arrivee_132_2016

Arrivée
Number 132 Spring 2016
the Long Distance Cyclists’ Association
www.aukweb.net

Peter Henley on the Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100k
Photo by beckirobinsonphotography.co.uk

editorial
Spring 2016 – forty years of AUK
It was good to see so many new
Randonneurs listed in the last magazine,
602 in fact plus 233 members joined the
ranks of Super Randonneur. Well done
and welcome to you all. I hope you
all get something special out of AUK
which you may not have done riding by
yourself or with your local club/DA. I can
still remember the huge satisfaction I
felt when I gained my first SR, riding Windsor-Chester-Windsor
600 to complete the series in 1988. It had been a steep learning
curve following a National 400 when one of the experienced
finishers that day said to me 'You should go for a 600 now'. I
had barely survived the 400 from a midday start, no sleep and
no water for the last 50k. Lessons were learned that day, the SR
beckoned and before I knew it I was into a long distance cycling
career, travelling around the country at weekends looking for
Contents
A trial by wind and rain.............................................................. 4
Looking for a first ever 300k in 2016?............................. 6
Golden Road and Standing Stones ................................. 8
2014 Tour de British Library ................................................. 10
Brest endeavours........................................................................... 14
The decline and fall of MacNasty ................................... 18
El Supremo's Autumn Tints 100 ....................................... 20
The National 400 2016 from Peak Audax.................. 22
Finishing on a high...................................................................... 24
PBP 2015 – from the outside looking in..................... 26
Windrush Winter Warm-up 100 ........................................ 32
Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100 ......................... 33
Hebridean Island Hop 200k Part 2 ................................ 36
Lumicycle Explorer Enduro lighting system
review ............................................................................................... 44
Bi-focal action sports sunglasses review................. 45
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance
book review....................................................................................... 45
Cicerone Cycling Guides review....................................... 46
Drynamo base layer review................................................. 46
News and Correspondence.................................................. 47
My blue bridge to PBP ............................................................ 48
Kidderminster Killer ................................................................... 52
Oh to become a Randonneur Round the Year .... 54
Fairies 100k.......................................................................................... 57
AUK Calendar................................................................................... 58
OCD claims for 2015.................................................................... 66
Front cover: Ian Milne, Rob Wood and Neil Scafe riding the
Golden Road and Standing Stones 300, Stornoway.
Photo by Dean Clementson.
Next edition of Arrivée is in August. Please send your
copy to David (address on right) by July 3rd
PLEASE MENTION ARRIVEE WHEN REPLYING TO OUR
ADVERTISERS
new and exciting events to conquer. I met so many feisty characters and legends
of AUK over the next few years (Sheila Simpson, Mick Potts, Rocco, Liz Creese, Sean
Shaw, Nev Chanin, MacNasty, El Supremo, Steve Abraham plus the unforgettable Jack
Eason to name a few). I discovered many areas of Britain completely unknown to me
and then my wife got the audax bug and matched my rides, both chasing the elusive
Wessex SR until it was finally achieved, followed by PBP and LEL as a matter of course.
I found a map of the UK which clearly defined all the counties and I realised I had
cycled in every mainland county – some of my favourites being Dorset, Shropshire, the
Peak District and Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands – superb cycling areas.
AUK needs a regular supply of fresh blood to keep the club alive and vibrant with
new ideas and new organisers, and I really hope our new members continue the
traditions and lessons learned since the start of AUK 40 years ago. So newcomers, go
forth, ride the kilometres, earn your medals, spread the randonnée word and record
your experiences for the club magazine.
■ On a very sad note, I have to report the death of one of our members, Richard Ellis
from Rayleigh in Essex, who died after a collision with a car on the Dorset Coast 200.
Richard was a very experienced rider and I believe AUK's first fatality on an event in 40
years. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Keep your wheels turning.
Tim
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www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 3

andonnee 200
A trial by wind and rain
Laura Pugh's first audax – Straight on a Rosie’s 200km, 1190m ascent. Organised by Alfreton CTC
It was early morning on Saturday 6th
February and we were chatting to a fellow
cyclist whilst unloading the tandem. 'This
is Laura’s first audax,' my boyfriend Stevie
commented. The fellow cyclist proceeded
to give me an appraising look whilst I tried
to look confident. 'Most people start with a
100, you know…' he said. 'Oh well, at least
it’s the weather for it!' I joked, knowing full
well it wasn’t.
Not only was I undertaking
my first audax as a 200, but
this was early February in
between storms Henry and
Imogen with heavy rain
forecast for most of the day and direct
headwinds gusting over 40mph all the
way back. I’d definitely not made things
easy for myself!
I have always had a bike from
childhood and have done my share of
commuting on my trusty hybrid 'Denise',
it has only been since last year that I’ve
been taking things a bit more seriously.
A friend talked me into participating
in the Prudential Ride London to 'Save
the Rhinos' and with the help of Stevie,
who is an experienced cyclist and wellseasoned
audaxer, I was plunged into a
world of lycra, chamois cream and SPDS!
I completed the Ride London in
a respectable 6h13 but a summer of
cycling in the Derbyshire countryside had
definitely given me the bug.
When the winter edition of Arrivée
landed on our doormat we were soon
flicking through it to find some audaxes.
Due to shift patterns, Straight on at
Rosie’s was the only reasonable option for
early on in the year and before we knew
it stamped addressed envelopes had
been posted.
Leading up to the event I was
determined to increase my fitness and
over the next few week clocking up
around 500k and conquering some
formidable heights like Rowsley Bar and
Riber Wall, all on the trusty Denise!
However, my old battered hybrid was
not suitable for an audax and we were
planning to ride it tandem. This would be
my fifth time ever on a tandem!
To add an extra challenge, Stevie’s
shifts had left him very little time to train
and apart from commuting, this was
only his second ride of the year and self
admittedly his fitness was not at its peak.
All this was challenge enough, but the
week running up to the ride the weather
forecast seemed to get progressively
worse. Caught between two major
storms (you know they are big when they
get names!), the weather couldn’t have
been much worse.
'Are you sure you want to do this?'
Stevie asked a few days before the ride,
'it’s going to hurt. To really hurt. Especially
with headwinds all way back.'
I have never been one to let the
weather put me off much, but I realised
this was serious with my inexperience
and Stevie’s relative lack of fitness.
'I want to try,' I said.
And that was it, the next few days I
spent trying to decipher route sheets,
stock up on provisions and figure out
a tandem/camper van transportation
solution.
We soon found ourselves in a dark,
wet car park in Alfreton on Saturday
morning. We checked in and were treated
4
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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andonnee 200
to tea and biscuits by friendly organiser
Tom. Everyone looked very well prepared
compared to us and I looked at my first
Brevet card and thought: all I have to do
is fill in all the boxes! Easy huh?!
Before I knew it we were on the road
and I was soon getting used to the view
of Stevie’s back and trying to remember
not to steer! The first stretch was 60k
out to Rosie’s and thanks to Stevie’s
experience I knew to break the ride down
in my head into sections. Hence we had
a great ride to Rosie’s, with tailwinds
and only heavy showers at the end. We
dived into the warm café and promptly
devoured bacon cobs, beans and eggs
on toast and two cups of tea. Due to
being slightly peckish I was eating with
less decorum than normal and when a
friendly man came to collect our plates it
must have showed as he commented:
'Hungry boys?!'
He probably couldn’t see my face
from it being buried in my breakfast!
We were soon ready to get back on
the bikes and were lucky enough to catch
a break in the showers as we set off. Just
another 40k bike ride I told myself…
The tailwind soon kicked in and we
were soon speeding in the 20s alongside
the river up to the Humber estuary and
the Blacktoft sands bird reserve. We
made it there in what seemed like no
time and briefly admired the view across
the marshlands.
Two stickers down and all I need to do
now is get back again I told myself…
The next 24k were not so easy. Strong
head and crosswinds left Stevie battling
to keep the tandem in a straight line
and out of traffic. We finally made it to
the Tiny Teapot Café and I was rewarded
with a hot chocolate with cream and
marshmallows and we tucked into jacket
potatoes. By this point the café was full
of fellow randonneurs and there was a
great friendly atmosphere. Everyone was
feeling a bit battered by the wind but
there was such a sense of determination,
optimism and camaraderie I felt excited
to be part of it all.
We soon headed off in search of the
name of a particular pub in Bawtry for
our cards and although still present
we were somewhat sheltered from the
headwinds in the more built-up areas. I
was tiring somewhat by this point and
my arms were increasingly aching as I
suspect my bars are a bit low. We made
it though and after a brief pit stop we
soldiered onto Shireoaks and our last
info control. This was another 24k and I
used the trick of breaking the ride down
in sections again to motivate myself to
keep going.
It was dark by the time we reached
Shireoaks but we were kitted out with
lights and despite the nagging headwind
I felt tired but confident and determined
that I was going to make it round. Little
did I know the worst was yet to come and
the last 31k would prove harder than the
rest of the ride so far.
As we left Shireoaks it became more
rural and exposed and the winds picked
up. A drizzle started and we lost a peg
from our route sheet making navigation
tricky, especially in the dark. The wind
and rain picked up further to the point
wheere I felt blasted by it on the back of
the tandem and had the tricky choice of
glasses on and reduced visibility or off
and sleety rain and grit in my eyes! Stevie
was bearing the brunt of this on the
front and we had to pull over to figure
out our next turn. As soon as we did the
heavens opened in one of the heaviest
rain showers I have experienced and we
were instantly soaked – water poured
down my neck under my jacket soaking
my base layer. We were struggling to read
road names through this when luckily
another cyclist came flying past us –
that must be the turn we thought, only
another audaxer would be mad enough
to be out in this!
Relentless rain and wind
As we continued to higher ground the
rain and winds were relentless and we
became more exposed. The county
lanes narrowed as well and we had hit
peak time for drivers speeding along to
get to their takeaway dinners in front
of the box. Poor visibility resulted in
me almost landing in the hedge when
we hit a pothole and we almost had a
run in with a muck spreader we hadn’t
realised was attached to the back of a
rather aggressively driven tractor. The
weather was making it hard to take on
food and water as stopping for seconds
meant getting colder and wetter and
losing the clip on the route sheet meant
Stevie was having to find increasingly
novel ways to hold it and we resorted
to memorising the next three directions
and then stopping. Even with the lights
on full it was impossible to read some
of the signs in the rain and dark and as
our energy levels were slowly sapped we
knew a wrong turn at this point could be
disastrous.
These miles seemed to drag out
forever but Stevie’s experience got us
through. My heart sank though when
we reached Hardwick Hall – I couldn’t
believe we still had some distance to
go. We met up with another rides at
this point though and gained some
encouragement and checked directions.
Coming down through Hardwick Hall
I tried not to dwell in how desperately
hard this ride had become in the last 30k,
just to get to the end and was reminded
the last time I was here I had barely
managed to limp to the pub on crutches
following knee surgery. It had been
humiliating to be so incapacitated and I
felt proud I’d come so far since then and it
gave me strength to go on.
The ride got a bit more bumpy and it
‘Even
with the
lights on
full it was
impossible
to read
some of the
signs in the
rain and
dark.’
was a struggle to keep turning the pedals
to get us up the hills and to hold on with
my now jelly-like arms descending. Every
village we passed was a huge relief and I
was delighted to see the last climb up to
Alvaston.
'We could crawl back on our hands
and knees from here,' I said!
We finally rolled into the car park and
stumbled into the final control which was
and oasis of calm and warmth. Having
seen my shaking hands I had to have help
to complete my brevet card and Tom
brought us the best cup of tea I have ever
tasted. I couldn’t quite believe we’d done
it, especially in such extreme conditions
and felt relieved and dazed. Two more
cups of tea and some dry clothes later
we felt vaguely human and were able to
venture out into the weather to load the
tandem. Everyone organising had been
so supportive and helpful and seemed
impressed it was my first audax which
made me feel very proud and we were
reluctant to leave such a friendly group.
It transpired only two-thirds of entries
started, probably due to the forecast and
we had come in with nine people behind
us and an hour to spare, not dead last as
I’d half expected.
