Arrivée issue 155 Spring 2022

Arrivee

tandem team’s world record ambition page 32 lists’ ce cyc n a t s i azine long-d – the mbers’ mag K U x Auda tion – me 022 a 2 associ 55 • spring 1 Issue

INSIDE ISSUE 155 Just a Sec

04

Vacancies 04

Front cover… Laura Pugh and Steve Massey on a mission to take the Tandem world record page 32

36

48

Membership matters

05

Cycling shorts

06

Once in a lifetime ride… let’s do it again

10

A Cornish pasting

16

On the borders of bewilderment

19

Let’s hear it for the volunteers

22

Your LEL needs YOU

24

Voyages of a happy amature

26

Fear… a self-imposed prison?

30

It takes two to tandem

32

Devil take the hindmost

36

When it’s time to break away

38

Blowing hot & cold in the Corsican cols

44

OCD climbing 2021 results

47

We built this city on rock and roll

48

A return to the fellowship of the wheel

52

The Baking biker

57

AUK calendar

58

Prize crossword No. 8

62

AUK contacts

63

10

24

30 52

Welcome to the spring 2022 issue of Arrivée Not yet a victory Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn was quick to respond when changes to the Highway Code came into operation in January this year.

Arrivée155Spring2022

He wrote that the “mutton-headed communists who appear to be running 21st century Britain” are turning our city centres into “crazy golf courses, intended to frustrate freedom of movement by giving priority to Lycra-clad lunatics on racing bikes”.

2

He went on: “Our major cities have suffered from pollution-spewing traffic jams created by Town Hall Guardianista polar bear huggers in thrall to the cult of the great god cycling”.

I have a soft spot for Mr Littlejohn. Our paths crossed briefly on the Birmingham Evening Mail some 40 odd years ago. He was just leaving for a glittering career on

the nationals as I was arriving – for a less stellar, but nevertheless interesting four-decade stint in the regional press.

Whether you agree with his opinions or not (and as this is a cycling magazine, I’m guessing not), he has a certain journalistic prowess which I admire. He identifies a groundswell of opinion and manages to translate the unintelligible, spittle-flecked rantings of saloon bar philosophers into articulate, and let’s be honest, entertaining word play. Polar bear huggers. Splendid.

The Highway Code changes are like gold dust to him. I doubt his readership is composed of too many cyclists, so he’s on solid ground when he paints a picture of chaos caused by a shadowy cabal of fanatics (that’s you, by the way), hell-bent on subverting a sacred way of life, upsetting the status quo and ruining it for everyone.

It is quite clear that the controversial changes to road user priorities has taken at least one section of the travelling public by surprise – motorists. They are horrified to be apparently losing their long-held “rights”. And Littlejohn isn’t alone in singling out the cycling community as the villain – and a handy scapegoat.

There is already an urgent surge of lobbying going on in the corridors of power, the aim of which is to get the changes reversed, or watered-down at the very least. The cycling alliance needs to stand firm. These are good changes, and they’ll eventually end up benefitting everyone.

The new guidance is fairly simple to announce; the implementation less so.

It’s going to be hideously complex. It requires an almost unimaginable change in established attitudes.

Transformation of this nature isn’t quick, easy or straightforward.

In the face of furious outrage, so expressively voiced by Littlejohn and his ilk, cyclists must remain calm. We don’t need all-out war on the highways by sticking two fingers up to white van man and rejoicing in victory. This isn’t yet a victory… it’s just the beginning of an honourable campaign to persuade people of the utter injustice of giving the power on the roads to the least vulnerable.

Tony Lennox former editor, Birmingham Post and Warwickshire Life, 45 years in regional newspapers

SEND US YOUR STORIES Arrivée is the magazine of Audax UK, written entirely by members. Your stories are essential and everyone is welcome to contribute.

We edit all copy we receive because of the magazine’s space limitations, and we amend or abridge as required. Our aim is to keep stories to within a range of 500 to 3,000 words. If your story has a higher word-count we will trim and edit it accordingly.

We cannot publish anonymously, so your original submitted copy must contain your name and membership number, together with an email address – we will, however, withold your name if requested, from the published article.

While we will always strive to present your story to your satisfaction, in common with all other publishers, our duty is primarily to our readers, and we maintain the right to make changes if necessary.

We will always endeavour to publish everything we receive, but it might be in a later issue as we are currently limited to 64 pages.

ISSUE 156 – SUMMER 2022 EDITION Send your stories to gedlennox@me.com There is no copy deadline for stories as most will be published, but not necessarily immediately unless the content is timeimperative. ● Send your text in any word-processor format and your pictures as separate files (i.e. not embedded in the document). ● Images must be as big as possible, anything below 1Mb jpeg is not usable ● It is essential that your photographs are captioned, preferably in a separate document, cross referenced to your pictures. ● Include your full contact details – including your AUK number – we cannot publish your story otherwise ● Copy all the content into a new folder on your desktop. ● If it is too large to email (i.e. more than 10Mb) please use WeTransfer, MailBigFile or a cloudbased platform. ● Please do not use the old Mediafire gateway as it is no longer functional.

2022 KW Audax Rides Schedule The KW Audax Chapter is planning monthly rides from March through to October, building up to LAL 1,000 km event in July across Wales and back again.

To book your place go to the link on our website www.kingstonwheelers.com or directly at audax.uk Sun 20 Mar – Gently Bentley 200km Sat 9 Apr – Amesbury Amble 300km Sat 21 May – Dauntsey Dawdle 400km Sat 11 Jun – Wander Wye 600km Wed 13 Jul – London – Anglesey – London 1,000km Sun 4 Sep – Rowlands Ramble 200km Sun 2 Oct – Brace of Bramleys 200 km

3

Just a sec

GRAEME PROVAN, General secretary, Audax UK

When I reported on last year’s AGM, England, Scotland and Wales had all just taken huge steps forward in releasing from C19 restrictions and we were looking forward to a more normal peak season than the year before. As I write this year’s report, the UK Government has just announced the end of C19 legal restrictions in England. Hopefully this will lead to a resumption in our usual levels of events and participation as the whole of the UK moves towards a full release. We have LEL to look forward to in August and I know the organising team have been working hard in very trying circumstances.

2020/21 AGM Unfortunately, our AGM, on 12 February, came too early to be held in person and was again held via Zoom. There were about the same number of attendees as we would expect at a physical meeting. We very much hope that next year’s meeting will be a physical meeting. We are still looking at whether it is feasible to hold a hybrid meeting with some virtual participation but what we have seen elsewhere suggests most of the hybrid models just do not work that well.

The online voting was slightly lower again this year (8.3% of eligible voters).

Two resolutions were put to the meeting and both were passed:

Resolution 1 – the Board’s amendment to Regulation 8.1.2 was ratified.

Resolution 2 – the Board’s decision to suspend the Peter Tandy Trophy pending further consultation was overturned. The Peter Tandy Trophy will therefore be awarded to the youngest rider to complete a 200k randonnee on a solo machine this season.

Mike Warren, who proposed the resolution, has agreed to lead a consultation into the future of the Peter Tandy Trophy and the wider issue of youth participation in our sport. Please contribute to this if you can.

Nigel Armstrong was re-elected as AUK’s Financial Director.

Andy Yates was re-elected as a Non-Executive Director.

We have vacancies for a Communications Director and for the other non-executive post.

The minutes of the meeting are available on the website.

Board meeting Our latest board meeting took place on 12 January.

We were joined at the meeting by our IT Manager, Kevin Lake.

Kevin gave us a presentation of the new event entry system and reported to us on the proposed move from Paypal to Stripe.

As ever, you can look at the board minutes in the About Us section on the website

VACANCIES… Communications Director and Non-Executive Director AUK has vacancies for current AUK members for the following posts:

Communications Director ●

Promoting AUK and audax events,

●

Managing AUK’s social media;

●

●

●

Arrivée155Spring2022

●

4

Responding to requests from magazines, newspapers and online media to publish articles about AUK and audax events; Responding to urgent requests for comment following incidents; Developing AUK’s presence at shows and events; Liaising with the editorial team and the Membership Secretary to produce, publish and distribute Arrivée.

The NED post would suit a candidate with a background in strategic management and company governance, perhaps in a senior role at a commercial or not-for-profit organisation.

For each post, the most important requirements are a practical knowledge of the technicalities and rules of long-distance cycling and an enthusiasm to see our sport develop.

Time commitment

The post would suit a creative person with media experience.

In addition to the ongoing commitments of each post, the Board meets 4 times a year in Birmingham on a weekday and members attend additional meetings, including the Annual Reunion and the AGM

Non-Executive Director (NED)

Applications

The position is one of two NED posts on the Board of AUK. They are expected to bring an independent perspective to the Board, assist with strategy, help develop AUK and ensure that risks are suitably managed.

The NED is expected to challenge and advise the executive directors, in line with AUK’s objects and strategy and to help them reach balanced judgements.

The role is not suitable for existing AUK delegates.

Please register your interest with Graeme Provan, the General Secretary, (secretary@audax.uk) by 15 June 2022.

The Board aims to finalise the appointments in time for the Board Meeting on 6 July 2022.

AUK is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity. A copy of our Equality policy can be found at https://www.audax.uk/policies/equality.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS…

with Caroline Fenton, AUK Membership Secretary As always, a warm welcome to new members who have joined us recently, and welcome back to those that decided to sit out 2021 and have now rejoined.

Our membership numbers made a good recovery in the second half of 2021 – reaching 8282 at the end of the year, which is a new high. One quarter we very nearly ran out of back copies of Arrivée to send our new joiners which is a nice problem to have. We also started the new year with a record number of members – so a big thank you to all the renewers, maybe the threat of lost LEL places helped get the subscriptions in on time? I spent some time sorting the list of eligible members for the LEL team and answering questions from members who thought they should be included and weren’t. Of course, as things turned out, with a decrease in overseas interest (for obvious reasons) and an increase in the number of places available compared to 2017, everyone who wanted to enter has been able to get a place.

For those who like a graph, opposite is an updated version of one I published last year as we started up activities again following lockdowns, showing the number of members at the start of each month.

WANTED – AUTHOR TO UPDATE WEB PAGES We’d like some help to update some of the content on the website, such as the history page, and the Hints and Tips for new riders. We’d also like some new content, so if you have ideas for an interesting page or news item we would like to hear from you. You don’t need technical web site experience – you just need to produce the words and any associated photos and we’ll add them to the site for you, it’s your writing and creative skills that we need.

If you’re interested, send an e-mail to webcontent@audax. uk. We’re happy to hear from people who would like to contribute just a single page, or people who would like to get involved on a regular basis with enhancing and updating the site.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE TOUR DU RICKY? Three new rides on the edge of London – 21 May New for 2022, 50, 100 and 200km rides exploring the best of the Chilterns, Bucks and Oxfordshire on 21 May. Starting at Woodoaks Farm and heading through country lanes, the routes are designed to appeal to seasoned Audaxers and newcomers alike. A brewery finish plus plenty of great country to explore.

Organised by Willesden Cycling club – part of our 2022 SR programme.

Check out our website www.tourdericky.uk

A quick housekeeping item – a few members still have a xxxx@member.auk dummy email address in our system. If this applies to you and it is because you don’t have an email address then that’s fine, but I am sure some of you do and either never told us, or we had an obsolete address and so replaced it when we migrated to the new system in 2020. If you are in the second group, then you can update it yourself on line provided you can still remember your password, but otherwise just email me and I can do it for you – but don’t forget to include your membership number and full postal address too.

Wishing everyone a great season full of hilly/flat/easy/ challenging/sunny/rainy/solo/group/type 1/type 2 fun cycling (delete as appropriate!)

www.audax.uk

5

CYCLINGSHORTS

Cycling Shorts is your platform for news, call-outs, views and opinions on anything cycling-related. We’re keen to hear your biking tales, old or new.

Drop us an email with the details. We’re looking for all types of short stories from Audax riders, with a picture of yourself too if possible.

Send to: gedlennox@me.com

Arrivée155Spring2022

New calendar event entry screens…

6

We are planning to update the event entry screens on the website shortly, to a new design that is more in line with the rest of the website. It will be applicable for calendar events, perms and Extended Calendar Events (ECEs). There are a few things to be aware of: ● You will be able to add members of your household to an entry, which will avoid the need for each person to log in separately to enter, and you will be able to make just one payment to cover multiple riders from your household. ● Non-members will have to register with Audax UK before entering. They don’t have to pay to register (and won’t get any member benefits), but registering means that we are more likely to get the correct contact details as we can validate their email address, it’s simpler for subsequent entries, and it solves a problem where the completed rides database has a large number of records that have no membership number. If a nonmember subsequently joins AUK we have to reconcile them with their past rides, which is a fiddly process. ● If you have an under-18 in your household and you are their parent/ guardian, you can enter on their behalf, and no longer need to provide them with a signed paper form. ● We have changed the way you accept terms and conditions of entry – we are adding a section in the “membership details” page where you can review and accept the terms. When you enter a ride, the system will check that you have done this, and prevent you entering if you have not. We’ve done this for two reasons – if we change the terms it is more obvious, because you will have to re-confirm (on the existing system it’s not obvious that the terms might have changed since you last entered a ride, so they probably won’t

get reviewed each time) – and the change to allow entry of household members means that we need to know that all entered members have accepted the terms, not just the person making the entry. ● We are supporting two payment methods – Paypal and Debit/Credit card (via Stripe Payments). We’ve added the latter as it allows us to streamline processing of validation and non-member fees. The method used will depend on which organiser’s event you are entering – you will see one or the other, not a choice. ● The website will send you an e-mail confirming your entry (in addition to one from Paypal or Stripe)) ● The postal entry process won’t really change much – although if you log on you will be able to print one form and enter more than one person from your household on it. The standalone paper entry form will be updated to align with the new online forms. ● You will have to enter the calendar event before entering the associated ECE. To make entry as smooth as possible once we’ve swapped over, we’d recommend that you accept the terms and conditions in advance. You can do that now – log in, go to “My Account/ Membership Details”, scroll down to “Accept Audax UK Event Entry Terms” and click the button. You’ll only need to do that once, unless we update the terms, which should be pretty infrequent.

The exact release date is subject to some further testing and refinement, we’ll add a news item on the website with more details closer to the date.

Kevin Lake CS

Mysterious meeting with a wheeled ‘wizard’ Patrick Douglas relates a strange encounter with a rider of remarkable memory on a lonely Lowland lane…

On London-Edinburgh-London in 2017, riding south about an hour from Edinburgh, we were on some small roads with little motor traffic. After a short, steep climb we started catching a few riders.

I rode alongside one rider, and after saying hello to him, he said: “I know you.”

I took a good look at him and recognised him from the Three Coasts 600km just a couple of months before.

“Oh yes, I recognise you from the Three Coasts,” I replied.

“No, I KNOW you,” he insisted.

I thought his emphasis on the word “know” was a bit unusual, and wondered what he’d say next. He looked at me with a strange expression for a long, thoughtful moment.

“The 1983 National Coal Carrying Championships,” he said. “You came third.”

I was dumbfounded. This was a race that I’d indeed ridden – my first ever placing.

He thought for a moment, then added: “I can see you – you were wearing green, black and gold, Leeds St Christophers CC.” He’d recognised me from an obscure race some 34 years ago, and not only was he correct with my club at the time, but also with my result. I could hardly believe this guy. It was incredible. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Was he some kind of wizard? ●

Have you had any weird encounters on the road – mysterious or baffling, or just downright bizarre?

Let us know. Send your strange tales to: gedlennox@me.com

Heartfelt thanks…

Sir, May I take up space to say, as someone who has undergone treatment for a minor heart problem and is rather reluctant to re-join the fray of Audax for the moment, how much I enjoyed the latest issue of Arrivée? Every article was well-written and an inspiration to this armchair AUK. I felt I was sharing the emotions, pleasure and suffering of each of your contributors. Many thanks also to everyone involved in what is surely the best cycling magazine available. Finally, may I say hello to the many riders who over the years have shared my Audax experiences and, of course, the selfless organisers who have made it all possible.

Brian Mann – CC Sudbury CS

Time flies…

Heyday… Alan on his perfect machine

Sir, I’ve just received my latest magazine, a publication I’ve been reading for years. There was a time when its stories were about riders who were older than me, all completing crazy rides.

Perfection discovered in the Small Ads

Now, suddenly, the authors appear to be half my age, and are riding bikes I’d usually expect to see on local trails on a Sunday afternoon. It’s all a bit out of my comfort zone!

But well done for protecting our hobby and passion into the future.

Audax rider Alan Linge ponders the perfect Audax machine – and lovingly recalls a second-hand bike which more than did the job

Moriaty’s no more

I needed to find a bike when, in 1980, I agreed to joins some friends on a CTC Sunday ride. Not having ridden since my schooldays 30 years before, I had to first buy a bike.

The For Sale columns of the local paper revealed a second-hand gent's sports bike of about the right size, so I bought it, and turned up for my first run.

It turned out to be an interesting machine. It was a 531 steel hand-built frame from by a Dutch maker, Jonge, with Nervex lugs and pencil stays. The wheels were Conloy rims on Harden hubs, with tied and soldered spokes.

Along with my new pals, I was learning a whole new language.

One of them was a member of the Wessex Road Club and suggested I try my hand at time-trialling. By removing all surplus bits my “social” bike morphed into a time-trial machine, allowing a performance good enough to spark my interest.

I soon learned that the club was big in Audax, and it was suggested that I have a go at the Dorset Coast 200. Anyone who remembers the 1981 event will recall that the weather was horrendous, with only 60 finishers from a field of more than 200.

The Dorset Coast 200 proved to be a steep learning curve for me, mainly concerning weather-proof clothing and lower gears.

I was hooked, and my “social/time-trial” bike had completed the transformation into an Audax machine. Over the years, various modifications have been carried out, and the final result is pictured above.

Lighting was a big problem (pre-LED), which was solved in my case by a Dynohub, allowing all-night rides. Older riders may recognise the route sheet holder on the bars (there was no GPS then), the tyre-savers on the bottom of the mudguard, and the cyclometer on the bottom of the front fork (pre computer tech).

Also the granny-arm attached to the saddlebag (Carradice long-flap) support. One and a half metres clearance wasn't even dreamed of then.

The machine was written off in and accident 106 miles short of its 100,000. Having completed 26 consecutive Dorset Coast's; two PBP's; and five full AAA cards, I think I had the perfect Audax machine.

Ian McDonald CS

Sir, I’m just reading Arrivée (154) and have reached the Dick Turpin item, written by Tom Deakins. He mentions there’s a cafe in Walsham-le-Willows. I’m sad to report that this café (Moriaty’s, a former carpenter’s workshop) has ceased trading. Rolffes, the village butchers/general store remains open. Both pubs are also still trading.

Possible alternatives for cafés might be the nearby Wyken Hall Vineyards, or opposite Lawes in Station Road, Bacton.

However, as Tom mentions, Debenham has more resources including a chippy, café and Co-Op.

Tony Childs CS

Happy on tubes Sir, Mike Smith’s “Tubeless clinch the deal” (Arrivée 154) is very interesting, and I can see the attraction of this option even though personally I am quite happy with my old-fashioned inner tubes.

I run my 28mm tyres at 70 psi which I find comfortable. If I ran them at Mike’s 45 psi I’d feel as if my bike was “wallowing”, an unhappy feeling you get when you’ve punctured, and the tyre is on its way down.

There would also be the risk of “snakebite” punctures, which I know tubeless tyres eliminate. But the other problem, which tubeless tyres don’t eliminate, is that if you hit a pothole the tyre won’t protect the rim from damage if there’s not enough pressure in the tyre. I’m wondering what readers’ experience with this might be.

Paul Harrison CS

www.audax.uk

7

CYCLING

SHORTS Too late for breakfast?

2

Audaxer Geoff Sharp enjoys the lumpy lanes of Devon on a bracing ride through his home county

Arrivée155Spring2022

The Breakfast in Bampton event takes riders over a 115km route, down the valley of the River Exe and over the rolling hills and quiet country lanes of Devon. I joined around 80 other riders in November last year – the third time I’d tackled this ride.

Setting off from Cranbrook, near Exeter, at 9am, I’d be fortunate indeed to get a breakfast in Bampton two hours away – unless they were serving some very late breakfasts. It had been a long time since I’d been able to cover 35km without a break. But this time I managed to get to Bampton without stopping This event is always popular with riders as the route is mainly over minor roads, and while it’s a little lumpy in places, is largely traffic-free.

I started in the first group with a dozen members of my club, South Devon CTC. We followed the lanes through Elderhayes and Silverton before coming out on to the A396 a mile or two before crossing the River Exe at Bickleigh, and then on to

8

Tiverton. I was holding a reasonable pace as I went round Tiverton and picked up the road to Bampton.

We reached the old market town just before 11am. No late breakfasts were being offered at the control – just a bun and a coffee. Then it was back on the bike to join the B3227 to Wiveliscombe and Norton Fitzwarren.

Most of the traffic now uses the North Devon Link Road so we had this road mostly to ourselves, passing through several villages then climbing to Petton followed by a descent through Waterrow.

The ride is a little more challenging at this point. There followed a long descent to

Wiveliscombe. Fortunately, the traffic lights were green when I went through – I’m not sure I’d have been able to stop in time if they’d been on red.

I continued down towards Milverton on a well-surfaced road which meant I could hold a good pace all the way to the control at the Cross Keys pub in Norton Fitzwarren. The pub was offering a good deal for soup and a roll plus a cup of tea – and I took advantage. I was now over half way with 65k covered, but the next section was along narrow lanes, so the pace inevitably slowed.

There was some light rain for company on the section to Allerford and Bradford on Tone. East Nynehead and Ash were also ticked off before I arrived in Wellington.

This is a place with connections to the Iron Duke himself. There’s a monument to the victor of Waterloo up on the hill, erected 200 years ago. These days it’s showing its age and has been clad in scaffolding for the past couple of years.

Climbing over Sampford Moor I hit a pothole which blew the rear tyre. It just had to be on a mucky part of the route outside a farm.

Tyre fixed, I continued over the M5 and down to the Culm valley to turn at Craddock for Kentibeare and Dulford. The road to Talaton seems to go on forever.

Then it was on through Wimple, known for its cider, followed by a couple of miles down the old A30 to the finish.

Sarah Britton and the Exeter Wheelers Cycling Club do an excellent job organizing this event and I’ll definitely be on the line for the next one.

Geoff Sharp CS

Code comfort?

Arrivée editor, Ged Lennox, studies the newly updated Highway Code, and what the changes mean to road users, especially cyclists Priority at junctions

Previously, the rules gave motor vehicles priority at a junction unless the other person was more than half-way across. Now drivers must give way to pedestrians, horses, cyclists and scooters which are crossing or preparing to cross. Implicit in this rule is that if there is an accident the fault will automatically lie with those who can do the greater harm. So, a cyclist must give way to pedestrians and scooters, but by implication not to horses, although it might be better not to argue that with horses.

Zebra or non-light-controlled crossings and parallel crossings

The rule in the past was that all road users should give way to pedestrians already on the crossing. Now it is a legal requirement for all road users, including cyclists, to stop if there is anyone even waiting to cross. As nearly all of us carry a camera this is going to be quite a big issue and expect to see lots of fines and points on licences here.

2022 SEVERN BRIDGE

RANDONNEURS RIDES SCHEDULE

2022 will be another year of great rides exploring Southern Wales with events planned from April to September.

Complete a 100km, 150km, 200km and 300km SBR ride this season a receive a free SUPER ROULEUR medal* To book your place visit our website www.audaxwales.com or book directly at audax.uk 23rd April – No Time to Yat 100km, 1.5AAA 23rd April – Fishing Expedition 50km, 0.75AAA 25th June – Tintern Express 50km, 1 AAA 25th June – Devilish Devauden 100km, 1.75AAA 23rd July – 10 Peaks Challenge 200km, 4.5AAA 23rd July – Canal Boats & Mountain Roads 160km, 2.5AAA 13th Aug – Looks Like a Welsh Dragon 200km, 3.5AAA 13th Aug – All That Glitters isn’t Gold 160km, 2.25AAA 10th Sept – Welsh Ruins 200km, 3.75AAA All rides come with a Free Event Patch for all finishers * 300km Welsh event details/date will be available in April 2022

Where to ride on the road

I am a kerb-hugger by habit, and it’s worked for me for many years, but roads are not as well maintained these days, and poor road surfaces frequently force me out into the road. Now however, it is required that cyclists should ride no less than half a metre from the kerb and further out where it is safe to do it. So, own the lane is the message and insist that drivers see you and wait until you can either pull in to let them past or overtake safely. The minimum distance a car should pass is 1.5 metres. At speeds above 30mph that distance expands to two metres. Interestingly, cyclists are not legally required to use a designated cycle path or lane, although it has to be said, many cycle lanes I use are also car parking for locals and can’t be used anyway.

