned to riding after a break of 9 years or more)

Warren ADAMSON Andrew AMOS-ADAMS Christine AMOS-ADAMS Shirley ANDERSON Stephen ANDERSON Tony ANDERTON Chris APPERLEY Christopher ASHFORD Richard ASHWORTH Ian ATTEWELL Troy BACKHOUSE Stuart BAILEY Gaetan BAILLIEUL Lionel BAINBRIDGE Jim BAKER Mike BALUK Paul BAPTIST Mark BARKER Sara BARMAN Richard BARNETT Stephen BATCHELOR Marcus BEDWELL Phil BEED Andrew BEESON Martina BEN-SHAUL David BENNETT Andrew BERNE Stuart BERRYMAN Andrew BEVERIDGE Adrian BIRD Stuart BLACK Sue BLAKE Stephen BLAND Robert BOCKING Florin BOLOCAN Paul BOLTON Geoffrey BOOKER Christian BOULTON Katherine BOYCE Ian BRADBURY Philip BRADSHAW Gill BRAY David BREESE Robert BRIDGES Andrew BROADBENT Paul BROADBERRY Nigel BROOKS Frederick BROUGHTON Christopher BROWN Douglas BROWN Jake BROWN Andy BRUCE Simon BULLOCK Sarah BURBIDGE Jason BURNS Morris BUTCHART Gary BYRNE Gavin CALDER 12

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Robert CALLEJA Nicholas CANNON Simona CARENA Ian CARSWELL Nigel CATER Joanna CEBRAT Garga CHAMBERLAIN Pj CHAMPAULT Keith CHEETHAM Brian CHELL Mike CLAMPITT Adam CLARK Matt CLARK Roger CLEGG Peter CLEMENTS Matthew COCKERHAM Richard COOMER Mark COOPER Richard COOPER Simon COOPER Giles COPE Josephine CORBAN Martin CORBETT Andrew CORBYN George CORDAL Danny CORTIS Sebastien COSNEFROY Barney COUCH Matthew COULSHED Oliver COWLING Calvin CRANE Jamie CREED Stuart CREELEY Antonio CRESPO Neil CROCKER Andrew CROLLA Simon CULLEN Richard CULVER Wout DAENEN Jamie DAINTON Howard DALTON Andy DARLINGTON Loyd DAVIES Arthur DAVIS Kelvin DAVISON Aelfred DE SIGLEY Nigel DEAKIN Stephen DEE Ian DEEPROSE Jane DENNYSON Bexy DEW William DICKEY Mark DINEEN Andrew DOOLEY Anna DORE Andrew DOUGLAS Harry DOWDNEY Ian DRIVER

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Robert DUNCUMB Ashley DUNSTAN Michal DUREC Jim EDWARDS Omar ELAFGHANI Martin ELLICK Fraser ELLISON Paul ELSDON Nicholas ELVERSTON William ELVERSTON David EMMS Henry ENGELS Mike ENTWISTLE Sibylle ERMLER Mark ERRINGTON Paul FAITHFULL Lee FAULKNER Michael FISHER Kieran FITZPATRICK Neil FITZPATRICK Andrew FLECK Richard FLINT Peter FOLDVARI Louise FOLEY Nathan FOLLOWS Tom FORBES Matthew FORSHAW David FORTIS David FOSTER Paul FREEMAN Sarah FREEMAN Ulrich FREYBURGER Alex FROST Jamie FUNNELL Aimee GAMBLE-MILNER Philip GARSED Rachel GARSED Jason GEORGE Chris GIBSON Tony GIRN Christiane GOERGEN David GOLDEN Lachlan GRANT Lee GREEN Mike GREEN Dominic GREGORY Miles GRIFFITHS Richard GRIFFITHS James GRIGGS Byron GRIMES Darren GROOMS Nick GROUNDWATER Don GRUNDELL Andrew GUEST Thomas HADDOCK James HADLEY Louis HALL Nick HALL

Alex HAMILTON Chris HAMILTON David HAMMOND Julian HANDS Louis HANSLOW Keith HANSON Dawn HARRILL Johnny HARRIS Wayne HARRISON Adrian HART Geoff HARTWELL Joe HAWKSWORTH Andy HAYES Daryl HAYTER Andrew HEBDA Haiko HEBIG Simon HEDGE Tom HEIBER Sabine HEIBER-LUEBKE Jeremy HICKS Nicholas HIGGINSON Mark HIL Rob HINDS Jochen HINRICHS-STÃLDT Caroline HOBBS Kevan HODGINS David HODGSON Adrian HOLBORN Mark HOLCROFT Clive HOLGATE Richard HOLLAND Alan HOLMES Daniel HOLMES Marc HONEY Anna HORLESTON Nathan HORLESTON Chris HOSKING Gary HOTCHKISS Jane HOTCHKISS Elliot HOWARD-JONES Kenneth HOWARTH Martin HOWE Nigel HUBBUCK Fraser HUGHES Joe HUGHES Helena HUNT Tom HUNTER Kevin HURLEY Caroline ITEM Satoshi IZUMIHARA Paul JACKMAN Julie JACKSON Danny JANES Adrian JAPP Vince JENNINGS Mike JOHNSTON Shergold JONATHAN Daniel JONES

Les JONES Mark JONES Rhys JONES Terry JONES Rob JORDAN Andrew KANE Richard KARMANN Mark KATORY Mike KEAR Helen KELLAR Sarah KELMAN Michael KILBURN Lee KILLESTEIN Steven KING Richard KINGSLEY-SMITH Katherine KIRTON Burkhard KLOSS Peter KNOWLES Christopher KNOX Errol KOBUS Philippe LANDY Matthew LARKINS Rebecca LEECE Julie LEWIS Jason LEWIS MARSH John LINDLEY Scott LINDSAY Trevor LUPTON James LUSCOMBE Nick LYONS Howard M Ian MACPHEE Ivan MACTAGGART Jamie MAIN Paul MALYNN Andrew MARSDEN Joseph MARSHALL Daniel MASSIE Darryl MASTROPIETRO Andrew MATTHEWS Neil MATTHEWS Stuart MAUDLING Robert MAYERS Martin MCCONNELL Ewan MCDOWALL Jane MCDOWELL Gerry MCGARR Steven MCGUIRE Gerard MCHUGH Stuart MCLEAN Tom MCLEAN James MCMANUS Richard MEADOWS Phil MERRIN James METCALFE Bob MILLAR Ray MILLER Zachary MILLER www.aukweb.net

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Randonnées David MILLS Gary MITCHELL Ray MOBBS Oliver MONAGHANCOOMBS Alexey MONAKHOV Dan MONTGOMERIE Jane MOORE Kathryn MORRIS Sian Louise MORRIS Stephen MORRIS Alan MORTON Keith MOUNT Lucy MULLEN Diana MULLOY William MYDLARZ Mark NAMGAUDS Justin NAYLOR Robert NEGUS David NEILSON Antonia NETHERTON Richard NEWHOUSE Rick NICE Daniel NICHOLAS Benjamin NORRINGTON Neil O’BRIEN Derek O’REILLY Leonard O’ROURKE Sean O’SHAH Stuart OGIER David OLIVER Gareth OWEN Andrew PACKER Phillip PAGE Ciaran PARK Kate PARKIN Vijay PATEL Stuart PATTEN-LAWRENCE Billy PATTISON Jamie PAWLEY Stuart PAYNE Ivor PEACHEY Rasmus PEDERSEN Steven PEERS Carl PEGNAM Eduardo PETRILLI Paul PHILP Alan PICKEN Olivia PILE Patrick PIPER Eugene PITT Nigel PITT Andy PIXTON Tom PLOWMAN Anne PORTSMOUTH Nic POW Martyn POYNOR Dafydd PRICHARD Tim PRITCHARD Julian PROKAZA John PROUT Nik PROWSE Laura PUGH Robert PULLMAN Ian QUENBY Matthew RADFORD

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Graeme RAEBURN Anna RAILTON Jess RAILTON Mark RAMSDEN Chris RAPER Howard RAVEN Darryl RAYNER Marc REDFORD Fenella REED Gavin REICHERT Richard REVIS Darren RICHARDS Emma RICHARDSON Stuart RICHARDSON Neil RIMMER Murray ROBERTSON Dylan ROBINSON Kayleigh ROBINSON Oliver ROBINSON Andrew ROOCROFT James ROWLAND Darren ROWLEY Chris ROYLE Alistair RUFF Robin RULE Gary RUSSELL Sean RUTTER Stuart RYDER John RYE Matthew SADLER Neil SAUTEREAU Drew SAVAGE Christian SCHMIDT John SCHOLES Ian SCORAH Steven SCOTT Lizzy SCULLY Michael SEARL David SHAKESPEARE Edward SHAND John SHARRATT Karl SHEEN Emma SHELDRAKE Chris SHEPPARD Adam SHERLOCK David SHERRINGTON Sandeep SHEWALE Mike SHIMWELL Andrew SHIPPIN Vilas SILVERTON James SIMPSON Matt SINCLAIR Michael SMART Alistair SMITH Gill SMITH Martin SMITH Mark SOBIERAJ Karl SOMERS Thomas SPENCER Graham SPILLER Kevin SPINKS Andrew SPURR Gary STEPHENSON Ben STOCKS Nick STOKELL Stuart STOTT

Susan STOUT Jack SUDDONS Jignesh SUTAR Finlay THOM Anthony THOMAS Craig THOMPSON Stuart THORN Chris TILLAPAUGH David TOBIN Brian TOMKINS David TOMLINSON Andrew TONGUE Tom TOWERS Angus TREE Alan TULLETT Ian TYAS Simon VANNERLEY Chris VIRGO Valdas VITKAUSKAS Paul VOLLER Will VOUSDEN Robert WADE Richard James WAKE Angie WALKER Marcus WALKER Clifford WALLIS Andy WALTER David WALTERS Michael WANN Pete WARD Tom WARD Dave WARNOCK Robert WATERHOUSE Philip WATERMAN Glyn WATKINS Simon WATKYNS Jon WATSON Andrew WATT Darren WEBB Stephen WEBB Lee WEBSTER Ian WHITE Ben WHITEAR John WHITELEGGE Jack WHORTON Jack WILKINSON Nathan WILLETT Gwyneth WILLIAMS Nick WILLIS Nicki WILLS Jonathan WILMOTT Stuart WILSON Scott WINSTON David WINTON Christopher WOOD Tim WOODHEAD Tim WOODIER Greg WOODORD Simon WOODTHORPE Philip WOOLDRIDGE Robert WRAGGE-MORLEY Wayne WRIGHT Jason WRING Andy YATES Barry YOUNG

New Super Randonneurs We welcome 112 riders to the ranks of AUK SRs. They rode a 200, 300, 400 and 600 km in 2015/16 ABRAHAM Simon AMOS-ADAMS Andrew ANTON Gus BARNETT Richard BEEDHAM Andrew BOLOCAN Florin BOLTON Paul BRITT Stephen BROWN Alex BROWN Jake BULLOCK Chris BURGATO John BURNS Jason CLARKE Dene CLAYTON Alan Hugh COPE Jim CORBYN Andrew CORTIS Danny CRAWLEY Peter CULLEN Simon DAMPER Robert DAVEY Martin DEAKIN Nigel DICKEY William DONALDSON Bob ELAFGHANI Omar ELLIS David Trevor ELVERSTON Nicholas ELVERSTON William EMMS David FISHER Michael FORTIS David FROST Alex GEE Steve GILLIES James GLOMSKI Steve GORDON Steven GREEN William GRIFFITHS Steven HAILWOOD Paul HALLIWELL Titus HAMILTON Chris HANCOCK William HARPER Peter HAXELL Paul HAYTER Daryl HERBERT Chris HILL Michael HOBSON John HOLT Edward HUGHES Joe HUNTER Robert IZUMIHARA Satoshi JONES Chris JOSEPH Julian KARMANN Richard

KILLESTEIN Lee KIRKBRIDE Carl LAMBERT Sian LAVERICK Martin PH LINEY Oliver MEW Colin MINNS Suzannah MOODY Chris MULLER Jasmijn NEWALL Ian NEWHOUSE Richard NICE Rick NORRIS Robert NORTH Joseph Albert ORCHARD Steve OWEN Brad PACKER Andrew PAGE Malcolm PALMER Ian PERKINS Sarah PITT Nigel PREATER Andrew PUGH Laura RADFORD Matthew RAMAGE Dale RENSHAW Paul ROBERTS Adrian RUSBRIDGE Tim RYE John SEN Arup SHAND Neil SHEPHERD Ingrid SHERLOCK John SHERRINGTON David SMITH Gill SQUIRES Christopher SULLIVAN Ray SUTAR Jignesh TALLONTIRE Martin THOMPSON Richard TOBIN David TOWERS Tom TUCKER Tania TURNER Alexander TURNER Andrew VERBY Joff VOUSDEN Will WESTGATE Ken WHEELER Martyn WILLARD Tom WILLIAMS Tim WILLIS Toby WILLS Magnus WILSON Doug WRAGGE-MORLEY Robert WRING Jason

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Three Way Split Roscoff to Nice 1441km with David Matthews In 2014 I successfully completed an extended “Manche-Med” +Toulouse 1600km ride (Arrivee Feb 2015) which gave me a taste for long, solo, unsupported rides in France. The knowledge and confidence gained on this ride set me planning to follow the more difficult (due to big hill ranges after Montlucon) 1441km “Great French Diagonal” in 2015.

This latter route starts in Brittany, crosses the Loire at Ancenis, then continues through the Auvergne to cross the Rhone south of Valence. The course then follows remote hill roads from Crest to traverse the north side of Mt Ventoux, the Verdon Gorges and then visit the remote hill village of Greolieres above Nice. From here a 45km descent leads through the scenic Gorges du Loup to the finish.

As in 2014, my arrival at the Med was to be followed by a return route northwest through the Pyrenees to stay with my friends at Montmaurin, some 50km south of Toulouse - giving a total distance of approximately 2000km. The ride was to be solo, unsupported once again, which brings its own special challenges and rewards to a non-french speaker in a big, lonely land.

The whole ride, Roscoff-Montmaurin, was planned to take 3 weeks (allowing for a rest day at Nice and a pause at Tarascon to climb in the Pyrenees sans luggage).

Unfortunately, as with many of the best laid plans, I was thwarted a couple of weeks before the start. Whilst attempting to re-train too quickly after a springtime bout of flu, I damaged the soleus muscles in both my calves. This injury needed at least 4 weeks to clear up which put the whole schedule out of joint.

So after the enforced delay, and hoping to regain fitness on the ride, I embarked on the train journey from Chester to Plymouth, followed by overnight ferry to Roscoff. Next morning I managed to oversleep on the ferry and scrambled to leave with groups of other cyclists.

The weather in Roscoff was wet, miserable and misty and the route ahead less than obvious. One of the English cycling groups leaving the ferry was headed for my first stop at Morlaix (22km) and invited me to latch on as they knew the way. I just about managed to hold on to their wheels in my unfit state, weighed down by a rack full of luggage.

After a soggy coffee at Morlaix , but grateful for the company, I reluctantly headed off on my own into the wet mist and a fairly long first hill. Eventually the gradient relented and the ensuing descent led me to lunch in the favoured audax cafe known as a bus shelter.

Fortunately the weather cleared up pm, so I had a pleasant ride to stay overnight at a chateau (which had seen better days) at Perret near Silfiac.

The weather continued unsettled for the next couple of days as I rode mainly flat, boring roads to Ancenis. Here I picked up a control stamp at the lunchtime cafe stop, before crossing the Loire on the huge but narrow bridge. Shortly beyond the bridge I

turned south towards Toulouse, leaving the route eastward to Nice for another year.

Jun 9-12 2016 {Chester to St Malo to Ancenis 206km} Mostly flat June 13 (midday) to Jun 17 2016 Ancenis to Bertignat 603km; 3100m ascent Having looked at various mechanised travel options for returning to Ancenis via Nantes, the strike prone French air traffic controllers and petrol delivery drivers persuaded me to take the safe arrival option of train to Portsmouth and overnight ferry to St Malo. I then cycled down to Ancenis in two stages of 100k each over rolling hilly terrain.

The weather was generally showery and cool during the day and monsoon like at night.

These rainstorms were a feature of the wettest early June in France since records began and regrettably were a foretaste of worse weather to come.

I arrived in Ancenis on a gloomy Sunday night when, in accordance with French tradition, all restaurants are shut. Fortunately, after a long walk into town, I eventually found a Turkish Kebab shop which was doing a roaring trade as the only food outlet around.

My schedule to reconnect with the audax route next morning gave time to admire the wide and very full Loire river, swollen by weeks of heavy rain.

Swollen Loire at Ancenis June 2016

So the plans were revised to take advantage of Organiser Simon Jones’ rule that allows this perm to be ridden at Tourist standard in 1, 2 or 3 stages over 3 years.

The original departure date was put forward for a couple of weeks while the injury cleared up. I then planned to complete the first 320km of the route to the Loire at Ancenis---before turning south towards my friends’ house. This strategy would allow me to arrive in Montmaurin on the original planned date---albeit by a route reduced to 1000km due to my late start.

June 12 (midday) 2015 Roscoff to Ancenis 320km Mostly flat

The remaining 1121km to Nice would have to wait until 2016.

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June 13 Ancenis to Rochefort-sur Loire 95km; mostly flat Soon after midday I left the identical cafe that I had arrived at from Roscoff 12 months before and set off on a short 45km half day ride to my hotel at Rochefort-sur Loire.

Navigation should be very simple---cross the river by a very narrow foot/cyclepath (too close to the roaring traffic---scary!) then head east by keeping the river on the left.

Unfortunately, weeks of rain had caused the Loire to flood many of the minor roads---in some places up to 4 metres deep! There were signs at most road junctions denoting “inondee” forcing an inevitable, confusing route east on the few roads still clear of the floods.

Eventually I came to a large bridge which crossed the wide river back north and thus my route then became “keep the river on the right and you can’t go wrong”.

Some 10km later I arrived at a major road with signs pointing north to Montjean. This didn’t make sense as I should have been way beyond Chalonnes at this point. Eventually the awful truth dawned on me that when I had apparently crossed the Loire, in fact I had merely crossed a swollen parallel river and had been riding in the wrong direction for some time! There was no option but to turn round and retrace until I eventually arrived at Rochefort after some 80km.

My overnight stop here was at the Moulin Geant or giant windmill. This hotel did not pop- up on my phone when I looked for directions. Fortunately I found a local guy with good English who directed me onto the road towards Beaulieu-s-Layon, some 7km distant uphill, explaining that the hotel was just to the right of the road.

I kept on riding uphill looking for the hotel, figuring that a giant windmill was likely to be high up above Rochefort to maximise the available wind and difficult to miss.

Eventually I got to Beaulieu with no sign of the hotel and getting rather prickly after my long, short half day ride with no end in sight.

To cut a long and painful story short, the hotel was eventually located late in the evening. It was back down in Rochefort, hidden along a rough track behind a new housing estate which screened it from view.

A few signs would have helped to avoid much frustration, unnecessary climbing and an eventual distance of 95km for my “short, flat 45km” ride!

June 14 Rochefort-sur Loire to Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine 119km; 200m ascent Morning dawned bright and clear as I followed minor roads around the Loire to Gennes after 37km. Beyond Gennes there is a 15km stretch of fairly major road D751 to the lunch and control stop at Saumur. I was not looking forward to riding amongst all this traffic. However, just outside Gennes, the route was barred for major reconstruction all the way to Saumur. The friendly road crew allowed me through the barriers onto this www.aukweb.net

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stretch which gave me a traffic free ride on perfect tarmac to within 2km of Saumur.

Merci French Routes! Once in town I reconnected with “Manche-Med” at the same cafe stop used 2 years previously.

After lunch I headed east again feeling very much like a cycling softie as I was accompanied by many leisure riders following the gentle cyclepaths along the river. Once the Loire had been crossed at Candes -St-Martin the leisure groups were left behind and I continued through to my hotel stop 40km further on at Sainte-Maurede-Touraine.

The Logis Hostellerie de Cheval Blanc on the Av. General de Gaulle at Candes has all the ambience of a classic old style French Hotel.

Bicycle and stage coach parking is in a large complex at the back of the hotel. As I arrived at the Hotel, already wet from a rain shower during the previous 5km, a massive storm opened up which kept me pinned in the garage for a good half hour before I could safely transfer to the hotel entrance some 200m distant.

June 15 Sainte-Maure-de Tourainne to Mers-sur-Indre 140km; 600m ascent Today’s route re-connected in part with “Manche-Med” route, riding through the Brenne. This is one of my favourite parts of France---beautiful, wooded narrow roads, flanked by freshwater lakes that are home to many bird species making the only audible noise in this remote area.

The weather stayed fine until Lothiers some 40km from the finish. As I progressed towards the village of Mers-sur-Indre through an increasingly remote and lumpy region, the rain turned from drizzle to pouring. Once again I had trouble locating my overnight stop---this was resolved by my optimised technique of ringing the establishment and asking, in perfect franglais, to be guided in.

June 16 Mers-sur-Indre to Coutansouze 128km; 1000m ascent Washout!

This is the day I started to lose the plot due to the frequent mega-rainstorms and an ever more painful saddle region caused by continually riding in damp/wet shorts (as the weather prevented me from getting any clothing properly dry).

Breakfast was accompanied by a huge rainstorm crashing down outside. This relented to a normal downpour by 9:30 so I resolved to ride 13km to La Chatre to gauge progress in the difficult conditions.

Once in the town the rain cleared up a little as I negotiated the busy traffic filled roads to escape uphill through the usual out-of-town shopping complex and continued 11km towards St Severe s/Indre.

The first proper hills of the Massif Central now come into play leading to the next control at Montlucon, which is entered following a long descent. Prior to Montlucon

I had another long delay near Boussac, attempting to shelter under a few trees whilst another massive rainstorm hammered down for about an hour.

The previous delays for rainstorms caused me to leave Montlucon town centre much later than planned, during the evening rush hour - up a steep climb of 10km to Commentry surrounded by cars and buses.

Most unpleasant!

The commuter mayhem extended a further 5km to Colombier where it seemed I would have some clear roads to cover the last 20km to my hotel. Unfortunately the rain had not finished with me yet and another huge storm crashed down for 30 minutes whilst I sheltered in an old shed.

By the time the rain stopped, around 6:30pm, I was feeling wet, tired and very hungry as I struggled up yet another long hill. Beyond La Loge with 10km to go, the sun magically appeared to give a beautiful clear evening.

The improvement in the weather coincided with leaving the main road to follow small, remote narrow roads which eventually, after a final 5km climb, landed me at an immaculate Logis hotel in the middle of nowhere. The time was 8:05 pm and the restaurant closed at 8:30pm - so I had a mad scramble to store bike, unpack, shower, wash clothes and tumble in to the dining room.

June 17 Coutansouze to Bertignat (Ambert) 121km; 1300m ascent The day started well enough as I climbed up and down through forested roads beyond Coutansouze followed by a pleasant descent to Ebreuil at 20km. The sky was overcast but at least it wasn’t raining as I climbed beyond Ebreuil to eventually descend to enjoy Plat du Jour in Maringues some 38km later.

The route beyond Maringues leads over a couple of lengthy climbs towards a well graded, wooded descent on the D906 through a steep valley which disgorges into the small market town of Ambert.

My accommodation was booked in Bertignat some 15km before Ambert. Accordingly I swung off the D906 at Pont de David just before the small village of Vertolaye, crossed the river, and started up a steep climb to the village. Six km, 300m ascent and one hour later I reached Bertignat village in a really tired state - and late evening yet again. The locals in the village square then told me that the hotel I wanted was 5km back down the hill on a different road. So I descended as directed, but arrived back at the main road at Vertolaye with no sign of any hotel on the way. So I did what I should have done in the first place and phoned the hotel for guidance, which led me to a whole new area of Bertignat. Late again and the usual rush to get a meal before the dining room shut.

(I now realise that the term Bertignat refers to a hilly region noted for relaxing holidays, with the village at its centre. Future cyclists looking for accommodation beware!)

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Arzon (not a pretty place!) followed by a further 22km of rolling countryside before descending to meet the Loire once again at Retournac. I spent a lazy half hour here watching the ducks floating on the river.

Beyond Retournac there is 200m ascent over 13km to get to Yssingeaux - a small town with a big supermarket. I was getting tired and hungry by this time, so bought food bars and a bottle of Coke which I consumed sitting on the floor of the entrance foyer.

Bridge across the Rhone at La Voulte-s-Rhone

painful saddle sore had become infected and there was no way I could continue the ride. In truth I had become tired of the constant bad weather and late arrival at hotels - so resolved to return home and come back to Bertignat to finish the third stage of the route later in the year, once the weather and my health had improved.

Day 2 travel began at 7am when I left to drive 500km to St Etienne. The plan was to arrive at noon but a crash on the motorway and route finding problems delayed departure until 3:00pm. Loading my bike out of the car was not helped when I found that a full bottle of orange juice had emptied itself into the bag containing my cycle clothing!

My host rang the local taxi driver so he could take me 100km to Clermont Ferrand airport where I would collect a hire car to drive back to my friends’ house at Montmaurin. I could then rest up before booking my flight back to UK. When the taxi driver was eventually located he was found to be away on holiday in Nice. The weather had been so bad locally that he had taken his wife for a holiday to get away from the rain - but it was pouring down in Nice also. This news made me feel a lot better about packing now.

September 7 pm St Etienne to Bertignat 61km (cycling) 700m ascent

In the absence of any local taxi or other transport, mine host offered to drive me to the airport himself - for which many thanks. I collected a hire car at the airport and then drove 500km to Montmaurin - followed by a flight home two days later.

Roscoff-Nice audax perm score to date: Roscoff-Ancenis 320km, 3.5 days Ancenis-Bertignat 603km, 4.5 days Sub total: 923km; 3100m ascent 8 days Bertignat-Nice (To do) approx. 530km; 6500m ascent 6 days max.

September 6 to 8 2016 {Chester-Nice-St Etienne -Bertignat 61km; 500m ascent} Sept 9 - 14 Bertignat to Nice 602km; 6500m+ ascent

September 6 to 7 (midday) Chester to Nice to St Etienne (plane + car) This trip put me in the last chance saloon for completing the ride to audax tourist standard. Bertignat, where I finished riding in June, is situated rather remotely in the Massif Central. This necessitated a complicated travel plan to pick up the ride again.

Day 1 saw me fly from Liverpool to Nice, hire a car and drive to a hotel near Nice airport.

The bike was built up in the hotel room and luggage sorted so that I could start cycling immediately after dropping off the hire car at St Etienne railway station next day.

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St Etienne is situated in a large bowl surrounded by motorways. After the first hour of attempting to climb out of town avoiding the motorways and being forced to descend back towards the town centre, I returned to the train station to hire a taxi to get me out of the place. It was late afternoon and I still had to travel some 50km, mostly uphill, to get to the overnight stop in St Atheme. Given little choice, I negotiated a fee of 60 EU for transport to St Bonnet le Chateau, 30 Km beyond the city and well clear of all the busy main roads. From here I endured a 17km steep climb with the hot sun directly on my back. This hard climb eventually led to a 5km descent through woods to the Hotel. Once again I arrived just before the restaurant shut and had the usual rush to get showered and fed.

Next day started with an easy grade climb over the Col de Pradeux 1196m followed by a pleasant descent to Ambert. There was time for a restful coffee stop here in the sunshine.

I then enjoyed a lazy al fresco lunch in a barn at the side of the road during the 6 km climb up to Bertignat, prior to an early arrival at my Chambre d’hôte! A restful, recovery day!

September 9 Bertignat to Le Chambon sur Lignon 113km; 1400+m ascent Today was my 72nd birthday which mine hosts celebrated by hanging a good wishes banner in Dutch over the breakfast table. The special birthday breakfast delayed my departure until 08:30 but I then made rapid progress for 16km on the level stretch between Ambert and the control at Arlanc.

Shortly beyond Arlanc the climbing started in earnest for 18km up to Craponne-sur

Yssingeaux was filled with cars rushing madly to get families to their Friday evening shopping. In the midst of all this traffic mayhem, and misdirected by new road signs, I lost the correct route leaving town along the rural D103. This error became obvious only when I found myself descending on the main D105 which travels a circuitous 6km extra to get to the next town, Tence.

Realising my route finding error, I spotted a right turn leading back to the D103 along a minor “white road”. I really should know by now that these roads are inevitably steep and confusing. Shades of Bertignat misdirection all over again as I toiled up steep slopes for 5km until I eventually emerged, shattered, onto the D103. By this time it was starting to get dark as the road climbed ever upwards. When I eventually arrived in Tence the locals were enjoying their evening aperitifs outside the local cafes whilst boy racers showed off their skills by screaming round the streets in hot hatches.

After so much climbing from Retournac, surely the slopes must relent now - but no such luck! In the semi-darkness, the road to Chambon looked even steeper than the climb to Tence. A couple of kilometres up the climb I received a call from the hotel to check if I would arrive that night. Be there in 10 minutes I lied, as the slopes continued ever upwards.

Eventually I rolled into the centre of town to search for the “Hotel de la Plage”. I was directed east from the crossroads at the centre of town and after 2 km gradual descent eventually arrived at La Plage with absolutely no sign of any hotel. Lost and late yet again!

There is a supermarket opposite La Plage where 2 families were loading up their cars with the weekly shopping. On enquiring as to the whereabouts of my hotel, they informed me that I had been standing 100m away from it in the centre of town and had been sent off on a wild goose chase.

By now it was 8:30pm and I was totally shattered, lost, hungry and un-amused by the misdirection. Seeing how tired I looked, the 2 families very kindly rearranged themselves in the two cars and took me back to where I had started in the centre of town.

Once in the Hotel I checked what time the restaurant closed. “We don’t have a restaurant” was the reply! That was all I needed to hear! Fortunately there was a pizzeria still open in town, where I was just in time to get a belated birthday meal. www.aukweb.net

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September 10 Le Chambon sur Lignon to Crest 108km; 100m ascent; 1000m descent Next morning I cycled gingerly out of town past “La Plage”, hoping to ride myself into a rhythm gently after the previous day’s difficulties. Fortunately the initial climb was easy for 11km up gentle slopes to St Agreve.

Beyond St Agreve the road enters the valley of the Eyrieux which allowed a spectacular descent for 80km all the way down to the Rhone at La Voulte-s-Rhone. This descent is well graded and gave me the breather I needed before tackling the increasingly difficult hills ahead.

At La Voulte-s-Rhone the wide river is crossed by a narrow bridge which appears to carry a cycle path only but to my alarm also permits cars, not too keen on giving way to bicycles.

Some 5km beyond the river at Livron-sDrome I came to a very busy road junction at the N7 which was heaving with all manner of traffic. Fortunately this road is soon escaped by turning east along the D93 which could be followed to my hotel just outside Crest, after a pleasant, quiet 15km journey.

September 11 Crest to Mollanssur-Ouveze 90km; 8oom ascent Today’s route headed south out of Crest to the first col of the day at 386m. A pleasant, sweeping descent then led to Puy St Martin and subsequently my coffee stop at Cleond’Andran 20km. It was Sunday morning and the cafe was full of locals relaxing with the Sunday papers whilst watching motorcyclists riding by on their weekend outing.

Beyond Cleon the route continues south through to La Begude-de-Mazenc where the traffic disappeared east/west along the main road from Montelimar. The climbing now started again through an increasingly sparse area whilst I started to feel the heat as the temperature rose well into the late 20s.

Whilst descending from the main col at Aleyrac 481m the temperature rose further, the landscape became ever emptier and I started to get rather hungry and thirsty. My consequent anxiety level was increased further when a wasp banged tail first into my face during a fast descent at a time when I could not take my hands off the bars to assuage the pain. Eventually, 30km beyond La Begude, I arrived at the small town of Taulignan where I was able to get a large, watery salad and refill my water bottles at a rather basic cafe.

At the cafe stop I started thinking about the next day’s ride which involved a considerable amount of climbing around Mont Ventoux.

This would be rather unpleasant, if not dangerous to my health, if tackled in 30+ degree temperatures. Accordingly I texted my Chambre d’hôte, Les Parrans to order an early breakfast next day, whilst confirming that an evening meal would be available. Les Parrans came up trumps and looked after me in fine style during my brief stay.

cyclotourists can’t always be choosers and I still had too far to ride that day to indulge myself by visiting the town further up the hill.

September 12 Mollans-s-Ouveze to Oraison 106km; 1500m ascent

Beyond Ales and St Trinit I entered a high plateau marked out by lavender fields--another sign that I had entered the Provence region. Somewhere in the midst of this lonely area I entered the small, isolated village of Revest-du-Bion and chanced upon an excellent restaurant, Les Marroniers, for lunch. This was indeed a lucky find in such a sparsely populated area.