We were soon waiting to collect our
celebratory curry when Stevie said he’d
got something for me: A 200 audax
medal! Maybe I should have grown out of
such things but it meant a lot because I
knew what had gone into earning it and
I know it will always remind me of this
first ride.
So, after such a draining, extreme,
painful and completely exhausting
experience will I ever consider another
audax again? Well the dates are on the
calendar already and the days can only
get better and the weather warmer …
300k can’t be that much further … it’s
only another 50k to get to the turning
point!
N
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 5

andonnee 300
Looking for a first ever 300k in
2016? Look no further…
Picking up a cold in the week before the 2015
Hard Boiled 300k was disappointing, but the
perfect excuse to try out alternatives in PBP
year. A quick email secured a late entry in
the Wonderful Wessex 300km the following
weekend; as a precaution I entered the Green
and Yellow Fields 300k the week after that.
Starting from Rowlands Castle
just before daybreak, the
Wonderful Wessex 311k route
looks like a slice of brie; it
follows a scenic but not overly
hilly route, with more climbing in the first
half than the second, and a chance to
see and exit Bath via the newly opened
Two Tunnels Greenway. The forecast rain
appeared not long after the start and
had set in by the first control after 57k at
Whitchurch Tescos local. Not wanting to
stop I grabbed a couple of bananas and a
bargain bag of sweeties, and beetled off
across the rolling Wessex Downs towards
Malmesbury. Being unsure of my form,
I expected to spend my day riding solo,
and so it proved. With a gusty cross wind,
the wet descent of Hackpen Hill was more
interesting than I prefer, but I was soon in
the Summer Café, marvelling at the speed
of the service.
Familiar roads are always a comfort,
and even more so when they are dry.
Having climbed gently up to Bannerdown,
I was looking forward to the broad and
fast descent into Batheaston. Oh oh –
right turn into Steway Lane. Descending
this little brute was a test of nerve, and
required brakes full on at times just to
keep speed at a level to allow a softish
landing in case anything came the other
way. (Paul had clearly recced this route
in summer time, when no fresh stew
had been spread across the bitumen.)
Traffic queueing through Bath presented
a different technical challenge, but after
10 minutes traffic jamming and a quick
bottle top up at a garage en route, I exited
town via the new Sustrans Two tunnels
greenway.
With cycle-activated coloured lights
and music players in the tunnel walls,
these offer a full-on sensory experience.
As the tunnels avoided the climb over
Coombe Down, my legs were relatively
fresh for the grunt over Midford Hill.
Upton Scudamore was well named, but
the last hill before the long run down the
Wylye Valley. With 200k up, my legs were
feeling the pace, but with a nice tailwind
I surfed a jelly baby provided sugar wave
all the way to Salisbury. With almost three
hours’ daylight remaining the return of the
rain mattered not.
A leisurely coffee freshened my legs for
the climb away from Salisbury, after which
the roads rolled gently along valleys
familiar from other rides. Each time I felt
I was fading, someone came past to give
me a wheel/tail-light to aim for. Before
I knew it I was home and looked like I
had been hosed down with dirty water.
Service at the finish was provided in great
style by the Whitehead family, with young
Sam Whitehead the star of the show. If
he can’t get a job as a chimney sweep, a
career as a waiter, or postman beckons…
Green and Yellow fields, a 305km
event, starts and finishes at Manningtree
station, near Colchester. It advertises
an ‘Easy run using a mixture of lanes
and quiet A roads to the Norfolk coast
for breakfast. Manned finish control at
Manningtree Station buffet’. Controls
were at the 24 hour garage on the A11 at
Barton Mills; an info at Burnham Deepdale
on the A149 near the Norfolk coast; at
Wymondham Waitrose and the excellent
Alder Carr farm shop near Needham
Market.
Formerly run as a 400k, Green and
Yellow fields now has a midnight start
with the option of a pre-ride curry in
Manningtree. I opted for the train due
to arrive closest to start time, and found
myself in a carriage full of bikers at
Liverpool Street. No problem getting bikes
on, but worth using the toilet facilities
on the train, as there are none at the
start. The usual large entry in PBP year
completely filled the lanes we followed
for the first few miles and demanded
concentration, especially when a car
appeared. With few steep hills and light
traffic volumes, this ride is good for
honing bike control and night riding skills
in the large bunches you may encounter
in LEL or sportives.
Things settled after an hour or so as
we headed west into a crosswind. As we
neared the first control we turned slightly
with the wind and the pace went up.
Having initially ignored the boot going
in, my brain reacted when the tail-lights
were almost out of sight. Aargh, soon I
might have to do my own navigation.
Ten minutes ‘eyeballs out’ riding later, I
‘Descending
this little
brute was
a test of
nerve, and
required
brakes full
on at times
just to
keep speed
at a level
to allow
a softish
landing
in case
anything
came the
other way.’
was back on, and soon at the A11 garage.
Saving the pocket food I had brought with
me for later, I headed off solo with my gps
light on, so I wouldn’t miss the upcoming
turn off the main road.
Breckland roads are ideal for night
riding, especially with a tailwind. Grimes
Graves passed to my right, as did a
potential McDo stop in Swaffham around
04:30. As a grey day broke, I found myself
hanging onto a bunch of VC Norwich
riders, but spirits rose as we darted down
the not-very Deepdale of Preston to a sit
down info control at the turn. Homemade
lemon drizzle cake and squash, and a
cheerful good morning went down well,
but the warm cuppa I really wanted would
have to wait.
There was no traffic on the A149,
though there were indications that our
good progress overnight had been
wind assisted. Passed a rider who had
overshot our right turn, and cruising up
on another struggling up the next rise
helped my morale, but it was not to last.
Ten minutes later my legs were feeling the
effects of that rise and the breeze; when
I looked over my shoulder I found I was
sheltering a line of half a dozen riders.
Keeping the pace steady at 23kph was not
easy in the strengthening wind, but with
Wymondham café control due at 220km, I
had a bacon sandwich in mind.
The forecast rain stayed off until we left
Wymondham, but was not heavy enough
for a coat. As always when you decide not
to cape up, the weather gods take it as a
challenge, and soon enough it was pelting
down. Made a tactical blunder in putting
the head down during the heavy rain, as
the riders I dropped regrouped and flew
past me at speed. With the clouds lifting I
finally saw my first yellow field after 250k
– looking great against the green and blue
sky.
By the last control the weather was
nice again and I was almost dry. Finished
early afternoon, feeling foolish, as I had
booked a train home late afternoon.
Manningtree station buffet was until
recently listed in the National Inventory
of Historic pub interiors and still serves
real ale; my water bottle of Woodfordes
Wherry tasted sweet on my rearranged
train home.
Both the Wonderful Wessex and Green
and Yellow Fields 300km rides are within
easy reach of public transport, ideal as a
first ever 300km ride. N
6
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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andonnee 300
Golden Road and
Standing Stones
Dean Clementson
Why do we bother? The thought struck me
while travelling up to Stornoway, where last
July I rode the Golden Road and Standing
Stones 300, organised by Ian Gilbert.
Now, it seems obvious that
anyone would want to
ride their bike around the
Western Isles. Quiet roads,
endless views, and even a
ferry journey. Ferries rank second on
my all-time top ten favourite ways of
travelling. But it’s such a bloody long way
to get there. My journey started at 5am
on a Thursday with a ride to the train
station and a train to Newcastle to meet
Rob Wood for the drive (well, I sat and
let Rob drive) for seven-and-a-half hours,
then a final hop on a ferry over to the
isles, arriving at 7pm. I live in the north of
England as well.
Was it worth the effort? I suppose it
depends on why you ride these distances
in the first place. I was drawn into
randonneuring by a chance encounter
on a train (my fourth-favourite means
of transportation, if anyone’s keeping
count) with a cyclist who knew Nigel
Hall, the organiser of the Border Raid 600,
which started nearly from home, and
went up to Scotland. This immediately
caught my imagination, as a mate and I
had ridden to Scotland after our exams
in the mid-nineties with no money, no
real plans and no clue at all. We rode
straight up the main A68 road, slept in a
hedge in Scotland, and blagged our way
into a youth hostel somewhere in the
Borders before heading slowly home. The
idea of riding from home in Darlington
to Scotland and back was immensely
appealing.
Austere and bleak moors
None of the roads on the Border Raid
reminded me of our adolescent tour, but
one of the things that does draw me back
to riding these distances is that sense
of exploration, seeing new places, and
there aren’t many landscapes in the UK
like Lewis and Harris. I’ve been to Lewis
before, and loved its bleak moors and
austere, higgledy-piggledy settlements,
8
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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andonnee 300
set back from the gorgeous beaches. You
have to make a bit of an effort on Lewis
to find the beaches and the sea, whereas
Harris is all rocky coves and in-your-face
perfect beaches. Yellow sand, blue seas
and huge skies, all right there when
you’re riding your bike on the Golden
Road and the other bits of Harris. The
contrast is quite sharp, as I commented to
one of my fellow riders, Dan, who replied
that it was one of the joys of Lewis,
searching out the hidden beaches – he’d
grown up there, and knew it fairly well.
Rob, Neil and I ended up calling Dan
'Rapha Man', and as there were only 13
starters, we came up with nicknames
for most of them. We didn’t see much of
Rapha Man, Movistar Man or Triathlon
Girl after the first climb over Scaladale
from Lewis to Harris, as they were all
riding strongly. I think Triathlon Girl had
a hot date in Stornoway to get back for,
which she did, as she was the first back
by a few hours. We did keep running
into Happy Smiley Man, the world’s
happiest randonneur, who was touring
around at the back of the field and never
stopped smiling. I heard he was over from
Shetland, so the extra land was probably
the source of his delight, and he certainly
contrasted with Robert Gray who was
mooching about near the back, and who
was a bit mumbly and miserable-looking,
but it turned out he’d caught the 3am
freight ferry over and completely failed
to get any sleep, which explained his
demeanour. He was excellent company
on the drive over to Inverness the next
day.
Ferries on strike
Travel had been a big issue, and it was
the reason for the small field of 13. There
had been 50 entrants, but a ferry strike
on the Friday before the ride kiboshed
most riders’ plans, and was a great shame
for Ian. I did feel that there was a lot of
sympathy for the strike amongst the
islanders that I spoke to, as the strike
was over concerns about the proposal to
privatise CalMac, and the effect this could
have upon the services which are literally
a lifeline for the islanders.
Selfishly, I enjoyed the intimacy of
the small field, as Rob, Neil and I rode
steadily, chatted to most of the riders,
waved to the front riders when they
passed us on the run back from the Butt
to Barvas, we leapfrogged Michael Wann
and Ian Milne who’d made the trip over
from Dingwall, and we took in all of the
stops.
The Temple Café was strikingly
middle-class and served seriously
thick spicy broth; the tourist centre at
Callanish (of the standing stones) was
a great control where we mixed it with
the proper tourists, and after the beans
on toast at Ness, I almost felt as though I
was being paid to ride my bike, as it came
on top of the all-inclusive broth at the
Loch Erisort Inn and yet-even-more broth
with beer at the finish. We were very well
looked-after, though I’m not sure I could
have made the last 60 km from the Butt
of Lewis back over Barvas Moor without
that beans on toast – it was straight into
the wind over the blasted heath, and
wonderfully bleak.
It felt like an effort, the ride itself and
the getting-to-the-ride, which only made
it more satisfying. I’d love to go back –
well, it’s great to go to new places and
see new things, but when you see a place
only once, you only see one side of it, one
season and one type of weather. If you
‘Yellow
sand, blue
seas and
huge skies
on the
Golden
Road'
go back, you can see it anew, and in more
depth. And of course, you see it all from
the saddle of a bike, which is my favourite
mode of transport, and the best view in
the world. If I ever work out which youth
hostel it was we ended up cleaning in the
nineties, I’d love to go back there, but in
the meantime, I’m hoping to go back to
Lewis and Harris, to ride anew the Golden
Road.
2016’s version takes place on Saturday
9th July, with an accompanying 100k.N
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london to yorkshire tour
2014 Tour de British Library
– Legal deposit by bicycle!