Turning across the path of cyclists

I was surprised to learn that there was never a legal requirement for drivers to treat cyclists as other vehicles. That lack has now been fixed, with drivers required to not cut across the path of a cyclist. This includes turning either way at junctions. The most common cycling accidents are caused by drivers overtaking a cyclist and then tuning left across their path. Cycles are now to be considered as vehicles rather than inconveniences. Some progress at least, but this is an advisory rather than legal requirement and will only be actionable if there is an accident – the legal requirement is that drivers should always give way to cyclists.

Hand-held mobile phones and other devices

It has been illegal to use a mobile phone to make a call or a text while driving since 2003, but the law didn’t cover other handheld devices such as music players, taking videos or photos. This clear loophole has now been addressed and you can expect a £200 fine and six penalty points if you are caught. It’s even more if you are a new driver and can lead to you having to retake both your theory and practical tests. Hands free is fine but if like me you use your phone as a satnav, be sure to bolt it down securely during the drive. Interestingly there doesn’t seem to be the same requirement for cyclists, who use phones in the same way.

The “Dutch reach” requirement

We have all been here. People opening doors into your path without looking. To be fair it’s not always possible for cyclist to give a wide pass on parked vehicles so this is a welcome advisory. Drivers and passengers are asked to use their opposite hand to open doors, thus requiring them to turn and look back before opening. Not really sure how effective this will be as it’s just guidance, but it will have an impact on any cases that are prosecuted.

Ged Lennox CS www.audax.uk

9

LEEDS-BASED RIDER PATRICK DOUGLAS TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE OF PARIS-BREST-PARIS IN 2019 – AND IT’S FAIR TO SAY THE EXPERIENCE HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON HIS VIEW OF THE WORLD. HERE ARE SOME OF HIS REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME

Arrivée155Spring2022

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME RIDE… LET’S DO IT AGAIN

10

Patrick, centre, with Luigi with his beautiful Gios Torino, and his riding partner Daniele

PICTURE© LUIGI CANDELLI

Riding to the start in Rambouillet

PARIS-BREST-PARIS is not a race – it’s a celebration of life; a four-day cycling festival where the rider is the most important person on the road. It’s about the supporters, the crowds, the villages “en fete”, the atmosphere, the terrain, the many nationalities – and the lure of the road.

It’s the little things I remember, the things that helped to keep my morale high through the event. The challenge is about the people, whether they’re fellow riders with a common goal, the public, or the official helpers who all offer fabulous support throughout the ride.

My plan definitely wasn’t to take part in a 100km three-hour road race, followed by 1,100km of hanging on in there. But that’s what happened. I’d always reckoned that people who deliberately rode through the night were complete lunatics. On reflection though, I thought that we must all be a bit mad to undertake these crazy rides. And so it was that I planned to ride through to Brest without sleeping, except for power naps.

I’d leave Rambouillet at 6pm on Sunday, ride into the evening and through the night, then through the next day and

evening – and see if I could get to Brest in 30 hours, making it midnight on Monday.

I’d sleep at Brest for about six hours, then set off back to Rambouillet with time in hand and see how I got on, aiming to finish by the Thursday midday deadline.

What follows are a few random reflections on the experience of riding PBP.

THE GERMANS

On the return stretch after Carhaix a small group came past and I decided to jump on to them. They were a group of three strong, fast lads and I figured out they were German. I was riding at my threshold just to hold on to them, especially on the uphill sections. I sat on the back for maybe 15km while the others took random turns on the front then one of them rode alongside me and told me that I’d have to do some work. Dammit! My cover was blown.

I’m very experienced at following good wheels but didn’t think I could ride as hard as them when it was my turn on the front.

They were a well-drilled unit and I asked if they trained together. No – they’d just hooked up on the ride. Not only were they super-fast but they’d also been highly

efficient at the controls. “We had a 20 minute sleep at Brest and felt really good after it,” one told me. Twenty minutes at Brest? It had taken me longer than that to get a slot for the showers!

It was a bit of an effort to keep the pace when the road went uphill but downhill was even harder! They absolutely smashed down those descents and I found that over the top of each climb I had to stay really close to their wheel, then whack it into a big gear and ensure that I didn’t leave more than a yard to them on the descent Over the ensuing 50km the trio slowed down a little, I was thankful for that. We picked up a number of other riders and ended up with maybe ten or so in the group. I was with those guys for around 150km, certainly the best part of the day before I got tailed off a few kilometres before the Tinteniac control. I chatted to them when I got there a few minutes later and said it had been an honour to ride with them, but now I’d have to ride at my own pace as I wouldn’t be able to maintain their speed.

www.audax.uk

11

Chuck a recumbent ❝ into a bunch though and it has the effect of throwing a swarm of angry bees into the middle of the peloton

❞

Recumbents and funny bikes at the start

Arrivée155Spring2022

DROUGHT

12

On my final day, after Villaines-La-Juhel I was caught by a strong, athletic-looking lad in German national kit. We ended up working very well together. His name was Florian, and he was hoping to meet his girlfriend at the next control, Mortagneau-Perche.

The stretch to the Mortagne-au-Perche control seemed to be a series of five minute climbs and two minute descents, plus it was getting hot. I’d failed to top up my bottles at Villaines and I was getting really low on water. We picked up a Swiss rider and made a good trio, then picked up a few more riders. I was totally out of water and it was nearly 30 degrees.

All through PBP there are numerous villages, isolated homes or farmhouses where folks set up a trestle tables at the roadside to give out free water. Not on this stretch though. Each time I saw a building, village or hamlet in the distance, my hopes rose – and then dashed. Everywhere seemed deserted. In fact, it was like a desert out there.

We passed numerous parked cars and I hoped they might be giving out drinks.

They weren’t. We got on to a stretch of busier road and I saw a mirage – a parked car in a lay-by. It was 800 metres away, and I wanted to believe they’d got drinks.

Bingo! Most of the group descended on the drinks station like a plague of locusts.

Laurent Delais and his young son had a table laden with bottled water and snacks.

I thanked them profusely, telling them that theirs was the first water stop since Villaines. The young lad gave me a printed slip of paper with his address and asked if I would send them a post card from home.

It seems to be a common tradition between helpers and riders, and I was delighted to do so. I rode briefly with a strong Irish rider who was churning huge gears up the climbs; the kind of gears that made my legs ache just looking them.

Then I was on my own again, tapping away steadily, with plenty of fluids on board

FUNNY BIKES

Let’s be honest, we all ride at different speeds on normal bikes. Sure, we get into groups and bunches and the stronger riders tow the weaker ones. I’ve made a career of being towed by the big guys. We can hang in together or ride on our own, at our own pace, whatever suits us. Chuck a recumbent into a bunch though and it has the effect of throwing a swarm of angry bees into the middle of the peloton – riders swinging all over the place, the recumbents flying down the descents with their low centre of gravity and lower drag, then crawling up the other side as normal bike riders swing around to avoid crashing into the back of them.

I’ve read about recumbent riders complaining that people were overtaking on the wrong side. Well, if you’re one of the recumbent riders who insists on riding on the white line in the middle of the road, what do you expect? Do you really expect riders to cross the white line into oncoming traffic just to get past you?

I was behind one of those guys for a while, when he insisted on white-lining. I was genuinely fearful he’d get run down by a truck. What’s the point? Try riding in a normal position – it would be a lot safer.

MECHANICAL DOPING Officials must have been tipped off about a particular machine and its occupant, as he not only went superfast downhill, as you might expect, but he was also flying on the uphill stretches. He stopped at one of the controls and when he got back to his machine it was surrounded by officials who were busy dismantling it. It turns out he’d stacked a few batteries inside and rigged a mechanism to provide power to his cranks or wheels. Mechanical doping.

Busted and rightly disqualified.

A ROLLICKING

Every rider is issued with an approved reflective Gilet to conform to French road rules. You have to wear them when it’s dark. Being a good lad, I’d been wearing it as required, no problem. I took it off on

My white and grey jacket ❝ would have made me almost

The foggy lowlands earned me a smack in the Brouillards

the Tuesday morning – the sun was well up and it was starting to get warm. I was riding on the homeward stretch, after Roc Trevezal, when a car pulled up in front. It displayed a badge indicating it was part of the official support. A woman got out and started giving me a right royal rollicking for not wearing my gilet. She took a note of my rider number and warned I could receive a time penalty. At that moment the sun was shining, but I realised that a few minutes earlier, when I’d been in one of the dips of this roller coaster of a road, it was foggy. My white and grey jacket would have made me almost invisible. I played the dim, polite, foreigner, apologised and put on the gilet. She seemed to calm down and eventually drove off. I counted myself lucky. The woman was, of course, correct, but there were scores of other riders also not wearing their gilets, so I assume she must have had a busy morning.

COFFEE

In the hour before dawn on the Wednesday, I suddenly started to slump.

I’d had a few hours sleep on the floor of the previous control at Fougeres and had been riding quite well on my own in the dark. But it was cold, very cold. I was wearing everything I had including full finger gloves, overshoes, leg and arm warmers, a jacket and a gilet, but I’m skinny and feel the cold quite easily. My pace slowed.

I rode into a village and, in what was a fabulous piece of luck, the bakery was open. I rushed in and got a few things to eat. I needed coffee to help warm me up, but they didn’t serve it so I set off again.

Riding round a bend, I saw a woman with a large flask of hot coffee to give out to needy cyclists. I stopped, had a drink and chatted. Had she been here all night? No – she’d been here since 6am. Her husband had done the midnight to 6am “shift”.

What wonderful people!

invisible. I played the dim, polite, foreigner, apologised and put on the gilet. She seemed to calm down and eventually drove off.

I counted myself lucky.

❞

Part of the fun at Hardanges including the small caravan for a perfect sleep

AN UNEXPECTED BED

They say that the coldest hour is the one after dawn, and I could understand why.

My speed had slowed significantly and I knew I needed a sleep pretty quickly. The problem was, it was so cold that if I stopped, I’d surely freeze. I started seeing double. I was looking at the grass verges for anywhere to lie down. Absolutely exhausted, I plodded on to the village of Hardanges. They’d decorated the walls with bunting, set up a wood burner to warm the riders, and had a massive table with hot drinks and snacks. I stopped, had a coffee and tried to explain how grateful I was. I asked to sit in a chair for ten or twenty minutes to have a sleep, when a woman asked: “Dormir?” and showed me a small caravan with a bed and covers. I got the best one hour sleep of my entire PBP. It was fabulous. Thank you very much to Laurie Renard, her friends and family, for setting up such a great facility in their village!

getting colder. There were a few campervans and supporters at the top of the climb and I stopped at one where there was a spare chair. I got talking to a couple of helpers, Joseph and Isabelle, and told them I was from Leeds, pointing to my Leeds Mercury jersey. “Ah, Leeds United!” they said. We chatted for a while

A FAMILIAR FACE

On the way to Brest I reached Roc Trevzal, the highest point of PBP, towards the end of the Monday. By now it was dark and

Joseph and Isabelle, top of the Roc www.audax.uk

13

PICTURE© LUIGI CANDELLI

… PBP is a beautiful discovery of the French ❝ countryside, your fellow riders, the support from the public, the fabulous displays which the villages organise, the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers, the high fives and shouts of support from the kids along the route

❞

about soccer and cycling. They’d got a fabulous set up with a trailer containing snacks, a water boiler and coffee – all voluntary. These are the people who make PBP such a wonderful experience for us riders. I told them I’d see them the next morning on my return from Brest.

However when I got there the next day, and said hello, I was greeted with a blank stare. “C’est moi, Patrick – Leeds United?”

Once they recognised me I was greeted like an old friend. These folks had been awake all night and would have seen thousands of riders and spoken to scores of them.

Arrivée155Spring2022

THIS ISN’T A RACE

14

Some PBP riders will aim to finish in less than 48 hours – some will go a lot slower and be nearer the time limit of 90 hours.

The organisers strongly believe PBP is not a race, and all finishers should have equal recognition. Apparently the behaviour of some of the faster riders in the previous event had been rather rude and disrespectful to the volunteers, without whom the event could not be run. The organisers put out warnings before the 2019 ride that bad behaviour would not be tolerated. If you want to get round fast then do so, but if you want a real race then you should enter a time trial and get a number on your back. Or enter the trans-continental race if you want a proper tough, long endurance event. An event like PBP is a beautiful discovery of the French countryside, your fellow riders, the

support from the public, the fabulous displays which the villages organise, the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers, the high fives and shouts of support from the kids along the route, the buoyant atmosphere surrounding the ride. I can’t see how anyone can experience even a small fraction of this if they’re racing round with their nose to the wheel.

SQUEAKS IN THE NIGHT

At Brest I’d planned for a good five or six hour sleep. This didn’t work out. More than 3,000 people would be needing a bed over a 24 hour period, so planning for them was a difficult job. I was firstly told they were full, but to come back later. So, after food and a shower I returned and was pleasantly surprised to find a bed in a two-person dormitory.

I put my earplugs in and settled down for five hours of lovely, well deserved sleep. The reality was different. The walls between the rooms were paper-thin and from the next dorm, there was incessant talking between two Italians. Boy, those fellas could talk, but after 610km of PBP it was hardly the time nor place.

I turned over and tried to sleep.

Somebody, presumably a helper, was walking up and down the corridor, showing folks to their rooms, and wearing the squeakiest shoes known to mankind!

As if that wasn’t enough, there was a bloke apparently leading a donkey up and down the corridor. A sign on the stairs leading up to the dormitories said: “Absolutely no

Locals high-fiving the riders

cycling shoes beyond this point.” I couldn’t get back to sleep, so after about one and a half hours, I decided to get up and make my weary way back to the canteen before saddling up again.

IS IT FLAT?

“It’s not that hilly. There’s only one hilly stretch. There’s only one big climb. It’s mostly flat. The hills are easy”. These phrases, and other such lies and halftruths, were told to me before PBP. Let me make this very clear. PBP IS VERY HILLY. There’s hardly an inch of flat. Where there is any flat you will have a headwind, or be freezing cold in the middle of the night, or be on your own.

THE PEOPLE I’d had my super bad patch on the night and early morning run to Villaines and I was pretty tired after 1,000km of riding. I came round a bend and in that moment found I was fighting back the tears. A brass band was playing, crowd barriers lined the route, I passed under a giant Tour de France style inflatable arch, an announcer was calling the action and conducting interviews with various riders. The crowd lined the route. It was fantastic. All these people had come out to see us regular, ordinary riders; they’d come out to see common people like me. I ended up spending nearly two hours in Villaines and it was time well spent. The helpers were fantastic here, from the school kids who showed us the way to the dining room, to

the old fella handing out the towels for the showers. I got a good meal, a shower, a change of kit, and tried to soak up the special atmosphere.

ACHES AND PAINS

In the 100km before Brest on the outward leg I could feel my “gentleman’s area” getting very slightly numb. I was using top quality shorts I’d used on other long rides as well as the same saddle set in a horizontal position. Before leaving Brest, to relieve the pressure, I tilted the saddle downwards and this seemed to do the trick.

However that minor change in angle seemed to put more of my bodyweight through my ischial tuberosity (sit bones).

At first this was ok because at least everything else felt as it hould, but over the ensuing 600km it got progressively more uncomfortable to sit on the saddle. A change of shorts with 200km to go seemed to help a bit. However by the end of the ride it felt like the batsman Ben Stokes had hit me for six on each of my sit bones.

ESSENTIAL KIT

The best bit of kit I had was a travel-sized toothbrush and mini tube of toothpaste. I know from previous long rides, especially LEL, and from talking to other riders, that oral hygiene can become a problem.

Basically one is eating much more than usual and people tend to forget to brush their teeth. I made a point of brushing mine several times a day, usually last thing before leaving a control. It’s a great way to freshen up. My final tooth clean was at Dreux where I stood next to a guy who was flossing his. In LEL I ended up with lots of little mouth ulcers, in PBP I had no such problems.

automatically yelled out an Anglo Saxon insult. In general though, the driving habits of French motorists around cyclists is far superior to that of their British counterparts.

RIDER QUALITY

There’s been a lot of talk about rider quality, handling skills and group or bunch riding etiquette, or lack of it. I’m perhaps quite lucky that I was taught by more experienced riders how to handle a bike, maintain your position in a group and, most importantly, being made aware that any, and every, movement you make will have an effect on all the riders around you.

I’m usually very relaxed in a group riding environment and I’m used to close riding around others. I can also spot a “bad” wheel to follow, as well as a good one.

Within a minute or two of riding alongside or behind someone, you should know if they have poor skills and might be dangerous to you. If that is the case then you can either continue to follow and risk a crash, let them ride off, or ride off yourself.

PBP throws together 6,500 riders from around the world who have a massively different set of experience and skills.

Unless they prove otherwise, then start off by assuming that any single person or group could unintentionally cause you to crash. Keep well clear of anyone you are in doubt about. Safety first, have fun.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

The run to the finish is mainly flat. I felt good, no real aches and pains apart from

No sleep for 40 hours starting to show

sore sit bones. Nothing had really gone wrong on my ride and the remaining kilometres rolled by with ease, though I was shocked by a short stretch of cobbles entering the Rambouillet estate, then disappointed when one of the marshals told us it was the final kilometre, I was kind of hoping that the finish line would have been straight after the cobbles.

At Dreux I’d texted my wife and her sister, who were both with me on the trip, and I’m pleased to say that they were on the finish line to greet me. I found out afterwards that they’d only got there a few moments beforehand – perfect timing! A few photos, a few handshakes, the final brevet card stamp and it was all over.

Would I do it again? Initially I said no, it was a once in a lifetime event. However I now think that I would like to do it next time.

KEEP ON TRUCKING

French motorists are way better than they used to be. It was once “de riguer” for drivers to down a few bottles of wine with their lunch, and then make their blearyeyed way back to their cars. In the last couple of decades, the French authorities have got really strict about speeding, drink driving and driver behaviour.

A proportion of PBP is on main roads and many motorists seem to drive like they are laughing in the face of that speed regulation. And that’s just the car drivers.

Truck drivers seem to have their own set of rules – 80kph seems to be their minimum speed. On the road back from Brest the truck drivers were really flying along. I reckon most were doing a minimum of 100kph. For the most part, they gave plenty of room when overtaking. One driver came so close and so fast that I

Myself and George Hanna just after the finish line www.audax.uk

15

David Parker’s early autumn attempt at the Cornish 100k in September 2021 was a lonely ordeal. Struggling from a lack of practice, and the effects of a lingering virus, he laboured on jellied legs through the picturesque landscape of windswept coasts and hilly lanes. These are his impressions of a tough ride…

Arrivée155Spring2022

A Cornish 16

I KNEW I NEEDED TO GO SLOWLY at first as this was my first ride for a month.

But people kept passing me in a whir of derailleur and tyre noise – a whisper of noise behind me and then the rear view of a rider already vanishing around the corner ahead. After 10km I could feel the lactic acid burn in my thighs and my breath rasping in my throat, escaping in wheezing gusts.

I wanted to keep up but if I did I’d surely run out of steam long before the end. I could have done with a friendly wheel to latch on to but they kept escaping me every time the road tilted upwards. It tilted upwards more than I wanted, more often than my vanishing will power could manage. After 15km I was alone, no-one else passed and I passed no-one. This is generally how I do Audax rides, in a world of my own, wondering if I’m actually on the right route, berating myself for being so slow. Distant views of Falmouth Bay opened up from time to time, reminding me I could enjoy the scenery as well as suffer.

By 33km I’d reached the second information point at St Antony, a tiny cluster of granite cottages around a creek.

Beyond the encircling headland lay the

open Atlantic with its green and cream rollers but here all was calm – small boats moored, the first yachts pulled from the water for the winter ahead. I searched the hamlet for a road sign with the right information. There were two cyclists taking a photo and I realised that nobody doing an Audax would stop for photos. The hamlet was otherwise deserted. I wondered where everyone else had gone.

Perhaps a banana would help? I couldn’t peel it while riding no-handed, and had to use one hand and my teeth.

The banana may have helped but the flat lane that encircled the creek helped more.

The sun emerged and the cerulean sky and deep green of the surrounding woods created a harmony of colour, the air bright, salt-washed and full of light. The first leaves of the autumn season skittered around the tyres, and thin skeins of gravel lay across the road left by the overtopping tide and storm waves from a couple of months ago.

I was riding around the head of the creek when, with all the savageness that Cornwall can muster, the lane rose vertically, tree-shrouded, dark and shaded, twisting out of sight. The Wahoo said 20 per cent and I could believe it. I sucked in

as much breath as my meagre lungs would allow, pushing it out quickly again to allow time for another huge intake before my heart got any further up my throat. This was hurting.

I could see the top and pushed harder to get there, but I’d been deceived. There was more of the hill visible ahead. The lane teased twice more before relenting, allowing me to pedal more easily, bike wobbling, legs trembling, and my heart out of control on what felt flat but was still five per cent. High hedges hid the view of the sea which I’d been glimpsing all morning. The next control was in 10k and the road, I hoped, would remain flat.

Except this was Cornwall. Wahoo said “turn left” on to a steep descent, braking in a white-fingered embrace, gravel and leaves catching the wheels, trying to listen for cars coming the other way around blind bends. At the bottom, crawling slowly around the last bend I could see the lane rising in a mirror image of the hill I’d just descended. A sigh, bottom gear, brain in neutral and spin and puff, spin and puff.

This was really hurting – and I still hadn’t seen anyone.

Through St Keverne, a village made of an unnecessary number of hills, its granite

Down into Mullion and ❝ then Poldhu beach – a crescent of sun-washed sand and successive lines of Atlantic rollers, a distant roar of surf and a whiff of sun cream

❞

pasting houses sunk deep into the ground to shelter from the Atlantic gales, its graveyard full of dead sailors pulled from wrecks. From here the road is more level – but “level” is a relative term.

And, as if to compensate for the flatness there was a headwind. I was on the treeless plateau of the Lizard peninsula on the Atlantic edge of Britain. There’s almost always a headwind here as the prevailing south westerlies blow

unhindered. To my right was Goonhilly with its radar dishes pointing towards the sky, sending messages to space – listening to aliens perhaps?

All around were some of the oldest rocks in the UK, ground down through millennia to a highly resistant plateau, scattered with prehistoric remains. I considered the term “prehistoric” for a while because it deflected me from thinking about how weak my legs felt, and

how my back was complaining. When does history start? How would the people of the Stone Age feel about being excluded from history? And why does everything hurt? Is it always like this, and do I just forget each time, or was it particularly hard today?

Turning south towards the Lizard village and the full weight of the wind, I finally saw some other Audaxers. They were going in the opposite direction, Other people… some of the elusive riders sign on at the cricket pavilion

www.audax.uk

17

Arrivée155Spring2022

Give us a sign… David Parker tries to breath normally

18

having ticked off the Lizard, and heading for Helston. While it was nice to see people again, I wished they weren’t so far ahead of me. I could no longer delude myself that everyone else was just around the bend and if I just went little bit faster…

The information control in Lizard village is the public telephone number. I met a younger Audaxer writing it down and asked her for the number as I felt too tired to get off my bike. She joked that it was lucky no-one was using the phone. I told her that in the olden days we only had public telephones and we used to queue up to use them. She nodded her understanding, saying: “Oh yes, when you had to carry a phone card.” I’m too old. I meant when you had to carry a tuppenny coin. There was no point explaining.

There were Audaxers sitting around buying food and drinking and I saw my chance to get ahead of at least some of them by immediately setting off, while simultaneously trying to peel the cellophane off my home-made cheese sandwich and demonstrating again my inability to cycle no-handed. The wind was behind me now, and finally I got into some kind of rhythm.

Down into Mullion and then Poldhu beach – a crescent of sun-washed sand and successive lines of Atlantic rollers, a distant roar of surf and a whiff of sun cream. But then came the kicker – the road rose up the other side of the valley, starting at five per cent and increasing with every pedal revolution, sadistically I

felt, to the last fifty metres of 15-20 per cent. That really hurt.

There was another information control ahead, and I felt the pressure of people behind me, although there was no-one is in sight. I didn’t want to stop, and urged myself forward, squandering stamina by standing on the pedals to get up hills a little quicker.

Past RNAS Culdrose. It was silent today as all of our naval helicopters appeared to be busy elsewhere – or maybe we have an agreement not to start a war on a weekend? Helston came and went, and there was still no-one in sight behind me.

Then, a left turn up a quiet, gravel-skinned and deeply hedged lane which I didn’t think anyone else knew about – my own private short cut. It rose steadily, turning left and right in blind turns, the front wheel skidding on the gravel. I was pushing too hard, tormenting myself with the thought of being caught, ignoring the pain, pushing away the fatigue.

There was a noise behind, and turning I could see a flash of yellow tops, a posse from the One and All cycling club. They didn’t pass but stuck to my wheel. I couldn’t shake them and wasted too much energy trying. Then, blessed relief – the posse halted at the junction to allow everyone in their group to catch up.

I went on, alone again, to the next information control, a post-box, but I couldn’t find it. At the end of the village I turned back, cursing, the Wahoo which was chirping angrily at the change of direction. There it was – a mossy, greener than red post box. I could hear the One and All posse coming up the road and considered hiding until they too cycled past the post-box, giving myself time to get further ahead.

