Arrivée 129 – Summer 2015

ArrivĂŠe No.129 Summer 2015

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the long distance cyclists' association

Arrivée is the free magazine of Audax United Kingdom, the long distance cyclists’ association which represents the Randonneurs Mondiaux in the UK. Audax UK membership is open to any cyclist, regardless of club or other affiliation, who is imbued with the spirit of long-distance cycling.

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Please mention Arrivée when replying to our advertisers Cover: Matt Lomas on Tour in Iceland, photo by Ian Lomas (story on p48) Opposite: Louise Rigby on the Isle of Man, photo by MaryJane Watson (story on p42)

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Arrivée No.129 • Summer 2015

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A

s this issue of Arrivée lands on your doorsteps, many of you will be making your final preparations for Paris-BrestParis 2015. I hope qualifying has gone smoothly for all you hopefuls and I’m looking forward to reading the reports in the Autumn issue (send them to Peter Moir – details on the left).

It’s your reports – not just on PBP but on the whole range of rides undertaken by AUK members, from 50km brevets populaires to multi-day tours abroad – that make Arrivée what it is. One thing that has slightly surprised me in putting together my first issue as editor is the number of people who have expressed concern that their writing isn’t up to the required standard. For me, what is most important is not being a literary genius but having a good story to tell, and the fact that audaxers have so many great stories to tell is what makes me look forward to Arrivée dropping through my letterbox every three months.

So please keep them coming – short or long, whimsical or serious, they are all very welcome.

As well as lots of great ride stories in this issue, we’ve also got some last minute advice on packing for PBP from a veteran (p20), and some important information about the forthcoming AGM (p14) – please take the time to read it, whether or not you are able to attend.

Last, but by no means least, I’d like to give a special mention to Tim Wainwright, whose invaluable experience in his 20 years as Arrivée editor has been a great help to me over the past few months. I’m sure you’d all like to join me in thanking him for the tireless dedication he has shown over the past 20 years as editor of the Summer issue, and will no doubt carry on doing in his continuing role as editor of the Spring issue. Thanks Tim!

David n Please send contributions for the Autumn issue to Peter by 2 October

CONTENTS

4 Notices 5 One Year Time Trial – an update from Steve 6 A Couple of Hundreds 8 The Red King 9 Last Tango before Paris 12 OCD news – Ordre des Cols Durs 13 Starting Out 14 Official news

32 Dorset Coast… then and now 34 Carry on Regardless 38 Round East Anglia the fast way 40 Making a Proper Job of it 42 Girls on Tour 2015 44 Kirgsdale Again 46 An historic day out 48 Chasing the Midnight Sun

20 Packing for PBP 26 Mach 300 DIY 30 Kirton Call

53 Letters, obituary, notices 54 Audax UK calendar 59 Event entry forms Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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NOTICES

Audax UK online Please note that the web address of the Audax UK forum, for online discussion of all matters relating to the organisation, has been updated – find it at forum.audax.uk Email addresses of AUK officials have also been updated as follows: Chair@audax.uk – Chris Crossland Secretary@audax.uk – Paul Stewart FD@audax.uk – Paul Salmons Accounts@audax.uk – Nigel Armstrong Events@audax.uk – Martin Foley Perms@audax.uk – John Ward Services@audax.uk – Peter Lewis Recorder@audax.uk – Peter Lewis Membership@audax.uk – Mike Wigley Registrar@ audax.uk – Les Hereward Validations@audax.uk – Sue Gatehouse and Keith Harrison BrevetCardSecretary@audax.uk – Oliver Illes

Communications Director This is a board level position which carries the duties and responsibilities of being an executive director of Audax UK. The position involves promoting Audax UK and events run under its regulations via all relevant media outlets, online and hardcopy publications. In combination with the above to oversee and have responsibility for: 1. Production and content of AUK’s magazine Arrivée in association with a team of editors.

2. Provision of content for the website in association with a team of editors.

The appointed person will need to be of gregarious personality, possess good skills in writing interesting articles/copy to promote our organisation and events run under our regulations, be familiar with the various social media and have good IT skills. Experience of the full range of AUK events is also required.

A detailed job description is available at: www.aukweb.net/_resources/files/official/directorships/Job_ Description_-_Publicity_and_Publications_Director.pdf If you feel you fit the bill and would be interested in applying for this position, please contact either Paul Stewart, secretary@ aukweb.net, or Chris Crossland, chair@aukweb.net

Badges and medals Are you a graphic designer? Or do you have an artistic streak? If so, you could help design the new collection of Audax UK badges and medals – and there are significant cash prizes for the selected designs.

Audax UK has traditionally offered a wide range of cloth badges & medals for various achievements. Some of these are available from event organisers, others from administrators of the specific awards, and yet more from audaxmedals.southportcc.co.uk By tradition (and in common with ACP) we redesign these on a four-year cycle in time with PBP but we don’t always introduce the new design until stocks of the existing version are depleted.

We now have a styling guide (download it from auk.harrod.graphics) so we can keep a degree of consistency but if you think you can bring together the elements of that to produce some smart badges & medals to be available until 2019, we want to hear from you.

We’d suggest that you look at one or more of the following series: Single event (Distance) ................. 50km, 100km, 150km, 200km, 300km, 400km, 600km, 1000km; we also need a medal for the National 400 Single event (Grimpeur)................ Bronze, Silver, Gold Randonneur Award Series............ R500, R1000, R2500, R5000, R10000, Super Randonneur, Ultra Randonneur Brevet Award Series......................... B500, B1000, B2000, B3000, B4000, B5000, B25000 AAA series............................................. Triple AAA, 3x3xAAA, AAA RRtY, AAA SR, AAA Century, AAA ½Century, AAA ¼ Century; the basic AAA medal has just been launched (pictured right) so consistency with that would be preferred Randonneur Round the Year....... RRtY, RRtY x5, Ultra RRtY (x10) For more details, contact Peter Lewis, Event Services Director (recorder@aukweb.net) or via address details on the website.

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ONE YEAR TIME TRIAL

One Year Time Trial – an update from Steve

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elow is an update message from Steve Abraham for all his supporters and for all the people following his world record attempt. Steve is now aiming to commence a second (concurrent) record attempt, as he continues to chase down Tommy Godwin’s one year mileage total this year.

This means Steve will be running two record attempts – at the same time (a provision allowed in the UMCA rules for the Highest Annual Mileage Record). Steve was forced into this situation by a road traffic accident earlier this year which had resulted in a broken leg, which interrupted his progress for a number of weeks and lost him thousands of miles off his schedule.

CAN I STILL DO IT? I’m not going as well as I hoped yet. I want to be doing 250 miles per day now. However, I have had days where I have averaged 18mph, so I know that I can go faster than I do on a lot of my rides (where I seem to average 16mph).

Last week I decided to not use an alarm clock and just get up when I wake up naturally, so that I get as much sleep as I need. It has done some good, but the speed still isn’t there, so now I am trying to ride gently to get some recovery into my legs.

We will know within a week whether it is working. I think it will take a good few days because I expect that I need a lot of recovery and that isn’t easy when trying to ride over 200 miles per day. Currently, riding over 200 miles feels a lot harder than it ought to be. With a bit of recovery, it should get easier and I should get faster. Once I get faster, I will use that to gain more rest time before I bump up the miles so that I am as well recovered as I can be – which should make me faster.

I understand that people are doubting whether I can still do it.

I honestly can’t say that I definitely will.

But looking at the numbers and going from my past experience riding Audax – when I got the Audax points record in 2007, I did half of my total in the first 7 months – and the other half in the last 5. I never suffered any huge losses that year. So if we take my total mileage at the end of July, then add on at least 6,000 miles which I must have lost from the broken ankle (probably more) that may give an idea of what I should be aiming at.

This does mean that my biggest mileages will be in the autumn (just as it was when I was riding 1,000km a week while working full-time in 2007 all through September and October).

Doing the big miles in Autumn may not be ideal, but I have done it before. November and

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At the start of the Asparagus & Strawberries 400 riding the ICE recumbent trike with crutch holder, photo by Tom Deakins

December are never as bad as January and February either. Because I have always worked in places that shut down for Christmas, it’s not that unusual for December’s to be in the top 3 months of my monthly mileage for that year.

Currently I get very sleepy at the end of each day. I think that is down to physical tiredness and not mental tiredness. I think that if I can get my legs recovered and get a bit faster, I should also be able to manage with less sleep.

When muscles are damaged from exercise, sleep-inducing hormones are released and I think that is what is making me sleepy at the end of each day. Once I am up to speed my legs should be strong enough to do a day without being damaged and I wouldn’t have the sleepinducing hormones making me so sleepy.

The situation with my ankle is that it still hurts a little bit, sometimes. The physio told me on 25th June that at best it will take 3 months for it to be at full strength, but with the way my recovery has been going it would

probably be more like six to eight weeks.

A restart in August makes sense to me for several reasons: 1. My ankle should almost be up to full strength by then.

2. I can use the latter part of the current attempt, where I should be doing my best mileages. I can crash and burn in December, recover in Jan-Feb when the weather is at its worst. I shouldn’t lose much strength in JanFeb, so will probably go better than I did this year and should get up to speed faster too.

3. Then I build myself up again and go flat out in summer next year.

Starting later is more of a financial strain but I think that we are probably financially secure for a restart in August. I’d also like to finish this at some point – and I don’t see the need to drag it out for more than 20 months. I expect most of you feel the same way too!

Got to go, time is miles.

Steve Abraham Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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EXMOOR SPRING 100

A couple of hundreds The start of the year is a lean time for 100k events, but come April there appears to be one every weekend and sometimes two somewhere in either Cornwall, Devon or Somerset.

With so much choice I decided on the Exmoor Spring on the 12th and Dave’s Doddle going over the Somerset Levels a week later… Words & pictures by Ribble Blue

Exmoor Spring

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his event doesn’t list the amount of climbing involved in the ride, but on studying the route sheet I noticed mention of Porlock Hill toll road and also a visit to Simonsbath before climbing up to nearly 500 metres to cross the high moor. They say you can’t visit the best parts of Exmoor without a bit of climbing, so with that thought in mind I set off with about 80 others to find out if Exmoor still has all its charms for those who venture out into the wilder parts of the region.

The couple of short climbs out from the start presented few problems other than the stiff breeze coming up from Cornwall, but the high hedges along the roads sheltered us from the worst effects.

The route took us through Porlock to start of that infamous hill; although we were using the toll road, it took about half an hour to reach the top at 430 metres, the climb starting at sea level!

At the top there were a few hundred yards of rough track to join the tarmac road taking you down to Exford. This road is very deceptive, it appears to be a gentle descent all the way, but word has it that there’s a dip to cross a stream somewhere along this stretch which may catch you out. There was a dip to a stream with a slight climb early on, but it wasn’t until further along that the road dropped steeply and the real stream came into sight with the steep climb up from the bridge. It was to the tune of crunching gears, that the lowest gears were hastily sought in order to manage the ride to the top and avoid stalling.

DESCENT INTO EXFORD A long downhill saw us arrive at Exford and the first control. I’d been joined by my friend Liz, who after riding a couple of events last year, thought the experience of an Exmoor ride would either increase her interest in riding Audaxes or finish her off completely. The climb out of Exford was probably the easiest of the three long ascents we experienced on the ride. As we were getting close to the closing time at the Exford control, the flat roads over to Simonsbath were a welcome change and an opportunity to catch up some time.

The picturesque village of Simonsbath came into view together with the climb going up through Blue Gate to Kinsford Cross. This wasn’t as long as Porlock, but definitely steeper; I managed Porlock on the 38 front ring but this climb required the use of the 28 granny gear. The route turned 90 degrees left at Kinsford cross and the ride completely changed.

Gone were the hills and that stiff breeze which had been with us all the way from the start. Now the

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Liz poses next to one of the giant anchors on show at RNAS Yeovilton

wind was behind us and the long gentle descent made it a very fast ride to Sandyway and White Post cross. There was a short climb to Round Hill junction, then the road continued to descend across Anstey Common and steeply down to Dulverton for the second control. Dulverton, the gateway to Exmoor, is always a delight with its array of shops selling everything you would ever need for a day out on the moor. Much of the lower part of the town was seriously damaged in the 1952 floods which rampaged through Lynmouth and many other towns and villages on Exmoor.

THE IRRESISTIBLE LURE OF CREAM TEAS The end was certainly in mind as we left the town to ride the few miles to Exebride for an Info control, followed by the longer ride up the Exe valley, over Wheddon Cross and down through picturesque

EVENT Exmoor Spring DATE 12 April 2015 DISTANCE 100km LOCATION Minehead, Somerset ORGANISER Richard Miles, Minehead CC WEBSITE mineheadcyclingclub.com

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DUSTMAN DAVE’S DODDLE 100 Dunster. After riding through the town with all it’s visitors, there were just a couple of miles left along the A39 to the finish at Minehead Middle School. The cream tea was well deserved and much appreciated, along with as many cups of tea as we could manage.

Many thanks to Richard Miles and his team for a testing ride with great views up on the Exmoor high moor, though unfortunately there were no sightings of Red Deer this year.

Dustman Dave’s Doddle

Above, from top: Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Memorial, North Curry; The 17th century Butter Market, Somerton; A plaque remembering the 1952 floods that hit Exmouth

EVENT Dustman Dave’s Doddle DATE 19 April 2015 DISTANCE 110km LOCATION Bishops Lydeard, NW of Taunton ORGANISER Philip Leavey, Wellington Wheelers WEBSITE wellingtonwheelers.co.uk

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It was a mere one week later that we headed up the M5 to Taunton and onto Bishops Lydeard for the start of Dave’s Doddle event, a 110km ride over the Somerset Levels going all the way out to Sparkford and back. It’s a doddle.

Liz had decided to join me, taking into account that there were hardly any hills and a good weather forecast promising fine cloudless skies. Although, on the day there was a cold breeze to start with in the morning, but it warmed up as the day went on.

There was not such a high entry as last week, as about 65 of us turned up for the ride. However, this would probably mean more cakes for us at the finish, as I understood that they had hoped and planned for a larger number.

We headed up the village main street at nine to take the first left towards Kingston St Mary and Upper Cheddon. I always enjoy cycling through these villages, picturesque enough to feature on chocolate box covers with lovely names to match. It was in North Curry that we paused to admire Queen Victoria’s Jubilee memorial in the village centre, before cycling across the Somerset Levels. Although this was the scene of devastating flooding during the previous winter, there was little sign of the devastation that it had caused now, except perhaps some rebuilding of a few properties and the erection of a few barriers around some properties, hopefully preparing them for what may happen in the future.

The control in Langport was right beside the River Tone, in what must have been a warehouse in the eighteen hundreds to take in goods when barges came up the river from the Bristol channel, but is now a thriving restaurant on the banks of the river. On our way out of Langport we were held up by, of all things, a cycle race! There were about 75 racers coming up the hill in a bunch, followed by the usual support cars and motorbikes. They appeared to be riding a circuit as we met them all again just outside Somerton, the next town we were due to go through.

WONDERFUL WESSEX Somerton is an idyllic Wessex market town with it’s notable Butter Market. This structure was built for the market traders in the area during the 17th century and still stands in the town centre after 300 years.

We cycled with ease through the smart Charlton villages of Mackrell, Adam and West to join the A37 for a short distance, before descending to join the old A303 which took us into Sparkford and the newly built Haynes Motor museum. This splendid exhibition of shiny old motors was the backdrop for the halfway control just outside the town. The museum is very popular with visitors and so service in the café was

very slow with a long queue trying to get their midday lunch. In the end we settled for a sandwich and drink from the self service counter.

Retracing the route back to the A303, we turned into Weston Bampfylde to search for the electric sub station where we had to make another turn. This is usually the turn that catches out several riders a year, leading to a lengthy tour of the area before realising their error. The short climb over the railway is the steepest and only climb of note throughout the whole route. After winding through Queens Camel, we rode on towards RNAS Yeovilton. We just had to pause for a quick photo next to those truly impressive giant anchors before continuing past Ilchester to join the A372 main road, which would take us back to Langport and the third control of the ride.

A DOUBLE HELPING OF CURRY The route back to the finish was now more or less the reverse of the morning section with a short change taking us to Curry Rivel. We then picked up the road near North Curry and followed the lanes back to Bishops Lydeard.

Thanks go to the team from Wellington Wheelers for a ride that seemed to be a few more kilometres than advertised, but this did not detract from what was a very enjoyable day’s cycle ride. ❏

Lorna Doone, heroine of RD Blackmore’s novel, whose statue stands in Dulverton, Somerset

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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FLATLANDS 600

The Red King

A fantasy on occasion of the Flatlands 600

by Allen O’Leary

I

nto day two and with not enough sleep I was a couple of hundred yards into my thousand yard stare when I was beset by The Red King. He’d been out in front for an hour. First a matchstrike of red in amongst the earthy tones of autumn, then a lingering glow, finally a block of red in an Audax England shirt.

As I winched my way up to him he looked across at me. I was expecting the craggy, weather beaten face of the hardened Audax rider, but instead the rider had a smooth visage, a fine English face with a narrow nose and high arched eyebrows. There was no sign of exertion on it at all and when I looked at how he was riding he was sitting head-high and spinning freely, like he was a minute into a ride to the shops for a bottle of gin, not a day and a dawn into 600.

‘Oh, hello!’ His voice was high and plumby. He could be a barrister, or a queen’s counsel. Perhaps a Judge. And then it struck me - he was The Red King from Alice in Wonderland.

It made perfect sense. If Lewis Carrol had been a sportsman surely it is Audax that would have appealed. Here we were racing around the chess board plains of Linconshire, engaged in an ultimately pointless pursuit that had no value other than the literary-picaresque and the practicing of mathematical mind games where somehow 200km to go was far worse than 400km ridden.

I glanced across at him, tireless and aloof. What did he want of me then? Was he trying to lure me off course? Would he get eight punctures in a row and demand all my spares? Would he cast subtle but permanent doubt over the accuracy of my Garmin? Worst of all, perhaps he would try to make me confront the truth of what I was doing and, like a collapse of a house of cards, my enjoyment of this Audax thing would be removed in a moment and I would be left naked in the realisation that I was, as many have said, mad.

Maybe he was the Protector of the Spirit of Audax and this was some hideous test for people on their first 600, a form of drip-feed torture. He would ride beside me for the last eight hours looking perfectly fresh and sane while I descended into madness and delirium.

I might finish the ride but I would be broken, cast back into the world of Sportives, clattering on to anyone who would listen that I once used to do proper long rides and telling people that they really should use mudguards and reliable 8-speed transmissions.

I had to escape. If he was the King there was no chance that I, a humble pawn, would be able to defeat him in a head-on battle. I subtly upped my pace as much as I dared and waved a cheery goodbye.

Now began my slow escape. Every five minutes I would look back and The Red King would be a little further ba ck. Not enough! Over half an hour I managed to get him properly behind me, the flicker of red flaring less until it was finally smothered by the hedges and low trees of the windy plains.

After an hour, feeling relaxed, I took a toilet break. I got to an intersection, found a bridle way, stopped my bike and relieved myself into a hedge. Turning my bike, I pushed off, clipped in and just about clattered into the Red King.

‘Oh hello!’ he said, all innocent and seemingly good-natured.

His pleasant banter wasn’t fooling me, he was trying to lead me to my doom.

I muttered something back, rode past and began the task

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of slowly putting him behind me, realising that I couldn’t stop for several hours now if I wanted to stay out of his clutches.

An hour and half later and beginning to feel like I might have given the devil the slip, I momentarily got lost. I knew where I was and had been faithfully following the purple line on my GPS but I must have been lost because a quarter of a mile in front there he was again. My god, the man had control of my GPS now and had re-routed me in a circle to come up behind him and was waiting for me to catch him up.

I was cleverer than that. I decided to slow down a little and maintain this safe distance. After all I had good sight of him and could take evasive action if he tried anything sinister. So I backed off the pedals a tiny amount and tried to stay back. But even this seemed difficult and after a while I was crawling along, the Red King still the same distance in front. The deviousness of the fellow was admirable, he was deliberately slowing. If we kept this up we would both finish outside the time limit.

I started to panic. What could be done? I could re-route around him but I was in no fit state to take on that level of navigational prowess on roads I didn’t know. I could try a ten mile stretch at time-trial speed to leave him behind, but that would be aerobic suicide. And who was to say that we wouldn’t simply keep up? He seemed capable of anything.

No, I would have to wait for a group of riders to come past, slip onto their rear wheels, change my jacket and hope he didn’t recognise me.

En-passant.

I looked backwards. There was only empty Lindonshire roads, low trees, desolate farms and endless fields of tubers. No riders coming up behind. We were alone out here, on this endlessly repeating landscape. My GPS was telling me that I was getting nearer and nearer to Cambridge, but I didn’t believe it. He had me trapped in an infinite loop of turnip fields.

My head drooped towards by bars in despair. It seemed now that I wasn’t traveling over the surface of the board but rather that I was dragging the board under my wheels. All of it. Pedal stroke by agonising pedal stroke.

Did I say board? I meant earth. Dragging the earth under my wheels.

I had to get a grip. It was time to do or die, the time for high-stakes action. With a fresh determination borne entirely of forgotten square of flapjack, I raised my head high and looked for the foe, ready for a direct confrontation.

But he was gone. The Red King had disappeared and, no matter how much I looked for him as I rode, he remained unseen through the last hours to Cambridge and made no appearance at the ale house at the final control.

I must have vanquished him. Maybe I was a knight after all, not a mere pawn. Maybe I had some power. I smiled a hero’s smile into my half of sweet cider.

It was only later I realised where the Red King had gone. As my head hit the pillow and my body slipped into the warmth of a long sleep I found myself looking backwards. And there he was, in my nightmare, a flash of red, his eyebrows raised, his now devilish smile playing over his face.

‘Oh hello!’ he said. ‘Thinking of the French ride are you? Well let me tell you all about it...’

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WINDSOR-CHESTER-WINDSOR 600

Last tango before Paris The ups and downs of qualifying for the big one in Paris this year – with perhaps more ‘ups’ than some people expected…

I

t is 4:45am in the morning. I’ve slept fitfully through the night. The alarm on my phone is set for 5:15am. Maybe I can sneak another 30 minutes of sleep. No, it’s not happening, may as well get up, time for the Windsor Chester Windsor (WCW) 600.

It is my final event required to qualify for Paris Brest Paris (PBP) 2015.

The pressure of qualifying for PBP has had an interesting dynamic. During London Edinburgh London in 2013; my build up rides were just that, build up rides. If they went wrong, to the extent I had to stop for physical, mental or mechanical reasons, then so be it. I could use my failures, should they happen, as a learning experience. Pick myself, up, and move on to my next ride. Failure on a ride, would not stop the forward momentum to my planned big ride of the year. This year, I had to make the rides count, if I was going to PBP. A different dynamic indeed.

I’d first noticed this changed dynamic as early as my first 200 qualifier, when I’d gone hopelessly off route due to lazy navigation. Somehow I’d almost reached the penultimate control after the one I should have been aiming for. If it hadn’t been a qualifier, I’d probably have just said oh well, and continued to the finish, albeit DNF. As I needed to make it count, I turned round and headed all the way back to the control I should have been aiming at, Cyclist’s eye view of the WCW 600

passing many riders coming the other way. I made it round in time, near the time limits, albeit with an extra 100km on the clock. Luckily I was having a fast ride that day.

I also noticed, when I did a second 200, and later on, a second 400, how much more chilled I was when they didn’t matter as far as qualifying for PBP goes.

Yes, I was really chilled when failure didn’t matter. I need to capture that, and carry it forward, as I think it’ll help me succeed, counter intuitive as it sounds.

NEXT STOP WINDSOR So here I am, awake, at Langley Travelodge, as a new day dawns. This is the only 600 that fitted with family life. So again I need to make it count. Too early to get a breakfast, it’s a simple ritual of cycling kit on, saddle back on bike, water bottles, and GPS mounted. Leave room. Drop my civilian clothes in the car boot. I meet a fellow WCW 600 rider, as I leave hotel; he jumps in his car as I pedal off to the start.

It’s 5.7km, from the hotel to the start, alongside the M4, then quiet roads through Datchet and along to old Windsor. I pass some further riders unloading cars in a layby on the left, a note if I ride this event again. It’s the start of a beautiful clear day, if a little nippy. My overnight warmer more weatherproof gear is in saddle bag. My hands are going a little numb in the chill air, but I figure I’ll soon warm up. It’s a great day to be alive, as I listen to the bird song, and lose myself in the landscape I’m a part of.

Previously I’ve written almost blow by blow accounts of my rides. It’s a symptom of having a detailed recall of them. I can’t help it. Certainly in the few days after I’ve ridden them. Once I start writing the memories just keep flowing back. I’ll try and be a little more succinct this time. You judge as to whether I’ve succeeded…

VOLUNTEERS They are the great mainstay of what we do. Without them, without their care and attention, many of us would not succeed at this passion of ours. Even when we fail, they are there to pick us up, and feel good about ourselves. A call had gone out earlier in the week, and many had responded. I met Shu Pillinger at the start, who was riding (fast) to the Weston control to help. Les, Andrew Preston, Wobbly John, Reg T, Peter Davies, Damon, Denise and many others. I made an effort to thank them all when I left a control, especially on the return south when we were (as were they) a little bit wearier. Most others did the same. The total level of care reminded me of LEL and with good reason. It was organised by Danial. What would we do without volunteers?

The first leg to Chalgrove, was an amiable peloton of riders. The pace was quick, but not so fast that slower riders couldn’t stay in the group. I’d made a post on the Audax FB page a couple of weeks back about uninvited drafting or wheel suckers. The debate had got quite heated, a number of strong ➪

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Words & pictures

by Phil Whitehurst

EVENT Windsor-Chester-Windsor DATE 30 May 2015 DISTANCE 623km LOCATION Old Windsor, Berkshire ORGANISER Danial Webb, LEL2013

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WINDSOR-CHESTER-WINDSOR 600 Tucking into lunch at Weston-sub-Edge

of dropping and smashing mine. I’m in awe of those who take good backward looking piccies from their cameras as they ride. Me, I have to stop to take a picture. This usually means stopping on my own, and dropping out of the company I’m with. It seems unfair to ask everyone to stop, each time I want to take a picture. So I end up taking picture of my handlebars in empty lanes.

Then I end up riding alone for a period. On this ride; I didn’t take any pics on the very first sections as I didn’t want to lose the advantage of the group.

SOLO OR GROUP RIDING? The WCW 600 offered an opportunity for long sections of both types of riding. I came to the following conclusions this time round. I very much enjoy group riding for the social aspect.

I enjoy some of the off the wall conversations and silly humour that ensues. I like to ride side by side if I’m in a group for that reason. Pace lines aren’t for me, unless they are double lines

opinions were expressed (not all mine), some slower riders got upset, and the post got pulled. I’m sorry for any upset caused, it wasn’t the intention; things got a little twisted, as they are wont on the Internet. It had however made me consider this. I can’t choose who decides to sit very close on my wheel, and how they behave, but I can decide upon my attitude towards them. It made for a more relaxed ride.

FALSE FLATS The ride was sold as ‘flat’ by Danial. Well it’s the hilliest flat ride I’ve recently ridden.