George Hanna
With Le Tour de France starting with two
stages in Yorkshire early in July 2014, there
was only one place to be. However, with
stage three on familiar roads between
Cambridge and London, I was spoilt for
choice. Initial plans to visit Yorkshire, then
ride overnight to London were shelved when
the British Library chose to mark Le Tour
in style – with events and displays at both
Library sites; the archiving of Tour-related
websites which might otherwise be lost; a
staff photo competition and a reverse Tour
de France ride from London to Yorkshire in
two days.
How did the Library’s reverse Tour come
about? As Matthew Shaw, co-organiser
(and Curator of North American History),
explained to the staff newsletter: 'Be
careful when chatting with George
Hanna over coffee; before you know it,
your madcap scheme will be given a
logistical makeover, and you will find
yourself riding through the night to reach
Grantham Travelodge before last orders.'
Planned jointly by George, Matthew
and Nicholas Wells, a Collection Auditor,
17 other keen cyclists from the Library’s
two sites at St Pancras and Boston Spa
(just off the A1 at Wetherby) signed up
for the challenge. As did regular Library
Reader and author, Douglas Cowie, who
joined the ride to deliver a speciallywritten
short story, Stoller’s Départ, for
deposit at Boston Spa.
While Matthew concentrated on
curating, Nic sniffed out lunch stops,
and route find/checking; and George
concentrated on logistics, preparing
google/gps tracks, and encouraging those
who weren’t used to long distance cycling
that they could do it!
As the group size swelled, and to
maximise PR opportunities at departure,
initial plans to leave London early, straight
up the Archway Road were blown out,
in favour of traffic-light routes. Initially
expecting a group of 4-6 in total for days
one and two, we were pleasantly surprised
to have colleagues adjust their meeting
schedules to give eight riding London
to Yorkshire; with eight more joining in
Grantham for Day 2, and a further four,
Author George Hanna
(centre without helmet)
and his British Library
colleagues.
including a tandem and a Brompton
joining us at Selby for the ride in.
Despite breaking my wrist falling off
in a ford at Snitterby in Lincolnshire while
route checking, I was able to post the
route online a month before we set off.
Had one sleepness night before emailing
riders to warn them that, at 224.5km, Day
I was to be rather further than expected,
as we would follow cycle routes through
Islington to exit town along the cycle
paths in Lee Valley. Once back on roads at
Rye House, our route to Grantham would
be via B1383 and lanes to Barley, Newton;
under the A14 at Fenstanton to St Ives;
then parallel to the A1M and through
Peterborough on cycle tracks; staying
east of Stamford to join the B1176 and
the final hill of the day at High Dyke 7k
from the finish. Nic and I were happy we
had the route with the least traffic, and
had ironed out as many of the hills as we
could avoid, and knew where we could
get food without having to add distance.
Day two was 171km, also on the flattest
roads possible; with one potential offroad
section to avoid the Trent crossing
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london to yorkshire tour
on A631 and main roads west of Lincoln.
As we hadn’t all ridden together, we
circulated useful info on fuelling for long
rides; links to group ride etiquette and,
in case anyone got separated, a list of
names/contact numbers and our planned
coffee stops.
One quick photo stop on the Library
Piazza, and we were off.
Regent's Canal bank may be roadtraffic
free, but we needed to ride single
file and carefully to avoid issues with
kamikaze commuters. By 10:30 we hadn’t
heard any sploshes and stopped for a
comfort break/coffee at the Olympic
white water centre by Pickett’s Lock.
Tarmac felt lovely after the canal banks,
and we pulled in all together at our lunch
stop after 55k in Much Hadham garden
centre.
One or two turns over shot due to too
much gassing, but quickly forgotten as
we made steady progress on the hottest
day of the year so far at our target 20kph.
Testing more guilt-free cake in an ace
café in Bourn, we planned ahead. As our
average meant we would be riding for
11.5 hours, we bought lights at St Ives
and checked restaurant/bar closing time
at our hotel. A further refuelling stop
an hour before dusk ensured we would
we all finish together. We missed dinner
due to our late finish, but with a full
English to come the following morning
– no worries. Bag drop worked, we had
change for the vending machine plus the
bar was open for 20 minutes – just long
enough for some tall tales and grins all
round. Stars of the show – Marja Kingma
– Dutch Curator – on her seven-speed
Dutch roadster. No carbon bling needed
there! Matthew Shaw for reciting a John
Clare poem as we passed his birthplace
at Marholm.
Day Two dawned sunny again, not as
warm but with the same tailwind. Target
was shorter breaks and a finish before the
forecast rain came. Mike Glew – Library
transport manager – had scooted down
to collect bags and act as unofficial team
car. Our eight Day Two riders had all
been up at stupid o’clock to catch their
southbound trains. To sidestep a Leeds
train delay we jumped to the station to
collect and exited Grantham on A607,
then our beloved lanes. Our team of 16
riders really turned heads at the traffic
lights in Grantham.
Climbing to Hough on the Hill – the
first and only serious hill of the day – an
anguished cry from Lorraine Henderson.
That doesn’t look good. Derailleur clamp
has failed on an almost brand-new bike.
Nothing for it but to break chain and ride
single speed for a while. Twenty minutes
later and we are together and plotting.
Divert off route west to Newark on Trent,
where be bike shops. Colleagues in
the IT team come up trumps with info
and negotiations – second shop called
has parts we need and a mechanic on
standby for our arrival. An hour later and
we are early lunching in the café next
door to the bike shop, so repairs and café
break are concurrent.
Seeing us fretting over time/daylight
ticking away, our mechanic offered us a
lift up the road in his van, with space for
two riders, if we want to head off and
regroup. Big shout out to Dr Bike (Unit 8,
Farndon, Newark NG24, 07897 331554)
Now that is service! A quick consultation
with Lorraine and Marja, before we
accept. Losing two riders for a time was
a wrench, but main group headed out
at high speed on the A46, A1133 and we
all still had a chance to finish in daylight.
Smiles all round as we regrouped after
an hour just before Newton on Trent; and
an hour later we are back on route and
making excellent time making the most
of the Fen road tailwinds. Lost Marja for
a few minutes at the left turn by traffic
lights in Epworth; but no big drama –
non-riding time is rest, and we were all
soon awheel with purpose heading for
Thorne Rugby Club. Here Mike lifted
Marja and any stray luggage for a quick
onward hop to Selby. That short break
kept Marja fresh and ensured we would
all finish together, and give her a fair
chance of catching her train back to
London.
Rain had been forecast from 4pm but
stayed away until 6, by when we were
in God’s county, and cruising. In Selby
– reached after 11 hours on the road
around 1840 – group size hit 20 riders as
Jerry Jenkins on his Brompton folder and
mixed tandem couple Alastair Wylie and
Lynne Clayford joined us. As we arrived,
cycling across the pavement, Lynne
was chatting up the local PC – a fellow
cyclist. Which was handy as he knew the
appropriately non-pc response when his
control room instructed him to arrest a
few pavement bikers, as an example to
the others…
Twenty minutes later the rain moved
on. Off came capes, out came the gilets
and grins. At Wighill Lane, Kevin Fullwood
announced 'last hill' and I took off – in
a supportive, non-competitive way.
Modesty forbids me saying how many
polka dot points I got at the top, as I was
swept up by a bunch with better local
knowledge and legs. Arrivée at Boston
Spa at 2015 was memorable – bunting,
Union flags, champers and huge cheers.
Only the brass band was missing!
Steve Morris, Chief Financial Officer
– who made memorable gel-fuelled
but doomed breakaway attempts each
day – summed up the experience: ‘What
an adventure, and what a privilege it
was to ride with such a fabulous group
of people. And what a great example of
what people from the British Library can
achieve when they pull together.’
Highlights for me – the canal bank
– but only when it ended without a
splash. Marja's stellar performance on
her roadster. Chapeau! Lorraine’s mojo
recovery after the horrible ‘it’s over before
it’s started’ moment; the gilets: 20 riders
in the same yellow kit on Tour weekend
turned heads many times. We got extra
respect from vehicles at junctions; our
lining up to speed crossings at A road
junctions worked a treat, and was a joy to
behold! The exemplary way the Day 1ers
and Day 2ers came together, especially
during the mechanical hiatus when the
patience and good nature of all the riders
was tested. Vive Le Tour de British Library!
Thanks to riders not already namechecked
above: Richard Chesser, Andy
MacCalman, Alasdair Bruce, Andrew
Siddall, Simon Moffatt, Paul Thompson,
Guy Wicks, Julie Peers, Wieke Avis,
Lorraine Henderson. N
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HEADING sn0w hills and roads IN mills HERE 300grimpeur 2016
Trevor Richards

photos by by tim HEADING martin wainwright IN berry HERE
Right: Chris Beynon

paris-brest-paris 2015
Brest endeavours
– the confessions (and conversations) of an inexperienced PBP cyclist Adrian Wikeley
Two years ago I bought my first road
bike and following the purchase of an
inspirational book about audax 12 months
ago in a charity shop, I found myself on the
start line of PBP in August.
My cycling career has
been brief but eventful
culminating in the epic
PBP event. I bought my
first road bike two years
ago at the age of 52 on the Cycle to Work
Scheme with the intention of riding from
my home in Dulwich to work in Central
London (10km each way) and doing the
occasional weekend trip by bike south
into Kent.
Starting out
For the first year I did exactly as planned,
although I found the riding position
uncomfortable, and during occasional
solo trips at the weekend I saw the
‘cyclists in blue’: members of Dulwich
Paragon Cycling Club (DPCC). At the
same time I bought a copy of The Long
Distance Cyclists’ Handbook by Simon
Doughty from a charity bookshop for
£1, primarily because I thought it would
allow me to understand gear ratios,
etc. (assuming that was what cycle club
members talked about). I found the
entire book inspirational and the section
on PBP made the event sound like an
amazing adventure. In August 2014 I
attended the monthly DPCC introductory
ride and cycled 45km for the first time
while learning many new techniques,
such as pedalling whilst cycling downhill,
pointing out potholes and stopping at a
red light.
Joining the club
I joined DPCC and with access to the
DPCC Forum I saw a post about PBP,
immediately recalling Simon Doughty’s
enthusiasm for the event in his book. I
responded and appeared on the DPCC
PBP spread sheet, although my longest
distance cycled to date was only 45km,
so in January last year I started my
Above: The spectacular
Pont de I'lroise in Brest.
Still a fair way to the
control, via a long,
draggy hill!
qualifying rides with the 200km Willy
Warmer. I enjoyed the daylight sections
but was out of my depth on navigation
and after dark just chased after the
DPCC peloton the best I could. The Tom
Deakins ‘Flitch Bikes’ 300km and 400km
events from Manningtree Station, Essex
followed and I grew to enjoy the rides,
the company and the cycling ‘immersion’.
In June the 600km Windsor-Chester-
Windsor (WCW) event arrived, a skilfully
arranged audax organised by Danial
Webb with fantastic catering at the
controls, and on completion the decision
as to whether to sign up for PBP or not.
My reticence was based on my lack of
cycling skills, I had cycled over 1,500km,
however, I was still not very good at
descending, climbing, drinking whilst on
the bike and regularly had no idea which
gear I was in. During WCW I had fallen off
in a ford near Feckenham, damaging the
bike and injuring my leg, and completed
the final 100 miles with no access to the
lower gears, naturally I assumed that this
was ‘the spirit of audax’.
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paris-brest-paris 2015
At the start line
I knew that if I didn’t take up this
opportunity I would need to wait another
four years to participate, so naively I
signed up to PBP and with my wife drove
from Calais to Versailles on Saturday 15th
August, and booked into a comfortable
hotel. So on Sunday I was at the National
Velodrome start line. Leaving the hotel
my wife was asked how she was getting
to Brest to support me, however sensibly
she was meeting my daughter in Paris
for three days. The DPCC PBP team was
Adrian, Alistair, Chris, Liam, Richard, Sam
and I: ‘the magnificent seven’ and we
had agreed to ride individually as our
aspirations varied substantially – my
aspiration being simply to finish within
the 90-hour time limit.
I met several members of the team
and suddenly at 6pm the countdown
was happening – dix, neuf, huit, sept,
six, cinq, quarter, trois, deux, un …
and we were off. The atmosphere was
somewhat different to a departure from
Manningtree Station, with motorbike
outriders and cheering crowds, it was
euphoric and exciting. The roads were
smooth and once away from the urban
area you could only hear the clicking
gears and a quiet babble of conversation.
