Are we RRtY yet?

In the second instalment (Arrivée 135 Winter 2017), Bob Donaldson had entered his second Audax season, and battled through some ferocious winter winds and floods in an effort to become a RRtY. Pushing the pressure a little bit higher by nudging past a 300 and, for the first time, succeeded (with the help of four team-mates and a generous tailwind) to achieve a 400 Easter Arrow. We catch up with him as spring gives way to the heat of summer and find out whether he achieved Randonneur Around the Year

It opened up to become a hot day in the merry month of May when Steve (Stephen Rogers) and I drove up to Shenstone for Roy Bishop’s Castleton Classic ride across the Derbyshire Peak District. 2.5 AAA points were on offer and we quickly understood why as we clambered up and down the dales and wound our way past sheep stupefied with the heat. At Ipstones, after a stiff climb preceded by a fine piece of traffic avoidance, the village hall was serving sumptuous sandwiches, proper slabs of handmade cake and good strong northern tea. Just fine for washing the grit from the back of our parched throats. The roads were fine, rolling, technical and grippy, and by the time we had reached the control at the tiny hamlet of Wyaston we were fit to drop.

Once again an army of kitchenhardened volunteers had produced an eye-watering display of refreshments that would have lifted the mettle of the Light Brigade at Balaclava had they had but such scones, such cakes and proper beefed-up beverages. And so into the valley of Dove we wended our way back into the

Midlands and the Arrivée. I was too shaken by the heat to eat anything at the end, which was a pity, because another fine spread was on offer.

Two weeks later and I was in the proper north and set off once again from Kirtley Cycles for that fine Aidan Hedley ride, the Mosstrooper. It was significantly cooler than the previous year’s edition and significantly windier – particularly on the long climb up to Hartside Pass where I posed for a brief photo before getting as quickly down to Penrith as I could (once a flock of sheep had been led up the main road and a cool downpour had nicely chilled to the marrow on the brisk descent). I upset the delicate balance and tasteful décor of a fine twee café as I slumped dripping into a welcome seat next to two highly animated old ladies who cast disapproving looks as I demolished a bowl of soup and various other dishes before my waterproof had had a chance to fully drip-dry.

Revitalised, I literally shot off in a northerly direction blown along by a generous and drying tail wind and was

Bob in front of the Ribblehead Viaduct during the Dales Grimpeur

soon privileged to be in the company of a throng of VC-167s – those hardened road warriors of the northern lands are renowned for being as hard as nails and it was a very pleasant hour I spent in their company before getting a puncture after crossing the A69 – my spirits seemed to deflate too.

The next stretch, to Newcastleton, is a long remote stretch of rambling moorland and wide northern skies. Ahead of me I briefly caught sight of Rob Hinds from Blaydon but couldn’t quite catch him before he joined forces with two others by the remote church and information control. The café at Newcastleton was as fine as I remembered it from the previous year. There were still plenty of riders around and I soon got chatting to a few guys over the afternoon stop before setting out into the moor-scape again. I chatted briefly to Judith Swallow, also of VC-167 (I was in hallowed company), admiring her specially made Moulton (which is of interest to me because I possess a 1964 MK I which I bought as a restoration project several years ago and

Malham Cove on the Dales Grimpeur

never brought myself around to fettling. “How fashinating”, I hear you say as your eyes swivel wildly around in their sockets) before she started to edge ahead and I found myself riding solo once again. We briefly met again at Bellingham (where a fine Co-op made a useful control).

Next up was Elsdon (it’s a stiff climb out of Bellingham past the site of the old wooden hostel that used to be on the left-hand side of the road at the edge of town) where a friendly couple stamped cards and exchanged encouraging words while pointing out cycling legends that adorn the walls in their cosy tearoom.

The final stretch took me past the old gibbet that stands ominously atop the significant ramp of a climb that led into the darkening moors and the greying northern skyscape before the dull, phosphorescent glow of the Tyneside conurbation gradually moved closer and closer into a bright welcoming glow. After a few quiet and darkened lanes the farm yard re-emerged. Inside, Lynn offered a welcome plate of beans on toast and cup of tea. Shortly after setting off in the car I passed Aidan and the young Daniel Holmes who was clearly gunning for home – chapeau to one and all!

AAA UP It would be been deeply remiss if, having already been in the north of England, I neglected to show up at the Dales Grimpeur, one week after the Mosstrooper. About 20 riders had gathered at the scout hut at Pateley Bridge – among them Ashley and Cathy Brown on their tandem. The ride featured 4.5 AAA points (which for a 215km ride seemed rather ambitious) and wasted no time at all in setting us off to gather them as we were sent up a vertiginous lane conveniently hollowed into the fellside without so much as a by-your-leave. It wasn’t long before we were gasping over cattle grids, rasping at windswept sheep with knowing grins, and gawping at the stunning valley views far, far below – this was truly God’s Own Country. Having already cracked my May

The highest station in England, Dent, taken during the Dales Grimpeur

ride in the

Peak District, I decided to take this one nice and steady and make the most of the sumptuous views as hill after hill was crested – among them Park Rash and Fleet Moss. As I drifted to the back of the field I fell in line with two old soldiers, Nigel Laws and Martin Smith, and together we firmly made up the back of the field for the rest of the day. Although originally from the north, this was new territory to me and my previous knowledge of the area was limited to having watched All Creatures Great and Small avidly as a lad. And so you can imagine my delight at seeing the Ribblehead Viaduct, Malham Cove and the home of Old Peculiar all in one bike ride.