Surprisingly tough. The first leg after crossing the M4 climbs up into the Chilterns, drops to Henley, then climbs again via Pishill, before dropping down to Watlington and on to Chalgrove. The second leg after a gentle start crosses the tip of the Cotswolds, and again has a number of hills to get the legs and lungs going. On the way north I noted on some long descents that the signs said 10, 12, 14% gradients, and I’d be climbing back up them.

There were also some shorter sharper hills to be found. But once past those two sections, the sections from Weston Sub Edge up to Chester and back were much more amenable and what I’d include in a description of a ‘flat’ ride.

FOOD AND DRINK If you get your food and drink wrong, it can wreck the best paid plans for these events.

The food on the event offered just the right amount of variety. Somehow when you reached the control, just the right kind of food was available. It was just the food your body needed, and was easily digested. It was so good, I didn’t eat outside the controls, other than what I started on the bike with.

PHOTOGRAPHS I like to take a few photographs on a ride.

Unless I have my waterproof camera in a jersey pocket, that means my smartphone.

Smartphones aren’t cheap, and I’m terrified

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The Midlands brings canals and flatter terrain

FASTER OR SLOWER? I’m lucky. I’m generally fit enough and fast enough that I don’t need to worry about the time limits. I lie somewhere in the middle of the timings. Fast enough. It then becomes of choice of how much I wish to push on an event. On this ride, I found myself at Chester, the halfway point, easily in the daylight. I hadn’t pushed that hard, but hard enough that I could sense my digestion may be slowing. So on the return leg, together with those I’d decided to ride with at this point, I opted to slow down a little maybe 1-2km/h slower. In fact the second half was 7 hours longer. Which approach to take? Well I think I like a little of both. My general approach is build up a buffer of time in the first half, and then hold it steady in the second. This means I naturally take it a bit easier in the second half, which suits me well.

INFO CONTROLS I’d worried about missing info controls on previous rides. This time round I marked them as waypoints on my GPS. When the waypoint proximity alarm went off it was time to do something. At Sambrook there was an info control, one going north, one going south. If I’d been bright I would have got the answers to both questions, when heading north in the daylight. I didn’t.

So in the dark on the way back; I found myself, clambering up a wall, hanging on to an overgrown bush with one hand, trying to shine my headtorch on a hidden signpost to get the answer to an info question. What fun I had, as two fellow riders came upon the scene. I shared my answer rather than watch them risk themselves as well!

OUT AND BACK OR CIRCULAR? This is my second out and back audax, and my first out and back at this distance. I did wonder if I’d be bored with the same route going back.

But different weather, different direction, and it all seemed familiar but not so familiar. It is a stunning route with some lovely sections

so I can still have a chat. Solo riding I enjoy for the way it immerses me in the landscape, the way the scenery, wild flowers, undulations and twists and turns, caress my senses. Solo, allows you to reach a level of harmony, that I’d say was close to deep meditation, a natural flow where everything mentally, physically and environmentally is in tune.

A sense of calm, an oasis, in a busy world.

A ride needs to have a little of both – a bit of balance.

Early evening meal at Lilleshall

MAIN ROADS OR LANES? WCW 600 has some longish sections of main road in the middle sections. Main roads are mostly flatter, can be better surfaced, and generally faster. However with that comes drivers impatient in their cars. Lanes are hillier, can have atrocious surfaces filled with gravel, but are often traffic free, and lined with wild flowers and open fields, or wooded. This ride had some wonderful quiet lanes that it felt a joy to discover. I’m a confirmed lane rider.

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WINDSOR-CHESTER-WINDSOR 600 that I’d like to explore at a more sedate pace, maybe stopping overnight at some of the pubs that nearly tempted me this time.

FULLY CATERED OR X-RATED? One of my 400’s was X-rated. I do enjoy both. X-rated feels more out there, more adventurous. Fully catered you feel the love and care of the volunteers. I also love the regrouping and communities that form at the controls. What would we do without these lovely village halls that are rented out? A village hall staffed by volunteers is sometimes just what you need to regroup and get your mojo back. For x-rated you sometimes have to give yourself a private talk. WCW 600 did fully catered with pizzazz.

TO RIDE THROUGH A FORD OR NOT? On the way north I bypassed a ford via a foot bridge, on the way back I rode through the ford. I’d heard that some riders fell off in the ford, on the mossy bottom. It reminds me to treat them with respect.

TO RIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT OR NOT? I’d intended to ride through the night on this one. But the weather, and the realization that I needed some sleep, put a stop to that idea.

I managed to miss the worst of the rain and wind as a result. The riders you’re with can greatly influence this. If they are continuing and you are enjoying their company, then you may ride on as well.

OVERALL IMPRESSION I think it is a fine route, passing through some of the best countryside on offer in the UK. Although it’s described as flat there are some hilly sections on the first and last 130km.

Having said that, there are some fast flat sections if you need to make up time. The controls and volunteers make this such a great event. The ride is tougher than you think, and indeed for some the ride didn’t go as planned, and I’m gutted for them. Don’t under estimate how tough 600’s can be, even if advertised as ‘flat’ or ‘easy’. What we attempt to do isn’t easy.

Thank you Danial and volunteers. If it runs next year I may volunteer at a control. A few of the controls aren’t far from my family up north and the southern ones are easily in reach. Thank you to my fellow riders, whose company I enjoyed either at the controls, or during the riding.

Now to ride events with the pressure of PBP off. I have everything to gain, by having nothing to lose. ❏

“Don’t underestimate how tough 600s can be, even if advertised as ‘flat’ or ‘easy’. What we attempt to do isn’t easy”

From top: couscous & veg stew at Weston-sub-Edge; jacket potato & chilli at Hartlebury; oatcakes with cheese and beans at Christleton (Chester)

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11

ORDRE DES COLS DURS

OCD News from Rod Dalitz

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he Ordre des Cols Durs – the Cycloclimbing club - has shown a good deal of activity since merging with Audax UK. I have received many claims from existing OCD members, and even more from established AUK members who appreciate a new dimension to their riding.

This is a good time to remind members what the OCD is about, and most of all, to make claims before the end of the year.

WHAT IS A COL? OCD is about riding cols, and claiming the height above sea level. There is no speed or time limit, you simply ride up to a high point of a mountain pass, which is defined as having higher ground to each side, and a different river valley ahead and behind.

The achievement of climbing is followed by the joy of descent. You may find the road continues climbing – there are a few examples in the Alps – and it is allowed to claim the next higher point if it too is a col, as long as there is at least 150m ascent from the previous col.

In general, it is not considered proper to claim cols less than 300m above sea level, though in the Scottish Islands, 200m is OK since island cols ascend from sea level, and it is that much more difficult to get there. You may claim a col up to five times a year, but not more than twice in a single day.

As well as cols, OCD accepts rides to mountain summits, like Mont Ventoux. You must take your bike – ride, or carry – to the

highest point. Some famous climbs such as Alpe d’Huez are not summits, only high points on the mountain, which do not count. OCD does not require proof of a climb, relying on members’ honesty.

THE TRIPLE CHALLENGE The Triple Challenge of Mont Ventoux is a special case, since there are three different routes up the mountain: if you do the special triple challenge of all three routes in one day, which qualifies for membership of the Club des Cinglés du MontVentoux, you may claim the summit three times – a remarkable achievement, which has been completed by several AUK members.

SUBMIT YOUR CLAIMS If you submit your claims before December 31, I will do my best to ensure they are included in the Winter Arrivée. If your claim is late, it will go into next years issue. In 2015, I received a lot of claims in February and March, prompted I think by my article and the claims summary. Better to be early.

Usually, I print claims when I receive them, but recently I suffered a computer failure, which means I may have lost one or more email claims. If you submitted a claim by email or by the AUK claim form, it might help if you could send me a duplicate. Otherwise, if you

see your name missing in Arrivée, please let me know.

A NOTE TO ORGANISERS I would remind Audax organisers, if your ride goes over valid OCD cols, it would be good to list these on your calendar page or in your route-sheet. This would simplify the task for riders (and me!) and might encourage more riders to enter your event.

Finally, I quote Peter Dale, AUK member 6186, who ‘decided, at the age of 74, to make my claim for the more significant rides I have made in the past 10 years… I did not discover the joys of climbing in France until 2005.’ Peter has claimed ‘only my more significant climbs’ totalling 137,449m. Peter, and several others, give a perfect example of the satisfaction the OCD can bring: quantifying an achievement which is out of the ordinary, and enjoying the recognition of fellow cyclists. ❏

Dave Bracey and son Xiao Wei lead out the peloton at the start of the New Forest Spring Challenge

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NEW FOREST SPRING CHALLENGE 50

Starting out

by Dave Bracey

Dave Bracey and son Xiao Wei at the start of the New Forest Spring Challenge 50km brevet populaire

‘Dad… when can I ride an Audax too?’

F

or all of the two last year’s riding Audax my son Xiao Wei had been an avid followe r of my progress. Before leaving for every event I had to issue him with a map of the route, with controls marked and an estimated time of arrival for each. Reaching each control, my first action had then to be to send a text to confirm ar‑rival so that he could check my position and progress.

After getting home I then had to load the route up on to Strava so that he could examine my route in detail, check speeds, times and, most importantly, find out what I had eaten at the cafés. Very motivating for me as when the legs felt like starting to fail, I had time to think how a DNF would mean explaining to him why I had wimped out.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Xiao Wei has always loved cycling and just before his eighth birthday we did a 47km ride along flat cycle paths following the coast between Southampton and Portsmouth.

‘Dad, can I come along with you now?’

A check of the calendar showed that John Ward’s New Forest Spring Challenge 50km BP wasn’t that far off. Roads looked reasonably quiet and safe. Not too hilly with just 275m of climbing. Hmm… could be on.

‘Ok, son, let’s do this.’ We got in some practice tackling longer hill climbs and

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a windy day even gave a chance to try some drafting with Xiao Wei tucking in close behind and shouting instructions for me to speed up or slow down. Things looked good so entries went in.

Eventually the big day arrived and we turned up bright and early at Lymington ready for the start. John, as ever, was very welcoming and offered to take our picture in front of the AUK banner. Then we were waved away and were off. I know from experience that Xiao Wei can become a bit too competitive sometimes and had warned him not to try and keep up if it felt too fast but to ride at his own speed. As expected most of the field came past but he soon got used to the idea that even if some groups disappeared over the horizon you often later bump into them a few kms down the road. Great fun!

Everyone we met was so friendly and never seemed to fail to call out encouragement.

Controls at Burley and Holmsley, optimistically marked on the route sheet as coffee stops, were dispatched with a healthy mix of Coke, crisps and ice cream! The distance flew by and finally we approached the end with what was looking, for us, to be an unexpectedly quick average.

moved ahead. Disaster in Xiao Wei’s eyes!

The red mist came down and after we hurriedly retraced our steps, he shot off down the hill in pursuit. A lung busting climb up the hill on the other side and we were nearly back at the arrivee with just a few 100 metres to go.

Xiao Wei flew down the outside of the group and cut in front just before the turn into the arrive entrance leaving me to make sheepish glances to the groupas we swept past.

Stamping us in at the end and after another hearty well done, John gave Xiao Wei his medal and badge. These together with his completed brevet card were then taken in to school the next day to proudly show to his classmates and teacher. A fantastic day and we can’t wait till the next. ❏ Proud owner of a 50km finisher’s badge

DISASTER STRIKES! Xiao Wei was in charge of navigation with the GPS on his handle bars and as I noticed Xiao Wei looking over his shoulder could hear a few riders in one of the groups we had been swapping positions with approaching from behind. A junction back into Lymington saw us take the wrong exit for 50m before the GPS beeped to warn us of our mistake. The group behind of course took the correct route and so

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OFFICIAL NEWS

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Just a Second

‘Just when I thought I was off the back, they pulled me back in…’

T

hese are the jokes, you may as well laugh! Having got that out of the way, I’d like to congratulate AUK member Shusanah Pillinger on becoming the first British woman to complete a solo RAAM, and also Joth and Emma Dixon, who were part of the record breaking relay team of tandemists, Love Sweat and Gears.

I’m also pleased to report our own uber long distance cyclist Steve Abraham is on the mend and looking forward to starting a second concurrent 1YTT attempt soon.

Donations from AUK members are continuing to help keep Steve on the road, and the ‘donation’ option on online event entries launched earlier this year has raised £1,600 to-date. That’s 1,600 individual donations in addition to monies through other channels, great stuff.

ANNUAL REUNION Other news? Well, this year’s reunion has been confirmed for the weekend of 14th November in Peterborough; see the booking form with this Arrivee or the AUK website for details.

The AUK trophy cabinet will not be joining us though; it will be taking up residence at the Cycling Museum at Llandrindod Wells.

However, our gallant award winners will not be leaving empty handed though as there will be a new range of awards for them to collect.

Electoral Reform Services (ERS) will be providing the voting services again but this time it will be more of an online affair, so if you were one of the 1,200 members who received a ballot paper through the post, please register an email address through the AUK website to receive an online ballot. If you really are strictly offline, please contact Les Hereward, the AUK registrar, in order that you can register for a postal vote courtesy of the Royal Mail – see the Notice to Members on the opposte page for details. Another Notice to Members (again, see opposite page) relates

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to insurance for overseas events, so if you are planning to ride overseas, please take note.

RIDING OVERSEAS Many AUKs will be riding overseas this year, of course, this being a PBP year. Audax Club Parisien’s new processes for BRM event validation and PBP entry have been going well and whether it’s a coincidence is hard to say but we are on track for a record number of Super Randonneurs. Events Sec Martin Foley has also announced the regulations for a new category of event for 2016, the Easter Trail (or ‘Trace Nationale’ as they say in France), a more relaxed version of the Easter Arrow.

New events mean new medals, and AUK members have been invited to design new ranges including a special medal for AUK’s 40th anniversary in 2016. Contact Event Services Director Peter Lewis for details (see the advertisement on page 4).

COMINGS AND GOINGS On the home front, the Board would like to thank Tony Greenwood who is stepping down this year as Brevet Card secretary and welcome Oliver Illes to the role. Other personnel changes pending are to elect Finance and Communications Directors.

The Board appointed Paul Salmons FD in December and Paul will be standing for formal election this year as required by AUK Articles.

Meanwhile we need to recruit a Communications Director to look after the website and publications team as well as overseeing our publicity across traditional and social media, and two non-executive director posts will also be up for election, as these are contested on an annual basis.

We also need some help organising the Reunion and/or Awards, so if you would like to help in any of these ways, please get in touch so that we can let you have more details (see the advertisement on page 4).

ROUTE PLANNING & GPS A recent development which impacts all those involved in planning routes is that withdrawal of Google Maps ‘Classic’. In recent years GMC has been AUK’s preferred route planning and distance measurement tool, and alas, New Google Maps just ain’t the same, so we are looking at other options.

For the time being though, the Board has adopted a measure to give event organisers the choice of setting routes with advisory routes as now, or fixed (mandatory) routes as used by the rest of the randonneur world.

Mandatory routes are much easier to plan – simply plot a route using your preferred mapping system, add some controls along the way and you’re good to go – and will make life easier especially for the GPS DIY Permanent riders and Organisers, as GPS DIYers plan more routes than any other group nowadays. The quid pro quo is that riders will be required to follow the set route, as the rider’s track will be validated against the route track as well as the event Controls. The Board hopes this approach will also help to revitalise regular Permanents which have rather been in decline for several years now.

In progressing this initiative the Board is aware some will be concerned about the wider use of GPS but feels GPS devices are now mainstream and so it is time to extend their use, for Permanent events at least.

The Board remains committed to Brevet Card and route sheets for Calendar events.

As I write we are working on the operational procedures for this and there will be a formal proposal for AGM2015 in due course.

Keep an eye on the AUK Website for further announcements or see the AUK Forum for more (much!) more detail.

All the best,

Paul Stewart, Secretary, Audax UK www.aukweb.net

OFFICIAL NEWS EVENTS SERVICES

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015

Postal voting Postal finish AGM – guidelines The Next Generation A S NOTICE TO MEMBERS REGARDING POSTAL VOTING FOR AGM2015

o-called ‘postal finish’ events allow organisers the flexibility to have a finish control that is unstaffed for all or part of its ‘opening hours’. However, on a number of occasions, a lack of familiarity with the process on the part of rider or organiser has created problems.

Appendix 9.8.7 to the AUK regulations requires that the rider returns the completed brevet card to the organiser within 14 days.

There may be occasions when the organiser needs to set an earlier deadline (such as in the run-up to PBP), and in such a case the organiser will make the earlier deadline known to all riders.

It is the rider’s responsibility to: ll Make sure all the details on the cards are completed and all the necessary Proofs of Passage are supplied (Appendix 9.8.6) ll Ensure the card arrives with the organiser within the deadline, by making sure it carries sufficient postage and is sent in good time.

It is not the organiser’s responsibility to chase up any missing cards as the deadline approaches, nor is the organiser going to pay excess postage if the envelope with the card and all the receipts is more than 5 mm thick and should have had a Large Letter stamp.

It is the organiser’s responsibility to check all the P-o-P, complete the Finish list, the Organiser Return form, any accident reports and to mail all the cards together to the Validator immediately following the published deadline.

Organisers may want to make the process smoother by providing all riders with a SAE addressed to the organiser along with the brevet cards. The extra costs involved can be reflected in the entry fee.

It should be evident that it is in the rider’s interests to send their cards in as soon as possible after the event so that if the organiser should have any questions about the P-o-P or the detail filled in on the card they can be resolved before the deadline.

Once the cards have arrived with the Validator it is not possible to add any latecomers to the finish list. Submit your card late and your ride will not count.

Peter Lewis, Event Services Director AUDAX UNITED KINGDOM LONG DISTANCE CYCLISTS’ ASSOCIATION Ltd Company No. 05920055 registered in England & Wales Registered Address: 25 Bluewater Drive, Elborough, Weston-Super-Mare BS24 8PF

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ome members attending AGM2014 commented that with the introduction of the absentee (postal) voting the role of the AGM has changed. Whilst there was plenty of discussion at the AGM, and through the the AUK forum beforehand,the majority of votes cast were submitted by post, and some asked what was the point of holding the AGM. Consequently, I’ve been asked to consult the membership on how we can improve the process.

One approach might be be to ‘decouple’ the Reunion and AGM. There would still be a general meeting at the Reunion but it would be a more informal affair, a chance to meet and question the Board who might present their reports, as they do now, with the formal AGM set to coincide, say, with the spring AUK Board Meeting.

This would mean the decision making process would start at the Reunion rather than end there, and any matters arising could be developed over the winter months for consideration at the AGM in the spring. This would make it easier to schedule changes to begin at the start of the following season rather than try and shoehorn them into a season already six weeks old.

What we don’t know is what effect this would have on the Reunion. Would it still be so popular if there was no opportunity to demand the immediate resignation of the AUK Board for crimes against inner tubes, whatever? What do you think? This discussion is continued on the Arrivée board of the AUK Forum.

See you there,

GM2014 saw the introduction of postal (absentee) voting with around 5,000 ballots being distributed electronically by email – or rather, details of how to log on to the voting website managed by Electoral Reform Services – and a further 1,200 paper ballots by post for return to ERS for recording on the voting website. However, printing and postage for the Annual Report and ballots proved extremely costly relative to the numbers of votes cast. Accordingly, for AGM2015, members are encouraged to supply email addresses to support online voting.

For AGM2015, the annual report, which includes the AUK officers’ reports and AGM agenda, will be published through the AUK website, and voting website credentials will be distributed by email to members who have registered an email with AUK, as before. However, printed materials will NOT be sent out automatically to other members.

Members who would like to receive a printed ballot paper and annual report must register for the service using the form below. These must be received by 1st October 2015.

Members who have a personal email address registered with AUK need take no action. Members who SHARE an email address – mostly household members – are asked, if possible, to register INDIVIDUAL email addresses. You can do this using the ‘Change Password’ facility on the AUK website .

None of the above affects the right of all AUK members to cast their vote in person at a General Meeting, assuming they have not previously cast their vote online or by post If you have any queries regarding this, please email registrar@audax.uk or write to the registrar at the address below.

Thanks and regards,

Paul Stewart, Secretary, Audax UK

Paul Stewart, Secretary, Audax UK

S

To: Audax UK Registrar, 20 Webster Close, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 0SF I would like to register for a printed ballot.

Signed:_____________________________________ Name:_____________________________________ AUK Membership No:_________ Date: ____________

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15

RANDONNEE

Riders climb the Clisham on the Isle of Harris, on the Golden Road & Standing Stones 300, photo by Ian Gilbert

Tony Gibson of Sunderland Clarion on a Wearside DIY 100, photo by Dale Ramage Instagram: @dale_ftw

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OFFICIAL NEWS CHANGES TO THE REGULATIONS

Riding non-AUK/ACP/RM events as AUK Brevets

A

t the AUK Board Meeting in Sept 24, 2014 an amendment to AUK Regulation Appendix 7.1 was adopted, changing from: ll “An AUK Event may not be ridden concurrently with any other organised event.”

to: ll “An AUK Event may not be ridden concurrently with any other event eligible for AUK awards.”

The proposal will be submitted to AGM2015 for formal approval by the AUK membership.

The amendment supports AUK members by widening the range of events eligible for AUK award schemes. The amendment was moved in response to requests from members wishing to take part in non-AUK/ACP/RM homologated events which are nominally compatible with AUK regulations and standards, and so have their rides recognised by AUK and count towards AUK awards. Examples of such events include: the HBKH 1,500km organised

by Audax Club Schleswig Holstein, Germany; the Vätternrundan 300km, a mass rider event in Sweden; and the Dunwich Dynamo, an informal community based event in the UK. Whilst the number of such requests is relatively small they are important to the riders concerned.

The amendment allows riders to register their ride as a (DIY) Permanent. Where the organising body validates the riders participation in the event, the organiser validation might be used as ‘Proof of Passage’ for the Perm, otherwise riders will collect Proofs of Passage as required by AUK regulations, eg receipts, brevet card stamps or GPX track.

The amendment ensures that the validated Brevet will conform to AUK standards, as the ride will be registered and validated by AUK using AUK’s own established processes and procedures.

Current prohibitions regarding entering two AUK recognized events simultaneously will continue to apply as now.

HOW WILL IT WORK? It is the rider’s responsibility to register their ride as an AUK (DIY) Permanent and to certify their ride will be completed in accordance with AUK regulations.

Such applications will be considered by the AUK Permanents team in the same way as for any other Brevet application. Factors which will be considered in assessing whether the ride is eligible include: distance, support and competition.

Distance: the ride must conform to AUK regulations regarding controls, distance and the collection of appropriate ‘Proof of Passage’.

Support: the ride must conform to the AUK regulations/local conventions for Audax events regarding support, as appropriate. The AUK convention is for no personal support, follow cars etc.

Simply, the rider should travel to support, whether that be at controls, local shops, whatever; support does not come to the rider. In other countries, other

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conventions may apply, for example, follow cars for rider security.

Competition: the event must be non-competitive.

WHAT NEXT? If there is an event you would like to register as an AUK brevet, submit a DIY Permanent application, specifying the controls as usual. Include details about the ‘other’ event in the additional information area of the application form (name, distance, website, etc.). This will be taken as your warranty that the ride complies with AUK requirements as described above.

The Permanent organiser will then process the application in the usual way, i.e., checking to ensure that requirements regarding minimum distance between controls, etc. are satisfied. Please allow a reasonable time for this to avoid disappointment should the brevet application be rejected.

Note: This article was posted on the AUK forum earlier this year. As stated, the proposal will be progressed as a motion to amend AUK regulations at AGM2015.

FAQ Q1: Why do I have to provide details of controls?

A1: Because that is required by AUK regulations Q2: How do I find out about the event controls?

A2: Ask the event organiser.

Q3: What if the event doesn’t have AUK style controls or the controls do not satisfy AUK requirements?

A3: Define your own. This is straightforward for GPS DIY Permanents.

Q4: Can the ‘other’ event controllers simply sign my Brevet Card?

A4: No; you will need to provide some form of independently verifiable proof of passage, i.e., receipts, GPX track or (subject to prior agreement), proof of completing the event from the ‘other’ event organiser.

Q5: This all seems a lot of work!

A5: Well, from AUK’s perspective it is ‘business as usual’ for setting up an AUK event which is what you are doing. If this seems too much bother, then don’t! Enter the event and enjoy your ride. It will be just as much fun, it simply will not form part of your AUK palmarès.

Paul Stewart, Secretary, Audax UK To discuss this and other matters further, visit the AUK forum online at: forum.audax.uk You will need your membership number and password to log in and reply to messages.

OASTS & COASTS 300

Riders climb out of Folkestone on the Oasts & Coasts 300, photography by Isabelle Register

EVENT Oasts & Coasts 300 DATE 25 April 2015 DISTANCE 300km LOCATION Meopham, Kent ORGANISER Tom Jackson WEBSITE kentaudax.co.uk 18

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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OASTS & COASTS 300

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Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2015

Packing for PBP As this issue of Arrivée lands on your doormats, many of you will be making your final preparations for Paris. For the veterans, knowing what to take and what to leave at home will be a matter of routine, but for first-timers, it can be a daunting prospect. Here are the thoughts on this subject of Marcus Jackson Baker, about to tackle PBP for the second time, reproduced with his kind permission from his blog at marcusjb.wordpress.com

A

s we turn our attention to the final part of qualification, many riders (including myself ) will ride their 600 qualifiers as they would ride PBP. There are many thoughts on what kit to bring to PBP and you’ll see everything from people with two panniers full to people carrying next to nothing.

I carried a lot of stuff last time – way too much. It was my first ever 1000km+ event and I was far too cautious. I had multiple jerseys, three (from memory) pairs of shorts, longs, all sorts. The bike had a Carradice Camper Longflap on it.

Whilst far from experienced in these things, I have now done four 1000km+ events and have, hopefully, got a little wiser on what is needed. Possibly, also, my standards have slipped! I wouldn’t have dreamt of riding for five days in the same jersey back in 2011, but I did just that for the HGWI1300 last year. When everyone else is in the same sort of situation it really doesn’t matter. You all smell a bit feral and it adds to the adventure.

British riders like myself tend to be better prepared for PBP as the conditions are not terribly different to our own and we know that we could be dealing with anything from 30 degree heat to four days of solid rain. Riders from non-northern European climates often seem to suffer on rides like PBP and LEL should conditions turn bad. Memories from PBP last time include plenty of riders from Asia wrapped up in space blankets etc. at controls looking absolutely freezing.

Anyway, below is my clothing packing list. There are a couple of items under debate currently (see the end on shoes in particular) and there will be a couple of other bits in my saddle bag for the trip down (some off-bike clothes for some site seeing post-PBP and hanging around in – these will be left at my hotel for the ride, so I haven’t included them). And on the way back they’ll be a PBP jersey that I hope to be able to wear with pride.

My list may look over the top to some, and crazy light to others. We are all different for sure. Our tolerance to temperature is very different, and I feel the cold quite badly.

So here it is…

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Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

Part one – Clothing HELMET Kask Mojito – light, cool and comfy. I wear one, some people don’t, that’s about all I have to say on the matter.