The early section of this route, north of Mont Ventoux, was familiar to me from an outing in 1989 when I rode the 255km French Audax Tour de Comtat Venaissin. This tour starts at Roussillon well to the south and ascends the mountain and all of the cols around the area before returning to the start point. It is a fantastic ride, one of the best ever.

This morning I set off at 7:00am in the cool dawn light to embark on 25km of steady climbing up into the high valley at the back of Mont Ventoux. Eventually I reached a T junction where the road turns right up to Aurel, avoiding the historic village of Montbrun some 2km to the left. However, I was in need of refreshment at this point and could not risk running out of supplies in the remote upland area.

So I reluctantly turned left and managed to re-supply at a System U express store just outside the village. The modern store was a real contrast to the historic village - but tired,

Heading back south east, up yet more slopes, I was encouraged to encounter a road sign for Provence-Alpes region. This was the first concrete indication that I was slowly approaching my journey’s end at Nice although there was the small matter of 250km and the Verdon Gorges still to come.

The high plains continued for several km beyond Revest before commencing a long descent through Banon and on to Forcalquier after 40km. Forcalquier was the first noisy town I had been exposed to for a couple of days and I found it an unpleasant culture shock. The noise, heat and traffic got much worse some 11km beyond at La Brillane where it was necessary to cross the busy D4096 and A51 motorway at a very confusing and dangerous roundabout system at rush hour time.

Some distance beyond all this mayhem I arrived at my hotel on the far outskirts of Oraison. This Logis hotel is well situated as it would allow me to escape the traffic next

By now the temperature was in the mid 30’s which made onward progress very tiring on the unsheltered road. There were a few trees about so I made progress by riding for 10 minutes then sheltering until I had cooled down sufficiently to continue. In this manner I rode slowly onwards for 15km until reaching the welcome 4km descent to Nyons which allowed me to cool down a bit followed by a long recovery stop in one of the many large cafes in the centre of town.

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dehydrated by this time that I had to select the only dishes that I felt able to stomach from the a la carte menu, rather than the set menu. An expensive indulgence that restored my spirits ready for the next, and final, day’s ride.

September 14 Comps-sur-Artuby to Nice 91km; 900m ascent; 1400m descent The previous day I had never really lost any significant height from the Col d’Ayen, so was expecting to leave Comps by a steady downhill. I should have known better than to relax, as the road soon started climbing again up to the Col de Clavel 1060m. morning as I headed south and then east to the Verdon Gorges.

That night a huge thunderstorm unleashed itself - memories of June but everything was dry again by morning and the weather remained fine throughout my onward journey to Nice.

Eventually I crossed this high point and descended a short way to the climbers’ Mecca at La Palud. Here I grabbed a quick Coke (3eu50!) before descending onwards to the key road junction at Pont-de-Soleis where a subsidiary road kicks back right alongside another series of gorges. My recollection from previous visits was that this

17km beyond Comps the road turns right at Logis-du-Pin into a beautiful, rolling, wide upland valley that extends for 30km--eventually arriving at an insignificant, barren spot containing a roundabout and a road sign. Insignificant spot maybe, but the road sign indicates the right turn to Greolieres and Nice. It’s all downhill from here!

The road initially descends for 7km through a stunning gorge containing several natural rock tunnels before reaching Greolieres. The village is a bit of a tourist trap for outdoor types and has an excellent cafe where I had time to enjoy a lazy lunch - at last!

Just beyond the village there is another welcoming road sign pointing downhill for 45km to Nice. This road descends through the spectacular Gorges du Loup before entering the city outskirts at Cagnes-sur-Mer. From here it’s just a question of surviving the traffic for 5km before getting on to the large cyclepath that follows the seashore to central Nice. A further 10km east and then north leads on to the city centre for the last control stamp.

September 13 Oraison to Compssur-Artuby 94km; 1500m ascent The night time storm had cleared the air by morning as I rode 20km up the valley of the Asse in cool, fresh weather to a cafe stop at the small village of Bras-d-Asse. Beyond here I joined busy roads which, after several climbs, eventually led to Moustiers-Ste-Marie - gateway to the Verdon Gorges.

next road was mostly downhill to Comps-surArtuby some 16km distant. How the memory can play tricks! The road climbed ever upwards, often steeply, until eventually I followed a short descent in the failing light into town and my hotel.

This hotel stay is possibly the only time that an evening meal cost more than the remainder of the bill. I was so tired and

Once the bank receipt was safely tucked away with my brevet card I returned 3km to my hotel, retrieved the bike bag, packed up and flew back home the next day.

Strangely, I felt little emotion on entering Nice. I think that the ride had been too long, had too many logistical challenges and was generally too hard to fully appreciate the achievement.

That feeling will surely come with time.

The Verdon Gorges are the largest in Europe, containing massive rock walls towards 1000m in height. As a former mountaineer I am well aware of its status as one of the top ten climbing locations in the world. This reputation had attracted me in more recent times to cycle around the perimeter and the Crest road to enjoy the stunning views into the canyons.

Foreknowledge of a route can be a two edged sword. I knew the way round the gorge but was only too aware that lugging my heavily loaded bike up the 500m ascent from Moustiers-Ste-Marie to Col d’Ayen 1032m at the highest point of the gorge traverse would be no easy matter.

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Helpers

Petworth 100 & 200

Finish Control Above: Chris Tracy, also known as Manuel

Above: Supremo with his special teapot

Left: The photograther, Mike Stoaling

Below: Anton Brown (organiser) and his wife Shirley on kitchen duty

Below: Richard Phipps looking a bit like a cricket umpire.

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Reunion The Holiday Inn Taunton gathering, the social ride, the lunch, the return, the afternoon discussion session and the dinner Photos: Graham Brodie

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Reunion

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A Perculier Old 200km Article and photos from Graeme Holdsworth I’ve been forbidden from describing the “Peculier Old 200” as a flat ride, but it is safe to say that even though this scenic calendar event takes place amid the hills and dales of Northern England it isn’t characterized by climbing and it doesn’t even qualify for an Audax Altitude Award. Dean’s encyclopedic knowledge of County Durham and North Yorkshire cycling has been put to good use in designing a beautiful route which gets to the heart of the county without killing anyone.

To those in the know, the named climbs loom around you, beckoning you to come and visit. Bollihope is such a playful name but is a killer Mountain Time Trial route. There is ‘hope’ everywhere: while Harthope sounds encouraging, Killhope sounds threatening. The “Peculier Old 200” invites cyclists into this land of hope and no-hope and nurtures them through to the other side, with nothing more than stunning scenery to remember it by. No hills.

There is history to this route too, with the suggestion that European riders would come for an end-of-season bash during the 50s and 60s: a knockabout ride with local clubs getting around the old 150-mile route in daylight while enjoying the local ale too! While the details are now only rumour, Dean has pieced together a safer event keeping to the quieter roads.

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I’d been fortunate enough to be involved in the initial route checking in May 2016. Back then, as we sat at the bar of the White Bear in Masham*, I realized that I wanted to be a volunteer on the day: specifically, the volunteer who gets to sit in the White Bear in Masham, stamping Brevet Cards as riders pass through. The name of the event was almost defining itself – how could a ride that passes through Masham not stop at the Black Sheep or Theakston’s Brewery?

Theakston’s in Masham is to real ale what Guinness is to stout in Dublin: one of those iconic ‘bucket list’ places. All we needed was an appropriate stamp for the Brevet Card.

Volunteers do get the best of both worlds on an event, being able to both ride the route anytime up to a week before or after, but also by being immersed in the camaraderie; assisting every single rider. I met up with Dean in Darleaux** railway station at about 8am on a grey Monday morning. He gave me my own Brevet Card, plus the special ‘Old Peculier’ stamp to use the following week.

After leading me out of the rush hour traffic, I took to the route north through Sedgefield to Fishburn. Sedgefield might be famous for Tony Blair, but more importantly it is famous for Number Four Teashop. Locals still remember British and American Secret Service Agents picking up selections of cream cakes when President Bush came to visit. We’re just north of the River Tees in coal

mining countryside, and when we turn west from Fishburn we’re following a coal seam.

The lack of hills gets going in Ferryhill with the ascent of Station Road and Broom Road to get to the top of Dean Bank. After crossing the River Wear in Bish Vegas*** the road climbs gently along a deserted B-road, just south of David Bellamy’s erstwhile haunt of Hamsterley Forest with its stupendous mountain biking trails.

Folly Top is the point where the route leaves the bleak moorland of Langleydale and we freefall into Teesdale down a safely fast 10% descent. However, just as you are settling into the acceleration, the views open out dramatically and you can see lush green fields on the slopes surrounding the River Tees. This is the point where you wish you had your camera, but before you remember it is too late and the ride hurtles into Middleton-in-Teesdale and the superb selection of tearooms. For riders of the event I would recommend getting a bit of refueling here and then trying to make Masham in one go. On my helper-ride I’d stopped at my parent’s home in Bish Vegas for a bacon sandwich, so there was no need for me to pause for longer than a coffee in Middletonin-Teesdale, which suggested I was going to struggle to reach Masham without another stop.

Rouleurs will have enjoyed the roads so far, and ought to continue to do so for the next 30km as the ride takes us back down Teesdale. This is the historical ‘Land of the Pennine Way’ and long tough climbs loom over us. In the safety of Dean’s route-sheet and gpx files, we are directed on a crisscrossing of the River Tees and under the castle walls of Barney****. Whorlton Bridge must now be world famous after featuring on London Edinburgh London, but this doesn’t stop me enjoying the musical experience rolling across to the clicky-clacky noise of a slatted road surface. www.aukweb.net

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Although we’re skirting the tough climbs, the next section isn’t easy; we leave Teesdale and head into Swaledale – it is a shame this climb lacks an iconic name like “The ‘Stang”, but the Low Scales climb comes 110km into this ride and marks the beginning of a hard section through Richmond and Catterick Garrison. In Richmond I needed to refuel, and fell into the abyss that is “The Station”. I strongly encourage riders to avoid this lazy-tourist trap as the service is dreadfully slow and exceptionally expensive… no, if you must stop, please try to make it over the next climb. You’ll be rewarded with an Audaxer’s delight: the inexpensive horror of fast-food and multiple-supermarkets. Horrible but cheap and quick… press on though and build up that time buffer because Masham is just ahead at 137km. Masham – oh Masham – how I long to be wrapped up in front of your log fires, with a pint of Old Peculier in my hand and plate loaded high with steak pie and chips in thick gravy.

Shift perspective forward one week and that is me: club jersey to mark me as a cyclist and ‘Audax UK Control’ sign beside me. If the ride earlier in the week had been lonely – the five hours of manning a mid-way control off-set this by being the most enthusiastically convivial time I’ve enjoyed in a long while.

Bob Johnson (VeloClub 167) was the first rider through with an average pace of 27kph, shortly followed by Greg Melia (Clifton CC).

They’d banked sufficient time to have a proper sit down meal in the restaurant, but isn’t that an advantage of riding fast?

The staff at the White Bear were fabulous: they were delighted to have so many cyclists around giving a real buzz of joy to the atmosphere, and they opened an outside kitchen for riders who wanted to just fill their bottles and get cards stamped. Riders

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bouncing the control didn’t bother them at all, but to be fair I noticed that most riders stopped at this ‘Last Homely House’, imbibing at least a half of Old Peculier as a toast to the event.

Riders at Masham control

My ride was in warm late October sunshine, with no breeze. The leaves were beginning to turn and I expected that by the following weekend this would have become even more intense for those who I hoped would be enjoying this too.

There was a diversity to the rider list: a solid representation of men and women, experienced and first-timers, and some had travelled a long distance to take part from as far as London or Edinburgh. The youngest rider on the event was Kieron; only 12 years old and making fantastic progress.

Riders were coming into the control right to the wire: Joe Applegarth (Houghton CC) and Marcus Coupe (Yet Another Cycling Forum) were my last two customers but they were on the road again before the Control closed, with plenty of time to make the end. I was sad to miss the last rider through: Sean O’Shah. Although he was out of time at Masham, (I heard this was because he’d experienced a stream of mechanical issues) he heroically stuck at it until he’d caught up with Marcus and Joe, then completed in time – Chapeau! I was saddened to learn that Peter Bond’s brother Trevor had an accident and the pair of them couldn’t continue. We’re all wishing Trevor a speedy recovery and hope to see him out on a ride again soon.

On my helper-ride I had left Masham at 4pm, so night fell well before I reached the Tees Valley and I was finishing the ride along dark country lanes. However, I found was that I was cycling along little lanes I’d not discovered before. It is a testament to a welldesigned route that it not only goes the right way, but that it surprises even local riders with new roads.

There were only two landmarks left to pass: Cheesecake Hill and the Low Dinsdale Bridge.

In the pitch-black I swiftly rode over them both and barely noticed… I wonder if this ride would benefit from being run with longer hours of light as these final Tees Valley lanes are very nice to experience. The approach to Low Dinsdale bridge is a treelined avenue worth riding out to see for its own sake.

While on the day of the event I merely rode from Northallerton to Masham and back to catch my train, on the helper-ride I made my way back to Darleaux to complete the route – ending up at The Quakerhouse to meet Dean and share a post-ride pint or two. If this ride is run in 2017 I’ll hope to be at the White Bear yet again, stamping Brevet Cards.

May I heartily commend this event to the Audax UK massif; as the inaugural running of this modern version of a classic was a resounding success. Darleaux is on the East Coast mainline and there is a Travelodge (£34pn) adjacent to the start/finish line, making this an accessible event wherever you travel from. I don’t doubt that when word gets out about the scenery, the route, the hospitality of the Masham Control and the special feel of a well-attended event we’ll be seeing many more entrants. Special thanks to Dean Clementson (VeloClub 167) for all his effort in generating this experience, and to my fellow volunteers; Anita Clementson, Debbie Norcup and Andrew Wills.

*Masham pronunciation guide: “Mass-Um”. **Darleaux: A local term of endearment for the market town of Darlington. ***Bish Vegas: A reference to the diverse and thrilling nightlife of Bishop Auckland. ****Barney: In the pell-mell of North East living, who has time for syllables?

Langleydale

More photos overleaf ...

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Aidan Hedley

Shaar Dixon, Ian Smith, Gill Smith and Ian Donohoe.

Paul McKenna and Owen Dawson

Chris Delf

Mike Metcalfe

Perculier Old 200km Photos: Dean Clementson Gary Reed, Debs Goddard and Lee Wren - John Meade and Jules Hodds behind.

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Obituary Paddy Timson Sadly, Paddy passed away in November 2016, after a brief illness. He had spent the last 10 years of his life in a nursing home after developing an illness which cut short his cycling activities. He was a member of Ormskirk St. Anne’s Cycling Club when he developed an interest in Long distance cycling and joined Audax UK, devising routes and promoting events throughout North Lancashire, and the Lake District. He was ably supported by his wife Joan, and the pair could often be found manning a control in the middle of the night, on one of his longer events on some lonely road in the Lake District.

He will be remembered for his cheerful personality and love of audax and cycling He always had a ready smile and a scouser-like sense of fun, and was one of the most popular of riders always attracting a bunch of followers.

He rode his first 200km event in 1982, and completed his first Super Randonneur series in 1984, he went on to gain another four in subsequent years In 1988 he became the AUK’s Individual Champion and the first member to amass 100 points in a season.

He was a member of a team which rode the Fleche Velocio in France in 1983. Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated during the night, the temperatures dropped, and the rain turned to sleet and then to snow, Paddy, had to abandon when he became so cold that he got off to walk in an effort to keep warm. He collapsed with hypothermia and was discovered lying in the driveway of a house, and Paddy spent two days in hospital recovering. The next time his team mates saw him was when he climbed out of an ambulance complete with bike at the ferry terminal at St.Malo. Still smiling, quite unfazed by the experience.

Rainlegs updated Rainlegs have updated the coating from transparent to a white on their Rainlegs Black model. The waterproofness of this new white coating has also been improved from 5 to 10 mm. Five different sizes are available, from extra small to extra large and cost £26.36.

A reflective version is also available.

Tim Wainwright

In 1985 Paddy and his brother Danny rode from Skelmersdale to Paris to see the end of the Tour.

He completed an End to End randonée at Tourist level in 1987 He loved the trips he made to the Tour and holidays in Spain.

He had a serious accident in 1990, when riding to work; this put him into Walton Hospital for quite a while. Latterly he joined Southport C.C. where he continued organising a series of calendar and permanent events. He was taken ill in February 2004 which eventually necessitated his move into a nursing home in 2006.

His enthusiasm for cycling knew no bounds, he was easily recognisable on West Lancs roads, bobbing along, wearing his cotton cap and with his musette across his back and he always had a cheery greeting for everyone.

Neville Holgate

River Rhone Cycle Route From the Alps to the Mediterranean Mike Wells Published October 2016 £14.95, 256pp Paperback ISBN 9781852847555 A new cycle guide from Cicerone, written and researched by experienced author and cycle tourer Mike Wells. The 895 km route follows two national waymarked cycle trails, the Swiss R1 Rhone Route and the French ViaRhona, and is broken into 20 stages of approximately 45 km, so at 75 km per day, a 12-day ride with time for sightseeing and enjoying the cuisine and wine en route.

As with all Cicerone cycling guides, the book includes detailed route descriptions and 1:150,000 mapping, historical information on the route, preparation, accommodation, and tips on how to get to the start in Switzerland by road, rail or air, and how to return from the Med, including using the European Bike Express.

The route is available for download in GPX format.

Available from Cicerone Press Ltd, Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY. www.cicerone.co.uk Tim Wainwright www.aukweb.net

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Grimpeur

The Mid Sussex Hilly and the Mid Sussex Hillier 100k grimpeurs.

October 22, 2016. From Chailey in East Sussex. Organiser: Martin Malins. The events are part of the Grimpeurs du Sud award Photos: Tim Wainwright

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400km My good buddy Stu invited me and a group of long-distance ElliptiGO riders to partake in a 400km ‘weekend adventure’ which he had organised to take place on the weekend of 26-27 November 2016.

He had ‘promoted’ it as a ‘social ride’ mainly designed to give us all the opportunity of catching up in person, after a year of long-distance solo riding.

So Alan, Andy, Tim and myself all agreed to join him on this winter tour ride and Stu booked a hotel in Goathland to use as the halfway point in the ride. He used the GPS track from the Heartbeat 400km Audax to link the hotel to Andy’s place in Preston, giving us a 200km route to get here. Being the peak of winter a ride like that wouldn’t be particularly appealing for me – under normal circumstances.

But these weren’t “normal” circumstances…

For clarity, I had received a new 11-speed ElliptiGO bike in August, as a gift from work but hadn’t ridden since I’d got it. I’d also committed myself to the Randonneur Round The Year (RRTY) challenge from the beginning of this year. For readers unfamiliar with the Audax RRTY challenge, it simply involves riding in verified Audax rides, of distances no less than 200km, across 12 consecutive calendar months. November would be my 11th consecutive month, if I could put in an official Audax ride, and the thought of having company on that 11th month was quite attractive. So I’d opted in when Stu had invited me.

What I hadn’t realised was that Stu had chosen to fashion this ‘social ride’ around the Heartbeat 400km Audax event, which is apparently one of the toughest 400km Audax routes on the Audax UK calendar! We would have to ride from Preston to Goathland - and then back again – in two separate 200km rides, with an overnight stop in between the two rides.

The overnight stop at the Goathland Hotel made it all sound quite ‘social’ - and that would certainly be a novel experience for me (because I usually ride through 400km Audax events without scheduling any stops). Stu came up with a course 127-miles (204km) long, with over 9,000 feet of ascent, from Preston to Goathland. But he didn’t actually design a return trip – he expected us to either make one up, or use the same route in reverse.

I basically had to submit this course to Audax UK as my target November DIY Audax ride and then hope to get through it in wintry conditions. It would probably be my last chance in the month to register a November ride for my RRTY challenge, as it was the last week in November, so I was gambling the entire RRTY challenge on this single excursion.

Our plan was to give a hard ride on the first day, in order to get my Audax UK www.aukweb.net

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2 x 200km on ElliptiGO Bikes

Idai Makaya Our brunch stop on Day 1

commitments out of the way, and then to tour back to Preston at leisure (on the second day). That would give us the option of changing the return route, if we wanted to.

So, on Friday 25th November 2016, Alan and I drove from Milton Keynes to Preston, to meet Andy, Stu and Tim. We camped out in Andy’s house that night and set up for an early start on the Saturday morning. The temperature was -2ºC when we set off, at 6am on Saturday 26th November. We had thought we might not be able to ride because the forecast temperature was well below freezing but Andy and Stu had ridden out that morning to check the roads and had both returned to declare them fit to ride.

The ground frost was pretty ‘dry’ when we started to ride and the roads did not seem very slippery at all in Preston. However, our water bottles had begun to freeze within minutes of starting to ride - and by the end of the first hour our water had turned into ice – making it very difficult to drink out of our bottles. This freezing of our water had initially been something quite novel and even entertaining, but it would eventually become more significant as the ride wore on...

The course got very hilly in the second hour of riding and, with the ever-increasing elevation, we had begun to experience intensely cold conditions. All the roadside puddles were frozen solid - especially as we’d entered the hills in and around Ribble Valley and before long we were experiencing rear wheel slippage as we pushed hard on the steeper hills. This had brought in an added sense of vigilance and we rode with extreme caution from that point.

We’d proceeded tentatively, but had continued to progress slowly and steadily, stopping occasionally to check the state of the road under (our shoes). It was hard to walk on the ice, but it had still seemed rideable each time we checked. When we’d reached maximum altitude and were

beginning a series of descents we’d noticed that there was black ice in all the shadows and eventually (as we were going down a long straight road with a steep descending incline) I saw Andy, Stu and Tim all fall at the same time. Alan and I took evasive and reactive action - and stopped about 30 metres before the scene - without falling.

Nobody was hurt in the falls, thankfully, but we’d lost confidence in the condition of the road surfaces and had considered ourselves lucky to get away with this fall, unscathed.

Tim’s GPS device showed the course profile and we’d noticed that in just a few kilometres there was a huge drop in altitude – which would take us at least 100 metres lower in elevation than we currently were. That had also suggested that the ice would not be present at the lower altitudes, so we’d gingerly walked down the slopes for a while, until we’d reached a sunny stretch of straight road, and descended into the valleys by bike.

Andy and Stu fell again during this period of intermittent walking and riding (despite following behind Tim and I, who were marking the safest lines of travel) but they did not seem badly hurt. Andy had a large bruise on his elbow, but had said it was superficial. I’m not sure if it was, because once we’d cleared all the ice (and entered into a pleasant but crisp morning), we had stopped at a friendly café for brunch – and Andy had been unable to eat his meal.

I thought little of Andy’s rejection of the food at the time and we’d headed out of the café with gusto, after a one-hour stop. Andy was leading the charge back into the mountains and although the pace had felt too fast for me I’d gone along with the group, in silence.

We’d entered a stretch of long and increasingly steep climbs. The climbing was incessant and intense, such that I had found myself drenched in sweat (while riding in temperatures close to freezing!) and I’d struggled to maintain a comfortable body temperature.

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400km Andy's bike on the moors

food or fluids I’d just ride on, leaving my water bottles with the rest of the group (so they could refill them and return them to me once they caught up). It was usually taking less than 20 minutes for them to catch me after their short breaks, because my pace was so leisurely at this point. But the strategy appeared to be working.

The air temperature was still very cold, but probably a degree or two above freezing.

However, I was feeling the heat in a bad way on the hills and was quite dehydrated, because I’d hardly drunk any water that morning (due to the frozen bottles). I had refilled my bottle with liquid water at the café stop, but the lack of hydration prior to that point had started to have an effect on me - and perhaps on Andy and well. I had noticed Andy had dropped off the pace after a fast start from the cafe and had fallen behind the group on the first really big climb.

Initially, I assumed he’d just stopped to remove his jacket. But there were some long stretches of climbing with very straight roads - and I could not see Andy when I had looked back. Because of the psychology of climbing such big hills, I was not prepared to stop before the summit – and I was certainly not prepared to go back down and look for Andy.

So I had soldiered on to the summit, slightly behind the other three riders, and we’d all stopped at the top to wait for Andy.

I checked the phone a few times and even tried to call Andy, but I couldn’t get through.

Then a message suddenly popped up on the phone, from Andy, saying he was feeling really ill and had thrown up twice. He’d also said he was going to turn back and ride home. Initially the guys weren’t sure what to do and Tim had quickly volunteered to ride back down the massive 2-mile hill we’d just conquered – but I intervened to suggest that we should not follow Andy back home. I knew Andy had the experience to see himself back to the nearest town (it was all downhill, after all) - and Andy wouldn’t have wanted us to cancel the ride.

So we’d continued towards Goathland. I soon had to stop worrying about Andy and start worrying about myself – because my lack of hydration earlier on seemed to be catching up with me, in the form of leg cramps in my quads. I wasn’t particularly concerned by the discomfort or potential pain – I’m an ‘old hand’ with cramps – but what did worry me was the fact that my pace was falling, now that I couldn’t push as hard as before. This had meant that I could potentially miss the RRTY time-limit, as a result). We’d simply done too much walking in the first half and that had dropped our average pace to 12.8kph overall. We had to put rider safety first, so we’d sacrificed the pace against the Audax time-limits.

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Andy had contacted us by phone for a second time, to inform us that he was feeling better and had turned around once again, in order to continue back in our direction. He was hoping to go all the way to Goathland and re-join us there at the overnight stop.

But as we’d progressed further into North Yorkshire - and the hills had become more and more aggressive - we knew there was no way Andy would make it through that terrain, alone and unwell. We were struggling so being less than 100% wouldn’t cut it.

Indeed, Andy contacted us a few hours later to say he’d stopped in Ripon (about 110km into the ride) and had put himself up in a B&B for the night. He would not go all the way to Goathland and instead would sleep there and then ride back home, via a less strenuous route (using the A59, which would slash the climbing he had to do by about half ).

The light had faded quite a bit by 4pm and we rode into the North York Moors National Park in darkness. This was by far the most undulating part of the route – despite the huge climbs of the first 70km. Many of the hills had their steepness marked on road signs, so we had no doubt in our minds about just how steep they were. There were a number of signs stating 1 in 4, or 1 in 3 - and numerous signs asking cyclists to dismount (or barring heavy vehicles, because the slopes were far too steep to allow buses and HGVs to pass safely).

bike up used the muscles differently and that gave a sort of respite.

But I was in a slight panic about the time limits, so I decided to risk my legs completely ‘seizing up’ and made a big push in the final hour of riding, separating myself from the rest of the group and forging ahead. So I went through the darkness alone in the final part of the course. My headlight battery had begun to fade towards the end of the ride but, because I was in such a hurry I did not stop to change the batteries. I could still see well enough for safety, but not as far ahead as when I had the bright headlight, and this had meant that I could not really take advantage of the very steep descents. I had to descend whilst pressing the brakes all the way down the hills - keeping the speed really low and manageable.

I doubt that prejudiced me in any way, because all the steepest hills had hairpin bends along them and it was not safe to just let go. Descending on the brakes - had pretty much been the defining feature of this ride.

We could not go down the hills very fast in the morning, because of the ice, and we could not go down the hills very fast in the evening, because of the sheer steepness and twistiness.

But I eventually reached Goathland with 14 hours and 35 minutes showing on the clock – good enough for a brevet populaire and 3AAApoints. I would have to ride a 200km at randonneur standard for my Randonneur Round the Year on the return next day.

Doing those climbs in complete darkness had made them seem even more souldestroying and Stu had given us all a word of advice, which I had chosen to follow. He had ridden this course before (during the Heartbeat 400km Audax calendar event), so he knew where the toughest climbs were on the route. He had suggested we don’t attempt to ride the hills marked as being above 25% incline, and actually plan in advance to walk them. That way, you won’t be disappointed, should the hill ‘beat’ you.

I was the only one doing the ride as a registered Audax DIY event, the rest of the group were just touring, so they had not been under any pressure to complete the ride in a specific time. Stu slowed down in the final hour because of a problem with his dynamo hub, which was causing a lot of frictional resistance (after a minor accident with an inattentive motorist, earlier that afternoon). Stu wasn’t sure if the car had actually made contact with the bike, but he told me he was forced to jump off the bike in order to get out of the way of a driver who was possibly using a mobile phone, whilst driving. He’d seen the motorist heading right at him, not looking at the road, whilst the group were stood on the pavement in one of the towns we’d passed through.

Stu’s advice is something I’ve heard from a few experienced randonneurs, but it’s not something I’ve ever done myself – not even on the longest and toughest brevet rides I’ve done. But with my vulnerabilities (caused by the cramping) and despite my concerns around the time-limit, I’d decided to try this new approach. So when we’d reached the next 25% slope I’d ridden to the steepest part, near the top, and dismounted - without trying to fight my way up.

After we’d all congregated outside the designated finishing point we had proceeded to our hotel together and checked in. To our shock, they were not serving food, and it was not yet 9pm! They also didn’t seem to have a decent parking place for our bikes, suggesting the dog yard (an enclosure behind the hotel where a couple of ferocious dogs abided). We were told that the dogs were so fierce that only the proprietor could take the bikes in!

Stu and Alan had done the same, but our buddy Tim had just pushed all the way over the top! Tim is a ‘beast’ and he rode all of the hills without stopping (1 in 4 or 1 in 3)! But I did the scheduled walking on the 3 steepest peaks, and although it felt just as hard as riding up with an ElliptiGO bike, pushing the

But something strange had happened, while we were upstairs putting our stuff into our rooms. Suddenly, the proprietor had made a complete transformation. As we’d prepared to hand our bikes over to him (so that he could wheel them into the dog yard behind the hotel) he’d declared that his wife would www.aukweb.net

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400km be making us ham, egg and chips for dinner.

He’d then told us to bring our bikes into the hotel and to park them in the restaurant.

In long-distance cycling events it is very common to see the ‘humanity’ being brought out of complete strangers and that had seemed to be happening here. Whatever his reasons, the proprietor’s attitude had totally changed - and our views of him had changed too. The world is always a better place at the end of a long, brutal ride – but this final incident of the day had made that feeling even sweeter.

I got to bed quite late that night, after lots of chatting with Stu in our shared room. That only allowed for 6 or 7 hours of sleep – but that was still more than I was accustomed to on multiple day rides and I had woken up feeling quite revived and upbeat. We packed and set up the bikes before breakfast. Whilst checking Stu’s bike, it was obvious that the wheel was causing a lot of resistance.

The front wheel could barely be spun by hand at that stage, so we’d agreed to take a less ‘rugged’ return route back to Preston, using main the roads, to cut down the climbing by about two thirds. But Stu would still depart from the group in York, and catch a train back to Preston, to avoid the strain of keeping up with the group with his bad hub.

And that was pretty much what we did. We took the A-Roads from Goathland towards York, then opted for the busy A64 carriageway and did a quick 70km ride to York, where we’d left Stu and continued on the A59 all the way through to Harrogate – and then on to Preston. The A-Roads did have some meaningful undulation for much of the way, but the steepness of the hills came nowhere close to what we’d experienced going through Ribble Valley and the Yorkshire Dales on the previous day.

Progress was quick, with Tim doing most of the guidance using just his smart phone. The directions had been pretty simple to Preston, just following the A64 and then the A59. It was only where we’d encountered obstacles (like level crossings with the booms down) that we’d diverted off the main roads and used the phone to guide us via so-called ‘bike routes’. But for much of the time we were on the A64 and then on the A59.

In the pub on the A59

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It was dark by 4pm on the A59 and, although we went through one more particularly undulating section of the journey after the halfway point in the ride, the steepness of the hills was never more than 15% incline.

Compared to the previous day that had felt manageable - and even reasonable. In the dark we rode at a good steady pace and had felt comfortable most of the time, despite plummeting temperatures. The only challenging moments were the times when we had made short stops (such as at filling stations to buy food, or use the toilet). My body temperature would drop quickly after those stops, but it would also return to normal within about 5 minutes of restarting.

We made really good progress in the last 50km, as the roads had flattened out, and we could keep a good steady rhythm and roll at a decent pace (for long periods of time, using our highest gear ratios). It was quite relaxing, riding in the dark, on the wide A-Roads, in relative calm and quiet. And it was good to be getting towards the end. The final two hours of riding went through quite urban areas, although the A59 was not interrupted much - except by the occasional roundabout.

When we had entered Preston there was still a good 25km to go before we reached Andy’s place, and that had involved cutting through the town centre. Tim’s phone, which had routed us so well up to that point, had begun taking us down lots of urban back-roads and through lots of neighbourhoods with endless successions of speed bumps, making for a very irksome return. We eventually cast the device aside (metaphorically speaking, of course) and used main roads through the city centre. So it was dual carriageways through town - and all the way to Andy’s place!