No, that would be wrong and anyway my flashing red light had already given me away. Moral dilemma solved.

On then, and up another hill that I hoped would be the last. Inevitably it wasn’t. The last 12k was, though, more downhill than up. I held off the posse for as long as possible but they caught me on the outskirts of Falmouth as my jellied legs could no longer keep up the pace on the rising road. I hung on to them and we finished together, no words exchanged but I felt happier to have kept up.

Of course it isn’t a race. The challenge is to finish but I am a competitive animal, denying my years and infirmities and wanting to win. Four and a half hours for a 100k with 1,400m of uphill wasn’t bad. It wasn’t good either but it’s as fast as I can go.

I had nothing more to give. The virus I thought I’d shaken off returned, and shivering and with swelling glands, I

returned home in the afternoon sunshine, conflicted about why I even do these events and simultaneously looking forward to the next.

Flushing… tranquillity at Gillan Creek

Autumn roads… heading towards the Lizard

The last 12k was, though, ❝ more downhill than up. I held off the posse for as long as possible but they caught me on the outskirts of Falmouth

❞

Bamburgh Castle and the tragic princess Bamburgh Castle is currently occupied by the Armstrong family, and it is believed to have been continually inhabited, for at least 1,400 years. Occupied not only by people, but also many ghosts… including the Pink Lady, a Nothumbrian princess who fell in love with a young man disapproved of by her father. Forced to separate for seven years, and after being falsely told he had married another, she is said to have jumped from the battlements wearing a pink dress, and is reported to be seen regularly re-enacting her melancholy demise…

Lighten-up dad

To celebrate his 68th birthday, Suffolk-based Audaxer John Thompson, left, put his map-reading skills to the test on a strength-sapping series of rides through the beautiful but challenging landscapes of southern Scotland and Northumbria. Here is his tale of wrong turns, taxing hills, tidal causeways and accidental vodka-swigging in the rugged borderlands…

On the borders of

bewilderment

TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY, I decided it was time to finally tick that box – and visit Holy Island on England’s north-east coast.

I’d noticed that Dick and Lucy McTaggart were promoting a series of events from Galashiels, which is a comfortable riding distance from the

island. So I decided to kick off my tour by taking part in an Audax – Lucy’s Newcastle ‘Ton’ at the end of July last year.

I travelled to Galashiels by train on my birthday and booked into the Watson Lodge guest house – a bike-friendly place which serves breakfast from 7am, which meant I wasn’t going to be rushed getting

to the start line.

We set off, and after a few hundred yards hit the first uphill stretch. The route passed a church with a sign which read: “Try praying”. Was somebody trying to tell me something?

The scenery, though, was immediately striking – lots of rolling hills, but nothing

www.audax.uk

19

too challenging. With a 32-tooth bottom sprocket I stayed in the 50-tooth ring. The early part of the route is a combination of roads and cycle paths to Selkirk, from where you take the B7009 to Ettrick.

From Ettrick it’s a short distance to the first control at Tulieshaw where Dick and Lucy were stationed in a lay-by with drinks and flapjacks – which were appreciated.

The rural lanes were narrow, but offered lovely scenery. The road involved a long drag climb, steep enough for to require my 34 chainring. However, with the appropriate sprocket it was a comfortable climb. I felt pleased with how I tackled it, creating the joy of everything good about cycling – the self-satisfaction of your fitness, and the quiet roads through lovely scenery.

The weather wasn’t bad, but not great.

It was one of those mornings where the strong wind made it look like rain one moment, then the next moment the sun came out. It was near the top of the climb that I copped the only short shower of the

Although I could have ❝ ridden the Way in one day, I was mindful of the tide times for the causeway to the island. If I’d suffered any delays I could have come unstuck. In any case, Bamburgh is worth seeing

Arrivée155Spring2022

❞

20

The route gets ❝ very scenic coming into the Cheviots but, of course, hilly too!

❞

day and I felt a bit cool descending. At the bottom of the descent the bridge over the River Esk provided a scenic view. From there it was all pleasant lanes to Hawick.

I didn’t enjoy the congested streets of Hawick, and wasn’t sorry to leave it behind after a light bite and drink. The weather improved in the afternoon, with more sunshine, the wind having dropped slightly. In any case, when the wind had been blowing it was behind me – and that can’t be bad!

It was after Hawick that the real climbing started. The hill on the B6399 is a particularly long drag, and steep enough to require the 34 ring. In fact, I decided that I might as well stay in the 34 for the rest of the ride. It was a nice descent to the next receipt control at Newcastleton – which is, you will realise, the source of the event’s name, and a nice play on words, because the ride is 100 miles. Actually, it’s 105 miles in total.

There were a number of riders refuelling at the cafés here. I hadn’t studied the route sheet or GPS track too closely, so still had to check where we went from there. Another rider advised that it was a retrace to Hawick – back over the climb. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It’s the psychology of retracing over a hill you thought was behind you, I suppose.

There was no point feeling nervous about retracing the climb so I took a deep breath and got on with it. In the end, it wasn’t quite as tough on the return, and once at the top it’s a glorious descent all the way to Hawick.

At the receipt control a young lady struck up conversation. “Are you doing that biking thing?” she asked. I said I was, and heading for Galashiels. With a wry smile she said: “You know nothing.” One takes such comments from non-cyclists with a dose of salts. However, considering the climbs awaiting me perhaps she had a point!

The next leg is just five miles to the Denholm info control, along scenic lanes and through picturesque villages, including Hassendean. It’s only 23km from Denholm back to Galashiels but, as Lucy had warned, this is where the really stingy hills start. They are mostly short and steep, and they took such a toll on my legs that I arrived at the McDonalds with just five minutes in hand. All in all it was a lovely, if testing day on the bike.

On the following day I enjoyed a relaxed breakfast as I knew I wouldn’t be going far. The tiredness in my legs led me to cut the ride far shorter than originally intended. My planned route involved a little circuit, heading out to Melrose, then

turning on to a lane to Langshaw. It was quite gentle at first, but after a mile it got vicious – five miles of climbing. But beyond there the lane was picturesque and nicely wooded, overlooked by rolling hills. The stretch on the A7 was less than three miles and not especially busy.

I was back at Watson Lodge around midday and had an easy afternoon, strolling around Galashiels, going for a bite, sitting in the sun and reading in my room. In the evening I patronised the local Wetherspoon.

The third day was sunny. I planned to follow the St Cuthbert Way – named after the Northumbrian monk, and one of England’s most important mediaeval saints – from Galashiels to Bamburgh, a distance of 65 miles.

It began with a ride to Melrose, a charming old-world town which looked especially nice in the sunshine. I switched the Garmin on for the “Way” – not that I needed it in the very early stages because initially it’s well-signed.

It follows what I think might be the old road to Newtown, then crosses the A68 to a nice lane and then a well-surfaced off-road stretch through lovely scenery, including a view of the River Tweed and Dryburgh Abbey.

After Clintmains I turned on to the B6404 to St Boswells and was puzzled to see the Garmin indicating “off course.” I hadn’t seen any signposts. Yes, I know, I had the Garmin! Obviously I hadn’t looked at it closely enough. In St Boswells I looked at the old-school map to get my bearings.

Getting back on-route involved two main road spurts. First on to the A68, then on to the A699 to get to a pleasant lane through Maxton.

Shortly afterwards I went off-route again. The lane didn’t have a signpost so I assumed it wasn’t the route. The map indicated I wasn’t far astray, and I soon passed the junction with the lane I should have used. I followed the B-road to Nisbet where I took a lane to join the A698 just south-east of Crailling.

The route gets very scenic coming into the Cheviots but, of course, hilly too! I arrived at Morebattle nicely at lunchtime so made use of the village shop, and sat in the sun with a sandwich and a soft drink.

I’d bought two drinks but decided to save one for later.

The Cheviots scenery was stunning for the next 20 miles to Wooler, but it got even hillier, and the effect of the earlier Audax was still in my legs. I continued to Kirk Yetholm, then crossed the border into England where I stopped to have that other drink. I thought I’d bought a flavoured water drink. I had – sort of. I downed a fair swig before realising it was

indeed “flavoured” – with vodka!

It was then on through Kirknewton to Wooler, then Belford. On the final six miles to Bamburgh the road was busy but pleasant enough along the coast. I was impressed by the signs put up by Northumberland County Council advising drivers of the 1.25 metres they’re supposed to allow when overtaking cyclists.

Although I could have ridden the Way in one day, I was mindful of the tide times for the causeway to the island. If I’d suffered any delays I could have come unstuck. In any case, Bamburgh is worth seeing.

The next day started with a full English breakfast. I’d checked tide times, and it indicated it would be safe to cross from 11.20am. I didn’t take the direct route to Belford – and inevitably took some wrong turns. I have to blame my bad mapreading. The compensation was that the route was scenic, passing through the hamlet of Buckton. Eventually I got back on to the Way for the final few miles to the island. The causeway is approximately three miles long, but with the breeze from the sea creating something of a headwind it seemed to go on forever. That doesn’t mean it was boring – on the contrary it has

its own special beauty and character.

I took my time exploring the island, found a café and had a snack and relaxed relaxing in the sun for a while. Back in Bamburgh that evening I ate at the Castle pub, a popular local watering hole with a nice atmosphere and good ales. I talked with a couple who were also staying at the Sunningdale. It was one of those wellmeaning but classic conversations one often has with non-cyclists. The lady asked about my day so I explained I’d cycled to Holy Island. She replied, “You should have said, we could have taken you in the car.”

On the following day I rode the 65 miles back to Galashiels, and had some more navigational issues, though I enjoyed a pleasant detour to Kelso, an attractive old town. My tired legs, combined with the pleasure of relaxing in the sun, meant I had to force myself to get back on the bike.

I arrived back at the Watson Lodge just before 6pm, considerably later than I should have but it had been a great cycling experience. After showering, I unwound in the Wetherspoon over food and beer. Two days later I was supposed to be riding the Essex Rivers and Reservoirs 200 Audax from Witham. I settled for the 100!

I enjoyed a pleasant detour ❝ to Kelso, an attractive old town.

My tired legs, combined with the pleasure of relaxing in the sun, meant I had to force myself to get back on the bike

❞

www.audax.uk

21

COUNTDOWN TO LONDON-EDINBURGH-LONDON 2022 The proverb says that one volunteer is worth ten pressed men. Martin Brice, a veteran Audaxer from Tunbridge Wells, got as far as a small town in the Scottish Lowlands on the London-Edinburgh-London ride before throwing in the towel. Instead of going home, he took the train back to London to support an army of LEL volunteers. He’s never looked back.

Here’s Martin’s story of the dedicated band of unpaid helpers – the heroes who oil the wheels of one of British cycling’s toughest challenges

MARTIN BRICE Martin Brice started cycling 60 years ago and is still going strong. During that time he has started many prestigious events such as LEL, PBP, the Essex Grand, Brussels-Paris-Brussels and The Borders of Belgium – but hasn’t necessarily finished them… as he says: “if success was guaranteed it wouldn’t be audacious.” He’ll be volunteering at LEL 2022 but hopes to ride it again because at least that’s one way of getting more sleep during the event.

Let’s hear it for

the volunteers

Arrivée155Spring2022

THERE COMES A MOMENT when an LEL rider looks deep into his soul…and doesn’t like what he sees. That moment arrived for me at the Moffat control in 2013. I was exhausted. It was the point, for this rider at least, where dreams met reality – and reality won.

But that decision to pack opened a door through which I cheerfully stepped – becoming a volunteer on LEL. Though my dream was over, I discovered an opportunity to help others achieve their own dreams.

After a train ride south from Scotland, I joined the team of volunteers at the finish control – and it was a real privilege to hang medals around the necks of those exhausted, sweat-soaked, quivering

22

Final briefing… Danial Webb talks to volunteers before the start

wrecks who were shattered but jubilant at finishing. Many were friends who’d started the ride with me, and were full of astonished admiration that I’d finished before them – until I owned up.

Thanks to that experience in 2013, I volunteered at the next LEL in 2017. If I’d known then how grueling it was to be a volunteer, I might have opted to ride instead.

Looking back, the 2017 experience is a half-remembered blur of tiredness, train journeys to Scotland and back, and hundreds upon hundreds of conversations notable for both parties being really, really tired and not quite making sense.

It started on the Friday before registration. Volunteers were needed to

set up the control. It seemed a good idea for someone to sleep on the floor inside the school. There was an extremely early start to the Saturday. My role that day was to be part of the reception desk team which involved dealing with a constant stream of requests for help and information.

That night I slept in the school again, on the floor next to the riders’ drop bags, just to be on the safe side. One rider from Russia had arrived without his bike. After a phone call by me to Heathrow airport, the bike was delivered at 1am, and he spent the next few hours rebuilding the thing. I know this because he did it on the other side of the door from where I trying to sleep.

Sunday was a great day as groups of riders set off. Some were young, fit, strong and well-equipped. Others were less young, less fit, perhaps less prepared.

Some had BMI numbers higher than their wheel size. And some were old and their preparation had obviously involved riding Audax events for decades then chucking a few things in an ancient Carradice saddlebag. All were tense. There was an electricity in the air as riders pushed off to pit their dreams against reality.

After they all left, Danial Webb, the chief organiser of the event who has been running Audax UK’s flagship ride since 2010, was concerned there might be a shortage of hands at the Moffat control so asked me to take the train to Lockerbie where I’d be picked up by a van and taken to the control.

One four-hour train journey later, I was at the control with Audax veteran Chris Crosland. We were offered beds in a nearby holiday chalet but opted instead to put our sleeping bags on the floor of the school hall because we could just totter into the hall and fall asleep. This turned out to be a wise decision.

That night my role was to welcome riders as they entered the school. It started worryingly slowly. Throughout an event like LEL controllers are obsessed with the whereabouts of “the bulge” – a large number of riders whose arrival at a control is every controllers’ nightmare. It can turn a peaceful, relaxed and well-running operation into chaos as exhausted volunteers try to cope with hundreds of equally tired riders wanting drink, food and sleep as quickly as possible.

That day there had been some big rainstorms growling around and riders had often sheltered inside controls until the storms passed, then left en masse, so they tended to bunch together. More importantly, while sitting out the storm they’d lost time and were fretting by the time they arrived at the next control.

Danial knew this was coming and had moved Chris and me ahead of the bulge.

My memory of the time in Moffat was a constant stream of riders, some soaking wet and exhausted and others cheerfully explaining they’d had a totally dry run and were loving every minute. I think Chris and I had a few hours’ sleep on the floor of the school hall.

On Tuesday the bulge had passed, the control was closing, and Danial seemed to have a pretty good idea of where the bulge was likely to strike next. So volunteers from Moffat were moved in a minibus to Eskdalemuir. Now, the hall at Moffat is big, with plenty of space. It ran like a well-oiled machine. Eskdalemuir is a small village hall in a small village and that night it was packed with hundreds upon hundreds of knackered riders and about a dozen exhausted volunteers.

It’s possible that Eskdalemuir is the most beautiful village set in the most gorgeous landscape in the world. It’s possible. I wouldn’t know.

After an hour outside being eaten alive by billions of the most voracious flesheating midges ever to have infested this planet, my role was moved indoors to help with arrivals. At the start of my shift this involved explaining why cycling shoes must be removed and put in a bag and thin blue nylon sock protectors worn. After several hours it degenerated into: “Sit there! Raise left foot! Raise right foot!” as I ripped shoes off, chucked them in a plastic bag, and shouted: “Go! Next!” Apologies to all, it was the only way of getting riders out of the weather.

Soon the entire hall floor was covered with sleeping bodies and it was difficult to move around. Amid the maelstrom I recall a wide-eyed, young couple from the US who were plainly beaten. They knew it. You could see it in their eyes. After all, LEL is one of the hardest rides in the world: it’s longer, hillier and has worse weather than just about any other similar event. They’d measured up their ambition against this Mighty Big Thing and come off worse.

Now, they were broken. I suggested they have a nice cup of tea and a sit down, then a bit of sleep and see how they felt then.

For me, a few hours of sleep snatched on the floor upstairs became imperative in the early dawn. When I woke the rush seemed to have passed. The volunteers at Eskdalemuir did a fantastic job of just about keeping on top of things and they all deserved a medal, they were brilliant.

Then I was back in the minibus and being driven to Lockerbie station to get the train to London. My heart leapt at this news: so far I’d had about three or four

hours sleep each night for five nights and had been wearing the same clothes for three days. A four hour sit-down in a nice warm train was just the ticket. I remember nothing of that journey.

My diary says I had a 27 hour shift at the finish and slept a few hours in the back of my car. This time passed in a blur of stunned riders struggling with their exhaustion and their ecstasy. At the finishing desk we had some volunteers keeping a wary eye on finishers, who displayed a worrying tendency to lie down unexpectedly.

One had eaten too quickly at the previous control so he could leave in a group with his mates, but he struggled to keep up with them to the finish and as soon as he was off the bike he was vomiting profusely over the back of a bench while I held his head. He had three hours in hand but chose to stay with his friends. Another finished the 1,400k event with three minutes to spare.

Shattered riders continued to straggle into the finish after struggling against the clock as they battled a brutal, merciless headwind across the Fens. These riders live ordinary lives, but they are extraordinary people.

And I was delighted to play a small part in their achievement. Each was a triumph. For me, the wide-eyed couple from the US, who seemed beaten at Eskdalemuir, stood out. They weren’t going to finish, so they had a bit of a rest, then rode to the next control – and all the way to the finish. You see, they were determined.

All you need to finish LEL is guts – and a volunteer who suggests a nice cup of tea and a sit down. It was an emotional moment to see them in their victory.

Martin signs in riders at the finish www.audax.uk

23

COUNTDOWN TO LONDON-EDINBURGH-LONDON 2022 Olaf Storbeck, the volunteers’ co-ordinator for this year’s London-Edinburgh-London ride, appeals for more helpers to support Britain’s most iconic long-distance cycling event

YOUR LEL NEEDS

YOU

Arrivée155Spring2022

Olaf Storbeck celebrates finishing the 2017 LEL with his volunteer partner Katharina Slodczyk

24

THERE’S ONLY A FEW MONTHS to go before the next edition of LEL in August 2022. Close to 700 volunteers from around the world have already signed up – an incredible number, but we’re still short of some 300 volunteers to meet our goal and guarantee a smooth event.

After the cancellation of LEL in 2021 due to the pandemic, the 2022 event will be like no other, with 2,000 riders registered to take part – a new record.

With more than 1,500 km and 13 different controls, it will be an even bigger challenge for organisers.

Recruiting enough volunteers has always taken a great effort, particularly in the less densely-populated areas of northern England and Scotland. The LEL organisers have taken steps to address the problem, by better marketing and by appointing a dedicated person to focus on the recruitment of volunteers.

To ease the workload for volunteers, and remove some particularly unpleasant tasks, LEL has begun to rely more heavily on paid helpers, who take care of some of the crucial and less pleasant tasks like cooking and cleaning.

“Our volunteers can expect to spend

their time in high-value work that entails a lot of interaction with riders,” says Danial Webb, the main event organiser, who’s been running the flagship ride since 2010.

Among other tasks, volunteers sign in riders at the controls and stamp brevet cards, hand out food and drinks, allocate beds and repair bicycles. Some drive vans for drop-bags and to shuttle volunteers to the controls and back to London, others patrol remote parts of the route on motorbikes to help stranded riders.

“The commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers is totally incredible,” says Danial. “Without them there’d be no LEL.” Want to ride? Bring a volunteer!

In 2022, some 100 volunteers will be recruited by riders themselves. One way of getting a guaranteed start place in the ride is to convince a close family member to come along and commit to volunteering for at least three days during the event. We normally expect the volunteer to do one shift at registration in London and two more shifts at different controls. Our plan is to dispatch most of the volunteers who are part of the “rider/volunteer scheme” to our most remote northern controls, where

we will need them most.

The “bring a volunteer” scheme is particularly popular with overseas riders.

Like every other volunteer from abroad, those helpers will get a £120 contribution to their travel costs, as well as transfers between controls and back to London if needed. Please spread the word among your cycling friends who may be toying with the idea of riding LEL but don’t have a guaranteed place.

As in the past, volunteers who do not bring a rider along in 2022 will get a guaranteed start place in the next edition of LEL. At controls, volunteers can expect separate sleeping arrangements to the riders’ dormitories. The precise set-up varies between controls – at some controls like Louth, we are renting holiday homes that are shared by volunteers, at others, we are pitching tents.

Volunteering at LEL is hard work and does require a proper commitment. The volunteers can expect a few tough days with little sleep. “Some people say that volunteering on LEL is actually harder than riding the event, and there may be some truth to this,” says Danial.

Colin Chadfield reparing Olafs bike in Thirsk in 2017

WHY VOLUNTEER? Why do people volunteer in the first place? Using scarce holidays to work unpaid 12-hour shifts in remote parts of the country may sound like a pretty wacky idea to most people. Here are some reflections from volunteers: Franco Limido, a long-distance rider from Italy, says that his motivation to volunteer was sparked by the hospitality he enjoyed on LEL, and he wanted to give something back to the community.

Colin Chadfield, who worked as a mechanic at Thirsk in 2013 and 2017, says: “After completing Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011 I was humbled by the level of community involvement at every stage

and thought it was about time I contributed to events at home.”

Detlef Baganski from Germany had no prior experience in long-distance riding, says his love affair with cycling started in the mid-1990s when he stumbled upon a request for volunteers for LEL 2017 on a German cycling forum.

He says: “I was just back from a holiday in Scotland and had no concrete plans for the coming year, so this was the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the Audaxing scene.” The fact that some of his travel expenses were covered, plus the guaranteed starting place in the next edition, “made the decision to sign up even easier”.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER SOME Q AND As: ● Where do I register?

Go to https://londonedinburghlondon. com/volunteer ● What if I have questions before signing on?

Drop us an email on volunteer@ londonedinburghlondon.com ● What if I sign up but can’t make it?

No problem, just tell us in advance. ● How can I participate in the rider/volunteer scheme?

Drop us an email at volunteer@ londonedinburghlondon.com quickly as the scheme will close at some point.

Colin Chadfield volunteered in both 2013 and 2017 – and has some advice for other volunteers: “Try to get some friends to come with you – controls never, ever, have too many people. Too few and it can be really hard work.”

You don’t need to be a rider to volunteer. Many just like to be part of an amazing event with great team spirit.

Many spouses and children have volunteered, enjoying being part of the event. So if you are a rider, and your family is in London to celebrate with you, why not ask them to give us a hand, too? Just a few hours would be a great help. Volunteers can expect a very rewarding experience.

THE EVENT: London-Edinburgh-London is one of the major events in Britain’s cycling calendar – a 1,500km, self-supported ride across the UK between the capital cities of England and Scotland. Riders have just 125 hours to get there and back.

There are 13 control points where the organisers provide hot meals and drinks, showers and towels, and beds – plus mechanical support if needed.

There are guaranteed places for a number of groups, including those who have previously served as volunteers. While official entries for riders are closed, we can still accommodate a few riders who will bring a volunteer. Inquiries by email, please. For more information, visit: www.londonedinburghlondon.com

www.audax.uk

25

German-born Karsten Koehler polished his cycling skills on UK commuter routes in London, and then Cambridgeshire – but he remained a cheerful amateur until, inspired by the London Olympics, he picked up the Audax bug. Despite taking on some gruelling cycle challenges across many borders, he remains content with his dilettante status.

This is his story…

Arrivée155Spring2022

Voyages of a

26

Karsten at the start of the Inntal 200k in Munich

The Achensee, populated by Pedalos

happy amateur IT WAS THE London Olympics of 2012 which first inspired me to take part in organised cycling. In the months before the Games ordinary folk were encouraged to take part in a charity challenge, involving a variety of different sports. I chose running, swimming, rowing, taekwondo… and cycling.

I’ve never been into competitive cycling, so I researched some local events.

It seemed the easiest way would be to take part in the 2011 Emitremmus Karsten starting at the 600k in Gießen, protected against hard, bright and infectious elements

Desrever 100k, organised by the Stevenage and North Herts CTC. This spirit of amateurism was extended to my bike, a hybrid more accustomed to all-weather-commuting (in flat country), shopping, and pulling children’s trailers – and theft-proofed by its outward appearance. Having used the bike in these different activities for 15 years, it had become so imprinted into my body memory that I got dizzy if I rode another bike.

Such familiarity ensured stability.

Indeed, I can only remember falling off three times – once when I slipped on ice, once when it was run over by a London taxi cab, and once when I was trying to mount it – in a very public spot (and no alcohol was involved). Experienced on London’s glass-studded streets, it was also equipped with no-flat-tyres. Peace of mind is worth the cost in speed.

The hills of Hertfordshire on the Emitremmus turned out to be a challenge.

In the following year, and equipped with a new gearing, the time had come for my first randonnee, the Cambridge 200. But I was still a shift-lazy Fenland rider, and this showed when, on a sudden uphill turn, the chain jumped and got stuck between cassette and hub. It was impossible to see how it could get out (or how it could have got in) without a chain tool, which I didn’t carry. Fortunately it was less than 10 km to the next control in Olney, so I rode there in

the traditional dandy horse style to deal with the problem in a more comfortable atmosphere. Over a coffee, with a bit of patience and a Swiss Army penknife, the chain and the bike were put back on track.