CAP Rapha cycling cap – suitable for everything: keeping rain out of your eyes, sun off your face or neck, looking cool off the bike.

RAIN JACKET This tiny little jacket is the Sportful Hot Pack.

I have some doubt whether to use it or not.

I have a much bulkier jacket that has served me well on some very, very wet rides. The Hot Pack doesn’t really cut it for being really waterproof. However, part of the jacket’s job is to keep me warm even if it isn’t raining (I often wear a rain jacket at night). Even when wet, as long as you have layers to stay warm, you should be okay – but I would rather be dry. My proper rain jacket is properly heavy though. I will think on this one.

HEADBAND For the ultimate 80s look, this is great. If things get really hot, a headband is even better than a cap for keeping cool and keeping sweat out of my eyes. Must weigh about 10g, so is a dead cert in my packing.

ARM COOLERS It was my wife who first got me interested in arm coolers. They’re essentially lycra tubes and work just like arm warmers (in fact, they are superb in the very height of summer as arm warmers at night (but see below)).

Where they really excel though, is if it is really hot indeed. I’ve worn these on some very hot rides, including touring in Thailand, and they really do help to keep your whole body cooler. They can even be soaked in water for extra cooling! You see a lot of riders on stuff like RAAM wearing these and the equivalent leg coolers as well – and they really do work. Highly recommended.

REFLECTIVE STUFF It is a legal requirement to wear a reflective jacket in France at night (and in poor visibility etc.). This time around, there is a reflective jacket

included in the entry price for PBP, however, I need to get to Paris first and that will involve some riding in the early morning darkness in France. So I will need one for that. Besides, who knows what the quality of the included one will be like? Could be a horrible flappy cheap one like I use on construction sites. I’d rather leave that behind and go with this one (from PBP 2011) as I know it fits well etc.

I am a great believer in ankle/shoe reflectives for all my night riding. It really stands out as a cyclist to have two reflectives bobbing up and down. So, I use these ankle straps for night riding.

BUFF A buff should be in every saddlebag. There’s so much you can do with them. This is the thin style (there are thicker merino ones etc., which are great in winter).

If it’s chilly, they’ll keep your neck warm.

If it’s really hot, they can be soaked in water and worn around your neck (good for wiping your face with cool water on climbs etc. as well).

That’s before we begin to think about putting one on your head, where it can be configured in various styles to provide sun protection or just to cover up your messy hair after a few days on the road.

Buffs are also perfect eye masks as well – this is great when you are at a dorm and want to cut out all light and ensure you get the best sleep possible.

JERSEY This will be worn all the time, but is included in the photo for completeness! Short sleeved jersey with full-zip. I much prefer full-zip jerseys as they are easier to deal with a toilet stops (and you need to get your bib short straps down etc.) and can be opened all the way if it’s hot.

As I said at the top, I took a number of jerseys last time – but I’ve become more comfortable with just the one jersey. It can be rinsed at a sleep stop and left to dry a couple of hours.

LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER As I said above, I tend to feel the cold, possibly more than most. What I am trying not to do

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PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2015 this time is carry long-sleeve jerseys or jackets as they are very bulky and heavy. Everything I am trying to carry is very modular, so I should be able to layer up as needed to deal with pretty much anything I hope. Combined with the arm warmers and wearing two base layers, jersey and gilet etc., I hope to be as warm as needed.

BASE LAYER VEST I love these Castelli string vest style base layers as they seem to work in a wide variation of temperatures. They hold enough air to keep me warm, but can also let sweat evaporate well if it’s really hot. I used to use merino base layers exclusively, but am totally converted to these. This will be worn all the way.

WINDPROOF GILET This is actually a new purchase, yet to be tested on Audax events; but replaces an older gilet – this one is just ridiculously light and compact, so can easily be carried all the time. Great for summer time riding when the evenings cool off etc. and you need to keep your core warm. Also great for descents etc.

GLOVES I use a very light pair of mitts most of the time (from POC) as I don’t particularly like wearing gloves, but do get some numbness without them sometimes. I will also carry a pair of long-fingered gloves for night time or wet conditions. There’s nothing worse than cold hands (or feet, but they are less dangerous than cold hands in my opinion), so a pair of warmer gloves is a worthwhile addition.

ARM WARMERS Wait! What? You have arm coolers and arm warmers? Well, yes I do! These are a Rapha thicker roubaix fabric pair that are warm and toasty if things get chilly. Combined with a long-sleeve base layer, they should be as warm, if not warmer than a long-sleeve jersey with much less of a weight and space penalty.

BIB SHORTS Two pairs. One on, one spare. Plenty of people ride PBP in one pair of shorts. Plenty of people ride PBP in 4 pairs of shorts. I had 3 pairs last time – that’s too much space taken up and overkill. So, I will go for two pairs on this ride.

I have a hotel booked near Loudeac, so can wash pair 1 and leave them drying to change back into them on my return.

SOCKS Two pairs (though see footwear notes below).

I won’t be carrying any form of overshoe or the like, so if my feet get very wet, there’s something quite uplifting about putting on clean and dry socks (I accept that if your shoes are wet, the new socks will be wet pretty quickly, but it still feels better than wearing the socks you’ve had on for 50plus hours or whatever!).

KNEE WARMERS Finally, knee warmers. Rather than carrying longs, I find knee warmers far more useful

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these days. They offer just about as much protection and warmth as longs, whilst taking up much less space. These ones are quite long, so go half-way up my thigh to about half-way down my calf.

SHOES I haven’t photographed my shoes as I haven’t decided what to wear yet. I use Bont Vaypor shoes for most of my riding and will use them for my 600 next week. However, after that, I will try a 300 in SPD sandals. I have toured in them, and they are comfy; but it’s quite a big leap to trying them on a longer ride.

Plenty of people swear by them for long rides, though you do need to abandon all notions of being a suave fashion icon when wearing them as, particularly the Shimano ones, do

look a little, hmmmm, special.

If I do stick with my Bonts, I would carry a pair of sandals (I have a pair of really horrible things that were super cheap at Sports Direct, weigh really next to nothing). Something that isn’t cycling shoes is a relief if you’re stopped for a couple of hours at a sleeping control etc.

Also for wandering around before and after the event etc.

So that’s about it for clothing. Part two deals with stuff like tools, spares, medicines, hygiene etc. I will weigh everything once I have it together. I will ride my 600 with the full load (including the off-bike clothing) and see how that feels. The ride I am doing doesn’t have bag drops (and why should it? Too many people are becoming over-reliant on them for a ride of two days!), so it’s perfect to test out the rig. ➪ Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

Memories of PBP 2011 clockwise from top left: Paul Rogue’s famous pancake stall; Tom Deakins; Drew Buck, Tim Sollesse, photos by Tim Wainwright

PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2015

Packing for PBP part two – Kit

I

n many ways, part 2 is more important.

Clothing is clothing – we all know we need some, but, depending on how hot we run, makes for very personal choices.

Part 2 is all the other stuff, some of which may not be obvious to first timers, or indeed those who’ve done it a few times. There is, however, still quite a lot of personal choice to take into consideration on what ‘stuff’ to take.

People’s attitude to spares differs dramatically (though no-one should ever undertake a long ride without the stuff to sort out their tyres going flat (be it tubes or stuff for tubeless etc.)). But some people carry spare gear cables, brake blocks etc. None of that is wrong, and may well be very valid on a long ride in wilder locations, but PBP is well-equipped with mechanics at every control and I would hope that each control would have a good stock of things like cables. Clearly, if you ride a weird and wonderful machine, you should consider spares specific to that machine that may be hard to acquire (odd tyre sizes, extra long brake/gear cables for tandems etc.

Clearly a good approach to maintenance can also pay dividends and not starting PBP with worn cables/tyres/chains etc is sensible.

People’s approach to electronics is also very different. Apparently, there are people who ride PBP with neither a smart phone nor GPS – well, if it isn’t on Strava, it didn’t happen or something like that! The trouble with those of us who do like our gadgets is they need charging. Whilst some controls on LEL etc. had charging stations where you could leave your Garmin to charge whilst you slept, do not expect anything like that on PBP! The numbers are just too big. So, you need to be 100% self-sufficient in that aspect, with cache batteries, replaceable batteries, dynamo recharging, whatever – you just need to be able to look after yourself completely. Those with electronic gearing need to be doubly certain they are charged up and/or have a spare battery with them (LEL saw a number of people with non-functioning gearing due to flat batteries).

All joking aside about GPS, you really do not need it for PBP – the navigation is very simple (look at the route sheet, it has less instructions than most 200s in the UK!), there will be marshals at key junctions and everything is way-marked with big arrows etc.

Anyway, on with the stuff!

SPANNER Being on fixed, I need a spanner to undo my rear wheel. I’ve looked a specific 15mm spanners and, honestly, nothing beats an old-fashioned box spanner in terms of weight! I know that box spanners don’t give a huge amount of torque, but I have never had a wheel slip when tightened with a box spanner. And it comes with the bonus of lots of other spanner sizes on it (the only other one I need is the one for mudguard bolts).

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TYRE LEVERS Topeak Shuttle levers are great. There are some tyre levers out there (Park Tools I am looking at you) that suck, badly and if you have a tight tyre/rim combination are too thick to get under the bead and pop it out.

These are nice and thin and have never let me down. The important thing is to be 100% certain that your given combination of lever/ tyre/rim works for you.

MULTITOOL I’ve put two in the photo as I am torn! The usual one I carry is a Topeak Mini 18 that has just about everything on it. Trouble is I also have a Lezyne V5 tool that has just about everything I need. Touring, yes, the Mini 18 has some stuff that might save a tour, but PBP, well hopefully I can get away with the smaller one. I’ve not snapped a chain since the late 90s (mountain biking and hitting a rock), so a chain tool (particularly on fixed) seems like overkill. Anything serious can be solved by waving Euro notes at a control, so I will

“You don’t need a GPS for PBP – the route sheet has fewer instructions than most UK 200s!” probably go with the smaller one as it does save 150 grammes, which is a chunk. I have just noticed that Lezyne do a carbon V5 tool that is a whole 6 grammes lighter than mine – I reckon I might keep the £60-odd they want for it in my wallet though!

INNER TUBES Not too much to say. You’d be insane not to carry them (or the stuff to sort out issues with tubeless). These days, more and more tubes have removable valve cores and some pumps (Lezyne in particular) are very good at unscrewing the valve core. So, do make sure you tighten the cores up good and proper before you put the tubes in your bag!

PATCH KIT AND BOOT I’ve carried a spare tyre on rides before (in fact, I did on the last PBP). Given that I’ve never torn a tyre in my life, I really don’t want to take that extra weight with me. Bigger riders who are really tough on tyres may have a different approach, but I will take the risks. I will replace my tyres pre-PBP as a bit of pre-emptive maintenance and I will carry a tyre boot with me. These Park Tool ones seem pretty good with an adhesive back to keep them secure etc. Of course, in a pinch, you can use almost anything for a boot – cash, crisp packets, brevet cards?!?, but for the sake of a few grammes, I will pop this into my bag!

I will also have a few patches – again, being light, I tend not to suffer too much with flats,

though I had two on the way down to Paris last time (one less than 10km from home in the pouring rain and the other due to clambering down a motorway embankment having made a navigational error with Paul Stewart as we attempted to ride down the motorway). These patches weigh nothing and will do the job for a decent enough fix if I am starting to have issues.

CABLE TIES A handful of these should be in everyone’s bag – especially the bigger ones. Can be used for holding many things together!

RUBBER GLOVES Useful things to have in the bag – there’s nothing worse than having to fix a flat (or worse, an issue with gearing/chains), especially in the rain, and ending up with hands covered in oil and muck than then gets everywhere, all over the bike, your clothes etc.

The state some people turn up at controls is quite funny sometimes with oil smeared over their faces! So, a pair or two of latex gloves can keep you clean and tidy for the ride. They can also be pressed into service if it is very cold and wet as an extra layer for warmth.

WET WIPES These should be in every long-distance cyclist’s bag. They serve many purposes and can be a real boost at times. Hygiene can be difficult on long rides, and a good wipe around one’s bits can do wonders for bum issues! Equally, if you’re hot and grubby from road grime, it is nice just to clean your face and feel a bit more human (I don’t suggest using the same wet wipe for bum then face, but the other way around could work!).

There are showers at most (probably all?) controls on PBP. You will pay a small fee (3-4 Euro) to use them. Don’t expect anything much more than a shower (i.e. no soap and probably no towel (see below!)). However, if you are pushed for time, you may have to forego a shower (though I would personally recommend making the time if you can – it is like a magic reset button and can give you so much energy again to be clean, especially when combined with some clean clothing!).

SOME TOILET PAPER (NOT PICTURED) Wet wipes can be used for the job, but a few sheets of TP rolled up in a plastic bag can be a real life-saver at times. For those moments where controls are out of the stuff to the emergency need in the middle of the night nowhere near a loo. I forgot to have some on a recent ride and was having some stomach issues, and all I can say is thank goodness I was carrying a spare routesheet. I’ll leave that image with you.

TRAVEL TOWEL As above, the towel policy on PBP seemed pretty random. Some controls had towels, ➪ Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2015 TABLETS I am sure people do take iPads on PBP, but I prefer some medicines. I am not a pill-popper in normal circumstances, but if push came to shove, I’d happily guzzle vitamin I for a couple of days to get the job done. I will carry a small number of the following: Ibuprofen Pro Plus (though very, very rarely use them – prefer to snooze things out. Plus abstinence from caffeine for 3-4 weeks in advance of PBP will help me greatly anyway) Anti-diarrhea tablets – serious diarrhea or food-poisoning is probably ride-ending.

Luckily I have a pretty sturdy constitution, so can cope with most things (interestingly, I have had food poisoning twice in my life – both times cycle touring in France). But something to slow things down may be very useful. Stomachs and digestive systems take a battering during long rides.

Sumatriptan – migraine tablets. I am an occasional and mild sufferer (3-4 a year and not too intense these days), however a recent serious flair up of numerous very strong migraines within a very short period has led to a prescription for these. Touch wood, I won’t need them, but I need to carry them just in case.

DRESSINGS AND PLASTERS If anyone, including myself, had a serious wound; don’t ask me for help. I go pretty feint at the sight of blood! However, a small selection of plasters, antiseptic wipes and small dressings are good for minor mishaps or even things like rubbing shoes etc.

SUN CREAM Let’s hope I get to use it more often than not.

SPORK Not so much for PBP, but on long rides in the UK, this can open up culinary avenues that the less well-equipped have no access to (unless they are prepared to, as I have seen, eat rice pudding with tyre levers).

Being able to eat a yoghurt, tin of rice pudding etc. is a bonus when scouring the shelves of the 24 hour garages!

many did not. I saw people drip-drying and some using paper towels to try and get dry. Of course, you could use the clothing you have taken off to dry yourself, but wiping yourself dry with a jersey that you’ve worn for 2 days seems to defeat the purpose of having a shower slightly!

This little towel is tiny (probably 18 inches by 18 inches), but is about enough to get myself pretty dry. It has a little bag with a clip that can hang on the saddlebag and dry off as I ride. I’d really recommend it!

TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSH Your teeth and mouth take a battering on long rides. Sweet foods galore etc.

Another little boost is brushing your teeth.

Feeling less disgusting is really quite a lift!

I can’t imagine not carrying one really, but people don’t.

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SHOWER GEL Don’t assume there’s going to be a range of grooming products at controls. There won’t be any most likely. A shower without soap is not really a shower! Getting the grime off is only really easy with soap, so a little travel bottle of shower gel is good. There are the tiny sheets of soap as well – not tried them though.

COMB (NOT PICTURED) Depending on your follicle abilities, you may, or may not need a comb.

I have hair, so prefer to carry a comb!

BUM CREAM Some people don’t use any, some people use too much. I’ve been using much more this year due to riding fixed. It works for me!

Keep things clean and reapply cream at regular intervals.

ELECTROLYTIC TABLETS NUUN tablets are great for me. They have pretty much eliminated some issues I had early on with getting dehydrated and severe stomach cramps.

Once you’re on the path to dehydration, you’re pretty stuffed until you get things sorted. You will stop being able to eat, and once you have stopped being able to eat properly, well, game over (or at least the unfunometer will being hitting new levels of sadness).

CHARGING LEADS When everything has different connectors, that means a selection of leads. A pain in the arse for sure. By buying shorter leads, I actually managed to save nearly 50 grammes of useless weight!

BACKUP BATTERY My Garmin will do about 10-12 hours on a good day (call it 200km at PBP pace).

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PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2015 So thiswill charge it up 4-5 times and really doesn’t weigh much. For a 600 that means I don’t have to worry about much. But, for PBP, I will have to charge this up some time.

I have a Luxos U front light with USB charging, so can charge the battery pack up during the day. When I reach my hotels, then I have other options as well (see below).

BATTERIES Backup lights below need backup batteries.

NECK WALLET THING I like carrying cards, cash etc. in this neck wallet. There will probably be one for your brevet card given away when you register as well. It’s one of these. Some people say it contributes to neck issues – sure if you carry coins etc. in there, but for a few bits of paper? No issues.

“Don’t forget to take your bidons off your bike at controls. They’re massive –having to walk back to the bike could easily take 10-15 minutes, time that could be spent sleeping!”

HEADPHONE! I use these one-eared headphones that channel both sides of the audio into one. It works for me and has helped me on many solo night rides.

Some people don’t like music when they ride, and that’s fine. Much like the helmet thing, don’t bother lecturing me about it all please.

Music can really lift you in the middle of the night – some thumping music can keep you motivated and awake and can provide the soundtrack to some amazing memories.

EURO USB CHARGER I’ll probably carry it with me on the ride. I’ll certainly have one with me on the trip, but don’t think I will leave it in Paris whilst I ride. Offers another option for charging when at hotels etc.

DOCUMENTATION Passport, EHIC card and relevant hotel booking information etc. (printing on A4, double sided and 2 pages per side).

PUMP On the bike, mounted on the bottle cages. It does unscrew cores as above, but it works well other than that.

BIDONS Don’t forget to put them on your bike before you leave the house! Also, a massive time suck is forgetting to take them off your bike when you walk into a control.

The controls are massive – having to walk back to your bike, get them, walk to the tap, walk back to the bike etc. could easily be 5-10 minutes. Do that half a dozen times and you’ve frittered away an hour that could be spent sleeping!

LIGHTS Front: I use a dynamo front light – the Luxos U. However, I now carry a spare little Cateye light just in case. It wouldn’t be good enough to ride with at full tilt in the night, but it would prevent me from being penalised/stopped if my main light failed. As above it also could be a torch for nighttime repairs.

Rear: need to experiment a bit before WCW as I will be removing my rack that is normally on the bike (as it is also my commuter). There will probably be one or two Fibre Flares and a Cateye.

GARMIN Not needed to navigate the ride – but possibly for the ride there and back and certainly to record it all for Strava heroics.

So, that’s about it! Or I should say probably. I reserve the right to change my mind and add and take things away! Again, everyone’s approach is different and some people would be shocked by how much stuff there is on the list, and some will be shocked how little! ❏

HEAD TORCH This is a maybe. I usually carry one, but I have a spare battery front light that can be pushed into service for nighttime repairs etc.

I’d probably always carry one in the UK, but for a way-marked course in France, probably not as I am never going to have to use it to read a backup routesheet if my GPS has failed etc.

SILK SLEEPING BAG Another maybe to be honest. I have a hotel at Loudeac. But it does offer a little bit of luxury and an impression of cleanliness when you hop into a bed in a dorm that had someone else in it 5 minutes before!

SPACE BLANKET An emergency blanket could be really important in a serious incident for keeping a casualty warm etc.

Even finding yourself in a bad situation and needing to stop at night in particular, you could be very grateful of it’s properties.

EAR PLUGS DON’T CONSIDER GOING TO FRANCE WITHOUT THEM! Unless you are able to sleep with several hundred people snoring and farting, let alone the fecker who’s decided to wear his tap-dancing shoes in the dorm, you need ear plugs.

You will be tired when you choose to stop for a sleep (or you should be – if you aren’t, then push on to the next control), but it is still easy to not get a good sleep. Most people are only going to grab a handful of hours each night – make the very most of them.

LOCK If I were driving to France and just riding PBP, then I probably wouldn’t take one. I don’t think that bike theft is a real issue on PBP itself (though I am sure it has/does happen), but for the getting there and back in particular, I will carry a cafe lock as I do on UK rides.

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MACH 300 DIY

Mach 300

An early start leads to a glorious day out in Wales on a DIY 300. Words & photography by Jo Page

I

had been hoping to ride the StaylittleMachynlleth mountain road again this summer so found myself tentatively plotting a 300 km DIY Audax, tentatively putting the entry in to brilliant DIY organiser Tony Hull, with an even more tentative date estimation of that very weekend. I am not a fair weather rider by any stretch of the imagination, but for this I did want a good day, with clear skies to see the views I have been longing for, and less risk of exposure if I ended up stranded at the top of a mountain trying to sort a mechanical. Tentative never really became definite and even on the Saturday morning, setting off in good weather, I had half a mind on heading out to Clun, getting coffee and turning round. It would still be a nice wee ride out, to stretch the legs which were feeling rather tight and like they needed TLC and not another battering. I had no plans to overdo it with the first 600 of the year looming the following weekend. “I’ll just see how it goes” I said to myself in the most unaudacious fashion.

Starting out at 5:30 am seemed easier than normal, I was happy to be on the bike on the quiet lanes close to home and along the deserted B4220 to Bromyard. A lovely road without the normal hectic daytime traffic. The sun was already up and it was a most beautiful morning in Herefordshire, albeit it with a relentless slight north westerly wind rattling in my ears. From Bromyard, I had put in a control at a little village of Risbury which took me off the A44 onto minor roads for the entire way to Leominster. Some of the lanes I recognised, but some were new to me, with a nice climb to warm the muscles before hitting the proper hills in Wales. The legs were still feeling tight though and I considered stopping for coffee in Leominster and heading home to an easy recovery week. 6:30 am the Garmin said.

“Perhaps not then, I’ll head over to Clun for coffee and make a decision there”. I was pretty content to just be on the bike anyway and,

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I think I can safely say, for all the day, there was no time when I would have rather been anywhere else.

I cannot explain how pretty the lanes were, the wildflowers are out in abundance with bluebells, ragged robin, forget-me-nots, cow parsley and yellow dead nettle brightening up the verges no end.

It is also the start of surface dressing season and the monotone grey of chippings and the crunch crunch crunch of the unswept surface was not so welcome. Gravel three inches deep on off-camber bends and at junctions made for an interesting few miles. However, the tyres made it through without a split and I made it through without a spill, grateful to be back on ‘mostly-smooth-with-a-few-pot-holes’ tarmac.

WONDERING AS I WANDER The lanes spat me onto the A44 for a few meters before I picked up the cycle route over the old road railway bridge and into Leominster. The town was still deserted allowing me to sneak up the pavement and avoid the one way system altogether (ssshhh, no one saw).

From Leominster, via the quiet Ginhall lane, the route picks up the A4110 and heads north for the longest stretch of main road on the entire ride. It really isn’t that far, maybe 10 kms, and at that time of day, I barely saw another car. I did realise just what a gorgeous valley it passes through though and I was interested in everything that rolled past.

The old garage at Wigmore “wonder how long that’s been there, wonder if it has the same owners”, the Castle “will visit one day”, the fields “ooh wonder what crop that is, goodness that wheat is advanced, wonder what their weed control program is like, oh who cares, that really does look beautiful waving and moving in the wind”.

The A4110 is probably the longest stretch of ‘flat’ too, although the miles didn’t

disappear under my wheels as that NNW headwind was being funneled through the valley from the North, and the respite I was hoping for never happened. Still, I knew I would get respite eventually, and with the route being very much North West out, South East back, it would be at the turn at Machynlleth. Hang on a minute, that’s 147 kms of headwind! There was nothing for it, only one thing to do.....change down a gear, slow down the pace, accept the headwind for what it is and enjoy the scenery. And I really did. I even enjoyed the fact that the headwind wasn’t getting to me. It was a win on all fronts.

Before I knew it I was in the lanes again, pedaling through the immensely beautiful Buckton and Bucknell area, with the flower lined hedgerows supplemented by residential horticulture as it spills out of the properties through years of tending by keen gardeners.

The route took me down a ‘dead end’ lane in Bucknell but I had recollection of being there before and, indeed, found the ford crossing and small pedestrian bridge. No route retracting or diverting required. Glee!

From Bucknell the ‘climbing proper’ started as I rose up just below 400 meters on the outof-the-saddle, but not unmanageable, Obley climb. The views of Powys were beautiful and dropping into Clun I realised I had no interest in stopping for coffee and turning round, so followed the route as it fringed the village through the residential roads and onto the B4368. The long false flat into a headwind was grinding, but I was still in good spirits, despite the greying skies. It never rained all day, but I was glad I had packed the winter jacket in case of a turn in the weather on high ground.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK – BRIEFLY I probably needed to stop in Clun however, to refill bottles, but was in rhythm so continued, thinking I would stop at the next shop I passed. This didn’t arrive until Kerry, and I had to cross the Kerry ridgeline skirting the Ceri Forest first. Last time here was in the winter, with sheet ice all over the road. It was much better with dry tarmac and no fear of the wheels slipping out on the steeper sections of the climb and I really enjoyed topping out knowing that Kerry was just a descent away.

The GPS tried to send me down an unsurfaced track to cut a corner. Weighing up the risk (puncture) v’s the reward (off road fun for a short stretch) I decided against it and diverted via the surfaced road.

Kerry store was manned by a friendly guy, whose was genuinely interested in my ride

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MACH 300 DIY and wished me well for the day as I bought a big bottle of coke and a banana. I stopped in Kerry to eat and relax for a bit as the sunshine had returned. Although the route passed through Newtown with a lot more food choices and places to stop, I prefer the peace outside a village hall, watching locals go about their daily chores, walking dogs, heading to the shop, and every single one of them with a smile and ‘hello’.

I decided to ‘go with the pink line’ and follow the GPS through Newtown rather than taking the easy option of sticking to the main road. It was a good decision as the short cycle route missed a lot of the town centre traffic before letting me loose on the A489.

What a furious road. Typical Wales trunk route at that time of day with very fast traffic and little overtaking room. Add to that the ‘false flat’ gradient and the relentless strengthening headwind and it was a tough section. Thankfully I had added Trefeglwys as a control, and the turn from Caersws soon arrived, diverting me off the trunk roads after only a few km’s. Some undulating quiet B road followed, then the minor lanes joyfully arrived.

road. The climb up was much tougher than previously, not just because I was in need of a decent feed by this point (having skipped breakfast and survived on bonk rations and a banana for 130 kms to this point I really needed proper food) but because of the headwind too. Normally climbs shelter you from the wind to a point, but not here. It was rolling down the hillside at a rate of knots and I was getting battered, and the noise in my ears increased in volume. It was exhausting work and, for the first time that morning I lost my cool and shouted “just turn the blinking wind off!”. Possibly with a few expletives inserted. To which I chuckled profusely realizing it wouldn’t really matter as I only

with intermittent sunlight and shade moving over the patchwork colours of the hills beyond and the intense green of the new spring grass.