When we eventually rolled into Andy’s road, Andy and Stu were settled, clean and relaxed, waiting for us. It had felt like ages since we’d all seen each other – even though it had just been a few hours! It was a great feeling to be back. The 200km second leg had used flatter roads, but was still quite undulating, so it took us nearly 12 hours to complete the ride, from the time we left Goathland at 10am that same morning.

We’d done 404km of riding that weekend, across both days, with a whole night of sleep between the 200km rides. Half of it had been an Audax ride (for me) and the other half had been an informal tour. There’d been lots of drama along the way, as one would expect under such harsh conditions. But we had all felt like it had been worthwhile. Long rides are almost always worthwhile, in my experience. After this ride I was left with just

the small matter of completing one final 200km ride, on the following weekend, to complete my Randonneur Round The Year.

All in all, it was quite an adventure – and a genuine long-distance cycling test. I was certainly pushed close to my limits at times during this adventure. And there were some concerning parts of the ride – such as when Andy got ill, or when the roads became too icy up in the hills on the first morning. But we still managed it. We all handled it in our different ways. And there’s a special satisfaction that comes from that – a sense of empowerment.

After the ride a few friends and acquaintances had asked me about the possible dangers of riding in icy conditions like we had on the first day - or riding on busier roads (like the A64 we had used on the second day, where a well-known cyclist is said to have been hit and killed by a car). My response to those queries pretty much sums up my view of long-distance cycling and any other extreme sports activities I have been involved in (such as kickboxing).

I feel that whilst we can take various precautions to eliminate risks and to reduce danger, part of the lure of these challenges relates to the fact that – like real life – they are heavily based on managing, minimising and avoiding risk and uncertainty. But the unexpected is always a factor in these rides and the skill of managing the unexpected is probably part of what makes people seek out these endurance cycling experiences (and probably any extreme sports experiences).

So, in summary, I’d said: “Regarding the sad case of the cyclist dying on the A64 road, more people die from inactivity than doing extreme sports. In fact, the biggest killer of men in the UK is suicide.

So, almost ironically, by going out there and feeling alive - you’re actually less likely to die at your own hands. A man in the UK is more likely to kill himself wilfully, than to accidentally die whilst cycling…”

I think that even for the ‘conscientious’, death sometimes seems to be able to find us no matter where we try to hide. So I’d rather take the small and calculated risk of potentially dying whilst fully living my life, than dying specifically because I’m not really living my life? Nobody wants to die and we can all do our best to stay alive, whilst also making our lives meaningful and enjoyable.

A good example is one of my brothers, who is a skydiving instructor. He’s broken some bones in the last 20 years’ skydiving - despite all the precautions he takes. But he’s also broken bones playing in the living room, when we were kids...

I rest my case.

Reunited at the end

A lunch stop was made just before halfway in Knaresborough – where we’d ordered pub lunches and taken brief shelter from the cold conditions. Although it was very cold on the second day, it wasn’t as cold as the first - and it wasn’t icy. Our bottles certainly didn’t

freeze while we were riding. But we’d been comfortable on both days, because of the heat being generated by our efforts on the hills. I was quite surprised by that. I had thought at least my hands and feet would freeze at sub-zero temperatures, but the heat our legs were generating seemed sufficient to warm up our blood (to the extent required to keep the rest of our bodies warm as well).

There were many times when I was sweating profusely, going up the longer climbs!

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Awards Audax Altitude Award 2016 Rolls of Honour The original AAA Triple AAA and 3x3 AAA For obtaining 20, 60 and 180 AAA points over any period of time Name Martyn Aldis Nigel Armstrong Jon Banks James Blair Ashley Brown Cathy Brown Nigel Calladine Ian Carter Raymond Cheung Brian Childs Roy Clarke Dean Clementson Martin Croxford Michael Daly Bob Donaldson Nick Firth Chris Forrest Mark Gibson Mike Green Barbara Hackworthy Terry Hailwood Shaun Hargreaves Derek Heine Jeremy Hinks Mark Hudson Oliver Iles Theresa Jennings Justin Jones Martin Malins Ann Marshall Derek Morgan Liam Morris Dave Morrison Leonard O'Rourke Malcolm Page Tim Pickersgill Hugo Pile Winston Plowes Andrew Preater Andrew Preston Dave Randerson Stephen Rogers Ian Ryall Marcus Saunders Neil Shand James Skillen Paul Smedley Simon Smith Thomas Towers Sean Townley Andrew Turner Richard Venes Will Vousden Richard Warner Colin Weaver Thomas Webb Mike Wigley John Wilkie Toby Willis John Wilton Paul Worthington Robert Wragge-Morley

AAA 3x AAA

6 1 7 9 18 18 1 1 1 15 8 7 8 2 1 4 1 1 1 6 1 6 14 1 2 14 3 23 41 38 7 1 7 1 1 2 2 7 1 14 30 15 20 1 2 4 3 1 4 13 1 3 1 7 21 1 23 1 1 2 1 1

3x3 AAA Year

2 2 3 6 6

5 2 2 2

1 2 2

1

1

2 2 4 4 1 7 13 12 2

1 1 2 4 4

2

2 4 10 5 6

1 3 1 2

1 1 1 4

1

1 2 7

2

7

2

2015 2014 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2014 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016

Many congratulations to the 2016 AAA Champion Simon Roberts, and the Opposite Sex Champion Cathy Brown.

I thought I would never see Billy Weir's incredible 2013 total of 323 AAA points surpassed, but that's exactly what Simon Roberts did. He set out with a lesser target in mind to help him recover from a severe back injury which put events longer than 30

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AAASR For completing an SR series of AAA events in one season Name Martyn Aldis Jon Banks Ashley Brown Cathy Brown Raymond Cheung Martin Croxford Shaun Hargreaves Justin Jones Dave Morrison Andrew Preston Stephen Rogers Ian Ryall Tom Towers Sean Townley Andrew Turner Will Vousden Toby Willis John Wilton Robert Wragge-Morley

AAA

Year

2 2 4 4 1 4 1 14 2 6 3 7 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016

AAARTY For completing an AAA event in any 12 consecutive months Name Jon Banks Ashley Brown Cathy Brown Brian Childs John Clemens Michael Daly Chris Forrest Mike Green Barbara Hackworthy Shaun Hargreaves Derek Heine Martin Malins Ann Marshall Derek Morgan Winston Plowes Andrew Preston Dave Randerson James Skillen Paul Smedley Richard Venes Colin Weaver John Wilkie

AAA

Year

1 1 1 5 4 1 1 1 3 1 2 12 11 2 1 3 1 1 1

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2013 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

2 2 1

2016 2016 2016

100km out of the question. But as the season progressed, and spurred on by the comments of AAAgnostic AUKs he showed the stamina and courage to keep an average of just under four AAA rides a week going for eleven months until he'd beaten the record, before giving his back a well-earned rest. A truly Audacious achievement. Those who doubt its merits should give it a try.

For the second season running, Cathy Brown's total was amassed entirely in BR events. In fact her whole season consisted of BR events. She too surpassed her previous season's total, though in this case it was coincidence, it was the scenery that was the attraction.

AAA Century For obtaining 25, 50, 100 or 200 AAA points in one season Quart Half Century Double Year Name Jon Banks 2 1 2016 Ashley Brown 1 3 2 2016 Cathy Brown 1 3 2 2016 Brian Childs 1 2 2 2016 Roy Clarke 2 2016 Dean Clementson 1 1 2016 Martin Croxford 4 2016 Michael Daly 1 2016 Mark Gibson 1 2016 Mike Green 1 2016 Barbara Hackworthy 4 1 2016 Shaun Hargreaves 1 1 1 2016 Derek Heine 1 2016 Mark Hudson 1 2016 Oliver Iles 1 2 1 1 2016 Theresa Jennings 2 2016 Justin Jones 2 4 1 2016 Martin Malins 1 5 2 2016 Ann Marshall 7 5 4 1 2016 Derek Morgan 1 2011 Liam Morris 1 2015 Dave Morrison 3 2 2016 Hugo Pile 1 2016 Andrew Preater 1 2016 Andrew Preston 2 3 2016 Dave Randerson 1 1 2016 Stephen Rogers 6 1 2016 Ian Ryall 3 2 2016 Neil Shand 2 2016 James Skillen 1 1 2016 Paul Smedley 1 2015 Simon Smith 1 2016 Thomas Towers 2 1 2016 Sean Townley 4 2 2016 Richard Venes 2 2016 Will Vousden 1 2016 Richard Warner 3 2015 Colin Weaver 2 2 1 2016 John Wilkie 1 2015

AAA Allrounder Unofficial award for obtaining AAA points in BRM’s in a single season. The top five riders in 2016 were: Name Ashley Brown Cathy Brown Robert Bialek Jeff Berry Justin Jones

Distance points

AAA

AAA BRM

130 130 62 68 83

154 154 142.25 170 87

154 154 100 93 83.5

Many congratulations also to the members listed above who have claimed an award since the Rolls of Honour were last published in Arrivee. The figures show the awards completed since each one started, and the season the latest award was completed More details at http://www.aukweb.net/results/aaa/ Finally on a sad note I’m now the AAA Man retired, and hopefully you are in the good hands of a new, younger version. During my time, AAA points were changed to something simpler, new awards were introduced, partly to rebalance the AAA towards the long distance events and partly to encourage more members to take part; a website was created (now merged with the AUK website); DIY by GPS was introduced and included AAA points. Everything that was done had the support of AAA riders and organisers. Long may it remain so.

Thank you for that support over the last 11 years, and best wishes for the 2017 and future seasons, Steve www.aukweb.net

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Awards 12 Points Roll of Honour - 12+ points in the 2016 season Name Simon Roberts Jeff Berry Shaun Hargreaves Ashley Brown Cathy Brown Brian Childs Robert Bialek Cecil Ilsley Martin Malins Ian Ryall Justin Jones Oliver Iles James Skillen David Smethurst Jon Banks Andrew Preston Colin Weaver John Barkman Dean Clementson Martin Lucas David Randerson Chris Keeling-Roberts Tom Towers Jon Tetley Mike Kelly Dave Morrison Paul Cre John Clemens Leiv Boyum Ann Marshall Graham Steward Paul Manasseh Paul Renshaw Daryl Hayter Mike Sheldrake Kevin Dennett Steve Gee Luke Williams James Blair Adam Watkins Julian Williams Sarah Perkins Richard Clements Dene Clarke Mike Lane Paul Smedley Richard Salisbury Alan Barnard Phil Nelson John Sherlock Jonathan Saville Nick Allen Nick Jackson Matthew Scholes David Bennett Christopher Breed Adrian Lagan Guto Evans Mike Thompson Richard Venes Edward Holt Marcus Jackson-Baker Andrew Beedham Derek Heine Stephen Ogden Ivan Cornell Stephen Rogers David Atkinson Simon Cullen Rob Baird Alan Parkinson Paul Whitehead Ray Robinson Kieron Yates Andrew Waddington Jamie Andrews Guy Lawton Andrew Preater Nikolaus Gardiner Duncan Macgregor Neil Milton Chris Phillips Samuel Thompson Alison Smedley Simon Till Mark Gibson Will Vousden Lindsay Clayton

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Points 324.75 170 155.25 154 154 151.5 142.25 107.25 100.75 89 87 84.5 82.25 68.75 67.75 67.5 65 61.75 61.5 61.5 61 60.5 60 59.25 59 58.5 55.5 55 54.75 51.25 50.5 49 47.5 47.25 47.25 46.75 45.5 45.5 45 44.75 44.75 44.25 43.75 43 43 42.25 41.75 40.75 40.75 40.5 39.5 39.25 39.25 39.25 39 38.25 37.25 37 36.25 35.75 35.5 35 34.75 34.75 34.75 34 34 33.75 33.5 33.25 33.25 33.25 33 33 32.75 32.5 32.5 32.5 32.25 32.25 31.75 31.75 31.75 31.5 31.25 31 31 30.5

George Hanna Paul Revell Simon Riches Sean Townley Denise Booth Chris Moody Mark Walsh Dave Antrobus Brian Atkins Omar Elafghani Joanne Page Ray Stigter Chris Watts John Wilkie Mike Green Telbert James Gary Mitchell Mark Hudson Neil Shand Anthony Powis Simon Ashby Steven Butterworth Suzannah Minns David Mason Theresa Jennings Martin Croxford Michael Daly Steve Rosewarne Desmond Winterbone Gareth Baines Nephi Alty Gary Hipwell Michael Hill Barbara Hackworthy Simon Smith Pete Tredget Richard Warner John Wilton James Clarke Roy Clarke Andy Curran David Harris Hugo Pile Simon Abraham Steve Orchard Ingrid Shepherd Peter Simon Eric Richardson Bernard Brown Chris Forrest Alex Bend James Bradbury Kevin Talbot Ben Holder Oliver Liney Andrew Packer Michael Browne Richard Cowan Graham Dore Alex Frost Robert Mcmillan Mike Stoaling Martin Radford Stephen Broatch Jack Peterson Peter Rogan Tim Rusbridge Joss Wallace Tony Davis David Trevor Ellis Toby Willis Stuart Birnie Aidan Hedley Ivor Peachey Moritz Schick Andrew Turner Robert Hanwell Matthew Hargreaves Rebecca Hargreaves Yvonne Hargreaves Nic Ketley Nigel Pitt Alan Hugh Clayton Nigel Kelly Robert Norris Gavin Simmons Malcolm Page Rob Wood Neil Battison

30.5 30 30 30 29.75 29.25 29 28.75 28.75 28.75 28.75 28.75 28.75 28.75 28.5 28.5 28.5 28.25 28.25 28 27.75 27.5 27.5 27.25 27 26.75 26.75 26.75 26.75 26.25 26 25.75 25.5 25.25 25.25 25.25 25.25 25.25 25 25 25 25 25 24.75 24.75 24.75 24.75 24.5 24 24 23.75 23.75 23.75 23.25 23 23 22.75 22.75 22.75 22.75 22.75 22.75 22.5 22.25 21.75 21.75 21.75 21.75 21.5 21.5 21.5 21.25 21.25 21.25 21.25 21.25 21 21 21 21 21 21 20.75 20.75 20.75 20.75 20.5 20.5 20.25

Anne Learmonth Robert Wragge-Morley Mark Rutter Ray Sullivan Robyn Thomas Julian Brown Andy Cox Tom Green Anthony Wheatley Ludwig Brunagel Julian Plummer Nathan Poulton Jason Wring Peter Summers Toby Hopper Richard Leonard Christopher Brown Mike Entwistle Thomas Farrugia Adam Kinsey Brad Owen Paul Alderson Steven Gordon Rick Nice Tony Pember Ian Carter Peter Horne Bob Donaldson Mark Gray David Hann Katherine Kirton Neil Veitch Tom Willard Andy Yates Luke Allen Liam Morris Leonard O'Rourke Nigel Calladine Nigel Laws Peter Lewis Andrew Marshall Ken Acland Mike Wigley Steve Beard Paul Bennett Raymond Cheung Kevin Firth Agi Palanki Martyn Wheeler Paul Bowerbank Jill Day Peter Forster David Foxcroft James Gillies Will Pomeroy Mike Watson Jeremy Hicks Terry Hodges Ian Kellar Martin Smith Steven Smith Judith Swallow Dave Vine Leighn Chambers Paul Dytham John Morse Kris Poole Martyn Aldis Richard Goucher Yvonne King Michael Pinkerton Deiniol Richards Robin Snelson James Wyatt Peter Johnson Andrew Kirsfelds Chris Jones Winston Plowes Phil Scott Richard Thompson Patrick Wooddisse Richard Barnett Martin Foley Simon Neatham Fenella Reed Philip Whiteman Simon Woodthorpe Peter Alcock Andy Bruce Peter Goodings Richard Hurley

20.25 20.25 20 20 20 19.75 19.75 19.75 19.75 19.5 19.5 19.5 19.5 19.25 19 19 18.75 18.75 18.75 18.75 18.75 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.25 18.25 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 17.75 17.75 17.75 17.5 17.5 17.5 17.5 17.25 17.25 17 17 17 17 17 17 16.75 16.75 16.75 16.75 16.75 16.75 16.75 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.25 16.25 16.25 16.25 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 15.75 15.75 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.25 15.25 15.25 15.25 15.25 15.25 15 15 15 15

John Lee Jim Mcgill Sarah Roberts Mark Smith Mark Barker Sean Barker Paul Beebee Richard Pye Robert Wade Jimmy Froggatt Paul Jackman Julian Nash Joseph Albert North John Rye Vilas Silverton Joe Jord Rob Jordan Merv Middleton Paul Salmons Jack Tyler Gary Hocking Lee Killestein Ian Llewelyn John Rosbottom Stephen Smith Stephen Anderson Adrian Bird David Hirons Pat Hurt Darryl Mastropietro Daniel Morgan Robert Damper Steven Ferry Peter Gawthorne Lee Green Danny Hardstone Stephen Scott Trevor Stephens Jonathan Warner David Cooper Philip Cunningham Jeff Ellingham James Hadley Mike Henley Paul Roberts Paul Alinejad Andrew Beveridge Chris Crookes Wyn Evans Paul Miller Simon Proven Angela Walker Howard Dalton Laura Pugh Dominic Trevett David Deakins Jon Heslop John Holden Tim Pickersgill Kevin Presland Kevin Sammons Andrew Seager Ben Taylor Simon Westlake Tim Williams Oliver Wright Wayne Wright Gareth Yanulevitch Peter Yarranton John Bastiani Matthew Chambers George Cordal Ivor Davies Neil Fraser Richard Higginbottom Stephen Hodges Ken Hodgins John Kavanagh Michael Kilburn Alan Picken David Sleigh Nicola Bennett Richard Brain Sefi Dakar Brandon Edgeley Steve Ginty Mark Gladwyn Chris Jones Darryl Nolan Paul Rainbow

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15 15 15 15 14.75 14.75 14.75 14.75 14.75 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.25 14.25 14.25 14.25 14.25 14 14 14 14 14 13.75 13.75 13.75 13.75 13.75 13.75 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.25 13.25 13.25 13.25 13.25 13.25 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 12.75 12.75 12.75 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12.25 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

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AUK Pre-history As we know Audax UK has passed its 40th anniversary, but a lot of its early history is locked away in the heads of taciturn old randonneurs and ex-randonneurs, or has passed into mythical status. AUK has never had an official archivist and many documents from the very early days are sadly lost altogether.

Recently - due to the efforts of Dave Minter (in restless mood during an enforced lay-off ) and ACP's Alain Collonges - we have gained access to ACP's vaults and retrieved a whole raft of old event records which we had thought were lost. It's fascinating to look at these and observe, second-hand, the birth and rapid growth of Audax UK. The Pre-history: In 1897 - the word 'Audax' was adopted in Italy to signify a long-distance event (of various kinds, such as swimming, or running) to be completed in 'a day' or 14 hours. Audax regulations for cyclists were introduced in France in 1904 but the 200km 'randonneur' variant that we know best was formulated later, by Audax Club Parisien in 1921. They added longer distances in later years, with the first 600km brevets being awarded in 1928. This early history can be found in a bit more detail on AUK's website under 'Origins and history'.

AUK's pre-history is closely tied to Paris-Brest-Paris. This event was first run in 1891 and then in 1901 when it was divided into a pro road race and a simultaneous tourist event. 1931 was the first edition where among the tourists a 'randonneur' category of rider was given a time limit of 90h. That year the pro race was won by an Australian, Hubert Opperman, who rode more or less as an individual up against the big teams and so caught the public imagination with his underdog victory. It was all the more remarkable when you think that Oppy's training for the European road season consisted of a voyage halfway round the world on an ocean-going liner. Here's a photo of him on deck, on his rollers (below) a good trick if you can do it!

in 1931. In 1971, however, heavy traffic so near Paris would not digest a giant cycling club-run with 330 members, and no sooner were we on N12 than we were off it and pedalling along Dll in a north-westerly direction towards Septeuil.

This is a pleasant rolling road which I have used several times when riding on my own from Paris to Rouen. Now I had plenty of company. Despite my good intention of taking things easily for the opening miles, I couldn't resist having a go in the general tear-up and even stepped forwards a group or two. Then up from behind came Barry Parslow, his well-clothed Herne Hill contrasting with my mini-skirted lady-love Lejeune.

"Look at the madmen" Barry exclaimed "Don't take any notice of them. They were just the same last time. You'll see a lot of those fellows clapped out at the Controls and by the roadside coming back. Let them get on with it."

The advice, however, was given in the spirit of "Don't do as I do, but do as I tell you". After riding with me for a few miles Barry suddenly sprinted away, saddle-bag swaying, a dauntless Duke of Marlboro out to smash a platoon of French who had just crept up on us from the rear."

One avid reader was Steve Nicholas, a young 24-hour rider, and he was inspired to enter the next (1975) PBP and to gather a group of friends, so that for the first time ever there was to be a strong British representation in the event. Since there were no ACP qualifying events to be found in the UK, a one-off special dispensation was sought, to use a 24-hour TT ride of at least 375 miles as a PBP qualifier.

Steve also dreamed up the whole AUK concept, and put it in a letter which was published in the CTC's magazine early in 1975 - it was reprinted in Arrivee last year, and looks like a remarkably prescient template for AUK as we know it today.

That list of 14 (of 19) Brit finishers on PBP'75 looks a lot like the 16 Founders of AUK in 1976, a notable addition being Steve's father John Nicholas who took on the task of Secretary. (Both lists can both be found on AUK's website in the 'Hall of Fame'.).

Their first project was to organise a ground-breaking 600km event the "Windsor-Chester-Windsor". Co-incidentally the 1st WCW too has 14 finishers listed (of 32 entrants), though most of the names are different because the founder members were mostly occupied with manning the controls. There were several start points so riding it must have been quite a lonely affair. Dave Pountney was one of the riders and wrote his inspirational Wadley-style blow by blow account which appeared in Cycling magazine (now Cycling Weekly). Many years before the internet and social media, it was tales like this published in various magazines which inspired the new generation of randonneurs to have a go:

In later life he became a politician and cabinet minister and in 1978 Sir Hubert Opperman agreed to be adopted by Audax UK as Patron.

The PBP results archives (available online) show that in 1951 a British tandem pair - G-H Williams & 'Gill' - apparently entered, but did not ride. This seems to be the earliest British interest in the event, however even before that in 1948, René Menziès a 59-year-old Frenchman living in England, rode and completed PBP. Menziès was an interesting chap and definitely imbued with the spirit of longdistance cycling. In 1937 he very briefly held the year-long distance record (the one later held by Tommy Godwin) at 61,561 miles, all ridden around the London area. During the war he was General De Gaulle's chauffeur. Well into his sixties, he finished PBP again in 1951 and rode again but DNF in 1956.

"From 17's we dropped to 7's as we honked our way up Fish Hill.

Nearing the summit it became quite misty, whether from our efforts I don't know but once over the top it cleared. That was enough climbing for us but not for one of the earlier riders, Les Lowe, who had diverted to the 1000 foot mark and added another claim to his OCD climbing total."

In 1966 a twenty-something Barry Parslow rode PBP on his tricycle, which puts him at the top of any list of AUK's mythical heroes from the early days - but he was well ahead of his time, this was 10 years before AUK was even thought of. It took the tale-spinning talent of Jock Wadley, one of three Brits to ride the next PBP in 1971, to really start the ball rolling. Jock by all accounts lived an idyllic lifestyle, combining cycle touring with sports journalism, filing first-hand reports of the continental cycle racing scene. His blow-by-blow account of PBP - in a style which has set the template for ride reports ever since - made a complete chapter in his book 'Old roads and New': "After 70 miles we were on Nl2, the Great West Road of France which links Paris with Brest, and that was the way "Oppy" travelled 32

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AUK Big Bang Cliff Bull is credited with being first to finish and so could be said to be the first person ever to complete an AUK brevet.

That was it for 1976 - a single 600km with 14 finishers - though some people probably went back to France to try other events - for example Alan Sturk rode the Bordeaux-Paris 600km. I suppose we can deduce that AUK's 'membership' at the end of 1976 would have been 30 or 40 strong. We do know (from a very early newsletter to members) that one year later it had grown to 'over 150' and the Secretary was worrying about increasing the subs - from 75p to £1 !

The Big Bang: From just 14 brevets awarded in that first year, there were 192 awarded in 1977, and in 1978 this rose to 677.

ACP's records show 8 AUK events in 1977, at all distances except, oddly, 300km. Some of the events were organised by riders of the 1st WCW. One 200km had 64 finishers - by far the most for any event so far - but the first of the new events to be run was a 400km, the 1st Brevet Cymru, with 25 finishers. In all 4 400s were run that year, with 77 finishers overall at this 'new' distance.

Most notably, in August 1977 Barrie Jones rode a 400 accompanied by his 15-year-old daughter. She appears on the results sheet held in ACP's vaults, as 'JONES Amanda (m'selle)'. They finished in a group of several at the back of the field, in just over 23 hours. This is the earliest record of a solo female finisher of any AUK event - though Irene Saunders had completed the 2nd WCW on tandem, and Jill Richards and Trottie Chase had ridden the Bordeaux-Paris 600km, an event not recorded by ACP. 4 years later, John Nicholas wrote, looking back at the youngster's ride, of his amazement and misgiving at the time, but then he added "but it does not seem to have done Mandy any harm" a year after that was written, Mandy Jones broke a world track record and then became the World Road Race Champion (below).

Centenary, and riders at the finish were presented with their medals

by Sir Hubert Opperman, AUK's Patron and winner of the 1931 PBP. As well as this long event, there was the WCW as usual with 31 finishers, and for the first time another 600km in the same year, with 21 finishers. 106 riders finished in 5 400s, an early Dorset Coast 200 had 39 finishers from 55, and the first event to be held in Scotland, a 200, had 20 finishers.

As Secretary, John Nicholas was tireless in publicising AUK's activities in the cycling press, with regular columns in Cycling World and Bicycle Times. He also circulated regular newsletters to members, with entertaining ride reports and hard calendar information, a format which later morphed into Arrivee. Much of the information presented here was gleaned from copies of those early newsletters that had been passed on to me by Rocco Richardson.

1979 was the next PBP year, and so was the big test of the AUK project. Unsurprisingly, activity levels increased again although the early season, and so the PBP qualifiers, was dogged by bad weather.

Many people missed out on their 200 and had to substitute a later longer ride. New records were set when 131 entered and 92 finished the Dorset Coast 200, and at the other end of the year was AUK's first 1000km, ridden by 4 hardy souls. Steve Nicholas and Norman Booth also rode in an ACP 1000 from Paris to the Alps, and 3 others rode a 1000 in the Benelux area. In all Laurie Harrison rode 2 1000s and PBP no surprise then that he is listed as AUK's Champion for that year.

Altogether 78 riders became Super Randonneurs. A 100km Super Grimpeur event in Yorkshire was considered to be 'too challenging' and gained next to no support in this first year of running.

At PBP, AUK fielded 54 and 49 finished. One of the biggest French clubs, Union des Audax Francais, sent a message of congratulation to AUK - "It is truly formidable to see what you have done in four years, and I do not think there exists another club capable of such performances in so short a time."

In October of 1979 Dave Pountney's inspirational account of PBP was published in the middle pages of Cycling. Here's a flavour:

About 60 riders entered the 2nd edition of the WCW 600, and 51 started in miserable weather conditions, and 35 finished - more than doubling the figures of the previous year. Incidentally looking at the sequence of ACP brevet numbers awarded, only 22 other 600km brevets had been awarded (presumably in France, but in theory could be anywhere in the world) between these two WCWs - an early sign of AUK's potential to outgrow its origins.

Cyclists love to think outside the box, and an early example of this was in September when the "Peninsula 700" took place, from Severn Bridge to Lands End and back. A handily-placed control at the 600km mark allowed ACP to accept this into their records as a 600, and so they have both '600' and '714km' finish times for the handful of succesful riders, who included Barry Parslow and Rocco Richardson.

Also in 1977, John Rhind, Roy Cook and Norman Booth rode the Brevet Randonneur des Alpes, once again following the pioneering wheelmarks of Jock Wadley who had ridden this and written about it back in 1973.

In 1978 there are records found of 22 events, including the first 300s.

One of these is shown in ACP's records as "Paris-Calais" with 92 finishers. In fact this was just the first leg of the "Paris-Harrogate", about 850km in total with ferry crossings at the Channel and again at the Thames. The logistics of organising ferry crossings for large numbers of cyclists were presumably a bit simpler then than they would be now. The event was part of a celebration of the CTC's www.aukweb.net

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"The colourful peloton swept through the countryside completely filling the road and bringing village life to a halt. Once over the N12 and away from the shelter of Rambouillet Forest the wind became a real problem and I was having my first lesson in echelon riding. At Nogent le Roi the bunch split and for a while I dangled in the middle before being caught by another group headed by John Hathaway. Mile after mile the wind kept us in the left-hand gutter.

Eventually the road veered and the wind hit us nose-on causing our French companions to take a great interest in our saddlebags.

John got a little mad and suggested we leave them to their fate. So with bursting lungs and legs I joined him in a two-up time trial for a mile or so. I learnt later that his name appears in the Guinness Book of Records for riding round the world - 50600 miles in 99½ weeks at the age of 50. A measure of his toughness came later in the ride when he had the misfortune to crash. A head wound needed stitching, but undeterred after a visit to hospital, he continued and finished well within the time limit.

The second control (Villaines la Juhel, 143m) was top of my list for food and service. A large village hall had been turned into a selfservice restaurant and they also prepared meals while you waited.

My PBP diet consisted mainly of thick soup, omelette and green beans, the occasional salad and lots of soggies. I drank mineral water, coffee and tea - it varied between bad and awful! It was dusk as we left Villaines - I had been joined by Ernie Saunders - the wind had dropped and so had the power in my legs, they were like lead.

So for 15 miles or more I studied Ern's mud flap. Glancing behind, a string of white lights rapidly approached, and as they swept we recognised a swinging saddlebag of Frank Loftus, Lancashire RC, setting the pace. Nearing the next control 'Merckx' powered by towing a 'bagless' Frenchman. We reached Fougeres (196m) around midnight and met Marie-Claire Guilleaume who rode last year's Paris-Harrogate randonnee. She intended covering the route in three by 250-mile stages taking a few hours sleep each night; with her was her sister. Altogether 46 girls rode, including Jill Richards of the Cardiff Ajax - who was to be the first British girl to complete Paris-Brest-Paris."

Francis Cooke Women and ultra-challenge endurance sports Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

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Endurance I wrote this piece mostly because I’ve often wondered why far more men than women participate in extreme athletic activities.

The first premise for this article is to ask the question, why do more men than women participate in ultra-distance activities?

You might say that this states the obvious, and that women cyclists have interests and motivation that differ from those of male cyclists and that it is unlikely that addressing these issues will in some way encourage more women to participate in ultra-cycling or indeed ultra-challenges in any sporting endeavor.

The second premise is that this article is not intended to provide answers but mainly to pose the questions that need answers.

As far as I know, apart from the accepted and well known and documented anatomical variations between the two main genders (there seems to be more variations added every day) racing on a bicycle is pretty much the same whether the cyclist is male or female.

My analyses was confined to activities where there was no prize money, the participants engaged voluntarily and paid their own expenses, therefore, no organized sports such as golf or tennis or such were included, nor were activities such as school or college sports.

Looking at the recent results for one 24 Hour ultra-racing event - Bessies Creek - for example, it shows that more men raced than women – 80% to 20% - and that on the whole, men raced the longer distances or times than women.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that if women do race they are less likely to finish.

In the 2015 edition of the RAAM, out of five females that started in the solo category, only three raced to the end – so 60%, and for the men, out of thirty six starters, half finished – so 50%.

For the 2015 RAW, three women started and two finished, for the men, eighteen started but only five finished. However, we still see fewer women than men entering these extra distance races.

For RAAM we had 36 male starts and 5 women starts; In the RAW, the figures were 18 male starts and three women starts. These races were of the same length for both male and female although women were allowed extra time to complete.

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Gertrude Edurle

These statistics do not only apply to cycling, we see similar results in other endurance activities.

As chronicled by the American Elizabeth Hawley, residing in Katmandu for the past 65 years and the doyen of Everest chroniclers, of the total successful ascents of Mount Everest, out of 6,871 summits as of February 2014, only four hundred and ten were made by women. As she has said: “There are no pioneering women on Everest, they need to be pioneers in other places”. In other words, she feels that women are probably best suited to succeed in other endeavors than climbing mountains.

Of the 3,841 successful English Channel swims to date, 63.5% were by men and 36.5% by women. There are no records of the total number of attempts or the unsuccessful attempts by either sex.

In the 2014 edition of Marathon Des Sables, the 156 miles six marathon distance race run across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, 925 men completed with 814 finishing the grueling event, and 184 women ran with 159 completing. Of note is that in 2008, Touda Didi was the first Moroccan woman to win the event.