In this spirit of dilettantism I set out on the road of continual improvisations. Long rides and associated mental free-wheeling led to “inventions'' like a baguette holder, an “energy drink” powder (whey, maltodextrin, instant coffee, salts & vitamins) or a tria-bar mounted headlight which can be turned around into a map reading lamp – I like to navigate by route sheet, because the mental maths involved in working out how long it will take to the next turn help me stay awake.

To keep me motivated, I was now looking for a challenge that would not take too much time or effort but which would involve some interesting planning, so I set my sights on the International Super Randonneur. To qualify for this, one has to do BRM brevets in four countries.

These are the rides I chose: October 2017: Dying Light 200k, starting in Dublin. This is a great season-closer and the social event of the Irish randonneur community. I completed it after battling strong autumn headwinds on Irish roads that were so rough that my backlight cover jumped ship.

www.audax.uk

27

Crossing the Inn river near the Fortress of Kufstein

Arrivée155Spring2022

May 2018: Green and Yellow Fields 300k starting in Manningtree, Essex, and organised by Audax Mid-Essex. My East Anglian cycling experience was not a disadvantage in this smooth ride, and the weather was so fine that I learned where sunscreen needed to be applied on a cyclist.

28

June 2019: 400k starting in Dunkerque, France – most French brevets don’t have individual names. Riding in impromptu groups, and taking regular breaks together is the norm here, when compared to British rides, which build more on the local tradition of time trials. In France, clubmanaged controls are not so much of a social hub, as most events are selfsupported. On the other hand, some riders are able to organise support on the spot, for example, by persuading the mayor of a

village to let a small bar open for refreshments in the middle of the night.

Also, French hotel porters don’t seem to be surprised about being asked to stamp brevet cards in the small hours.

August 2021: 600k. Gießen, Hessen, Germany.

By now I was living in Heidelberg. My plans for a 600k in 2020 were put on hold due to Covid. The closest event for me was the Großenwiedener Antizykel.

On Saturday, 14 August, we started at the pedestrian overpass in Gießen, which the locals call the “elephant’s toilet” because of its big round opening. I used the smartphone app “Digital Brevet Card” for contact-free validation. Unfortunately, even on a summer night the airstream can cool an uncovered phone so much that no electrons want to come out of the battery.

So I relied on snapshots with my

emergency camera, and on cashier receipts.

Shop opening times on weekends are short, but petrol stations are plenty and are often open around the clock. Since central Germany is full of mid to smallsized mountain ranges, a brevet through this region involves a lot of up and down between towns unless you follow a river.

Thanks to the relaxed Sunday afternoon mood, no motorist honked at a cyclist struggling uphill to the point where they became an involuntary pedestrian. I finished by taking a photo of my bike in front of the elephant’s toilet on Sunday evening before catching the train home.

After riding a 600k almost entirely on my own, I was looking forward to some social riding, so I signed up for one of many brevets which globally celebrate the centenary of free-paced randonneuring in September 2021. One hundred years ago 77 cyclists started from the Porte Maillot in Paris for the first free-paced 200 km brevet.

Apparently, all of them, including a married couple and a one-armed veteran, completed the course within the 16-hour time limit. Les Randonneurs Mondiaux was created with the objective of encouraging and applauding the efforts of cyclists who take part in brevets of 1200kms and above.

The biggest number of jubilee riders turned up in India, where 400 of them celebrated the anniversary in Bengaluru alone. For me, it would be easiest to get to the one in Munich. In the gentle drizzle of the starting line was illuminated by the fluorescent jackets and vests of more than a hundred starters. Social distance measures had been partially relaxed, making this event probably the biggest brevet in Germany on this side of the pandemic.

Starting in groups, we rode the first kilometres out of the city along the gravelly banks of the Isar and then continued southwards through the Perlacher forest. Sheltered from sun, wind, rain and hills this cycleway is ideal for cycle-based conversations.

Soon the drizzle gave way to a clear sky and the Alps became visible, and the ascent was so steady it was barely noticeable. After a much-needed coffee and cake at the first control in Lenggries, it was time to head into the mountains. At the end of a tunnel we encountered a stunning panorama, with the blue waters of the Sylvenstein reservoir below us.

We followed the Ache, the inlet feeding the reservoir, upstream into a narrowing valley and the road changed into a gritty forest track winding uphill. It ended at a sign telling us that we were now in Austria.

This made me wonder which brevet crosses most countries. Belgium might be a good place to look for it. Within slightly more than 600k, it should be possible to ride through eight countries – beginning in the southernmost corner of the Netherlands, crossing into Germany with brief excursions into Belgium and Luxembourg, crossing the Rhine and touching the French border, then towards Bregenz at the Austrian end of Lake Constance, and from there, briefly over the Rhine (because the left bank is Switzerland), and back again on to the right bank into Liechtenstein. The first five of these countries would not even take 200k to cycle.

From the border on the mountain pass, we rode on well-groomed roads up the Ache river until arriving at the lake out of which it flows. Among other leisure activities, the blue-green waters of the Achensee are an excellent cruising ground for pedalos. These watercraft were developed not far from here, and did their first rounds on Bavarian lakes in 1810, a handful of years before Baron von Drais Riding into the sunset towards the finish first rode on two wheels.

After passing the end of the lake, the INTERNATIONAL SUPER RANDONNEUR ride reached its highest (and halfway) point at about 968m above sea level – we The ISR was established in 1989 to encourage riders to take part in were riding in the Alps now, but still Randonneurs Mondiaux events in different countries. To achieve the award without much uphill struggle. The descent a rider needs to complete a super randonneur series (200, 300, 400 and was moderate as well – trailing a 600km) under the Randonneur Mondiaux code. Each ride must be livestock transporter, limiting completed in a different country, and can be undertaken over our speed to an any period of time. There is also a special recognition for adrenaline-saving 51 riders travelling to different continents to qualify. For more km/h. At the bottom information, visit: www.randonneursmondiaux.org we reached the /36-ISR.html?langue=EN valley of the Inn river, and Karsten after breakfast in Le Crotoy on French followed the coast sporting a snazzy Baguette bracket cycle path through a well-developed tourist region towards the next BRM 100 Jubilee Medal checkpoint in Wörgl (OPEN SOURCE, KARTIK MISTRY VIA WIKIPEDIA) (133 km). I validated there with a traditional stamp, as the digital brevet card did not seem to work (expected if one travels abroad without turning on international roaming).

We stayed close to the Inn past the border fortress of Kufstein and crossed another unnoticeable border back into Germany, and the horizon opened again.

ABOUT KARSTEN KÖHLER After a cake stop at the 175 km checkpoint Karsten grew up in the north German flatlands, and has cycled as long as at Brannenburg, we left the Inn cycle path he can remember, but favours convenience over speed. He moved to – it would finally merge into the Danube London in 2006 to work in bioscience research, and then to Cambridge – cycle path downstream in Passau. Instead, and had exciting and boring commutes in both places. More comfortable our small group followed its tributary the with cycle commuting than in racing, he got involved in both the Mangfall upstream, and cycled past tiny Cambridge Cycling Campaign and Audax/Randonneuring. He now lives in cascades, towards the beer garden Heidelberg and, at the age of 45, still does not own a car. finish, into the sunset. www.audax.uk

29

Derby-based rider, Laura Pugh, who will shortly attempt a daring round-the-world cycling challenge (see following pages), ponders the current climate of anxiety which threatens to restrict the freedom of women to cycle wherever they want. In this personal essay, Laura gives advice to fellow riders, of all genders, on how to deal with the dangers – real and imagined

Arrivée155Spring2022

Fear… a self-imposed prison?

30

How lone women cyclists can learn to deal with danger

IT’S A COLD WINTER NIGHT and I’m running along a dark country road by myself. I’m wearing a head torch – there are no street lights, and only the occasional house. I’m aware my slight 5’ 2” form is not the most visible, and am constantly prepared to jump on to the verge as cars hurtle past on the otherwise silent lane. I shield my eyes from the glare of their headlights.

Another light appears behind me, silent and wavering slightly up a gentle incline. I keep running, listening hard to the sound of heavy breathing approaching from behind. I’m a lone female on foot and it sounds as if a male cyclist is approaching on the deserted road. As he gets closer, I resist the urge to run faster or turn around to dazzle him with my headlight. He draws parallel to me on the other side of the road.

Suddenly he calls out: “Evening duck.

These drivers are going a bit fast tonight, eh?”

“Just a bit,” I call back. “Have a good ride”. He cycles on up the hill and I continue my plodding.

But I’d like to present a different perspective. I don’t wish to belittle anyone who’s experienced something intimidating or threatening. It’s important that such voices are heard, but I’d like to talk about my own experiences of riding, walking, camping and jogging alone, usually in the countryside and occasionally after dark.

The situation is different in urban areas, and a degree of sense for your safety should be considered; but in the rural UK there are rarely any bogey-men hiding in the bushes (it’s too cold and they get bored).

I’ve had a lot of concern, usually from females, about exercising alone at night and I always find this confusing and disheartening as I believe I’m most at risk on my morning bicycle commute on busy roads with rushing drivers. I rarely see anyone when out by myself, enjoying the peace and quiet. I worry the scale of concern raised is scaring women from going out and being more adventurous and independent.

I’m proud to say that as an AUK rider I can’t recall ever experiencing discrimination because of my gender. It’s an organisation which is accepting of age, sex, and levels of ability, and imbues an ethos of self-sufficiency and impartiality – everybody is treated equally and recognised for their own individual achievement.

I realise this may not be the case in the

Please don’t ❝ assume a woman holding a map is lost

❞

wider world of cycling. The arrival of new “lockdown cyclists” seems to have caused a shift. Many new riders seem unaware of the etiquette of the simple head nod greeting, for instance. The hordes of Lycra-clad Sunday-riding MAMILs (middle aged men in Lycra) may occasionally have a MAWIL tagging along, but often resemble testosterone-on-wheels as they fly past checking their watts and sucking on their gels.

One of my most confounding moments in lockdown was encountering a woman who was insistent on getting her husband to help when I’d stopped to replace my chain after a sloppy gear change, determined I needed male assistance.

The world is a crazy place and there’s definitely a balance to be struck between empowering and patronising, assisting and harassing, being friendly or being intimidating. It makes me sad to think that male cyclists may be too scared of rebuke or accusations of sexism to offer a female cyclist assistance on the side of the road.

Personally, I’d much rather feel mildly offended than not to have an offer of help and be left in difficulty...

So, what can we do as Audax riders?

I’d urge male Audax riders to be aware that there’s a heightened sensitivity at the moment. It’s something I read about every day on social media – which may well be due to the concentrating effect of online profiling, funnelling me to these posts – but which creates the perfect storm of negativity. I’d ask that you don’t take it personally if a woman is defensive, especially if alone. As cyclists we should never stop offering help where it might be needed.

I’d also advise men to not be too pushy if help is declined. Even if you could fix that puncture in half the time it may be better for someone to learn the hard way to repair basic mechanicals themselves, if they’re not in danger.

Equally, please don’t assume a woman holding a map is lost. This happens to me a lot. I’m a proficient navigator but do need to look at a map to check my location. If you ride with women, encourage them to take responsibility for their own ride. I’ve been on a couple of Audaxes where a lone female appears to be tagged on to the back of a group of male compatriots without much awareness of where they are, or in one case, even which ride they’re on! There’s nothing wrong with a bit of wheel-sucking, but make sure we get our turn on the front.

Unfortunately, the current situation has made women increasingly wary of male intentions, and while this isn’t how it should be, consider how I might have felt in the situation at the start of this article.

As it was, I was happy and confident but if I’d been scared, something as simple as trying to strike up a conversation could be misconstrued, and being a small, slower individual can feel intimidating. I’m not saying don’t be polite, just be aware of how others might interpret a situation.

I’d like to make some suggestions to women too, as some of the onus must be on us. As I say, AUK is an inclusive organisation and has had a number of extremely strong female riders, who often surpass the men in some of the awards.

There’s no doubt women are built for endurance – just look at Fiona Kolbinger, Jenny Graham and TandemWOW (Cat Dixon and Raz Marsden) breaking world

www.audax.uk

31

records and trouncing men at ultraendurance events. There is no physical reason why more women can’t ride Audax events as they wish.

But women need to be prepared to get involved on the same level as men; no-one gets special treatment on an Audax. We should be prepared to get smelly, sleep in odd places and make good use of “nature” if there’s no public convenience available.

Don’t show yourself up by not being prepared – for instance, not having enough food or clothing. And make sure you have some basic mechanical skills. You don’t need to be able to rebuild a wheel with your eyes shut but you should know how to fix a puncture. If you want to improve your mechanical skills, don’t just

hand your bike in for a service or repair, insist on watching what’s done.

There are many fantastically supportive groups for female riders these days. In my area we have “Peak Brevettes” on Facebook for women in the Peak District. I’d also urge women to get used to riding by themselves, being self-supported, and taking responsibility for your own safety. It’s an utterly liberating feeling being confident enough to go out on your own, solo adventures.

You may still face situations where you might not feel confident, but try to recognise when this is caused by the unfamiliarity of the situation, rather than an actual threat. You’ll become more

confident the more you ride and get used to your own company.

There will undoubtedly be times when you do need to take care of your own safety. I always make sure someone knows my route and either my ETA at home or when to expect me to “check in” – and what to do if I don’t. I let someone know sooner rather than later if I’ve got into any sort of difficulty, like a mechanical, so they know I may be running late, or are at least aware I may have stopped unexpectedly.

I make sure I know my route, and if using GPS have a backup in case of technical failure. I use the night to hide my female form and I suspect most people wouldn’t guess my sex from an approaching front light until I call out a

Around the world in 180 days – a SteLa ambition

It takes two to tandem HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM PREPARE RECORD-BREAKING ATTEMPT TO

Arrivée155Spring2022 Arrivée155Spring2022

Derby-based veterinary surgeon Laura Pugh got “itchy feet” during lockdown.

The enforced idleness led her and husband Steven Massey to hatch plans for an ambitious six-month adventure in 2022.

Tony Lennox reports…

32

With the world in a post-Covid turmoil, and the threat of unrest bubbling up in various global hot spots, one may think that Laura Pugh and her husband Steven Massey have picked an odd time to attempt a record-breaking circumnavigation of the globe…on a tandem!

But it’s fair to say that there’s never an ideal time to bike round the world – and for Laura and Steve the time is right.

“The boredom of lockdown was the catalyst for this idea,” says Laura, who only began Audax riding in 2016. “The notion just seemed to escalate,” she adds – and so the SteLa tandem team was born.

Laura took inspiration for the ride from UK cyclists Cat Dixon and Raz

Marsden’s record-breaking round-theglobe tandem ride in 2020. Laura and Steve are aiming to earn a place in the Guinness World Records by breaking the time set by Cat and Raz, who completed their ride in 263 days, eight hours and seven minutes.

Laura and Steve hope to complete their attempt in just 180 days, setting off from Berlin on June 5 this year. Since the decision was made, the couple have been busy perfecting the details. One of their major issues is the route – which keeps changing, thanks to the nature of geopolitics.

The original route was going to take them through part of Russia, but the situation in the Ukraine has caused a rethink on that particular stage. “There have been a few revisions to the route,” Laura admits. “The new route doesn’t involve venturing into Russia anymore, but most likely risking the notoriously unpredictable boat across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan – or Turkmenistan, though that looks particularly dodgy on the political and Covid front.

“Jenny Graham (the British rider who completed a record-breaking solo and unsupported circumnavigation in 2018) had some scary moments with lorries on

the Russian roads,” says Laura. ”We took that into consideration. And as UK nationals we won’t be able to get visas to travel through places like Iran. The military coup in Myanmar has put a spanner in those works, too, and the Covid situation needs constant monitoring.”

The plan, which is subject to change, will see the duo ride from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, then to Istanbul and on through Turkey and Georgia.

The ride will continue through India, Thailand and Malaysia and down to Singapore from where they will fly to Australia. After crossing the whole of southern Australia they will then ride north through both islands of New Zealand before flying across the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver in western Canada.

They will cross the USA before getting a flight to Portugal, cycling up through Spain and France, then across Germany and back to the Brandenburg Gate. “Easy as that,” says Laura.

“We plan to cover 18,000 miles in 180 days at 100 miles a day. This may not sound too extreme to AUK members but, similar to Audax, the clock never stops. We’ll be riding more like 110 miles a day, self-supported,

cheery greeting. I’m not a huge believer in pepper spray or rape alarms, but one tip I heard from Round-the-World cyclist Juliana Buhring recently was: if you feel threatened, imply you have a partner or friend waiting for you up the road or catching up from behind. She also said she’d encountered much more friendliness and assistance around the world than if she’d been male. This is something I’d hate to see disappear – though it would be good to see it extended more frequently to our male counterparts!

In summary – be respectful, be kind, and take responsibility for yourself no matter what your gender, and we can all continue riding bicycles a really long way, happily and successfully together!

CYCLE THE GLOBE for six months straight, through a variety of terrain, weather and cultures.”

Are they daunted by the prospect of such a massive task? In response Laura quotes the legendary rider Mark Beaumont – “Just ride the road in front of you.”

“When Stevie and I are on a long, gruelling ride we’ll tell each other, ‘it’s just a trip round the lanes’”, says Laura. “It’s not about racing 100 miles every day as fast as we can – it’s more about the daily rest and recovery.

“Every rider experiences low points in a ride, a big dip where you think, ‘I can’t go on for another mile’. When you’re riding in the rain at 2am, and you just don’t want to do another stroke, it’s awful. But a few hours later when the sun comes up and it’s on your back, you think, ‘Wow. What was I thinking? I can keep going all day’.

Everything is temporary.”

The pair have many other sayings which help keep them grounded: Eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty and rest before you’re tired, being one, for instance.

“Getting into a routine is going to be important, too. We aim to have no faff,” says Laura. “We have to have a seamless routine – and enjoy it. What better way to

www.audax.uk

33

Arrivée155Spring2022 Arrivée155Spring2022

34

see the world than from a bicycle? It’s that element of challenge that’s really, really exciting.”

Won’t they be tempted by the many exotic sights they’re sure to pass? Laura says: “There’ll be no sightseeing. If anything, it’s going to be an epic “recce” – and we’re sure to spend our time saying, ‘we’ll go back here, and we’ll go back there’.”

Indeed, Laura, who is just 5’2” tall, and the “stoker” of the tandem team, isn’t sure she’ll see much anyway. Husband Steve is 6’3” – and the front seat “captain”. “When we’re on the tandem the only thing I can see is his lower back,” Laura jokes.

On the couple’s promotional tours to raise awareness of their epic ride, Steve’s impressive beard is always one of the subjects of interest. “Will the beard slow you down?” asked one audience member at a recent event. Laura says: “That’s far from the weirdest beard question he’s been asked!”

After the vagaries of the routeplanning, the most crucial element of the ride will be the kit. “We’re going to get through a lot of kit on this trip,” says Laura.

“We expect to use at least 12 sets of tyres, 10 chains, and we’ll need kit drops around the world to pick up parts as we go along.

It doesn’t bear thinking about how many pairs of shorts we’re going to get through.

“Thanks to generous support from the Tandem Shop in Telford and the sponsorship of Co-Motion Cycles, we have a whole new bike on order. The new bike can be split in half so that it can be loaded easily into two bike boxes and carried on flights.

“Weight will be an issue. Light weight camping and staying in hotels will give us the most options. Comfort is going to be very important on this trip.”

The couple are currently in training.

“Preparations began in October 2020,” says Laura. “Since then we’ve ridden an SR series, got halfway through an RRTY, acquired fantastic sponsors, run a podcast, published many blog posts and social media content, and started a YouTube channel.”

In September 2021 they took part in the challenging All Points North event, a self-supporting ride of 1,000km in 72 hours. “We’re using the long training rides to test the kit,” she says. “We need to make sure we’ve got it all tried and tested.”

The Guinness judges have insisted on a number of stipulations. “We have to finish from where we started,” says Laura. “We also have to travel a total of 18,000 miles

❝

As UK nationals we won’t be able to get visas to travel through places like Iran. The military coup in Myanmar has put a spanner in those works, too, and the Covid situation needs constant monitoring

❞

on the tandem, and complete a total trip distance of 24,000 miles, which includes our flights. Once we start the clock, it never stops. All our flight times are included too.

“We have to make sure we travel the same direction all the time. If we tick all those boxes, we hope to get the record.

There could be a few spanners in the works, though. We have to consider the weather. If we’d decided to ride in colder climates we’d have had to carry more layers of clothing, heavier sleeping bags,

and so on. On balance we’re opting for the warmer temperatures to try to carry less kit, which means a bit of a trade-off with monsoon season. That’s part and parcel of planning.”

Laura has been given a sabbatical from her vet’s job in Derby. “I’m very lucky,” she says. “My employer has been massively supportive, but we have a set time frame in which to do the ride.”

What are the other challenges? Laura says: “Mechanicals. Stevie is a very proficient bike mechanic, and we hope to be able to fix most things on the road. For instance, the bike frame is steel – able to be welded anywhere in the world.

“Gradients will be another issue.

Tandems are weird and wonderful things.

They go along the flat like a dream, they fly downhill, but they don’t like going uphill.

We’ve factored this into our plans. I’m not great at altitude, and in the US, particularly, we’ll be reaching some heights.”

Electrics and charging the kit to keep in touch, via social media, will also be a potential problem. “We’ll need at least two GPS devices at all times,” says Laura. “We’ll need to prove a solid GPS track around the

HOW TO FOLLOW LAURA AND STEVE’S PROGRESS AROUND THE WORLD ● Blog posts and dot-watching: www.stelatandem.com ● Facebook: SteLa Tandem Round the World Record ● Instagram: SteLa_Tandem ● Twitter: @SteLaTandem ● YouTube: SteLa Tandem channel ● Donations: www.justgiving. com/team/SteLa-Tandem

world, so we plan to use a combination of solar and battery packs.”

What about day-to-day issues? Laura says: “Nutrition is going to be key. We’ll be eating locally, and our diet is likely to be varied, adapting to the different countries and cultures we’re in. Linked to this is hygiene. We need to prioritise our hygiene.

If we get sick it could take a day out of the trip – that’s 100 miles we’ll have to make up.”

The couple already have a number of sponsors on board, and are working hard to publicise their epic ride – which aims to raise money for the charities MIND, Sustrans and VetLife. Laura and Steve have set up their own website and a YouTube channel. They’re also producing regular blogs and pod casts to update their followers.

“We’re grateful to have sponsorship connections to GPS. We’ll also be using Epic Ride Weather,” says Laura.

Arrivée will be staying in touch with Laura and Steve on their ride around the world, and we hope to publish regular updates on their progress in future editions.

LAURA AND STEVE – THE SteLa TANDEM TEAM Laura met Steve in 2015. They married in 2018, and now live in Derby. Both have impressive Audax credentials.

Laura rode her first Audax in 2016. She completed an SR on tandem in the same year, following it with an SR solo in 2017 (to prove she could push the pedals, she says). She’s also ridden the Mille Pennine and PBP in 2019, though illness prevented her from finishing PBP within the time. The couple have ridden an SR every year since 2016, with the exception of 2020.

Steve completed his first long distance ride – 100 miles – at the age of 11.

He’s been involved in Audax since he was 13 years old, when he rode a 200km event. His record includes an LEL and two PBPs. He was in the top five per cent of PBP finishers. In his long cycling career he is estimated to have covered 255,000 miles – almost the distance to the moon and back.

Laura, who attended Edinburgh University for five years, where she gained her veterinary qualifications, earned a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in her teens, and is a self-confessed adventure junkie.

When Steve bought her a road bike as a birthday present, she conquered Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, both ways on the same day. “I didn’t realise at the time that these were two of the hardest climbs in the UK,” she says. “But they gave me a taste for hills.”

She adds: “Our holidays usually involve cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats or hiking along the Pennine Way. It’s safe to say I’ve got a bit of a taste for adventure.

www.audax.uk

35

South Devon CTC rider Graham Brodie joined an exclusive club of just two when he completed his 25th Dartmoor Devil ride on Halloween in 2021. The devilishly difficult route takes riders through the dark and brooding moorlands, usually in fiendish autumn rain and gales. Two hundred contestants start – but not everyone finishes! Here’s Graham’s story of a wickedly addictive ride…

Graham sports horns for his 25th Dartmoor Devil

Arrivée155Spring2022

DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMOST

36

SO THAT’S 25 DEVILS in the bag!

But I have to say, I’m very glad to have finished it.

Halloween is the perfect time for running the Dartmoor Devil. The event was cancelled in 2020, due to the pandemic, so it was good to see so many turn up to ride, support and celebrate one of the UK’s top ten classics in the 28th edition of a super hilly 100km ride – and my 25th attempt.