At dusk everyone changed into the
compulsory super bright high visibility
vest and at 4am I was at the first control
in Villaines-la-Juhel, a bucket of black
coffee and three croissants set me up for
the first full day.
An embarrassing wardrobe
malfunction
On day one we rolled on through villages
and small towns, stopping occasionally to
refuel with coffee at the road side stalls.
The weather was fine and I was making
good time, either cycling with Richard
of DPCC or others who I got talking to.
My opening line was either ‘Hi, have
you cycled more than 600km before?’ or
‘Hi, so what’s your sleep strategy?’, the
latter question asked because I didn’t
have any strategy. I got talking to Mike
(not his real name) from Darlington
Cycling Club, and noticed that he had
no ID number on his bike. He explained
that he hadn’t completed the qualifying
rides and was thus riding independently
with no brevet card and no access to the
controls. I was sympathetic regarding his
failure to qualify and impressed by his
determination to participate and could
not imagine cycling 1200km without
the satisfaction of a completed brevet
card. However, after my initial admiration
he started questioning why we were all
doing ‘this stupid ride’, ‘why this distance?’
and ‘why this route?’, ‘why in 90 hours?’
and how he hated the event. Suddenly
I had to escape as his negativity was
infectious and I knew I must avoid such
talk. Whilst I was cycling away he shouted
at me saying that he could see ‘my arse
Right: Feeling
apprehesive with my
wife in St Quentin-en-
Yvelines.
‘… with
motorbike
outriders
and
cheering
crowds,
it was
euphoric
and
exciting.’
through the lycra of my bib shorts’ …
’Not a great look,’ he said, suggesting that
I cover my arse in black polish to mitigate
the effect … ’The 2,000 cyclists behind
us will all see your butt’. Being new to
the sport I had my complete cycling
wardrobe with me … two pairs of bib
shorts … so I stopped and changed into
the newer pair.
I arrived in Loudeac with Richard at
5pm on Monday and we both booked
into the dormitory. I was shown into a
huge sports hall filled with numbered
camp beds each covered with a single
white sheet, in a few cases there was a
motionless body, generally either snoring
or worse. I lay down and closed my eyes;
my whole body seemed to be spinning
around, like my pedals.
At 9pm I set out into the dark, rural
lanes towards Carhaix, following dozens
of hi-viz vests and red rear lights through
a series of valleys. I was with a group of
the Seattle International Randonneurs
who were great company. After a brief
visit to the restroom (a hedge) I was on
my own for a while in some very dark
lanes and I saw a line of red flashing
lights ahead which I assumed for at least
10 minutes were cyclists. It was only later
I realised they were actually the lights
on wind turbines, the flashing red lights
being forbidden on audax bikes.
The climb of Roc’h Trevezel seemed
straightforward in the dark, and the
descent very fast and hair-raising, in a
sleep-deprived manner. There was the
occasional patch of mist and at one point
I heard a man calling out ‘… café, café …’
from his front garden in the dark at 4am
– I stopped for a cup of free, warming
hot coffee and continued with new
caffeine-enthused energy. The sense of
joy, pride and passion for this ride from
the residents along the entire route is
astonishing.
Brest or bust
I arrived in Brest at 8am on Tuesday,
meeting Tom Deakins on the Pont Albert
Louppe with its view of the spectacular
Pont de l’Iroise, all a far cry from the
Norfolk flatlands. As Tom predicted,
the Brest control was at the summit of
another steep hill and remarkably I was
given a private room in the dormitory for
only three euros, however, the morning
sun was streaming in through the
window. I couldn’t sleep and the road was
calling me, so I left for Carhaix. As I left
Brest the arrows which signpost the route
changed from pink signposting Brest,
to blue signposting Paris, giving me an
instant physiological boost. Great – Paris
in only 616km!
Climbing the hills out of Brest I got
talking to a lady randonneur from the
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paris-brest-paris 2015
USA who told me that this 1,230km (765
miles) route with 33,000 feet of ascent
and a 90-hour time limit was too short,
and her group would be doing a further
double century. I didn’t stop to discuss
the full details (were they going to return
towards Brest for a second time?) as just
figuring out the maths was making me
feel more exhausted. Shortly after this
encounter I was dropping down into
the lowest gear when I saw another
USA randonneur ahead with a jersey
emblazoned with the slogan ‘If you can’t
do it in the big ring, don’t bother at all’. I
was growing to love the American audax
confidence, however this was quite
different to the UK ‘spirit of audax’.
A more relaxed approach beyond Sizun
I arrived in the beautiful town of
Sizun and successfully persuaded the
boulangerie staff to make me a baguette
with cheese salad and no ham, and then
bumped into Liam from DPCC and we
Above: Control at
Villaines-la-Juhel.
‘After
sunrise I
found I had
enormous
energy
and I was
climbing
hills like I
had never
been able
to in the
fly-tipped
lanes of
Kent.’
L: Live music in St
Martin-des-Pres.
Typical roadside coffee
stall.
set off up Roc’h Trevezel in the sun. The
summit was beautiful and I sat on the
grass and admired the view eating my
cheese salad baguette – well I was on
holiday! The whole feel and pace after
Brest was much more relaxed and there
were lots of roadside stalls to enjoy,
and the odd secret control too. In the
tiny hilltop village St Martin-des-Pres,
they had live music, a bar and delicious
Breton food for example. I arrived in
Loudeac again at 9pm on Tuesday and
got four hours’ sleep in the dormitory
again, leaving at 3am on Wednesday.
After sunrise I found I had enormous
energy and I was climbing hills like I had
never been able to in the fly-tipped lanes
of Kent – who ever heard of a 700km
warm-up? However, in Tinteniac I had
completely exhausted my supply of UK
energy drinks and resorted to the French
brand of Overstims Sports Nutrition,
which really didn’t agree with me, note to
self – take more supplies next time.
‘Everyone will be famous for 15
minutes’
As I approached Fougeres at 12 noon
everyone was shouting ‘bonne route’,
‘bon courage’, ‘allez, allez’ so I lifted both
hands off the handlebars in victory,
and got a round of applause from the
waiting crowd! Inside the control I was
immediately approached by two ladies
of indeterminate age who perhaps
mistook me for Mark Cavendish (unlikely
really) and asked me to sign their padded
signature book. I promptly signed –
Adrian Wikeley, Dulwich Paragon Cycling
Club, London – thinking that the club
name added a bit of gravitas. They both
looked at me delighted.
By now I was dreaming of Danial
Webb’s meals on WCW, perhaps
buckwheat pancakes with a delicious
vegetarian filling for lunch, and my
dream was virtually answered in the
enormous Fougeres control canteen! I
threw in my vegetarian principles and
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paris-brest-paris 2015
had a huge plate of pasta with a creamy
salmon sauce, followed by rice pudding
and jam, washed down by a glass of vin
rouge – note to Danial, we have never
met, but could the latter be added to the
WCW menu?
A medical emergency averted
The stage to Villaines-la-Juhel was full of
unscheduled stops; firstly Paul Rogue’s
famous stall in St Berthevin-la-Tanniere
was drawing a crowd, no charge for
coffee, just send a postcard from your
home city! Then climbing a hill in the
late afternoon heat to the village of Le
Ribay I blew my nose with some vigour
whilst cycling and caused a nosebleed.
In the village the locals were directing
traffic across the busy N12, operating
food stalls and even a sleeping tent
in the village square! I lay down on a
small grass verge behind their food tent
and closed my eyes for a minute with a
blood soaked tissue in my hand. When I
reopened my eyes there was a tight ring
of panic stricken villagers standing over
me, with one of them talking urgently
on his mobile phone to the emergency
services. I leapt up and explained that I
wasn’t losing gallons of blood and I was
just resting, they kindly gave me a drink
and two packets of dried apricots, and I
was on my way to the next control.
At the Villaines-la-Juhel control there
was a huge cycling festival underway
and we were applauded as we left for
Montagne-au-Peche, the latter like
virtually all controls being at the top of a
very steep hill. I left Montagne-au-Peche
at midnight and commenced my most
difficult stage.
By now I had 12 hours to get to the
final control, I was feeling very tired but
I knew I must continue to Dreux. There
were hundreds of cyclists on the road,
however, there were interminable hills
through dark, wooded sections, and the
verges were littered with washed-up
cyclists in space blankets. A pair of USA
randonneurs said to me that sleeping by
the road was the result of ‘bad planning’,
however, I was more sympathetic. Whilst
adjusting my lights I met a cyclist from
Wales who I got taking to, thankfully the
conversation regarding why we were
on this ride woke me up and I found my
lost energy and shortly after arrived in
Dreux … virtually the only control at the
bottom of a hill!
The home stretch
It was 5.30am and I bumped into Richard
and Adrian of Team DPCC who were
about to leave for the arrivée at Saint-
Quentin-en-Yvelines, but I desperately
needed sleep. I lay on the floor of the
control but overslept, finding myself with
3.5 hours to cover the final 63km.
In my sleep-deprived state I hurriedly
found my bike in the early morning
drizzle and set off for Saint-Quentinen-Yvelines.
There were some serious
climbs and it was pouring with rain.
I was determined to get to the finish
within the allotted 90 hours, however,
the rain and rather suburban landscape
made it a rather dispiriting ride. Despite
the increasing number of traffic lights, I
managed to avoid cycling through any
red lights, as I was being a true Dulwich
Paragon (of virtue), however, I was too
tired to point out the potholes to fellow
riders.
The tree-planted boulevards of
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines appeared
and I turned the corner to see my wife
and daughter cheering. I threw my bike
down and ran towards the velodrome,
seeing Richard from DPCC just leaving.
The velodrome was full of hundreds
of cyclists and I suddenly thought my
arrival at 89:23 would not be recorded;
however, eventually a smiling volunteer,
who stamped my brevet card, greeted
me. There was no goodie bag, but I was
handed a small slip of paper saying
‘Bravo, congratulations from The Audax
Club Parisien for achieving this challenge’.
I felt like Willy Wonker winning the
Golden Ticket … priceless. I collected my
meal, picked the ham out of a plate of
pasta and returned to our hotel to rest.
So how was PBP?
PBP is a different experience for each
participant, but for everyone this ride
is ‘epic’. It is hugely enjoyable and
memorable, it tests you to the limit in
terms of sleep deprivation, but ultimately
From top downwards:
Ray Kelly orders crêpes
from Paul Rogue's
stall at St Berthevin la
Tanniere.
The Dreux control where
I overslept.
Velomobiles in Loudeac.
it is a fantastic celebration of French
cycling and culture, and it is a privilege to
participate.
After the event I was told by the
renowned recumbent rider Richard
Evans that because my finish time was
greater than 88:55 this makes me eligible
to join The Société Adrian Hands which
recognises those who believe that ‘every
ride should be enjoyed to its fullest’. I
believe I fulfilled that mission.
I am really grateful to the members of
Dulwich Paragon who made me welcome
as a rather non-competitive rookie cyclist,
and especially to the ‘magnificent seven’
and our road captain Sam Crossley who
led from the front, completing PBP in
exactly 69 hours! I set out thinking that
this ride was some sort of Everest, but
really the way I participated it is just an
extra-long, highly enjoyable ride. N
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 17

taking a ride with george berwick
The
Decline
and
Fall
of
MacNasty
East Sussex CA 24hr, 2011
It looks as if my time is in the balance on
Phil’s fancy tandem. He’s always been
hankering after a fastie rather than the braw
slow lad frae the Kingdom of Fife. Phillip got
his desserts by recruiting Dick McT from Gala.
Phil gets annoyed when we share a room on
our travels and the loo floor mysteriously
becomes flooded. I was given an ultimatum:
either sit on the throne like a lady or bring
wellies for the captain. I don’t think my
ex-partner was enamoured with all my bad
habits.
I’m just about falling apart as an
audax rider: ageing fast, slowing
and a bit du-lally. I’m not bothering
now since gaining the trophy for
completing 100,000 kilometres. On
a lighter note Christine Minto recently
presented me with the meritorious
trophy for the 1974 Mersey 24hr. She
discovered it when clearing the house of
the late Les Lowe.