The Marathon Des Sables

In the 3,000 mile Race Across America’s roster for the 2016 race, out of a total 248 racers in teams and solo categories, only 21 racers were women. In the sister event the 880 mile Race Across the West, out of 68 racers, only 5 are women.

Women and ultra-challenge endurance sports

Similar figures contend in other sporting activities such as the Appellation Trail, rowing across the Atlantic and sailing around the world.

The latest figures I have received on the Appalachian Trail is that between the years 1937-2016 on a self-reporting basis, there were 12,795 thru hikers of whom 2,861 were

women either solo or in groups. For section hikers again on a self -reporting basis for the same span of years, there were 2,997 total of whom 720 were women. However, the number of women undertaking the trek is rising. In 1992 16% of the thru hikers were women but by 2012 that number had increased to 21%,. So there is a glimmer of hope that women are catching on to the pleasures of absolute pain – at least in the hiking category of ultra-sporting activities.

Something similar is evident in the Boston Marathon where out of 27,491 runners in a recent event, 14,877 were men but 12,610 were women. So is the fact that running a marathon – although strenuous - is a relatively short endurance activity that attracts so many women?

But on the whole, women just don’t engage in these types of endurance activities to the same extent as men, so the question is why?

If it is simply a case of unsurmountable physical obstacles then why should women try to compete? So, accepting that in general it is simply a case that women will never be able to race as far as men, what are women to do?

I think to answer this question it is necessary to look at the psyche involved. If it is a given that ultra-challenging events are predominately raced by men, does this imply that women are just not as motivated as men to accept the physical and or mental stresses required? Maybe women don’t want to get on a bike and ride 24 hours or longer (not many sane people of either sex actually do), maybe women accept that they have no psychological desire to do this to satisfy any kind of challenge, maybe women are just satisfied with being women and don’t need to make out they are as strong – or as risk taking – as men.

If a female racer wants to participate in an endurance race they generally do so competing in their own categories, much in the same way as age categories for both sexes. But if the races contain both men and www.aukweb.net

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Endurance women, women are in actuality racing against men as well as other women on the same course at the same time, so does this give a negative aspect to the race for women?

Being passed by another racer in any kind of race is intimidating and demoralizing enough, but in a mixed sex race and if the women racer is being passed by a male racer, what impact does that have on the women’s psyche?

For example, a 60 year old racer of either sex would not expect to be able to compete with a 20 year old of the same sex, assuming both are in good physical condition, but for a woman to be blown away by a male racer that has to be demoralizing. Therefore would it not be better for a woman not to have to compete with men in the same race?

A study by Dr. Salvatore J. Tirrito, cardiovascular disease specialist in Tucson states: “Studies show that women utilize less glycogen and more fat than men in long, lower-intensity exercise. This makes the female athlete particularly well suited for, and may potentially provide an advantage over men in endurance events”.

Therefore it suggests there is no general physical impediment to women undertaking endurance activities, could then the issue be one of the historical social environment where women were never expected nor encouraged to pursue the same activities – physical or intellectual - as men? Perhaps women in general don’t feel strenuous activities are expected of them. Although it would be correct to add, that neither do the vast majority of men in our sedentary, physically unexacting lives. Consider the number of people of either gender who actually participate in any kind of sporting endeavor – couch quarterbacking not included. At one time in our society people walked everywhere and were a lot healthier for it, now there are far fewer pedestrians going down my street than there are cars and trucks.

So, why do we see fewer women riding ultra- distances, or climbing mountains or hiking trails or doing the myriad other activities requiring endurance, courage, fortitude and downright grit? Perhaps it is because they have yet to appreciate the extraordinary pleasure of acute physical pain to be found in endurance events as a means of achieving the euphoria of absolute success.

Having said that, I doubt there is anything quite like the same physical exultation of giving birth – which if left to men to experience this same trauma would have led to the end of human kind at the outset – which proves beyond doubt that women are just as capable if not much more so than men to overcome brute suffering and going on to live and fight another day. So they could, so why not?

All in all, I proffer the truth that women can do whatever it is they want to do, they just have to decide that they want to do it.

Kenneth Jessett

From the privileged position of editor, the last thing I want to do is stifle debate before it starts – but let’s get real: Firstly, I suggest that there is no choice of leisure activity for the poorer half of the world, where simply staying alive is an endurance event for both males and females.

So let us consider the industrialised world, where it was not until the mid-twentieth century that legislative action ensured that most people achieved a 40 hour working week and hence sufficient free time to pursue any leisure activity.

However, most women were responsible for housework, children, sick and elderly relatives, in addition to what poorly paid work was available. They had no leisure time, no choice.

This means that leisure pursuits progressed from the domain of a wealthy few to most men in the twentieth century. Whilst women were gaining rights to education and professional work and retaining most household duties. Again, no leisure time, so no choice. Only a minority of women prized leisure activities above additional household income - and is this still possible in the present economic climate?

Sheila www.aukweb.net

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EPN A cycling life goes through many phases. It started for me with a Gresham Flyer trike on the pavements of my council estate, moving on to a 4-speed SA hub Hercules bought for me at age 15 and on which I did my first YHA tour.

Two or three years later, a secondhand Rotrax took me on my first club run, lots of touring, and the start of a spell dashing up and down dual carriageways against the clock. College, marriage and kids intervened for a while, but normal service was resumed when I got back to club cycling and time-trialling in my 30s.

Around 1984, reading an article by ‘Parry Westwood’ (John Nicholas) opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Audax, which absorbed me for about 20 years until advancing ‘maturity’ and a growing distaste, not only for the travelling to and from events, but also for riding when I’d rather be sleeping. Although I had completed a couple of PBPs, multiple SRs and whatnot, I never really thought of myself as ‘hard core’ AUK. And as for kipping in bus shelters, well that has always left me cold. And stiff. And smelling of someone else’s pee.

Time to move on. Around the time of the millenium I got lucky when I was offered the chance of taking Ian Hennessey’s place on a ride - from Strasbourg to Paris, I seem to remember. A representative of AUK had been invited, and Ian was AUK secretary at the time, but he hurt his wrist shortly before the ride, so passed on the invitation. I was AUK membership secretary at the time and, hey, someone had to do it.

The ride, styled l’Européenne, or EPN, and organised by the Amicale Euro Cyclotourisme, followed the Euraudax convention, with a ‘capitaine de route’ controlling the pace, and the peloton - usually about 50 or 60 riders staying together throughout, escorted by motorcycle outriders,and enjoying a sit-down restaurant meal at lunchtime, as well as eating and sleeping in hostels or three-star hotels.

From an Englishman’s point of view, it seemed like a bit of a niche activity, but a niche in which I felt comfortable. I stuck with it for several years, including a memorable ride from Paris to Athens in 2004 where we attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympics.

I dropped out of EPN after London to Paris in 2007, doing the Semaine Fédérale, and tours of my own. Then, unexpectedly, I received an email from Anick Gouard, who had also ridden the early EPN events. Anick, bless her, persuaded me that I really should be there for the 2014 event, which was Monaco-Barcelona.

A week riding round the Mediterranean coast in the sunshine was all too enticing to refuse.

So I was back in the EPN fold.

Go East Old Man

with Ray Smith

La Route des Forteresses L’Européenne 2016 - Beilstein to Prague The 2016 event was to set off into the rising sun, heading east through Germany into the Czech Republic, a new country for me. Could be fun. And the sun certainly shone.

It started, as so many adventures do, with an early alarm call. It’s 2.30 a.m. and I’m in Anick’s home in Dieppe, so that’s really only 1.30. What an irony; hadn’t I kicked all that nocturnal stuff into touch a few years ago, in pursuit of a more dignified approach?

Anyway, I’m not altogether sorry that the urge to be silly lingers on; there’s something special about being on the road well before the rest of the world is awake, even if you’re only in a car.

By 3.30 we’re on our way. It’s a couple of hours or so to le départ at l’Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris, and Anick is driving.

Probably just as well; she knows the roads, and drives faster than me. Oh, and Agathe is navigating. I always take Agathe with me when I’m driving in France; hers is the voice on the satnav. Not only does she speak the language beautifully, but someone has taught her how to pronounce the local place names properly; unlike her equally beautifully-spoken colleague Selina, who accompanies me in England, but utters French place names like, well, a bit like a Spanish cow.

I met Anick in 2001 when I rode my first EPN. Anick was riding, husband André was on his moto as security back-up and official photographer, a rôle he still enjoys. This morning we’d left André in bed; he was going direct to the German start on his big BMW moto, and would get there far quicker than us. Agathe conducted us unerringly to the huge security gates of the Hippodrome, where we’d leave the car until our return from Prague a week later. Although it was still dark, the AVR picked us up, and the gates slid aside. Folk were arriving from all over Europe, and breakfast was served.

Handshakes and kisses (French or otherwise) were exchanged as we grabbed croissants, pains au chocolat and coffee from the tables in the car park. Bikes were loaded into the trailer behind our coach, and by 7.00 we were on our way.

Two motorway meals later we arrived at the first of our fortresses, in Beilstein, about 40 km from Stuttgart.

I’d previously been to Beilstein on the 2003 ride, when we arrived at the castle by bike, escorted for the last few kilometers ms by a local fire engine (no, I don’t know either!), to be welcomed by the municipal brass band.

This time Fireman Sam (or Helmut?) presumably had a hotter date, but the brass band played on. Then, as we gathered in a rather small castle courtyard, surrounded by high stone walls on three sides, we were told to expect ‘un message du ciel’. Now, a lifetime of disappointment when in comes to communication from on high led me to steel myself for anti-climax. But, as we all gazed up into a clear blue sky, there certainly seemed to be something coming our way. Was it a bird, was it a plane? No, there was no mistake, it was superman, who landed precisely, if not altogether elegantly, on the blue mattress that I had supposed to be some children’s play apparatus in the middle of the courtyard. OK, not quite superman, but near enough. Ebehard Gienger is something of a local celebrity as a bronze medallist gymnast in the Montreal olympics, turned daredevil skydiver. What’s more, he spoke to us in excellent French.

Beilstein reception

Message du ciel

Don’t know how to compete with this as an opening shot when the EPN comes to Yorkshire in 2017. Unless I could persuade a local athlete, let’s say the vice -president of Les Randonneurs Mondiaux, to parachute into York. After all, Keith Benton does live not far away. How are you fixed, Keith?

Despite my complete lack of German, I did have a chat with the Bourgmestre, Patrick Holl, who had welcomed us all to Beilstein.

Herr Holl speaks little French but, fortunately, he is fluent in English. And no, I didn’t mention the war. Perhaps worse, though, the word brexit did crop up. Amusingly, I’ve just now discovered that my spell-checker (defaulting to French) changes ‘brexit’ to ‘brevet’, a much less controversial topic of conversation in European company.

In 2015 we started from Schengen, home of the ‘accord sans frontières’. I was aware of being the only rider from outside the Schengen Zone, but felt no less welcome, despite teasing from a few politically conscious participants. None of us really expected that the referendum several months later would mean that the UK would vote to disengage even further from Europe.

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EPN Planning meeting on the castle balcony

As we were riding up to 180 km a day, there were briefer ‘ravitaillement’ stops mid morning and afternoon. Most mornings we were treated to a reception, usually by the mayor of a small town, who would say a few words of encouragement, to which we listened politely before swooping like gannets on whatever drinks and nibbles were on offer. For the first three days it was usually fat, salty pretzels washed down with a bottle or two of the local apple juice; just ideal to keep the legs turning.%%The area

Day 3 - Nürnberg - Trausnitz - 140 km Day 4 - Trausnitz - Pilsen - 166 km Day 5 - Pilsen - Prague - 120 km We spent two nights at Beilstein Castle, doing a 90 km loop through and around the stunning vine-clad slopes of the Neckar valley. It was hot, but the steep valleys meant we were often riding in shade, and the steady discipline imposed by Daniel, our capitaine de route, and our guide, Winfried, made for a delightful day on the bike.

Trausnitz Castle

Neckar Valley

around Trausnitz Castle, our third fortified bednight, was beautiful, and very reminiscent of parts of Wales; wooded, moyenne-montagnes, lakes and quiet roads.

The climb up from the lake after breakfast at Trausnitz was not steep, but long and testing enough to string out the peloton. Not too much of a problem on a triple, but gearing on some of the whisper-light bikes (which included several Pinarello Dogmas) was more suited to pro riders than grizzled randonneurs, not all of whom were as pareddown as their bikes. Cue a number of unscheduled stops to regroup.

I always find the French, indeed all the continentals on these rides, good company.

One thing that can grate, however, is the small minority who feel bound to make jibes about our wonderful weather. We all know that Britain, and Yorkshire in particular, is meteorologically blessed. I mean, doesn’t the sun always shine on your Audax rides?

Maybe some of our European neighbours are simply swallowing journalistic stereotypes which tell of year-round thermals and leaden skies over the UK. Whatever, there’s always someone who, if there’s the first sign of rain, will catch my eye and come out with ‘Juste comme chez toi?’ Ha bloody ha.

Feeding the Beast

View from Nuremberg Castle Youth Hostel

Lunch, as is usual on these rides, was something to savour. Not only does the EPN peloton set off together, ride together, and arrive together . . . they also eat together.

Anyone looking for the all the fun of the average AUK brevet might feel deprived of the chance to stand in line to get their card stamped, before scoffing beans on toast, keeping an anxious eye out to make sure their group doesn’t leave without them. The EPN does it differently. Waiter service, three full courses, beer to taste, followed by coffee was the daily pattern. You almost wonder how most of these guys keep so lean.

Bettina, Anick and Nuria

Day 2 - Beilstein - Nürnberg - 180 km

Another town, more pretzels and apple juice

Day 1 - Beilstein - Beilstein - 90 km circuit

By this time we were in the Czech Republic, although we might hardly have noticed.

There were no formalities at the border, just a few houses and an informal street market, and not even a flag to be seen. Had we not made a ‘ravito’ stop at that point, we might not have realised we were changing countries, and languages. This is the Schengen Zone, with total freedom of movement. Given the apparent appetite at some ballot boxes these days for disengaging, if not actually building border walls, you have to wonder whether this state of laissez-passer will last.

After our second night at Beilstein we struck out east to Nürnberg, to our overnight stop overlooking the city, in the impressive castle which is now a youth hostel. www.aukweb.net

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EPN The group

Welcome to Yorkshire September 2017 I rode Monaco-Barcelona in September of 2014, which was also the year of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Yorkshire.

Inevitably, all the EPN riders had seen it on the box, and I was bombarded with questions, with the ‘Côte de Buttertubs’ being mentioned more than once. By the time of the 2015 event (Schengen-Paris) it was resolved that EPN 2017 would be ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’. And it would need a bit of organising. Who to ask?

Not that they’re all so humouristicallychallenged. Must confess to a guffaw when Jacques, our webmaster, tried to persuade me that Brooks had opened a saddle factory in Belgium. When I doubted his word he simply said - “Bruxelles”. Say it out loud, making sure to pronounce the hard ‘c’ in the middle. Very droll.

After a long day in the sun we arrived on the outskirts of Pilsen, city of the celebrated lager, just at the peak of rush hour. Big, busy dual carriageways, major junctions, and tramlines to be negotiated. Shouldn’t be too bad with the help of our four motorised escorts, though. Even better, we were met by a police car which led the peloton, klaxonning its way through, opening up the traffic like the Red Sea. All the main crossroads had been manned in advance by cops who held up the traffic for us, and we swept into town like a presidential motorcade.

As the only Brit on the ride in recent years, there was little chance of keeping my head down. The joke was - ‘If Gary Verity can get a knighthood for bringing the TdF to Yorkshire, whoever does the same for the EPN ought to be treated equally’. At first it was quite amusing to be addressed as ‘Sir Ray’ by waggish amis-cyclistes, but the cap really doesn’t fit. If it comes to it, I’m afraid I may have to gracefully decline, ma’am.

By the time we were installed in our hotel, we were too late for our planned brewery visit, but the restaurant meal, copiously lubricated

by Real Pilsen, restored us magically.

The final day started with the usual mixture of relief and disappointment that I get towards the end of a good ride. But then, we’d hardly got out of town and I got that let-down feeling when the snake bites; two pin-prick holes in the tube and the immediate need to stop. With the peloton moving rapidly away, under some time pressure at the beginning of a busy day, I clambered into the following minibus, and changed the tube at the next stop, some 30 kms up the road.

After an early meeting with Bob Brayshaw, course director of the ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ tourist organisation that brought the Tour to Yorkshire, an outline plan was drawn up. It was clear that some traditional features of the continental version of l’EPN would need to be modified; for a start, a peloton of 60 with motor-cycle outriders just wouldn’t work in the Yorkshire lanes.

Escorted into Pilsen

Still the sun shone, but within a couple of hours of our arrival in Prague, thunder clouds rolled in, lightning flashed, and we ate our evening meal on the covered terrace watching the rain teem down. Our luck was in, though, with the rain clearing the next day as we strolled the streets of Prague. For our final proper meal together - le repas de clôture - we’d hired a restaurant boat which cruised the river as we ate. A convivial end to a fine ride.

This is the plan: • European contingent assemble in Paris. Coach to Zeebrugge - overnight ferry to Hull • Join English riders for start of ride at Beverley on morning of Saturday 9 September • Beverley - Whitby - Osmotherley Swaledale - Malham (2 nights), York (2 nights) - Beverley • Riding in groups of 12-15; restaurant meal with everyone together at lunchtime; group accommodation at Youth Hostels

Maybe, though, some of us were a little too relaxed. Within a few hundred metres of our destination, as we turned across the tramlines there was a clatter as three or four bikes crashed to the pavé. Nothing but a few bruises, fortunately, unlike the 2002 event when tramlines in Brussels grabbed the wheels and smashed the hip of poor Leo, who never really recovered properly.

• Day free to do the tourist thing in York; or local ride possible • Ride finishes with group lunch at Beverley on Friday 15 September. Coach/ trailer returns to Hull and overnight ferry.

That evening, after the distribution of certificates and medallions - always a fun feature of these rides - we loaded our bikes in the trailer and took our seats for the overnight coach ride back to Paris.

Ray Smith

Pilsen by night

Pace will be steady, and distances up to ~ 125 kms per day are relatively modest, but Yorkshire can be tough. Luggage transferred to overnight stops by van or coach. Riders are expected to be independent, but there will be some emergency back-up. French is the main lingua franca, but with riders from maybe 10 countries, not all of whom speak French, this is something of a cycling Tour de Babel.

If you fancy something a bit different, with an atmosphere all of its own, do come and join us.

More info: http://www.europn-ffct.org/ or email me direct auk@phonecoop.coop

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600

At 5am on the Saturday morning we left our boutique hotel (Travelodge) to ride across the Severn Bridge to the start HQ. Having got there nice and early we scored our first pb of the weekend by actually starting the event on time – our normal form is for one of the group to go mysteriously missing at the start, lose a glove, go back to their car etc.

The first 150km flew by as they usually do although we resisted the temptation to jump into the fastest moving groups and burn ourselves out. All cycling is about the science of pacing whether it is a 6 lap pursuit or a 600km audax and we now know that no matter how strong you feel, there is always a price to pay for starting hard. After the 2nd control at 150km, the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the weekend (other than at night obviously). We then had our first inkling that Jeremy was not right. He felt shivery and cold and was sweating buckets.

The next section to Machynlleth was one of the finest of the ride. Until then, we had been bashing along A roads which, while not particularly busy so early on a Saturday, leave little room to relax. The next section took us on what was ominously called a “mountain road” by the Hafren Forest. The climbs were a bit steep but with only 100 miles in the legs, we felt pretty fresh and enjoyed the blue skies, empty roads and views across Wales. We were then treated to the most spectacular descent into Machynlleth where Julian met his Dad and brother. At this point Jeremy decided to pack. For most people a 110mile ride across some pretty big hills is quite an achievement but to do it while feeling ill is tough.

It turned out that these first few hours were just the amuse bouche and we began to tuck into the main meal. We entered Snowdonia National park and, at around 200km, controlled at the lovely Kings YHA near Dolgellau. There were only two drawbacks to this location. The first is that it is up a mile long climb with some 20% ramps and the second is that Martin is not fond of vegetarian food.

Leaving at around 1630, we started the 170 km round trip to Menai and back to Kings for some sleep. We wanted to get to Menai just before nightfall and back to Kings between 0100 and 0200. The next section is what this event is best known for. We crossed the charming wooden Barmouth bridge and went through a series of seaside towns www.aukweb.net

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Five go Mad in Wales with Alex Peeke Smiles all round with Julian King and Alex Peeke

As a group of fairly recent converts to audaxing we realised that having done an SR and a PBP and in my case an LEL we weren’t real audaxers because we hadn’t done the Brian Chapman Memorial 600km. This year was a chance to put that right. Consequently, Jeremy Chandler-Smith, Julian King, David Scott and Martin Dossett and I booked the weekend off and laid our plans to conquer Wales in a weekend. It was quite a difficult thing to explain to people at work so I just said I was going cycling in Wales. If anyone asked, “Where?” I replied, “All of it”.

including Harlech before turning inland to cross Snowden by way of the Llanberis pass.

Filmmakers call the last hour before dusk the golden hour and to climb above the tree line at that time is truly magical. The low sun caught the mountains contrasting them against the deepening blue of the cloudless sky and cast strange shadows. Old sheep droves and drystone walls were picked out like the veins in Andre Greipel's legs. After passing the incongruously busy car park and visitor center at the top of the pass, we descended in the dusk to cross the delightful old Menai bridge to the 300km control in a scout hut.

After a quick meal and pockets stuffed with food we donned all our clothing and set out in the dark. Because it had been a cloudless day but with a northerly wind, when night came the temperature plummeted to nearly zero. With 300 km in the legs you can't rely on working hard to keep warm so good clothing choices are vital and that means carrying what you need. The next section is hard for me to describe because from about midnight onwards I began to suffer from the dozies. At one point I just had to sit down against a wall radiating heat from the day's sun and close my eyes for two minutes.

Back at Kings at 0200, there were limited beds. We thought before the event that the worst case would be to get a bed for 2 hrs but when we got there we were told we could only have 90 mins. There was a hot bunk system going with beds labelled and one person got in as another got out. Having forgotten to pack my Turnbull and Asser cotton pyjamas, I just crawled into bed in my kit (as did everyone else). These are times when the generous character of the audaxer comes out. No-one likes to be turfed out of their bunk at 0300 with little sleep but noone complains, they just get on with it.

0400 saw us assembled in the dining room trying to stuff down breakfast and get ourselves ready for the mere 220km to the finish. What a shocker the next stage was. We left just before 0500 in the pre dawn light and within 2km started climbing and

continued for an hour. The dawn was amazing but the temperature was hovering around freezing and our tired bodies just couldn't warm up. After the climb came a descent that at any other time would be great fun; smooth roads, no traffic and great scenery. However it is hard to enjoy with frozen fingers and I was falling asleep again which was disconcerting at 60km/h.

After our slowest ever 65km we got to the next control at Aberhafesp village hall which had two of the best things in the world; bacon and some air beds and blankets. 3 of us took a 20 minute nap but the indomitable David decided to use the time to update his fan base on social media and was no worse off for it. For me, the 20 minute nap sorted me out for the remainder of the ride.

On leaving the hall we changed out of our winter woolies and set off to finish the ride with all the biggest hills behind us. There was more climbing, descending, eating, lovely scenery and the unwelcome arrival of Sunday recreational traffic speeding through the hills overtaking on blind bends with only two wheels on the tarmac. After a cafe stop in Llandrodid Wells where Martin turned his nose up at the organic cola as "he had eaten too much vegetarian food" we had a mere 100km to go and barring mechanicals knew we would finish. With the time pressure off we relaxed and even allowed ourselves a leisurely re-visit to the Honey Café where we basked in afternoon sunshine. It did seem like much more than a day since we had been there. As the weather got hotter Martin and I even bared our legs. The afternoon traffic on the A40 was horrible but the final 40km were on a pleasant quiet road with just one final major climb.

We reached the finish at around 1830 and looked for our nearest pub. Outside of the cycling bubble we were reminded what the rest of the world thinks of us when I went in to the bar in my kit. Everyone else had clearly been there all afternoon drinking and watching football and treated us like the cabaret act. The bar lady asked where we had been...I don't think she believed me.

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On Tour

Touring through the Canadian Rockies Adam Young & Philippa Gardner

Athabasca River after Beauty Creek

In December 2015 we quit work in order to spend nine months exploring a few countries by bicycle. The first week of January was spent putting our stuff into a storage locker and packing our panniers before we jetted off to New Zealand, where we spent 2½ months. A short hop saw us land in Melbourne for Easter and we got to enjoy the southern hemisphere autumn in its full glory as we followed the beautiful Australian coastline northwards through Victoria and New South Wales, arriving in Brisbane at the start of winter.

We then flew to North America for four more months and the highlight of the whole trip: cycling through the Canadian Rockies from Jasper to Lake Louise along the Icefields Parkway. We had been recommended the Icefields Parkway by an Australian couple we had stayed with and after a bit of planning we realised we could easily fit this into our plans. This would prove to be the highlight of our entire trip and we remain at a loss for words to describe how fantastic it was to cycle this road.

In short, it was simply breathtaking, with huge views for the entire 200+ km, helped no end by how incredibly lucky we were with the weather (the Canadians kept telling us how it can, and does, snow at any time of the year in the Albertan Rockies).

This was all enjoyed in the company of Neil and Ali, cycle tourists from Australia whom we had first met on Vancouver Island a week earlier. (We later found out Neil's dad is the Treasurer of Audax Queensland; it's a small world.)

Athabasca Glacier

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On Tour

Philippa approaching Athabasca Glacier

We arrived in Jasper, Alberta, after an 18-hour overnight train ride from Vancouver. Despite being late June we could already catch glimpses of the snowcapped mountains. Once we had collected our bikes and luggage from the train we headed straight for the supermarket to pick up food for the next four days as we knew there were very limited supplies along the route. Before setting off on this part of the trip, we had decided that rather than camp, we would instead use the “wilderness” hostels.

These are hostels with no mains electricity or running water, long drop toilets, rivers for washing in and yet two of the hostels had a sauna! We thought this would be a sensible option as we didn’t know how cold it might get overnight in the Rockies at nearly 2,000 m above sea level and had decided having somewhere warm and dry at the end of each day might be sensible.

Not to mention that Jasper and Banff national parks have more than their fair share of grizzly bears.

While it is impossible to do justice in words to the sheer beauty of the road (that's what the photographs are for), for anyone curious about what to expect in terms of road quality, traffic, difficulty then read on.

For most of the route we had a great 3 metre wide shoulder, large enough that we could cycle along together and chat.

No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road so the traffic is largely tourist, with cars and RVs. >>> Sunwapta River

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On Tour

Peyto Lake

The speed limit varied between 60 and 90 kph and we never felt the traffic to be an issue. The road surface was good for the first 60’ish km and also for the last 60 km to Lake Louise, with the bit in the middle very bumpy owing to expansion cracks.

The first day from Jasper involved a very gradual climb from about 1,000m to 1,600m. We stayed at the Beauty Creek hostel that night after about 85 km. We had plenty of energy to stop and take a look at Athabasca waterfalls, chat with other cyclists, get free food from passing

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motorists and we spotted our first Albertan bear crossing the road a few hundred metres in front of us. The evening at the hostel was spent staring open mounted at the incredible views, washing ourselves in a cold glacial river and going on an unsuccessful bear hunt when someone said they had spotted a grizzly just outside the hostel.

The next day we rode 55 km to Rampart Creek hostel, which involved the steepest part of the road as we went over the Sunwapta Pass (2,000 m). This was an “honest” climb as despite being steep, the gradient was fairly constant. It was certainly

noticeable with a fully loaded touring bike, but was over relatively quickly. We then got a descent and a flat to the Columbia Icefields centre but we had a stiff headwind which meant this was probably as hard as the climb.

It was then a pretty easy ride down to the beautiful hostel.

Our third day was 65 km and involved going over Bow Summit, another 2,000 m pass. This was a more gradual climb than the previous day, so it went on for a lot longer. During the morning we were cycling towards black, threatening storm clouds and the roads were soaking wet, but fortunately the storm Neil & Ali climbing from Mosquito Creek

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On Tour

Bow Lake with Glacier

seemed to be heading southwards at the same speed as we were cycling. At the top of Bow Summit we carried on to walk out to the lookout point. The reward for this effort was a panorama of the Canadian Rockies in their full glory. It's difficult to appreciate the size of the mountains as they are so much larger than anything we have in the UK. From Bow Summit we whizzed downhill, although slow enough to spot our second Albertan bear 50 or so meters from the road, but we opted not to stop. Our last night on the Icefields Parkway was spent at the appropriately named Mosquito Creek hostel.

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The final day was just 30 km into Lake Louise, which passed in a blur of downhill – pretty much no effort required at all. This would have been quite easy to slot onto the previous day, but part of the joy of the Icefields Parkway was the solitude at night in the hostels. Arriving in Lake Louise on Canada Day was a shock after the tranquillity of the mountains. From Lake Louise we carried on southwards into the Kootenay National Park and towards the American border but for that part of the story you will need to look at: https://tyredandhungry.wordpress.com/

The Icefields Parkway is included in a number of brevets, including the Rocky Mountain 1200km run by the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club, which traditionally takes place the year after PBP. Alberta Randonneurs also offer a range of rides over various distances that incorporate some or all of the Icefields Parkway; a short out and back 200 km option from Jasper or a 1,000 km Tour of the Rockies from Calgary.

Alternatively, enjoy the ride at a slower pace and ride one way before turning around and retracing your steps and be blown away by the Canadian mountains.

Herbert Lake

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Events National 400 2017 (or Sleepless in Aberystwyth)

Old lead mines at Cwmystwyth

This year’s National 400 is heading westwards, to mid Wales and the Marches on Saturday 24th June (a little earlier than usual).

The event will run from the village hall in Upton Magna, just outside Shrewsbury (familiar to Pengwern and Elenydd veterans), with camping facilities available for the weekend.

Many will be aware of my reputation for ‘undulating’ rides, but don’t be too afraid – the route has been chosen to minimise gratuitous climbing (there’s a 100km section in Wales which is just about hilly enough to get a few AAA points but the rest is generally flat to undulating) whilst still showing off some of the best of the area.

The route takes the form of a big triangle roughly based on Shrewsbury, Hereford and Aberystwyth, with highlights including a visit to the historic Ironbridge gorge, Shropshire’s “blue remembered hills” and the Wye valley through Herefordshire before crossing the Cambrian mountains via the Elan reservoirs to the coast at Aberystwyth. The return over Plynlimon back to the Severn valley uses quiet A roads overnight for easy navigation.

As usual for the National 400, tlc is guaranteed with village hall controls run by experienced AUKs, and all food is included in the entry fee. Entries open on 1st March – full details on the AUK website.

Upper Elan valley

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Events 08:00 Sat 24th June, from Upton Magna, nr Shrewsbury

Above and below, Craig Goch reservoir in the Elan valley

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Permanent The week before our 24 hour bike ride a fellow club member suggested we should be reported to Health & Safety for contemplating such a venture. We went ahead regardless.

Through June and July I did several long distance rides culminating with Paul Whitehead's 300 km Wonderful Wessex Audax (a total of 362km with the ride from home and back). Despite sore hands I thoroughly enjoyed the event and decided I would like to have a crack at a 400km ride. I'd ridden the Wonderful Wessex with John Rosbottom and as he still needed a 400km event to complete a Super Randonneur series it didn't take too much persuasion to get him to join me.

An obvious choice for our ride was the Denmead 400km Permanent Audax. It had a convenient start point and other riders had recommended it as a nice route and an enjoyable ride.

For those unfamiliar with Audax, they are rides of set distances, with control points which must be passed through and the ride must be completed within minimum and maximum time limits.

Permanent events can be ridden at any time once a Brevet card has been purchased (for the princely some of ÂŁ3), as opposed to Calendar events which are run on preplanned dates with multiple entrants.

Hampshire Coast to Coast & Back - in a day The Denmead Permanent 400km At each control we needed a receipt as proof of passage. We also needed to eat. The controls being cafes and service stations somewhat simplified things, a cooked breakfast in the Friar Tuck Cafe was very tasty as well as providing us with energy and till receipts. Suitably fortified we headed off across Salisbury Plain, by now wearing our gilets to protect us from the light drizzle which most certainly hadn't been forecast.

We passed Porton Down, where signs warned us not to take photographs, and continued onto roads which were vaguely familiar from rides I'd done going in the opposite direction.

We reached Frome, our next control, around 2pm. We had covered 150km and according to my crib sheet we were comfortably within our time window.

Lunch was taken in Sainsburys restaurant. I followed my fish and chips with a slice of chocolate cake which I smothered in syrup from the bottle I found on the condiments tray. I knew the next section of ride was hilly & figured some additional calories wouldn't go amiss.