It was hammering down with rain as I set out from home to ride the eight miles to the start at 7am. I was suitably togged up, but the rain petered out soon afterwards, leaving very wet roads.

The car park of The Cromwell in Bovey Tracey at the start was busy too. I snuck off up the hill a couple of minutes before the first group started, to set up a video and to photograph the famous “Hind Street Scrabble” The rain had cleared completely so the bulk of the riders had to just negotiate a damp 1-in-5 climb before heading out for a few miles of level road. At Brimley the

climbing began, through Ilsington and over Birchanger. The lanes, which are nearly always damp, were running like rivers, but it made for a spectacular descent into Ashburton as autumn sunshine blazed through the gaps in the trees.

After a couple of level miles I heard a thud – the signal of a front puncture. I

Riders pumping up Hind Street at the start

pumped it up and managed just over a mile before it was flat again. At Buckfast I cursed very quietly in earshot of the monks in the Abbey, and replaced the front tube, cleaned up as best I could and climbed the long haul to Cross Furzes – to the welcome sight of Geoff Sharpe and South Devon CTC friends with a car boot full of cake!

After the climb out from Holne, and descent to New Bridge, came the section I was dreading – up through Lowerdown (an ironic name for it!) and Ponsworthy, then climbing all the way past Grimspound on to the moors. It was actually OK, with a steady tailwind helping for much of it, and about ten minutes of showery rain which produced a few rainbows.

Getting to Chagford in time is always a boost on this course, but after glugging down the excellent veggie soup provided at The Globe Inn, it was time to face the long drag over to Jurston on the exposed moorland roads.

Sure enough, at Princetown I turned bang into a strong westerly wind, which made it a slow trudge past the Warren House Inn. Once off the high road it was easier going through Postbridge until another thud – the front tyre deflated again!

I rummaged around the inner carcase of the tyre but could find no obvious foreign body sticking through, so shoved in another spare tube and set off to Princetown.

The tyre started to deflate again soon

afterward, but about five stops with furious pumping got me to the Princetown, albeit a few minutes out of time. My wife Kate was there with friend Lyn, running the control. My van was also there along with a box of spares for any riders that might need stuff. So a combination of gulping coffee and changing the front tube again led me to find a small flint, probably the culprit.

The final 12 miles to the finish required the ascent of Dartmeet, Ponsworthy and Widecombe hills, so it was a tailwinddriven, mad dash to get over them.

Dartmeet was done without the usual cramp halfway up, and Ponsworthy was over quickly. This year’s route went via Bonehill Rocks, a less intimidating climb than the main Widecombe Hill, for which I was thankful.

I was also grateful for the cake bonus at the top of the climb – Ollie Twigger was there, and his friend Cary had made some fabulous Halloween cakes, a real boost to help get over the final drag past Haytor and on down to the finish at The Cromwell Arms in Bovey Tracey.

I was a glad to arrive with a few minutes to spare. The pub was busy, and

The lanes were running ❝ like rivers, but it made for a spectacular descent into Ashburton as autumn sunshine blazed through the gaps in the trees.

❞

pints were rapidly ordered and enjoyed with several other friends who’d arrived ahead of me, including Donna Mitchell who’d completed the ride as her first Audax.

There was also a splendid cake surprise, to celebrate my 25th ride, at a subsequent social evening. And at our club Christmas Lunch, Dartmoor Devil organiser David Twigger presented me with a commemorative wooden plaque which he’d made himself, which was very much appreciated.

The plaque will make a nice keepsake, something to look at when my knees can no longer haul over the Dartmoor Hills – but hopefully I still have one or two Devils left in me!

A DEMON OF A RIDE The Dartmoor Devil is a wicked event. From its very start, it bares its demonic fangs – with a punishing 1-in-5 incline, up Bovey Tracey’s infamous Hind Street hill, within yards of the off. The idea is to “spread the field” – and the ploy always works.

The South Devon CTC event, which is held every Halloween, is a classic ride, and one of the UK’s top ten Audax dates. It was inspired by Kevin Presland, who organised and ran the Devil for its first 25 editions. In the three subsequent events the organisational reins have been taken by David Twigger.

Graham Brodie, the writer of the feature, is only the second rider to have ridden and completed 25 Devils; the first being Mike Steer, who reached that milestone in 2017.

Graham also launched the Devil’s internet presence, which opens with the lines: “You are logged into the website of the Dartmoor Devil. From here there may be no return!”

The figure-of-eight route is more than 100km of tough moorland terrain with over 2,000 metres of climbing, and descents along twisting lanes, and usually battered by autumnal storms.

If riders complete six events they’re admitted into the Dartmoor Devil 666 club. The route tends to change every year – no two Devils are quite the same. Riders and supporters are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit with fancy dress.

Watch out for the horned pumpkins, the event’s famous logo, along the route.

Entry is limited to 200 riders, with two phased starts at 8am and 9pm, with a bowl of soup half way round and finishing back at The Cromwell public house in Bovey Tracey.

David Twigger made and presented Graham with a commemorative wooden plaque www.audax.uk

37

break

Arrivée155Spring2022

WHEN IT’S TIME TO

38

SOME CONVERSATIONS are lost in the wind – others turn out to be prophetic. It was Monday morning in Parabagio, Milan, and the start location of a 1,603km Audax across seven Italian regions, with 16,000m of climbing. I chatted to a Dutch rider about the impending challenge, discussing the pros and cons of riding in a group versus solo. He said: “Once you’ve committed to a group, it’s difficult to get away”.

Covid protocols demanded we start in small groups, to be released every five minutes. I headed off alone. What happened over the next five days was not in my plan, but that’s the point of an adventure – you have to be prepared for anything.

My idea was to ride through the first night and day reaching the first bag drop control at Castelnuovo Berardenga (591km), sleep and then ride 300km each day allowing for four hours sleep each night.

I wanted to ride in the daylight as much as possible to take in the views. I had enough food on board to get me through the first night, so no need to spend time eating at the controls. I’m accustomed to the heat so riding in the afternoon wasn’t going to be a problem. I planned to finish sometime on Saturday morning, leaving at least 16 hours contingency.

Ten minutes into the ride I caught a group containing someone I knew – not just any randonneur but Guiseppe (Pino) Leone, the national captain of Audax Randonneur Italia – a veteran of multiple PBP, LEL, Due Isole, 999km, 1001 Miglia and many more. We’ve ridden together before, and I asked if I could ride with him this time. Pino said I was “always welcome”.

He was riding with three friends, Gennaro, Luigi and Rafaelle.

We made good speed, arriving at the first control Castellania (112km) in four hours, 40 minutes, despite a supermarket stop and a crash by another rider in our larger group. As it was a water-only control

Audaxer Colin Fisher has lived in Italy for some time – so should be familiar with Italians’ fondness for coffee and a chat, and their sometimes relaxed relationship with timings. Despite his misgivings, he linked up with a group to tackle the 1001 Miglia Italia in August 2021.

Did he live to regret his decision? Here’s his should I stay or should I go story of a hot and punishing ride

Fresh-faced… Colin in his Italian club jersey, La Centinarolese (Pansèr)

away…

We spent the day pointing ❝ upwards and downwards through the stunning scenery of the Cinque Terra

❞

and the next one was only 53km away I thought it a ten minute pit stop and we’d be off. I knew that Castellania was the home of Fausto Coppi, but I hadn’t allowed for the time my fellow riders wanted to take paying homage to the great man. We were there for nearly 40 minutes. Before leaving, I received a message that I’d left the windows of my car open. Nothing I could do about it but call them in the morning.

Nagging doubts about time slipping by began to grow at the next control, Casella Ligure (165km). In the road book it was another water-only control, but it turned out to have food, so guess what?

We stopped to eat. About to set off someone suggested coffee. I headed to the bar speed things along and pay for the round. I was assured it would only take a few moments, but five coffees from a capsule machine took 20 minutes. I suppose that caffeine and time-related stress were good to keep me awake during the night at least.

Stage three was our night ride – 92km with 1,194m of climbing to Deiva Marina.

After three of our number grabbed some sleep we set off for a big day of climbing. I was only a few hours behind my original schedule but I was with company, so all good. We spent the day pointing upwards and downwards through the stunning scenery of the Cinque Terra.

❝

Castellania was the home of Fausto Coppi, but I hadn’t allowed for the time my fellow riders wanted to take paying homage to the great man. We were there for nearly 40 minutes

❞

I called the organisers about my car.

They’d very kindly covered the windows in plastic. But the thought that my car might be broken into remained in the back of my mind for the whole ride.

Even more stressful was when my dynamo-driven re-charger stopped working. It’s so useful being able to re-charge on the go. Now I had to re-charge at every control. My problem was that I didn’t have an adapter, so had to wait until another rider left a spare USB slot for me to use, wasting more time. I needed to buy an adapter but the mountain roads weren’t exactly littered with electrical shops.

The guys announced they planned to stay at a hotel for the night and had booked me a room. This was very kind of them, but I wanted to keep going to the bag drop. I felt I couldn’t really refuse. To

make matters more challenging I started to feel sore “down below”. I’ve never used chamois cream. I completed PBP without it, no problem, so why now?

Before turning in for the night we agreed to meet for breakfast at 7am for a sharp 7.30 departure. I was now 11 hours behind my original plan. Not wanting to hold anyone up, I was outside the hotel, ready to roll at 7.25am. We left at 7.48. We were in Italy.

All day Wednesday I was plagued by the dilemma of whether to stay with the group or go on alone. I’d trained to be able to complete the ride within the 132 hour limit, and I didn’t want to risk not making it. I felt even more anxious after San Gimignano. It’s a stunningly beautiful town but busy. We had some food then battled our way to get photos in the piazza. I’d been there a couple of years ago so didn’t need to see it again.

The combination of traffic, eating and being tourists cost us more than an hour.

We completed the first stage of the day, Castelnuovo Berardenga (591km) at 2pm.

Would I use up all my contingency time and finish beyond the limit or would we start riding more and stopping less to make up some time? At least my physical stress was reduced at this bag drop control. I washed and changed into my Islington Cycling Club jersey. Even better news was that I managed to buy a tin of Nivea cream in the shop

www.audax.uk

39

across the road, so now my sores had some relief.

The second stage of the day was physically comfortable but I was in turmoil mentally. Matters were made even worse when my Wahoo decided to flip to indoor mode for no reason, which turned off the GPS. I lost a whole section of kilometres and climbing before I realised what had happened. I hadn’t managed to find a USB adapter so I was still having to charge my bike computer and phone via someone else’s USB port.

We reached the second control of the day at 9pm. That was the problem. We had only ridden 172km that day. At this pace we wouldn’t make it under 132 hours. Over dinner I explained to Pino that I wanted to push on. I couldn’t risk my battery running out during a stage. As an experienced randonneur he understood and confirmed I was under no obligation to stay with them. As the others headed off for a sleep, I set off into the night.

Liberated from the group I made good progress, getting into a rhythm, using the moonlight to help guide me. I

may have over-reacted to my new-found freedom as I started to feel pain in both my knees toward the top of the first summit.

I’d never had knee pain before. I was pushing too hard.

For the second half of the stage I slowed down a little. Just as well as I had to look out for the “secret control”. I was the last rider to get my brevet card stamped in the restaurant before it closed in the early hours.

The control at Bolsena didn’t have the sleeping symbol in the road book so I’d have to sleep nearby. I was so tired by now that I could sleep anywhere. The control did in fact have a huge gym to sleep in. I grabbed an hour and a half and set off again at 8am on Thursday morning.

I’d made up some time but my plan to ride very long days and sleep for the core hours of the night had gone out of the window. I would now have to ride through the days and nights to finish on Saturday night. My cut off time was 4.15 am on Sunday, so I wanted to avoid any riding on the Sunday to reduce the risk of not finishing in time. My new plan was ride – control – eat – sleep – repeat until the

finish.

Thursday was a good day. After two big climbs in the morning I rode past Lake Trasimeno in Umbria, the closest point of the Audax to my home 130km away. I briefly thought about turning right and heading for home. That thought lasted two seconds.

Later in the day I stopped to put on a gilet, hooking my handlebars around a post to stop the bike rolling downhill, which meant it was facing in the opposite direction. A 1001 Miglia course car stopped. “Are you lost?” I could see the reason for the question but no, I was fine. I explained my problem with re-charging and to my astonishment and gratitude Giorgio produced a USB adapter for me to use for the rest of the ride. I kissed it in gratitude. “Grazie mille, molto gentile, grazie, grazie”.

Matassino Reggello (984km) was the second and final bag drop. A very welcome shower followed by fresh kit, the 1001 Miglia official jersey, and an hour’s sleep. I then headed off on my third stage of the day. If I could get to the next control in good time, that would be at least 298km

After two big climbs in the ❝ morning I rode past Lake Trasimeno in Umbria, the closest point of the Audax to my home 130km away

Arrivée155Spring2022

❞

40

1603 miglia… the entire route in the heat of Italia

Social update… Thomas keeps in touch with his adoring fans

and lots of climbing for the day. I’d also make up more of the lost time and put me in a position to finish on Saturday. One day I must return to the climb between Matassino Reggello and Scarperia. It looked like stunning views and the roads were great. If only it wasn’t dark.

What happened next was to shape the rest of my ride. Passing a petrol station I was whistled at to stop. Two German riders were with an Italian who was lying on the forecourt. They spoke English, I spoke Italian so I became the link man.

The Italian had got off his bike with stomach pain and then collapsed. I asked if he needed an ambulance, but he said no, just some food. We all dipped into our stocks to refuel him and after 20 minutes he got back on his bike.

I kept asking him if he really wanted to carry on but he said he was fine. We agreed to escort him to the next control, 20km of flat riding away. Thomas suggested we give him a code word in case he needed to stop. I told Pietro to shout “Help me” if he had a problem. I’ve no idea why I explained in Italian to use an

English phrase. Fatigue does strange things to you.

I rode at the front with Thomas beside me and the other rider beside Pietro. With seven kilometres to go I heard: “Help me, help me”. My heart stopped for a moment.

What’s the problem? I asked. “Bar, bar, bar” came the reply. He had seen a bar open and wanted a coffee. Only an Italian would rank a coffee higher than getting to the control. We decided to split up.

Thomas and I rode to report the incident at the control, the other rider would stay with him. They eventually arrived safely at the control. Job done but valuable time used up.

At Scarperia (1,062km) Thomas and I discussed riding together. We agreed that we’d try it and if it didn’t work then we’d split, no explanations or apologies needed.

We both wanted to finish on Saturday evening. We set off on Friday morning for the final big climb of the route. Thomas admitted he would have climbed quicker than our pace. I said I had another speed but it was slower, not faster. At the summit of Passo del Giogo we enjoyed a great breakfast at Ristorante Il Giogo.

Thomas turned out to be a faster descender than me. When I managed to catch him I asked: “As I am slower in the climb and slower in the descent, would you like to reconsider riding with me?” –

but he was quite happy for us to stay together.

At the Lugo control (1,153km) we bumped into Salvatore with whom I’d ridden the 300km Passo Giau Audax some weeks before. He suggested he and his partner team up with us for the next stage across the Po valley. We formed a chain gang and made good speed across the flat terrain. After Thomas had done his turn at the front and I pulled alongside for mine he said: “We need to talk”. He simply couldn’t cope with the speed in the heat. I told him to go to the back, I’d do my turn at the front then I’d explain to Salvatore that we’d let them go, which we did.

I’ve been cycling through Italian summers for the last six years so I’m accustomed to the heat. Thomas lives in Hannover, northern Germany so this was a shock to his system. We slowed down. I really didn’t want Thomas to get heat stroke. The flat the roads weren’t great, and we were completely exposed. No shade. In the climbs and descents Thomas had been stronger – now the situation was reversed. With no water fountains we had to keep going to the next bar. Thomas was really struggling in the furnace-like conditions.

www.audax.uk

41

Arrivée155Spring2022

The last climb… Colin at the summit of Passo del Giogo

42

Relief eventually came at a bar in Santa Antonio. We stopped for ice cold Coke, ice creams and water. Poor Thomas was not well. I began to have that “should I stay or should I go” debate in my head again. We still had 417km to go – no big climbs but two afternoons in the baking heat. I could see he wanted to carry on and finish, but could he? After about forty minutes Thomas felt a little better and was prepared to give it another go.

I really didn’t like that stage. Being flat was actually part of the problem. All riders were by now very tired so we needed some distraction to keep our minds active.

Long straight roads with completely flat land either side were soporific and therefore dangerous. With no villages in sight we had to detour to get more water.

Keeping a steady pace we arrived at Massa Finalese (1,245km).

Another cycle of control – eat – sleep – ride to Pieve Coriano (1,313km) for our third stage of the day, this time on the dykes alongside the Po. They were flat, but of variable quality. Bike control on top a dyke in the dark was not a test we were expecting. We wobbled a few times but managed to stay upright. The thought of coming off the dyke and into the river was

too horrendous to contemplate.

From Pieve Coriano we had three stages and 287km to go. A night ride, a morning ride and an afternoon/evening ride was all that was left between us and the finish. The night ride included a stop at dawn for a snooze, coffee and croissant.

The night ride ended in Colorno (1,400km) at a café control. I asked an Italian chap in the bar why he was wearing an England Rugby. He explained that the RFU sent coaches to various Italian clubs to help improve their game. He got his shirt from Nick Scott, who is now Director of Rugby at Colorno and at Pesaro.

Fombio (1,479km) was next. I asked Thomas how he thought he’d be in the heat. He’d decided that the fear of the heat had almost caused the problem, rather than the heat itself. Now he’d been through a tough time he thought he’d be able to cope with it. I really hoped so. I wanted us to finish together on Saturday.

During the ride to Fombio I developed another problem. One of my neck muscles was giving me some pain – the result of sleeping without a pillow. I began to struggle to keep my head up. Coping strategies included rubbing my neck, standing on the pedals to ride, holding the

handlebars with my fingertips to keep me upright, and short spells tucked behind Thomas’ wheel so I could stare at his gears and not look up.

Fombio was a glorious control – an old castle, well-equipped with beds. We were only 120km from the finish so decided on a shower but no sleep. We left Fombio with an objective to finish before it got dark on Saturday night. This left us about six hours. We suspected we’d need some sleep along the way, even just a nap, but we both felt like horses returning to the stable. Our morale picked up with every kilometre especially when we had less than 100km to go. That was quite a moment. My morale started to fall after that as the pain in my neck got worse. I was really struggling to keep my head up.

After climbing out of Pavia to Zorbolo we heard another whistle from the side of the road. This time it was a proper secret control. After following instructions to get our brevet card stamped we decided on one final snooze before the final 60km. The café owner kindly let us re-arrange the garden furniture into the shade as it was still far too hot in the direct sunshine.

Refreshed we headed off for the victory lap. I must admit to feeling

resentful that the last kilometres were not the pleasure of achievement I was hoping for because of the growing pain in my neck, despite having taken painkillers. We crossed the WW2 boat bridge over the Ticino River for the second time. The last time was five days earlier, on our way out.

Our physical state was very different between the two crossings.

Signs for Parabagio came into view as we finished the cycle lane section and back on the roads for the last few kilometres. It was still light. I even managed to miss the turn to the stadium as I was resting my neck. Thomas shouted to retrieve me. We passed my car. To my

relief it hadn’t been broken into, the organisers had done a great job looking after it.

We rode the final few hundred metres side by side to the last scan of our QR codes. Crossing the finish line I was expecting a flood of emotion as I did when I finished PBP, but it didn’t come. I was just relieved. We’d both finished well within the limit of 132 hours. My official time was: 123 hours, 33 minutes and 13 seconds.

After we were presented with our finishing certificates and medals, our priority was to enjoy the cold beer we’d been promising ourselves since we started riding together. We’d made it. We’d kept

the pedals turning, but in no small part due to the support and encouragement of so many people along the way.

My lack of re-charging on the bike meant I couldn’t respond as much as I wanted to the many messages of support I received from friends and family, Pansèr club mates, ICC club mates and Raiders. I read all their messages which really helped, especially when I was riding solo.

And that question: Should I stay, or should I go? I looked up the times for my original group to see if they made it in under 132 hours. Let’s just say I made the right decision. I also made the right decision to stick with Thomas.

Team picture… Thomas and Colin with their finishing medals www.audax.uk

43

Arrivée155Spring2022

France-based rider Paul Harrison revisits the mountains of Corsica – and finds them as tough, steep and challenging as ever, especially the legendary col, the Bocca Vitullu, where he was alternately roasted and frozen… and definitely in the wrong trousers

44

BLOWING HOT & COLD IN THE CORSICAN COLS

HAVING HAD A DISASTROUS cycling year in 2020 due to severe lockdowns in France, my resolution was to do better in 2021. By March, I was feeling fit so decided I might once again try the tough Bocca Vitullu, the 787m high Corsican col, lying between the Golo and the Casaluna river valleys After a quick blast down to Ponte Leccia and along the main road towards Corte, I turned away from the traffic and on to a quiet lane leading to my first col of the day, the 664 metre high Croce d’Arbitro.

I could tell I’d improved because I wasn’t struggling as much as usual.

As you will know, when the bike is going well it does good psychological things to you. My euphoria was dampened a little as I

passed a roadside tomb – in Corsica, these tombs are an ever-present reminder of one’s mortality. At the summit, however, I was feeling good and stopped to eat my sandwich, sitting on the grass with my back to the wall of a shrine, bathing in the warm sun and looking at the high snowy mountains around Corte.

Could life get better? No, but it could stay the same for a while. The delightful road from the col to the next village, Pratu di Ghjiuvellina, is level, perched on the edge of the high hills and giving a different mountain view at each turn.

In the village, three farmers were chatting in the sunshine and letting a dog wander in the road. I stopped to stroke the creature and it ran off.

My animal magic had deserted me, but at least it was a conversation opener with the farmers. The translation of the village name from Corsican is “pasture of the young women”, so I asked the farmers if there were any young women in the village. They looked confused, so I explained that I was talking about the meaning of the village’s name.

Suddenly enlightened, they laughed and said, no, there were only old wives left.

The descent to Francardo in the Golo valley is breath-taking. The road is open and winds steeply down the hillside in a series of gentle bends which give great views ahead (and to the side if you dare glance away from the speed-blurred tarmac) so that you can let the bike go,

Aiti village on a cold Corsican day

www.audax.uk

45

Once in the Casaluna valley, the descent is long and steady and should be a joy, but I was too cold to enjoy it much.

Part way down, I stopped at a junction to eat some emergency rations, as much for warmth as for energy. I was starved.

In 2016 I wrote an article for Arrivée on the Bocca Vitullu, and how you could gauge the steepness of hills by the amount of concrete that had leaked on to the tarmac out of ready mix concrete wagons – the steeper the hill, the more concrete deposits to be found. And this col has concrete aplenty.

In the article I described the climb from the Casaluna side where you are already at 440m at the bottom of the col. I wrote that I was glad not to be climbing it from Francardo, which is much harder. It starts at 280m, has a river valley to cross and a false summit. After this last outing, I realise why the Bocca Vitullu doesn’t feature too often in my OCD claims!

Arrivée155Spring2022

splurging all your height in a few delirious minutes.

Now the serious business began.

Francardo is at 280m, so there’s a 500m climb to the Bocca Vitullu. Early in the climb there’s the valley of the Ruisseau de Campo to cross. This small river is lovely, but descending can be dispiriting when you know there’s such a lot of climbing ahead.

The road was deserted except for a builder’s truck which ground past me. The driver waved as he passed. Waving is a national pastime in Corsica. I use the word “national’’ advisedly. Many Corsican’s regard the island as a separate country.

There’s a false summit at this point, even worse than I remembered and I staggered into Aiti, the village just on the other side of the col, in a rather wobbly state. Here I saw the builder working at somebody’s house, and he acknowledged me again. I think he was a bit surprised that such an old man had made it to the top.

46

The route…

I’d been climbing in a short-sleeved cycling shirt and sweating quite a lot.

Once the effort stopped, I noticed I was in thick cloud and now it was cold and almost raining. I crawled into my Gore-Tex jacket and gloves and descended rapidly to the Casaluna valley, hoping the loss of altitude would result in warmer temperatures.

After a better than usual ride, I wrote “GDO” in my diary – in homage to the Wallace and Gromit film “A Grand Day Out”. The more intellectual among you may prefer other quotes, such as Pope’s “Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous”. I’m talking of Alexander Pope, not Pope Francis. From the latter, the quote would indeed be ridiculous. At this particular juncture, I was more inclined to use another of Nick Park’s Wallace and Gromit titles – “The Wrong Trousers”. My thin tracksuit bottoms were too warm on the climb, but not warm enough on the descent.

…and the steep bits

Fountain at Pratu di Ghjiuvellina

Report from OCD for 2021, from Rod Dalitz, the OCD Man

OCD cyclo climbing 2021 2021 has not been a good year for a lot of riders – some members who normally claim have admitted that they have no cols this year. A typical claim might be half that of previous average years. Others have strong claims, including our member resident in Corsica. From the UK, Martin Laverick spent several months in France, achieving 177,654m for the year – more than in previous years, in fact the largest claim from anyone for at least five years. Well done!