Auld age brings on many problems,
like how to wear out all the bikes and
clothes. Most of my flash gear has been
donated, such as shoes from Phil’s
partner, socks from Reg, black tracksuit
from the wee wife (a going away outfit
from our wedding 35 years ago). Racing
vests from big Ronnie and jackets from
my china’s Peter and Phil. Gloves and hats
are picked up from the road. Bikes from
Al Sutton and Jean Harris. Al is 6ft and
Jean 5ft.
I’ve never bought a new bike in 65
years of cycling. Clothes used to come
from the Army and Navy stores.
‘The
Ninewell’s
hospital
cardiologist
tells me
that my
irregular
heartbeat
is due to
riding
too many
endurance
events.’
Below: Cake presented
for riding 50 24-hr TTs.
I would like to thank all the audax
event organisers who let a 70-year-old
shilpit nyarf slope off a few minutes early
which keeps me in the body of the kirk.
After 40 years audaxing I’m beginning
to think my time is nigh. I’m now
fantasising about my demise, dreams like
struggling to stay ahead of the leading
pack to the prime. Here I’m overtaken by
20 virgins who give me a wheel to the
pearly gates. The high heid yin gives me
a choice of receiving life membership to
Audax UK, this must be hell on wheels
or join the 20 virgins in paradise. Having
just escaped from the clutches of Phil and
his tandem, the 20 virgins sounds a lot
of fun.
Back to the living: in 2015 Phil and I
took part in April in the 10th running of
the Moffat Toffee 200k arranged as usual
by the fair Lucy with help from friends
and Dick. On arriving at the finish my
captain gleefully proclaimed that he and
Dick will be going for the Parry Brest.
I looked on with interest during their
qualifying rides. It was music to my ears
on hearing about their many misfortunes.
On ascending the Fife hills on the 200k
their tandem broke down. The 300k
brought punctures galore so the last 25
miles had to be done on a flat rear tyre. In
the wee sma hours during the 600k the
tandem was doomed near Moffat. A taxi
was hired to take the duo to Gala then a
bus back to the start at Ponteland.
Fierce weather forecast
On the only other 600k available I was
due to be stoker and power house to
Phil. I graciously gave my seat up to Dick
on hearing about the fierce weather
forecast. ‘Graeme Wyllie’ weather
cancelled the 600k Kintyre event
because of the impending storm. Our
cosy couple wrestled with the elements
to finish within the 40hrs. I heard that
they suffered (not enough for my liking)
in heavy rain and gale force winds on
the trip to Cambelltown. I’m sure this
triggered Phil’s illness a few weeks later
while on a walking trip in the Alps.
The Parry Brest was out as was our
forthcoming Mersey 24hr. During late
June I rode the Twilight 600k with a
tailwind in both directions. The good
will always receive their just rewards. On
arriving home Margaret ran me a bath.
Daylight 600 in Sma Glen. Mick Potts on front followed by Rocco, Liz Creese and
Dave Lewis.
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taking a ride with george berwick
She put in plenty of relieving luxury
bath cream. I should have been on my
guard for there were no rubber ducks for
company. On trying to get out of the tub
I fell backwards several times due to the
very slippery surface and cracked a few
ribs and my head. Maybe I should wear
a helmet in the hoose. Later on I noticed
my life insurance policy was open on her
desk.
I had to organise a train trip to Chester
with the folding bike to ride the Mersey
24hr. A kind helper for Jane and Mark
on the tandem trike gave me his super
carbon fibre bike, complete with lights.
The saddle pin was too big so he took
it to a garage and a bit was sawn off with
a wood saw. I enjoyed pedalling along on
a modern machine but only managed a
mileage which once I could do in a 12hr
in my pomp. I got good value for my
entry fee in the food tents. This was my
40th Mersey 24hr.
The Ninewell’s hospital cardiologist
tells me that my irregular heartbeat
is due to riding too many endurance
events. He informs me that I should wear
it like a badge of honour. Gosh, I’m only a
junior to those ultra-riders.
The next weekend I started the
National 400k run by Steve Carroll from
Dingwall. Along the Sutherland hilly
coast road my left foot took up a curious
angle to the pedal. I finished up on the
train from Tain.
The following weeks I managed the
300k from Gala to Alston and returned in
a different pair of shoes without trouble.
The lovely, lovely Lucy let me have an
early start.
With the PBP out, Phil is sooking up
to me for the 2016 season. I’m again
thinking of stoking Phil’s tandem if only
to spend many happy hours on a 600k
and 24hr watching that sexy derrière.
A bit of useless information I would
like to divulge to the many men who are
losing their hair. I was in that state in 1981
so decided not to cut or comb my hair
anymore. I still have a happy mop.
Also Mrs MacNasty awarded me a
Brompton so that I didn’t travel too far
away. Lovely. I’ll cycle 20 miles with the
wind and jump on a bus for the return.
I’ve taken the folder on the Golden Coach
to Inverness. You are plied with two
scones, Iron bru and sweeties. What a
wonderful life with a bus pass. All is good
and kind nearing the end apart from
Phil’s saddle. I’m putting out a plea for a
young damsel to pilot an auld manie who
wants to go faster.
I’ve made a will stating that my
remains to be used as a base for a drumup
fire. After toasting me with a creamola
foam the gathered should put the blaze
out in the Scottish tradition. N
Above: Mersey Roads 24hr 2003.
Below: Plaque to the last auk shot in Orkney.
Snow Roads 300.
East Sussex CA 24hr, 2011
With Dave Pountney
Canadian 2000k
Mersey roads 24hr 2002
with Alex Pattison
Photos by the author, Frank Minto, Zonc, Martin
Berry, Tim Wainwright.
Mersey Roads 24hr 1976
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 19

populaire
El Supremo’s Autumn Tints 100
John Thompson
I know Dave ‘El Supremo’ Hudson – well,
who doesn’t? – not so much from audax
but from CTC tours. We were on a number of
tours together organised by the late John
Lumbers, the most memorable for me being
the Norway fjords. We hit it off because
we had something in common – our food
consumption! I first rode his ‘Autumn Tints’
100 – then called ‘The Winchelsea 100’
– in October 2014. It caught my eye in the
Calendar because my own event, ‘The Silly
Suffolk’ 160/200 is one week later. I decided
a long weekend in Sussex, covering new
ground and not involving too long a journey,
in October would be nice. Also, yes, Dave
can flatter himself that the fact he was the
organiser played a part in my decision to
enter.As we had not seen each
other for a long time, I
included a little note with
my entry, which I started,
‘Hello, you old b-----.’ I
explained I was travelling on the Friday,
returning on the Monday and on the
Saturday would have a ride in the area, as
far as possible avoiding the route of the
event. In response Dave kindly sent me
the route sheets for two of his other 100’s
– ‘The Hell Forest’ and the ‘For Those Who
Don’t Do Hills.’ In 2014 I opted for ‘The
Hell Forest.’ I infer Dave has so named
it because it passes through Ashdown
forest. I wouldn’t say the forest is hell but
Kidds Hill just after the control at Wych
Cross is! Hardly aptly named because
I would think it would reduce children
to tears! That said, if it is a reference to
infant goats perhaps it is appropriate!
Google indicates the gradient is nine
per cent but it felt a lot steeper! Indeed
there were a number of good hills on the
route. Even though it was only a 100, it
was in my legs when riding the event on
the Sunday.
Onto 2015 and again I travelled by rail
on the Friday to Polegate, which involved
riding across London between Liverpool
Street and Victoria stations. I think, at
least in that direction, I have now got
my head round the route. I rode from
Polegate to Hailsham using the Cuckoo
Trail, which this time I had no difficulty
finding having sorted it in 2014 – after
much confusion. On that occasion I
followed the sign indicating right at the
T-junction just from the station but, as
is the case for many off-road routes, the
signs then stop. In 2014 I lost count of
how many times I circled the busy A23
and A27 just outside Polegate trying to
find a reasonably quiet route to Hailsham.
After some hard studying of the map and
some guesswork I found the road that
leads to the B2104, which was hardly
quiet at commuter time but tolerable.
Leaving aside the off-road versus on-road
debate, the Cuckoo Trail – the trackbed of
the former Cuckoo rail line from Polegate
to Eridge – is a pleasant and quiet ride
and a lot of work has been put into
making it attractive and interesting. It
got the weekend off to a nice start. I used
the same digs as before, the cheap and
cheerful Corn Exchange pub and café in
Hailsham town centre
This time for my Saturday ride I
opted to do the route of the ‘For Those
Who Don’t Do Hills’. As the route starts
in Polegate, I firstly retraced along the
Cuckoo Trail to start the route, or attempt
to as it was rather a disaster. I was only
just over 1km into the route before I got
confused by the instructions for some
traffic lights and a roundabout. I turned
left when I should have gone straight
ahead to Pevensey. Hailsham is on the
route but I found myself heading towards
it far sooner than I should have been.
I stopped at a T-junction with a lane
and studied the route sheet hard to work
out if taking the lane would get me back
on route. As luck had it, three cyclists
came along the lane. After one of them
had also studied the route sheet he
confirmed I had got ahead of myself and
that the lane in the direction they had
come was part of the route back from the
info control at Normans Bay.
The signpost had had an accident
The route was along nice rural Sussex
lanes to the Pevensey roundabout to
then follow the minor road that follows
the sea – from a bit of a distance – to
Normans Bay. As I wasn’t riding the actual
event, I didn’t have an info question to
answer so on getting to Normans Bay
I did as the route sheet instructs and
retraced to the Pevensey roundabout and
had no difficulty following the route as
it was the retrace of my outward wrong
route taking me back to the t-junction
with the B2104 and then to Hailsham.
It was just after Hailsham that I got
into difficulty again! After Upper Dicker
the instruction read ‘right, signpost
Laughton’. However, the signpost, which
had suffered an accident and was laying
on the grass verge only had one place
El Supremo with his
assistant Sue.
Winchelsea control bike
park.
name on it and it wasn’t Laughton. I am
pretty sure it was Chalvington. Of course,
if I had bothered to carry the map with
me it would have been easy to resolve
but I didn’t expect to need it. Admittedly
the road name, Lower Wick Street,
coincided with what was on the route
sheet but in the circumstances I didn’t
want to risk it.
As I was close to Arlington reservoir
where it was indicated there was a café
I resolved to accept an ‘early bath’ and
make the most of it.
Annoying and disappointing but
after studying the map back at the digs
I resolved to do the parts of the route I
missed in a year’s time.
As if I hadn’t had enough go wrong
for one day, I had another problem
in the evening. I went to the local
Wetherspoons for a meal, only to be
told that there was a breakdown in the
kitchen that could not be sorted until
they were able to get an engineer so
there was no food for a while. So, it was
a case of wandering through Hailsham
looking for somewhere else.
There was a group who had suffered
the same fate so we kind of followed
each other. We discovered one of the
Prezzo Italian restaurant chain. The group
were out of luck in that they were told
that because of the number of them
it would be a long wait, which they
decided against. However, as I was ‘solo’
they could cope with me – no sarcastic
remarks from those who know me, thank
you. It turned out to be a classic case of
a problem ultimately being for the best.
I am far from saying there is anything
wrong with Wetherspoons’ food, but
I love Italian and we all know there is
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populaire
nothing better than pasta the evening
before a ride. I booked a place for Sunday
evening!
Sunday morning was bright and
sunny, albeit a bit cool while standing
around at the start in the car park for the
Freedom Leisure Centre in Hailsham. One
of those days when it is tricky to judge
how much clobber to put on and as is
usual for me I probably had more on
than necessary as I soon got warm once
riding. Dave, as per his reputation, had
the kettles on.
The ride starts following a slightly
different route to the Pevensey
roundabout to what I took on the
Saturday, through the picturesque village
of Hankham. From the roundabout it was
again along the road to Normans Bay and
then following the cycle path alongside
the sea from Cooden for part of the way
and then back on-road through Bexhill
to Hastings. It is a flat ride following the
coast apart from one little incline on
the cycle route and the bright, sunny
morning combined with the blue sea
made it a joyous ride (apart from the
flatness, it reminded me of parts of my
Scottish tour. Taking it a bit further, the
flatness combined with the sun and sea
reminded me somewhat of riding along
the Puglia coast in Italy). The flatness
stops drastically at Hastings in an ironic
way as the toughest hill on the route is a
residential road in the town.