Before long I was rolling into Machynlleth.

For the last 10 kms my plan had been a cuppa and a veggie pasty and cake at the veggie Quarry Cafe in the town centre if I got that far. Even writing this now it sounds like the best idea, quarry cafe is a gorgeous little place with great food. However, by the time I got to the end of Forge Road and into the town boundary, it was an immediate stop for chips, mushy peas and espresso in the cafe full of unruly kids. I just couldn’t think beyond chips....

Probably should have thought beyond them chips though, as that gorgeous descent is a quite a climb, heading to 520 metres from 30 m in a gradually steepening ascent. Luckily my extremely steady pace prevented a reappearance!

Plus, I did something I never do, and that was stop halfway up the climb to get a photo. Although I love taking photos, I rarely stop on solo Audax specifically for the purpose as it interrupts flow and distracts from the experience. In the end, once stopped, bike propped against the fence, the camera went away and I stayed there for a while, just absorbing the moment and getting rather Zen. Well until the bike got blown over in a big clatter!

“Best be getting a move on really,” as I knew that outbound leg had been ridiculously steady into the wind and my speed on the false flats was often below 20 kph, never mind on the climbs. I kid you not. Remembering acutely why I never stop halfway a up climb (the legs doth protest) I was grateful to top out and even more grateful to whizz down the other side to Staylittle at a right rate of knots with the tailwind blowing me along.

The Llanidloes roller coaster of the B4518, for those who haven’t ridden it, is a short series of spikey undulations with stiff climbs following every superfast descent, although easier heading South East with the drop in gradient to Llanidloes. By the time I reached the public toilet block at the point where the road skirts Lake Clywedog, the coffee had caught up with my bladder. So I stopped. At the bottom of the fastest descent, the launch for one of the stiffest climbs, I stopped. Only to find the WCs permanently closed in line with many others of Mid Wales. Looking at the state of the area surrounding it, it was yet another loss of a much need comfort facility, no doubt to save a few pounds of public money so people can pay less taxes and have more disposable income. The political rant in my head continued, interspersed with ‘next time I’ll find a bush at the top of the hill’ as I started the climb out, momentumless, albeit with a much more comfortable bladder.

All internal dialogue was surpassed when the need to refill bideons became my overriding concern as I had forgotten to do so at the Cafe. Faffage level was reaching 5 out of 10 and dangerously near 6, compared to my ➪

“The Llawryglyn to Staylittle climb is tough, manageable and enjoyable on a compact, but tough. Certainly not one I could spin up”

THE JOY OF CLIMBING Did I say joyfully? Depends how much you like stiff climbs I guess, as the Llawryglyn to Staylittle climb I would say is tough, manageable and enjoyable on a compact, but tough. Certainly not one I could ‘spin’ up and was out of the saddle for a fair amount of it.

Probably the toughest climb of the day for me, climbing to over 400 meters in very little time before the short drop to Staylittle.

From Staylittle began the reason I had come so far, the Machynlleth mountain

had a couple of km’s to go before a massive downhill, a good meal, and making the turn home with a tailwind. Topping out at 520 meters I stopped to get a photo, knowing that the best views were actually halfway down the descent, but also knowing the chances of me stopping there were slim to non-existent.

The descent off the top is my favourite in the UK (that I have ridden so far), but it calls for caution even on a good day as it is easy for the speed to run away with itself. A big crash is bad enough, but a big crash riding solo on a quiet Sunday could be catastrophic, so I set off controlled, and became even more so when the cross winds through a gap in the mountain nearly took the bike from under me.

It still felt like flying down the ridgeline with the ground dropping away on both sides, and the most epic views. It really is spectacular

Stopping to enjoy the scenery on the quiet Welsh lanes

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MACH 300 DIY normal streamlined 2 so I hurtled down to the town to stop at the first store, grab two tins of ginger beer and a big bottle of water. The simple time sat refilling bottles was refreshing and actually well spent, leaving me feeling ready for the next tough climbs out of town and up to Bwlch-y-Sarnau.

When heading South East, I much prefer the laney route through Llidiartywaun than continuing on the B4518. They are beautiful singletrack minor roads, which roll alongside some spectacular valley vistas and on which you barely see a car. You also head north of the Llanidloes landfill and are rarely exposed to the horrific odour of active decomposition that is often associated with the B road to the South of it. The lanes a little more hilly, and not as quick, with unpredictable surfacing and a few blind bends at the bottom of descents, however, I wasn’t in a rush and just enjoyed my time there being pushed along by the tailwind in the sun. Well, apart from an incident with one of said blind bends, a speeding van (I had luckily seen coming before getting to the bend) and a squirrel (who had not seen the van). Most memorable noise of the day? A rather loud and resounding crunch as the poor critter mistimed his panic run straight under the wheels of a transit. Even the calls of the buzzards couldn’t dull that sound from my head for a while.

After topping out at 400 m there was a long descent passing through Abbeycwmhir and continuing to the A483. It’s one of those rare beauties that allow you to roll through the scenery on a shallow gradient for quite some time just carelessly soaking everything in. I

also rolled straight past a left hand turn onto an unsurfaced footpath which I had noted as a glitch in the GPS file when checking it over the night before. The alternative was simple so I just kept it in memory rather than rewriting the file; follow the road until the pink line reappeared on the Garmin screen. Preparation on longer solo rides is so important. I’m happy to play poker with the google route software when close to home, but on a physically testing ride in potentially exposed terrain, you just have to know that the route is correct and a thorough check before setting off is critical.

Hitting the A483 I felt my heart sink a little knowing there were some stretches of main road to come, but, to my surprise, things were far better than I had been expecting. The short one mile stretch of A483 was so quiet, with barely a car pass until the turnoff at Llandewi followed by

Presteigne to Weobley was relatively benign terrain, albeit far from flat, with the rolling Herefordshire B roads and lanes feeling like home turf. Often, by this point in the ride, I am grateful to be near home and looking forward to finishing, however, I was still very much content to being on the bike.

The sunshine was out permanently and the farmland changed from acres of grazing to arable with varying crops from beans, wheat, barley, brassicas and the last of the flowering oilseed rape billowing in the wind. Another encounter with unswept surface dressed lanes required more concentration to stay upright on the inch deep rutted and loose gravel, and I realised I was getting hungry and could do with a stop. There is little better than being sat on a stile, sheltered from the wind by the hedgerows and coppice behind, eating veggie

“You barely see a car on the beautiful singletrack minor roads, which roll along some spectacular valley vistas. I wasn’t in a rush and just enjoyed my time being there” some unexpectedly pretty undulating lanes to reach the A488 and my control at Bleddfa. The A488 is hardly A road in characteristic and it was the start of another long loss of gradient which continued, aided by a tailwind, pretty much all the way to Presteigne. It was wonderful payback for the morning’s outward slog and I relished the passing of the tarmac easily under tyre for a considerable time.

sausages and drinking ginger beer without a car in sight. It was wonderful.

I was also only around 60 km from home, but I knew I hadn’t made the last section particularly easy for myself with three climbs of note to conquer with tired legs. Successful Audax, I have decided, is all about gears, or, should I say, having an easy one. Running a large 11-32 cassette with a compact means

MACH 300 DIY even the toughest of climbs are manageable no matter how empty the legs are. I have also discovered that climbs are often worse in memory than in reality and the best way of dealing with them is to just get on with it.

Raven’s Causeway is a nice lane with an initial short but steepish climb from Weobley, a rolling top with the occasional glimpse of a view, a wonderful descent dropping to Hereford and a sudden change to urbanicity.

Cycle routes, wrong way one way streets, Saturday evening revelers (luckily too early for people to be drunk to the point of walking in front of the bike), police and the smell of takeaway food.

It was over almost as soon as it began, Hereford being a small city, and in a flash I was pedaling along the Wye and Lugg flats toward Mordiford and the stuttering climb through the mixed plantation of Haugh Woods, and the rough scrub of Woolhope common. Then I descended, and descended, and....realised I had totally forgotten about the extra kick over Woolhope ridge. Not just any old kick, but a right tough blighter at the top. It was worth every pedal stomp and pull on the bars, as there are few views of the Malverns as outstanding once over the top. Glowing amber in the evening sun the hills looks truly magnificent and I rolled through Putley and the lanes of Munsley.

The last 10 kms were spent on contentedly climbing up to Wellington Heath and to my favourite road of all, Raycombe Lane, with wonderful views west to the setting sun signaling the end of a wonderful day. ❏

Full steam ahead for up-coming Steam Rides Tim Sollesse

S

team Ride calendar events start from West London, the far side of Ruislip Lido at the Café next to Woody Bay Station, which is within a short cycle ride from the end of the Central Line. My sons still remember the beach and trips on the miniature steam railway. Having grown up in the railway town of Didcot on the edge of the Chilterns, trains and bikes have always featured large in my life hence all my rides visit steam train locations in the South East.

I became involved in Audaxing as a natural progression from touring with the CTC in London. I rode Rocco Richardson’s (ex-AUK president) wonderful Chiltern rides from around 2008 and have been lucky enough to have won the CTC Mille Miglia, placed in the CTC competitions as well as organising end-to-end rides over the years. These events have inspired me to create my own unique qualifiers.

CTC LOITERING 60 Inside Track (Offroad/Onroad). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Sept 2015 60 Single Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Mar 2016 100 Quainton Express. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Mar 2016 100 Chinnor Scenic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Nov 2015 200* London-Oxford-London (LOL) – Ghan reversed . . . . . . 5th Sept 2015 Since joining AUDAX in 2011 and completing my 1st SR series, I’ve enjoyed Tom Deakins’ scenic Essex SR, Cymru SR and Wessex SR as well as a whole host of other UK Audaxes.

These have inspired me to create similarly unique challenges and having joined up with ACH, it has been fun to compete against other AUK clubs, in particular Bristol, with whom we have a meet-up ride with and who have pipped us into 2nd club place.

STEAM RIDE SR 200* London-Oxford-London (LOL) – The Ghan. . . . . . . . . . . 5th Mar 2016 300 London-Cambridge-Oxford-London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Sept 2015 University Challenge 400 London Circuit (planned for May 2016) 600 Golden Arrow (Fleche d’Or) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PERM (start overnight ferry Dieppe terminal) 2012 saw me drawn into riding Martin Malin’s fabulous inspired Grimpeur du Sud events, where I met up with the soon-to-be-created founder members of Audax Club Hackney (ACH). We made up a small band of dedicated grimpeurs sharing adventures across Wales, Wessex and the UK. Hopefully my Autumn Chiltern grimpeurs will introduce a whole new tranche of riders to the joys of Grimping.

AAA AUK / GRIMPEUR DU SUD 60 Chiltern Hills – AAA1**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PERM 130 Puffing Billy – AAA1.5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Sept 2015 150 London Grimpeur – AAA2**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19th Sept 2015 200* Chiltern Pub Crawl – AAA3**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Nov 2015 Having led 2 Fleches and Brevets 5000’s, strangely drawn to France for a little ride in the Alps to complete my final ride of an ACP Randonneur 10000, having been awarded AUK’s Randonneur 10000 last season.

See you up the road,

Quiet singletrack lanes with spectacular views are among the many highlights of the ride

Tim, The London Grimpeur www.steamride.co.uk *alternatives **including the infamous Kop Hill

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A PAIR OF KIRTONS 600

MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT! Chester & N.Wales CTC/Audax rides from Tattenhall Saturday September 5 2015 + Pro Tour of Britain – Beaumaris to Wrexham Sunday September 6 2015

These three Audax rides start on the Saturday from Old Ma’s Coffee Shop near Tattenhall--approximately 10k SE of Chester. Lots of free car parking if needed. Then on Sunday the Tour of Britain visits N. Wales allowing for excellent riding and viewing possibilities.

Pistyll Packing Momma 200k heads out to Chirk and then visits Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall which at 240ft is one of the wonders of N. Wales. The ride then continues to Lake Vyrnwy and Bala before returning to Cheshire via the Shelf and Hope Mountain. Very scenic, lumpy and challenging!

Kirton call

An overnight controller’s eye view of the Peak Audax 600km event by Peter Bond

T

his piece is about a control, so I’ll be very brief about the route, which was (extremely loosely) Stockport – Hull – Grantham – Whitchurch – Stockport. It’s much, much prettier than that sounds.

Helping at an overnight control holds two attractions for me: the company of cyclists, a group of people with whom you will have at least one thing in common and the childish glee at being up all night. The latter never leaves me, though I only appreciate it when it’s deliberate.

Under its different titles, Mike Wigley’s Pair Of Kirtons 600 has had only modest numbers and is an X-rated event, ie it starts and finishes in a car park and has only minimal support. However, in a PBP year, people are desperate for qualifying rides and he had 90 or so slated to start this edition and I think this is what persuaded him to run a more upmarket sleep control a little over halfway round the course.

Planning is the key and it is sometimes necessary to use a pub for this. What do the riders need? Toilets, somewhere to sleep or rest, something to eat and drink and a cheerful word or two of encouragement. To which ends, Mike and I would bring down food and blankets, Pete Hammond (of Eureka infamy) airbeds, soup, cauldron (and a collection of jokes that would help to keep us awake for a chance of revenge). He also brought tools and a track pump which came in handy. Andrew and Andrea Rodgers brought youth and energy and some very fine pasta sauce.

Mike had booked the village hall at Corby Glen, near Stamford.

This would be his first attempt at organising a ‘proper’ overnight control, though he has run to parking a horse box in the deep dark woods on previous versions.

PREPARATION IS KEY A rough timetable is as follows:1. Arrive at hall and admire beautiful pastoral setting under early evening sunshine.

2. Unload blankets and airbeds and carry into hall.

3. Inflate beds and organise into rows at far end of hall while Audax banners are put up at the entrance to the control 4. Fill kitchen with cake, bread, jam, tea and coffee and get soup on the go (many, many tins of vegetable soup, which seems very popular indeed).

Momma’s Mountain Views 130k follows the same route to Chirk before heading over to Llangollen with superb views of the Berwyn mountains. Next comes The Panorama before climbing the legendary Old Horseshoe Pass to Ponderosa cafe & return via Hope Mountain.

Momma’s Leafy Lanes 50k gives a pleasant, undulating ride.

Why not come and join us for a super weekend of cycling indulgence? Wide variety of accommodation is available.

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A PAIR OF KIRTONS 600 5. Decide we will need to have even more sleeping space, so fill shower room and corridor with extra beds.

6. Prepare sleeping rota on magic plastic sheets, so we can wake people up when they want, or before if we are really pressed.

7. Eat excellent meal prepared by Andrew.

8. Remove failed airbeds 9. Go outside to observe magnificent early evening sky, with Jupiter and Venus blazing fiercely.

10. Enjoy excellent cup of real coffee from cafetiΦre 11. Gird loins for onslaught.

As it turned out, probably owing to the severe winds, the onslaught was very gradual. John Snooks arrived in his velomobile at about nine and I think he was probably fed and bedded down before the next rider, Lukasz, from Poland.

Lukasz looked completely unruffled and immediately set to changing a tube and was in bed pretty quickly. John Forbes from Birkenhead came in next, with Ishmael Burdeau, the renowned 24hr TT rider and Transcontinental alumnus; it’s an honour, sir.

Steve Graham was in soon after that and gradually things got busier as midnight approached. Cyclists, or indeed any group of enthusiasts are naturally garrulous but people were being pretty considerate about keeping the noise down, which is always a problem when sleeping and eating are in the same room. We had agreed that riders would leave their shoes in the corridor. I’d been well looked after on the National 400 at Steve Bateman’s control, so it was lovely to return the favour for him when he arrived on the tandem with Julian Dyson.

It is always good to see so many of your riding friends and to chat about the route and conditions. Meeting new riders is a pleasure, too, and I enjoy trying to place riders from their accents. John Sabine and I had a lovely exchange in what was almost pure Anglo-Saxon.

In the hours before the control cut-off at about 5.30, things became gently frenetic as we had people eating who had just arrived, along with people who had rested and were eating before setting off again; people being shown to beds for a short, desperate lie-down and those who were being woken, in some cases to make way for some other poor soul who had been waiting for a bed. Fortunately, we only needed to ask two or three people to wait for a bed, thanks to the number who, like Ishmael, rode straight on, or had booked other accommodation.

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Our last arrival was at just after four in the morning and if I had never ridden an audax myself, I’d have been sending for an ambulance. But it is astonishing the difference that can be wrought by even an hour’s sleep and I don’t think anyone packed at Corby Glen. By 6am, the last riders had been lowered onto their saddles and wobbled down the road. It took us about an hour and a half to complete the pull-down, including sweeping the hall and other rooms and washing up and cleaning the kitchen. The key-holder arrived at 7.30 and seemed very happy with things and we rolled off to breakfast at the Little Chef, which is a story in its own right but for another place.

HOMEWARD BOUND We said our farewells and made for our homes.

Through gritty eyes, I was still able to spot a couple of delightful churches alongside the A1 and a wonderful patch of lupins in the verge, which took me back to childhood days, when they were common in gardens. Mike and I went over the adventure, discussing possibilities for improvement but generally very pleased at how it had gone. We had worked well together and I think it augurs well for Peak Audax’s running of the National 400 in 2016. I imagine it helped that we had all experienced such events from the rider’s point of view and that we were known to many of entrants. Being able, thanks to Danial Webb, to collect the beds and blankets after his Windsor-Chester-Windsor 600 was a big benefit to the riders and helped turn this ride into one of the plushest X-rated events ever. It’s going to make following PBP just that bit more interesting, knowing that we helped some of the riders to get their qualifying 600.

My only regret was realising as we cleaned up that there was still plenty of Andrew’s pasta sauce left, which would have rendered the Little Chef unnecessary. I’m unable to ride at the moment, so helping at events is an ideal way to keep in touch with my sport. But I’d recommend it to anyone. As Mike said, it is remarkably touching to have people thank you for helping them on their way. In my particular case, I’m sure John Sabine can’t wait to reciprocate.

When all is said and done, the kudos goes to Mike.

He organised the whole thing and started welcoming riders on Friday night and was still sorting out storage on Monday. To bowdlerize the immortal Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques (cue Brummy accent), ‘This event won’t run itself, you know....’ ❏

EVENT A Pair of Kirtons DATE 6 June 2015 DISTANCE 600km LOCATION Poynton, nr Stockport ORGANISER Mike Wigley, Peak Audax WEBSITE delphcyclist.info/Kirtons.html

Below, left to right: Polish rider Lukasz changes an inner tube; the legendary Ishmael Burdeau; John Sabine prepares to set off again; John Forbes enjoys the morning sun

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DORSET COAST 200

Dorset Coast... then and now T Reflections on a stalwart of the Audax UK calendar since 1978 by Alan Davies he Dorset Coast 200km audax was first organised in 1978 and has run every year since. 2015 was the 38th consecutive edition. Nearly 70 cyclists started the first ride but only 33 finished the 200km route from Poole to Lyme Regis and back. Keith Matthews was one of the finishers and organised the event for many years. He handed over the reins to Annemarie Manley, who in turn passed it on to current incumbent Pete Loakes.

An introduction to Audax

In the autumn of 2000 I completed the Wessex 100 as my first ever century ride. An unplanned ride back home from Salisbury afterwards meant I had ridden 130 miles, far beyond where I imagined the limit of my capabilities to be. A search for other long distance rides identified the Gridiron, a local CTC ride around the New Forest, which ended up as another century following the ride to and from Southampton. At the finish of the Gridiron I picked up a flyer for something called Tour of the Purbecks, which sounded good and started not too far away in Poole.

So it was that in the spring of 2001 I rode my first Audax event, in rain and mist on a course featuring several diversions to avoid farms, this being the grim time of the foot and mouth outbreak. Audax was a new concept to me but despite my ignorance of info controls etc. I had a great time. I found out that the next local Audax was a 200km event called the Dorset Coast, a month later.

2001: The wet one

My diary recalls: “Start - Lytchett Matravers, nr Poole, in fine conditions. A fast descent down through Poole and then we took the chain ferry to Studland. Gentle climbing to Corfe Castle followed, the castle looming impressively above everything. Church Knowle and Steeple Hill - the Purbecks that mist had prevented me from seeing last time - absolutely beautiful. However, darkening skies and the first few spots began to fall as we went down Whiteways. The main road to Broadmayne was fast and furious, and the roads were now becoming wet. Where was my rain jacket? In the car! I arrived, bedraggled, at the Dorothy Inn, Weymouth, but two Mars Bars provided an immediate pick-me-up. Then it was past the Radipole Lake to join the ‘B’ road from Weymouth to Bridport. As we approached Abbotsbury the butterflies started to form as I knew what was coming. The hill was actually wind-assisted but was still a tough grind up the relentless 1 in 6 gradient. However, once reaching the summit the wind came into its own, and the rollercoaster road to Bridport was a 30mph

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cruise. After the next control I punctured in the middle of nowhere but I managed to get the repair done quickly, and I was soon picking up the riders who had gone past me. Our small group of three wound our way up to Marshwood, the high road eerily impressive through a damp forest. Then it was “Welcome to Devon”, and a feeling of having come a long way. The descent of Sector Lane was scary and my frozen hands struggled to keep a firm grip on the brakes. I was forced to forget about stopping and concentrate on staying upright, and I flew down the hill into Axminster. I sat in the control, shivering uncontrollably. Outside, the rain continued to pour down. After two cups of tea and some flapjacks I felt ready to push on. I was now forcing myself onwards using maximum effort just to generate heat and to stay warm.

The descent into Wootton Fitzpaine was a scary lottery of pot holes and puddles, with F&M disinfecting straw providing an extra hazard. I made it up the 250 metre Spyway Hill amidst the howl of wind and rain, then it was along the Roman Road, battling the elements that were now intensified by a fierce headwind which lashed the rain against my face. The descent completed, I rode into the lowland comfort of Winterbourne Abbas and Martinstown. Soon I was in Dorchester, once more a shivering wreck. This time tea had no effect, hypothermia was setting in, and salvation appeared in the form of local CTC man Jesse Fell, who offered me a lift back to Lytchett Matravers, and Annemarie kindly rescued my bike. 113 miles completed, with only around 15 to go - a real shame to just miss out on finishing!”

The intermediate years

Since then, I have ridden the Dorset Coast each year, apart from in 2014 when the need to be within an easy taxi ride of Princess Anne maternity hospital meant a change to the shorter Coastlet, after fitting in the DC permanent a few weeks earlier! The route has remained largely the same, and (after that first soaking) has featured all varieties of weather including sweltering heat, heavy rain, and setting off from Wareham in a blizzard in 2008! The rides have been shared with great company including Chris Blake and the Salisbury RC on the early ones, Simon Bennett, fellow Romsonian Barry Hobbs, and Paul Whitehead loudly providing inane chatter to distract from the hills on more than one edition. Latterly extending the ride to and from home has led to some memorable wildlife encounters including a multitude of deer on Stoney Cross plain at 5am, and chasing badgers down the Avon Valley with the sound of sharp claws on tarmac breaking the dawn silence.

2015: The windy one

The forecast of heavy rain and 40mph winds wasn’t in the script, and for any other event I would have stayed in bed. However as is often the case, the reality wasn’t as bad, and I even set off in the dry. However as I rattled over the cattle grid into the New Forest, just a handful of miles from home, the rain started, and my light illuminated a tunnel of raindrops which rushed towards me through the inky blackness. As I crossed the cattle grid on the other side of the Forest at Ringwood the rain stopped so I wasn’t too bedraggled as I rolled into Wareham for the start. A good chance to say hi to many familiar faces including Barry who had (wisely) driven to the start this year.

The large group set off and headed for Poole on quiet main roads and it wasn’t until we were halfway around the harbour that the wind began to make its presence felt and it felt like suddenly riding into a wall. The first section of this ride is called the “Ferry Dash” for a good reason, i.e. it is basically a disorganised road race to get to the chain ferry, which crosses the harbour mouth to Studland. The ferry is never waiting so as usual it’s a good chance for everyone to regroup, get their breath back, and have a chat. A few riders had ridden the 300km Hardboiled the day before, and it looked to have been a challenging one.

In particular Paul’s bike was plastered in mud and he was regaling us about the state of the Devon lanes. We were soon off the ferry and it soon became apparent to me that the outward section of the ride would be a bit of a challenge. The gusting wind was in our faces the whole time as we crossed the Isle of Purbeck (not a true island but a peninsula), although the scenery was sublime with sweeping views of the sea (but not Portland, which was invisible in the cloud today).

After a tough traverse of the hills after Chaldon (a Pete Loakes route improvement), my energy levels were falling fast and I gratefully pulled over in Broadmayne to consume emergency jam sandwiches. It was a good place for a stop as the subsequent exposed grind up onto the downs above Weymouth was the toughest section of the whole ride, and the average speed fell miserably! The descent via the Coombe Valley Road, normally a graceful plummet, was today hard pedalling all the way down, and it was a great relief to get into Weymouth for the first control and a stop at a convenient shop to stock up on Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (CDM).

I met Barry at the control and we exchanged tales of the tough ride so far. He’d had enough and headed straight back to Wareham, wind assisted, at a rate of knots.

I was happy to carry on, and really enjoyed the fantastic ride out of town on all the new cycle paths built as part of the Olympic

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DORSET COAST 200 preparations. I was expecting the exposed coast road on the next section to be the hardest of all, and my mantra was “get to Bridport” (after which the lanes would give more shelter). However it wasn’t as bad as I feared, the big climb at Abbotsbury was partsheltered and the wind was coming in off the sea to my left rather than right in my face. This is a fantastic section of the route, with views behind over Chesil Beach and ahead as far as Golden Cap and Lyme Regis on a clear day (not today!).

At Bridport I leant the bike against a five bar gate while I stopped to consume more CDM but it (and me!) nearly blew over despite being leant at a generous angle. From here the route heads partly inland on narrow lanes over a series of four large hills, which get increasingly hard and steep, culminating in an extended climb up from Wootton Fitzpaine to the ridge above Axminster. To add to the challenge, some sections were coated in thick mud which had been plastered across the road by cars emerging from a field. It was a case of staying sat down in the saddle and just keeping going to maintain traction.

The top couldn’t come soon enough, and it was with great relief that I again pedalled on the downhill all the way to the control at Axminster Primary School.

It is here that the scale of the organisation of a ride of this nature becomes apparent.

At the control a superb lunch had been laid on by the school PTA - hot soup, drinks, sandwiches, and choice from a staggering array of cakes, all included in the entry fee.

This is typical of the TLC received on this ride.

I set off on the return with Paul, now heading east, and confident that it was now payback time. Sure enough, even on the steep climb of Sector Lane it felt as though an invisible hand was on my back pushing me on. At the top the route follows a wooded ridge to Marshwood, and the roar of the wind in the trees sounded like an aeroplane taking off. From here it is around 50 miles back to the finish, and it was one of the best 50 mile rides I have done, speeding along at evens on the beautiful wind-blown dry lanes. The Top o’ Town Café at Dorchester provided the kind of sustenance we had been dreaming about since Axminster, hot fruit crumble in a lake of custard. The tailwind kept up all the way back to Wareham on the quiet, undulating roads over the heath.