Heading across the Mendip Hills we spent much of the next few hours climbing, but we did so with a sense of excitement and anticipation knowing what was to come. I

Prior to the ride my bike was cleaned and given a thorough check over. I used my Audax kit list to decide what to wear and then whittled it down to what I could fit in and on my 9 litre Carradice saddlebag. I've determined that this bag has ample space for everything I need for 1-2 day ride so if my kit won't fit I've got too much.

John and I met in Denmead and after getting ATM receipts to prove our start time we headed off on familiar roads towards Amesbury and our first control point. Riding into a light headwind John suggested drafting one another would be worthwhile and showed me his preferred technique of leading for 2 km, or 5 minutes then moving right to let the rider behind come through and go in front.

I'm going to admit I was a bit slow on the uptake and more than once wondered why John was in the the middle of the road when we weren't turning right! John claims giving the lead rider responsibility to drop back is better than the rider second in line having responsibility to overtake the leader because the latter method can lead to the group going faster and faster until it explodes!

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Permanent think there are few experiences, cycling or otherwise, that can beat dropping down through Cheddar Gorge on a bike. The fast descent round sweeping bends, with towering prehistoric cliffs either side of you is simply breathtaking.

From Cheddar another hour's riding brought us to the coast. We'd reached the midpoint of our ride in 12 hours & were feeling comfortable as we sat down to supper in the Oxford Corner Cafe, an establishment which looked like it was stuck in a seventies time warp! The food and service was nevertheless excellent.

After eating we both put on extra clothing to guard against the dropping temperature, made sure our lights were fitted and took a look at John's front derailleur as he had been unable to change to his big ring for the last few miles. We found that the cable had become released from the securing screw so fortunately an easy fix, then we were on our way, now heading back towards home.

puzzling is how two of us both had problems with our front derailleur mechs on the same ride?

Crossing the Wiltshire Downs at 3am I spotted the lights of towns some distance to the South of us. While I knew where we had come from and were going to I found I wasn't able to locate myself in the overall geography of the landscape. While it didn't matter in navigational terms it left me feeling disconnected and another time I think I'll take a single sheet map with me along with my time and distance crib sheet so that I can work out where I am along the route. Not long after my “where are we?” episode we skirted Salisbury and headed along the Northern edge of the New Forest, enabling me to regain my bearings.

Our final official stop was at Ower Services where the cashier insisted our coffees were on the house, whether she was impressed with our endeavour or felt sorry for us I'm not sure. I suspect the latter.

Rather inevitably the headwind we had ridden into all day swung round to become a cross wind as we headed back across the Somerset levels. We also spent an unpleasant 30 minutes riding though swarms of insects that had decided to come out to play in the early evening.

With just 50km to go we were now on the home straight and headed North East through Romsey to Otterbourne where we picked up our outbound route. We stopped briefly at Waltham Chase where a friend had left some water and biscuits out for us so we sat on her drive eating chocolate hob nobs.

As the night got darker John added an extra layer of clothing and we both turned our lights on. I also turned on the backlight of my Garmin GPX which I was using as our principle source of navigation. One of the things I like about the Garmin Etrex is that it uses AA batteries and using eneloop rechargables I can run it for over 24 hours even with the backlight on, a feature none of the Garmin Edge range can match.

We arrived back in Denmead at 07:55 hrs on Sunday morning, 23hrs and 55mins after we had set off the previous day. I've complete some great rides over the last year but this remains my favourite, not just because it was the longest distance I've ever ridden, but also because it was such a great route with each section providing something different.

Before the ride I had been anxious about finding places to get food overnight & made sure I was carrying supplies. My worries turned out to be unfounded, the route cleverly includes two 24 hour service stations as controls. The first was at Podimore, just north of Yeovil, which allowed us to take on some more calories, fluids and caffeine before heading of into the night to tackle the Dorset hills following very dark minor lanes which seemed completely remote from civilisation.

When planning the ride John had said we should stay together and that we should make one another aware if we were struggling or had a problem. It was the night stage of the ride where this was most important. As it happens our average pace is fairly similar so we had no difficulty riding together.

Just after Wincanton it was my turn to have derailleur problems, with my attempts to move to the big ring producing very noisy results. Getting off my bike to take a look I realised my legs, which had been quite happy spinning the pedals, felt like they weren't underneath me. I sorted out the two problems with a flapjack and an allen key. If you're wondering how I fixed my gears with a flapjack you'll probably be equally puzzled by how I used an allen key on my legs. More www.aukweb.net

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Most of all though it is not a ride I would have considered doing on my own, so having John's company and experience was invaluable. He has suggested we ride some more Permanents together so I'm guessing he didn't find it too onerous to have me riding with him.

Was the ride as risky as had been suggested?

I think our planning and preparation were key to our safety and success. The biggest concern of course is tiredness and I've heard stories of people hallucinating and falling asleep on their bikes during long distance rides. John has lots of experience of long distance riding, he cat napped at some of the night stops but was otherwise okay.

Although I've never complete a 24hr ride before I've worked shifts and night duties since I was a teenager. I arrived back in Denmead on Sunday as wide awake as I had been the previous morning. If my wife hadn't been expecting me home I could have happily ridden down to Cosham to join the Sunday Club Ride :-) John says the euphoria after a long ride isn't unusual owing to the elation of succeeding in a challenge, and the endorphins released by prolonged exercise - it's one of the reasons many riders enjoy these long, challenging rides. What that translates to in layman's terms is that you feel great (usually) at the end of a long ride.

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Awards Audax UK Trophies & Major Awards 2016 Organisers’ Trophy Awarded by the Committee, from nominations by members, to the most meritorious organiser, or organising body.

JOHN PERRIN Helpers’ Trophy Awarded by the Committee, from nominations by members, to the helper(s) in an AUK event.

CALDERDALE CTC Norman Booth Cup Awarded by the Committee to the person considered to have served AUK best.

IAN HENNESSEY Paul Castle Cups Awarded by the Committee, from nominations by members, to the male and female cyclists whose cycling performance is considered to be the most meritorious.

Male: ANDY CURRAN Female: SARAH PERKINS Club Organisers’ Trophy For the club having the most points awarded in events they organise BLACKSHEEP CC CTC Organisers’ Trophy For the CTC club having the most points awarded in events they organise PEAK AUDAX CTC Jan and Mick Latimer Trophies An informal award for the rider(s) whose Mileater Diaries have the highest total distances ridden in the previous fuul calendar year.

Male: PETER BAKER 20,086 miles Female: JUDITH SWALLOW 19.008 miles David Lewis Trophy For the AUK individual recording the greatest distance in a 24-hour time trial.

CHRIS HOPKINSON 486.21 miles The Robert Milsom York Velocio Trophy For the team riding the furthest distance in the Easter Arrow to York.

VC 167 JUST SIMPLE 502 km Team members get personal trophies: BOB JOHNSON, STEVEN BRYCE, AIDAN HEDLEY York Arrow Shield For the team riding the furthest distance in the Summer Arrow to the York Rally.

NORTHERN ARROWHEADS 402 km Team members get personal trophies: LINDSAY CLAYTON, MICHAEL FISHER, IAN NEWELL, TANIA TUCKER 48

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York Dart Trophy For the team or individual riding the furthest distance in the Dart to the York Rally.

MIKE WIGLEY 257 km

Tandem Trophy For the tandem team gaining the most points in a season.

ASHLEY & CATHY BROWN

The Easter Trace Awarded to the team with the most starters SHEFFIELD CTC

BCF Trophy For the individual gaining the most points in a season aged under 18 on the last day of the season.

OLIVER ROBINSON (2 x ) 1995 PBP Trophies For both under 18 runners-up of the opposite sex LAURA COOK & KAYLEIGH ROBINSON

Randonneur 10,000 in the season ending in September 2016 Awarded to members riding 10,000 kilometres or more, in events 200 km or more, within a season.

JON BANKS, ASHLEY BROWN, CATHY BROWN, RAYMOND CHEUNG, LINDSAY CLAYTON, DEAN CLEMENTSON, DAVID COUPE, ANDY CURRAN, NIKOLAUS GARDINER, JONATHAN GREENWAY, MIKE LANE, MARTIN LUCAS, DAVID RANDERSON, IAN RYALL, JAMES SHAW, DAVID SMETHURST, SIMON TILL Randonneur 100,000 Awarded to those who, within any period of time, complete BR, BRM, ACP or RM events of a total distance of at least 100,000 kms, at randonneur standard.

RICHARD HARDING STEPHEN POULTON PAUL WHITEHEAD Brevet 25,000 claimed in 2016 Brevet 25000 requires a Paris-Brest-Paris or London-Edinburgh-London, another event of 1300 km or over, a 1000 km, a 24 hour team ride, three Super-Randonneur series, plus any BR or BRM events to a total of 25,000 km, all ridden within a 6 year period..

LINDSAY CLAYTON, ANDY CURRAN, JUSTIN JONES, MIKE LANE, ROB WOOD Ultra Randonneur 2016 For those who complete 10 Super Randonneur series in different years.

JAMIE ANDREWS, JULIAN BROWN, MATTHEW CHAMBERS, ROGER CORTIS, ANDY CURRAN, MARTIN FOLEY, NEIL FRASER, PETER MASTENKO, JOHN PERRIN, RAY ROBINSON, CHRIS WATTS Derek Shuttleworth Memorial Trophies Individual gaining the most points in a season on a fixed wheel cycle SHAUN HARGREAVES Runner-up of the opposite sex YVONNE KING Fliss Beard Trophy For the individual gaining the most points in a season on an upright tricycle (not recumbent) JAMES SHAW

Peter Tandy Trophy For the youngest person to complete a 200km Brevet AUK on a solo machine.

DANIEL HOLMES AGED 12 Challenge ACP 1987 Trophy For the individual gaining the most points in a season aged 55 or over on the first day of the season.

MIKE LANE Doncaster Trophy Centre Award For the Veterans runner-up who is of opposite sex.

YVONNE KING CTC Cup For the CTC club gaining the most points.

PEAK AUDAX CTC Team members get personal trophies: ASHLEY BROWN, CATHY BROWN, JOHN CLEMENS, SHAUN HARGREAVES, JOHN PERRIN, MIKE WIGLEY AUK Eagle For the club gaining the most points AUDAX CLUB BRISTOL Team members get personal trophies: ANDY CURRAN, ROB BAIRD, JON BANKS, OLIVER ILES, MIKE LANE, ADAM WATKINS

Challenge ACP Michel Bonnin For the individual gaining the most AAA points in a season SIMON ROBERTS MichelinTrophy For the runner-up who is of the opposite sex CATHY BROWN Jock Wadley Cup For the individual gaining the most countable points in a season.

MIKE LANE Jo Brunton Cup For the runner-up to the Jock Wadley Cup who is of the opposite sex to the winner.

CATHY BROWN

www.aukweb.net

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OCD

OCD - Ordre des Cols Durs This is a good time for a reminder about the Order des Cols Durs, the cycle-climbing club that merged with Audax UK, to complement the AAA points challenge. OCD rules allow you to claim the height (not the ascent) of each col or mountain pass you ride over, and each mountain top you reach with your bike, to build up a lifetime total.

Listing and claiming cols is a great way to be more conscious of your achievements, and to find new and interesting places to ride.

White Peak Grimpeur, August 2016 Photos: Francis Cooke

Although Audax UK is focused on rides with time limits, many members enjoy long-distance touring at a more leisurely pace, and the mountains are one of the best environments to cycle in. It can be hard to maintain Audax pace in the mountains, so challenges like the Raid Pyreneen and Raid Alpine, which goes over many classic Tour de France cols between Lac Geneva and Antibes, allow more time. As well as the Alps and Pyrenees, many members have claimed cols in North and South America, Asia, and pretty well all over the world. You can rack up quite a few in the UK too - Belach na Ba and Drumochter in Scotland, Snake Pass and others in the Peaks, never mind Devon.

A surprising number of AUK members - at least seven recently - have completed the Cingles challenge - the triple ascent of Mont Ventoux by the three different roads to the summit, in one day. This claim is worth 5736m - the actual ascent is around 4500m which is a long day. (See following page - Ed) This is a rare exception to the rule that you cannot claim a col or mountain twice in one day, the three roads are different.

For further information about OCD and the rules for cols, see: http://www.aukweb.net/ocd/

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Rod Dalitz

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On Tour For the last 25 years or so we have been meeting in January to agree on our destination for our August cycle trip. “We” is a small group whose composition has changed a little over the years but Doug and I have been there since the beginning in the early 1990s. Now we are Angus, Ben, Doug and Mariano. The main criteria for our meeting is to bring along a suitably researched route with a flight to and from Edinburgh. As we had cycled Doug’s route in 2015 and Mariano’s the year before I thought mine would be a shoe in for 2016.

My chosen route was fly Ryanair to Marseille with bikes in cardboard boxes, then cycle to the nearby train station, catch a train to L’Isle sur la Sorque and cycle to Bedoin; climb Mont Ventoux the following day and proceed north taking in, Bourg-d’Oisans, Alpe D’Heuz, Col de la Croix Fer, Col de la Madeline, Col des Aravis, La Clusas, Geneva and fly home.

However, Doug, who was having a significant birthday in 2016, decided he wanted to attempt to join Les Club Cingles du Mont-Ventoux.

To find out about the Club look at http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/en/ rules.html where the rules are laid out as follows.

The Club des Cinglés du Mont-Ventoux is a closed club. It is open to people who respect the following rules: • ascent by bicycle of the Mont-Ventoux from three main asphalted roads (Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault) at least; • the climb will be in the same day (between 0 and 24 hours) , in the sequence and the date you prefer.

Doug’s idea fitted well with my proposal, and although Angus and I thought it was a mad idea to climb Ventoux three times in one day, how could we deny Doug his birthday request. I was also enticed with the reminder that under the rules of OCD three ascents of Ventoux in a day are permitted and count towards your cumulative total. Later I rewrote the plan of the trip incorporating the attempt on the Cingles, with the route card for that day looking like this >>> >>> >>>

via Mont Ventoux

Memorial to Tom Simpson who died during the 1967 Tour de France

I had cycled 136k or more in a day a number of times but I had never climbed over 2500m in any single day. I must confess that the Cingles was on my mind just about every day from January to August when we were scheduled to make the attempt. Anticipating fatigue I researched rail possibilities between Ventoux and Le Bourg-d’Oisans. Cycle to Orange – train to Grenoble and cycle to Le Bourg seemed to be the way to do it.

Mariano filled in the forms and we each received a ride card on which it is necessary to obtain a tampon from each of, the summit (once only), Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault and to record the times of arrival at these places. Our hotelier in Malaucene told us that these stamps (tampons) were easy to obtain from cafés and shops and so it proved.

Doug booked the flights from Edinburgh to Marseilles for Monday 22nd August 2016 which arrived in France with plenty time for the 1615pm train followed by a 35k cycle to Malaucene. Mariano booked us into le Domaine des Tilleuls Hotel for two nights and Madame promised a substantial breakfast but not before 0730hrs, when the freshly baked bread arrives. Madame also booked us into a restaurant in town where we had an alcohol free dinner with expectations of champagne the following night!

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Tuesday 23rd August was warm, sunny and still which was fortunate as, in 2013, climbing Ventoux from Bedoin, the wind was dangerously strong. We will recall, also, the sight of Chris Froome running up Ventoux in 2016 Tour de France having broken his bike and unable to get a replacement in the chaos which resulted from the decision to finish at Le Chalet Reynard. It was deemed too windy to cycle the final 6K to the summit. In May 2016 I had taken 2H30 to climb from Malaucene and August’s time was similar.

Breakfast was a buffet; cereal, fruit, nuts, yoghurt, bread, croissant, bananas, boiled eggs, ham, cheese, coffee, tea, butter, jam.

Suitably fuelled up we set off at around 0815.

We settled into a familiar order: Mariano up front, me, Doug, then Angus. I only caught one glimpse of Mariano all day as I neared the top the second time and he descended.

Altitude

Malaucene Summit Bedoin Summit Sault Summit Malaucene

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I had ascended Mont Ventoux from Bedoin in 2013, Malaucene in 2011, and again in May 2016, when my wife and I were part of a group that cycled from Sea to Summit (La Manche to Ventoux). I used the climb in May to remind myself of what was involved and descended to Bedoin, rediscovering the café, toilets and water supply at Le Chalet Reynard then cycled over the col back to Malaucene which I reached, feeling fairly fresh, at lunch time so I felt that a second ascent would be quite feasible, but what about a third? The routes from Sault and Bedoin merge at Le Chalet Reynard so it becomes an important land mark appearing four times on the day.

Ben at the summit for the first time

Before the attempt one must complete a form and pay €20 to the organiser Christian Pic who declares on the web site, “The organizer shows that any cyclist, normally driven without excessive fatigue, could meet this challenge”. Monsieur Pic did the feat in 1988 aged 51 and has repeated it 10 more times, the last being October 2014; I will leave you to work out his age. At the time of writing there are 10,541 members of the club. Monsieur Pic translates the French name of the club into “Club or Brotherhood of the Mads of the Windy Mount”.

An OCD inspired trip from Marseilles to Geneva

340m 1912m 290m 1912m 700m 1912m 340m

Climb

Cumulative

1572m

1572m

1622m

3194m

1212m

4406m

Distance/Av Gradient

21k

/ 7.6% 21k 21k / 7.7% 26k 26k / 4.9% 21k

Cumulative

21k 42k 63k 89k 115k 136k www.aukweb.net

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On Tour

After a quick stop at Chalet Reynard for water I negotiated the busy, narrow road down to Bedoin which was full of cyclists, at times two or three abreast, climbing steadily. Care on the descent was required especially when a vehicle appeared and filled the road.

In Bedoin I selected a quiet café for a pot of tea, obtained my third tampon and searched around for bananas – but no luck there. I felt however, as it was only 1130, and I'd had a good breakfast, eating could wait until Chalet Reynard. A couple of kilometres out of Bedoin, where the road is still only 4 or 5% Doug went whizzing down and we exchanged a quick cheery wave. Having just descended, I knew what to expect and sure enough the road kicks up and becomes steeper after the first hairpin at 500m at what is probably the last habitation. When I was thinking about the attempt I felt that the second climb would be the hardest – and it was. Although in the shade a good deal of the way, it is fairly steep with a five kilometre section where the average gradient is above 9%, followed by four kilometres to Chalet Reynard at between 7% and 9%. These are averages and there are little ramps where these averages are exceeded.

I reached Chalet Reynard at 1315 and reckoned it was time to join the throng and have lunch. But how much should I eat and how long could I afford to stay there before I began to seize up? I settled for a plate of Spaghetti Bolognaise and copious quantities of bread and water and then it was off again into the hot afternoon sun on the least protected part of the climb. The six kilometres from the café to the summit took an hour and the road was much quieter.

I reached the top at 1500 not long after I had seen Mariano descend for the second time – he had said he was going to make the climb from Bedoin his third of the day which was to be unfortunate. I rested well at the top, had a can of Appleaid and ate the last of my biscuits and wondered why there was no one selling bananas at the top?

Now for the mental game, only 20K down hill to my hotel, a beer and a warm shower in Malaucene, but that would be failure so it was off, with no more hesitation, to Sault which I reached at 1600hrs. Again filled up the bidon at Chalet Reynard, before a lovely 20K descent to Sault on a quiet road through trees and then fields. I had an exquisite Café au Lait Grand in the aptly named Bar Le Progres in the centre of the village, obtained my fourth and final tampon, filled my bidon again and bought a large custard cream tart in the Boulangerie across the street which provided the energy for my final reascent.

The road was very quiet now, very few vehicles and some of the cyclists were going so slowly I was able to overtake them. The reason for choosing Sault as the final attempt was because it is the easiest of the three, with the 20k to Chalet Reynard at an average of only 3.7%. Much of the time I was not even in my grannie gear (23 rear, 20 front). I was surprised I had not seen Doug again as, although he was suffering a little the day before, on the cycle from the train, the Cingles was his idea and he did look happy when I saw him near Bedoin. I thought that I may have missed him in Sault or perhaps when I stopped in the bushes on the way up. However pondering his whereabouts gave me something to think about.

I stopped again about 1830 at a now deserted Chalet Reynard for water and just as I was going to set off again Angus appeared – I had not seen him since breakfast – he was on the descent to Sault and told me that he had met Mariano in Bedoin not feeling well but had not seen Doug all day.

Angus did not think he would be back in time for dinner and said it would be fine to eat without him so we wished each other well and set off in opposite directions to Ben on the second climb

complete the task in hand. I reached the top for the third and final time at 1925 after paying my respects at the memorial to Tom Simpson who died during the 1967 Tour de France near the summit.

On this section I had a chat with an English guy who was also doing the Cingles with his mate and when I arrived at the top they both congratulated me; one went off and bought me a drink from the shop, which I felt was a lovely gesture.

Late in the day on the summit

At the top I ate the banana I had saved from breakfast and some of the Nature Valley Crunchy biscuits I had brought from Scotland. I also went to the wee shop on the summit to collect my tampon on the ride card. Two stamps with only two more to get and it was still mid-morning – things were going well! I had noticed in May that my knees were cold on the way down so this time I donned leg warmers as well as sleeves for the descent. Overdressed perhaps but it is best to keep the muscles warm, I believe.

Despite being tired the euphoria meant I was still able to descend the 21k to Malaucene safely. I really enjoyed the descent, wearing all my spare clothes, on the quiet road with only a few cyclists still ascending.

I reached the hotel at 2014 so just managed to get under the 12 hour mark to discover that neither Mariano nor Doug had made it and both had cycled back to Malaucene from Bedoin, Doug complaining of breathing difficulties and Mariano with an upset tummy. Angus finally arrived back at about 2330 having missed dinner but none the less very pleased with himself to have finished inside the mid-night time limit.

Next day at breakfast we decided on the train to Grenoble. However we had all perked up by the time we reached Le Bourg-d’Oisans and went on to climb a few more cols to add to the OCD tally.

Col Col de Poutran Col de Sarenne Col du Glandon Col de la Croix Fer Col de la Madeleine Col des Saises Col des Aravis

Climb 1996m 1999m 1924m 2067m 1993m 1650m 1486m

In all over 13,000 m of claim, but I found the subsequent climbs very testing – tired legs.

Benedict Bate PS On our return Angus and I registered as graduates of the Club des Cingles du MontVentoux; it took a while for the web site to be updated – Christian Pic had only gone and done it on 3rd October, for the twelfth time! www.aukweb.net

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RM Randonneur Mondiaux Events 2017 Date DEC 24 JAN 12 26 FEB 9 10 11 25 MAR 11 12 APR 14 MAY 4 31 JUN 3 11 23 24 JUL 5 7 12 12 22 26 27 28 29 30 AUG 2 5 6 9 12 12 13 18 21 24 28 31 SEPT 6 11 13 16 21 23 OCT 1 6 12 NOV 19 NOV 19

2017 LRM ref 2016.48 2017.01 2017.02 2017.03 2017.04 2017.05 2017.06 2017.07 2017.08 2017.09 2017.10 2017.11 2017.12 2017.13 2017.14 2017.15 2017.16 2017.17 2017.18 2017.19 2017.20 2017.21 2017.22 2017.23 2017.24 2017.25 2017.26 2017.27 2017.28 2017.29 2017.30 2017.31 2017.32 2017.33 2017.34 2017.35 2017.36 2017.37 2017.38 2017.39 2017.40 2017.41 2017.42 2017.43 2017.44 2017.45 2017.46 2017.47 2017.47

Country Thailand India India India India India India Australia New Zealand Australia USA Norway S Korea Greece Bulgaria Italy USA Russia Russia Belgium Australia Australia Russia Italy Australia U. K. Australia Australia Slovinia Australia India Kazahkstan Russia Denmark Spain Canada Australia Ukraine USA Germany China Australia Portugal India Uzbekistan USA India Australia Australia

From the RM President

Name Bankok Phrae Bangkok Baroda 1200 Noida 1200 Jaipur 1200 Punjab 1200 Mumbai 120 Delhi 1200 South Gippsland Tiki Tour Wangaratta Wahine Carolina Spring 1200k

1400 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 KoRa 1200 1200 Giro Central Greece 1400 S-V-S 1200 999 miles Italy 1613 Gold Rush RandonnĂŠe 1200 Novocibirsk 1200 1200 HCH 1200 Trans Oz #1 4000 Trans Oz #2 4000 1200 PRP 1300 Trans Oz #3 4000 LEL 1400 Trans Oz #4 4000 Trans Oz #5 4000 6 Prestolnic / 6 Kultur 1200 Trans Oz #6 4000 Bangalore 1200 1200 Heart of Kazakhstan 1200 Trans - Oural 1200 Super Brevet Scandinavia 1200 Toledo 1200 1200 Granite Anvil 1200 Rime Ride 1200 Odessa 1200 1200 Colorado Last Chance 1200 Paris - Hamburg 1200 1200 Mallee Routes 1200 Portugal Alem Tejo 1200 1200 Madras 1200 1200 Silk Route 1200 Taste Carolina 1200k 1200 Indore 1200 1200 Sydney-Melbourne Alpine 1200 Sydney-Melbourne Alpine 1200

Ride Organiser

Email address

Wit Pimkanchanapong Raghvendrasinh Jhala Deepender Sehajpal Sorabh Gupta Abhishek Kashyap Anil Uchil Asitava Boss Kevin Ware Craig McGregor Sarah Chaplin Tony GOODNIGHT Bjorn Olav Sviund SangwonSeo Nick Konstantopoulos Lazar Vladlslavov Ballarini Valter Dan SHADOAN Igor Berezenkov Konstantin Arhiptsov Jan Geerts Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson Valery Komotchkov Ovelli Giuseppe Andrew Johnson Danial Webb Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson Andrej Zaman Andrew Johnson Harish Venkatachalam Asset Kussainov Dmitry Kozitsin Brigit Henriksen Jose Maria Benayas Sanchez Stephen Jones Wayde Hazelton Vladystav Malyshev John Lee ELLIS H. Striedleck/C Czycholl Qiand Lu Simon Watt Pedro Alves Partha Datta Rakhat Sulemin Tony GOODNIGHT Tarun Mahajan Peter Guppy Peter Guppy

witpim@mac.com> rjjhala@gmail.com deependers@gmail.com audace.sourabh@gmail.com kaprolls@gmail.com aniluchil@gmail.com asitava.boss@gmail.com warek2@dodo.com.au craig@mcgregor.gen.nz schaplin@outlook.com http://www.bicycleforlife.org/contact-rusa.php bjorno.sviund@losmail.no jdl96@naver.com info@brevets.gr lasar.v@gmail.com valter.ballarini@gmail.com dj@shadoan.org igobirch@gmail.com arhiptsov-k@yandex.ru jangeerts2200@hotmail.com info@transoz.bike info@transoz.bike vkvvk@mail.ru giuov@libero.it info@transoz.bike danial@londonedinburghlondon.com info@transoz.bike info@transoz.bike andrejzaman@gmail.com info@transoz.bike contactharishv@gmail.com asetius@mail.ru, chelmarathon@mail.ru sbs@superbrevetscandinavia.dk jmbenayas@yahoo.es vp-toronto@randonneursontario.ca wayde@aussievelo.info vlad_malyshev@ukr.net jellisx7@gmail.com claus.cz@on-line.de lq@wekulsports.com simon.watt@swpl.com randonneurs@randonneursportugal.pt datta.parth@gmail.com rafhat66@gmail.com http://www.bicycleforlife.org/contact-rusa.php tarunmahajanca@gmail.com sm1200@audax.org.au sm1200@audax.org.au

There are now 66 reps. worldwide.

We created a new website earlier this year and are in the process of adding an archive of all LRM homologations to show a complete record since our inception. I have no record of the 2003 results. 2002 ends with homologation No1649 and 2004 begins with No1650. 2007 is also incomplete having details of only one homologation for the whole year! If anyone has a copy of the records for these years please let me know. For 2016 we have 1232 homologations so far with a few more events still to add. It took from July 1989, the date of the first LRM event until August 2001 to achieve the same sort of number!

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LRM reulations are non-existant for extreme Randonneur distances and I have been using the time limits we introduced in Audax United Kingdom: Minimum speeds 1200km - 1299km 13 1/3 kph 1300km - 1800km 12kph 1900km - 2400kph 10kph 2400km upwards 200km per day Changes to regulations based on these minimum speeds will be brought to the next General Assembly.

Keith Benton www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:46

Arrows Unravelling the Mysteries of Arrows, Darts and even Easter Trails Having taken over the Summer arrows and Darts in 2015 and then the Easter arrows in 2016, it is apparent that there does seem to be more than the usual amount of confusion about how these events run or even as to what they are. If the questions I’ve been getting asked regularly are anything to go by then there are probably even more people out there not asking and with totally baffled looks about the subject.

I am hoping this article can make things seem a lot simpler and even encourage a few more to try their hand this year especially with the Summer arrows which are much like the Easter arrows but without the snow and ice and hopefully with fitter legs by June.

The Easter and summer arrows to York are a long held tradition of Audax UK and are basically a team event in which you ride together from an agreed start point over a pre verified route distance via control points to finish at the end of 24hrs either in York or on your way there or, having ridden straight through, out the other side. The team needs to consist of no fewer than three riders and no more than five machines (tandems count as one machine). At least three of the team must arrive in to York together for the ride to be validated/ successful.

The aim is to ride staying together as a team, covering the longest distance you are able during 24 hours. Each team nominates a captain who will handle all the admin for the ride submitting your proposed route for verification with a list of control points (remember you will be out for 24hrs so choose controls that will be open at the time you intend to pass through), a team registration form (available from the event page of the website) and entry forms for each rider in the team, plus SAE’s to cover the brevet cards being sent out to the captain and returned after validation(please bear in mind these need a large stamp to cover postage) Each team designs their own route. Distances credited will be from the shortest distance between controls. Currently the agreed method for verifying distance is using Google maps set on ‘Walking’.

Multiple teams may not ride together. Teams leaving from the same start point/covering the same route must leave at different times.

The Easter arrows are validated by Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and as such count for their awards as well as Audax UK’s own. The summer arrows are validated by Audax UK so do not count for ACP’s awards but do count for all of Audax UK’s such as brevet 5,000/25,000/SR etc.

For Easter and summer arrows events, an arrow patch for successful riders is included in the entry fee.

The Summer darts run in a very similar way but are generally a solo ride or can be an informal group and have a 14 hour time limit with a minimum distance to be covered of 200km (15kph) and a maximum 420km (30kph) Dinner darts run at a lower maximum speed to encourage a more sociable ride and so have a maximum distance of 280km (20kph) allowed to be covered in the 14hrs A full set of the rules covering arrows and darts is available from the Audax UK calendar page left hand side menu.

Entries need to be in no later than two weeks before the event so that routes can be verified and brevet cards sent out for each team. In reality the earlier everything is sorted out the better to enable you and your team to make good preparations for the ride and ask questions about anything you are unsure of.

At the finish of your arrow you need to collect a final 24hr receipt and have in place arrangements for returning home depending how far away that is, so the tendency is to finish at York railway station or nearby, though this is not essential. The Summer arrows/darts traditionally finish in to the York rally which runs on the same weekend but again this is optional.

The Easter Trail is Audax UK’s Trace Nationale which is run according to the rules set by Audax Club Parisien and are run by Martin Foley.

This is a team event for teams of between 2 and 6 riders. Teams plan their own route to finish at the meeting point (currently York) with a distance between 201 and 360km and, unlike the Arrow, teams must www.aukweb.net

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reach York. Teams must arrive at the meeting point between 8am and 11am on Saturday morning and at least 2 riders need to reach the finish for the ride to be validated. The start time is entirely flexible and can be any time of choosing after 6am on Good Friday. Uniquely, this event has a mandatory overnight stop of 8 hours which most teams use to get a night’s sleep in a Travelodge or similar. If you’re thinking of planning a route remember to factor in the overnight stop as your ride won’t be validated unless you stop for 8 hours.

The Easter Trail is all about participation whereas the Easter Arrow is often regarded as more competitive. There’s no prize for the Easter Trail team doing the highest mileage, instead there’s an annual trophy awarded to the club with the highest number of starters. All finishers will have their ride homologated by Audax Club Parisien and also receive a diploma. The Easter Trail is an ideal introduction to both team and multi-day riding as the speed and time constraints are more relaxed and with a bit of planning you can get a good sleep in a comfy bed midway through.

The Dinner and After Dinner Darts also run by Martin Foley are 200km BR calendar events that enables riders to ride from/to the point of their choosing on the Audax UK Annual Reunion weekend.

This is an ideal opportunity for those who cycle to the Reunion rather than driving or taking public transport. The finish for the Dinner Dart is the Reunion venue whereas the After-Dinner Dart starts at the Reunion venue. Otherwise you are free to plan your route and select whichever controls you like so that the total distance adds up to at least 200km. The maximum distance you can ride is 280km and the time limit is 14 hours, irrespective of the distance of your planned route. If you don’t live within cycling range of the Reunion venue you can always get the train part of the way there and then plan your route to cycle the rest. If you are unsure of the best roads for cycling on the way to the Reunion people will likely help with suggestions and often even share the routes they have already planned.