I regret that no member achieved a higher rank in 2021. 100K makes you an Officer, 200K promotes you to Commander, and I send you a certificate.

Some comments from members: – Another muted claim this year, with my smallest claims since I started.

– Another year hit by Covid, I managed just two trips to Wales.

– With foreign travel being difficult, I have managed to explore the UK more and racked up quite a bit of climbing … I’ve got my eye on 1,000,000m in the next few years – every climb helps.

– As in all recent years, OCD (and now CCC as well) has given me the extra motivation to actually get outdoors, ride my bike, explore places I might never have visited and generally have a wonderful time.

There is certainly a core of dedicated members, some former OCD, and some former AUK who have taken to climbing and claiming cols with enthusiasm. Cols are an additional dimension to Audax riding, which has always embraced climbing, with AAA points and many rugged rides. Some decades ago, I was captivated by reports of the Raid Pyreneen, though it took a long time until I found the opportunity to ride it.

Marmot Tours has taken over the supported challenge rides which Sporting Tours used to offer, and has added some new routes, from my

OCD CLAIMS SUMMARY FOR 2021 Name ABBATT ACLAND ANDERSON ANDERSON CARSON DALE DAMPER HARRISON HODGES JONES LAVERICK PRESLAND WATERTON WATERTON WATTS YOUNG

Fred Ken Alan Fraser Russell Peter Bob Paul Chris Mike Martin Kevin Helen Robert Bob Anne

AUK No RANK, date Lifetime 6086 Honourable 19 576711 5752 Officer 14 180709 6938 Member 19 52625 16690 6764 5296 Commander 20 247658 6186 Commander 20 237367 14064 Commander 15 296196 11181 Venerable 09 1664647 18478 16700 16504 9074 2411 Honourable 20 872042 740 Commander 13 666434 11282 Honorable 08 861481 11283 Honorable 07 801368 1870 Honorable 16 714033 6749 Honourable 20 849704

2020 total 2019 2019 total 2018 27440 549271 15687 533784 11551 169158 2105 167053 1022 51603 1828 4936 26318 221340 22473 198867 14280 223087 3816 219271 749 295447 2178 293265 44626 1620021 52376 1567645 3279 13421 2507 6567 3256 3311 177654 694388 97011 597377 44672 621762 48378 573384 6529 854952 4560 809382 6529 794839 3616 791223 25891 688142 18082 670060 41331 808373 7516 800857

Applecross, Scotland – Bealach ne Ba

experience I can recommend them.

I should remind our readers about the origins and history of the Ordre des Cols Durs, the OCD, or Cyclo-climbing club.

OCD was originally formed in France in 1960, and the British section shortly after.

Members may submit claims as far back as that date. The purpose is to encourage members to climb cols, the bigger the better, and the Alps have some big ones, like the Stelvio Pass which is 2757m above

sea level. For every col, you score the height above sea level in metres – there are a few additional rules, see www.aukweb. net – but no time limits. Many AUK calendar events include one or more cols, but the advantage of OCD is that you can go out on your own, at your own speed, and claim a few cols. Some members have accumulated over two million metres, and found fantastic mountain views along the way.

www.audax.uk

47

Arrivée155Spring2022

Manchester’s a gritty northern city of constant rain and Coronation Street, right? Not according to Peak Audax CTC veteran Mike Wigley. It’s not only an industrial powerhouse, the city has music in its very soul, and Mike has devised a 100km perm which he hopes will have cyclists singing the praises of the Manchester Sightseer…

48

WE BUILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL

WHICH AUDAX PERM includes the Beatles, Bee Gees, Bob Dylan and Britpop?

A place of Nobel prizes and Olympic golds? A place which boasts trains, trams and buses, suffragettes, communists and the Gunpowder Plot, Van Gogh, Picasso, Gaugin and L.S. Lowry, a flying cat, a curry mile, and Whitworth screws – Manchester.

The Manchester Sightseer is a 100km ride taking in the history and culture of this great city. I was challenged to come up with an Audax event through a city that prides itself as being cycling-friendly – where Chris Boardman is Cycling Commissioner, and where British Cycling, the governing body for cycle sport, has set up home. Could I create a safe and interesting ride? I like to think the answer is yes! What follows is a glimpse of what you can expect to see…

Mike Wigley

Rivers and Canals Manchester's location is determined by water – fast-flowing rivers to power its mills, and a canal network for transporting

raw materials and finished goods. The valleys of the Medlock, Irk, Irwell and Mersey also provide us with pleasant cycling corridors.

Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, started a revolution when he commissioned his canal, which opened in 1761 to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It reduced the price of coal in Manchester by about half almost overnight, as well as providing us with some our route.

Technical innovations followed. Riders can gaze in wonder at Store Street Aqueduct, the world's first skewed aqueduct. Barton Aqueduct opened in 1761 to carry the Bridgewater canal over the River Irwell but was replaced by the present Barton Swing Aqueduct, still the world's only navigable swing aqueduct, with the building of the Ship Canal in 1894.

The Ship Canal was created to give Manchester and Salford direct access to the sea. When this closed in the 1970s, the disused docks area was redeveloped into Salford Quays.

Railways Manchester was at the forefront of the railway era, and the ride passes Liverpool Road station, opened in 1830 as the world's first inter-city station, and now housing the Museum of Science and Industry. The builders of the LiverpoolManchester railway were nearly defeated

by Chat Moss, an extensive peat bog, but they came up with a way to do it. We cross this at Astley level crossing – so watch out for frequent and fast trains.

Piccadilly Station was to be the terminus of the ill-fated Picc-Vic underground line. An earlier extension of the station led to the Star and Garter pub being moved, brick by brick, but further plans to augment the Fairfield Road platforms may mean that the pub, a listed building, will have to be “levelled down”.

The other main station was renamed Victoria Wood Station for a day in memory of the Bury comedienne. It incorporates the Manchester Arena, where Kylie Minogue has made many appearances; her song The Locomotion would seem to be appropriate for the location. There was a terror attack here in 2017 which caused 22 deaths and many injuries, but it engendered a great feeling of defiance and solidarity in the area.

Manchester has an extensive network of trams. You will encounter Metrolink lines throughout the ride so take care when crossing the rails, or when riding alongside the tracks on the road. There might be no Metrolink for Leigh, but instead they have a guided bus route which opened in 2016. We use the

The railways obliterated the roman fort but added castellations to their viaducts in mitigation Castlefield, where railways, canal and cyclists meet

convenient cycleway running alongside.

The Fallowfield Loop is a former railway line giving access to Central Station. It closed in the 1960s but has now been converted into a cycle path and provides traffic access across the south of the city.

Roads and Motorways The Perm encounters roads of all eras, with the Roman road between Deva (Chester) and Eboracum (York), and former Turnpike Trust roads, such as those that became Bury Old and Bury New Roads.

Another wave of road-building started before WW2. Both Kingsway and the East Lancs Road are encountered. Kingsway was built in the 1930s as a dual carriageway with trams running on the central reservation, and named after George V. Four years later George himself came to open the East Lancs Road, the UK's first purpose-built intercity highway and precursor of the later motorways.

Manchester nearly had an Eastern by-pass. It was planned in 1945 but nothing was built except an odd-looking stretch of dual carriageway through a housing estate in Clayton – which we get to ride on.

The ride encounters the M52 and the M63. It is thanks to the motorways that we have Sale Water Park, another of our controls, as this former gravel pit was part of the construction effort for the M63.

Science and Engineering Atomic theory has its foundations in Manchester. John Dalton, who has a street named after him, introduced the concept.

His pupil, James Prescott Joule, went on to develop ideas about energy, and both have an SI unit named after them. Further developments of Dalton's work came from Neils Bohr, J.J. Thompson, Ernest Rutherford and William Bragg, who all attended Manchester University, and all received Nobel prizes.

Good Friday Fair 1946 at Daisy Nook by L S Lowry www.audax.uk

49

Manchester University home of 25 Nobel Prizes Salford Quays with the City Centre in the misty distance

Arrivée155Spring2022

Joseph Whitworth was a Manchester engineer, famous for devising the British Standard Whitworth system for screw threads. He has a street named after him, as well as an art gallery, a fine sandstone building on Oxford Road. The Whitworth Art Gallery had a Van Gogh, a Picasso and a Gaugin stolen in 2003. The pictures were soon found in a public toilet, but don't get any ideas, as security has since been tightened up.

Charles Rolls met Henry Royce at the Midland Hotel, whether by chance or by design I'm not sure, but they went on to set up their car business, and later expanded into aircraft engines.

50

People We pass memorials to some of the many people who made their home in Manchester. Alan Turing came to Manchester University in 1948 to help develop their computers. He has a sculpture in Sackville Park.

Friedrich Engels was sent from Germany to help with the family business in Salford, his father thinking that this

might encourage him to reconsider his radical views. That didn't happen.

Observing the horrors of life in the slums of Angel Meadow in the Irk Valley helped in his writing of the Communist Manifesto.

He has a statue in Tony Wilson Place.

The Gunpowder Plot is reputed to have been planned at Ordsall Hall, coincidentally on Guy Fawkes Street. And Pope John Paul II visited Heaton Park for a mass attended by more than 100,000 people in 1982.

Just around the corner from Deansgate there’s a statue of Abraham Lincoln. It commemorates Manchester's support for the anti-slavery movement, even though abolition caused hardship as it disrupted the supply of cotton reaching Lancashire’s mills.

L S Lowry was a Salford artist, famous for his matchstick men. He painted the Good Friday fair in 1946. Imagine the joy that day after the dark years of the war.

The painting sold for £3.8 million in 2007, so it might be worth doing a quick sketch while you pass.

Tony Wilson worked on Granada

Reports, but was famous for setting up Factory Records and the Hacienda night club. The Hacienda no longer stands, but Tony has a square named after him at Home arts centre. He is kept company by Cheetham Hill's Jack Rosenthal, playwright and Coronation Street writer, who (of course) has a Street named after him.

When an unknown “beat combo” was signed up to play Urmston Show in 1963, no-one could have expected that by the time of the gig that summer in Abbotsfield Park, the Beatles would be famous – and end up mobbed by thousands of screaming girls.

The Free Trade Hall was built on the site of the Peterloo Massacre, a less than glorious moment in Manchester's past.

Bob Dylan recorded his “Live at the Albert Hall”, not in London, but here in 1966. Also appearing here in 1976 were the Sex Pistols, a concert that inspired the formation of Joy Division, The Smiths, and The Fall, all thinking they could do better.

Also on the route, the Sedge Lynn Wetherspoon was, ironically, a temperance billiard hall. The former cinema next door was the venue of the first performance by the young Gibb brothers who were born here – and would grow up to become the Bee Gees.

Noel Gallagher and his brother Liam of Oasis were Definitely/Maybe brought up in Burnage. They played three nights at Heaton Park to over 210,000 in 2009. Peel Park at Salford University is named after former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel from Bury, who did much to encourage the creation of public parks, as well as founding the police force.

So many memorials to men! I'm sure that Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters would have had something to say about that from their home on Nelson Street in South Manchester.

Sport Mancunians love their sport! The SportCity complex was created for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and the main stadium is now home to Manchester City.

The complex is on the site of Bradford coal mine that closed in 1968. All Manchester's mines are now closed, but we pass Astley Green pit, now a Colliery Museum.

The Velodrome is home to British Cycling. There is also a Mountain Bike “skills zone” in nearby Phillips Park if you want to have a try. This was formerly Stuart Street Power Station, although the cooling towers came down in 1978. The disused viaduct across Clayton Vale was for railway access to the Power Station.

Manchester’s other team started life as Newton Heath FC, and played on what is now the Velodrome carpark from 1893 until 1910. They moved to Trafford in 1910, now under the name of Manchester United. A statue of the “holy trinity” of George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton stands outside.

United's former training ground at The Cliff is also on our route. The “class of ‘92” went on to become a remarkably successful generation of players, some of whom eventually founded the University Academy 92, a joint venture with Lancaster University. Marcus Rashford from the current squad has a mural in Withington.

Cricket is also played at Old Trafford.

Part of the road alongside the cricket ground is now renamed Brian Statham Way in honour of their fast bowler from Gorton who played for Lancashire and England. He once held the world record for most wickets taken in Test Cricket.

Buildings Manchester is now reaching for the stars, architecturally. The CIS tower was the tallest building in the UK at 387 feet when it was opened. It is now dwarfed by eight others in the city, with another five taller buildings already under construction.

Adjacent is the “sliced egg” tower, the HQ of the Co-operative Group. The Co-op was founded in Rochdale in 1844 and you will see many of its establishments on the ride. Education is one the Group's remits, and you pass one of their Academy schools educating another generation of shelf-fillers, insurance brokers and funeral directors.

Some of the Co-op offices are on Balloon Street, so named because James Sadler made a hot-air balloon flight, only the second in the country, from a garden on the site. He also took his cat as passenger, hence the name of a nearby wine bar “Sadler’s Cat”.

Nearby is the Urbis Building, which opened as the Museum of the City in 2002,

but visitor numbers were disappointing, and it closed in 2010. It re-opened in 2012 as the ‘National Football Museum’.

The BT Tower at Heaton Park is a landmark visible for miles around Manchester. It was supposed to be able to withstand a nuclear attack.

The Arndale Centre opened in 1971 and has had its share of critics. It was severely damaged by an IRA bomb in 1996. Although the usual Saturday crowds were supplemented by football fans for the UEFA 96 football match between Russia and Germany to be held the following day, no-one was killed. The pillar

box, sited just yards from the explosion, was virtually unscathed, and its contents were emptied a few days later and delivered as if nothing had happened.

No-one knows what first attracted 36-year-old Enriqueta (from Cuba) to the millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist John Rylands, aged 74 when they married, but as his widow she could certainly afford to build the Rylands Library as a memorial.

Herman's Hermits once recorded a song about Manchester, with the line “It's nice to be out in the morning, when you've got somewhere to go” … on the Manchester Sightseer.

Alan Turing, the father of computing… fascinated to hear that the brevet doesn’t need a 40-tonne truck to carry the trip computer

WHERE TO START… There is free parking at Sale Water Park (near M60 junction 7) and Daisy Nook, while Heaton Park has a pay & display car park. You could arrive by train and start from one of several stations on the ride, although only folding bikes are allowed on Metrolink trams.

The ride has been comfortably ridden on a road bike with 23mm tyres, even across Chat Moss, but a gravel bike might be better, as the route includes canal towpaths, cycle paths and cobbles. Manchester is very much a “work in progress” and you may well find the route is a hard hat and hi-viz area, so take a map.

Don't forget to carry a lock with you in case you decide to stop along the way at a cafe. And this is Manchester so pick a day when it's not raining! This 100km event actually runs to 114km – but just think of it as 14 per cent Value Added Travel.

The ride is best done by e-brevet but can still be ridden the traditional way with a brevet card and by collecting till receipts. I hope to turn this into a calendar event from Cheadle when I can find a day when neither City nor United are playing at home.

As well as the Manchester Sightseer, I also run Perms from 50km to a full SR series. You can head into the Peak District, across the Cheshire Plains, and reach the coast in Lancashire, Anglesey, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. There are also several one-way rides with a train option for the return journey. See www.

PeakAudax.co.uk for full details.eted in a different country, and can be undertaken over any period of time. There is also a special recognition for riders travelling to different continents to qualify. For more information, visit: www.randonneursmondiaux.org /36-ISR.html?langue=EN www.audax.uk

51

Crewe and Nantwich Audax rider Brandon Edgeley set off in search of celebrated landmarks – and some windmills, in a history-soaked circuit through the heart of England with a group of his cycling pals. This is his report of a comradely 300km

Arrivée155Spring2022

The Crewe crew… from left,Caroline Wrench, Terry Baker, Brandon Edgeley, Ian Wilson, Anna Burton and John Gallagher

52

AS SOON AS the Covid rules were relaxed, and we were allowed to ride in groups of six, I decided to plan a route across the Midlands, to Coventry and back.

As Audax UK was free to validate rides up to 300km, I could think of no better plan… and it turned into one of my best days on a bike in a long time.

The original idea was to join Terry Baker on his first 300km. He’d already ridden 250km and had been doing lots of riding during the year. I knew he’d be absolutely fine at this new distance.

I plotted a route to Coventry and back and opened up the invitation to local randonneurs and was delighted when John Gallagher, Anna Burton, Caroline Wrench and Ian Wilson all agreed to join us. With the exception of Anna the others are all Super Randonneurs (having ridden 600km events), Anna had ridden several tough 200km including an impressive Clwydian 200km with me two years ago.

Terry and I got to the meet-up point at Willaston, Cheshire, with 15 minutes to spare. We had time for a coffee before meeting the others, setting off at 6.50am – a full minute ahead of schedule. It was a very cold morning as we rode out to Audley. It wasn’t long before we were climbing up to Kidsgrove – and the first point of interest, the birthplace of Reginald Mitchell, designer of the legendary Spitfire fighter plane which helped win the Battle of Britain in WW2.

The next stop was the Reginald Mitchell Way in Tunstall with its Spitfire outlines on the grass verges. We followed a really pleasant traffic-free bike path which brought us out by Stoke’s Titanic Brewery.

At St John’s Church in Burslem we

stopped to view the grave of Molly Leigh – the witch of Burslem, whose body was exhumed in 1745 and reburied upside down – to keep her spirit quiet!

When we got to Hanley we stopped at the statue of Reginald Mitchell before moving on to Well Street, and the birthplace of Captain Edward John Smith, who was at the helm of the Titanic when it sank in 1912.

At Bucknall we picked up a wonderful traffic-free path all the way through Bentilee. After a short break for coffee and sandwiches we went on through Weston Coyney. We stopped to view the privatelyowned Caverswall Castle before heading off on a bridleway. It was great to get back on to Tarmac!

Further along we came upon a house with a massive Spanish Chestnut, reputed to be 700 years old. We chatted to the lady of the house who allowed us to take photographs. Anna gave the tree a hug before we set off again.

Next we were in Rugeley which triggered memories of a 200km John and I had ridden a few years ago. We stopped to view the ruins of St Augustines before pressing on. Beyond Rugeley the road headed upward which meant we were on the way to finding a windmill – two, in fact. Upper Longdon windmill has been converted into a private residence complete with cap and sails with electric gates at the end of the long driveway.

Gentleshaw windmill is shorter and currently derelict, standing in the grounds of Ye Olde Windmill Inn. From here we dropped down into Lichfield. On the outskirts Terry and I went 400m out of our way to see Lichfield Windmill which has had

Bypass… tracks and tunnels around Stoke

castellations added to its top, and has a whole house built on to the side.

We then pulled into Morrisons on the edge of the city for refreshments. Terry opted for a box of chicken with potato wedges – which I helped him to eat. Food always tastes better when it belongs to someone else!

We’d covered 100km at this point – about a third of the way through our journey. The weather was now quite pleasant and we all wore less clothing, our hats and winter gloves stowed away for when the sun went down.

In Lichfield we visited the memorial to Captain Edward John Smith, the magnificent Lichfield Cathedral and the

Historical… Terry Baker, Ian Wilson and Anna Burton pass Ye Olde Thatched House in Stowe-by-Chartley in Saffordshire

www.audax.uk

53

Hixton gravel… John Gallagher, Caroline Wrench, Ian Wilson Impressive… Spanish chestnut at Wolseley Bridge

Arrivée155Spring2022

Naked rebellion…

54

eleventh century, statue of the famous 18th century Lady Godiva protests lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson – a against tax increases British Cycle Quest location.

Nearing Tamworth we passed a pig farm – field upon field of pigs. In Tamworth we rode past the castle and then on to traffic-free section across the river Anker and Tame. We were soon back in urban sprawl on the edge of Coventry.

Ian told us tales of his student days in the city, and pointed out the pubs he’d known back in the eighties.

We stopped at the Whittle Arch with its statue to Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of My hand the jet engine, then on to Coventry and knee Cathedral. Half of the cathedral was were sore for a undergoing major works and closed to the while. public. The original cathedral was a victim At the half way, and of bombing in 1940, and its shell stands southernmost point of the route, we today as a tranquil place. I was reached Kenilworth where we picked up disappointed that this area was out of the excellent Greenway. It was a delight. bounds today, as the garden in the Not long after we found ourselves at the bombed-out section had been one of the particularly handsome Berkswell Windmill. things I most wanted to visit.

We rode on to Meriden, the As we passed the statue of Lady geographical centre of England where Godiva Ian pointed out Thomas, who had there is a statue dedicated to cyclists who looked at the noblewoman – and had lost their lives during the two world wars. gone blind, according to legend. This is the There is also a bench dedicated to the origin of the term “peeping Tom”. journalist Wayfarer – Walter MacGregor We left the city via Earlsdon where we “Robbie” Robinson (1877-1956) – the passed a statute to James Starley, one of inspirational cyclist, and acknowledged many claimed to be the inventor of the spiritual grandfather of the Roughstuff bicycle, and rode on to the birthplace of Fellowship.

Frank Whittle. At Cannon Park shopping We began to tire at this stage. Terry centre we stopped at the Tesco superstore and I stopped to look at Maxstoke Priory, for our next refuel. and then the impressive Whitacre As we rode through the Warwick waterworks pumping station. The group University complex, I was trying to read started to split, then regroup, because we my Garmin at slow speed. I failed to notice were getting tired, and were struggling. a kerb stone and came down with a crash.

We stopped at the McDonalds at Basset

We came upon a ❝ house with a massive Spanish Chestnut, reputed to be 700 years old. We chatted to the lady of the house who allowed us to take photographs. Anna gave the tree a hug before we set off again

❞

www.audax.uk

55

Arrivée155Spring2022

Caroline views St Michael's Victory over the Devil a 1958 bronze sculpture by Jacob Epstein – Coventry cathedral

56

Pole, though Ian had sailed past it. He phoned about ten minutes later, and was less than impressed when he had to retrace his path! There was a burger and a coffee waiting for him when he reached us.

By the time we set off again, the temperature had dropped significantly, and we all had our warm clothing back on.

With a strong side wind, it was a struggle to get to Stafford. The Roman site at Wall was closed when we got there – so it’s still on our to-do list. But we also visited Hammerwich windmill, now a private home, on top of a hill… aren’t they always!

Over Cannock Chase and we rode straight past the Katyn Memorial – which commemorates the Polish victims of a Stalinist atrocity in WW2. To be fair, we were all tired, and it was extremely dark.

On the Chase we were forced to break hard to avoid a startled herd of deer. I was convinced we’d hit one, and we were all relieved, though quite shaken by the incident. We took greater care to watch for deer as we left the forest.

In Stafford we crossed the lovely Two Waters Bridges, a suspended boardwalk of around 300m. I must admit being slightly disappointed as I’d expected it to be timber decking similar to the boardwalk around Nets café on the Wirral. It was still a great experience. We stopped at the Tesco for the final refuel.

At 250km Anna had already gone further than she’d ever ridden before and Terry was not far off his previous furthest distance. We still had about 55km to go but it looked pretty certain we’d all make it – we just needed to make sure we had

enough carbs to get the Cyclists' Memorial, Meridan us there. Crisps and a chocolate bars were quickly demolished/ From Eccleshall it was familiar roads home, so we knew what was coming.

Anna had a particularly strong section and I watched her lights about half a mile in front for me as we climbed the long road that leads to Loggerheads.

Everyone deserves a medal…

John G, unusually, was starting to show signs of fatigue – a very rare sight indeed but completely understandable give the distance and route we’d taken.

The last challenge of the day was Norton in Hales and I was glad when it was done.

We took a slight detour from the route into Audlem, another BCQ location, but Terry had no interest in stopping. Terry was also suffering – another rare event – having a painful knee, but it didn’t stop him being out front most of the way.

We bid farewell to Ian in Hatherton – he went home to a steak a few beers. Ian had a great ride considering he’d broken his ankle four months earlier! In Nantwich at the Railway Hotel we said goodbye to Anna and then at the Vet Hospital roundabout we said cheerio to John G and Caroline.

Terry rode with me back to my house where he’d had left his car, he still had to drive home to Wrexham but assured me he was up to it. I was really glad to push the bike back into its stand about 19 hours after I’d taken it out. It had been an absolutely fabulous day.

The weather had been as kind as it could be for early April, the route was very good (even if I do say so myself), but the stand-out was the company. It’s fun to ride in a group, especially such a great group of people. A massive well done to Anna and Terry on their first 300km.

The

Baking Biker

SARAH FREEMAN Lincolnshire’s Sarah Freeman is not only an experienced and inventive baker, she’s also a keen cyclist, so knows just what hits the spot when it comes to packing tasty treats for a long ride.

CHEESY TREATS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR RIDE

You can’t beat goats’ cheese for a tangy taste explosion – just what’s needed on a long biking slog. These tasty titbits will add a warm glow to any long-distance ride

Date, Goats’ Cheese and Walnut Slice INGREDIENTS ● Pastry 175g flour 75g chilled butter 1 egg ● Filling 100g of dates About 50ml of hot water Goats’ cheese ● Topping 60g flour 25g chilled butter 30g chopped walnuts

METHOD Heat the oven to 180 or GM 4 Pastry – chop up the butter and rub it into the flour to make breadcrumbs. Add the egg to form the pastry and leave to rest.