After refuelling at the Arrivée I was happy to find the wind still on my back for the ride home, and it felt great to fly along in the big chainring. Darkness fell somewhere after Wimborne, and, after a final CDM stop at Ringwood, I had the quiet New Forest lanes to myself for the final few miles home to Romsey.

I have ridden 18 Dorset Coasts to date, including four permanent versions. While they have all been brilliant rides, this year was a real challenge and was one of the best. If you’ve never ridden the Dorset Coast before, I urge you to put it on your list of must-do rides. It is a classic event, my all-time favourite day out on a bike, and a magical journey through timeless countryside. ❏

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Jessica Conner rides through the Elan Valley on the Elenydd 300

8am- 200k. A cracking roller coaster ride down to the coast and back. Showcasing the best of what the Principality has to offer: stunning scenery, lakes, lanes, rivers and hills and best of all the last 20k is all downhill.

8.30am- 130k. A truncated version of the above but still with the same lovely lanes, hills, rivers and lakes and the welcome 20k swoop downhill to the finish.

9am- 60k. Designed as an introduction to Audaxing but with a character all of its own this lovely scenic route takes you around Llyn Tegid into Bala and back to Corwen via winding lanes and some not too demanding hills.

All rides departing from the Manor Craft Centre in Corwen on Saturday 17th October 2015 For more information and an entry form go to http:// www.aukweb.net/events/

GOLDEN ROADS & STANDING STONES 300 Riding through the Aline Forest

Setting off

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Enjoying a well-earned post-ride cuppa

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GOLDEN ROADS & STANDING STONES 300

Carry on Regardless

Colin Barton

In true audax spirit, riders on the Western Isles Audax events didn’t let a silly little thing like a Calmac ferry strike spoil their day out. Words & photos by Ian Gilbert

E

verything was shaping up nicely for the 2015 Western Isles Audax Events until, with 10 days to go, Calmac announced plans for strike action on the days leading up to the events.

There would be no sailings from Ullapool to Stornoway (or Uig to Tarbert) on the Friday before so everyone who had entered from the mainland would need to make alternative travel arrangements or miss out on a wonderful ride. The joys of island life!

The next few days were busy – emailing everyone about the situation and posting updates on the Western Isles Audax Facebook page, other Audax Facebook groups and various internet forums. I was really pleased with the response – people replied quickly, giving me a good idea of the possible numbers of riders who either could or couldn’t make it to the event.

From the replies it became obvious that there would be enough riders for the events to go ahead, avoiding a cancellation.

I planned for a possible 15 starters for the Golden Roads and Standing Stones 300km, a big reduction on the 38 entries that I’d received. The supporting Hebridean Hundred 110km was not hit as hard having attracted a larger number of local entries, and I was expecting about 20 riders from 27 entries. The determination shown by some of the riders to overcome the challenges of getting to the islands really has to be commended, some taking an extra day off work to travel early, others even choosing to travel on the 3am freight ferry on the Saturday morning!

On the day 14 riders started the Golden Road and Standing Stones. A route that travels from Stornoway to Tarbert, completes a loop of South Harris along the Golden Road and returning on the west coast. The route EVENT Golden Roads & Standing Stones

then returns to Lewis and visits the Callanish Standing Stones and the Butt of Lewis lighthouse before returning to Stornoway across the seemingly never ending Barvas Moor. The Temple Cafe at Northton replaced the Butty Bus control in South Harris, riders were again welcomed by Bernie and Geraldine in the Loch Erisort Inn at the halfway point and were fed beans on toast in the children’s play room at Spornis close to the Ness control.

Eleven riders finished the event. Dean Clementson was the first rider to complete the course on fixed wheel. Robert Gray travelled from Leicestershire to Inverness on the Thursday night train, cycled to Ullapool (via Lairg and Ledmore) on Friday, arrived at the event HQ at 05.40am straight off the 03.00am freight ferry and (after breakfast) set out and completed the 300km event. Jo Page, having travelled to Scotland but being unable to arrive on the Friday, also arrived on the early freight ferry. She felt that a 300km would be too much under the circumstances and, having taken some ideas from me during the week, she planned (and completed) a 200km DIY. Eighteen riders completed the Hebridean Hundred visiting Ravenspoint in South Lochs, the Callanish Stones and the Blue Pig Studio in Carloway. Steve Carroll showed that the Audax spirit doesn’t deteriorate with age. One of the 3 riders who arrived on the early freight ferry, he completed the ride after a few hours sleep on the hall floor grabbed after the start of the 300km.

All in all a really great day for everyone involved. A huge thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make it happen and a special thanks to my mum who travelled up from Brampton – the riders thought the food at the finish was fantastic, but was it stew or soup? ❏

David Heggie

On the Clisham

DATE 27 June 2015 DISTANCE 300km LOCATION Stornoway, Isle of Lewis ORGANISER Ian Glbert, Hebridean CC WEBSITE www.aukweb.net audaxhebrides.net

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GOLDEN ROADS & STANDING STONES 300 Jo Page

Anthony Pidcock

Robert Gray

Christina Mackenzie

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Rob Wood, Michael Wann and Ian Milne

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GOLDEN ROADS & STANDING STONES 300 On the Clisham

John Gardner and Gary Merchant

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Dean Clementson

Daniel Mahoney

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ASPARAGUS & STRAWBERRIES 400

Round East Anglia the fast way Sometimes it’s fun to forget that audax isn’t a race and just go as quick as you can… Words & pictures by Ciaran O’Hara

I

actually began writing this race report in my head the day before the race started while having a shower after an easy early morning spin in Epping Forest. I was so full of beans and excited to be getting back on my bike after a testing 4 week layoff with Achilles tendonitis.

I had been quite disciplined through my rehab in keeping the bike efforts to a minimum and resting as much as possible however do regret not realising the seriousness of the injury sooner.

Anyway, I spent Friday morning prepping all my equipment. My Garmin was preloaded with the route in 4 different versions. My bike was running smoothly and I had added a small handlebar bag to carry my phone, camera and external power for my Garmin and lights.

I also stuck a note on my top tube outlining the various control towns and distances which I found to be very useful as an ‘at a glance’ reference and stuffed my pockets with fruit, protein bars and flapjacks.

Adrian O’Sullivan and Oli Leach were also doing the event and I knew some company would make the day much more pleasurable.

Adrian had opted to ride to the start and although tempted I felt it was too big of a step to go from a biggest ride of 350km to 650km, especially considering my recent injury, so I opted for the 7am train with Oli and his friend Greg.

At Manningtree Station the atmosphere was great with 200 riders mulling around and we also had the pleasure to meet Steve Abraham who is attempting to ride over 80,000 miles in one year. Oli and Greg had decided to keep a steady pace so Adrian and I joined the third wave of riders setting off at 0910. Within the first few minutes I had learnt my first lesson of the day as my Garmin took 15 minutes to load the 400km route and Adrian could not get 3G on his phone to load his route and so we had to sit with a big group until we knew where we were going.

The ‘neutralised’ section was soon left behind

as the ping of my Garmin was like the race gun going off and Adrian and I bombed off the front towards the first control point at 50km in Ixworth. As we picked off the vast majority of riders in waves 1 and 2 we knew it was going to be a fast start and we continued to cruise with the help of a nice tailwind. As we steamed up a long flat section into the first control with Adrian rolling through pretending to be a choo choo train we passed a rider in a white jersey who was a bit astounded at the pace we blew past him.

At the first control we got our stamps to verify the route and were also told to slow down which I found quite amusing as we were in a ‘race’. These rides are set up in such a way that you must reach a control at a particular time, especially the manned ones, and therefore the ‘race has a 15-25kmph recommended average speed. We had just rode the first 50km at 37kmph and being told off for that just made us want to go faster.

CRUISE CONTROL The next control was 57km away in Halesworth so we cruised out of Ixworth and took some food on board before getting the heads back down and going for it. We soon caught up with the rider in the white jersey and he decided to jump on the back of us as Adrian and I continued to roll through and work. On one turn I dropped in behind him and realised he was wearing an Everesting jersey and so it turned out James had everested the opposite side of Toys Hill that Adrian had done. The kilometres rolled by as we chatted and the weather remained nice and although there were always ominous looking dark clouds in the distance the rain held off for the vast majority of the day.

At our current pace we were going to be one hour early for our next control and so we kind of slowed down a little but not really and rolled in about 50 minutes early. We were in the mood

Route: strava.com/ activities/301525025 Total distance ridden: 520.6km for a quick snack and keep moving but couldn’t risk submitting a time outside the designated window and so we sat down for our first hearty meal of the day. The lady in the cafe was very welcoming as were her other customers as they asked what we were doing and seemed genuinely interested and impressed. As we finished up lunch more cyclists rolled into the cafe as they had seen our bikes outside and the owner was very happy with a busy establishment.

Our next stop was the Reedham ferry crossing which was strange but beautiful and then onto Acle which took our total to 150km for the day so far. We managed to get some water and pick-a- mix sweets in the post office before it shut and were happy to keep moving onto Wells, the half way point. This next 70km was very tough as we headed into a north westerly head wind although we did pick up two other riders and the four of us continually worked hard for a couple of hours.

As we got within 15km of Well-on-the-sea I was just recovering from a little rough patch and took up the lead. As we climbed a short drag into a small village one of the riders we had collected on a single speed fixed wheel bike started shouting at me to move off the front.

Although feeling fine I begrudgingly moved and sat up at the back of the group. I lifted the pace a bit over the top of the rise and through the village. Adrian and the other rider Mike managed to get on my wheel and that was the last I saw at of Mr. Fixie. I hope he learned a valuable lesson and won’t shout at me next time I’m doing him a favour by taking the full brunt of a headwind for him.

The three of us rolled into Wells and found an American dinner by the seafront which was just about to shut but they accommodated us.

As Adrian ordered from the very tired waitress she was unimpressed by how far he had cycled

EVENT Asparagus & Strawberries DATE 9 May 2015 DISTANCE 414km LOCATION Manningtree, Essex ORGANISER Tom Deakins, Flitchbikes CC WEBSITE camaudax.uk/rides/ asparagus-strawberries-400

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At Manningtree station for the 9.10 départ

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ASPARAGUS & STRAWBERRIES 400 and quickly trumped him by letting him know she had been on her feet for 14 hours. He had finally met his match and she was such a funny character. Mike, the other rider we picked up, was a very impressive but unassuming character who had previously completed Paris-Brest-Paris twice. During his last effort he told us how he had crashed and was unable to walk but could still cycle and completed the ride only to find out two weeks later he had a broken pelvis.

UNPLANNED STOPS We collected our food receipts as verification that we had been in the town, got our lights/hi viz on (staying safe Mum!) and were soon on the move again minus Mike as he decided he couldn’t hack our pace any longer. No sooner had we got out of town did I realise something was wrong. My back tyre was soft and needed to be changed so we pulled over and swiftly got it sorted. The next stop was Barton Mills at 297km and by this point our pace had become steadier with the odd flourish of madness if the dark roads opened up and felt safe. This was where Adrian came into his element and continually pushed the pace.

Despite having only eaten three hours earlier we decided to have a snack in Little Chef as it was now midnight and it could be our last easily accessible and substantial meal for a while. We also met Douglas here, who I had got to know on my 300km ride, and so he tagged onto the back of our 2 man locomotive.

Adrian had decided to try some of the slow release caffeine gum his nutritionist had given him and before popping them in his mouth proceeded to warn me that he would probably be talking rubbish for the next few hours, he didn’t disappoint. Despite a few yawns around 10pm and 1am I abstained from any caffeine and seemed to be ok. Saffron Waldon was our next stop 50km away and it was quite uneventful apart from having to top up our water at the chip shop with the groups of late night revellers wandering who the hell we were.

We still had 70km to Manningtree which was quite a stretch at 1:30 in the morning and my two groupies moaned quite a bit before I pulled out the classic parental warning and promised to ‘turn the bikes around and go home if they continued to grumble’. The crying stopped and we were soon shifting east through the country lanes of north Essex. I was doing most of the navigating and I had heard reports that the Garmin 810 can freeze during long activities and of course mine did. This meant we had missed a turn and instead of going back we looped around a narrow road and joined back onto the route.

Up ahead we noticed another set of bike lights flashing in the distance and I realised it was the two guys on a tandem I had chased down earlier and I was astounded at their pace. My reasoning behind their pace is that they were so old they don’t have to stop to eat or piss but full respect to both of them, I hope I can move like that when I’m 116. Adrian decided to berate me once again turning me into the bull going for the red flag, or red flashing light, and so we caught up and passed them for the final time.

Unfortunately we lost Douglas at this stage and we continued to plough on under the clear star filled sky and the murky red moon. We

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were getting close to the false end, as we still had 100km+ to get home, and as I promised Adrian there was only 5 more kilometres and he promised me we were on the last hill we could do nothing but laugh as we tortured each other. As we arrived in Manningtree and got our final ATM receipt Adrian played his trump card and informed me of the 24 hour Mc Donalds in Colchester. I had been so let down by the closed McDonalds during the ride to Paris in March so I didn’t get too excited. I was quite hungry at this stage but was prepared and had stocked up in Little Chef so was able to produce a tasty but sweaty chicken wrap from my back pocket which perked me right up and we were soon moving towards Colchester.

QUEST FOR THE GOLDEN ARCHES As we stood at the lit up menu boards at 4am I remembered trying to use a drive-through in Boston without having a car and they refused to serve us and I got the feeling we were going to have the same problem in Colchester. Low and behold we were refused service as their insurance didn’t cover bicycles. At this stage I would have cracked up and probably flipped the building upside down but my beardy buddy was calm and proceeded to convince them he had an electric bike and also asked to speak to the manager.

Common sense prevailed, helped along with some charm, and we were soon camped out in the porch with two Big Mac meals.

It had gotten quite cold just before the sun started to rise and it took us a minute to get moving again however we were soon motoring along the A12 which was fast but too busy and dangerous especially in our tired state. 60km from home we had to ease off the pace and take more regular stops as we were both quite tired and were also using a different route home so had to plan as we rode and desperately wanted to avoid the centre of Chelmsford.

This was a very tough patch for both of us and we were quite sluggish but we kept moving and I was thankful we had the mental stamina to do so. Adrian ‘joked’ about getting the train home from Chelmsford but I think I managed to keep him moving by telling him his kids would be so disappointed if he arrived home with his bike in one hand and a train ticket in the other. Very mean of me but I know he’s thick skinned and the train was never a serious option.

As we got closer to home, the prospect of breakfast and a shower refreshed our desire and the choo choo train rolled from Epping into Tottenham in record time. A quick photo and a final farewell allowed us to go our separate ways with quality mileage in the legs and great memories in the mind.

There are not many people I could spend a full day with on the bike and likewise I’m sure plenty of people would struggle to enjoy my company for so long so a huge kudos goes to a great riding partner and an all round inspiring person. After 24 hours of riding we were suffering but we were still chatting, still smiling and still appreciative of having the ability to undertake such rides.

Likewise thanks must go to a very supportive club and its members who are often intrigued by extreme events and this intrigue simply fuels the fire and the desire to keep excelling. ❏

A rider’s menu Below I have outlined the food I consumed in the 27 hour period of pre, during and post race.

PRE RIDE Bowl of porridge with banana, dried fruit and nuts 3 boiled eggs with a slice of buttered toast Can of coconut water Egg roll DURING RIDE Beef curry with rice 2 glasses of milk Punnet of blueberries 4 bananas 2 oranges 1 pear Handful of pick-a-mix Piri-piri chicken burger with wedges Carrot cake Cup of tea Veggie bean burger and chips Medium fanta 1 isotonic lucozade Sweaty chicken salad wrap 1 high 5 caffeine gel Big mac with fries Small coke 9 flapjacks 2 protein bars 1 dark choc energy bar 9 litres of water

POST RIDE Banana and peanut butter protein shake Large breakfast- 3 sausages, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, 2 toast, mushrooms, tomatoes 1 large portion banoffee pie

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KERNOW & SOUTHWEST 600

Making a Proper Job of it The hills of Cornwall provide a real challenge but make for an enjoyable and hugely rewarding final Paris-Brest-Paris qualifier. Words & pictures by Colin Bezant EVENT Kernow & Southwest 600 DATE 30 May 2015 DISTANCE 600km LOCATION Exeter ORGANISER Ian Hennessey, Exeter Wheelers WEBSITE ukcyclist.co.uk/audaxevents

Organiser Ian Hennessey

I

have been riding long distance cycling events for nearly 15 years. Each ride brings back memories of the past: through common acquaintance; sometimes it is a shared route; other times it is just some fragment of scenery that is reminiscent of another time and another place. And every ride brings something new, often those brief encounters with people who edit you out of their presence. Some rides elevate themselves above the mundane and develop their own poetry. The Kernow & Southwest is such a ride, a grand tour of the scenic Southwest. In this part of the world it would be easy for a cruel mind to point the riders over a gratuitously hilly route that would prevent all but the strongest riders from completing, but this ride avoids that temptation, and produces a test that is hard but fair and all the more enjoyable for it. Here is the story of the 2015 edition in a few brief moments.

BEFORE THE START I met Simon P and John in the bar next to the Travelodge the night before. We had all arrived on different trains. We talked for a while, the talk of experienced but nervous men. The other two had already qualified for Paris-Brest-Paris but this was my one go at a 600-kilometre event. It was a risky strategy because one mistake or one mechanical would mean that I would not be going to France in August. I ate a grilled chicken sandwich and drank beer, the food of Audax champions, ignoring the grimy surroundings.

STAGE 1 – EXETER TO BUDE Riding on the front allowed me to set my pace, brisk but not urgent, through Exeter and along the main Crediton road. Somewhere near Coleford the high banks were filled with wildflowers so that was like riding through a perpetual garden. Ahead and to the left were the high points of Dartmoor, clear in the bright morning light: Cosdon, High Willhays and Yestor. We chatted about past rides and saddlebags and kit and much of the time just rode our bikes, unworried about what was to come.

STAGE 2 – BUDE TO LOOE The grain of this part of Cornwall is East–West, so if you go North–South you get hills, and lots of them. The highlight of this section was squeezing past a huge traction engine that blocked the road and meant we had a long section without cars as none of them could pass. Then we climbed up onto the open moorland, leaving the flower-meadow banks behind. 37 years ago I had laboured up this hill after a mineral fossicking trip to the mines around Minions. It was still hard work, but it was good to do it in company. At the top we picked up the breeze which took the edge off the high-speed descent into Liskeard, but we were soon into Looe valley’s lushness, riding one side and then the other of the little branch line that somehow escaped Beeching’s cuts. Perhaps they hid it from him, it is very tucked away.

In Looe, John suggested the takeaway, which I wasn’t sure about, not having his passion for fish and chips on

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Colin and John

an Audax, but they did a decent pasty. We sat on a wall just outside the café, which was nearly John’s downfall as a herring gull with a beak and a belly almost the size of a pelican’s swooped towards his lunch, only to be shooed off by a friendly bystander.

STAGE 3 – LOOE TO PENZANCE It is impossible to describe the magic interlude of the ferry crossing from Polruan to Fowey, a 10-minute idyll of rest in an otherwise strenuous weekend, blue sky and scenery worth travelling a thousand miles for. But the memory of this stage is the endless rollers on the A390. My race bike with its tri-bar set-up helped me to cut into the wind and carve out a steady pace on the front of the group. The sky gradually clouded over, and the wind picked up. I heard a shout from John about being off track, but I remembered this part of the route from before. There was a big digger and a queue of cars behind it so I couldn’t properly look round. I slowed, and eventually had the chance to do a U-turn, but they had vanished. So I was on my own. It was bound to happen; I’d have preferred company but hopefully we would meet up somewhere later, if not in Penzance.

A few miles later, on the stiff hill out of the Truro, I saw familiar riders ahead. I rode up at club run pace, rather than at Audax pace and overhauled two of them and then finally caught John just before the steep part of the descent on Old Falmouth Road. The surface was rough and, still sparking from the effort to catch up I took it fast. I heard a clattering sound and assumed I’d flicked up a stone onto my frame. John yelled at me as we took the climb, thinking that something had fallen off my bike. I didn’t think so but looked and checked. One of my Lumicycle lights had indeed become detached.

They are expensive and so I turned back to find it. The other two riders were surprised to see me. I looked but I couldn’t see anything. With it’s round profile it could have rolled anywhere and had properly buried itself in

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KERNOW & SOUTHWEST 600 roadside debris. As I’d not been certain where it had come off, I could have spent the rest of the day looking. It may have been a blessing in disguise as the toggle switch was starting to go, as was the clasp that mounted it to the tri-bars, and it was probably better that it went now than on Paris-Brest-Paris. If you read this then you are welcome to search for it on Old Falmouth Road, just where it gets steep and see if it survived.

At Penzance the collective wisdom of three riders, two GPS devices, and a route sheet took us to the wrong church. At least the guy standing outside St Mary’s knew where the Methodist chapel was and we were able to make a sheepish return the wrong-way up the one-way street to one of the most-welcome controls in UK Audax history where we were treated like royalty.

STAGE 4 – PENZANCE TO NEWQUAY It started to rain halfway along this stage, just as it was getting dark, which dampened the joy of tailwinds. John and I arrived at the Tesco Metro in Newquay to squeeze into the meagre shelter left by the group of three ahead of us: prawn sandwich washed down with Yop downed quickly before the shivers took hold, the meagre comforts of a wet night.

STAGE 5 – NEWQUAY TO BUDE Two memories on this stage, the first stopping at a shut petrol station for a break and seeing the sign warning us of the guard dog after John had been barked at with a high degree of intent. The second was meeting oncoming traffic at temporary traffic lights and taking cover on the coned off section. In the way was one of those heavy-duty sheets they put down to cover a manhole. There was no time in my slightly dozy state to avoid it and I clipped it with front and back wheels. The back wheel lost grip on the plastic and I was canted over. Somehow I balanced, swerved out into the empty lane (the lights now in my favour) and recovered to catch up John, all hint of doziness gone. Otherwise it was dark and wet and would have been horrible for those behind us riding into the early hours.

NIGHT SHELTER We arrived just after midnight and decided on a proper sleep, getting a 5am wake up calI. I changed into dry shorts and base layer, ate some excellent cottage pie and laid my damp clothes on a cold radiator. l. After a good sleep came porridge. The first bowl was sweetened with honey and the second one with bacon. That and tea and a thickly buttered slice of toast made a breakfast to rival our feed in Penzance. John came over and said that it was going to rain to midday. The forecast had changed. I looked out.

It was still raining. But, wonder of wonders, Ian had found how to turn the heating on and I had the utmost of luxuries, dry socks. We took some time to lubricate chains and check the bikes over and it was about six am when we ready to leave, into the soaking Devonian morning so the dry socks were soaked in about ten minutes.

a couple of unexpected climbs where we passed riders who had decided to take a shorter sleep, we found ourselves in a long beautiful valley descent. We stopped for a comfort break and then finished what must be one of the longest continuous descents in the country to reach the A386 and the Torridge Estuary. The rain got heavier.

Fortunately near the Tesco petrol station control there was an open Costa coffee shop where we found three other riders sitting at the table underneath the hot air blower. I used the hand-dryer in the toilet to warm the sleeves of my rain jacket.

STAGE 7 – BARNSTAPLE TO BRIDGEWATER Nearly all of this stage was big rolling hills, plenty of woods, helping wind, and gradually drying conditions. Apart from a couple of snack breaks we flew along this section, especially past Wiveliscombe but our tempers began to fray on the crowded roads around Taunton, traffic made worse by a local triathlon. We needed the pasty and chips at Bridgwater services for our lunch to put a better perspective on things.

STAGE 8 – BRIDGEWATER TO SEATON The road from Taunton to the top of the Blackdown Hills rises over 250m, the last four kilometres at 5%. My legs felt beautiful. The last time they had been like this on a long Audax was on the Brimstone two years before. I rode up the wooded curves oblivious to the traffic in a state of transcendent delight much to the chagrin of the three riders that I passed on the way.

In Seaton John directed me to a fish and chip shop that he’d used before. Weary, fried food did not appeal, but they had sausages to go with the chips instead of fish and, most importantly, tea. We sat on the seafront and ate our food on a bench. It felt like we were on holiday. We’d made good time and, barring accidents, would be able to get back by John’s target of 6pm.

STAGE 9 – SEATON TO EXETER This is possibly the most audacious stage in Audax, massive coastal hills, where achieving

a 15kph average is an achievement. The section through Branscombe is the piecede-resistance of this ride, tiny lanes, very sheltered, beautifully sunny, lots of quaint thatched cottages and very tempting pubs and precipitous hills where one wonders how the tarmac sticks. But this wasn’t the abiding memory of the stage. On the last main hill I set off in what I thought was a good rhythm.

Into the woods the gradient steepened and I laboured for a little bit. John got out the saddle and went past and I had to work hard to get back on. With the extra adrenalin flowing, knowing we were almost to the end, I rode it like a time trial, with the climbing legs at full gas. It was like a club run, despite 600km behind us. It was silly and just a bit too far out to ride so hard but it was fun! It is great to finish an epic ride on a high.

CELEBRATING A PROPER JOB We arrived, having done 240km on the second day, in 11 hours and 35 minutes which would have been a fair time for such a distance and so many hills done fresh, let alone after not far short of 400km the day before. The wind had been our friend, and the afternoon sunshine had dried our clothes out. We’d passed ten or so riders during the day. The long sleep stop had been to our benefit. The only disappointment was that John’s train was earlier than he thought, so we only had time for a quick pint. They had Proper Job on tap, and as we had done a proper job of the ride, it seemed very fitting to sit and drink it in the sunshine. John rushed off and I finished my pint in a more leisurely fashion, phoning home, and then deciding that a proper job needed a second pint, so sat inside and listened to the locals, a tight-knit community in which I did not belong but did not care that I did not belong as I was happy just to let the world go by.

I went back to the hut in the middle of the park that was the final control, and saw some other riders finishing, before making my slow way back to Exeter Central station and the long train ride home, qualified for Paris-BrestParis, but more importantly, having had a really enjoyable event. ❏

STAGE 6 – BUDE TO BARNSTAPLE John and I had a third companion, the tailwind, which returned to bless us. After

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ON TOUR – ISLE OF MAN

Girls on Tour 2015

Louise Rigby & MaryJane Watson

Isle of Man Perms and so much more, with my Airnimal (aka Arnie) by Louise Rigby, pictures by Louise and MaryJane Watson

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ast year it was held in The Peak district, this year it was the turn of good friend MaryJane Watson. In June, I, Arnie and my lifetime friend Carol flew from Bristol to the Isle of Man (£47 return and £20 for Arnie). As Arnie neatly folds down to travel as normal hold luggage – no exra premium as with bike bags! It was also the end of TT week which we looked on as being added excitement to our trip.