Just off the pleasant, meandering river valley of the Dee was a right hand turn into a brutally steep lane that led past, of all things, a railway station – apparently Dent is the highest station in England at

❝I was surprised to find a generous slab of cheese on my cake when stopping at a café control. It transpired that this was normal culinary behaviour and was actually just the energy food I needed before scrambling over Buttertubs Pass

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48 350m. I wasn’t sure whether to be shocked at the steepness of the climb or the engineering brilliance of the men who brought the railway to this desolate location.

When we arrived at Hawes, home of Wensleydale, I was surprised to find a generous slab of cheese on my cake when stopping at a café control. It transpired that this was normal culinary behaviour and was actually just the energy food I needed before scrambling over Buttertubs Pass. Outside of Reeth’s Copper Kettle tearoom we briefly caught up with some of the other cyclists fettling a puncture. They were, of course, long gone by the time we emerged refreshed and replenished on wholesome Yorkshire grub and tea strong

enough to stand a spoon in.

The return leg took us on such quiet and remote roads that you could almost hear the white noise of vast moorland, were it not for our laboured breathing. It had been a glorious day and the evening air was fine when we descended back into the Valley of the Nidd and our Arrivée. We had been lucky, we were informed, when we finally made it back to the scout hut (the car park long since empty), as on a previous edition the weather had not been so kind and there had been cases of hypothermia. With this sobering thought I collected my gold grimpeur medal, thanked the organiser Paul Roberts, and bid my farewells to my companions for the day. EXIT STRATEGY? June arrived and with it the expectation of finally completing my first RRtY. The event was the 200km Ditchling Devil from London’s Richmond Park and down to the South Downs. A staggering collection of about 400 riders had assembled. In many ways this felt more like a sportive than an Audax as I queued to collect my brevet card. However, although fairly fast by my standards, this was definitely not a gel-fuelled furious sprint to the finish as riders gathered into clusters and chattered away as the miles ticked by.

At the top of Ditchling Beacon the views over Brighton and to the sea were truly breathtaking. In a dusty carpark I found an ice-cream van and bought a

Randoneurs enjoy a summer garden party during the Ditching Devil – Upper Breeding control

View from the top of Buttertubs pass with the appropriate wobbly legs sign

cooling cone while resting and admiring the views.

Further marvellous expansive views followed when we ascended to the Devil’s Dyke pub atop the South Downs. It was here also that we finally said goodbye to the members of Dunwich Paragon who had formed a tight-knit peloton; my partner (for the day) and I slackened off the pace and watched them disappear up the road. At Upper Breeding we even basked (for it was a gloriously hot day) in someone’s back garden – goodness knows what the neighbours thought as hundreds of cyclists descended on their quiet street – but the offer of fine food and drink was most welcome.

And then it was London-bound and back via Chiddingfold. Here we found the well-stocked control overlooking sports fields and being run by some very cheerful ladies who served some delicious food. This kept us going until the final control in a welcoming pub on the edge of Wimbledon Common. A refreshing pint helped to clear the dust from the throat and toast the end of 12 successive months of rides not less than 200km each – I could now finally call myself A Randonneur Around the Year.

But, as someone once asked upon completing my fourth Audax back in April 2016, “Had I worked out an exit strategy?” A month later and I was on the ferry to Dublin en route to The Celtic Knot 1000, but that’s yet another story… ❝ … but, as someone once asked upon completing my fourth Audax back in April 2016, “Had I worked out an exit strategy?…” a month later and I was on the ferry to Dublin en route to The Celtic Knot 1000, but that’s yet another story…

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We invite you to our 2018 Super Randonneur Series: GENTLY BENTLEY 200 Sunday 18th March Tally-ho and chocs away! The first ride of the inaugural Kingston Wheelers Super Randonneur series. An early season pootle on gentle Surrey and Hampshire lanes to Bentley. Breakfast and dinner provided, ale optional.

AMESBURY AMBLE 300 Saturday 14th April An easy-going, gently rolling course, mostly on quiet lanes – an ideal first 300. Enjoy a second brekky at Lasham Airfield; a cafe or bakery lunch in Amesbury; tea and cakes or beer and scratchings in Whitchurch; and a late supper on a garage forecourt in Bracknell! What more could a randonneur possibly ask for?

DAUNTSEY DAWDLE 400 Saturday 19th May A ride of two halves: hilly and flat, in that order...apart from the last climb at 330km! You should be sheltered from prevailing winds on the way out through the Surrey Hills, South Downs and North Wessex Downs... then fly home with the wind on your back following slap-up pub dinner in Cirencester!

WANDER WYE 600 Saturday 16th June Visit 11 counties of England and Wales in one ride! Moderately hilly throughout. Bag drop service to our overnight control at Chepstow, so pack your sleeping bag, mat, toothbrush and Sunday best! Start and arrivée at scout hall. Friday night accommodation available. Entry fee includes brekky at the start, dinner & brekky at Chepstow, and BBQ at the arrivée.

ROWLANDS RAAAMBLE 200 Sunday 16th September Starting with a classic Wheeler’s breakfast you are soon out of town and riding over the Downs and along country lanes. This scenic Grimpeurs du Sud route with climbs such as the Devil’s Punchbowl and Leith Hill and a double crossing of the South Downs makes it a great Audax day out. Although not the easiest 200 in the southeast the three cafe controls en-route will keep you going, and you will thoroughly earn your hot supper and beer at the arrivée!

kingstonwheelers.co.uk/ride/audax audax@kingstonwheelers.co.uk