Place the dates in a saucepan and add some of the hot water, heat the dates and water to form a thick paste. Depending on how soft the dates are depends on how much water you may need to add. Leave to cool.

Topping – chop up the butter and rub it into the flour to make breadcrumbs, add the chopped walnuts.

Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 6 x 4 inches wide. Once the date mixture has cooled, spread it over the pastry thickly, and then add chunks of goats’ cheese.

Generously sprinkle the topping over and bake for about 20 – 30 minutes.

www.audax.uk

57

AUK CALENDAR

KEY 1826m Total elevation AAA Audax Altitude Award points A(1) Free/cheap accommodation (1 night) B Very basic – no halls/beds, et c BD Bag drop R Refreshments at start and/or finish S Showers Z Sleeping facilities on route 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/NM Mudguards required/not required X Some very basic controls (eg service stations) G GPS files provided by the organiser 175 Entries close at 175 riders 14/4 Entries close 14th April 15-30kph Minimum-maximum speeds

For the most up-to-date information, please see the dedicated pages on the Audax UK web site: audax.uk/static-data/covid-restrictions

Arrivée155Spring2022

300

58

12 Mar Easton, Bristol Bill’s Easton Connection 06:00 Sat BR 4950m AAA5 £12.50 YH G L P R T 15-30kph Change of Date Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 160 12 Mar Easton, Bristol Missed Connection 08:00 Sat BP 2200m AAA2 [2040m] £10.50 YH G L P R T 12.5-25kph Change of Date Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 100 12 Mar Hope, Derbyshire Occasionally Hilly 09:30 Sat BP 106km 2100m AAA2 £4.00 P R T G F 12.5-30kph Common Lane Occasionals 07805100988 owright@mac.com ROA 3000 Oliver Wright, Townhead Farm, 345 Baslow Road, Sheffield S17 4AD 300 12 Mar Oxford, Peartree Services Park & Ride The Dean 06:00 Sat BRM 3390m £8.00 X G P 15-30kph Audax Club Hackney tsaudax@gmail.com Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Rd, Ealing, London W5 1JG 200 12 Mar Ponteland Newcastleton and back 07:30 Sat BR 1974m £5.00 X G P T 14.3-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 300 12 Mar Tenby Velos’ Cambrian Stretch 07:00 Sat BRM 4220m AAA4.25 £12.50 ACFGX NM PRT (30) 15-30kph Pembrokeshire Velo Richard Coomer, Cotts Equine Hospital, Robeston Wathen, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8EY 200 13 Mar Long Ashton, Bristol Barry’s Bristol Butt Buster 07:30 Sun BR 215km 2300m £9.00 F L P R T G NM (150) 15-30kph Updated Las Vegas Inst of Sport audax@lvis.org.uk Marcus Mumford, 3 Lewes Gardens, Worcester WR4 0EX

160

13 Mar Long Ashton, Bristol Barry’s Bristol Blast 08:30 Sun BP 1640m [1250m] £9.00 F L P R T G NM (200) 12.5-30kph Updated Las Vegas Institute of Spor audax@lvis.org.uk Marcus Mumford, 3 Lewes Gardens, Worcester WR4 0EX 110 13 Mar Long Ashton, Bristol Barry’s Bristol Bash 09:30 Sun BP 116km 1300m £9.00 F L P R T G NM (200) 12.5-30kph Updated Las Vegas Institute of Spor audax@lvis.org.uk Marcus Mumford, 3 Lewes Gardens, Worcester WR4 0EX 100 13 Mar Ponteland Winter’s Gibbet 08:00 Sun BP 1050m £5.00 X G P T 12.5-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 200 19 Mar Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Cheltenham New Flyer 08:00 Sat BR £6.00 GLPRT 15-30kph Updated Cheltenham CTC stephen.poulton@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Stephen Poulton, Leckhampton Lodge, 23 Moorend Park Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 0LA 150 19 Mar Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Cider with Rosie 150 08:30 Sat BP 151km £7.00 GPRT 12.5-30kph Cheltenham CTC stephen.poulton@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Stephen Poulton, Leckhampton Lodge, 23 Moorend Park Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 0LA 100 19 Mar Andoversford, Nr Cheltenham Character Coln 09:00 Sat BP £7.00 GPRT 12.5-30kph Cheltenham CTC stephen.poulton@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Stephen Poulton, Leckhampton Lodge, 23 Moorend Park Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 0LA 100 19 Mar Bolsover – Bolsover Jester 09:30 Sat BP 760m £8.50 G L P R T (75) (14/03) 15-30kph Audax Club Bolsover audaxbolsover@castlecycles.co.uk Malcolm Smith, 14 Highfield Road, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6TY 200 19 Mar Bonnyrigg (Original) Talla-Ho! 08:00 Sat BR 206km 2190m £8.00 F G L P (30) (05/03) 15-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur Ross Connell, 1 Viscount Drive, Dalkeith EH22 3FX 100 19 Mar Bonnyrigg CrystAAAl Rigg 09:00 Sat BP 109km 1561m AAA1.75 £6.00 G P R T (40) (05/03) 15-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur Ross Connell, 1 Viscount Drive, Dalkeith EH22 3FX 200 19 Mar Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Cardiff CF14 3AY Making Hay 07:00 Sat BR 210km 2000m [2500m] £5.00 YH G L P T 15-30kph Audax Cymru 02920 341768 evansrichardd@gmail.com ROA 5000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road, Cardiff CF11 9NW 100 20 Mar Minehead Exmoor Spring 09:30 Sun BP 1750m AAA1.75 £7.00 L P R T 100 12.5-25kph Minehead CC Richard Miles, 1 Lower Park, Minehead TA24 8AX

200 20 Mar Surbiton – Gently Bentley 08:00 Sun BRM 1650m £12.00 G L P R T (150) (1/3) 15-30kph Kingston Wheelers dave_bradshaw@talk21.com Dave Bradshaw, 14 Sutton Grove, Sutton SM1 4LT 200 26 Mar Carlton le Moorland Bomber County 07:00 Sat BR 211km 950m £5.50 C,G, T 15-30kph Audax Club Lincolnshire 07939095821 lincsaudax@gmail.com Richard Parker, 28 High Street, Carlton-le-Moorland, Lincoln LN59HT 200 26 Mar St Martins Approach Cpark, Ruislip HA4 8BD Steam Ride: London-Oxford-London (LOL) 2022 08:00 Sat BRM 1550m £9.50 L P R T YH 15-30kph Updated Audax Club Hackney tsaudax@gmail.com Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Rd, Ealing, London W5 1JG 160 26 Mar Warmley, Bristol Mendip Flip Flop – Century Ride 08:00 Sat BP 2250m AAA2.25 £10.00 G, L, P, R, T 15-30kph BlackSheep CC 07503541573 oliveriles@gmx.com Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG 54 26 Mar Warmley, Bristol Mind the Gap 09:30 Sat BP 710m £8.00 G, L, P, R, T 10-30kph BlackSheep CC 07503541573 oliveriles@gmx.com Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG 200 27 Mar Cranbrook Mad March, A river too far 08:00 Sun BRM 2800m AAA2.75 £5.00 YH F P R T X 15-30kph Change of Date Exeter Whs shbritton@outlook.com Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane, Cranbrook, Devon EX5 7AP 100 27 Mar Cranbrook Mad March, Up and Blackdown 09:00 Sun BP 1150m £5.00 YH F P R T 12-25kph Change of Date Exeter Whs 07443 471140 shbritton@outlook.com Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane, Cranbrook, Devon EX5 7AP 200 27 Mar Pound Street Car Park, Petworth, W Sussex – Petworth Start of SummerTime 200 BRM 08:30 Sun BRM 210km 2196m [2006m] £12.00 F G P T M 15-30kph Anton Brown abaudax1@btconnect.com Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue, Haywards Heath RH16 3RT 110 27 Mar Pound Street Car Park, Petworth, W Sussex Petworth Start of SummerTime 100 08:30 Sun BP 111km 1389m [1350m] £12.00 F G P T M 15-30kph Anton Brown abaudax1@btconnect.com Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue, Haywards Heath RH16 3RT 200 27 Mar Poynton, S of Stockport Chirk 08:00 Sun BR £6.00 F G P T 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC peakaudax@hotmail.co.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph OL3 5UX 200 27 Mar Stevenage – Stevenage Start of Summertime Specials 08:00 Sun BR 202km 1240m £8.00 P R T G (30) 15-30kph Herts Audax herts-audax@pm.me Phil Whitehurst, 506 Archer Road, Stevenage SG1 5QL

100

27 Mar Wigginton, York Wiggy Spring100 10:00 Sun BP 639m £6.00 P R T 12-30kph York Wednesday Wheelers 01904 796325 Bryan Stanton, 6 Dikelands Close, Upper Poppleton, York North Yorkshire YO26 6HY 200 02 Apr Brampton – Eden Valley 200 08:00 Sat BR 204km 2086m [1943m] £7.50 X G P T 14.3-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 160 02 Apr Brampton – Eden Valley 160 08:00 Sat BP 162km 1226m [1492m] £7.50 X G P T 13.5-30kph Change of Date Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 120 02 Apr Brampton – Eden Valley 120 09:00 Sat BP 905m £7.50 X G P T 12.5-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 200 02 Apr Buntingford The Alternative E&SB 08:30 Sat BR 207km 2000m £5.00 X G P 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex Adam Young, 15a New Cut, Hadleigh IP7 5DA 100 02 Apr Bushley Emily Wardle’s Spring Excursion 09:00 Sat BP 102km 994m [950m] £6.50 C G L NM P R T 12-30kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, The Dwellings, Woodhall Farm Barns, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YE 300 02 Apr Bushley, Nr Tewkesbury Helfa Cymraeg Benjamin Allen ar.

05:30 Sat BR 308km 3500m £8.50 100, C F L P R T S NM 15-25kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, The Dwellings, Woodhall Farm Barns, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YE 300 02 Apr Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9QX 3Down London – New Forest 06:00 Sat BRM 2715m [3100m] £21.00 YH F G L NM P R T 170 15-30kph Willesden CC ianaudax@gmail.com Ian Oliver, 68 St Dunstans Avenue, London W3 6QJ 300 02 Apr Heeley, Sheffield All Round the Wrekin 06:30 Sat BR 311km 3700m £6.00 G L R T (40) (31/03) 14.3-30kph Sheffield District CTC 07594 912194 bigt.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge S7 1SF 160 02 Apr Heeley, Sheffield Churnet Round 07:30 Sat BP 165km 2780m [2800m] £6.00 G L R T (40) (31/03) 14.3-30kph Sheffield District CTC 07594 912194 bigt.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge S7 1SF 200 02 Apr Manningtree Essex and Suffolk Borders 08:15 Sat BRM 207km 2000m £5.50 X G P R T 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex Adam Young, 15a New Cut, Hadleigh IP7 5DA

100

02 Apr Manningtree Essex and Suffolk Estuaries 08:45 Sat BP 600m £4.75 X G P R T (100) 10-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex Adam Young, 15a New Cut, Hadleigh IP7 5DA 400 02 Apr Tenby – Velos Tenby Tywyn 21:00 Sat BRM 422km 6100m AAA6 £15.00 YH X A CF G NM PRT (30) 15-30kph Pembrokeshire Velo Richard Coomer, Cotts Equine Hospital, Robeston Wathen, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8EY 200 02 Apr Wigston Rd, Oadby, Leicester Another Slice of Rutland 08:00 Sat BR 2100m £7.00 L P R T G 70 15-30kph Leicester Forest CC Stepehn Orchard, 28 Hidcote Road, Leicester LE2 5PE 200 03 Apr Clitheroe, Lancashire Delightful Dales 200 08:00 Sun BRM 205km 3150m AAA3.25 [3600m] £7.70 L P R T X 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive, Ightenhill, Burnley BB12 8AT 200 03 Apr Denmead, Nr Portsmouth Wylye and Ebble Valley 07:30 Sun BR £7.00 X P R 15-30kph Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road, Emsworth PO10 7XR 200 03 Apr Golden Green,Tonbridge Man of Kent 08:00 Sun BR 203km 1505m [1425m] £10.00 F L P R T (40) 15-30kph Updated Man of Kent Audax manofkentaudax@ gmail.com David Winslade, 3 Albany Close, Tonbridge TN9 2EY 200 03 Apr Nairn, Nr Inverness Eilean Dubh 07:30 Sun BRM 208km 1730m £5.00 X C G NM P 15-30kph CTC Highland andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair Dingwall IV7 8LL 150 03 Apr Nairn, Nr Inverness Wolf & Whisky 150 08:30 Sun BP 157km £5.00 X C G NM P 15-30kph CTC Highland andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair Dingwall IV7 8LL 110 03 Apr Nairn, Nr Inverness The Wolf 100 09:30 Sun BP 1010m £5.00 X C G NM P 12-30kph CTC Highland andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair Dingwall IV7 8LL 400 09 Apr Bristol The Exe Barnstaple Branch 04:00 Sat BR 6750m AAA6.75 £14.00 YH X F G L 14.3-25kph Change of Date Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 200 09 Apr Bristol – The Down & Black 07:00 Sat BR 2900m AAA3 £11.50 YH X F G L 15-30kph Change of Date Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG

200

09 Apr Cockerton, Darlington Durham & Northumberland redux 08:00 Sat BR 3320m AAA3.25 £10.00 G L P R T 14.3-30kph VC 167 dean.clementson@icloud.com Dean Clementson, 10 Redmire Close, Darlington DL1 2ER 400 09 Apr Coryton, NW Cardiff Buckingham Blinder 00:00 Sat BRM £20.00 X 15-30kph Updated Cardiff Ajax Robyn Thomas, 44 Cosmeston Street, Cardiff CF24 4LR 200 09 Apr Grazeley, S of Reading The Kennet Valley Run 07:00 Sat BR 207km 1700m £8.75 F G L P R T 15-30kph Reading CTC 07951 463831 Titus Halliwell, 9 Epping Close, Reading RG1 7YD 100 09 Apr Grazeley, S of Reading The Kennet Valley 100 09:00 Sat BP 900m £8.75 L P R T 12-30kph Reading CTC 07951 463831 Titus Halliwell, 9 Epping Close, Reading RG1 7YD 300 09 Apr Raynes Park Amesbury Amble 06:00 Sat BRM 312km 2200m £10.00 (60) G L P R T 15-30kph Kingston Wheelers Sarah Perkins, 1 Summer Gardens, East Molesey KT8 9LT 200 09 Apr Writtle, Chelmsford Shaftesbury CC – Essex Lanes & Coasts 08:00 Sat BR 204km 1650m [1700m] £7.50 L P R T 15-30kph Updated Shaftesbury CC r.parrotte@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Richard Parrotte, 23 Mayfield Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3EJ 160 09 Apr Writtle, Chelmsford Shaftesbury CC – Essex Lanes 100 miles 09:00 Sat BP 165km 1340m [1400m] £7.50 L P R T 15-30kph Updated Shaftesbury CC 01245 421088 r.parrotte@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Richard Parrotte, 23 Mayfield Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3EJ 110 09 Apr Writtle, Chelmsford Shaftesbury CC – Essex Lanes 10:00 Sat BP 112km 950m [850m] £7.50 L P R T 15-30kph Updated Shaftesbury CC 01245 421088 r.parrotte@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Richard Parrotte, 23 Mayfield Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3EJ 110 10 Apr Bishops Lydeard, NW of Taunton Dustman Dave’s Doddle 08:30 Sun BP 950m £6.00 L P R T 10-30kph Wellington Whs 07899927978 p_leavey@yahoo.co.uk Philip Leavey, The Spinney, Chitterwell, Wellington TA21 0HF 100 10 Apr Falmouth A Cornish 100 09:00 Sun BP 106km 1400m £7.00 G L P R T 12-25kph Falmouth Whs. philconroy@talktalk.net Philip Conroy, 5 Fairfield Road Falmouth TR11 2DN 50 10 Apr Falmouth A Bunny Hop 10:00 Sun BP 750m £7.00 G L P R T 10-25kph Falmouth Whs. philconroy@talktalk.net Philip Conroy, 5 Fairfield Road Falmouth TR11 2DN 110 10 Apr Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire Spring into the Dales 09:00 Sun BP 115km 2350m AAA2.25 £6.00 G L P T S YH 12-24kph Calderdale CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge HX6 1EF

58

10 Apr Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire Leap into the Aire 10:00 Sun BP 1325m AAA1.25 £5.50 G L P T S YH 8-20kph Calderdale CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge HX6 1EF 300 10 Apr Padiham, Lancashire Knock Ventoux 300 06:00 Sun BRM 302km 4900m AAA4.75 [4600m] £9.70 L P R T X 15-30kph Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive, Ightenhill, Burnley BB12 8AT 110 10 Apr Uffington The Harlequin Hack 09:30 Sun BP 750m £6.00 C F G L P R T 15-30kph Corallian CC 07752 957363 jochta@gmail.com John Talbot, 33 Barretts Way, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon OX14 4DD 100 10 Apr Winnington Park Rugby Club CW8 3AA Ron Sant Memorial Ride 9:30 Sun BP 107km 650m £5.00 P R T S 15-30kph Weaver Valley Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive, Hartford, Northwich CW8 1SJ 400 15 Apr Anywhere, to York Easter Fleches to York 06:00 Fri Arrow £15.00 X 16.666-30kph Audax UK andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair, Dingwall IV7 8LL 200 15 Apr Anywhere, to York Easter Trail Fri BR 201km £12.00 X 15-30kph Audax UK andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair, Dingwall IV7 8LL 300 15 Apr Ponteland Longtown Way Round 07:00 Fri BR 315km 2900m £5.00 X G P T 14.3-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 160 15 Apr Ponteland Up on the Roof 07:30 Fri BP 161km 2316m AAA2.25 [1800m] £5.00 X G P T 13.5-30kph yneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 200 16 Apr Huntingdon Double Dutch, Ship of the Fens 08:00 Sat BR 206km £4.50 X 15-30kph West Sussex CTC malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, Room 2L22 Lab Block, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W12 8RF 200 16 Apr Leominster The Cambrian 07:00 Sat BR 210km 3500m AAA3.5 £6.00 X 14.330kph Hereford & Dist. Whs cambrianaudax@ gmail.com Daryl Hayter, Weir View, Breinton Common, Breinton, Hereford HR4 7PR 140 16 Apr Leominster The Cambrian – Minor 08:00 Sat BP 148km 2035m AAA2 [2250m] £6.00 X 12.5-30kph Hereford & Dist. Whs cambrianaudax@ gmail.com Daryl Hayter, Weir View, Breinton Common, Breinton, Hereford HR4 7PR

300 16 Apr Poynton, S of Stockport – Plains 23:00 Sat BRM 310km 1600m £5.00 P X 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC hamhort84@talktalk.net Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Avenue, Heald Green, Cheadle, Stockport SK8 3NZ 200 16 Apr Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick’s Spring Clean 08:00 Sat BR 208km 1790m £7.50 C F G NM P R T 15-30kph BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, The Dwellings, Woodhall Farm Barns, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YE 200 16 Apr Williamson Park, Lancaster National Clarion 125th Easter Meet 200km (125miles) 08:00 Sat BR 203km 3407m AAA3 £5.00 P G X 15-30kph North Cheshire Clarion neilshand67@gmail.com Neil Shand, 12 Chapel Close, Comberbach, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6BA 130 16 Apr Williamson Park, Lancaster National Clarion 125th Easter Meet 125km(ish) 08:30 Sat BP 134km 2140m AAA2 £5.00 P G X 15-30kph North Cheshire Clarion neilshand67@gmail.com Neil Shand, 12 Chapel Close, Comberbach, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6BA 160 17 Apr Honiton – Combwich Century 08:30 Sun BP 169km 2550m AAA2.5 £9.00 G L P R T (30) 14-30kph Exeter Whs ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 25000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street, Honiton EX14 1PU 110 17 Apr Mountnessing CM15 0TJ I-M-O-L-D 09:00 Sun BP 115km £9.00 F G L P R T 15-30kph Essex CTC s.eichenseher@googlemail.com Stefan Eichenseher, 42A Whitegate Road, Southend-On-Sea SS1 2LQ 100 23 Apr Alveston, Bristol No Time to Yat 09:00 Sat BP 102km 1530m AAA1.5 [1800m] £9.00 F G L R T P 12.5-30kph Change of Date Audax Cymru 07503541573 oliveriles@gmx.com Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG 52 23 Apr Alveston, Bristol Fishing Expedition 10:00 Sat BP 800m AAA0.75 £8.00 F G L R T P 12.5-30kph Change of Date Audax Cymru 07503541573 oliveriles@gmx.com Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG 200 23 Apr Caton, nr Lancaster Stumped and Dented 08:00 Sat BR 206km 3190m AAA3.25 £10.00 G P R T 14.3-30kph Peak Audax CTC darrellwhittle@gmail.com Darrell Whittle, 20 Brookfield Prestwich M25 1EL 150 23 Apr Caton, nr Lancaster A Bit Dented 09:30 Sat BP 152km 2060m AAA2 £10.00 G P R T 12-30kph Peak Audax CTC darrellwhittle@gmail.com Darrell Whittle, 20 Brookfield Prestwich M25 1EL 300 23 Apr Cirencester Heart of England 300 06:00 Sat BRM 307km 2900m £7.00 A(2) L P R T 100 15-30kph Corinium CC 01285 659 515 peter@quernsgate.co.uk ROA 10000 Peter Holden, 39 Querns Lane, Cirencester, Glos GL7 1RL www.audax.uk

59

AUK CALENDAR

Arrivée155Spring2022

200

60

23 Apr Honiton Valley of the Rocks 200 08:00 Sat BRM 205km 3800m AAA3.75 £9.00 G L P R T 40 15-30kph Exeter Whs ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 25000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street, Honiton EX14 1PU 200 23 Apr Melford GreenLong, Melford, CO10 9DG – Grand Tour de Stour 08:00 Sat BR 212km 1350m £6.50 X G M P(30) (9/4) 15-30kph CC Sudbury 01206323521 ian.lovelock@btinternet.com Ian Lovelock, Old School House, Crown Street, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6AS 100 23 Apr Melford Green, Long Melford, CO10 9DQ – Tour de Stour 09:00 Sat BP 106km 700m £6.50 X G M P (30) (08/04) 15-30kph CC Sudbury 01206323521 ian.lovelock@btinternet.com Ian Lovelock, Old School House, Crown Street, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6AS 300 23 Apr Meopham Oasts and Coasts 300km 06:00 Sat BRM 2776m [3000m] £9.00 L P T R 15-30kph Tom Jackson 07703 431827 tom56jackson@gmail.com ROA 5000 Tom Jackson, 19 Denesway, Meopham, Kent DA13 0EA 200 23 Apr Reading, Berks A Tribute to Alan Turing 07:30 Sat BR 209km 2000m [650m] £10.00 G NM P R T 15-30kph Cycling UK Reading Edwin Raj, 312 Henley Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 6LS 110 23 Apr Reading, Berks A Tribute to Robert Boyle 09:00 Sat BP 700m £10.00 G NM P R T 15-30kph Cycling UK Reading Edwin Raj, 312 Henley Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 6LS 55 23 Apr Reading, Berks A Tribute to Johnson & Matthey 09:45 Sat BP 540m £10.00 F G NM P R T 10-30kph Cycling UK Reading Edwin Raj, 312 Henley Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 6LS 200 23 Apr Selkirk Scottish Borders Randonnee 08:00 Sat BR 204km 2168m £7.50 X 15-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur 01750 20838 russellacarson@gmail.com Russell Carson, 21 Ladylands Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4BB 140 23 Apr Selkirk Scottish Borders Populaire 08:00 Sat BP 145km £7.50 X 12-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur 01750 20838 russellacarson@gmail.com Russell Carson, 21 Ladylands Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4BB 100 23 Apr Trowell, Nottingham Charnwood in the Spring 08:30 Sat BP 103km 750m £7.00 L P R T 150 11.5-30kph Nottinghamshire CTC Keith Barton, 13 Normanton Lane, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5HB 200 23 Apr Wadsley, North Sheffield Paris and Moscow in the Spring 08:00 Sat BR 209km 2830m AAA3 [3050m] £6.00 G L P R T (30) (21/04) 14.3-30kph Sheffield District CTC bigt.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1SF