We departed Bristol on-time and in under the hour we were being greeted by local resident MaryJane. Carol decided that for once she wouldn’t spend a week exploring the Island by pedal-power, but would do all her travelling on trams, horse trams, steam train and buses. For the week this would cost her £50, so we were all set. Our first night was at MaryJane’s home, where I built up Arnie, and then we enjoyed the delights of Mary-Jane’s cooking, and over a glass of homemade wine we talked about the Arnie the Airnimal enjoys the view

Five star audax accommodation – complete with en-suite facilities

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following week’s adventures. During the week we were also staying in the two independent hostels on the island. The first was to be the Venture Centre just outside Peel. The following morning MaryJane and myself set off on our bikes and Carol on the tram, we stopped at the Laxey Wheel on route, where yes, the tram stopped too, for the obligatory pics. The Venture Centre was only a few miles further-on and with the provisions purchased I was soon settled-in. I had a small cabin with wi-fi, en-suite, kettle, tea, coffee, bedding and towel, communal kitchen, lounge, and washing machine/drying room facilities all for £15 a night. Carol was next door, and had the same, Arnie had his own dorm – so we were a happy crew.

Sunday was to be our first perm Celts trams and Castles 100k (1.75AAA), I was honoured to be joined on the ride by MaryJane – whom also happens to be the organiser. The ride’s route

closely fllows the Isle-of-Man’s coast line, and with every turn a new section of the dramatic coast was revealed. We were blessed with dry sunny weather, and took this opportunity to picnic in the stunning scenery. I couldn’t help myself and kept stopping to take ‘photos – and thinking to myself, ‘It’s just like the Peak District but by the sea.’ One of my favourite parts of this ride is Marine Drive, where the trams once sped along, but sadly now no longer, due to land-slip – the road is now only open to non-motorised traffic. A glorious day’s adventure was had by all, and too soon I was back at base.

The following day I moved on to Knockaloe Beg near Peel, a farm with various accommodation options, we chose the barn with small kitchen, lounge, etc. and again £15 a night per person. Leaving Carol to her own devices as I needed to get dinner sorted and get ready for the following day’s ride. Tomorrow Mary-Jane was once again joining me on another of her perms, this time “The Three Peaks of Man” 110k (2.25AAA).

An early start was required, and so with great ethusiasm – we were off. Our first stop was a local shop that sold hot drinks and opposite – a bus shelter that any AUK would appreciate.

For it came complete with his ‘n’ her’s en-suite.

I couldn’t keep away from my camera, and I realised this was a harder ride, so we needed to be mindful of time. The route takes in the mountains in the middle of the island and then down to the very southern point - the Calf of Man. This ride again features Marine Drive which for the second time was even more delightful.

Blessed once again with good weather we enjoyed picnic stops, looking at the scenery whilst eating Mary-Jane’s delicious homemade rolls, what more could we want?

Between the two perms I managed to ride what felt like most of the island. I still had time on other days to cycle roads I hadn’t previously ridden. Then sadly and all too soon we were back with Mary-Jane for our last night. My friend Carol had found plenty packed into this small land mass to see and do, even without her bike, and the public transport network was one anywhere would be proud of.

Many thanks to MaryJane for her fabulous cooking, picnics – oh those delicious rolls, advice on where to cycle, what to see and do, and company on her Isle of Man perms. If I could, I’d leave the last word to Arnie and no doubt it would be: ‘I’ll be back!’ ❏

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ON TOUR – ISLE OF MAN The entrance to scenic Marine Drive

Obligatory photo stop at the Laxey water wheel

A traditional shop with well equipped workshop and experienced staff.

For ALL your cycling needs.

8 Shelfhanger Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4EH

01379 650419

www.madgettscycles.com

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ON TOUR – YORKSHIRE DALES

Kingsdale again Sometimes, when things don’t go according to plan, they can turn out to have wonderful consequences…

Words & pictures by Peter Bond

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his ride was not an Audax ride, though it was caused by an Audax, or more accurately, by my failure to complete an Audax ride the night before. I’d abandoned a 300k ride in Sedbergh and spent the night in a hotel.

My intention had been to ride to Kendal or Dent and get a train back to my home near Rochdale. However, before I went to sleep I had made the mistake of looking at my map, mainly because I didn’t have anything else to read. I wasn’t carrying an Ordnance Survey map but a sheet torn out of an old road atlas. There seemed to be a road of sorts between Dent and Ingleton, which I had no recollection of riding before. I slept well and as I got my money’sworth out of the breakfast next morning, I felt recovered enough to explore the road I’d looked at the night before. Much as I love Audax, where you aim to do a ride within fairly leisurely time limits, through specified places, it was astonishingly liberating to be going out for an exploratory ride, with no need to go anywhere, at anytime, or even to ride all the way. There were several places I could arrange to get a train.

So it was with a light heart, though tired legs, that I wheeled my bike away from The Dalesman and out into the sunshine.

This wasn’t as bright as it might have been, because we had been experiencing a pollution haze exacerbated by Saharan sand, but it was pleasant enough as I took a few pictures of Sedbergh, starting with the White Hart Social Club, where I’d made the decision to stay in town the night before.

The white hart was the emblem of Richard II, who was starved to death by his usurpers, which fact belies its use as an inn sign. I next took a picture of Sedbergh church, which was looking like a calendar scene, surrounded by emerald turf and nodding daffodils. I remembered, suddenly, that I had been in the church once, for the funeral of a friend and this thought was an unlooked-for coincidence, in that I had heard on yesterday’s ride of the premature death of the great rider and wonderful man, Don Black. Giving thanks for his friendship, I mounted up and rode off, towards the next coincidence.

An error of navigation found me halfway up a fell on a rutted track, before I discovered

my mistake. This was quickly put right and I was soon bowling along towards Dent, along lanes familiar to me from the ride known as the Old 240, though I was doing it in reverse. I passed a stone barn covered in golden lichen (xantheria pariatina, I think). I was also appreciating the wonderful foliage at this time of year, with the vivid emerald bread and cheese of the hawthorn hedges and the almost Japanese quality of the leafless blackthorn blossom, when a rider of unmistakable style hove into view at the bottom of Barbondale. Bob Bialek was on his way round the Old 240 itself. It was great to see him but sad to have to tell him about Don, who was well-known to both of us.

SHARING THE ROAD All along the last few kilometres, riders had been passing in the other direction on what was obviously a very well-attended sportive.

Later, we would bounce together across the cobbles of Dent, which is so picturesque they ought to name a chocolate after it. I found out further on, from a couple of the less desperate riders, that it was the Wheelbase Spring Classic but the most immediate consideration was the speed at which they were passing me as they came around the bend ahead. This could only mean that my road was about to get very steep and so it proved - and was to go on proving.

I climbed first through a short wooded area which led quickly to huge views of the bleached fell-sides. Suddenly I was back in a copse of trees again and gawping at a magnificent waterfall dropping into a black pool. Contemplation was called for and I sat on the retaining wall and let myself sink into

Gastack Falls, on the road through Deepdale

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ON TOUR – YORKSHIRE DALES where there is a fine old bridge across a kink of the Ribble. I wonder if this was the ancient road north, before the A65 was made? There is a four-square white house near the riverbank and it was a relief to see how much the river had subsided since I had last been this way.

On that occasion it had looked as if it would only take one more downpour for the poor house to be inundated.

The Dalesman pub in Sedbergh, starting point for Peter’s adventure

the beautiful anaesthesia that mountain streams always induce in me. This was broken by a returning sportiva asking if I was ok, which was nice, as she haule d herself up into the higher atmosphere. I set off again, following her progress until she disappeared around a bend, which seemed a lot higher up than I was. In fact, in the next kilometre or so there were three “chevron” climbs, one of which was a double, though I wasn’t aware of the succession because they were hidden around steep bends.

It was hard work, especially with the pannier, but the rewards were terrific. Down below to the left, a stream meandered south, glittering in the fitful sunlight as I clawed my way up the side of the fell above. Here and there a conifer plantation contrasted with the still-pale grass. The terrain reminded me of Buttertubs, further to the north, in that both are very steep crossings which cling to the sides of the fells.

There were so many sights to see that I kept asking myself how it was that I had never been this way before; how had it been kept from me?

I was really pleased to have got up the three steep climbs and was enjoying the descent towards Ingleton, when I came around a right-hand bend to a drop to a hairpin which was so sudden that I didn’t have time to change gear, which meant a short walk up the other side. It would be easily manageable, if you know it’s coming. A little further along, shelves of limestone ran along the right-hand side of the fell like so many abandoned railway platforms, with the frost-fractured rubble from the last ice-age strewn beneath them. Also from the iceage were the magnificent granite boulders known as erratics, which were dropped by retreating glaciers onto the limestone which predominates.

have been along it before, after all, just not in today’s direction. Each ride is at least two rides, if you consider reversing it and I’ve enjoyed several DIY’s and permanents in both directions. What made it an even more satisfying ride was the certain knowledge that, had I known back in the hotel room that the interesting line on the map was Kingsdale, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near it, considering it too steep for my tired state.

What I would have missed!

The soup was excellent and I was pleased with how things had turned out after the previous day’s disappointment. It was warming up as I set off to ride home to Rochdale via a variant of the famous North West Passage route.

I made some easy progress along the A65 before turning off onto the hillier but much quieter route through Rathmell and Wigglesworth.

We were still not in April, yet it was like an early summer day and I stopped to remove a layer or two. I also stopped to enjoy celandines in twittering brooks and all the way home the verges were almost choked with daffodils.

The different varieties have given a fabulous succession in spring.

From Wigglesworth, I made for Paythorne,

REDEFINING TARGETS I reached Gisburn just too late for the little café on the corner of the Burnley road, so was glad of the diversion of banks of primroses on the climb up to Middop. I enjoyed the last big moorland swoop of the day down from Greystones and past the Blacko Tower folly.

It was pretty much an urban ride home now but this gave me the opportunity to seek out a chip-shop to make up for the cafΘ. I found one in Brierfield and enjoyed a sit-down while I chatted to the proprietor. In another coincidence, he told me that he had run a cafΘ in Burnley years ago which had been a meeting point for several cycling club runs.

After a straightforward evening roll through the Cliviger Valley to Todmorden, with the crags on one side and the canal and railway on the other, I reached home, to be greeted by our local blackbird singing his heart out. This reminded me that I’d heard curlews, lapwings, woodpeckers and a lark on my ride and had dazzling glimpses of goldfiches and the “usual” small birds which I never take for granted. I even saw a stoat.

I hadn’t completed the ride I’d intended the day before but it is only the target itself that defines that as a “failure “. What had actually happened was 200 kilometres of riding with friends through marvellous English countryside before being overtaken by tiredness and circumstances. The next day was a fabulous, relaxed ride home, of about 110k with a surprise meeting with a friend, wonderful birds and song and the glorious gardens, verges and hedgerows of spring.

No points, no deadlines, just riding for the sake of it. Marvellous. ❏

Near Kingsdale Head

MAKING A DISCOVERY Arriving in Ingleton, I went into the famous Bernie’s Café, where I ordered home-made soup. While I waited for it to be prepared, I ate cake and studied the OS map attached below the counter to find out the name of this fabulous mystery dale. I probably laughed out loud when I saw that it was Kingsdale. I

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TOTMONSLOW 200 PERM

An historic (and hilly) day out Retracing the footsteps of Alfred the Great Words & pictures by Peter Bond

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ohn Perrin’s rides through Cheshire and the Peak District are always fascinating, so when he suggested I join him on the only foreseeable dry day to try his new 200k Permanent, I needed no persuasion. The only problem was that my usual bike was being re-sprayed but John loaned me his Mercian and after a transfer of pedals (I don’t ride clip-less) we set off at about 7.30am from Broken Cross, near Macclesfield. It was a crisp morning in early October and I was full of anticipation.

Alfred The Great created the administrative divisions known as Hundreds and Totmonslow is one of the five that made up Staffordshire. Our route would pretty well circumnavigate it. Staffordshire is a top heavy county, with the hilly Peak District in its upper half. We would have some flatter riding in the south but the first and last sections would be decidedly strenuous.

After a gentle rise out of Macclesfield towards Sutton, we were soon into the real business, climbing through the rugged terrain to the east. Names like Wildboarclough give a feeling for what the area and its history are like. Away to the south were views of the Roaches and Hen Cloud, and we were already looking down on them. A little closer in the valley below was the landslip known as Lud’s Church, a grotto like cleft in the rock, which is rumoured to have been a secret place of worship for the Lollards, as well as a hiding place for Robin Hood, Bonny Prince Charlie and the inventor of the pot noodle.

Perhaps the most fascinating legend claims that it is the setting of the fateful green chapel in Sir Gawain And The Green Knight.

This must have been harsh terrain in which to make a living and, sure enough, there are the remains of small quarries and coal-pits dotted around.

After an hour or so’s climbing and imagining, I was looking forward to a coffee at the first checkpoint, when John suggested a diversion from the route, partly to make sure we didn’t get to the checkpoint before it was open, but mostly because he can’t resist poking about in the countryside to see what else there might be to make life hard. So we clawed our way up towards Hawk’s Nest on a collection of surfaces, some rideable, others not.

This sort of aberrant behaviour doesn’t make for the fastest ride but it is a very attractive approach and I am endlessly fascinated to see old workings and green lanes with the thrill of the past around every corner – and, of course, the possibility of a broken neck around some of them.

When we finally regained the route and ended up at Flash Bar stores, opposite the Travellers Rest on the Buxton road, we had made the grand

John Perrin climbs towards Flash

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average speed of 11kph. But I wasn’t bothered whether or not we got round ‘in time’ as we enjoyed our drinks in the open air. The route takes riders through Flash village itself, which claims the highest village pub in England.

We made up time on the fast main road descent towards Buxton, with good views of the prominent hill, The Terret, on the left of the road. Down below to the right the extent of the quarrying was obvious, leading to the thought that most of the world drives on Derbyshire roads. Soon, we turned right for the haul up past Solomon’s Temple (a welfare folly) to the village of Harpur Hill. This is tranquil enough now but was for many years an ordnance dump. Almost immediately on leaving the village we crossed the Roman road of King Street, now prosaically the A515, to enter the wonderful hidden valley of Cowdale. It was much more industrial than it is now and there is a sharp descent towards the end but it is a mile or so of paradise. Perrin does it again. The dale ends at the A6 below the Rhine-like cliff of Pig Tor. I thought for a moment I could hear a siren singing but it turned out to be a rubbing brake block. After a couple of hundred yards on the main road, we dropped down to the track along the River Wye. This is lovely riding. I have been along here when the river was so high its brown waters lapped the path but today it was like glass and the usually huge butterbur leaves were shrivelled up and blackened by the earlier summer heat.

O sylvan Wye, thou wanderer thro’ the woods, How often has my spirit turned to thee!

Wordsworth was writing of a different Wye (in Tintern Abbey) but the words are just as appropriate in Derbyshire.

At the third railway bridge, we joined the Monsal Trail. This is the trackbed of the London-Buxton-Manchester line that caused the aesthete John Ruskin so much heartache. It’s now a great public amenity and is thronged with cyclists and walkers for almost ten miles. After a chain of tunnels and viaducts and the staggering view at Monsal Head, we stopped at Hassop Station for receipts. They weren’t satisfactory, so I took pictures of John doing his great explorer impersonation.

We left the trail at Bakewell and dropped into the town where, surprise, surprise, John had found a crease on the map which manifested itself as a lane up the side of a cliff. This delivered us, in various states of distress on the road towards Youlgreave. It is certainly challenging dropping down to the River Lathkill and climbing up again. I’m afraid I was in no state to verify the Lathkill’s reputation for disappearing beneath the limestone. Much more of this and I would be beneath a stone myself, returning to my rumoured place of birth. From Youlgreave we climbed Mawstone Lane. This was tough and the descent needed care. Another effort brought us to Elton, which was for many years the home of the climber Alfred Gregory, photographer on the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest.

After another climb, we crossed the Cromford road with views of the ancient burial mound of Minninglow. By devious means we found ourselves in an unnamed dale. It debouches in the village of Ballidon, near the huge Tilcon quarry and John suggested we call it Ballidon Dale. However, as we were stuck behind a group of some hundred or so ‘guided’ cyclists for its whole length, I will always think of it as Snail Dale. Nevertheless, it’s another of John’s triumphs and will be a real joy on a quieter day.

Regaining a little solitude, we were soon bowling towards the ford below Bradbourne. It was virtually dry this time but I have seen it so deep that people were fishing in it. I was enjoying a short burst of rapid riding when John hauled us off the road to climb a stony track, which just had to be walked. A few kilometres of plunging and soaring along Kniveton Brook brought us to the southern edge of the Peak District, near Ashbourne.

John had told me how abruptly the terrain changed beyond Ashbourne but I was still struck by the difference. The mysterious, short dales, with their rocky sides, disappearing streams and overwhelming greenness, were replaced by a huge quilt of of rolling farmland, with rich, red soil and a lattice of hedgerows. We were still in Derbyshire but well on the way to Staffordshire and Cannock Chase, where we would head north-west for the run back to Broken Cross. Our speed gradually increased as we approached the southern edge of our ride. I seemed to be getting alternate scents of coffee and burning rubber but I didn’t see any cafés and although we were

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TOTMONSLOW 200 PERM making up time we certainly weren’t burning our tyres. I thought I must be imagining it, until we passed through Hatton, where the Nestlé’s factory dwarfs the town. This confirmed me in my attitude to instant coffee!

On leaving Hatton we crossed the fine bridge over the River Dove towards Tutbury. The River Dove meanders for about forty miles from remote (and legendary to cyclists) Axe Edge in the north, forming the western boundary of Derbyshire before flowing into the Trent a few miles beyond Tutbury. We climbed and descended through the remains of Needwood Forest. We were now heading west and as we crested a climb there was one wonderful moment where I had a thatched cottage in my left eye and Rugely power station in my right.

Our next control was at Armitage, which was much less of a toilet than might be imagined from its name: it’s the Armitage of Shanks fame. Soon we began our meander through Cannock Chase, along nearly ten miles of cycle paths, loose, stony descents and even good tarmac. It’s a fabulous area of woodland and clearings, presumably an ancient hunting demesne, with a bit of coal-mining thrown in for the peasants. It’s now rather crowded at the weekend, understandably sucking in visitors from as far away as Wolverhampton and Walsall, even Birmingham and (whisper it) Macclesfield and Rochdale. For a more tranquil experience, I’d recommend a mid-week ride. We were still up against it for time and I was again forced to take a snap of John at the Visitor Centre, which had just closed.

Occupying high ground between Stafford and Lichfield, the Chase is by no means flat, and we had a long climb along excellent tarmac before a circumspect descent along a stony track brought us out of the trees on the north-west edge. We were back in the Trent Valley and enjoying a beautiful autumn evening’s riding past thatched cottages and the occasional timbered buildings with wonderful herring-bone brickwork of long ago. A pub with a fabulous display of busy lizzies and aubretia in hanging baskets was very tempting but we still had time to make up.

This ride has 3000 metres of climbing and my instruments indicated that we still had about 1000 to do after leaving the Chase. Sure enough, after a few kilometres, we re-entered the Peak District near Milwich and worked our way north towards Cheadle. A very short spell on the A50 brought us to Totmonslow, which gives its name to the ride. The village sign is about the only evidence we saw on our extensive survey of the Totmonslow Hundred, hardly meriting single figures, really; the sign and a copper lion that the eagle-eyed John had spotted nailed to a garden gate when he was scouting the ride. With the owner’s blessing it now adorns the routesheet.

Cheadle has the wonderful contradiction of having a church (St Giles RC) designed by the brilliant Pugin, who did the interiors of the Houses of Parliament, and the ultra-modern ‘build it so it’s easy to demolish’ JCB works, on the site of an old colliery. The former is known as ‘Pugin’s Gem’; the latter can probably be seen from space. By now the computer was saying that we were actually a little ahead of the asking rate, so I thought I might as

John in ‘Great Explorer’ mode

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The Red Lion nr Weston – one of several fine pubs on the route

well puncture. It didn’t take us long to sort it out but it put us behind again.

However, the road was good and we were soon eating up the deficit, in spite of darkness having fallen. There was a fine moon, one day before the full and it was the usual exhilarating experience to be riding at night.

The new tube lasted for a little over an hour before that sickening ‘bumpy road’ feeling told me that it, too, had failed. Presumably there was something in the tyre but I couldn’t find it and we put a folder on to save time. We did the repairs in a pub garden, under the lights and were much quicker than previously. I have to thank John, ever the gentleman, for permitting me to change tubes twice on his beautiful Mercian.

The road from Cheadle through Wetley Rocks to Leek is fast, if rolling, and I imagined we would bowl up it all the way to Macclesfield. But, as is his way, John had other plans and we were soon dropping away from the main road to cross the River Churnet and Caldon Canal at Horsebridge. It was along here that a badger burst through a hedge on our left, narrowly missing John’s front wheel as it scrabbled desperately up the right bank, startled by our lights. I implored it not to re-cross through my wheels. Fortunately, it found a way through the hedge and we reached the bridge in safety.

John had mentioned the climb up to Ladderedge a little earlier and I told him to go on because I felt a banana was in order. As his brake light bobbed up the hill, I fell into conversation with a couple who asked the usual questions and received the usual answers. They offered to make me sandwiches at their house just beyond the bridge but I assured them that I had food in my bag and, after thanking them for their kindness, I set off after John. I’ve found that a bite to eat can make all the difference to one’s perception of a climb and in short order I reached the crossroads where John was waiting. This funicular frolic, by the way, was to avoid what John considered to be a hilly climb out of Leek. In fairness, Leek’s a bit of a trudge, especially on a busy night.

Back on the main road now, we passed through Rudyard, where Mr and Mrs Cake so enjoyed their stay that they named their son, the soon-to-bewriter, after it. By this time, the moon was slightly shrouded and Rudyard Reservoir (Cake Lake?) was like dull pewter below us. We were making good speed, and I kept expecting at any moment to see the orange glow of Macclesfield but it seemed a long time coming. The road was excellent, although there had been an ominous clank as John went over something which I didn’t hit, or even see. When we finally dropped into Macclesfield we had about half an hour to get back to Broken Cross on the west of the town.

We were just allowing ourselves to feel smug about catching all our time up after going walkabout earlier on, when it was John’s turn to puncture. It seemed that whatever he had hit earlier had done the damage. Hopefully it would be a slow puncture and we could get enough air in to get us the last couple of miles. But the remedy turned out to be slow, too, as John fought with a recalcitrant pump, or valve, or both. I suggested he take ômyö bike and ride on to get his control receipt, while I walked in. He wouldn’t hear of it and I suspect he’s never liked that Mercian, which is why he put such rubbish tyres on it. Finally, he got some air into his and we rolled into the service station with a whole quarter of an hour to spare!

It had been a marvellous day out as I had known it would be. John has a great knack of discovering back roads and byways and if you are not obsessed with speed and don’t mind challenging terrain, then his rides are for you. I can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with next. ❏

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ON TOUR – ICELAND

Chasing the Midnight Sun A Circuit of Iceland by Ian Lomas

W

hen I received the e-mail from Matt, my elder son, asking if I wanted to join him on a cycling tour round Iceland, the reply was instantaneous – and positive. I had been to Iceland to see the Aurora in winter and the prospect of slowly touring the island and being able to take in the scenery was very enticing – little did I know about the summer Icelandic weather.

As always on my rides there was a queue of Bears who wanted to ‘assist’ us. I eventually settled on four of the smaller ones.

Those of you who have been on touring holidays necessitating a plane journey will well know the task of packing up the bikes with miles of parcel tape and pipe insulation and then stuffing them, tents, sleeping bags, and as much other luggage as possible, in the bike bags – my hold luggage was pretty light!

The nerve aching task of re-assembling the bikes at the hostel in Reykjavík went well and we celebrated with an excellent meal in a local Icelandic restaurant, Matt being brave and having the whale with me settling for the lobster and duck feast. We agreed that eating well was a very necessary aspect of the holiday.

STAGE 1 – REYKJAVÍK TO AKUREYRI 13TH TO 16TH JUNE Matt had carefully planned the route to give us a reasonably gentle first day of about 90km.

That was until I sent the route to a very helpful

Helpful bears

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Icelandic lady who pointed out that he had assumed we could cycle through a tunnel, which we could not – hence an extra 60 km was added.

The extra mileage was a very quiet and superb ride around a three bay inlet, which made up for the horrible ride out of Reykjavík on a six-lane highway but resulted in ‘lunch’ at 16:00, however the burger and steak were superb.

My main worry before arriving in Iceland was whether the bikes would survive and being able to pack all the kit onto them. Matt’s was being able to cope with the riding, and that the organisation regarding camping would work out. At the end of the first day, with the tents set up, we both felt more relaxed and eager to get on with it.

The campsite was located by some hot springs and we had the interesting experience of being woken at 5:15 by a bunch of allnight Icelandic revellers and being offered a traditional (so they said) breakfast of white wine and cheese, which we politely refused.

Our second night’s stop was at Blönduos, which we christened ‘the hidden city’ because the road seemed to go on forever with no sight of civilisation until the town suddenly appeared in a hollow. Luckily the partying Icelanders did not follow us and we had an excellent night’s sleep.

The landscape in the northwest of the island is a cross between the Pyrenees and Yorkshire with long climbs, lots of snow and gently curving roads with a view for miles ahead (which does the motivation no favours).

Birds would often fly alongside and ahead of us and on a couple of occasions seemed to be attacking us.

We began to realise how desolate and empty Iceland is, with very few trees and many more wild horses than people. When we arrived at Akureyri we celebrated with a superb meal of lobster soup, cod and chips, yogurt ice cream and Viking beer – with a well-deserved rest day to follow. A lesson learned from an earlier epic bike ride across America was to plan in rest days.

The body can make an amazing recovery in one day off the bike.

We found the world’s best bakery for breakfast and then had a relaxing rest day rounded off with a superb dinner of guillemot at a traditional Icelandic restaurant.

We then watched the ‘sunset’. The sun seemed to set about 11:30 but then popped out again due to it skimming along the horizon. Matt went down to the harbour and watched the sun bounce along the horizon until it disappeared behind a headland at about half past midnight when it was still light enough to walk back to the hostel with no street lights.

STAGE 2 – AKUREYRI TO VIK 17TH TO 24TH JUNE If the roads had been getting quieter on the way to Akureyri, they were positively deserted from then onwards. The scenery was spectacular. At times we were in a valley with a slowly meandering river splitting into a number of branches, at other times the valley was much steeper and the river was a foaming, raging torrent. But always with mountains and snow in the background; that is, when the views were not obscured by clouds – or rain – or clouds and rain.

OK, then, a bit about Icelandic weather. It is, err, variable and, err, wet. There is a LOT of cloud, mostly grey and often very low. The rain varies from a very light, but soaking mist, to Packed and ready to fly

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ON TOUR – ICELAND a very heavy downpour – good waterproofs are essential and very waterproof panniers are a must. But then it can clear up very quickly and be sunny and almost hot. Which brings its own problems because Icelandic roads do not seem to be made for sunny conditions. The tar melts and gravel and tar stick to tyres like glue resulting in a LOT of friction and swearing.

The first time this happened, we met a lady doing the circuit on a fat wheeled mountain bike with no mudguards and acres of tyre clearance and even she was having problems.

At the campsite that night we were all pulling tar and gravel off wheels, tyres, mudguards and other bits of bike.

One of the games we played was to try and decide what shape cloud-covered mountains were, sometimes we found out, often the clouds did not clear and we will never know.