To my frustration, I inadvertently
disposed of my route sheet and cannot
remember the road’s name. It takes you
away from the A259 to the road through
Fairlight, Cliff End and Winchelsea Beach
to the control in Winchelsea village. I
don’t know the gradient but it is certainly
a tough one (I would think any cyclists
living along there get pretty fit just on
their work and utility rides) and once
at the top it is not long before you are
climbing again – albeit not quite as
severe – out of the boundary of Hastings.
However, there is then a long
‘soothing’ descent, great except it makes
you feel lethargic for the bit of a climb
before descending again to just before
the village of Winchelsea Beach, for a
stretch of flat alongside the sea to the
A259. By this time the wind had got up,
making it a slow stretch. On junctioning
with the A259 it is left for a short stretch
of the main road to shortly turn left
into picturesque Winchelsea. It involves
having to quickly go through your gears
– in my case into the 34 ring – being
suddenly faced with a steep brute of a
hill.
I am not clear about the reason for
Dave’s nickname of ‘El Supremo’. I am not
sure if it is because of his riding ability or
his reputation for the food he provides
for his events, or both. I am guessing
so it might be because of things I am
not aware of. Whatever, his events have
a reputation for the amount of food
provided and he did not disappoint.
Quite a feast and this was just a 100!
Perfectly refuelled, I started the
second half retracing through Winchelsea
back to the A259. Getting in and out of
Winchelsea involves passing under an
attractive ancient archway. I paused to
take a photo and two riders conveniently
passed under it. At the A259 it is left for
another very short stretch of main road
before turning right to start the lanes,
shortly passing Winchelsea station, to join
the B2089 through Broad Oak to junction
with the A21. There is then a short and
busy stretch of the A21 to the Mountfield
roundabout and then another short busy
stretch along the A2100 before turning
into a pleasant lane to Netherfield. At this
point I was near another rider and we
were both made apprehensive by a sign
indicating the road was closed. It turned
out to be work on a level crossing but
on bikes it was passable. Nevertheless,
the Network Rail workers made us wait
a while. A train was due but even after it
had passed we had to wait a little while
as they made some checks. I guess there
are safety rules they have to adhere
to, particularly in view of the number
of tragedies there have been at level
crossings and of course officially the level
crossing was closed to traffic. It was one
of those waits that in the circumstances
seem long but aren’t really – they were
only doing their jobs.
There is quite a testing hill into
Netherfield, before joining the B2096,
which really is a tester! Again to my
frustration, having inadvertently binned
my route sheet I can’t say what the
correct distance is. However, Google
indicates Netherfield to Heathfield as
7.3 miles, so the B2096 is probably just
under seven miles. However, it seems a
lot longer because it is a continual climb
more or less all the way. You might guess
that it is predominantly a long drag
rather than steep but there are bits that
are quite steep. When riding it for the first
time in 2014, the nature of it made me
feel as though I could have been on the
Continent.
On joining the A265 there is a
‘soothing’ descent into Heathfield. The
A265 is followed for a little way to the
village of Cross in Hand to take the B2102
to just before Blackboys for the info
control. Going to Blackboys is poignant
for me, as it brings back memories of my
very early club cycling days. The hostel
there was one of those used on my first
ever tour in August 1966 – age 13 just –
with my Lowestoft Wheelers’ club mate,
having just started club cycling in June of
that year.
I am no longer a YHA member so
correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I
can make out from Google, the hostel
has now closed although perhaps only
relatively recently. From Blackboys it is
along pretty but ‘lumpy’ lanes through
Underneath the arches
at Winchelsea.
‘The
flatness
stops
drastically
at Hastings
in an ironic
way as the
toughest
hill on the
route is a
residential
road in the
town.’
the picturesque village of Waldron to
Horham and then to the finish. Not
particularly fast but I was happy with it
and it did include stopping for photos
and there was the delay at the level
crossing. In the typical ‘El Supremo’ way,
Dave’s finish stamp asked the question, ‘A
testing ride?’ Yes it was, for a 100!
Again, being an ‘El Supremo’ event
there was plenty of food and a large
teapot at the finish and everyone
enjoyed chatting over mugs of tea and
in between eating, reflecting on an
enjoyable ride. Overall, we had been
lucky with the weather, for the most part
sunny, although it clouded over during
the afternoon, but I think everyone
avoided rain. Were there a few spits while
in the car park at the finish? We were also
lucky with the wind direction for most
of it.
In the evening before returning to the
Prezzo, I took a stroll to the Cuckoo Trail,
including along Station Road. Being a rail
campaigner and buff – yes OK, anorak if
you like! – I wanted to see if I could find
the site of the former railway station and
the building if it still stands. There was
a large house called Station House that
looked rather like one of those grandiose
railway station buildings that were
common in the earlier part of the 20th
century. However, on looking on Google
once home, it seems the site has gone
the way of many other former railway
station sites and is now a car park.
On the Monday morning it was back
along the Cuckoo Trail to Polegate for the
train and I think I have now mastered the
route from Victoria to Liverpool Street in
the return direction too.
If Dave continues the event, I expect
to be returning for a year or two or more!
I want to do the part of the route of ‘For
Those Who Don’t Do Hills’ that I missed.
I also want to do what Dave calls ‘The
WCW 100’, a ride from Hailsham to the
World of Water transport café and back,
especially as Dave advises ‘you get large
helpings of food.’ Also, I have yet to ride
up Ditchling Beacon and Burgess Hill and
doing the entire Cuckoo Trail would be
good. All those would make nice rides for
the Saturdays. N
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 21

national 400 2016
The National 400 from Peak Audax
July 30th 2016
There’s a CTC tradition of Reliability Rides,
set distances to be completed within a timelimit.
A special challenge is 240 miles in 24
hours. Audax UK runs similar rides, a focal
event being the National 400k, featuring
a different area each year. The National
provides an enhanced level of support
and catering, including en-route sleeping
facilities, to encourage riders to try the
distance.
The factors that go into making
a successful 400 are pretty
much the same as those
which make up a successful
event at any distance, short
or long: a route which offers an uplifting
journey through great and/or interesting
terrain and which also considers the
safety of the riders (especially in the
case of a 400, where night-riding will be
necessary for all but the most irritating
riders) and good support in the form
of opportunities to eat and rest. Most
400s don’t provide an official sleep stop
but the National is different and this
year’s event will again provide several
opportunities for people to get their
heads down without recourse to busshelters
or cosy ditches.
2016’s ride is being organised by Peak
Audax. They have an excellent pedigree
of events run from Cheshire and the Peak
District and last summer warmed up for
longer, supported events by organising
the Pair of Kirtons 600, which many
of you used for a PBP qualifier. So, we
know how to blow up an airbed. On the
catering side, we will have the expertise
of John Perrin’s family in addition to the
legendary ‘Van of Delights’ which will
provide all manner of comestibles in two
locations on the first day. John is also
famous as a deviser of routes, so, pausing
only to mention that he has also sorted
out the controls and accommodation
at the start and en-route, I’ll get on and
give a broad brush picture of where he’s
sending you (brochure-speak coming up)!
The odyssey starts at Biggin, a
village near Hartington in the fabulous
Peak District. Within yards, riders will
be overwhelmed by peculiar craggy
limestone landscape. Hopefully they
won’t be too overwhelmed as they climb
north-west up to Axe Edge, the source
of many of the Peak District’s mercurial
rivers. This is a good climb but there are
no chevrons on it and it’s as early as can
be. With this under your belt, you’ll turn
east to skirt Buxton and join the Monsal
Trail, early enough for it not to be too
busy with walkers. It’s the trackbed of
the Bakewell to Buxton line and very well
surfaced. Your mind can recover from the
Axe Edge crossing by admiring the lime
kilns, old platforms and stations along
the way. Your legs can recover because
it’s ever so slightly downhill! Take care to
look over the viaduct and gaze down at
the beauty that is Monsal Dale. (Is that
the breeze or is it John Ruskin turning in
his grave…?)
After Bakewell you work your way
south. Elton is a fascinating village. It
was home for many years to a member
Free parking
and free
overnight
accommodation
before the
event (airbeds
and 'basic'
foods) will be
available at
Biggin Village
Hall. We are
unlikely to run
out of parking
space but
sleeping spaces
will have to be
capped at 60-
ish so get your
entry in early if
you want one.
of John Hunt’s successful Everest
expedition. Look out for buildings using
both gritstone and limestone because
the village is on a ridge where they
meet. There is a fine old shop with an
ancient petrol pump. There is a control
at Carsington. It is odd to think that this
huge reservoir is only 20 or so years
old, so well does it seem to be part
of the natural order. It has been very
sympathetically developed as an outdoor
centre and I hope you are lucky enough
to see white sail on glistening blue water.
As you trundle south, whistling
a merry tune, you should notice the
countryside changing significantly as you
cross into the rich farming lands of north
Staffordshire. Stone buildings give way to
brick and there are some fine examples
of timbered walls to be seen. The cycling
really is rolling here and before long you’ll
be crossing the river Dove, which you
kissed lightly in the early morning as you
approached Axe Edge. Tutbury bridge is
very picturesque and Tutbury Castle was
one of several which held Mary Queen of
Scots. The Needwood Forest is associated,
like so much of England(!) with Sir
Gawain and The Green Knight.
Avoiding the brewopolis of Burtonon-Trent,
you now turn west to cross
Cannock Chase, another ancestral forest.
As you cross Rugeley, it might be difficult
to imagine Ridge Lee in the Domesday
Book – but that might be a better
exercise than dwelling on the Rugeley
Poisoner or the town’s murderous
connections with Conan Doyle or
Inspector Morse.
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national 400 2016
Next you will be riding across
Shropshire. A highlight in this section
is Ironbridge. The eponymous structure
was the first in the world and is now the
focus of a thriving industrial heritage
industry. Ironbridge is also the birthplace
of Billy Wright, one of England’s truly
great footballers. Next is beautiful
Coalbrookdale; it’s hard to imagine how
hellishly this area seethed with smoke
and flame at the birth of the Industrial
Revolution. The ghost of Thomas Telford,
who built 40 bridges in Shropshire
alone, will ride with you all the way to
Llangollen.
But first you must break your journey
at Upton Magna, near Shrewsbury. The
control will be run by John Hamilton,
who is a vastly experienced organiser
and custodian of the magnificent Yr
Elenydd 300. A short break will be best
in order to reach the turn for home by
dusk. Shrewsbury is an ancient town
and central to the battle for power in the
time of King Stephen. The impressive
River Severn has its own ghosts, real and
imaginary, being the resting place of
many victims in the Brother Cadfael tales.
You may have views of The Wrekin or
like to recite a few lines of Housman’s On
Wenlock Edge – or you might prefer to
eat a banana.
On you ride, north-east to Oswestry,
birthplace of the great novelist Barbara
Pym. As you cross the border (and the
Dee) at Chirk, you may be able to make
out the Berwyn hills on your left and
Ruabon Mountain on your right on the
way to the turn at Llangollen, on the
mighty River Dee. Telford’s ghost may
alight here to visit his house near the
phenomenal Pontcyssylte Aqueduct,
which carries the Llangollen canal high
over the valley, or to wave to the spectral
coaches labouring up his magnificent
‘Irish Mail’ road to Holyhead. Telford’s
contributions to transport engineering
are the 19th century equivalent of
putting a man on the moon. I hope
you aren’t too wrapped up in Rapha to
reflect! The Llangollen control offers
an opportunity to get your head down
as well as eat and will be run by LEL
supremo Danial Webb. There will also be
towels and a chance to shower!
Another pass through Chirk starts
the overnight run back to Upton Magna.
John has designed this part of the route
for ease of navigation along roads that
should be pretty quiet at late hours.
Ellesmere is also associated with Telford,
who built its canal, and takes its name
from a fine lake which may glint in the
moonlight! Hopefully, a good steady ride
will bring you safely to the village hall at
Upton where you might want to have a
longer stay or sleep.