I’m sure more than likely I will have missed some points but as always if you are unsure of anything please ask but meantime, give it a go and a great adventure awaits ...

Lucy McTaggart

Ancient dinner dart cloth badge.

Image: Sheila Simpson

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DIY by GPS

Off-Peak Return Peter Bond High Peak Junction

The title for this ride is a cunning (I think) reference to railway ticket types, the fact that each section is done there and back and that the route follows old railway trackbeds in the Peak District. Having explored it on my own last summer, I thought it would be nice to ride it with my friend John Perrin, who introduced me to cycling in the area. Indeed, it was John who, after tweaking the route slightly so that the distance met the criterion, sorted out our entries. Starting in Wye Dale, near Buxton, we would cover the Monsal, High Peak, Tissington and Manifold trails, twice, with short sections of road to connect them. If things went to plan, about 170k would be free of motorised traffic.

stretch of deserted platform here, a station turned into a café there and the tunnels named on the entrance arches in Midland maroon. The Buxton to Bakewell section must be one of the most scenic routes in Britain, with views of limestone tors above and mysterious wooded dales below. Here and there the rock darkens, rusty with algae.

early and we had a couple of stops on the return leg. I can still deal with punctures but my arthritic hands get sore just at the thought of them, so it was with envy and admiration that I watched John change first a tube and secondly a tube and tyre in the time it takes me to get the zip undone on my pannier. A craftsman at work (below).

We passed “through” Bakewell station and continued down the slope to the road in order to make the ride long enough for accreditation purposes. We avoided grinding or pushing back up by taking the longer way round on the road to approach the station again from the front. John had decided to get the punctures out of the way

Hoping that would be it for the day, we rolled out onto the fast A6 for a mile before John pulled in to the left and indicated a path up the hillside. He is always doing this. The route I had intended, and which I used on my ride the previous summer, continued along the main road a little way before climbing the, admittedly steep and twisty, lane up

The day didn't start too auspiciously for me because I got lost on my way to Buxton and arrived a little late. Also, in spite (or because of ) the forecast, it was raining. But it's always good to see and ride with John, so we put on our rain jackets and got on with it: a couple of vintage chaps on our vintage bikes, I on my Harry Hall and John on his Mercian. The first few kilometres along the River Wye are newly surfaced but also open to light traffic to the hamlet at Blackwell Mill. At the cycle hire centre we dismounted and pushed the bikes the few yards up to the Monsal Trail.

On a quiet weekday morning it might have been hard to imagine that we were travelling with the ghosts of snorting express engines over the viaducts and through the sepulchral tunnels of the old Midland railway route between London and Manchester. But there are enough relics to fire the imagination: a 54

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DIY by GPS Cowdale to King Sterndale on the moor above. John had a memory that his alternative would be quicker.

Apparently, it is a path the folk of King Sterndale used to get to the bus stop on the A6. I'm guessing at least some didn't return: a couple of market day pints in Buxton and you would never make it back up this track.

It's stony, rutted, covered in slippery leafmould – and very evocative. I want it to be true that people slithered down this way to get to the rattling old bus at the bottom and then staggered and sang their merry and occasionally unsuccessful way back home. I just don't particularly want to join them.

The road less-travelled

We paused briefly to look down onto the single track line, which carries the stone traffic from the quarries at Peak Dale. John talked of seeing old rolling stock parked there and I imagined inebriated bus passengers sleeping it off in the trucks before having another go at the slope.

When we came out at the top, I was surprised at how flat it was. I was trying to understand why there was any habitation there at all. But a look at the map reveals that this is aristocratic country. King Sterndale has a hall and ornamental park and there is good grazing all around.

A little behind the clock, we mounted up and pressed on across the plateau to meet the Ashbourne to Buxton road which, old Roman that it is, took us straight as a javelin to Brierlow Bar, where we turned right and started the long climb past the cement works towards Earl Sterndale. Tantalisingly, we passed under the route of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway, although the www.aukweb.net

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cycleable section isn't reached until beyond Earl Sterndale.

Climbing up above the village, I looked over to the west to see the gothic shapes of Parkhouse and Chrome Hills. Earlier in the year, they had been splendid in the summer sun. Now they were somewhat shrouded but at least the rain had finally stopped. To save a little time, we stayed on the road, turning left at the beautifully symmetrical High Wheeldon to pass the Royal Oak and join the High Peak Trail at Sparklow.

We were joining one of the oldest steamhauled railways in the world. The High Peak Trail follows the track of the Cromford and High Peak Railway.

Originally projected as a canal, it was constructed to connect the canal systems on the west of the Pennines with those on the east, by joining the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge to the Cromford Canal at Highpeak Junction. This would enable the shipping of goods of all kinds across the hills and as far as London, Liverpool, Leeds and Lancaster. It would also allow vast quantities of stone to be transported to build the world's roads and buildings. The cobbled streets of towns all over the north of England originated here.

The rain had made the track a bit clingy but we made steady progress past the landmarks that, by now, are well known to both of us. The Parsley Hay Visitor Centre is on the site of a former station on the Ashbourne to Buxton line, which shared the route north from this point. I noticed a curious small boulder on the grass verge and realised that it was a sleeper from the original railway.

Beyond the “station” we took the left hand branch to stay on the HPT. The line may be defunct, but there is still plenty of industrial activity along its route, which is good to see.

Near Gotham, the line goes very sharp left and it comes as no surprise to learn that this curve was the tightest on the British Rail network. The right turn just beyond the settlement can't be far behind. Not long after, we rode across the magnificent stone embankment, looking as impregnable now as it must have done when it was built, over two hundred years ago.

Past the abandoned quarry at Minninglow, with its rusting crane, on through Longcliffe, we came to Harboro Rocks which has a curious juxtaposition of the natural grey rock formation pushing at the sky with the equally

grey remains of an industrial installation in the foreground. Almost immediately after, we came to another railway record, the Hopton Incline. At 1 in 14, it was the steepest to be worked by a locomotive relying solely on its own adhesion to the rails. It must have been some sight to see the squat tank engines bellowing their way up the climb.

The slope is quite gravelly but we were able to coast down at good speed and were soon at the visitor centre at Middleton Top. There were several “inclined planes” or slopes on the original railway and stationary steam engines were used to haul the wagons up on a continuous rope, with others going down the parallel track as counterweight. One such engine is preserved in its engine house at Middleton Top. Further along, almost at the end of the line, only the engine house itself remains at the top of the infamous Sheep Pasture incline. In one notorious incident, loaded wagons, out of control, gained so much speed that they shot off the end of the line, leapt the canal and the mainline railway and were smashed to smithereens in a field on the opposite bank. After that, catch-pits were put in to arrest runaways.

Descending Sheep Pasture incline was a bit of a brake-squealer. The surface is rough and covered in leaves and there are regular obstructions in the form of stone ridges, presumably to prevent erosion. So, naturally, it being a cycle route, we ride round the edges and erode that bit instead. We made it down without the need of a catch-pit and got coffees at the kiosk at the old workshops, which have been turned into a visitor centre.

I was delighted to see a blazing coal-fire in the kiosk, like those that can still be seen in the waiting rooms of preserved lines like the East Lancashire and the Keighley & Worth Valley. We were about 70 kilometres into the ride, a little damp around the edges and ready for a break. Sitting outside, between the workshops and the stagnant, silent canal, it was a struggle to conjure up the busy industrial bustle of stone wagons, locomotives and canal boats. Even the moorhens are tame and fight their corner with the mallards over tit-bits.

Knowing that we couldn't afford to stop for long, we forced ourselves away and rode past the huge brake vans beside the track to climb back up the Sheep Pasture Incline, which is 1 in 8. It was a long job but the view from the top, out over Cromford and west to the huge quarry, was spectacular. There was also the building that housed the winding engine to inspect, though it no longer contains any machinery. I still find it hard to visualize that this whole operation was still running when I left school. Mind you, so were the pits and steelworks of my native North East, and I can conjure them up all right.

Reaching Parsley Hay for the second time, we took the fork onto the Tissington Trail to head south again. We were now on the trackbed of the Ashbourne to Buxton line and could imagine the powerful locomotives Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

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DIY by GPS which hauled the passenger trains up and down. They must have made a fine show in the deep cutting just after the junction.

Signs of hurrying autumn rushed up at us as we made good progress on the slight downhill gradient towards Ashbourne: the flaming scarlet willowherb leaves of a couple of weeks ago were now smokey, dull embers.By the time we reached the end of the trail and had turned off onto the road to Mapleton, we, too, were dull smokey embers, and I was wondering if we could make it to the excellent café at Wetton Mill before they closed; if they shut at 4pm it was unlikely, but 5pm might just be possible. The hilly ride through Blore to Waterhouses emphasised this speculation.

Waterhouses was the southern terminus of our next phantom line, the Leek and Manifold Light Railway. Now converted to the Manifold Trail, it was born in 1904 and died young in 1934. It owed its birth largely to the trade from the Ecton Creamery and when that closed its fate was sealed. It was a narrow gauge line and the path is indeed narrow in places. However, it does broaden out here and there to give magnificent views of the ravine-like limestone scenery, with several caves and the characteristic dry riverbeds of the Hamps and the Manifold.

These are full of the huge leaves of the butterbur plant. It's like nowhere else I know.

I was musing on all this when John opined that we might just make it to the café in time and indeed we did. This place, which I think may have been part of the station when the railway was running, had proved a real boon during a cold wet ride John and I had done in January and it didn't fail today. Hot cheese pasties (thank you, Wrights of Crewe) and a cup of tea were just the ticket and we set off re-envigorated for the terminus at Hulme End. There are still some railway buildings here and the original train shed has been re-

built in the style of its father before it and houses a restaurant. On the approach I saw a barn owl glide across the track in the still daylight and wondered if it was the one I had seen in the same place on another occasion.

Our average speed was hovering around the required level but it wouldn't have taken much, another puncture, say, to push it below par. But, as we reached the main road, John had a plan to improve our rate by taking the road almost to Ashbourne and then reaching the Tissington Trail by crossing the Okeover estate. Sure enough, by the time we turned into the estate, we were ahead of the target. It is fascinating and educational riding with someone who knows an area as well as John knows his. Even when staggering in the ghost-steps of drunken bus passengers there is a sense of following arcane and secret ways.

It doesn't get much more ancient than Okeover estate which has been in the same family since the time of William Rufus. The first thing that struck me after the rollercoaster we had just ridden was how flat it is.

Sheep were milling about across the road and everything just looked fat and prosperous. The pearlescent light enclosed us in a scene that could have been over a thousand years old, except for the strip of tarmac we rode on. I was thinking about the problem of how you preserve magical and peaceful milieus such as this when the revolution comes and consoled myself with the thought that the revolution was so far off that it's unlikely to be my problem.

By now we had our lamps on and faced three hours of night-riding to meet our target. I love riding in the dark but it does strange things to my perception. I'm not sure if the beam put out by my dynamo lamp has anything to do with it but, visually, the Tissington Trail appeared to be quite markedly uphill. It is, of course, uphill but

only very gradually. And yet, it didn't feel as if I was riding uphill at all. A bit of a mystery.

There's always a little anxiety about running over the night-creatures and I did see a mouse or shrew that ventured out but instantly thought better of it. There were several rabbits and a tawny owl and I heard the eldritch screech of another barn owl.

We were set back a little by waiting for a woman to collect one of her many dogs, which had run off at our approach, otherwise we'd just have pushed it like a sheep all the way up the trail to Buxton. But when we reached Parsley Hay, we had time for a sitdown and a couple of sandwiches, confident in the knowledge that we were going to make it. Buoyed up by this we made light work of the climb out of Earl Sterndale and enjoyed a cautious descent of Cowdale before the last mile along the A6.

As it turned out, we had almost an hour to spare and I very carefully made sure I had recorded the ride and tucked the computer in my pannier. We relaxed in John's camper van with cups of tea and the superb cake, which makes his organised rides so famous. I had completed my first “official” Audax for nearly two years, after having had my arm broken in 2015.

I'd had a wonderful infusion of the pastoral and industrial, which I love so much. And the company couldn't have been better. The only glitch was that, according to my fuel gauge, I didn't have enough petrol to get home. After a futile search on John's exploder-phone, I decided I would follow him back to Macclesfield, where we knew there was a 24hour petrol station. So, I tried to ring home, to find that neither my nor John's phone could get through.

But I made it to the petrol station and filled up, even though the fuel gauge when I arrived was showing more than when I had set off, so I could probably have got home fine straight from Wye Dale. Anyway, it was a very tired but contented rider who got home after midnight, stuck the bike in the shed and, after a cursory wash, climbed into bed.

In the morning, after an unsurprisingly solid sleep, I started to sort out my pannier.

Look how I might and as often as I might, there was no computer.

I rang John's house, because I'd stopped there briefly on the way home – no computer. I checked my car and the surrounding area – no computer Somehow, it must have fallen out, probably in the car-park at Wye Dale.

So, no computer, no validation. It really was “just a bike ride”!

True Grit!

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Official

Just a Sec

Wanted IT Director

January, January… …when the year is new

The AUK Board and members have approved a major investment in the IT infrastructure and are looking for an IT Director to lead this project.

This is supposed to be the close season for audax but I’m not sure we have one of those anymore. There are numerous calendar rides appearing in the winter months, including our own Winter Brevet Series here in Essex, and the increase in DIY rides continues apace.

To work with the team of volunteers who manage the current system along with a group of IT professionals working on the specification for the new system and identifying potential suppliers. An honorarium is available.

Contact: Chris Crossland 01422 832853 chair@audax.uk or Paul Salmons fd@audax.uk or by using the form in the contact page at http://www.aukweb.net/contactus/

Last year marked our 40th anniversary year and it featured record numbers of completed SRs for a non-PBP year. Allan Taylor, therefore, did a fantastic job dealing with posting out larger than anticipated numbers of 40@40 medals and special 40th anniversary SR medals.

AGM

At the time of writing, the deadlines had just passed for the submission and amendment of resolutions for our AGM and for the nomination of directors for election at our AGM in February.

Unfortunately, we were unable to fill the new role of IT Director in time for election at the AGM so you will see there is an advert for the position in this issue. The draft resolutions were available on our forum for comment and debate and have been duly amended as appropriate. I hope you will take the opportunity either to attend the meeting or at least to participate in the online voting process.

Wanted Editorial team members

A full report of the meeting itself will follow in the next issue.

We are looking for editors to join our team. Knowledge of the Adobe Suite would be useful but not essential.

More important is experience in the capacity of copy editing. As the launch of our new web site draws near we need engaged and interested people who can adapt submitted copy to a variety of communications platforms. There is an associated honorarium.

Reunion

Further information: Ged Lennox – gedlennox@me.com

I was not able to attend the Reunion but the feedback from those who did make it has been universally positive. The weekend included an open session with members of the board. It was generally felt that having the opportunity to discuss and debate matters without the formality of an AGM was beneficial and I hope that this will be a feature in future Reunions.

Paul Rainbow and Mark Gibson put a lot of hard work into organising the Reunion. Similarly, Mike Lane, did likewise in arranging the purchase and organisation of a huge number of trophies and awards (mind you as our overall points champion once again, Mike has some experience when it comes to trophies and awards !). Each of them deserves a huge thank you for all their efforts.

Board meeting

I attended our latest board meeting on the 11th of January. As ever, you will be able to find the minutes and papers for that meeting in the Official section of Aukweb in due course. During the meeting we finalised the annual reports and accounts that will be sent out with the AGM emails. One striking thing when you look at these papers is the growth of AUK in terms of members and kilometres ridden. It is entirely possible that we will have more than 8000 members by the end of the year.

It was Chris Boulton’s last board meeting as a non-executive director.

Chris was one of the first non-execs of AUK and his contribution and insight will be missed.

Richard Ellis

In my first column as General Secretary, I had the sad task of reporting the death of Richard Ellis during an event earlier this year. I mentioned at the time that it was the subject of criminal proceedings. Those proceedings have now concluded with the conviction and imprisonment of the driver responsible. Our heartfelt condolences go once again to Richard’s family at this time.

Part of my remit is to review the incident reports that are generated by event organisers. Taking these together and setting them against the numbers of events, riders and kilometres ridden, it is clear that our sport is not inherently risky but, as what the law terms “vulnerable road users,” we are all conscious of the potential consequences that can arise from the negligence or bad behaviour of other road users and tragedies like the death of Richard Ellis really strike home. In this respect I would draw your attention to Cycling UK’s Road Justice Campaign (www.roadjustice.org.uk/).

Graeme Provan

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Retirement

Sheila Simpson's first ARRIVEE as Editor was Issue 12, the New Year 1986 issue. Thirty -one years later she has produced the magazine you now hold, Issue 135, Winter 2017. She hasn't produced all the copies since - other people have done the job, with her encouragement - but it's Sheila who has done most, and has piloted this magazine through various phases of its development.

From an A5 duplicated club magazine to a computer produced and bulging handbook style tome with black and white photographs, on to a full and proper magazine sized production, and to full colour printing. There we have the modern ARRIVEE. Many of us would be more than happy to have such an achievement to our name, but as a lot of members will know, this is not Sheila's only Audax achievement.

As a rider she has been prolific with multiple randonneur achievements, most notably seven Paris-Brest-Paris finishes, twentynine Super Randonneur series, was a founding Brevet 25,000 rider, and lots more besides.

Would this be more than enough for many of us? Quite possibly, but Sheila did not stop there. In the early years of AUK when disagreements threatened a ruinous split between the AUK Secretary /ACP representative and a large portion of the membership, she was instrumental in gaining approval from Audax Club Parisien that enabled BRM events to continue in the UK. As a committee member and later Board member she has been in the forefront of all of AUK's development.

When she stepped down from the Board a couple of years or so ago, we gave her an accolade she richly deserved. We elected her President d'Honneur - there didn't seem to be anybody else comparable.

She tells me that she wants to spend more time on cycling holidays in warm weather and is stepping down from the editorship of ARRIVEE to be able to do that. I'm grateful for all her efforts and wish her well. I hope that the warm cycling holidays can continue for many years to come and it will be good to maybe read in ARRIVEE about them.

Chris Crossland AUK Chair, on behalf of the AUK Board Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

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Calendar Audax UK Calendar of Events 2017 Abbreviation Meaning YH Youth Hostel at or near start.

X 'shoestring' event, few or no facilities or AUK controllers.

A(1) Free/reasonably priced accommodation, (one night).

BD Bag drop facilities en route C Camping at or near the start.

DIY DIY event, no routesheet or gpx track provided F Some free food &/or drink provided on the ride.

G GPS files available from organiser.

L Secur(ish) left luggage facilities at start.

M Mudguards required.

NM Mudguards not required.

P Free or reasonably priced motor parking at start.

R Free or reasonably priced refreshments at start &/or finish.

T Toilets at start.

S Showers Z Sleeping facilities enroute (175) Entries close at 175 riders.

(14/4) E ntries close on 14th April. also on Alternative start dates This Calendar should be complete and accurate up to mid-May, after which it should be regarded as advisory. Whilst it then continues to be useful all year, particularly for those riders who have to book their free time well in advance, you should also check the on-line calendar: http://www.aukweb.net/events/

or contact the organiser.

Dartmoor Devil

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100 14 Jan 09:30 Sat 54 14 Jan 10:00 Sat

200 21 Jan 07:00 Sat

200 21 Jan 08:00 Sat

100 21 Jan 10:00 Sat Updated

200 22 Jan 08:00 Sun 150 22 Jan 08:30 Sun

100 28 Jan 09:00 Sat

100 28 Jan 09:00 Sat

150 29 Jan 08:00 Sun

100 29 Jan 09:00 Sun

ROA 5000 200 04 Feb 08:00 Sat

ROA 10000 100 04 Feb 10:00 Sat

100 11 Feb 09:00 Sat

ROA 2000 100 11 Feb 09:00 Sat

100 12 Feb 09:00 Sun

100 12 Feb 08:30 Sun

ROA 2000 200 18 Feb 07:00 Sat

200 18 Feb 08:00 Sat

120 18 Feb 09:00 Sat

ROA 5000 120 25 Feb 09:00 Sat

Swaffham Community Centre, Norfolk New Year QE2 BP 107km £6.50 G L M P R T 15-30kph Swaffham Community Centre, Norfolk Swaffham Xenon BP £6.50 G L M P R T 10-30kph CC Breckland 01760722800 iceniaudax@gmail.com Jonathan Reed, Swaffham Community Centre The Campingland PE37 7RD Cardiff Gate Dr. Foster's Winter Warmer BR 201km £6.00 YH L P R T 15-30kph Cardiff Byways CC tonypember@gmail.com Tony Pember, 9 Donald Street Nelson Treharris CF46 6EB Chalfont St Peter The Willy Warmer BR 209km £7.00 L P R T M 75 G 15-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN Kelvedon, Essex The Kelvedon Oyster BP 109km £5.00 X M T G 12-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex Graeme Provan, 1 Firs Road West Mersea Colchester CO5 8JS Cheadle, Stockport A Mere Two Hundred BR 201km 800m £7.00 P R T 80 15-30kph Cheadle, Stockport A Mere Century BP 155km 600m £6.00 P R T 60 15-25kph Peak Audax CTC David Colley, 5 Huncoat Avenue Heaton Chapel Stockport SK4 5HN Aztec West, Bristol Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100km BP 104km £7.00 P R T 12.5-30kph Audax Club Bristol paul@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Paul Rainbow, 49 Quarrington Road Horfield Bristol Avon BS7 9PJ Hailsham Hills and Mills BP 105km 1950m AAA2 £6.00 R F P 85 14-25kph Andy Seviour Andy Seviour, 13 Blacksmiths Copse Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3XB Ashton Keynes, Cirencester Windrush Winter Warm Down 150 BP 155km [650m] £5.00 L F P R T 15-30kph Corinium CC 01285 659 515 peter@quernsgate.co.uk Ashton Keynes, Cirencester Windrush Winter Warm-up 100 BP 108km 650m £5.00 L F P R T 14-25kph Corinium CC 01285 659 515 peter@quernsgate.co.uk Peter Holden, 39 Querns Lane Cirencester GL7 1RL Alfreton Straight on at Rosie's BR 1190m £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP Witham Knights Templar Compasses and Cross BP 105km 800m [795m] £4.00 X G T P 12-25kph Audax Club Mid-Essex grant@huggys.co.uk Grant Huggins, 76 Bryony Close Witham Essex CM8 2XF Bamford, Derbyshire Occasionally Hilly BP 108km 2070m AAA2 £6.00 P, R, T, G 12.5-30kph Common Lane Occasionals owright@mac.com Oliver Wright, Townhead Farm 345 Baslow Rd Sheffield S17 4AD Dial Post, West Sussex Worthing Winter Warmer BP 105km £5.00 FPRT 15-30kph Mick Irons 01903 240 280 Mick Irons, 36 Phrosso Road Worthing West Sussex BN11 5SL Chippenham Flapjack BP 102km £7.00 F P R T M 150 15-24kph Chip. & Dist. Whs. 01225 708449 Eric Fletcher, 174 Littleworth Lane Whitley Melksham Wiltshire SN12 8RE Leicester Rutland and Beyond BP 102km 1290m £4.00 F L P R S T 100 12-30kph Leic. Forest CC kimbo44@hotmail.com Kim Suffolk, 73 Colby Road Thurmaston Leicester LE4 8LG Cardiff Gate Malmesbury Mash BRM 1000m £3.00 L P R T 15-30kph CTC Cymru oldfield.tout@btinternet.com Ritchie Tout, Sunnyside Cottage Mynyddbach Monmouthshire NP16 6RT Rochdale North-West Passage BRM 2100m £6.00 R T 15-30kph West Pennine RC Rochdale mini-North-West Passage BP 1450m £6.00 r t 15-30kph West Pennine RC Noel Healey, 95 Shore Mount Littleborough Lancs OL15 8EW Hailsham Mad Jack's - John Seviour Memorial BP 125km 2450m AAA2.5 £6.00 R F P 100 14-25kph Andy Seviour Andy Seviour, 13 Blacksmiths Copse Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3XB www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:48

Calendar 120 25 Feb Whitlenge, Hartlebury, S of Kidderminster Sunrise Express 08:30 Sat BP 121km £8.00 P R T F 130 15-30kph 120 25 Feb Whitlenge, Hartlebury, S of Kidderminster Snowdrop Express 09:00 Sat BP 921m £8.00 P R T F 130 15-30kph

Beacon Roads Cycling Clu 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk

Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terr Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 0BW 200 26 Feb Cheadle, Stockport Newport 08:00 Sun BR 201km 750m £7.00 P, R, T 15-30kph 150 26 Feb Cheadle, Stockport Radway 08:30 Sun BP 153km 450m £6.50 P, R, T 15-30kph

North Cheshire Clarion neilshand67@gmail.com

Neil Shand, 12 Chapel Close Comberbach Northwich CW9 6BA 100 26 Feb Corscombe, near Beaminster The Primrose Path 09:00 Sun BP 102km 1955m AAA2 £7.00 F L NM P T 55 16/2 12.5-25kph

Arthur Vince arthur.vince@btinternet.com

Arthur Vince, 3 Back Lane East Coker Yeovil Somerset BA22 9JN 100 26 Feb Old Town Hall, Musselburgh Musselburgh RCC Tour of East Lothian 10:00 Sun BP 106km £10.00 L P R T NM 12.5-30kph

Musselburgh RCC

Alistair Mackintosh, 5 Durham Road South Edinburgh EH15 3PD 100 04 Mar Catherington, near Portsmouth Bois Ocaud de Printemps 100 09:00 Sat BP 105km 1500m AAA1.5 £5.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph

Hantspol CC jondse@ntlworld.com

Jonathan Ellis, 42 Wessex Road Waterlooville Hampshire PO8 0HS 150 04 Mar Chepstow Castle Car park The Gospel Pass 7::30 Sat BP AAA2.25 £3.00 X P GMTR 15-30kph

Audax Club Bristol 01291 626836

Jennifer Goslin, 46 Bridge Street Chepstow NP16 5EY 200 04 Mar Churchend,Dunmow, Essex The Horsepower 200 07:30 Sat BRM £9.00 X A[1] C L P R T G M 15-30kph

Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA 100 04 Mar Churchend,Dunmow, Essex The Horsepower 100km 09:00 Sat BP 102km £9.00 X A[1] C L P R T G M 12.5-30kph

Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com

Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA 200 04 Mar Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick's March Madness 07:30 Sat BR 209km 2600m AAA1.75 [1700m] £6.00 C,F,G,T,NM,P,100 15-30kph

BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, Phoenix 27 Willow Drive Woodmancote Park Homes Woodmancote Gloucestershire GL52 9JF 200 05 Mar South Queensferry Forth and Tay 08:00 Sun BR 207km 2500m £10.00 F G L P R T (100) 15-30kph Updated Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com

Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU 100 11 Mar Alfreton Three Fields 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1170m [1270m] £5.00 L P R T 100 12-30kph

Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk ROA 10000 Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP 200 11 Mar Cardiff Gate, NE Cardiff Making Hay 07:30 Sat BR 203km 2450m £5.50 YH P R T 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC 02920 341768 evansrichardd@googlemail.com ROA 5000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW 200 11 Mar Grazeley, S of Reading The Kennet Valley Run 07:30 Sat BR 207km 1763m £7.50 F G L P R T 15-30kph 100 11 Mar Grazeley, S of Reading The Kennet Valley 100 09:00 Sat BP 895m £6.50 G L R T 12-30kph Updated Reading CTC mes84uk@gmail.com

Mick Simmons, 84 Kidmore Road Caversham Reading RG4 7NA 100 11 Mar Henham, S of Saffron Walden Victoria C. C. - Brazier's Run 09:00 Sat BP 106km £10.00 A(1) L P R S T 15-30kph 50 11 Mar Henham, S of Saffron Walden Victoria C. C. - Brazier's Run 09:00 Sat BP £9.00 A(1) L P R S T 10-25kph Change of Date Victoria CC kieronyates@mac.com ROA 2000 Kieron Yates, 6 Aberdeen Terrace London SE3 0QX 100 11 Mar Whitchuch, Bristol Wells, Mells & an Old Rail Trail 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1500m AAA1.5 £6.50 YH G NM P R T (100) (4/4) 12.5-25kph

Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk

Will Pomeroy, 5 Chaplin Rd Bristol BS5 0JT 100 12 Mar Otford, Sevenoaks Kent Invicta Grimpeur 100 09:30 Sun BP 1890m AAA2 £8.00 F L P R T 12-25kph 50 12 Mar Otford, Sevenoaks Kent Invicta Hilly 50 10:00 Sun BP 945m AAA1 £7.00 F L P R T NM 12-25kph

West Kent CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk

Patrick McMaster, 207 Colyer Road Northfleet Kent DA11 8AT 100 12 Mar Seaham Seaham Sircular 09:00 Sun BP 1700m AAA1.75 £5.00 F L P R T 15-30kph

Dave Sharpe cycle349@gmail.com

Dave Sharpe, 3 Elizabeth Street Seaham County Durham SR7 7TP www.aukweb.net

17arrivee.indd 59

200 12 Mar 08:00 Sun 160 12 Mar 08:30 Sun

200 18 Mar 08:00 Sat 150 18 Mar 08:30 Sat 100 18 Mar 09:00 Sat

ROA 10000 200 18 Mar 07:00 Sat

100 18 Mar 09:00 Sat

200 18 Mar 08:00 Sat 100 18 Mar 09:00 Sat

100 18 Mar 09:00 Sat

200 18 Mar 08:00 Sat

100 19 Mar 09:00 Sun

ROA 4000 100 19 Mar 09:00 Sun

100 19 Mar 08:30 Sun

200 19 Mar 08:00 Sun 100 19 Mar 09:00 Sun

200 19 Mar 08:00 Sun Updated

200 25 Mar 08:00 Sat

100 25 Mar 10:00 Sat

200 25 Mar 08:00 Sat

100 25 Mar 10:00 Sat

ROA 5000 300 25 Mar 06:00 Sat

Winsford, Cheshire Scouting Mam Tor BR 207km 2570m AAA2.25 [2150m] £7.75 P R T 15-30kph Winsford, Cheshire Edale Run BP 167km 2370m AAA2.25 [2150m] £7.75 P R T 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC pjbscott@sky.com Phil Scott, 59 Hawkshead Way Winsford Cheshire CW7 2SY Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Cheltenham New Flyer BRM £6.00 GLPRT 15-30kph Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Cider with Rosie 150 BP 152km £5.00 GPRT 15-30kph Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Character Coln BP £5.00 GPRT 15-30kph Cheltenham CTC stephen.poulton@btinternet.com Stephen Poulton, 23 Moorend Park Rd Leckhampton Cheltenham GL53 0LA Carlton le Moorland Bomber County BR 208km £5.00 C,G, T 15-30kph Yellow Belly Randonneurs richard.parker05@gmail.com Richard Parker, 28 High Street Carlton Le Moorland Lincoln LN5 9HT Copdock, Nr. Ipswich The Copdock Circuit - Spring in South Suffolk BP £6.50 L P R T M 12-30kph Suffolk CTC the.kells@talk21.com Dennis Kell, 9 Pheasant Rise Copdock Ipswich Suffolk IP8 3LF Girton, Cambridge The Cambridge Pork Pie BR 214km 1900m [1700m] £7.00 YH A C G L P R T S 15-30kph Girton, Cambridge The Cambridge Spring Dash BP 850m £7.00 YH A C G L P R T S 12.5-30kph Cambridge Audax nick@camaudax.uk Nick Wilkinson, 42 Dodford Lane Girton Cambridge CB3 0QE Market Bosworth, Sports Club 1485 Tri Club Audax BP £8.00 t. s. r. nm. p. c. g.175 15-30kph 1485 Tri Club Steven Robinson, 7 Tudor Close Market Bosworth Leicestershire CV13 0NA Selkirk Scottish Borders Randonnee BR 204km 2168m £10.00 F G P R T 15-30kph Audax Ecosse 01750 20838 Russell Carson, 21 Ladylands Terrace Selkirk TD7 4BB Alford, Lincs The Wold and Fen BP £6.50 L P F T 12-25kph Alford Whs 01507 443 000 alan.hockham@hotmail.com Alan Hockham, 11 Trustthorpe Road Sutton on Sea Lincs LN12 2LX Birdwell Community Centre Birdwell-Snaith-Birdwell BP 109km £6.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Birdwell Whs 01226 726 754 stevemyatt1@yahoo.co.uk Steve Myatt, 11 Spring Lane Carlton Barnsley S71 3EX Bynea, Llanelli Carmarthenshire Stopper BP 102km 1720m AAA1.75 £4.50 C L F P R T 50 12-25kph Swansea DA 01792391492 jb@reynoldston.com John Bastiani, The Brambles Reynoldston Swansea SA3 1AA Exeter Mad March Coasts and Quantocks BRM 201km 2725m AAA2 [1500m] £7.00 YH F P R T X 15-30kph Exeter Mad March Exeter Excursion BP £6.00 YH F P R T 12-25kph Exeter Whs 07443 471140 shbritton@outlook.com Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane Cranbrook Devon EX5 7AP Golden Green,Tonbridge Man of Kent 200 BRM 203km 1505m [1425m] £8.00 F L P R T (120) 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com David Winslade, 3 Albany Close Tonbridge Kent TN9 2EY Aldbrough St John, nr Darlington Yorkshire Gallop BR 1480m £5.00 X P R T 14.3-30kph VC 167 01325 374 112 nigel.hall@finklecroft.me.uk Nigel Hall, Finkle Croft Aldbrough St John Nr. Richmond DL11 7TD Aldbrough St John, nr Darlington Ripon Canter BP 572m £5.00 X L P R T 12-25kph VC 167 01325 374 112 nigel.hall@finklecroft.me.uk Nigel Hall, Finkle Croft Aldbrough St John Nr. Richmond DL11 7TD Alfreton Roses to Wrags BR 212km 1391m £6.00 F P R T 150 15-30kph Alfreton CTC oggy.dude@gmail.com Stephen Ogden, The Firs 170 Nuncargate Road Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 9EA Forfar, DD81BT Scone 100 BP 696m £3.00 GPTS 15-30kph Angus CC 01307 466123 dchusband@icloud.com David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP Oxford, Peartree Services The Dean 06:00 Start Time BR 307km 3500m AAA2.5 [2500m] £11.00 X-rated 15-30kph Audax Club Hackney justinjones1969@gmail.com Justin Jones, The Stag's Head 39 Harringay Road London N15 3JB Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

59

19/01/2017 13:51:48

Calendar 200 26 Mar Poynton, S of Stockport Chirk 08:00 Sun BR £6.00 F P 15-30kph

Peak Audax CTC daz@delph45.fsnet.co.uk

Darryl Nolan, 5 Grasmere Road Royton Oldham OL2 6SR Swaffham Lions' 208 200 26 Mar Swaffham Assembly Rooms BR 208km £6.50 G L M P R T 15-30kph 08:00 Sun

CC Breckland iceniaudax@gmail.com

Jonathan Reed, Swaffham Community Centre The Campingland Swaffham PE377RD 200 01 Apr Ballachulish Port Navigation 07:15 Sat BR 2420m £12.50 C F G P 14.3-30kph

Edinburgh RC graemewyllie05@gmail.com

Graeme Wyllie, 16 Corstorphine House Avenue Edinburgh EH12 7AD 3Down 300 01 Apr Beaconsfield, HP9 2SE BR 2661m [3100m] £8.00 X 15-30kph 06:00 Sat Updated Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com

Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN

200 01 Apr Tewkesbury Benjamin Allen's Spring Tonic.