Another pastime was imagining shapes or figures in the snow on the sides of the mountains.

To avoid a tunnel, we took a detour around a series of peninsulas and had our first taste of gravel roads with gradients of 12-14%; not a lot of fun on a very heavily laden touring bike!

Headlands can be very frustrating, you round one thinking that it is the last and you are finally turning back inland – only to see a further one that you have to go round – and

“We climbed up to a plateau and cycled steadily all day, covering 112km and seeing four cars, five cyclists, two derelict buildings and a few sheep” Our next stop was in Myvatn where I had seen the Aurora. But what I had not experienced in the winter were the FLIES – millions of them.

Everywhere. Horrible. However the café we found was excellent and had the local speciality – hot spring bread, which is slowly baked in the ground and very tasty.

We were now more inland and had some amazing scenes. In one spot there were high mountains on either side with a very wide flat valley between – and a huge volcano in the centre looking like an island in the sea – quite disorientating. The speed with which the weather changes is amazing. One day we had bright sun around lunchtime and by evening we were soaking wet and peeling soggy clothes off in one-man tents followed by the incessant patter of rain throughout the night.

Then came our ‘desert day’. We climbed up to a plateau area and cycled steadily all day, covering 112 km and seeing four cars, five cyclists, two derelict buildings and a few sheep. The barrenness and emptiness was astounding with black larva, ‘moonscape’, terrain, very little vegetation, no birdsong and huge open vistas. Our Jetboil stove was our lifesaver, providing hot meals and coffee stops along the way.

We came down a beautiful valley in the late afternoon and wild camped by a foaming river where Matt had a (very short) swim.

It was a strange, peaceful and magical day with a perfect sunny ending.

We then had a wonderful cycle through a valley we named ‘The Valley of the Waterfalls’ and started scoring them out of 10, soon getting up to 11 and 12. Matt decided that in the wilds of Iceland ‘you are never more than 100 m from a waterfall’.

Petrol stations are a touring cyclist’s best friend and the ones in Iceland served us well.

The food they served was excellent although it does not take much to please a hungry cyclist – as long as there is lots of it.

We had regular Jetboil coffee stops and at one by a refuge hut in a deserted valley had the bizarre sight of a man in shorts and singlet running and pushing a pram, presumably round the island.

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hamburgers with beef, ham, cheese, bacon and egg. We then realised out that the place was probably not going to close at all, relaxed and enjoyed our meal. A lesson learned on an earlier tour was that trucker’s cafes serve great food – and lots of it.

The campsite was in the shadow of a glacier and the sky finally cleared to give a superb sunset (well, it went behind a mountain for a while).

The next day we cycled through an area where a huge flood from a glacier had wreaked devastation in 1999 and swept away roads and bridges leaving a desolate black larva landscape.

We passed an amazing river junction where a very dirty tributary from a glacier joined a very clean one from the mountains resulting in an artistic series or swirls, eddies and whirlpools.

We had been spotting a huge variety of birds on our ride and saw five very large Eagle type hunting birds in the morning, two of them flying very low and looking truly majestic.

We had reached Vic on the south coast of the island and had, fortunately a rest day scheduled. We thought that we had experienced some bad weather earlier in the ride but our first night in Vic was something else, with huge winds, lashing rain and worries about the safety of the tents and bikes. We got little sleep and had to pack up in pouring rain and set off, not a good way to start a rest day. Luckily we were staying in a hostel 1.2 km from the campsite which took all of 6min 18 sec, but still soaked us. We made the most of the hostel’s facilities, warm, dry rooms, comfortable beds, washing machines and good showers. Watching waves of rain scud across the mountainsides was much better than having to cycle through them.

Vik has spectacular black beaches but we saw none of them, dashing around in ➪

then the another on rounding that one …..

It was, however, well worth it as we watched whales in the sea at a coffee stop.

Some of the cliffs were towering with seabirds soaring across them. Wispy clouds often floated down the cliffs at high speed, continually changing shape and giving a surreal effect. The weather was typically mixed Icelandic weather, resulting in a lack of horizon at times with the sea melting seamlessly into the sky.

The day of the solstice (21st) was a hard day with an early start (8:15), rain and very cold (5 layers of clothing). The scenery was probably spectacular but we saw little of it, and, when the rain eventually stopped, the clouds came down even lower.

Lunch was taken by a beach, watching the next bout of rail approach, which we then had to ride through. The 1300 m tunnel we had to cycle through was quite scary – but at least it was dry! However, the campsite in Hofn had great hot showers and the evening meal of Lobster soup, Lobster Feast, Skyr dessert and good Riesling made up for a lot. The power of a hot shower to refresh and re-invigorate is amazing. We coined a new term during the day: ‘Boil in the Bag cyclist’.

Then came an amazing day of glaciers, 12 in total, plus a river with icebergs drifting slowly out to sea. The glaciers were very varied in size and colour. Some ice was bright and clean white, some a dirty grey, some almost completely black and some an outlandish blue-green colour.

At the end of the day we were completely knackered, having ridden 130+km almost all of it into a very strong headwind. We reached a trucker’s restaurant which said it closed in five minutes Matt and Ian Lomas so we rushed to order huge

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ON TOUR – ICELAND tee shirts and shots in the rain to buy supplies and get meals.

STAGE 3 – VIK TO REYKJAVIK 25TH TO 26TH JUNE It was still raining in the morning after our rest day and we had a hard, dreary climb out of Vik. We then descended into the next valley, the rain cleared and we had a huge tailwind and we were bowling along at 30+kph and drying out nicely.

Lunch was at a fascinating art café where the husband was a photographer and the wife was a potter, both with beautiful and intriguing collections on display. Plus, a record player and an eclectic collection of LPs meaning that lunch was accompanied by Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Martin Carthy and June Tabor. Quite a surprise in the south of Iceland.

We camped in Selfoss with mixed emotions, it was our last night under canvas and our adventure was coming to an end.

We were heading back into Reykjavik and the traffic was increasing. We had a huge climb onto a big plateau where there was a very strong crosswind and we had to lean the bikes into the wind – except when a truck sped by when keeping upright was quite a challenge.

We had been aware that there was a round the island Cyclothon bike race on at some time and as we were approaching Reykjavik we passed a few crowds of people who cheered and waved us on – very encouraging. Our ride into Reykjavik was much more pleasant than our ride out as we discovered a cycle path which made life much more enjoyable.

We had decided to finish by the Opera House, which is a spectacular modern building, but did not expect a Cyclothon finish line gantry to welcome us. So we posed as winners and had a suitable celebration – champagne and smoked salmon sandwiches. We then sportingly cheered the riders who finished after us!

That night we walked into the city to experience the nightlife of Reykjavik and managed to stay awake until 00:20 undoubtedly helped by some very good Icelandic gin.

We subsequently learned that the bars in Reykjavik only shut when it gets dark, which is not until late July! Once inside a bar, they simulate night by having thick curtains, which is fine until someone opens the door and light floods in.

We slept well that night in the hostel.

Overall, it had been an incredible adventure in a truly amazing country. The cycling had been hard but we both coped well, being two strong cyclists able to take turns was a great advantage.

There were many, many memorable moments, a few of the best being: Birds flying ahead of us and then veering away, Slogging up a steep hill, soaking wet with toes squishing inside cycling shoes, Blue-green icebergs floating slowly out to sea Enormous, excellent meals, Towering headlands with mountains on one side and sea on the other, Wild camping by a foaming river, Icelandic weather, Eating a Jetboil lunch in the middle of an enormous, desolate, black, moonscape larva field, Waterfalls crashing hundreds of metres down a mountainside, The midnight sun. ❏

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www.aukweb.net

ON TOUR – ICELAND

The midnight sun

Tiring work, this cycling lark The tour featured many gastronomic highlights as well as fine cycling

The winners!

www.aukweb.net

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RANDONNEE

Above: Tym Burman takes in the view of the Llanberis Pass Below: Jessica Burman heads into Barmouth

EVENT Bryan Chapman Memorial 600 DATE 23 May 2015 DISTANCE 619km LOCATION Chepstow, Wales ORGANISER Ritchie Trout, Newport Velo

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WEBSITE chepstowaukevent. weebly.com www.aukweb.net

NOTICES OBITUARY

Norman Maggs, 1933-2015

O

ne of the many things I like about Audax is that we are all equal. Of course, some are more equal than others, and rightly we celebrate the feats of our legends. But never forget that we are all legends as we undertake our various cycling challenges, irrespective of whatever natural talents we may, or in many cases, might not, possess.

However, if there were such a thing as an Audax celebrity, then Norman Maggs would be one. When I heard that he had passed away, I thought it appropriate that I should attend his funeral and pay my respects to a man who was one of our 16 founders and who indirectly introduced me to a style of cycling that I very much appreciate and enjoy.

Norman was one of 19 British riders who took part in the 1975 edition of PBP, which he rode as part of a three man team on trikes.

Imagine the difficulties back then; when qualification was a 600km ride during that year, which probably meant a decent ride in a 24 hour Time Trial; when Ever-Ready lights were possibly the best you could see by; when light-weight frames of aluminium or carbon were undreamt of; when there was no such thing as Kevlar for puncture-resistance tyres.

And of course, he did it while taking around that third wheel. He also caused some amusement by riding while puffing away on his pipe, so much so that ACP even wondered if he was steam-powered!

Norman completed PBP, and went on to help found Audax UK the following year in order to put on PBP qualifiers (which by 1979 would be a full Super Randonneur series). AUK has since grown from those first 16 into an organisation with 6265 members, a growth rate of nearly 400 times over the 40 years.

As well as Audax UK, Norman was also a member of CTC and the Rough Stuff Fellowship, and enjoyed his Youth Hostelling tours and lightweight camping. He rode in various 24 hour Time Trials and was a member of each of the 24 hour Fellowship, the Mersey Roads Club, Wigan Wheelers and Southport CC. Living in Wigan he was able to witness many End-to-End record attempts, and to offer a helping hand. The Tricycle Association was also one of the organisations in which he took an active part, and he once set the 24 hour Time Trial record at 378 miles.

All these clubs were well represented at his funeral which took place at Atherton, where (I’m delighted to say for reasons which will soon become clear) there were 57 of us to celebrate his life awheel. The “do” afterwards took place at Wigan Cricket Club, which involved a 10km ride into quite a testing head-wind (thanks for that Norman!).

Norman was a very private man, with no immediate family, so a lot of his life outside of cycling is a closed book to us. We heard that he was born in 1933, so he experienced war time as a school boy , but thankfully it

LETTERS

Happy ending Dutch delight Regarding the article on page 41 of Spring 2015 Arrivée [editor’s note: 86-year-old audaxer Bob Friend’s bicycle was stolen while he was in hospital in Margate receiving treatment for a dog bite]. I am glad to say that I’m now fully recovered, though the Thorn bike remains missing.

The BMW badge attached to the bar bag was one I found along the Thanet Way. The amusing thing was that one Facebook subscriber suggested that perhaps BMW would like to present me with a new one!

However, I was pleasantly surprised when Robin Thorn offered to let me have one of his Audax Mk3s for half price.

A few weeks later, this duly arrived and while riding it along the A28 near Canterbury, what did I find in the gutter but a BMW badge.

I’m now fully equipped!

Bob Friend

www.aukweb.net

I would like to share an amusing incident I had on Mike Malins’ Double Dutch 200 on Easter Saturday.

At the control at the Tesco Express in March when the young lady at the till handed me my receipt she said, “Is that so you can claim it back?” Bless her – it did amuse me. Being able to claim expenses for riding audax events – what a good idea! I am sure AUK members would not behave like MPs! Perhaps she was making the ‘classic’ non-cyclist assumption that it was a sponsored charity ride, although I’m not sure how that equates to claiming expenses. On the other hand, perhaps she thought we would be able to claim expenses for putting ourselves through such an ordeal. Has she got a point?!

For the record, I did explain to her.

Another cycling happy memory!

Yours sincerely,

John Thompson

was peace-time by the time he completed his schooling to work as a basket maker, as a nurse, and then at Heinz (so even in his working life, he was involved in those important cycling staples of beans and soup).

Next year sees the 40th anniversary of the founding of Audax UK back in 1976, so it is quite poignant that Norman didn’t hang on for one more year to celebrate the enormous success of the fledgling organisation created by him and his co-founders.

Mike Wigley

FOR SALE

Ribble 365 Carbon Audax bike. Size 54cm (Large) with 55cm top tube. New in May 2014. This bike has done no more than 200 miles from new and still looks like a new bike. There are fittings for two bottle cages, but the frame does not have additional fittings for a rack.

Equipment includes a mix of Campagnolo Centaur with Record ergo’s. Rolls saddle.

Ritchey bars/stem/seat post.

Miche hubs on Mavic open pro rims and Continental GP4 Seasons 23mm tyres. £750 with possible delivery available at cost.

Available to view in Wolverhampton area – contact Steve Gloster on 01902 401991

LOST & FOUND

Found handed in to controller at Burnham Deepdale on the Asparagus & Strawberries 400 on 9 May 2015: small tool bag containing inner tube, multi-tool etc. Please contact Brian Mann by text on 07710 332899

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

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AUK CALENDAR KEY

A(1) free/cheap accommodation 1 night B very basic – no halls/beds, etc BD baggage drop DIY own route and controls, cards by post R free or cheap refreshments at start and/or finish S showers Z sleeping facilities on route 175 entries close at 175 riders

YH youth hostel at/near start C camping at or near the start F some free food and/or drink on ride L left luggage facilities at start P free or cheap motor parking at start T toilets at start M mudguards required X some very basic controls (eg service stations) (14/4) entries close 14th April

200 01 Aug Bolsover Clumber to Humber (John Kerr Memorial Ride) 08:00 Sat BR 211km £5.00 L P R T 100 15-30kph

Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL 200 01 Aug Cardiff gate, Cardiff Dr. Foster’s Summer Saunter 08:00 Sat BR 201km £6.00 C P R T 50 15-25kph

Cardiff Byways CC tonypember@gmail.com Tony Pember, 9 Donald Street Nelson Treharris CF46 6EB 300 01 Aug Galashiels Alston and Back-All set for PBP 06:30 Sat BR 2700m £5.00 PRT 15-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 200 01 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Elan & Ystwyth 08:00 Sat BR 208km 3750m AAA3.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 14.3-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com 100 01 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Radnor Roundabout 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1826m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 12.5-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com 53 01 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Gladestry Trot 10:00 Sat BP £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 10-20kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com Ross Jeal, Monymusk Meadow Vale Gladestry Kington Powys HR5 3PR 200 01 Aug Harringay, London Straight Outta Hackney 08:00 Sat BR £11.00 CFLPRT 15-30kph

Audax Club Hackney 07932672561 justinjones1969@gmail.com Justin Jones, ACH HQ incorporating The Stag’s Head, 39 Harringay Road, London N15 3JB 200 02 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Tregaron Dragon 08:00 Sun BR 209km 4800m AAA4.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 14.3-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com 160 02 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Llandovery Discovery 08:30 Sun BP 3250m AAA3.25 £5.00 YH C L P R T 150 8/16 12.5-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com 100 02 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Gladestry Gallop 09:00 Sun BP 107km 1625m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 12.5-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com Ross Jeal, Monymusk Meadow Vale Gladestry Kington Powys HR5 3PR 200 02 Aug 08:00 Sun

Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Neville Chanin Memorial - Over The Severn BR 213km 3134m AAA3.25 £7.00 F P R T 15-30kph Evesham & Dist Whs petehutch1959@btinternet.com

200 02 Aug 08:00 Sun

Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties - Four Leaf Clover BR 202km £6.00 F P R T 15-30kph Evesham & Dist Whs petehutch1959@btinternet.com

110 02 Aug 09:00 Sun

Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties - Two Leaf Clover BP 111km £4.00 F P R T 15-30kph Evesham & Dist Whs petehutch1959@btinternet.com

50 02 Aug Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties - Clover Leaf 09:30 Sun BP £2.00 F P R T 10-25kph

Evesham & Dist Whs petehutch1959@btinternet.com Pete Hutchinson, Hazelwood Shinehill Lane South Littleton Evesham WR11 8TP 100 05 Aug Marple Memorial Park White Peak Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 103km 2310m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (8/8) 12.5-25kph Change of Date Peak Audax 01457 870421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Farm Millcroft Lane Delph Oldham Saddleworth OL3 5UX 54

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100 08 Aug Churchend, Dunmow, Essex 09:30 Sat BP 103km £7.00 C L P R T M (01/08) 12.5-25kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com

Flitchbikes 100

200 08 Aug Churchend, Gt Dunmow, Essex Flitchbikes 200 08:30 Sat BR 201km £7.00 C L P R T M (01/08) 15-30kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA 200 08 Aug Tewkesbury Benjamin Allen’s Spring Tonic.

08:00 Sat BR 206km 2050m £4.00 P T C NM (100) 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury Sunny Gloucestershire GL20 5TZ 200 09 Aug Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 200 08:00 Sun BRM 206km 4500m AAA4.5 £5 P X 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 100 12 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Mid Peak Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 109km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 L P R T 40 (31/7) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax chris.keelingroberts@ntlworld.com Chris Keeling-Roberts, 17 Lower Strines Road Marple Cheshire SK6 7DL 300 15 Aug Redhill, Surrey Around Weald Odyssey 06:00 Sat BR £5.00 X P T 15-30kph Updated Redhill CC waweirauk@btinternet.com William Weir, Flat 8 Burlington Court 158 Station Road Redhill Surrey RH1 1JE 160 15 Aug Scaladale, Isle of Harris 09:00 Sat BP 2800m AAA2.75 £8.00 YH L P R T S F (40) 14.3-30kph Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk

Harris Hills 160

100 15 Aug Scaladale, Isle of Harris Harris Hills 100 10:00 Sat BP 1600m AAA1.5 £6.00 YH L P R T S (40) 12.5-30kph Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk Ian Gilbert, 19 Churchill Drive Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2NP 110 16 Aug Shere Village Hall, Guildford Tour of the Hills 09:40 Sun BP 115km 2300m AAA2.25 £8.00 F L P R T 225 15-30kph

CTC West Surrey 01483 810028 dggray7@hotmail.com Don Gray, Greenleas Beech Lane Normandy Surrey GU3 2JH 100 18 Aug Alfreton Prison for Dinner : Tue BP 103km £5.00 G L P R T 12-25kph Alfreton CTC bandj.smith@sky.com Brian Smith, 10 The Crescent Clay Cross Chesterfield S45 9EH 110 19 Aug Maidenhead Riverside to Riverside 10:00 Wed 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 100 19 Aug Marple West Peak Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 103km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 P R T 60 (16/8) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax davidcatlow1947@gmail.com David Catlow, 31Cavendish Way Mickleover Derby DE3 9BL 100 23 Aug Droitwich Saracen Century Audax 09:00 Sun BP 106km 1600m AAA1.5 [1500m] £8 L P R T 12.5-25kph Saracen RC saracenroadclub@gmail.com Sean Barker, 16 Leahouse Road Stirchley Birmingham B30 2DD 100 23 Aug Merthyr Tydfil Dic Penderyn 09:00 Sun BP 1900m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 12-30kph

Merthyr CC 01685 373 758 adrianmcd2010@talktalk.net ROA 2000 Adrian McDonald, 2 Brunswick St Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glam CF47 8SB 200 23 Aug Sparsholt, Nr Wantage Old Roads and Drove Roads 07:30 Sun BR £5.00 P R T NM 15-30kph Change of Date Pat Hurt iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL 110 26 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Staffs Peak Super-Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 2650m AAA2.75 [2800m] £5.00 P R T (22/8) 60 12.5-25kph

Peak Audax CTC audax@idnet.com Peter Coates, 182 Moor Lane Woodford Stockport Cheshire SK7 1PJ 160 29 Aug 08:15 Sat

Dore, Sheffield Amber and Green BP 2850m AAA2.75 £5 L P R T 14.3-30kph Sheffield District CTC 0114 255 0907 bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com www.aukweb.net

AUK CALENDAR 100 29 Aug Dore, Sheffield An Amber Gambol 09:00 Sat BP 1550m AAA1.5 £5 L P R T 12-25kph

Sheffield District CTC 0114 255 0907 bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue Sheffield S7 1SF 200 29 Aug Droitwich 08:00 Sat BR 217km £5.00 C P R T M 14.4-25kph

Gavin Greenhow 01905 775 803 ROA 25000 Gavin Greenhow, 44 Newland Road Droitwich WR9 7AG

Way Out West

300 29 Aug 05:00 Sat

Mildenhall Cycling Rally Mildenhall Rally Roving 300 BR 303km 1600m £6.50 CPT (16/08) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

200 29 Aug 08:00 Sat

Mildenhall Cycling Rally Mildenhall Rally Randonnee BR 206km 1114m [1096m] £6.50 CPTS (16/8) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

160 29 Aug 08:15 Sat

Mildenhall Cycling Rally BP 162km 980m £6.50 CPTS (16/8) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally Century

100 29 Aug 09:00 Sat

Mildenhall Cycling Rally BP 102km 683m £6.50 CPTS (16/8) 12.5-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally Brevet

50 29 Aug 10:00 Sat

Mildenhall Cycling Rally Mildenhall Rally Brief Brevet BP 251m £6.50 CPTS 16/8 10-25kph Suffolk CTC Andy Terry, The Nook Colchester Road Great Bromley Essex CO7 7TN

200 29 Aug Newtonmore 08:00 Sat BR 202km £3.00 C YH L P R T 15-30kph CTC Highland biker_carroll@hotmail.com

Rothes Reccie

100 29 Aug Newtonmore Grantown Gallop 10:00 Sat BP 104km £3.00 C YH L P R T 12-25kph CTC Highland biker_carroll@hotmail.com ROA 10000 Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Tain Ross-shire IV20 1RF 200 05 Sep 08:00 Sat Change of Date

Old Ma’s Tattenhall, Cheshire Pistyll Packing Momma BR 209km 3400m AAA3.5 £5.50 P R 50 T L 15-30kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com

130 05 Sep 08:30 Sat Change of Date

Old Ma’s Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma’s Mountain Views BP 137km 2000m AAA2 £5.50 P R 50 T L 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com

50 05 Sep Old Ma’s Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma’s Leafy Lanes 09:00 Sat BP £5.50 P R 50 T L 10-20kph Change of Date Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com ROA 5000 David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG 130 05 Sep 8::30 Sat New Event

Ruislip Lido Cafe, Ruislip Lido, London Steam Ride : Puffing Billy BP 1500m AAA1.5 £6.00 R L P T YH 13.3-30kph Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com

66 05 Sep Ruislip Lido CafeWoody Stn, London HA4 7TY Steam Ride : Inside Track 9:00 Sat BP 434m £5.00 T YH R NM L 8.5-20kph Uxbridge Loiterers timsollesse@gmail.com Tim Sollesse , 59 Lynwood Road Ealing W5 1JG 200 05 Sep Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick goes to Hay in a day 08:00 Sat BR 205km 1900m £4.00 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

200 06 Sep 07:15 Sun

Lymington New Forest On and Off Shore BR 202km 2150m £19.00 L P R T 100 (4/9) Ferry 15-30kph Cycling New Forest 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

150 06 Sep 07:15 Sun

Lymington New Forest and Isle of Wight Century BP £19.00 L P R T 100 (4/9) Ferry 15-30kph Cycling New Forest 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

100 06 Sep Lymington New Forest and Coast 10:00 Sun BP 102km £6.00 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 200 06 Sep 08:00 Sun

Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch East Midlands Forests 200k BR 207km £5.50 C P T R YH (40) (03/9) 15-30kph CTC East Midlands 01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk

100 06 Sep Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bosworth Battlefield Sightseer 09:30 Sun BP 107km £4.50 P R T C YH (80) (03/09) 12-24kph

CTC Derby & Burton 01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk Ian Hill, 33 Wren Close Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 7QP 200 12 Sep Coryton, NW Cardiff Ferryside Fish Foray 07:00 Sat BR 225km £8.00 YH L R P T 50 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC evansrichardd@googlemail.com ROA 5000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW 300 12 Sep Greenwich, London Greenwich Mean Climb 06:00 Sat BR 302km 4500m AAA4.5 £14.00 F G R T (5/9) 14.6-30kph Updated Audax Club Hackney justinjones1969@gmail.com Justin Jones, ACH HQ incorporating The Stag’s Head 39 Harringay Road London N15 3JB 200 12 Sep 08:00 Sat

Richmond, N Yorks Dales Dales Tour Plus BR 3150m AAA3.25 £6.00 C F L P R T 14.4-30kph VC167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net

150 12 Sep 08:30 Sat

Richmond, N Yorks Dave’s Dales Tour 160KM BP 2500m AAA2.5 £5.50 C F L P R T 12-30kph VC167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net

100 12 Sep 09:30 Sat

Richmond, N Yorks Dave’s Mini Dales Tour 100KM BP 1900m AAA2 £5.50 C F L P R T 10-20kph VC167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net

100 12 Sep Richmond, N Yorks Lucia’s Vale of York Meander 100KM 10:00 Sat BP £5.50 C F L P R T 10-20kph

VC167 078887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL 200 12 Sep Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 08:30 Sat BR 208km 1400m £7.00 X P R 50 (31/8) 15-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com 110 12 Sep Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 09:00 Sat BP 111km 1094m £7.00 P R T 50 (31/8) 12.5-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Wem, we get there

Charnwood Challenge

51 12 Sep Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 09:30 Sat BP 400m £6.00 P R T 50 (31/8) 10-20kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com ROA 10000 Geoffrey Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth Staffordshire B78 1BY

National Forest 50

200 05 Sep Ruislip Lido, London London-Oxford-London (LOL) The Ghan reversed 08:00 Sat BR 2078m [2128m] £8.00 L P R T YH F 14.3-30kph New Event AC Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Rd 59 Lynwood Road Ealing London W5 1JG

150 13 Sep Galashiels Dick McTs Autumn 150 Classic 09:00 Sun BP 1576m [1600m] £5.00 PRT 15-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL

100 06 Sep 09:00 Sun

110 13 Sep Kennington, nr Ashford, Kent The Crown 10:00 Sun BP 111km 1750m AAA1.75 £8.00 F L P R T NM 60 14-26kph Ashford Wheelers paul.britton@ashfordwheelers.org.uk Paul Britton, Glebelands Station Road Pluckley Ashford Kent TN27 0QU

Budleigh Salterton, Devon BP 106km 1300m £6.00 C G L NM P R T 15-30kph CS Dynamo 07779020426

55 06 Sep Budleigh Salterton, Devon 10:00 Sun BP 300m £5.00 G L NM P R T (23/8) 15-30kph

CS Dynamo 07779020426 Steven Medlock, 11 Marpool Hill Exmouth Devon EX8 2LJ

Utterly Butterleigh

Honiton 55

100 06 Sep Hampton Hill, SW London London Sightseer 08:30 Sun BP £5.00 C 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 www.aukweb.net

110 13 Sep Oundle, Northants Max Scott Memorial 09:30 Sun BP 114km £5.00 L P R T 12.5-30kph

Kettering CTC Richard Daniells, 6 Matson Close Rothwell Northants NN14 6AY 100 19 Sep 09:00 Sat

Bolsover Beast of Bolsover BP 105km 2030m AAA2 £5.00 L P R T 12.5-25kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