Rested and victualled, you’ll head
on into the dawn, steering north-east
for home. The Shropshire market towns
of Newport and Eccleshall should be
sleepy on Sunday morning, though
you might catch the jingle of phantom
harnesses as you pass an old coaching
inn. Approaching the Peak District again,
you’ll cross the ubiquitous Trent at Stone
before reaching Alton and another
chance to rest and eat before the final
push. You’ll be well looked after by
Denise and Tim Hughes, who have also
run a control on LEL as well as organising
the Newport 200. Yes, it’s the Alton of
towers fame but that’s not all; in the
8th century it was the scene of a battle
between the kings of Mercia and Wessex
at a site now known as Slain Hollow.
The final miles to the finish at Biggin
include a section along the Tissington
Trail from Ashbourne and with luck
you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the
engineering feats of the navvies who
carved the cuttings and tunnels of these
mineral lines. I’ve ridden these tracks
many times and always conjure up the
sounds and smells of the locomotives
snorting up through the now somnolent
pastures.
This should be a great event. The
details of entry are in the calendar and on
the website. I think it is very reasonably
priced for what is effectively a 27-hour
guided tour with all found. And before
you ask:
Yes, you’ll be fine on 23s! I wish I was
coming with you but hope to see most of
you at one or other of the controls. N
Free parking and free overnight
accommodation before the event
(airbeds and 'basic' foods) will be
available at Biggin Village Hall. We are
unlikely to run out of parking space
but sleeping spaces will have to be
capped at 60-ish so get your entry in
early if you want one.
Biggin’s at 40
(also July 30th 2016)
To mark Audax UK’s 40th birthday, Mike Wigley is running a companion 100k event (also listed in
calendar and website). This goes south-east from Biggin, through Parwich to Carsington, where it
picks up the 400 route as far as Anslow, just beyond Tutbury, before swinging north-west to join
the last section of the 400 at Alton. The first section rolls along beautiful but narrow country lanes
– keep your wits about you! At about 43k, you reach the excellent Salt Box, a legendary transport
café. Should you need a break, I can vouch for the all-day veggie breakfast! A few minutes after
Tutbury (where you will make the first of four crossings of the glorious River Dove), you will pass
within a mile of the site of the biggest non-nuclear explosion of World War II. This was the eruption
of the RAF munitions store near Hanbury. The huge crater is now a nature reserve.
Next, you will ride through the timewarp that is Sudbury, a magnificent, warm red-brick village
with a fine pub, the Vernon Arms. On the way out, gawp at the astonishing Sudbury Hall. A little
further along is the curiously-named Uttoxeter. This town is forever associated with sketches in
the Fry and Laurie television series for me but I was pleased to see, when route-checking with
Mike, that the part we include is picturesque and Mike›s route cunningly delivers you to the other
side of town with very little urban riding. Five or six miles later, you join the 400 route for home.
I went round the whole of this route with Mike in February, when the verges were sprinkled with
snowdrops. It is a lovely 100k and in late summer should be resplendent with purple and golden
vetch and willowherb, and possibly even some late foxgloves. Roll up!
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 23

ocd in corsica
Finishing on a high
Paul Harrison
It’s 30th December. 2015 has practically
bitten the dust. Some days earlier, Janet
and I had abandoned an attempt on the
Ascu gorges. The top, Haut-Asco, at about
1,500m is quite an exciting place to cycle to,
but not being a col or summit is not an OCD
claim. In the spring and autumn, the shady
depths of the Ascu can be a cool retreat; in
the height of summer everywhere is too hot
in Corsica. In December you’d be lucky to get
many miles up the route beyond Ascu village
before you hit frosty conditions.
We’d judged discretion
to be the better part
of valour and turned
round at the first sign
of ice, thus avoiding a
dangerous descent later. At least, I did.
Janet had forged ahead, not noticing
the slippery road until my frantic
text message recalled her. With this
background, we decided that our next
excursion would be to the Scala di Santa
Regina gorge as it is more open to the
winter sunshine and might be frostfree.
Beyond the gorge, there’s the Col
de Vergio, at 1,477m the highest col in
Corsica.
So, having agreed to see how far
we’d get before retreating due to ice, we
put the bikes in the back of the car and
drive to Francardu, just south of Ponte
Leccia. The car thermometer shows 3°C
and bleeps an ice warning in the carpark
at Francardu railway station. Janet
questions the wisdom of our venture,
but we go anyway. To call the train stop
at Francardu a ‘station’ makes it sound
grander than it is, however, what is grand
are the wild, looping descents the line
makes as it comes down to the station
from the mountains near Corte. George
Stephenson eat your heart out.
The steady climb to Ponte de Castirla
and into the Scala warms us up and
we are encouraged by the occasional
glimpses of sun as the way twists and
turns gently upwards. Once at Calacuccia
the valley broadens, the gorge left
behind, and we’re able to enjoy a coffee
sitting outside in the warm winter
sunlight. We discuss les changements
climatiques with the café proprietess
and she says c’est pas normal, Il faut en
profiter (It’s not normal, you must make
the most of it). So we do, and it’s onward
and upward with mounting excitement
as the miles pass and still no ice. After La
Maison Forestière, and round a hairpin,
suddenly the air is decidedly colder. Soon
there are patches of snow at the side of
the road, generally an indicator of frozen
tarmac. But there’s gravel on the road and
it seems safe, so we go on. We’re now so
close to the col that Janet swears she’ll
get there even if she has to crawl. Luckily
this oath is not tested as the summit
looms into view.
It’s lovely at the top, out of season, no
tourists and silent. We can’t believe our
luck at having made it and are in high
spirits. The sky is a beautiful blue with
24
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HEADING ocd in corsica IN HERE
Above:
1. Janet about to unload the big saddlebag.
2. Superfluous ice warning.
3. Target practice.
All photos by the author
white clouds around the highest peaks
accentuating the perfection. There is a
statue which I had always presumed to
be of the Virgin Mary as it’s the Col de
Vergio. In fact it’s ‘Christ Roi’ and has been
there since 1984. The modern style makes
the slightly angular hair reminiscent
of Napoleon’s iconic bicorn hat: is this
deliberate, or just my imagination? I look
at my mileometer and find that we have
been climbing, more or less constantly,
for 29 miles. This is a bit scary, as it means
there’s 29 miles of downhill to do with
the increasing risk of ice as the sun sinks.
Instead of lunch, we have a quick snack
on the grounds that descending doesn’t
demand too many calories and that it
would be wiser to reach the sunnier open
valley near Calacuccia before having our
picnic. Now comes the justification for
having lugged our large saddlebags up
the hill – they contain extra clothes and
we dress up looking like Michelin men
for the freezing descent: ‘The Full Monty’.
(Though those of you that have seen the
film of that name will realise it was the
exact opposite!)
Despite a sense of urgency to get to
lower levels, I can’t resist stopping to
photograph some trees against the sky.
Corsican pines retain their magnificence
at all seasons, but the birches lose their
leaves to form a delicate tracery framing
the white clouds and bare rock behind.
Another photography stop is for the
road signs which have been used for
target practice. This always seems to
have been considered a quite legitimate
activity in Corsica and is not necessarily
an indication of rising separatism.
Though we have spent many hours
on Corsican roads at various times of
day and in different seasons, we have
never witnessed the shooting actually
happening.
In the sunshine after lunch, we
decide to do a detour around Le lac de
Calacuccia and its barrage, providing an
unusual view for Corsica, looking more
like the English Lake District across the
water. The Scala is now very chilly, but
still ice free, and the run down to Ponte
de Castirla seems endless and leaves us
feeling cold despite the layers. We creep
back into the car and drive back to Lama
with the heater on full and feeling rather
pleased with our day out.
Jean-Marie is an 82-year-old cyclist
who lives in the village. He’s recently
had an accident and hasn’t ridden since.
Before we meet him, Janet and I debate
whether to tell him of our adventure.
Will it depress him in his incapacity, or
will it spur him on to get back on the
bike? We decide to take the risk, but his
reaction seems neutral. However, he
does comment il n’ya jamais de givre au
Col de Vergio (there’s never any frost on
the Vergio). Hmm … is he right? We look
forward to testing his statement next
year.
N
Above:
1. Col de Vergio summit statue.
2. View from the barrage.
3. View from summit.
4. Janet on the road.
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 25

iding to sizun to meet pbp
PBP 2015 – from the outside looking in
Richard Thomas
I had every intention of riding PBP 2015,
following on from a successful LEL in 2013,
ridden with Rob Bullyment, and having
completed PBP in 2011 in 79hrs 4 mins.,
again riding with Rob. My previous PBP
rides (all from the 90hr start) had all been
completed with time to spare. In 1999, 76hrs
24mins, 2003 79hrs 36mins and 2007, the
wet one, in 87hrs 6mins (things did go a bit
wrong that year!). All these rides had been
unsupported and also, in the case of PBP, this
included riding to and from the event (qv
Noel Simpson’s comments in Arrivée 130 p.6).
Rob and I had planned to
ride together with plenty of
rest, similar to our LEL 2013
strategy. However, following
my ride in the AUK National
400 in 2014 (my 25th National 400),
riding again with Rob, and in this
instance also Roger Cortis, I realised how
tired I felt despite getting some sleep
and finishing in a leisurely time of just
over 24 hrs.
It was then that I decided, at the
tender age of 69, that perhaps my long
distance Audax rides should be a thing
of the past. Rob was surprised at my
decision, which came a bit out of the
blue. My body was beginning to suffer, in
particular the tendons in my wrists, which
cause my hands to go numb. In fact, even
now my right thumb and forefinger are
still numb from LEL in 2013, and I often
lose feeling in my right hand even on
short rides. I was also given some wise
advice by Sheila Simpson last year when
I rode with her on the CTC Tours ‘Manche
to Med’ that the reason why she gave up
the longer distances was that she did not
want to wreck her body to such an extent
that she would be unable to ride at all. I
was at this point with my wrists.
So, what to do for 2015. I had already
booked the CTC tour of the Istria
Peninsular for September, and after a
week in France in June in the Dieppe
area and taking in the Dieppe Raid,
would be off the bike for most of July.
So a trip to France in August, to see the
event from the outside and give some
encouragement and support to AUKs,
would be an ideal preparation for Istria.
It also meant that I would not be sitting
at home tracking the riders and wishing
I was there.
My good friend and riding companion
on many an audax, Chris Tracey, was
also not riding PBP (he had also ridden
the same ‘set’ of PBP's as me), so the
die was cast. Chris planned a route
from Dieppe to Lasavisiau, just north
of Carhaix. We would be staying in prebooked
accommodation comprising a
mix of gîtes and hotels along our route,
at locations such that the maximum
daily distance, in principle, would not
exceed 140km as we were loaded up
with panniers. As it turned out we did do
a few days of approaching 160km, and
riding with panniers, along a route with
climbing in excess of 1,000m per 100km
made the going hard at times. We were
also wondering how much more effort is
needed to propel a bike carrying an extra
8 to 10kg of luggage, increasing the dead
weight by around 70 per cent from a
base of 12kg (we are talking steel-framed
bikes with mudguards and rear carriers
here, ie a typical traditional audax bike)
to approximately 20k. PhD students of
Physics please respond !
On Thursday 13th August our
Above, Richard and
below, Chris Tracey.
adventure began with me riding from
my home in Eastbourne to meet Chris
at his Seaford residence, and both of us
then setting off to catch the 9am ferry
from Newhaven which would get us to
Dieppe at 2pm. Several PBP riders had
gone across on the midnight sailing and
were heading for Vernon that evening.
Our destination was the Campanile in
Honfleur, some 120km distant from
Dieppe.
On board we met a few PBP riders,
namely Tony Green, who was optimistic
about his chances, and Peter Turnbull,
with his two mates. They had car trouble,
with the car being restricted in its
maximum speed, to such an extent that
a seeing-to by a garage mechanic would
be required. We last saw them at the side
of the road within the Dieppe port, just
by the exit gate. They must have got it
fixed as all three started the event.
Tony Green was hoping to succeed
this time, having failed in 2011 due to
mechanical failure when his chain got
jammed between the chainwheel rings.