BR 206km 2050m £6.00 P T C NM (100) 15-25kph 08:00 Sat

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Rd Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ ROA 25000 100 01 Apr Wigginton Wiggy Spring 100 10:00 Sat BP £3.00 A(1) Y H L P R T 14-28kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net

Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB 200 02 Apr Clitheroe, Lancashire Delightful Dales 200 BRM 205km 3300m AAA3.25 [3600m] £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph 07:30 Sun

Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 200 02 Apr Greenwich The Shark 07:30 Sun BRM 202km 3200m AAA3.25 £8.00 F G R (31/03) 15-28kph Change of Date Audax Club Hackney ivan.cornell@gmail.com

Ivan Cornell, 13 Maidenstone Hill London SE10 8SY 200 02 Apr Long Ashton, Bristol Barry's Bristol Ball Buster 08:00 Sun BRM 214km 2000m £7.00 F L P R T NM 15-30kph

Paul Rainbow, 49 Quarrington Road Horfield Bristol Avon BS7 9PJ 110 02 Apr Long Ashton, Bristol Barry's Bristol Bash 09:30 Sun BP 116km 1100m £7.00 F L P R T NM 12.5-30kph

Paul Rainbow, 49 Quarrington Road Horfield Bristol Avon BS7 9PJ 110 02 Apr Long Ashton, Bristol Barry's Bristol Blast 10:30 Sun BP 116km £7.00 F L P R T NM 12.5-30kph

Las Vegas Inst of Sport paul@audaxclubbristol.co.uk

Paul Rainbow, 49 Quarrington Road Horfield Bristol Avon BS7 9PJ

100 02 Apr North Petherton, S of Bridgwater Dunkery Dash 09:00 Sun BP 102km 1600m AAA1.5 £8.00 F L P R T 15-30kph

Bridgwater CC

Keith Bridges, 19 Westfield Road Burnham On Sea Somerset TA8 2AW 200 08 Apr Aylesbury,Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QX Chiltern Fosse 200 08:00 Sat BR 207km 1568m [1744m] £10.00 A G P X R T (100) 15-30kph Updated Aylesbury CC 07941 404613 htjoshua55@gmail.com

Jocelyn Chappell, 112 Walton Way Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7JR 200 08 Apr Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Spring (200) Randonee 08:00 Sat BR 216km £6.00 L P R S T 15-30kph 170 08 Apr Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Spring (170) Randonee 09:00 Sat BP £6.00 L P R S T 15-30kph 110 08 Apr Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Spring (110) Randonee 10:00 Sat BP £6.00 L P R S T 15-30kph

Shaftesbury CC

Tim Stout, 31 Eversleigh Gardens Upminster Essex RM14 1DP 52 08 Apr Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Spring (52) Randonee 11:00 Sat BP £6.00 L P R S T 10-30kph

Shaftesbury CC

Tim Stout, 31 Eversleigh Gardens Upminster Essex RM14 1DP

Room to Ride 200km 200 08 Apr Huntly, Aberdeenshire 08:00 Sat BR 1723m £10.00 F G P R T 15-30kph 50 08 Apr Huntly, Aberdeenshire Room to Ride Fifty 09:30 Sat BP 385m £3.00 F G P R T 10-30kph

CTC Highland 160 08 Apr Huntly, Aberdeenshire Room to Ride Hundred Mile 08:30 Sat BP 1522m £7.00 F G P R T 15-30kph

CTC Highland 100 08 Apr Huntly, Aberdeenshire Room to Ride Hundred 09:00 Sat BP 1035m £5.00 F G P R T 12-30kph

Huntly Development Trust

Donald Boyd, 2 Albert Terrace Huntly Aberdeenshire AB54 8BL 300 08 Apr Poole hard boiled 300 02:00 Sat BRM 4400m AAA4.5 £10.00 L M (25/3) 15-30kph

Wessex CTC

Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT 60

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Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

100 08 Apr Trowell, Nottingham Charnwood in the Spring 08:30 Sat BP 103km 950m £6.00 L P R T 150 11.5-30kph Updated Nottinghamshire CTC colinrosy@googlemail.com

Colin Gray, 48 Willow Road West Bridgeford NG2 7AY Yr Elenydd 300 08 Apr Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury 06:00 Sat BRM 307km 4950m AAA5 £10.00 C F G L P R T (120) 15-25kph

CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk ROA 10000 John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF 110 09 Apr Bishops Lydeard, Nr Taunton Dustman Dave\'s Demon Hilly 08:30 Sun BP 116km 2450m AAA2.5 £5.00 L R P T 15-30kph 110 09 Apr Bishops Lydeard, NW of Taunton Dustman Dave's Doddle 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T 10-30kph 64 09 Apr Bishops Lydeard, NW of Taunton Dustman Dave's Diddy Doddle 09:30 Sun BP £4.00 L P R T 10-30kph

Wellington Whs p_leavey@yahoo.co.uk

Philip Leavey, The Spinney Chitterwell Wellington Somerset TA21 0HF 110 09 Apr Droitwich Spa Saracen Spring Century 09:00 Sun BP 114km 775m £8.00 F,L,P,R.T 15-30kph

Saracen Road Club saracenroadclub@gmail.com

Sean Barker, 31 Lynfield Close Kings Norton Birmingham B38 9RL

100 09 Apr Hailsham leisure centre, E Sussex Bob McHardys Memorial Meander 09:00 Sun BP 992m £7.00 P R (29/11) 500 15-30kph

Mark Fairweather

Mark Fairweather, 310 Coast Road Pevensey Bay East Sussex BN24 6NU 100 09 Apr Merthyr Tydfil Rhondda Traverse BP 109km 2100m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 12-30kph 09:00 Sun

Merthyr CC dpjones2014@gmail.com

David Jones, 2 Brunswick Street Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8SB 110 09 Apr Mytholmroyd Spring into the Dales 09:00 Sun BP 115km 2350m AAA2.25 £5.00 L P R T YH 12-24kph 57 09 Apr Mytholmroyd Leap into the Aire BP 1325m AAA1.25 £4.50 L P R T YH 8-20kph 10:00 Sun

West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West Sowerby Bridge West Yorkshire HX6 1EF ROA 25000 110 09 Apr Uffington The Harlequin Hack BP 600m £6.00 C F G L P R T 15-30kph 09:30 Sun

Corallian CC 07752 957363 audax@talbot.gb.net

John Talbot, 33 Barretts Way Sutton Courtenay Abingdon OX14 4DD

Dorset Coast 200 09 Apr Wareham 07:45 Sun BRM 207km 2850m AAA2.75 £12.00 C L F R P T M 1/4 15-30kph Coastlet 100 09 Apr Wareham 09:00 Sun BP 107km 1300m £7.00 C L F R P T M 1/4 12-25kph

Wessex DA 01305 263 272 pete_loakes@yahoo.com ROA 5000 Peter Loakes, 1 Church Cottage West Stafford Dorchester DT2 8AB 400 14 Apr Anywhere, to York Easter Fleches to York ::::: Fri BRM £15.00 15-30kph

Audax UK pedaller1@sky.com ROA 25000 Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 200 14 Apr Anywhere, to York Easter Trail ::::: Fri BP 201km £12.00 15-30kph

Audax UK martinfoley@btinternet.com

Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU 300 15 Apr Cirencester Heart of England 300 06:00 Sat BR 307km 2800m £7.00 A(2) L P R T 100 15-30kph

Corinium CC 01285 659 515 peter@quernsgate.co.uk ROA 5000 Peter Holden, 39 Querns Lane Cirencester Glos GL7 1RL 300 15 Apr Galashiels Alston and Back 06:00 Sat BR 2700m £5.00 PRTX 15-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL ROA 25000 Double Dutch 200 15 Apr Huntingdon BR £3.50 X 15-30kph 08:00 Sat

CTC West Surrey malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, Room 2L22 Lab Block Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Rd London W12 8RF 200 16 Apr Congleton, Cheshire Ironbridge 207 08:00 Sun BR 207km 2130m £6.00 P R T 15-30kph 130 16 Apr Congleton, Cheshire Hawkstone 133 08:30 Sun BP 133km £5.00 P R T 15-30kph

Congleton CC stevedawson131@gmail.com

Stephen Dawson, 131 Abbey Road Sandbach Cheshire CW11 3HB 160 16 Apr Honiton Combwich Century 08:30 Sun BP 169km 2470m AAA2.5 £7.00 GLPRT 14-30kph

Exeter Whs ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 25000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU 100 19 Apr Marple, near Stockport Goyt Peak Super Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 109km 2950m AAA3 £5.00 G P R T 12.5-30kph

Peak Audax CTC chris.keelingroberts@ntlworld.com www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:48

Calendar 100 19 Apr 10:00 Wed

400 21 Apr 22:00 Fri

300 22 Apr 06:00 Sat Updated

200 22 Apr 08:00 Sat 130 22 Apr 08:30 Sat 68 22 Apr 09:00 Sat

ROA 10000 200 22 Apr 07:00 Sat 140 22 Apr 08:00 Sat 84 22 Apr 09:00 Sat

300 22 Apr 06:00 Sat

ROA 5000 400 22 Apr 07:00 Sat 300 22 Apr 06:00 Sat

300 22 Apr 23:00 Sat

110 22 Apr 09:30 Sat

200 22 Apr 07:30 Sat 100 22 Apr 9.:00 Sat

200 22 Apr 08:00 Sat 100 22 Apr 09:00 Sat

100 23 Apr 09:00 Sun 50 23 Apr 10:00 Sun

200 23 Apr 08:00 Sun

160 23 Apr 08:00 Sun 100 23 Apr 08:30 Sun

100 23 Apr 09:30 Sun

Marple, near Stockport An Icecream Wensdae BP 109km 800m £5.00 P R T 30 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC chris.keelingroberts@ntlworld.com Chris Keeling-Roberts, 17 Lower Strines Road Marple Cheshire SK6 7DL Coryton, NW Cardiff Buckingham Blinder BRM £10.00 X 15-30kph Cardiff Byways CC Robyn Thomas, 44 Cosmeston Street Cardiff CF24 4LR Alfreton Everybody Rides to Skeggy!

BR 302km 1141m £7.00 L R P T X 100 15-30kph Alfreton CTC nigel.randell8664@gmail.com Nigel Randell, 15 Hammer Leys South Normanton Derbyshire DE55 3AX Eureka Cafe, Wirral Eureka Excursion BR 215km £6.50 R L P T 70 15-30kph Eureka Cafe, Wirral Tea in Prospect BP 135km 500m £6.50 L P R T 70 12.5-25kph Eureka Cafe, Wirral Two Mills Twirl BP £6.50 R L P T 50 10-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com David Matthews, Hill View Cott Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG Leominster The Cambrian BR 210km 3750m AAA3.75 £6.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph Leominster The Cambrian - Minor BP 148km 2250m AAA2.25 £6.00 L P R T 12.5-30kph Leominster The Cambrian - Welsh Marches BP 920m £6.00 L P R T 10-22.5kph Hereford & Dist. Whs cambrianaudax@gmail.com Daryl Hayter, Weir View Breinton Common Breinton Hereford HR4 7PR Meopham Oasts and Coasts 300Km BRM 3300m AAA1.75 [1650m] £8.00 L P T R 15-30kph Tom Jackson 01474 815 213 tom56jackson@gmail.com Tom Jackson, 19 Denesway Meopham Kent DA13 0EA Newton Abbot TQ12 1LJ Turf n Surf 400 BR 5400m AAA5.5 £15.00 A(2) L P R T S 15-30kph Newton Abbot TQ12 1LJ Turf n Surf 300 BR 4050m AAA4 £12.00 A(2) L P R T S 15-30kph Devon CTC turfnsurfaudax@gmail.com Rod Pash, Little Green, 12 Dagmar Street Shaldon Teignmouth TQ14 0DU Poynton, S of Stockport Plains BR 310km 1600m £5.00 P X 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC hamhort84@talktalk.net Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Avenue Heald Green Cheadle Stockport SK8 3NZ Reepham, nr Lincoln Lincoln Imp BP 112km 200m £5.00 G L P R T 10-30kph CTC Lincolnshire andy.town@ntlworld.com Andrew Townhill, 10 Larkin Avenue Cherry Willingham Lincoln LN3 4AY Seething Village Hall, South of Norwich,Norfolk Seething Allover 200 BR 213km 1283m £5.00 GL P R T 14.4 14.4-30kph Seething Village Hall, South of Norwich,Norfolk Seething Inside 100 BP 109km 606m £5.00 GL P R T 14.4 15-30kph VC Norwich 07850427934 jagreenway30@googlemail.com Jonathan Greenway, 12 Hardley Street Hardley Norwich NR14 6BY Wadsley, North Sheffield Paris and Moscow in the Spring BR 2800m AAA2.75 £5.00 L P R T (21/04) 14.3-30kph Wadsley, North Sheffield Paris in the Spring BP 106km 1600m AAA1.5 £5.00 L P R T (70) (21/04) 12-25kph Sheffield District CTC bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue Sheffield S7 1SF Falmouth A Cornish 100 BP 107km £6.50 F G L P R T 12-25kph Falmouth A Bunny Hop BP £6.50 F G L P R T 15-30kph Falmouth Whs philconroy@talktalk.net Philip Conroy, 5 Fairfield Road Falmouth TR11 2DN Halifax The Red Rose Ride BR 2600m AAA1.5 [1500m] £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph West Yorkshire CTC dmdodwell@gmail.com Dave Dodwell, 32 Parkside Avenue Queensbury Bradford BD13 2HQ High Ham, SW of Street The Nutty Nuns 165km BP 165km £7.00 F L P R T 15-30kph High Ham, SW of Street The Merry Monk @ 8.30am BP 105km £7.00 F L P R T (100) 12.5-25kph Mark Lilly 01823 690 038 lillymark@btinternet.com High Ham, SW of Street The Merry Monk @ 9.30am BP 105km £7.00 F L P R T (100) 12.5-25kph Mark Lilly 01823 690 038 lillymark@btinternet.com Mark Lilly, Applehayes Main Road Middlezoy Bridgwater TA7 0PB

www.aukweb.net

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200 23 Apr 08:00 Sun Change of Date

100 23 Apr 09:00 Sun

100 23 Apr 09:00 Sun 100 23 Apr 09:00 Sun

100 23 Apr 09:00 Sun

ROA 5000 400 29 Apr 06:00 Sat Updated

400 29 Apr 06:00 Sat

200 29 Apr 08:00 Sat

ROA 25000 300 29 Apr 06:00 Sat

300 29 Apr 06:00 Sat 100 29 Apr 09:00 Sat

400 30 Apr 14:00 Sun

100 30 Apr 9::00 Sun

100 01 May 10:00 Mon

53 01 May 11:00 Mon

200 01 May 08:15 Mon Updated 100 01 May 08:45 Mon

100 03 May 10:00 Wed

100 06 May 09:30 Sat

200 06 May 07:00 Sat

100 06 May 09:00 Sat

Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland Chevy Chase BRM 201km 2465m AAA3 [3000m] £12.00 C F G L P R T (150) 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds aidan@northern-audax.org.uk Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX Newton Abbot TQ12 1LJ Turf n Surf 100 BP [1500m] £7.50 L P R T S 15-30kph Devon CTC turfnsurfaudax@gmail.com Rod Pash, Little Green, 12 Dagmar Street Shaldon Teignmouth TQ14 0DU Polegate, E Sussex Hell of the Sussex Coastal Hills BP 105km 1600m AAA1.75 [1893m] £7.00 P F T (50) 13-25kph Polegate, E Sussex For those who dont do hills 100 BP 104km 650m £7.00 F P T (50) 15-30kph Christopher Tracey Christrauk@yahoo.co.uk Christopher Tracey, 20 Salisbury Road Seaford East Sussex BN25 2DD Wray, NE of Lancaster Bowland Forest Populaire BP 1800m AAA1.75 £5.00 P R T 75 12.5-20kph CTC Lancaster & South Lakes 01524 36061 mikehutchinson@fastmail.fm Mike Hutchinson, Heatherdene 9 Whinfell Drive Lancaster LA1 4NY Chalfont St Peter, Bucks London Wales London BRM 407km 3500m £23.00 F, G, L, NM, P, R, T 15-30kph Willesden CC lfitzpatrick01@gmail.com Liam Fitzpatrick, 13 Heron Close Rickmansworth Hertfordshire WD3 1NF Chepstow Bryan Chapman's Wales Warm-Up BR 5000m AAA3.5 £12.50 c f l p r t nm z 15-30kph CTC Cymru oldfield.tout@btinternet.com Ritchie Tout, Sunnyside Cottage Mynyddbach Monmouthshire NP16 6RT Honiton Valley of the Rocks 200 BRM 205km 3900m AAA4 £7.00 GL P R T 40 15-30kph Exeter Whs ian@ukcyclist.co.uk Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU Musselburgh Merse and Moors BRM 4200m AAA4.25 £10.00 X P L R (50) 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU Newby Wiske, nr Thirsk Beyond the Dales We Know BR 3500m AAA3 [2950m] £10.00 X T NM P R T C 14.3-30kph Newby Wiske, nr Thirsk Don't Keep to the Road BP 1875m AAA2 £5.00 T X P G L NM P 10-25kph VC 167 dean.clementson@yahoo.com Dean Clementson, 108 Salisbury Terrace Darlington DL3 6NX Poole Porkers 400 BR 5900m AAA6 £10.00 L M (15/4) 15-30kph Wessex CTC Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT Winnington Park Rugby Club, CW8 3AA Ron Sant Memorial Ride BP 106km £5.00 P R T S 15-30kph Weaver Valley Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ High Easter, Nr Chelmsford The Counties Festival 100 BP 104km £5.00 L P R T (70) 15-30kph ECCA High Easter, Nr Chelmsford The Counties Festival 50 BP £5.00 L P R T (70) 12-25kph ECCA Chris Regan, 58 Bramwoods Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 7LT Ruislip, London Chiltern Chiltern Bang Bang BR 2037m [650m] £9.00 G P R T 15-30kph Westerley CC Ruislip, London Chiltern Roalds, Take Me Home BP 1231m £9.00 G P R T 15-30kph Westerley CC 07941175577 Dave Morrison, 145 Cornwall Road Ruislip Middx HA4 6AH Hurst, East of Reading Dinton 100 BP 103km £3.00 L P R T G 60 15-30kph Reading CTC emaich7@gmail.com Mike Hardiman, 7 Somerset Close Woosehill Wokingham RG41 3AJ Alveston, N Bristol South Glos 100 BP 106km £6.00 PRT 150 15-30kph Bristol CTC Alex Rendu, Whitethorn Cock Road Kingswood Bristol BS15 9SJ Bynea, Llanelli Carmarthenshire Snapper BR 202km 2200m £8.00 C L F P R T 50 15-30kph Swansea & W Wales CTC jb@reynoldston.com John Bastiani, The Brambles Reynoldston Swansea West Glamorgan SA3 1AA Howden Minster, East Yorkshire Minster Mission BP 103km 494m £4.50 FGPRT 12-30kph VC 167 G Holdsworth, 1 Hidcote Walk Welton Brough East Riding Yorkshire HU15 1FP Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

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Calendar 300 06 May Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland The Mosstrooper 06:00 Sat BRM 3900m AAA3.5 [3600m] £9.00 C F G L P R T (100) 15-30kph

Tyneside Vagabonds aidan@northern-audax.org.uk

Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX 300 06 May Manningtree, Colchester Green & Yellow Fields 00:01 Sat BRM 305km 1500m £4.00 X M P C 15-30kph

Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com

Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA 110 06 May Parkend, Forest of Dean The Lumpy Scrumpy 100 10:00 Sat BP 1850m AAA1.75 £6.00 YH C P T 75 G 12-25kph 54 06 May Parkend, Forest of Dean Dean Bluebell Doddle 10:30 Sat BP 1200m AAA1.25 £5.00 YH C P T 75 G 12-25kph

Royal Dean Forest CC

Adam Taylor, 68 Sneyd Wood Road Cinderford Glos GL14 3GD 400 06 May Preston, Lancashire Heartbeat 400 06:00 Sat BRM 409km 5160m AAA5 [4000m] £7.50 L P R T 15-30kph

Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 160 07 May Coppice House, Crewe Tough Stuff 08:00 Sun BP 161km 1765m [502m] £14.00 L P R T NM (150) 15-30kph 52 07 May Coppice House, Crewe Foundation Ride 09:30 Sun BP 292m [189m] £14.00 L P R T NM (100) 10-25kph Three Counties 100 07 May Coppice House, Crewe 08:30 Sun BP 109km 828m £14.00 L P R T NM (100) 12-30kph

Up & Under Cycling Club admin@upandundergroup.com

Andy Fewtrell, Up and Under Foundation Coppice House Quakers Coppice Crewe CW1 6FA 200 07 May Lymington New Forest Excursion 08:00 Sun BR 204km £7.00 C L P R T 100 (8/5) 15-30kph

Cycling New Forest cyclingnewforest@gmail.com 160 07 May Lymington New Forest Century 08:00 Sun BP £7.00 C L P R T 100 (8/5) 15-30kph 100 07 May Lymington New Forest Day Out 10:00 Sun BP 104km [2m] £7.00 C L P R T 100 10-20kph

Cycling New Forest 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com ROA 10000 John Ward, 34 Avenue Road Lymington Hants SO41 9GJ 100 07 May Minehead Exmoor Spring 09:30 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T 100 12.5-25kph 57 07 May Minehead Exmoor Spring 50 10:00 Sun BP £5.00 YH L P R T 10-20kph

Minehead CC

Richard Miles, 1 Lower Park Minehead Somerset TA24 8AX 200 07 May Shenstone, Staffs Castleton Classic 08:00 Sun BR 214km 2700m AAA2.5 [2400m] £6.00 G L P R T 15-30kph 160 07 May Shenstone, Staffs Derbyshire Dales 9::00 Sun BP 1680m £6.00 G L P R T 12.5-30kph 100 07 May Shenstone, Staffs Staffordshire Lanes 08:30 Sun BP 102km 1000m £5.50 G L P R T 12.5-25kph 54 07 May Shenstone, Staffs Rosliston Roller 09:30 Sun BP £5.00 G L P R T 10-25kph

Roy Bishop 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com

Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 1EB 600 13 May Chepstow Bryan Chapman Memorial - Welsh End to End 06:00 Sat BRM 7500m AAA7.5 £37.50 BD C F L P R S T Z 15-30kph

CTC Cymru oldfield.tout@btinternet.com

Ritchie Tout, Sunnyside Cottage Mynyddbach Monmouthshire NP16 6RT 150 13 May Forfar Pitlochry 150 09:15 Sat BP 1465m £3.00 G P T S 15-30kph

Angus CC 01307 466123 dchusband@icloud.com ROA 5000 David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP 400 13 May Poynton, S of Stockport Llanfairpwllgwyngyll gog.. ..gogogoch 400 09:00 Sat BR 2600m £9.50 XP 15-30kph

Peak Audax CTC 01457 870 421 renewals@audax.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX 300 13 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria The Westmorland Spartans 07:00 Sat BRM 4000m AAA4 £7.00 YH A(2) L P R T S 15-30kph

Lakes Velo paul@revells.com 200 13 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria The Cumbrian 200 08:00 Sat BRM 203km 3900m AAA4 £7.00 YH A(2) L P R T S 15-30kph

Lakes Velo paul@revells.com

Paul Revell, Kirklands, Brow Edge, Backbarrow Ulverston Cumbria LA12 8QL 300 13 May Wigginton, York Wigginton 300 05:00 Sat BR 302km 2132m £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net 100 13 May Wigginton, York Wiggy 100 10:00 Sat BP £3.00 A(1) YH L P R T 12-24kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net

Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB 62

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Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

110 14 May Maidenhead 10 Thames Bridges 09:00 Sun BP £4.00 P R T 15-30kph 64 14 May Maidenhead Kaf to Kaf 10:00 Sun BP £4.00 P R T 12-25kph

Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com

Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm Leigh Square Windsor Berks SL4 4PT 200 14 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden 200km 08:00 Sun BR [1800m] £8.00 F L P R T NM 7/5 15-30kph 160 14 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden Century Ride 08:30 Sun BP [1550m] £8.00 F L P R T NM 7/5 15-30kph 100 14 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden 100km 09:00 Sun BP 975m £8.00 F L P R T NM 7/5 10-30kph

Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk

Patrick McMaster, 207 Colyer Road Northfleet Kent DA11 8AT 100 14 May Uffington, near Wantage Blowingstone-White Horse 09:30 Sun BP 107km 1162m [1346m] £6.00 P T R 15-30kph

CTC Wantage

Nick Dunton, 44a High Street Sutton Courtenay Abingdon Oxon OX14 4AP 100 20 May Crowborough The Reliable 10:00 Sat BP 1750m AAA1.75 £2.00 FP 12.5-30kph

Grimpeurs du Sud 01342 314437 malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, Room 2L22 Lab Building Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Place Rd London W6 8RF 400 20 May Kirkley, Ponteland The Hot Trod 09:30 Sat BRM 3711m [4020m] £9.50 C F G L P R T Z(50) 15-30kph

Tyneside Vagabonds aidan@northern-audax.org.uk

Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX 160 20 May Meriden, Warwickshire Cotswold Challenge 08:00 Sat BP 1200m £8.00 C G P R T NM 15-30kph 100 20 May Meriden, Warwickshire Warwickshire Wanderer 09:00 Sat BP 105km 700m £8.00 C G P R T NM 15-30kph 50 20 May Meriden, Warwickshire Meriden Meander 10:00 Sat BP 540m [546m] £8.00 A C G NM P R T 15-30kph

Jon Porteous audax2017@heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk

Jon Porteous, Tumnus Corner Springhill Gdns Webheath Redditch Worcs B97 5SY 400 20 May Newark Northgate Station, Nottinghamshire Lincolnshire Poacher 06:00 Sat BR £3.00 X,G 15-30kph

Yellow Belly Randonneurs richard.parker05@gmail.com

Richard Parker, 28 High Street Carlton Le Moorland Lincoln LN5 9HT 200 20 May Willington Hall, E of Chester Tour of the Berwyns 08:00 Sat BR 210km 3100m AAA3 £6.00 L P R T 75 (17/05) 15-30kph 130 20 May Willington Hall, nr Chester Panorama Prospect 08:30 Sat BP 136km 1150m [500m] £6.00 L P R T 75 (17/05) 12.5-25kph

Chester & North Wales CT dmanu@outlook.com ROA 10000 David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG 200 21 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special 08:00 Sun BR £6.00 FRTP 15-30kph 160 21 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special 09:00 Sun BP £6.00 FRTP 12.5-25kph Change of Date VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com

John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT 100 21 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Between the Parks 09:00 Sun BP 500m £6.00 G L P R T (75) (10/5) 15-30kph 200 21 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Grand National Park2Park 08:00 Sun BR 2400m £8.50 F G L P R T (150) (10/5) 15-30kph

Southampton CTC rid@ecs.soton.ac.uk

Robert Damper, 12 Julius Close Chandler's Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 2AB 200 27 May Dore, Nr Sheffield Plain, Peaks and Troughs 08:30 Sat BR 205km 2900m AAA3 £5.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph

Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net 100 27 May Dore, Sheffield Peaks and Troughs 9::00 Sat BP 103km 2100m AAA2 £5.00 F L P T 12-30kph

Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net 62 27 May Dore, Sheffield Fewer Peaks and Troughs 09:30 Sat BP 1150m AAA1.25 £5.00 F L P T 10-22kph

Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net

John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent Sheffield S11 9AW 300 27 May Honiton Old Roads 300 06:00 Sat BRM 3400m £8.00 GLPRT 15-30kph

Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 25000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU 100 27 May Long Melford, nr Sudbury Tour de Stour 09:00 Sat BP 106km £6.00 CGLNMPRT(60)(14/05) 15-30kph

CC Sudbury 07528 498036 andrew.hoppit@gmail.com

Andrew Hoppit, 15 Middleton Rd Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2DB 400 27 May Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire The Old 240 05:30 Sat BR 407km 6400m AAA6.5 £8.00 A(2) L P R T S YH 15-30kph

West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:49

Calendar 400 27 May 05:30 Sat

ROA 25000 200 27 May 8::00 Sat

50 27 May 10:30 Sat

600 27 May 06:00 Sat

200 27 May 08:00 Sat

ROA 25000 200 27 May 08:00 Sat

100 28 May 09:00 Sun

200 28 May 08:00 Sun

400 02 Jun 21:00 Fri

200 03 Jun 08:00 Sat 100 03 Jun 09:00 Sat

100 03 Jun 09:00 Sat Updated ROA 10000 400 03 Jun 09:00 Sat

600 03 Jun 06:00 Sat

ROA 10000 100 04 Jun 09:00 Sun

200 04 Jun 08:00 Sun 150 04 Jun 08:30 Sun

110 04 Jun 09:00 Sun

200 04 Jun 08:00 Sun

100 04 Jun 09:00 Sun

200 04 Jun 08:00 Sun

Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire Not Quite The Spurn Head 400 BR 403km 2450m £8.00 A(2) L P R T S YH 15-30kph West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West Sowerby Bridge West Yorkshire HX6 1EF Northallerton Egton Bridge BR 2700m [2600m] £6.50 PTR 15-30kph Hambleton RC paul.roberts901@tiscali.co.uk Paul Roberts, 37 The Close Romanby Northallerton DL7 8BL Oasis Lesuire Centre, Swindon Tour de Swindonia BP £5.00 15-30kph Pat Hurt iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL Poole Brimstone 600 BRM 7600m AAA7.5 £10.00 L M (13/5) 15-30kph Wessex CTC Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT Tewkesbury Sam Weller's April Foolery.