55

AUK CALENDAR 50 19 Sep Bolsover Mini Beast 10:00 Sat BP 934m £4.00 L P R T 10-25kph

Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL

100 26 Sep Sonning Common, near Reading Henley Hilly Hundred 09:00 Sat 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

200 19 Sep 08:00 Sat

Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Chris Negus Memorial Rides BR 216km £5.50 L P R S T 15-30kph Shaftesbury CC

200 27 Sep 08:00 Sun Updated

Bethersden, near Ashford BR £6.00 F L P R T (100) 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC

170 19 Sep 09:00 Sat

Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Chris Negus Memorial Rides BP £5.00 L P R S T 15-30kph Shaftesbury CC

100 27 Sep 09:30 Sun Updated

Bethersden, near Ashford The Fairies Half Fall Faff BP £6.00 P,T,F,L (60) 30/09/15 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC Trevor Oliver, Penlan Farm, Pluckley Ashford TN27 0RX

110 19 Sep 10:00 Sat

Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Chris Negus Memorial Rides BP 116km £5.00 L P R S T 15-30kph Shaftesbury CC

200 27 Sep Denmead, Nr Portsmouth WYLYE AND EBBLE VALLEY 07:30 Sun BR £6.00 L P R T M 15-30kph Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road Emsworth Hampshire PO10 7XR

50 19 Sep Henham, Saffron Walden Shaftesbury CC - Chris Negus Memorial Rides 11:00 Sat BP £5.00 L P R S T 10-30kph

Shaftesbury CC Tim Stout, 31 Eversleigh Gardens Upminster Essex RM14 1DP

160 27 Sep 08:00 Sun

Haynes Road, Leicester, LE54AR BP 166km 1500m [1525m] £5.00 L P R T NM 15-30kph Leicester Forest CC

The Fairies Fall Foray

The Leicester Circle

160 19 Sep 08:00 Sat

Husbands Bosworth BP 1675m £5.00 LPRT 15-30kph Welland Valley CC 01858545376

Welland Wonder 160

89 27 Sep 08:30 Sun

Haynes Road, Leicester, LE54AR Inner Circle BP 1100m [1200m] £5.00 L P R T NM 12.5-30kph Leicester Forest CC Mat Richardson, 18 Clumber Close Loughborough LE11 2UB

110 19 Sep 08:30 Sat

Husbands Bosworth BP 116km 1350m £5.00 LPRT 12-24kph Welland Valley CC 01858545376

Welland Wonder 100

100

Kirkintilloch

53 19 Sep Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 50 09:00 Sat BP 525m £5.00 LPRT 12-24kph

Welland Valley CC 01858545376 ROA 3000 Mike Vybiral, Logan Cottage Grange Lane East Langton Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7TF 150 19 Sep London, Ruislip Lido Steam Ride : The London Grimpeur 08:00 Sat BP 2000m AAA2 [3150m] £6.00 R L P T YH 13.3-30kph

Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com Tim Sollesse Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Road Ealing W5 1JG 100 19 Sep 10:00 Sat

Rodborough, Stroud Budding 100 BP 106km 1770m AAA1.75 [1650m] £5.00 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com

100 19 Sep 10:15 Sat

Rodborough, Stroud BP 106km 2150m AAA2.25 £5.00 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com

Pedersen 100

61 19 Sep Rodborough, Stroud 11:00 Sat BP 1000m AAA1 £5.00 LPRST(60) 12.5-25kph

Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com James Reynolds, Ambleside The Butts Rodborough Stroud GL5 3UG

Awdry 60

300 19 Sep Ruislip Lido Oxford-Cambridge-London ‘University Challenge’ 06:00 Sat BR £8.00 YH R T L F 14.3-30kph Change of Date Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com Tim Sollesse Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Road Ealing W5 1JG 110 20 Sep Ludford, NE of Lincoln 09:30 Sun BP £5.00 F P R T 15-30kph CTC Lincolnshire timnewbery@hotmail.com ROA 2000 Tim Newbery, 7a Linden Walk Louth LN11 9HT

Lincolnshire Wolds

200 20 Sep Musselburgh The Erit Lass 08:00 Sun BR 3000m AAA3 £8.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU 200 26 Sep Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Venetian Nights 08:00 Sat BR 210km 2750m AAA2.25 [2333m] £8.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB 300 26 Sep Cirencester, Glos 06:00 Sat BR 2600m AAA1.5 [1500m] £6.00 F T (50) 15-30kph Updated Pat Hurt iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL

Cheddar Gorge(ous)

100 26 Sep Coryton, NW Cardiff Trefil Travail 9::00 Sat BP 105km 2270m AAA2.25 £8.00 YH L P R T 50 12-24kph

Cardiff Byways CC 02920633970 A.H.Mackay@open.ac.uk Hugh Mackay, 131 Stanwell Road Penarth CF64 3LL 56

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

27 Sep

Ivy’s Mid Scotland Meander Event CANCELLED

200 27 Sep Pendleton, Lancashire Last Chance Dales Dance 200 07:30 Sun BRM 3300m AAA3.25 [3000m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 110 03 Oct Blaxhall, Suffolk 09:00 Sat BP 117km 620m £6.50 YH C L P R T (120) 15-30kph Updated Suffolk CTC the.kells@talk21.com Dennis Kell, 9 Pheasant Rise Copdock Ipswich IP8 3LF

The Suffolk Byways

100 03 Oct Bristol Tasty Cheddar 09:00 Sat BP 101km 1510m AAA1 £4.00 P YH 12.5-30kph

Bristol CTC 0117 925 5217 joe.prosser@blueyonder.co.uk ROA 4000 Joe Prosser, 8 Portland Court Cumberland Close Bristol BS1 6XB 200 03 Oct Chalfont St Peter 08:00 Sat BR 210km 2900m AAA3 £6.00 L P R T M 75 15-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com 200 03 Oct Chalfont St Peter 08:10 Sat BR 202km 2400m £6.00 L P R T M 75 15-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com

The AAAnfractuous

The Less Anfractuous

100 03 Oct Chalfont St Peter The Nyctophobic 08:30 Sat BP 106km 1400m £6.00 L P R T M 75 12.5-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN 200 03 Oct Coryton, NW Cardiff Gower Getter 07:30 Sat BR 202km 2200m £8 YH L P R T 15-30kph

Cardiff Ajax CC glharper1973@gmail.com Georgina Harper, 68 Hazelhurst Road Llandaf North Cardiff Wales CF14 2FX 200 03 Oct 08:00 Sat

Darley Abbey, Derby Over the Trent and up the Morridge BR 2551m [1041m] £6.00 L P R T 30 15-30kph Derby Mercury Nigel Calladine, 6 Bellingham Court Allestree Derby DE22 2TL

200 03 Oct Galashiels 08:00 Sat BR 204km 2379m £8.00 PRT 15-30kph Change of Date Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL

Etal-u-Can

120 03 Oct Lower Whitley ‘The Wizard and the Llamas Audax’ 08:30 Sat BP 767m £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph

North Cheshire Clarion Matt Ellis, 1 Truro Close Woolston 1 Truro Close Warrington WA1 4LR 150 03 Oct 08:30 Sat Updated

Quarndon, Derby Over the Trent to Dance and Pray BP 152km 1493m [1041m] £6.00 L P R T 30 15-30kph Derby Mercury

100 03 Oct Quarndon, Derby Over and Over the Trent 09:15 Sat BP 109km 940m [637m] £6.00 L P R T 30 12.5-30kph Updated Derby Mercury Nigel Calladine, 6 Bellingham Court Allestree Derby DE22 2TL www.aukweb.net

AUK CALENDAR 100 04 Oct Bredgar, Nr Sittingbourne Hengist’s Hills 10:00 Sun BP 103km 1750m AAA1.75 £5.00 RLPT 15-30kph

Tim Ford 01622 884 622 timfarmerford@btinternet.com ROA 4000 Tim Ford, Glinwood Bexon Lane Bredgar Sittingbourne ME9 8HB 100 04 Oct Galashiels Ride of the Valkyries 10:00 Sun BP 106km 1200m [1517m] £10.00 PRT 12-30kph Change of Date Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 100 04 Oct Wigginton, N of York Gerry’s Autumn Brevet 10:00 Sun BP 101km 942m £3.00 L P R T 12-25kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 795 695 gerry.boswell@hotmail.co.uk Gerry Boswell, 5 Invicta Court Acomb York YO24 3NL 100 04 Oct Winchcombe, Glos Winchcombe Falling Leaves 100 09:00 Sun BP 1750m AAA1.75 £8.00 F,P,R,NM,A 12.5-25kph

Winchcombe Cycling Club happysarah37@aol.com Sarah Davies, 22 Binyon Road Winchcombe Cheltenham GL54 5QY 100 10 Oct Dore, Sheffield 09:00 Sat BP 101km 1693m AAA1.75 £5.00 GLPRT 12-25kph

Sheffield District CTC cripps@uwclub.net John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent Sheffield S11 9AW

Ring of Steel (City)

200 10 Oct Droitwich Droitwich- Witney (or the 5 Gates) 08:15 Sat BR 201km £4.00 C P T R M 14.4-25kph

Gavin Greenhow 01905 775 803 ROA 25000 Gavin Greenhow, 44 Newland Road Droitwich WR9 7AG 100 11 Oct Abergavenny Marches Grimpeur 09:00 Sun BP 1950m AAA2 £9.00 YH F P L T 12.5-25kph Abergavenny RC waville@yahoo.com Jonathan Saville, 9 Trehonddu Llanvihangel Crucorney Abergavenny NP7 8DG 100 11 Oct Alfreton, NW of Nottingham Beware of the plague 09:00 Sun BP 107km 1900m AAA2 £6.00 P R T F 12.5-25kph Alfreton CTC martynleighton@uwclub.net Martyn Leighton, 46 Ashford Rise Belper Derbyshire DE56 1TJ 120 11 Oct Birdwell Community Centre, S70 5TQ Rarnd Tarn 09:00 Sun BP 125km 1929m £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Updated Birdwell Whs bob@bobwaterhouse.wanadoo.co.uk Robert Waterhouse, 46 Racecourse Road Swinton Mexborough S64 8DP 200 11 Oct Congleton Rugby Club 08:00 Sun BR 210km £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com

Horseshoe Pass

170 11 Oct Congleton Rugby Club Chirk Aqueduct 08:30 Sun BP 175km £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com Denise Hurst, 10 Firwood Road Biddulph Staffordshire ST8 7ED 100 11 Oct Hailsham, E Sussex The Autumn Tints 100 09:00 Sun BP 103km 1200m [1100m] £6.00 F P 15-30kph ROA 25000 David Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham by Sea West Sussex BN43 6LG Ken’s Autumn Colours

200 17 Oct 08:00 Sat

Corwen, N. Wales BR 212km 3200m AAA3.25 [3488m] £5.00 P R T 50 15-30kph Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com

130 17 Oct 08:30 Sat

Corwen, N. Wales BP 138km 2250m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com

The Clwydian

The Clwyd Gate

60 17 Oct Corwen, N. Wales ‘The Bala Mini- Bash’ 09:00 Sat BP £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph

Chester & N Wales CTC 01745 560892 vickypayne8@hotmail.com Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH 200 17 Oct Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick’s Autumnal Outing 07:30 Sat BR 206km 2350m £4.00 c l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 150 17 Oct Trowell, West of Nottingham An Autumn day out.

08:15 Sat BP 153km 1135m £7.00 L P R T(80) 15-30kph Updated Nottinghamshire CTC terrydpscott@hotmail.com Terry Scott, 21 Winterbourne Drive Stapleford Nottingham Notts NG9 8NH 100 18 Oct Bynea, Llanelli Wesley May Memorial Super Grimpeur 09:00 Sun BP 102km 2400m AAA2.5 [2931m] £4.50 G F L P R T 30 (17/10) 10-25kph Swansea DA jb@reynoldston.com John Bastiani, The Brambles Reynoldston Swansea West Glamorgan SA3 1AA 100 18 Oct Bynea, Llanelli Around The Gwendraeth 9.:00 Sun BP 990m £6.00 G F L P R T 30 (17/10) 15-30kph

Swansea DA 01792391492 jb@reynoldston.com John Bastiani, The Brambles Reynoldston Swansea SA3 1AA 200 18 Oct Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk 08:00 Sun BR £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com

The Silly Suffolk

160 18 Oct Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT 100 25 Oct 08:00 Sun

Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 8 BP 106km 2500m AAA2.5 £8.00 F P R T 125 (20/10) 12.5-25kph CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com

100 25 Oct Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 9 09:00 Sun BP 106km 2500m AAA2.5 £8.00 F P R T 125 (20/10) 12.5-25kph

CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com ROA 4000 Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT 110 25 Oct 09:00 Sun

Earlswood, nr Solihull We happy few BP 113km 850m £6.00 15-30kph Midland C & AC Jim Lee, 107 Shustoke Road Solihull West Midlands B91 2QR

100 25 Oct Stevenage (Fairlands), SG2 0BL Emitremmus Desrever 21 10:00 Sun BP 1019m £7.00 L P R T (19/10; 360) 12.5-28kph

Stevenage & N Herts CTC 0793 968 7509 jim@stevenagectc.org.uk ROA 5000 Jim Brown, Emitremmus c/o 5 Malvern Close STEVENAGE Hertfordshire SG2 8UH

100 11 Oct 09:30 Sun

Minehead BP 105km £5.00 YH L P R T 12.5-25kph Minehead CC

60 11 Oct 10:00 Sun

Minehead Ken’s Autumn Colours BP £5.00 YH L P R T 10-20kph Minehead CC Richard Miles, 1 Lower Park Minehead Somerset TA24 8AX

100 11 Oct 09:00 Sun

Mytholmroyd Season of Mists BP 105km 2555m AAA2.5 £4.50 P L R T YH 12-24kph West Yorkshire CTC 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk

110 31 Oct Bolsover Colourful Clumber 09:00 Sat BP 111km £5.00 L P R T (100) 12.5-30kph

Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL

55 11 Oct Mytholmroyd Mellow Fruitfulness 10:00 Sun BP 1200m AAA1.25 £4.00 P L R T YH 8-20kph

West Yorkshire CTC 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF

200 31 Oct Coryton, NW Cardiff Transporter 200 07:00 Sat BR 202km £8.00 YH L P R T 50 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC 02920 341768 evansrichardd@googlemail.com ROA 5000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW

100 17 Oct 08:30 Sat

200 31 Oct Galashiels The Long Dark Teatime of The Soul 08:00 Sat BR 2000m £8.00 P,R,T 15-30kph Updated Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL

Chailey, East Sussex Mid Sussex Hillier BP 108km 2012m AAA2 £5.50 F L P R T 40 (12/10) 12.5-25kph San Fairy Ann CC malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk

100 17 Oct Chailey, East Sussex Mid Sussex Hilly 08:30 Sat BP 108km 1600m AAA1.5 £5.50 F L P R T 40 (10/10) 12.5-25kph

Grimpeurs du Sud malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, 4 North Common Weybridge Surrey KT13 9DN www.aukweb.net

67 25 Oct Stevenage (Fairlands), SG2 0BL Emitremmus Lite 10:30 Sun BP 643m £7.00 L P R T (19/10; 100) 10-20kph

Stevenage & N Herts CTC 0793 968 7509 jim@stevenagectc.org.uk ROA 5000 Jim Brown, Emitremmus c/o 5 Malvern Close STEVENAGE Hertfordshire SG2 8UH

100 01 Nov Connor Downs W.I. Hall, NE of Hayle 09:30 Sun BP 104km 1350m £5.00 C L P R T 12.5-30kph Audax Kernow

The Celtic Coastal

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

57

AUK CALENDAR 60 01 Nov 10:00 Sun

Connor Downs W.I. Hall, NE of Hayle Celtic Canter BP 750m £5.00 C L P R T 8-30kph Audax Kernow Chris Rayne, 1 Reawla Lane Camborne Cornwall TR27 5HQ

100 01 Nov 08:30 Sun

London, Ruislip Lido Cafe, Woody Bay Stn. Steam Ride: Chinnor Scenic BP £6.00 T YH R NM L 12.5-30kph Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com

200 01 Nov Woody Bay, Ruislip Lido, London Steam Ride : The Chilterns Pub Crawl 08:00 Sun BR 3000m AAA3 [3150m] £8.00 R L P T YH 14.3-30kph Change of Date Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com Tim Sollesse Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Road Ealing W5 1JG 200 07 Nov Cholsey, E of Didcot Upper Thames 07:30 Sat BR 212km 1900m [1943m] £6.00 L P R T M 15-30kph

Thames Valley Audax 01491 651 284 philipmdyson@btinternet.com Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL 200 07 Nov Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick’s Cymraeg Cyrch 07:00 Sat BR 209km 2200m £4.00 c p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 100 08 Nov Carlton Colville, nr Lowestoft, Suffolk The Waveney Wander 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 LPRT 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT 200 08 Nov Cheadle, Stockport 08:00 Sun BR 210km 800m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-30kph Peak Audax hamhort84@talktalk.net

Eureka!

160 08 Nov Cheadle, Stockport Cheshire Safari 08:30 Sun BP 570m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-25kph Peak Audax hamhort84@talktalk.net Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Avenue Heald Green Cheadle Stockport SK8 3NZ 100 08 Nov Pound Street, Petworth The Petworth 100 (formerly The Spordax 100) 08:30 Sun BP 103km 1350m £8.00 F P T 15-30kph Updated Anton Brown anton.brown@btconnect.com Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3RT 110 14 Nov Alfreton 09:00 Sat BP 113km 1000m £5.00 P L R 12-30kph Alfreton CTC bandj.smith@sky.com Brian Smith, 10 The Crescent Clay Cross Chesterfield S45 9EH

Prison Run

100 14 Nov Catherington, near Portsmouth Le Bois Ocaud d’Automne 100 09:00 Sat BP 106km 1600m AAA1.5 £5.00 F L P R T 14.3-30kph Hantspol CC jondse@ntlworld.com Jonathan Ellis, 42 Wessex Road Waterlooville Hampshire PO8 0HS 100 14 Nov Swaffham Community Centre Swaffham QE2 09:00 Sat BP 106km £6.00 G P R T 15-30kph Jonathan Reed iceniaudax@gmail.com Jonathan Reed, Swaffham Community Centre The Campingland Swaffham PE377RD

200 05 Dec Tewkesbury Kings, Castles, Priests & Churches.

07:00 Sat BR 202km 2550m AAA1.75 [1800m] £4.00 f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 50 06 Dec Carharrack, Cornwall Ed’s Mince Pie & Mulled Wine 50 10:00 Sun BP £3.50 F L P R T (85) 10-25kph

Audax Kernow 01326 373421 angells@talktalk.net Eddie Angell, 14 Belhay Penryn Cornwall TR10 8DF 200 20 Dec Bredbury, Stockport Winter Solstice 08:30 Sun BR 202km 700m £5.00 P R T 60 15-30kph

Peak Audax CTC 01457 870 421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX 200 20 Dec Great Bromley, nr Colchester Santa Special 08:00 Sun BR 204km 1142m £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph

CTC Suffolk 07922772001 Andy Terry, The Nook Colchester Road Great Bromley Essex CO7 7TN 200 02 Jan Oxford 08:00 Sat BRM 206km 1800m £6.00 YH P X 15-30kph

Pat Hurt 07887 87 61 62 iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL

The Poor Student

200 02 Jan Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick’s January Sale 07:00 Sat BR 201km 2100m AAA1.5 [1500m] £1.0 c p r t nm 100 15-25kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 100 03 Jan Thorne, Nr Doncaster Goodbye Christmas Yorkshire Pudding 09:00 Sun BP 103km 102m [71m] £4.00 P R T (100) 15-30kph VC 167 les.bauchop@gmail.com Les Bauchop, 2a Westbourne Grove Pickering North Yorkshire YO18 8AW 200 24 Jan 08:00 Sun

Cheadle, Stockport BR 201km 800m £7.00 P R T 80 15-30kph Peak Audax

A Mere Two Hundred

150 24 Jan 08:30 Sun

Cheadle, Stockport A Mere Century BP 155km 600m £6.00 P R T 60 15-25kph Peak Audax David Colley, 5 Huncoat Avenue Heaton Chapel Stockport SK4 5HN

120 20 Feb 08:30 Sat

Whitlenge, Hartlebury, S of Kidderminster Sunrise Express BP 121km £6.75 P R T F 130 15-30kph Beacon Roads Cycling Clu 01562 731606 montgomery@beaconrcc.org.uk

120 20 Feb Whitlenge, Hartlebury, S of Kidderminster Snowdrop Express 09:00 Sat BP 921m £6.75 P R T F 130 15-30kph

Beacon Roads Cycling Clu 01562 731606 montgomery@beaconrcc.org.uk Dr Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terrace Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 0BW 100 12 Mar Alfreton 09:00 Sat BP 104km 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

Three Fields

100 28 Nov Cranbrook, Exeter Breakfast in Bampton 09:00 Sat BP £5.00 T NM 10-30kph Updated Exeter Whs shbritton@outlook.com Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane Cranbrook Devon EX5 7AP

200 03 Apr 07:30 Sun

Pendleton, Lancashire Delightful Dales 200 BRM 205km 3300m AAA3.25 [3600m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

100 29 Nov Hailsham leisure centre, E Sussex Bob McHardys Memorial Meander 09:00 Sun BP 992m £8.00 P R (29/11) 500 15-30kph Mark Fairweather, 310 Coast Road Pevensey Bay East Sussex BN24 6NU

300 04 Jun 06:00 Sat

Pendleton, Lancashire Knock Ventoux 300 BRM 4000m AAA4 [4600m] £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

200 05 Dec Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire The South of Bucks Winter Warmer 08:00 Sat BR 207km 1100m [1290m] £5.00 YH A1 G L P T S X (100) 15-30kph Terry Lister lister4cycling@btinternet.com Terry Lister, 4 Abbey Walk Great Missenden Bucks HP16 0AY

200 05 Jun 08:00 Sun

Pendleton, Lancashire Dales Delight 200 BRM 203km 3600m AAA3.5 [4100m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

600 11 Jun 06:00 Sat

Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 600 BRM 603km 7800m AAA7.75 £10.00 BD F L P R S T Z 15-30kph Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com

200 12 Jun 08:30 Sun

Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 200 BRM 206km 4500m AAA4.5 £5.00 L P R S T 15-30kph Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT

1200 25 Jul 08:10 Mon 30kph

ROA 25000

Craignure The Highlands, West Coast & Glens BRM 1205km 15885m AAA16 [2200m] £25.00 A C F G S T NM P YH X 2Z 13-

200 05 Dec Coryton, NW Cardiff Monmouthshire Meander 07:30 Sat BR 204km £8.00 YH L P R T 50 15-25kph Cardiff Byways tonypember@gmail.com Tony Pember, 9 Donald Street Nelson Treharris CF46 6EB 200 05 Dec Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 08:00 Sat BR 211km 2060m £7.00 P R T 60 15-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Tinsel and Lanes

100 05 Dec Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Flowers to Furnace 09:00 Sat BP 104km 940m £7 P R T 50 12-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com ROA 10000 Geoff Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth B78 1BY 58

Arrivée Summer 2015 • No.129

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ www.aukweb.net

From: _____________________ Distance: __________________ Date: ___________________________ Fee for Audax UK members: £ _____________________________________________________________ AUDAX UK MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: _____________________________________________________ Fee for other entrants (includes £2 temporary membership): £__________________________________ Date of birth if under 18 years (see parental consent below): ____________________________________ FORENAME: _____________________________ SURNAME:___________________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________________________ Tel: ____________________________________ Mobile: _______________________________________ Club/CTC member group: ________________________________________________________________ INSURANCE: Audax UK provides its members (inc. temporary) normally resident in the UK with 3rd party insurance cover throughout the event for claims in excess of £500. Overseas residents must arrange their own insurance. By signing this form, you declare that you are insured as required.

The event is run under Audax UK regulations. You should familiarise yourself with Audax UK regulations, guidance and advice (available at www.aukweb.net or on request from the organiser). The event is not a race or a trial of speed. You are expected to follow the rules of the road and show consideration to other road users. ll The route is on open public roads. ll You should prepare by studying the route. ll The route is not waymarked or marshalled. ll You are responsible for your safety and conduct. ll Some routes/conditions may be arduous. ll The organiser provides no rescue service.

PARENTAL CONSENT (required for entrants under 18 years of age): Parents should note the information on this form and be aware that this in an individual ride without ride leaders.

I am the parent/guardian of the entrant and give my consent to this entry Signed (parent/guardian): ___________________________________ Date: ________________________ Name (parent/guardian, please print): ______________________________________________________ I understand that during the event I am on a private excursion on the public highway and that I am responsible for my own conduct. I agree to abide by Audax UK regulations for this ride. Entry fees are not refundable. I have relevant insurance cover as above.

SIGNED (entrant): _________________________________________ Date: ________________________ Emergency contact (name & tel): __________________________________________________________

From: _____________________ Distance: __________________ Date: ___________________________

Fee for Audax UK members: £ _____________________________________________________________

AUDAX UK MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: _____________________________________________________

Fee for other entrants (includes £2 temporary membership): £__________________________________

Date of birth if under 18 years (see parental consent below): ____________________________________

FORENAME: _____________________________ SURNAME:___________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________________________________

Tel: ____________________________________ Mobile: _______________________________________

Club/CTC member group: ________________________________________________________________

INSURANCE: Audax UK provides its members (inc. temporary) normally resident in the UK with 3rd party insurance cover throughout the event for claims in excess of £500. Overseas residents must arrange their own insurance. By signing this form, you declare that you are insured as required.

The event is run under Audax UK regulations. You should familiarise yourself with Audax UK regulations, guidance and advice (available at www.aukweb.net or on request from the organiser). The event is not a race or a trial of speed. You are expected to follow the rules of the road and show consideration to other road users. ll The route is on open public roads. ll You should prepare by studying the route. ll The route is not waymarked or marshalled. ll You are responsible for your safety and conduct. ll Some routes/conditions may be arduous. ll The organiser provides no rescue service.

PARENTAL CONSENT (required for entrants under 18 years of age): Parents should note the information on this form and be aware that this in an individual ride without ride leaders.

I am the parent/guardian of the entrant and give my consent to this entry

Signed (parent/guardian): ___________________________________ Date: ________________________

Name (parent/guardian, please print): ______________________________________________________

I understand that during the event I am on a private excursion on the public highway and that I am responsible for my own conduct. I agree to abide by Audax UK regulations for this ride. Entry fees are not refundable. I have relevant insurance cover as above.

SIGNED (entrant): _________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Emergency contact (name & tel): __________________________________________________________

Send to the organiser: 1. Completed form 2. Cheque payable to organiser (not AUK) 3. Two C5 stamped addressed envelopes.

NAME OF EVENT: ______________________________________________________________________

NAME OF EVENT: ______________________________________________________________________

Send to the organiser: 1. Completed form 2. Cheque payable to organiser (not AUK) 3. Two C5 stamped addressed envelopes.

2015 ENTRY FORM FOR EVENTS HELD UNDER AUK REGULATIONS

2015 ENTRY FORM FOR EVENTS HELD UNDER AUK REGULATIONS

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