100

23 Apr Wadsley, North Sheffield Paris in the Spring 09:00 Sat BP 106km 1800m AAA1.75 £6.00 G L P R T (40) (21/04) 12.5-25kph Sheffield District CTC bigt.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1SF 57 23 Apr Wadsley, North Sheffield ‘So We Never Got To Paris’ 09:30 Sat BP 990m [850m] £6.00 G L P R T (20) (21/04) 10-20kph Sheffield District CTC bigt.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1SF 200 24 Apr Shenstone, Staffs Castleton Classic 08:00 Sun BR 215km 2700m AAA2.5 [2400m] £8.00 G L P R T 15-30kph CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham B20 1EB 160 24 Apr Shenstone, Staffs Derbyshire Dales 09:00 Sun BP 164km 1680m £8.00 G L P R T 12.530kph CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham B20 1EB 100 24 Apr Shenstone, Staffs Staffordshire Lanes 08:30 Sun BP 103km 1000m £7.00 G F L P R T 12.5-25kph CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham B20 1EB 56 24 Apr Shenstone, Staffs Rosliston Roller 09:15 Sun BP 300m £6.00 G L P R T 10-25kph CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham B20 1EB 100 24 Apr Wray, NE of Lancaster Bowland Forest Populaire 09:00 Sun BP 1800m AAA1.75 £5.00 P R T 75 12.520kph CTC Lancaster & South Lakes 01524 36061 mikehutchinson@fastmail.fm ROA 5000 Mike Hutchinson, 18 Lawnswood Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4NZ 110 27 Apr Alnwick Harry’s Wednesday Potter 09:00 Wed BP 113km 1680m AAA1.75 [1670m] £5.00 X G P 13.3-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 1000 29 Apr Harrowgate Hill, Darlington Highland Fling 14:00 Fri BRM 10610m AAA7.25 [7180m] £60.00 F G L R T Z (103) 13.3-25kph VC 167 dean.clementson@icloud.com Dean Clementson, 10 Redmire Close, Darlington DL1 2ER 200 30 Apr Bolsover – Clumber to Humber (John Kerr Memorial Ride) 08:00 Sat BR 214km 1450m £6.00 L P R T G (100) 15-30kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley1@gmail.com ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6RL 110 30 Apr Bolsover – An NCN Audax 09:00 Sat BP 117km 1036m £6.00 G L P R T (50) 10-20kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley1@gmail.com ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6RL

400

30 Apr Chalfont St Peter, Bucks London Wales London 06:00 Sat BR 407km 3750m £27.00 F G L NM P R T 100 15-30kph Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens, Chiswick, London W4 3TN 400 30 Apr Chepstow – Brevet Cymru 06:00 Sat BRM 401km 5050m AAA2.75 [2750m] £11.00 C F L P R T NM Z 100 15-30kph Updated BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, The Dwellings, Woodhall Farm Barns, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YE 100 30 Apr Churchend, Dunmow, Essex The Woodman 10:00 Sat BP 850m £10.00 C G L M P R T 12.5-25kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway, Dunmow CM6 2AA 50 30 Apr Churchend, Dunmow, Essex The Woodman’s Daughter 09:00 Sat BP 300m £9.00 C G L M P R T 8.3-20kph Audax Club Mid-Essex tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway, Dunmow CM6 2AA 300 30 Apr Cranbrook – Old Roads 300 06:00 Sat BRM 3900m AAA3 [2900m] £6.00 G P R T 15-30kph Exeter Whs shbritton@outlook.com Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane, Cranbrook EX5 7AP 300 30 Apr Nairn, Nr Inverness The Turra Coo 06:00 Sat BRM 310km 2890m £5.00 C X G P T 15-30kph CTC Highland andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair, Dingwall IV7 8LL 300 30 Apr Poole – Hard Boiled 300 02:00 Sat BRM 4350m AAA4.25 [4400m] £10.00 L M (50)(16/4) 15-30kph CTC Wessex Cycling Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road, Denmark Gardens, Poole BH15 2LT 200 01 May Wareham, Purbeck School Dorset Coast 08:00 Sun BRM 205km 2850m AAA2.75 £15.00 15-30kph Change of Date CTC Wessex Cycling ptrevissbell@hotmail.com Peter Treviss, 7 Blandford Road, Tarrant Hinton, Blandford Forum DT11 8HX 110 07 May Alveston, N Bristol South Glos 100 09:30 Sat BP 111km £6.00 PRTG 150 12.5-25kph Bristol CTC alex.rendu@live.co.uk Alex Rendu, Whitethorn, Cock Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9SJ 300 07 May Cardiff – Tro Bro Aeron 06:00 Sat BRM £15.00 X 15-30kph Cardiff Ajax Robyn Thomas, 44 Cosmeston Street, Cardiff CF24 4LR 200 07 May Crystal Palace Fast Times in the High Weald 08:00 Sat BR 208km 3160m AAA3.25 £7.50 F G R 14.3-28kph New Event Brixton CC 07538477541 Rob Hyde, 41 Edric Road, London SE14 5EN

200

07 May Dore, Sheffield Beyond the Roaches 08:00 Sat BR 205km 3100m AAA3 £6.00 L P R T (30) 14.3-30kph Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 269@member.auk John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent, Sheffield S11 9AW 100 07 May Dore, Sheffield To the Roaches 09:00 Sat BP 103km 2050m AAA2 £6.00 F L P T (30) 12-30kph Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 269@member.auk John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent, Sheffield S11 9AW 62 07 May Dore, Sheffield Not as far as the Roaches 09:30 Sat BP 1150m AAA1.25 £6.00 F L P T (30) 10-22kph Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 269@member.auk John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent, Sheffield S11 9AW 100 07 May Galashiels The Bluebell Run to Broughton 10:00 Sat BP 1250m £10.00 P R T L G 12-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur pedaller1@sky.com ROA 25000 Lucy Mctaggart, 30 Victoria Street, Galashiels TD1 1HL 600 07 May Iron Acton, Bristol Devilishly Elegant 04:00 Sat BR 10270m AAA10.25 [10140m] £10.00 YH X G L P R F Z 14.3-20kph Change of Date Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 400 07 May Manningtree Asparagus & Strawberries 09:00 Sat BRM 414km 2700m £5.50 X P G 15-30kph Audax Club Mid-Essex grant@ huggys.co.uk Grant Huggins, 76 Bryony Close, Witham CM8 2XF 100 07 May Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire The Lumpy Python 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1068m [1100m] £7.00 G NM P R T (30) 14-25kph Ythan CC Paul Gordon, 4 Edmondside, Pitmedden, Ellon AB41 7GP 55 07 May Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire The Wee Python 09:30 Sat BP 484m [513m] £7.00 G NM P R T (20) 14-25kph Ythan CC Paul Gordon, 4 Edmondside, Pitmedden, Ellon AB41 7GP 400 07 May St Martins Approach C/Pk Ruislip HA4 8B London Circuit 400 08:30 Sat BRM [3500m] £13.00 T YH R NM G F 15-30kph Updated Audax Club Hackney tsaudax@gmail.com Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Road, Ealing W5 1JG 200 07 May Walbottle, Newcastle Chevy Chase 07:00 Sat BRM 201km 2800m AAA2.75 [2750m] £9.00 F G (30)(24-4) 15-30kph Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0PX 100 08 May Uffington, near Wantage Blowingstone-White Horse 09:30 Sun BP 103km 1300m £7.00 P T R 15-30kph Oxfordshire CTC Nick Dunton, 44A High Street, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon OX14 4AP

100

08 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Between the Parks 09:00 Sun BP 500m £8.00 G L P R T (60) (30/4) 15-30kph Southampton & Romsey CTC rid@ecs.soton.ac.uk Robert Damper, 12 Julius Close, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 2AB 200 08 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Grand National Park2Park 08:00 Sun BR 2400m £10.00 F G L P R T (60) (30/4) 15-30kph Southampton CTC rid@ecs.soton.ac.uk Robert Damper, 12 Julius Close, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 2AB 130 14 May Abbeywood Retail Park, Filton, Bristol – Warrens & Burrows 08:30 Sat BP 1600m £9.00 G, L, P, R, T 12.5-30kph BlackSheep CC 07503541573 oliveriles@gmx.com Oliver Iles, 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG 400 14 May Alfreton – Moors and Wolds 400 10:30 Sat BR 406km 2996m [2425m] £5.00 P R T X G 14.3-30kph Alfreton CTC oggy.dude@gmail.com Stephen Ogden, 12 Primula Grove, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8SD 110 14 May Alfreton – To the Races 09:00 Sat BP £5.00 L P R T 12-30kph Change of Date Alfreton CTC 01773 833 593 tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk ROA 10000 Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7FP 600 14 May Chepstow Bryan Chapman Memorial – Welsh End to End 06:00 Sat BRM 8459m AAA8.5 [8400m] £65.00 BD C F L P R S T Z 15-30kph Pembrokeshire Velo oldfield.tout@btinternet.com Ritchie Tout, Clawdd Coch, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9NQ 300 14 May Galashiels – Reiver Fever 06:00 Sat BR 3949m AAA2.75 [4000m] £5.00 X 15-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur 01750 20838 russellacarson@gmail.com Russell Carson, 21 Ladylands Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4BB 400 14 May Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire The Old 240 05:30 Sat BRM 407km 5650m AAA5.75 £10.00 A(2) G L P R S T Z (30) 15-30kph Calderdale CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge HX6 1EF 400 14 May Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire Not Quite The Spurn Head 400 05:30 Sat BRM 403km 2450m £9.00 A(2) G L P R S T Z (30) 15-30kph Calderdale CTC chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge HX6 1EF 200 14 May Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent Dambusters 08:00 Sat BR 212km 3370m AAA3.25 £10.00 G L P R T 14.3-30kph Four Corners Audax shaun87356@gmail.com Shaun Hargreaves, 6 Langton Court, Werrington, Stoke-On-Trent ST9 0NF 100 14 May Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent Dales and Abbots 09:00 Sat BP 105km £6.00 G L P R T 12-25kph Four Corners Audax shaun87356@gmail.com Shaun Hargreaves, 6 Langton Court, Werrington, Stoke-On-Trent ST9 0NF

100

15 May Wall Chapel Hall, TR27 5HA The Celtic Coastal 09:30 Sun BP 105km 1280m £7.00 R T S 12-25kph Audax Kernow Charles Jarrell, 23 Cober Cres, Reawla, Hayle TR27 5HB 200 20 May Bewdley, Worcestershire HAY SKIVERS! 08:00 Fri BR 208km 3140m AAA3.25 £4.00 X,T,P 14.3-30kph Droitwich Cycling Club 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk Dr Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terrace, Drayton, Stourbridge DY9 0BW 110 20 May Bewdley, Worcestershire PART TIME SKIVERS! 08:00 Fri BP 112km 1633m AAA1.5 [1388m] £4.00 X,G,T 12.5-30kph Droitwich Cycling Club 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk Dr Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terrace, Drayton, Stourbridge DY9 0BW 300 20 May Morpeth Northumberland Nightshift 22:00 Fri BR 301km 2582m [2610m] £5.00 X G P 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 600 21 May Bushley Benjamin Allen’s Summer Outing 05:00 Sat BRM 605km 6850m AAA5.75 [5750m] £18.00 C F G L NM P R T Z 250 15-30kph Updated BlackSheep CC blacksheepaudax@gmail.com ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, The Dwellings, Woodhall Farm Barns, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YE 160 21 May Meriden, Warwickshire Cotswold Challenge 08:00 Sat BP 1200m £10.00 C F G P R T NM 100 15-30kph jonporteous@hotmail.com Jon Porteous, 12 Damson Close, Callow Hill, Redditch B97 5WA 100 21 May Meriden, Warwickshire Warwickshire Wanderer 09:00 Sat BP 105km 700m £10.00 C F G P R T NM 100 12-25kph jonporteous@hotmail.com Jon Porteous, 12 Damson Close, Callow Hill, Redditch B97 5WA 300 21 May Nantwich, CW5 6PQ Ledbury 300km 07:00 Sat BR 320km £10.00 G L P R T (30) 15-30kph Brandon Edgeley, Mile House Barn, Main Road, Worleston CW5 6DH 200 21 May Nantwich Wenlock Edge 200km 08:00 Sat BR 208km £8.00 G L P R T (30) 15-30kph Brandon Edgeley, Mile House Barn, Main Road, Worleston CW5 6DH 110 21 May Nantwich, CW5 6PQ Whittington Castle 120km 09:00 Sat BP 118km £8.00 G L P R T (30) 15-30kph Brandon Edgeley, Mile House Barn, Main Road, Worleston CW5 6DH 82 21 May Nantwich, CW5 6PQ Whixall Marina 80km 09:30 Sat BP £6.50 G L P R T (30) 12.5-30kph Brandon Edgeley, Mile House Barn, Main Road, Worleston CW5 6DH 300 21 May Northallerton Scout Hut Northallerton 300 06:00 Sat BR 2540m £10.00 F G L P R T 15-30kph VC 167 paul.roberts901@tiscali.co.uk Paul Roberts, 37 The Close, Romanby, Northallerton DL7 8BL

400

21 May Raynes Park, London SW20 Dauntsey Dawdle 06:00 Sat BRM 3420m AAA1.75 [1660m] £12.00 G L P R T (100) 15-30kph Kingston Wheelers campbell.x.chris@gmail.com Chris Campbell, New Malden KT3 200 21 May Rickmansworth, Herts Tour de Ricky 200 08:00 Sat BR £10.00 G NM R T (100) 15-30kph Willesden CC 07881 841 355 lfitzpatrick01@gmail.com Liam Fitzpatrick, 13 Heron Close, Rickmansworth WD3 1NF 100 21 May Rickmansworth Tour De Ricky 100 09:00 Sat BP £9.00 G NM R T (100) 15-30kph Willesden CC 07881 841 355 lfitzpatrick01@gmail.com Liam Fitzpatrick, 13 Heron Close, Rickmansworth WD3 1NF 50 21 May Rickmansworth Tour de Ricky 50 10:00 Sat BP £6.00 (50) 12-30kph Change of Date Willesden CC 07881 841 355 lfitzpatrick01@gmail.com Liam Fitzpatrick, 13 Heron Close, Rickmansworth WD3 1NF 400 21 May Strathpeffer, Nr Dingwall Hellfire Corner 05:00 Sat BRM 406km 4700m AAA4.25 [4150m] £20.00 A C F G L NM P R T Z 15-25kph CTC Highland andrewuttley155@outlook.com ROA 10000 Andy Uttley, Suil Na Mara, Wester Cullicudden, Balblair, Dingwall IV7 8LL 1600 22 May Bristol Big Gert Brevet – Populaire 06:00 Sun BP 26350m AAA26.25 £16.44 X G L 5-15kph Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 200 22 May Lymington New Forest Excursion 08:00 Sun BR 207km £9.00 C G R T (100) (1/5) 15-30kph Cycling New Forest smethbike@gmail.com David Smethurst, Woodlea, Balmer Lawn Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7TT 100 22 May Lymington New Forest Day Out 10:00 Sun BP 107km [2m] £8.00 C P R T (100) (01/05) 10-20kph Cycling New Forest smethbike@gmail.com David Smethurst, Woodlea, Balmer Lawn Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7TT 100 24 May Allenheads – Allenheads 09:00 Tue BP 102km 1890m AAA2 £6.00 G P R T 14.3-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds 07875224229 audax@dixonberne.plus.com (please enter online) 200 28 May Aylestone, Leicester Kings and Queens of Mercia 08:00 Sat BR 1900m £6.00 GLRT 15-30kph Leicester Forest CC Robert Jones, 20 Lavender Road, Leicester LE3 1AL 100 28 May Barcombe Mills AAA Milne 10:00 Sat BP 1640m AAA1.75 £3.00 F L P R T 12.525kph Grimpeurs du Sud malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, Room 2L22, Lab Block, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W12 8RF

200

28 May Evesham – Neville Chanin Memorial – Over The Severn 08:00 Sat BR 203km 2850m AAA2.75 [2750m] £9.00 F G T 15-30kph Evesham & Dist Whs neilrob3@gmail.com Neil Robinson, Flat 7 Swans Reach, 45 Swan Lane, Evesham WR11 4PD 400 28 May Exeter Exeter-London (Back to the Smoke 400) 12:00 Sat BRM 3850m £7.00 G X 15-30kph Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 25000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street, Honiton EX14 1PU 400 28 May Poynton, S of Stockport Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrn drobwllllantysiliogogogoch 400 09:00 Sat BRM 2600m £10.00 G P R T 15-30kph Peak Audax CTC 01457 870 421 peakaudax@hotmail.co.uk ROA 25000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm, Millcroft Lane, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5UX 200 28 May Selkirk – Lanterne Rouge 08:00 Sat BR 2630m AAA1.75 [1710m] £7.50 X 15-30kph Scottish Borders Randonneur 01750 20838 russellacarson@gmail.com Russell Carson, 21 Ladylands Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4BB 100 28 May Wigginton, York – WWW 100 10:00 Sat BP £4.00 G L P R T 13.1-25kph York Wednesday Wheelers 01904 769 378 keith@dkbenton.uk Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive, Wigginton, York YO32 2DB 1600 29 May Bristol Bristol Glasgow Bristol – Randonneur 04:00 Sun BRM 1635km 26350m AAA26.25 £16.44 X G L 9.6-30kph Updated Audax Club Bristol will@audaxclubbristol.co.uk Will Pomeroy, 19 Berwick Road, Bristol BS5 6NG 200 29 May Huddersfield – Huddersfield Star Wheelers Humber Bridge 08:00 Sun BR 230km 1300m £5.00 X G T 15-30kph Huddersfield Star nephialty@gmail.com Nephi Alty, Heath House View, Ridings Lane, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4PZ 100 29 May Lound Village Hall, nr Lowestoft, Suffolk – The Broadsman 10:00 Sun BP £6.00 G,L,NM,P,R,T (30) 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft NR33 9NT 200 29 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special 08:00 Sun BR 1250m £6.00 FRTP 15-30kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft NR33 9NT 160 29 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special 09:00 Sun BP 1250m £6.00 FRTP (30) 12.5-25kph VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft NR33 9NT 110 29 May Maidenhead Tippy’s 10 Thames Bridges 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm, Leigh Square, Windsor SL4 4PT 62 29 May Maidenhead Tippy’s Kaf to Kaf 10:00 Sun BP £5.00 P R T 12-25kph Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm, Leigh Square, Windsor SL4 4PT

www.audax.uk

61

PRIZE CROSSWORD No.8 by Sprocket

WIN

£50

r choice u o y f o r vouche ill be drawn from all w e the winn r entries received by the correct pril 2022 31 A Send your completed grid to: The editor Arrivée magazine crossword Walnut Farm, Bagpath, Kingscote Gloucestershire GL8 8YQ or email a picture/copy to: gedlennox@me.com YOUR NAME:

MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

ACROSS 1 Rides effortlessly to Land’s End more than once 6 5 Folk enthusiast is performing to pupils 8 9 On hand to wash half a pair of bloomers 8 10 Cloud blowing west for less than 60 seconds 6 11 Control-obsessed, bad at it and far from rational!

12 13 Strictly no cornering at this event?

4 14 Hose runs all over the place, causing floods 8 17 Rather rebuild than raze old town 8 18 The sound of hail on water?

4 20 Perhaps character in mix can be counted on?

5,7 23 Secondhand meal to stick to beater 6 24 Sprocket’s into gram-shaving, somehow mutating frame material 8 25 Adoption of old states engulfed in backward error 8 26 Totally wrecked, just like 19d 6

DOWN 2 Odd shape? Alternatives non-viable 3 Shred steering apparatus under vice, audibly 4 They outgrow frames and pedals quickly 5 Awkwardly attempted a “hello” with one foot down 6 Flat straight walls in middle of harbour 7 Bird in both hands is a rare tree-dweller 8 Rascal faces trouble for a friendly pet below the knee 12 Records sound made by herd with trunks 15 They murmur about “celebrity cycling support” 16 Materially significant number of bicycles?

19 Event providing sauce but no dinner?

21 Leaders had a good go with some group provocation 22 It makes you healthier, somewhat like smoking

4 9 6 5,2,3,5 8 5 7,3 10 9 8 1-5 5 4

Arrivée155Spring2022

Solution for No.7

62

Congratulations to the first correct solution drawn for our crossword No.7: Andy Watt Membership No. 9240

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

MEMBERSHIP Enquiries: Caroline Fenton (AUK Membership Secretary), 56 Lockesfield Place, London E14 3AJ membership@audax.uk One and five year membership available – for full details and fees see https://audax.uk/join-us/ ARRIVÉE Extra or back copies of Arrivée

subject to availability – please contact Caroline Fenton

ISSUE 156 – SUMMER 2022 EDITION

TO ADVERTISE Rates per issue: ¼ page £75, pro rata to £300 per page. Payment in advance. We rely on good faith and Arrivée cannot be held responsible for advertisers’ misrepresentations or failure to supply goods or services.

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

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

Designed and produced for AUK by: gedesign, Bagpath, Gloucestershire.

Printed by: Taylor Brothers, Bristol Distribution data from: Caroline Fenton and the AUK Membership Team.

Send your stories to gedlennox@me.com There is no copy deadline for stories as most will be published, but not necessarily immediately unless they are time-relevant.

COPY DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISERS: 30 April 2022 ● Send your text in any word-processor format and your pictures as separate files (i.e. not embedded in the document). ● Images must be as big as possible, anything below 1Mb jpeg is not useable ● It is essential that your photographs are captioned, preferably in a separate document, cross referenced to your pictures. ● Include your full contact details – including your AUK number – we cannot publish your story otherwise ● Copy all the content into a single folder ● If it is too large (i.e. more than 10Mb) please use WeTransfer, MailBigFile or a cloud-based platform like Dropbox etc. ● Please do not use the old Mediafire gateway as it is no longer functional.

Board and delegates Individual email addresses are listed for Board members and delegates, where relevant. For general enquiries or if you are not sure who to contact, please use secretary@audax.uk.

Please bear in mind that all Board members and delegates are volunteers and so may not always be able to respond immediately.

Chair and LRM/ACP representative Chris Crossland 14 Stanley Street West, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 1EF chair@audax.uk 01422 832 853 The Chair supervises: IT Manager Kevin Lake it@audax.uk who is advised by: IT refresh project board including co-opted members: Dan Campbell Neil Goldsmith Otto Reinders and who has the following delegates: www.aukweb.net Website manager: Francis Cooke Systems administrator: Terry Kay audax.uk Web content manager: Dave Allison webcontent@audax.uk AUK forum administrator Kevin Lake AUK forum Moderator Kevin Lake The Chair also supervises these delegates: Mileater secretary (currently on a temporary basis) Chris Crossland (details as above) FWC (Fixed Wheel Challenge) and Super Fixed Wheel Richard Phipps, 77 West Farm Avenue, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2JZ. richard@richardphipps.co.uk

General Secretary Graeme Provan Whitelands, Terling Road, Hatfield Peverel, Essex CM3 2AG secretary@audax.uk The Secretary supervises these delegates: Registrar Les Hereward, 20 Webster Close, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 OSF leshereward@gmail.com Annual reunion organisers Paul Rainbow paul@audaxclubbristol.co.uk and Mark Gibson Markg103@gmail.com Finance director Nigel Armstrong 13 Upper Bank End Road, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD91ES 01484 687587 fd@audax.uk Directors without portfolio Andy Yates Director and membership secretary Caroline Fenton 56 Lockesfield Place, London E14 3AJ membership@audax.uk The Membership secretary supervises these delegates: Membership admininistration Mike Wigley (Admin) Enrolments Peter Davis Howard Knight Communications director Position vacant The Communications director supervises these delegates: Arrivée managing editor Ged Lennox gedlennox@me.com Badge and medal shop secretary Allan Taylor www.audaxmedals.southportcc.co.uk

Director and calendar events secretary Ian Hennessey 10 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1PU events@audax.uk The calendar events secretary supervises these delegates: Regional events delegates Scotland & Northern England: Andy Uttley Midlands & Eastern England: Grant Huggins South East England: Pat Hurt South West England & Wales: Andy Cox UAF delegate Dave Minter Director and Permanents secretary John Ward 34 Avenue Road, Lymington S041 9GJ permanents@audax.uk 01590 671205 The Permanents secretary supervises these delegates: DIY regional representatives Scotland: Martin Foley North West England: Julian Dyson Yorkshire & East England: Andy Clarkson Midlands, North and Mid Wales: Mike Kelly South West England and South Wales: Rob Baird South East England (inside M25): Paul Stewart South East England Home counties: Martin Lucas ECE delegate Martin Malins Malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk OCD delegate Rod Dalitz 136 Muir Wood Road, Edinburgh EH14 5HF rod.dalitz@me.com

Event Services director and recorder Dan Smith 95 Regents Court, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5AQ services@audax.uk 07596 248528 The Event Services director supervises these delegates: Validation secretary Cathy Brown 76 Victoria St, Kirkwall KW15 1DQ validations@audax.uk Awards secretary Peter Davis awards@audax.uk RRTY award secretary Grant Huggins 76 Bryony Close, Witham, Essex CM8 2XF rrty@audax.uk AAA secretary Ivan Cornell aaa@audax.uk Brevet card production secretary Oliver lles 49 Upper Belmont Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9DG brevetcards@audax.uk Production of permanent cards is handled by: John Ward 34 Avenue Road, Lymington S041 9GJ permanents@audax.uk Entry forms: If you want a blank postal entry form this is downloadable from our website, but you can also request a paper copy from the Membership Secretary (contact details on this page)

www.audax.uk

63