BR 205km 2300m AAA1.75 [1750m] £6.00 15-25kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, 27 Willow Close Woodmancote Park Homes Cheltenham GL52 9JF Village Hall, Long Melford CO10 9JQ Grand Tour de Stour BR 212km £7.00 CGLNMRT(60)(14/05) 15-30kph CC Sudbury andrew.hoppit@gmail.com Andrew Hoppit, 15 Middleton Rd Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2DB Forfar The Mighty Sconquest BP 103km 875m £6.00 NM P R T 10-30kph Angus Bike Chain alexabccc@gmail.com Alex Pattison, 1 Angle Park Crescent Kirriemuir Angus DD8 4TJ Huddersfield Huddersfield Star Wheelers Humber Bridge BR 230km 1300m £3.00 X G T 15-30kph Huddersfield Star nephialty@gmail.com Nephi Alty, Heath House View Ridings Lane Golcar Huddersfield HD7 4PZ Corstorphine, Edinburgh Auld Alliance (2017) BRM 401km £11.00 F P B R T 15-24kph Edinburgh RC graemewyllie05@gmail.com Graeme Wyllie, 16 Corstorphine House Avenue Edinburgh EH12 7AD Bitteswell, Leicestershire Avon and Nene BR 210km £6.00 L F P T 15-30kph Watershed Loop Bitteswell, Leicestershire BP £5.50 L F P T 12-30kph South Leics CTC Tony Davis, 2 The Courtyard Claybrooke Magna Lutterworth Leics LE17 5FH Cromford, Derbyshire Tramway 100 BP 104km £6.00 P R T 150 11-25kph Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP Manningtree, Colchester Asparagus & Strawberries BRM 414km 2600m £4.00 X M P C 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Poynton, S of Stockport A Pair of Kirtons BR 3000m £10.00 x 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC 01457 870 421 renewals@audax.uk Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX Abergavenny Monmouthshire Meander BP 1500m AAA1.5 £6.00 YH F P L T 15-25kph Abergavenny RC waville@yahoo.com Jonathan Saville, 9 Trehonddu Llanvihangel Crucorney Abergavenny NP7 8DG Elstead, Surrey The Nearly Stonehenge 200 BR 207km 2210m £6.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Elstead, Surrey The Danebury 150 BP 152km £6.00 F L P R T 13-30kph CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk Elstead, Surrey The Elstead 100 BP 113km £6.00 F L P R T 12-30kph CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk Nicholas Davison, The Bield Mill Copse Road Haslemere Surrey GU27 3DN Kendal, Cumbria Tour du Lakes BR 207km 2500m £5.00 C G P R T S 15-30kph Kent Valley RC 07825 179675 Kendal, Rugby club Wyre Whirl BP £3.00 C G P R T S 15-30kph Kent Valley RC Paul Latham, 6 Watercrook Farm Natland Cumbria LA9 7QB Wimbledon Common The London Ditchling Devil BR 205km 2400m [2700m] £16.00 F P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN

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200 10 Jun 08:00 Sat 100 10 Jun 09:00 Sat

ROA 5000 300 10 Jun 06:00 Sat

300 10 Jun 05:30 Sat

200 10 Jun 08:00 Sat ROA 25000 100 10 Jun 09:15 Sat

ROA 25000 200 11 Jun 08:00 Sun 150 11 Jun 08:30 Sun 100 11 Jun 09:00 Sun Updated

100 11 Jun 09:00 Sun

200 11 Jun 08:00 Sun Change of Date 100 11 Jun 10:30 Sun 51 11 Jun 12:00 Sun Change of Date

400 16 Jun 22:30 Fri

200 17 Jun 08:00 Sat 100 17 Jun 09:00 Sat Change of Date

600 17 Jun 06:00 Sat Updated

600 17 Jun 06:00 Sat 600 17 Jun 06:00 Sat

ROA 25000 300 18 Jun 02:00 Sun

200 18 Jun 08:00 Sun 150 18 Jun 08:30 Sun 100 18 Jun 09:00 Sun Updated 50 18 Jun 10:00 Sun Updated

Forfar Rannoch 210 BR 210km £8.00 GLPRT 15-30kph Forfar Glenisla 100 BP 923m £3.00 GLRT 15-30kph Angus CC 01307 466123 dchusband@icloud.com David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP Padiham, Lancashire Knock Ventoux 300 BRM 4900m AAA4 [4600m] £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Rowlands Castle, nr Portsmouth Wonderfully Wessex BRM £8.50 f l p t (10/6) 15-30kph Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road Emsworth Hampshire PO10 7XR Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick\'s High Summer Meander BR 215km 2100m £6.00 C,G,L,NM,P,R,T (100) 15-25kph Mark Rigby, 27 Willow Close Woodmancote Park Homes Cheltenham GL52 9JF Tewkesbury Over the hills & far away BP 102km 800m £5.00 c f l p r t nm 100 10-30kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby Mark Rigby, 27 Willow Close Cheltenham GL52 9JF Hampton in Arden A Cotswold Adventure BR 207km £7.00 F G L P R T 15-30kph Hampton in Arden Solihull CC mini Randonnee BP 156km £6.00 F G L P R T 15-30kph Hampton in Arden A Warwickshire Wander BP £5.00 F G L P R T 15-30kph Solihull CC 01926 499460 audaxtrevor@gmail.com Trevor Wale, 7 Cherry Lane Hampton Magna Warwick CV35 8SL Sheffield, Wharncliffeside Comunity Cote de Holme Moss BP 108km 2200m AAA2.25 £6.00 LPRT(120) 12-30kph Birdwell Whs woodyauk@btinternet.com John Woodhouse, 9 Brightholmlee Lane Wharncliffeside Sheffield S35 0DD Ware Herts High Five BR 209km 1634m [1509m] £10.00 GLPRST 15-30kph Hertfordshire Wheelers Ware Two Counties 100 BP 108km £7.00 GLPRST 15-30kph Ware One County 50 BP £5.00 GLPRST 15-30kph Hertfordshire Wheelers Valdis Belinis, 2 Little Horse Lane Milton Road Ware Hertfordshire SG12 0QB Clayhidon, near Taunton Avalon Sunrise 400 BRM 407km 4350m £17.00 flprtc 15-30kph Exeter Whs Jamie Andrews, Cemetery Lodge Ashill Road Uffculme Devon EX15 3DP Grazeley, S of Reading Alan Furley's Up the Downs BR 204km 2100m £7.00 G L P R T 15-30kph Grazeley, S of Reading Alan Furley's Down the Ups BP 107km 1000m £6.50 G L P R T 15-30kph Reading CTC 01491 651284 audaxphil@btinternet.com Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL Leominster Take Ewe to the Severn, Seas & Wye (*) BR 6800m AAA6.75 [6700m] £10.00 F P T (50) 14.3-30kph Pat Hurt iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The 3 Coasts 600 BRM 607km 5611m AAA1.75 [1631m] £10.00 A(3) L P R S T Z YH 15-30kph Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The East & West Coasts 600 BRM 605km 4380m [5380m] £10.00 A(3) L P R S T Z YH 15-30kph West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West Sowerby Bridge West Yorkshire HX6 1EF Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flattest Possible 300 BR 311km £9.00 C F L P R T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com David Winslade, 3 Albany Close Tonbridge Kent TN9 2EY Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Half-Flat 200 BR 201km 1000m £8.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Fairly Flat 150k BP £7.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flat 100k BP £7.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Easy Peasy 50k BP £6.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC Paul Bennett, 71 Clifton Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3AT Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

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Calendar 200 18 Jun 07:30 Sun 150 18 Jun 08:30 Sun 110 18 Jun 09:00 Sun

200 18 Jun 08:30 Sun

ROA 25000 400 23 Jun 06:00 Fri 200 23 Jun ::::: Fri

ROA 25000 200 24 Jun 08:00 Sat

170 24 Jun 08:30 Sat

140 24 Jun 09:00 Sat

400 24 Jun 08:00 Sat

ROA 10000 100 24 Jun 08:00 Sat

ROA 5000 66 25 Jun 10:00 Sun

200 25 Jun 08:30 Sun

120 25 Jun 10:00 Sun

100 28 Jun 09:30 Wed

400 01 Jul 11:00 Sat

600 01 Jul 06:00 Sat

200 01 Jul 08:00 Sat

ROA 25000 100 01 Jul 10:00 Sat

ROA 25000 300 01 Jul 06:00 Sat Change of Date

200 01 Jul 08:00 Sat Updated 160 01 Jul 09:00 Sat Updated 64

17arrivee.indd 64

Claughton, N of Preston Fleet Moss 212 BR 212km 3290m AAA3.25 £6.50 P R T G 15-30kph Claughton, N of Preston Lunesdale Populaire BP 158km 2280m AAA2.25 £6.50 P R T 100 13-30kph Claughton, N of Preston Pilgrim's Way BP 112km 1540m £6.50 P R T G 10-25kph Southport CC allan.taylor@southportcc.co.uk Allan Taylor, 23 Osborne Road Ainsdale Southport PR8 2RJ Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The Good Companions BRM 2697m AAA1.75 [1631m] £5.00 A(2) L P R T S YH 15-30kph West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West Sowerby Bridge West Yorkshire HX6 1EF Anywhere, to York Summer Arrow to York BR £15.00 15-30kph Anywhere, to York Summer Dart to York BR 210km £5.00 15-30kph Audax UK pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hurrah BR 2200m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph Winchester CTC alanandemma@talktalk.net Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hindon Hip Hip BP 1750m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph Winchester CTC 01794 514124 alanandemma@talktalk.net Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hooray BP 1450m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph Winchester CTC alanandemma@talktalk.net Alan Davies, 7 Queens Close Romsey Hampshire SO51 5EG Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury National 400 BRM 403km 4100m AAA1.75 [1650m] £30.00 C F G L P R T 15-25kph CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF Usk, Monmouthshire Gwent Gambol BP 101km 1200m £5.00 C G P R T 12.5-25kph Cardiff Byways evansrichardd@googlemail.com Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW Carharrack, Cornwall Mines and Mineral Railways (OFF-road) BP 1257m [773m] £5.00 C L P R T 8-28kph Audax Kernow brindisijones@tiscali.co.uk Simon Jones, The Cottage Pulla Cross Truro Cornwall TR4 8SA Chelmer CC Club hut, Meteor Way, Chelmsford Windmill Ride (210) BR 210km £8.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Essex CTC s.eichenseher@googlemail.com Chelmer CC Club hut, Meteor Way, Chelmsford Windmill Ride (120) BP £8.00 F L P R T 12-25kph Essex CTC s.eichenseher@googlemail.com Stefan Eichenseher, 42a Whitegate Road Southend-on-sea Essex SS1 2LQ Hampton Hill, W London London Midweek Sightseer BP 105km £6.00 L P T 10-20kph Hounslow & Dist. Whs 020 82873244 billcarnaby@outlook.com Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Kingdom of the East Saxons BR £20.00 M Z F R P L C T 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Clitheroe, Lancashire Pendle 600 BRM 609km 10150m AAA10 [9000m] £15.00 BD F L P R S T Z 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Galashiels Moffat Toffee BR 204km 2500m [2300m] £10.00 LPRTSG 15-30kph Audax Ecosse pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Galashiels Broughton and Back BP 1380m £9.00 LPRTSG 15-30kph Audax Ecosse pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Raynes Park Amesbury Amble BR 311km 2200m £10.00 A(2) G L P R T S 15-30kph Kingston Whs richard.m.evans@talktalk.net Richard Evans, 29 Somerset Avenue Raynes Park London SW20 0BJ Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Brix\'n Water BR 216km 2300m £6.00 G NM P R 24/6 15-30kph Daniel Hendriksen dhendriksen@doctors.org.uk Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Brix\'n Bouquet BP 1400m [2300m] £6.00 G NM P R 24/6 15-30kph Daniel Hendriksen dhendriksen@doctors.org.uk Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

110 01 Jul 09:30 Sat Updated

1000 07 Jul 10:00 Fri

200 08 Jul 08:00 Sat

100 08 Jul 09:00 Sat

200 08 Jul 08:00 Sat

ROA 5000 600 08 Jul 06:00 Sat

ROA 25000 600 08 Jul 07:00 Sat

ROA 25000 300 08 Jul 6.:30 Sat

200 08 Jul 08:00 Sat

130 08 Jul 09:00 Sat

50 08 Jul 9::30 Sat

200 08 Jul 07:30 Sat

100 08 Jul 9::00 Sat

ROA 25000 100 09 Jul 08:30 Sun

200 09 Jul 08:00 Sun

110 09 Jul 09:00 Sun

200 09 Jul 08:00 Sun

100 09 Jul 09:00 Sun

300 14 Jul 21:00 Fri

200 15 Jul 08:00 Sat 100 15 Jul 08:30 Sat 60 15 Jul 09:00 Sat

Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH The Essex Bridge BP £5.00 G NM P R 24/6 15-30kph Daniel Hendriksen dhendriksen@doctors.org.uk Daniel Hendriksen, 74 Main Street Etwall Derbyshire DE65 6LP Bispham, Lancashire Mille Pennines BRM 13600m AAA13.5 [10000m] £55.00 BD F L P R S T Z (120) 13.3-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond Hartside 200 BR 203km 2752m AAA3 [3000m] £6.00 F L P R T 14.4-30kph VC 167 David.atkinson577@talktalk.net Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond Northern Dales Summer Outing BP 1475m [3000m] £5.00 F L P R T 10-27kph VC 167 David.atkinson577@talktalk.net David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL Bolsover Clumber to Humber (John Kerr Memorial Ride) BR 214km £5.00 L P R T G (100) 15-30kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL Exeter The Exe-Buzzard BRM 5600m £5 X 15-30kph Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU Leighton Buzzard The Buzzard BRM 5600m £5.00 X 15-30kph Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Cestyll Cymru 300 BR 320km 3194m [3550m] £10.00 X C A1 G L NM P R T 15-30kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Cestyll Cymru BR 205km 2095m AAA2.25 [2200m] £10.00 A1 C G L R NM T 15-30kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy The Legend of Gelert BP 135km 1400m £10.00 A1 C G L R NM T P 15-30kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Glan-y-Mor BP 750m £6.00 A1 T C G L R NM P 15-30kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com Chris Wilby, Gwenallt Henryd Road Gyffin Conwy LL32 8HN Tewkesbury Sam Weller's day trip to Wochma BR 203km 2300m [2700m] £6.00 c p r nm t 100 15-25kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Tewkesbury Teddy Bears' Picnic.

BP 101km 975m [900m] £6.00 C,G,T,NM,P,100 10-30kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, Phoenix 27 Willow Drive Woodmancote Gloucestershire GL52 9JF Combe Down, Bath Mendip Transmitter BP 1650m AAA1.75 £7.00 N.P.R.T 13-30kph Bath CC robertmcmillan@sky.com Robert Mcmillan, 228 Bloomfield Road Bath BA2 2AX Denshaw, Saddleworth Bowland BR 3500m AAA3.5 [4400m] £6.00 P R T G 15-30kph Saddleworth Clarion nephialty@gmail.com Nephi Alty, Heath House View Ridings Lane Golcar Huddersfield West Yorkshire Denshaw, Saddleworth Bretton BP 2400m AAA2.5 £6.00 P R T G 10-25kph Saddleworth Clarion nephialty@gmail.com Nephi Alty, Heath House View Ridings Lane Golcar Huddersfield HD7 4PZ Smallworth, Garboldisham, near Diss DISS DANDER BR £7.00 G L P R T 15-30kph Diss CTC elkinste@outlook.com Smallworth, Garboldisham, near Diss DISS DAWDLE BP £7.00 G L P R T 12.5-30kph Diss CTC elkinste@outlook.com Tom Elkins, 6 Marston Lane Norwich NR4 6LZ Churchend,Dunmow, Essex Hereward the Wake BRM 301km £9.00 X M G R T P L C 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Corwen Barmouth Boulevard BR 204km 3650m AAA3.75 £6.00 P R T 15-30kph Corwen The Brenig Bach BP 107km 1930m AAA2 [1920m] £6.00 P R T 12.5-25kph Corwen The Bala Parade BP 1000m £6.00 P R T 12.5-25kph Chester & North Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:49

Calendar 300 15 Jul 21:00 Sat

600 15 Jul 06:00 Sat

200 16 Jul 08:00 Sun

100 16 Jul 09:00 Sun

50 16 Jul 10:00 Sun

200 16 Jul 08:00 Sun

100 16 Jul 09:00 Sun

ROA 5000 200 16 Jul 08:00 Sun

100 16 Jul 09:00 Sun

200 16 Jul 08:00 Sun

110 16 Jul 09:00 Sun

200 22 Jul 08:00 Sat

200 22 Jul 08:00 Sat

120 22 Jul 09:00 Sat

160 22 Jul 08:45 Sat

100 22 Jul 09:30 Sat

200 22 Jul 08:30 Sat

54 23 Jul 09:00 Sun

100 26 Jul 10:00 Wed

1400 30 Jul 05:00 Sun

ROA 5000 400 12 Aug 06:00 Sat

200 12 Aug 08:00 Sat

Good Easter, nr Chelmsford, Essex The Baron\'s 200 miles BR 324km £8.00 L M P R T 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland The Border Raid BRM 5500m £10.00 C F G L P R T Z(50) 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds aidan@northern-audax.org.uk Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX Good Easter, nr Chelmsford, Essex The Baron\'s 200km BR £7.00 L M P R T 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Good Easter,nr Chelmsford, Essex The Baron\'s 100km BP £7.00 L M P R T 12.5-25kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Good Easter,nr Chelmsford, Essex The Baron\'s 50km BP £5.00 L M P R T 12.5-25kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Newton Abbot, Devon Torplex Two Hundred BR 210km 2900m AAA3 £8.50 F G L P R T 15-30kph Devon CTC brodie@bikerider.com Newton Abbot, Devon Devon Delight BP 107km £8.50 F G L P R T 10-25kph Devon CTC brodie@bikerider.com Graham Brodie, Homelands 10 Courtenay Road Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 1HP Otley, West Yorkshire Yorkshire Mixture BR 203km 2400m AAA1.75 [1750m] £6.00 L R T S 15-30kph Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net Otley, West Yorkshire Over Jordan BP 101km 1800m AAA1.75 £5.00 L R T S 12-25kph Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net Chris Boulton, 15 Adel Towers Close Leeds LS16 8ES The Steyning Centre, Steyning, W Sussex The Devils Punchbowl 200 BR 205km 2248m £7.00 F P T (80) 15-30kph ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com The Steyning Centre, Steyning, W Sussex The Devils Punchbowl 100 BP 1200m £7.00 F G P T (80) 15-30kph ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3RT Bath Raglan castle BR 203km 2500m £7.00 x p t 15-30kph Bath CC robertmcmillan@sky.com Robert Mcmillan, 228 Bloomfield Road Bath BA2 2AX Belbroughton, N Worcestershire The Kidderminster Killer BR 214km 3750m AAA3.75 £7.85 F L P R S T (90) (8/8) 14.6-30kph Beacon RCC 01562731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk Belbroughton, N Worcestershire From Clee to Heaven BP 123km 1950m AAA2 £7.85 F L P R S T (70) 13.5-25kph Beacon RCC 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terr Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 0BW Bildeston, Suffolk 100 miles of Suffolk Lanes BP 168km 1050m £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com Bildeston, Suffolk Bildeston Lanes BP 104km 620m £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com Bildeston, Suffolk Suffolk Lanes Extravaganza BR 209km 1300m £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com Robin Weaver, 14 Chapel Street Bildeston Ipswich Suffolk IP7 7EP Dalkeith East Lothian Rough Stuff BP 415m £5.00 G L P R (50) 10-25kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU Marple Dark Peak Grimpeur BP 106km 2290m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (25/7) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax CTC Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ Loughton, Essex London Edinburgh London BRM 1415km 11500m AAA2.75[2750m]£329.00 CFLPRTS NM Z (750) 12-30kph LEL 2013 London Edinburgh London team, 11 Heather Av Hellesdon Norwich NR6 6LU Musselburgh The Southern Uplands BR 5000m AAA5 £10.00 X P C R G L 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU Tewkesbury A Firmly Stout Canine BR 201km 2100m AAA1.5 [1500m] £1.00 c p r t nm 100 15-25kph

www.aukweb.net

17arrivee.indd 65

100 12 Aug 09:00 Sat Change of Date ROA 25000 200 13 Aug 08:30 Sun

110 16 Aug 10:00 Wed

100 16 Aug 10:00 Wed

ROA 10000 200 19 Aug 07:30 Sat

100 19 Aug 09:00 Sat

200 20 Aug 08:00 Sun

120 20 Aug 09:00 Sun

53 20 Aug 09:30 Sun

110 20 Aug 09:40 Sun Updated ROA 5000 100 23 Aug 10:00 Wed

110 30 Aug 10:00 Wed

200 02 Sep 08:00 Sat

130 02 Sep 08:30 Sat

50 02 Sep 09:00 Sat

ROA 10000 200 02 Sep 08:00 Sat

ROA 25000 200 03 Sep 08:00 Sun

100 03 Sep 09:00 Sun

100 03 Sep 09:00 Sun 55 03 Sep 10:00 Sun

160 03 Sep 08:00 Sun 80 03 Sep 09:00 Sun

Tewkesbury 'Mint' Stalwart's Mania BP 105km 975m £6.00 10-30kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, Phoenix 27 Willow Drive Woodmancote Gloucs GL52 9JF Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 200 BRM 207km 4500m AAA4.5 £5.00 P X 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Maidenhead Riverside to Riverside BP 118km £4.00 P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm Leigh Square Windsor Berks SL4 4PT Marple Memorial Park White Peak Grimpeur BP 103km 2310m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (8/8) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax CTC 01457 870421 renewals@audax.uk Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Farm Millcroft Lane Delph OL3 5UX Witham, Essex Essex R&R BR 215km 1675m [650m] £7.50 G L P R T X (200) 14.3-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex grant@huggys.co.uk Witham, Essex A little Essex R&R BP 107km £7.50 G L P R T X (125) 12-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex grant@huggys.co.uk Grant Huggins, 76 Bryony Close Witham Essex CM8 2XF Lichfield, The Acorn Inn Vale of Belvoir III BR 1498m £5.00 G R P T 15-30kph Roy Bishop 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Lichfield, The Acorn Inn Charnwood Forest BP 124km 1055m £5.00 G R P T 12.5-30kph Roy Bishop 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Lichfield, The Acorn Inn Moira Furnace Fifty BP 470m £5.00 G R P T 10-25kph Roy Bishop 01213572570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 1EB Shere Village Hall, Guildford Tour of the Hills BP 115km 2300m AAA2.25 £8.00 F L P R T 225 15-30kph CTC West Surrey markw48@gmail.com Mark Waters, 4 Quarry Hill Godalming GU7 2NW Marple West Peak Grimpeur BP 103km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 P R T 60 (16/8) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax CTC davidcatlow1947@gmail.com David Catlow, 31 Cavendish Way Mickleover Derby DE3 9BL Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Staffs Peak Super-Grimpeur BP 2650m AAA2.75 [2800m] £6.00 P R T 60 (8/8) 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC Richard Cowan, 20 Dairylands Rd Church Lawton Stoke On Trent ST7 3EU Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Pistyll Packing Momma BR 209km 3400m AAA3.5 £6.00 BD R L P T 29/08 15-30kph Chester & North Wales CT dmanu@outlook.com Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Mountain Views BP 137km 2000m AAA2 £6.00 BD R L P T 29/08 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Leafy Lanes BP £6.00 BD R L P T 29/08 10-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com David Matthews, Hill View Cott Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick goes to Hay in a day BR 209km 1900m £6.00 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, 27 Willow Close Woodmancote Park homes Cheltenham GL52 9JF Arnside Hostel Northern Dales BR 202km 3000m AAA3 £5.00 YH R S T 15-30kph VC 167 julian.dyson2@baesystems.com Arnside Hostel Northern Dales Populaire BP 109km 1675m AAA1.75 £7.00 YH R S T 12.5-25kph VC 167 julian.dyson2@baesystems.com Julian Dyson, 5 Duke Street Gleaston Ulverston Cumbria LA12 0UA Budleigh Salterton, Devon Utterly Butterleigh BP 106km 1300m £6.00 C G L NM P R T 12.5-30kph Budleigh Salterton, Devon East Devon Escape BP 300m £6.00 C G L NM P R T 12.5-30kph CS Dynamo Steven Medlock, 11 Marpool Hill Exmouth Devon EX8 2LJ Forfar, Angus Cycling Festival Century BP 1200m £8.00 NM P R T 12-25kph Forfar, Angus Cycling Festival 50 Miles BP 800m £6.00 NM P R T 10-30kph Angus Bike Chain alexabccc@gmail.com Alex Pattison, 1 Angle Park Crescent Kirriemuir Angus DD8 4TJ Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

65

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Calendar 100 03 Sep 08:30 Sun

200 03 Sep 08:00 Sun

600 09 Sep 06:00 Sat

150 09 Sep 10:00 Sat

ROA 25000 110 09 Sep 09:30 Sat

ROA 2000 200 09 Sep 08:00 Sat 150 09 Sep 08:30 Sat 100 09 Sep 09:30 Sat 100 09 Sep 10:00 Sat

200 16 Sep 08:00 Sat Change of Date

200 17 Sep 07:30 Sun Updated

600 22 Sep 22:00 Fri

200 23 Sep 08:00 Sat 100 23 Sep 09:15 Sat Updated

160 23 Sep 08:00 Sat 110 23 Sep 08:30 Sat

53 23 Sep 09:00 Sat

ROA 4000 200 23 Sep 08:00 Sat

100 23 Sep 09:00 Sat

100 30 Sep 09:00 Sat

ROA 5000 200 30 Sep 08:00 Sat

100 30 Sep 09:00 Sat

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Hampton Hill, SW London London Sightseer BP 105km £6.00 L P T NM 10-20kph Hounslow & Dist. Whs 020 8287 3244 billcarnaby@outlook.com Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP Musselburgh The Erit Lass BR 3000m AAA3 £10.00 C F G L P R 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU Churchend,Dunmow, Essex The Flatlands BRM 606km £7.00 A[1] X M P R T L C 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA Galashiels Dick McTs 150 Classic BP 1576m [1600m] £10.00 LPRTSG 15-30kph Audax Ecosse pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Ludford, NE of Lincoln Lincolnshire Wolds BP 867m £5.00 F P R T G NM 15-30kph CTC Lincolnshire timnewbery@hotmail.com Tim Newbery, 7a Linden Walk Louth LN11 9HT Richmond, N Yorks Dales Dales Tour Plus BR 3150m AAA3.25 £6.00 F L P R T 14.4-30kph Richmond, N Yorks Dave's Dales Tour 160KM BP 2500m AAA2.5 £5.50 F L P R T 14.4-30kph Richmond, N Yorks Dave's Mini Dales Tour 100KM BP 1900m AAA2 £5.50 F L P R T 12-30kph Richmond, N Yorks Lucia's Vale of York Meander 100KM BP £5.50 F L P R T 8.3-30kph VC167 David.atkinson577@talktalk.net David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland Copshaw Holm 200 BR 205km 2500m [1916m] £6.50 X C F G P R T (60) 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds Rob Wood, 43 Holly Avenue Jesmond Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 2PX Surbiton, Greater London Rowlands RAAAmble BR 215km 2700m AAA2.5 [2550m] £7.00 G L P R T (120) 14.3-30kph Kingston Whs Gavin Simmons, 10 Chesham Road Kingston-upon-thames KT1 3AQ Bispham, Lancashire Blackpool - Glasgow - Blackpool 600 BRM 605km 3600m £10.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Dore, Sheffield Amber and Green BP 202km 3225m AAA3.25 £5.00 L P R T G 14.3-30kph Dore, Sheffield An Amber Gambol BP 1550m AAA1.5 £5.00 L P R T G 12-25kph Sheffield District CTC Andy Smith, 1 Durvale Court Dore Sheffield S17 3PT Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 160 BP 1675m £6.00 LPRT 15-30kph Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 110 BP 116km 1350m £6.00 LPRT 12-24kph Welland Valley CC 01858545376 Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 50 BP 525m £6.00 LPRT 12-24kph Welland Valley CC 01858545376 Mike Vybiral, Logan Cott Grange Lane East Langton Market Harborough LE16 7TF Welton, East Yorkshire Humber Bridge 200 BR 1237m £4.50 GPRT 14.3-30kph VC 167 Welton, East Yorkshire Humber Bridge 100 BP 106km 464m £4.50 GPRT 12.5-30kph VC 167 G Holdsworth, 1 Hidcote Walk Welton Brough East Riding of Yorkshire HU15 1FP Bolsover Beast of Bolsover BP 103km 2030m AAA2 £5.00 G L P R T 12.5-25kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Venetian Nights BR 210km 2750m AAA2.25 [2333m] £10.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph Peak Audax CTC perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB Sonning Common, near Reading Henley Hilly Hundred BP 102km 1660m AAA1.75 £6.00 FLPRT 12-30kph Reading CTC brianperry_3@hotmail.co.uk Brian Perry, 16 Rowland Close Wallingford Oxon OX10 8LA

Arrivée February 2017 No. 135

200 07 Oct 08:00 Sat

200 07 Oct 08:30 Sat 100 07 Oct 09:30 Sat

200 07 Oct 08:00 Sat

100 08 Oct 09:00 Sun 55 08 Oct 10:00 Sun

ROA 25000 200 14 Oct 08:00 Sat 130 14 Oct 08:30 Sat

200 14 Oct 08:00 Sat 100 14 Oct 10:00 Sat

ROA 25000 200 15 Oct 08:00 Sun 160 15 Oct 09:00 Sun

200 22 Oct 07:30 Sun

110 28 Oct 09:00 Sat

ROA 5000 100 29 Oct 08:00 Sun 100 29 Oct 09:00 Sun

ROA 5000 200 04 Nov 07:30 Sat

200 04 Nov 08:00 Sat

ROA 25000 200 12 Nov 08:00 Sun 160 12 Nov 08:30 Sun

100 26 Nov 09:00 Sun

200 09 Dec 08:00 Sat

Belbroughton, Worcestershire Autumn Rivers BR 202km 2000m AAA2 [2m] £6.50 F,G,L,P,R,T,S 15-30kph Beacon RCC 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terr Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 0BW Churchend,Dunmow, Essex Richard Ellis Memorial 200 BRM 201km £9.00 A[1] M G R P T L C 15-30kph Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Richard Ellis Memorial 100 BP 103km £9.00 A[1] M G R P T L C 12.5-25kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA St Herbert's Windermere Tour of Rheged BR 202km 3000m AAA3 [2800m] £5.00 YH A(1) L P R T 14.4-30kph Lakes Velo paul@revells.com Paul Revell, Kirklands Brow Edge Backbarrow Cumbria LA12 8QL Mytholmroyd Season of Mists BP 105km 2555m AAA2.5 £5.00 L P R T YH 15-24kph Mytholmroyd Mellow Fruitfulness BP 1200m AAA1.25 £4.50 L P R T YH 15-30kph West Yorkshire CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West Sowerby Bridge West Yorkshire HX6 1EF Corwen, N. Wales The Clwydian BR 212km 3200m AAA3.25 [3488m] £6.00 P R T 50 15-30kph Corwen, N. Wales The Clwyd Gate BP 138km 2250m AAA2.25 £6.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH Galashiels Etal-u-Can BR 204km 2379m £10.00 LPRTSG 15-30kph Galashiels Ride of the Valkyries BP 106km 1200m [1517m] £9.00 LPRTSG 15-30kph Audax Ecosse pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk BR £6.00 FRTP 15-30kph Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk BP £6.00 FRTP 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT Bispham, Lancashire Ride The Lancashire Lights 200 BRM 206km 1800m £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT Bolsover Colourful Clumber BP 116km £5.00 L P R T (100) 15-30kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 8 BP 103km 2500m AAA2.5 £10.00 F G P R T 125 (22/10) 12.5-25kph Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 9 BP 103km 2500m AAA2.5 £10.00 F G P R T 125 (22/10) 12.5-25kph CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT Cholsey, E of Didcot Upper Thames BR 212km 1900m [1943m] £6.00 L P R T M G 15-30kph Thames Valley Audax 01491 651 284 audaxphil@btinternet.com Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL Galashiels The Long Dark Teatime of The Soul BR 2000m £5.00 PRTG 15-30kph Audax Ecosse pedaller1@sky.com Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL Cheadle, Stockport Eureka!

BR 210km 800m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-30kph Cheadle, Stockport Cheshire Safari BP 570m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-25kph Peak Audax CTC hamhort84@talktalk.net Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Av Heald Green Cheadle Stockport Cheshire SK8 3NZ Carlton Colville, nr Lowestoft, Suffolk The Waveney Wander BP £6.00 LPRT 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT Prees Heath, nr Whitchurch St Lucy's Brevet BR 208km £3.00 X P R T 14.3-25kph Peak Audax CTC perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB

www.aukweb.net

19/01/2017 13:51:49

Winter Solstice 200km 18 December 2016 Organiser: Mike Wigley Photo: Francis Cooke

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19/01/2017 13:51:50

Reunion Social Ride Photo: Graham Brodie

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19/01/2017 13:51:51