His Brighton Excelsior mate Bob Harber
was also riding and they hoped to meet
26
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iding to sizun HEADING to meet IN HERE pbp
up in Paris so as to ride together, even if
it was in a sort of ‘loose collective’. Tony
was staying the night in Gourney en Bray,
some 70km away.
The sea was a bit choppy and the
weather threatening rain as we crossed
to France, but in true Gallic fashion,
the sun was shining in Dieppe as we
disembarked. I was using my new Garmin
1000 for the first time, and had loaded
Chris's routes into it. The first hour was
a bit fraught as we lost the road that
‘Map my Ride’ had chosen, and spent a
good 20 minutes riding up and down
this suburban road, and through a
roundabout a few times, much to the
amusement of three Frenchmen seated
there. ‘Je n'ai pas perdu!’, dit Richard, lying
through his teeth!
After getting back on the route, the
first day was going OK until we reached
the Seine and a very rutted track, which
we rode along for about 6km before we
were back onto tarmac and the crossing
of the Pont de Normandie. I got eaten
by mosquitoes whilst fitting a front light
before crossing the bridge, which was a
spectacular journey, rather spoilt by the
fact that at the Honfleur end there were
no directions as to how to get off the
thing, and we spent some time before
finding a way out, which was not the
‘official’ way.
We arrived at our hotel 10 minutes
after 10pm, the closing time for the
restaurant, so no food. I had ridden
140.39km at a moving average of
18.5km/hr.
Friday 14th (Day 2) Honfleur to
Mortaine 156.06km at 18.2km/hr
average riding speed
At breakfast we made up for missing our
dinner the previous evening by having a
good feed as we had another long day to
Mortaine, and the rain from Falaise made
the following 76km to our resting place
even tougher. Before the rain started we
did get the chance of a midday meal,
for which we were very grateful. We
arrived at Mortaine at 9pm, very wet and
cold so were not too keen on sitting in
a restaurant in such a state. In any case,
everything in the town was closed. The
digs were B&B only for that night, so
again no evening meal. A trend seemed
to be developing! However, we did at
least get served with a warm drink and
some biscuits.
Saturday 15th (Day 3) Mortaine to
Quedillac 113.18km at 19.6km/hr ave.
A slightly easier day today, with
us reaching our destination in late
afternoon. For those in the know,
Quedillac is on the PBP route. The posters
were already in place close to the route.
We had passed through Tinteniac on
our way today and the memories of past
PBPs were invoked. During our PBPs we
have arrived there in daylight on the way
out, either to stop for some food or to
‘bounce’ or in the dark on the way back,
to stop for a sleep.
Our accommodation for the night, Les
Lierrus Chambre d'hôte, run by Yvonne
Morris and Dave Chatel, former residents
of Jersey, was just out of town. Yvonne
welcomed us and served us a pot of tea
in the garden, and very welcome it was
too.
We walked down to the town for
a meal at a restaurant right on the
corner by the church, bang on the PBP
route. They were to be very busy in the
forthcoming few days.
Sunday 16th (Day 4) Quedillac to
Glomel 123.72km at 17.3km/hr ave.
Today PBP 2015 started, and by the time
we reached our digs for the night most
riders (save for the 84 hour group) were
already on their way.
There was no need to rush so we even
had time to stop to watch a local road
race near Corlay. Being a Sunday and in
the light of our track record of missing
meals, we were prepared not to find
anywhere for lunch and so it turned out.
However, on arriving in Glomel at 6:30pm
we were fortunate to be passing a
pizzeria restaurant just as it was opening,
so we booked a table for 8pm. We then
rode just out of town to our imposing
digs near the Nantes-Brest canal. At the
western end, the canal finishes at Guily
Glas, just beyond the town of Chateaulin.
Brest is still nearly 40km away. We were
to ride along part of the cycle way the
next day.
Monday 17th (Day 5) Glomel to
Lasavisiau 79.76km, ave 18.7km/hr.
This morning we planned to ride to
the control at Carhaix to see the faster
Vedettes (80 hour group) arriving. We had
already begun to track several riders via
the PBP website.
We got there at 10:30am, 18:30 after
the first Vedettes left Paris. The lead riders
had already gone through, including
AUK's John Barkman, doing a ‘ride’. He
was to finish in around 48 hours, setting
a new fastest time for a member of AUK.
However, as John is American, Howard
Waller was the fastest Brit in around 50
hours. We had a quick word with Rob
Gray, who was to finish in 59 hours (24:30
to Brest)
It was rather embarrassing for us as
the photographers assumed we were
on the ride (with panniers and in the
Vedettes, I don’t think so!) so we had to
emphasise that ‘Nous ne participons pas’.
We had a look at the bikes to see how
they compared with our ‘Audax’ bikes.
Most of the bikes were stripped down
and carrying not a lot of luggage. They
more closely resembled ‘racing’ bikes.
We decided to ride to Huelgoat, on
the PBP route, for lunch. The Vedettes
were still coming through there on their
‘Today
was the
fulfilment
of our
journey, to
meet and
greet as
many AUKs
at Sizun
as was
possible.’
way to Brest, as it was only 22 hours
since their 4pm start and the 90 hour
and 84 hour groups were yet to arrive.
After lunch we rode part of the PBP route
from Huelgoat to the Roc’h Trevezel,
stopping there to offer encouragement
to the riders, before turning off the
route to head for our hotel in Lasavisiau.
We were surprised at how little of the
route we recognised, but that is not
surprising given the nature of the ride.
One is usually quite tired by then, and
just concentrating on getting to Brest. In
2011, Richard, riding with Rob Bullyment,
did this section partly in the dark then
in the mist of dawn. In 2007 Richard was
shattered by the weather up to that point
and riding alone so would have to go
back to 2003 to recall much of that part
of the ride (done with Miles Hubbard).
In 1999 Richard recalls an early morning
ride on wet roads, having missed the rain
(an unusual occurrence for him!).
Tuesday 18th (Day 6) Lasavisiau to
Glomal 84.81km at 20.6km/hr ave.
Today was the fulfilment of our journey,
to meet and greet as many AUKs at Sizun
as was possible. We had agreed with Rob
Bullyment to meet him there at around
8.30am.
We were half an hour late and Rob
was just about to leave when he saw us,
so he stayed a bit longer for a coffee and
a chat. He was going well, to a finish in
just under 72 hours, but regretting a fixed
gear of 79in. when climbing out of Brest.
Despite starting in the 90 hour group
he caught and passed many Vedettes
between Sizun and Paris.
We stayed in Sizun most of the
morning, greeting and chatting to many
UK riders. There was Alistair Fitzpatrick
‘The Pie Eater’ (Dulwich Paragon) who
was on his first PBP, and Bob Watts and
Tim Decker (both San Fairy Ann). Andy
Wills arrived with several other VC167
riders, including Dean Clementson and
Dave Atkinson.
Also arriving during the morning were
Chris Smith and Lindsay Clayton on their
tandem and Jack Williams, who is now
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 27

iding to sizun to meet pbp
resident in France, close to Huelgoat.
We had a long chat to Adrian
O’Sullivan, who had finished fifth in the
Trans-America race, which comprised
21 days, 4,500 miles and he did it
unsupported. He also mentioned Ciaran
O’Hara, his friend who was also riding
and who wrote about his and Adrian’s
(pictured in the report) ride on this year’s
Asparagus and Strawberries 400 in Arrivée
129 p.38.
Aidan Hedley and Judith Swallow
arrived on their tandem trike. They had
tales of misfortune, as on the first night,
at around 70km into the ride, one of the
rear wheels was damaged. Rob Bullyment
passed them on the first night and saw
the trike in a ditch. The story goes that
they were running next to an Elliptigo
rider and there was some mix up and he
rode into one of their back wheels taking
out something like nine spokes. Aidan
was carrying eight spokes and managed
to get the wheel straight. The Elliptigos
were supported and had a mechanic
at the controls. The story goes that
the Elliptigo rider was so embarrassed
that he volunteered their mechanic to
fix it. Whether it was this mechanic or
someone else, the wheel was repaired
at Fougeres sufficient to enable them to
continue and finish.
Just after 1pm we decided to ride
along the PBP route to the Roc, stopping
there to encourage the riders, before
continuing to Huelgoat for some
refreshment. Along the way we had a
chat to John Kilby, West Kent CTC.
Later, as we rode along we
encountered the two Italians on their
ancient bikes (see Arrivée 130 p.36).
We decided to retrace the outward
route of the ‘loop’ so that we could get
back to Huelgoat and not interfere too
much with the riders. At the corner
where the two routes part we saw
Mark Brooking and Jane Swain on their
tandem trike outward bound.
As we approached the Carhaix control
we caught up with Steve Abraham and
had a chat. I asked how he was feeling
and he replied ‘better now after a sleep’.
Carhaix was very busy and we saw several
AUKs including Tony Pember and Jim
Roberson, as well as Rob McIver from
Kent. We had arranged to meet Sabine
Williams (Jack's wife) there, and she was
busy preparing for Jack's arrival. At the
control were several of Sabine and Jack's
friends and neighbours, there helping
out at the control and ready to give Jack
encouragement on his arrival. Prior to the
event Jack had been interviewed by the
local media so was quite a hero.
As time was pressing we left Sabine
before Jack arrived and rode to our digs
in the centre of Glomel. We had also met
the ever-cheerful Gary Broad, who was
doing a bounce and carrying on; we rode
with him until our routes diverged.
We did not stay at the same place
(down by the canal) as on our way out
but at a B&B (Webbs of Glomel) in the
town, run by an engaging Englishman,
Clifford Webb, and his wife Mary Ellen.
As we had enjoyed our meal at the local
pizza restaurant on our way out we
returned there that evening for a good
feed. A thoroughly enjoyable day, and
I hope we lifted the spirits of some of
those riders that we spoke at Sizun and
along the way.
Wednesday 19th (Day 7) Glomel to
Quedillac 150.05 km at 19.9 km/hr ave.
We left Glomel with the intention of
riding part of the PBP route on the way to
Quedillac.
Linday Clayton, Chris
Smith and ex-pat Jack
Williams, now living in
Huelgoat, Britanny.
We picked up the route and along
the way passed a few riders who were
evidently out of time but still going. We
caught up with a Frenchman, Jean-Pierre
Bacon, No.S267, who appeared to be
suffering. We rode with him and chatted.
He knew he was out of time but his car
was in Paris and he intended to ride all
the way there to collect it. After a few
miles we rode on and left him to his own
devices. We assumed that we would not
see him again (but read on!).
In all our PBP rides Chris and I have
never had the opportunity to obtain one
of the route direction arrows. However,
we came to a junction and there were
two of them still in place. As all the riders
who were to finish within the time limits
had all gone through some time ago, we
felt that it would be of no detriment to
take home a souvenir.
We continued our ride that day and
were nearing Quedillac when my GPS
ran out of power (and I did not have a
supplementary power source; I have
now!). The consequence was that we got
lost (another schoolboy error, leaving the
paper maps at home!).
Eventually we found our way and
rode into Quedillac along the PBP route.
Just as we were entering the square by
the church who should we see but our
good friend, Jean-Pierre. We called out
to him and he came over to us. We asked
what he intended to do as nightfall was
approaching, and we said that we could
probably get him a bed at our Gîte (the
same one we stayed at on our way out).
He was insistent that he wanted to ride
on through the night.
We said, well let us at least treat
you to a meal to see you on your way,
and we persuaded him to accompany
us to the Logis Hotel, which had the
only restaurant that was still open.
The restaurant opposite the church,
which we had used on the way out, had
probably been open for the duration
of PBP passing through and was,
understandably, now closed.
Chris rode up to our gîte to inform
Yvonne, our host for the night, that
we had arrived, to explain our current
situation and that we would be arriving
for the night once we had finished
our dinner. By this time I was in the
restaurant and Jean-Pierre had gone to
the washroom for a bit of a wash and
brush up.
We had a pleasant meal and then bid
our farewell to Jean-Pierre, who rode off
bravely into the dark night just as rain
was forecast, but not before we had one
last go to try and persuade him to stay
in a dry bed that night. He had no extra
clothing and just said he would sleep
somewhere. What a day! Our host Yvonne
had had a busy week, hosting some
Italian riders on Tuesday and also a group
of Germans doing bag drops/helping
their riders.
28
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iding to sizun HEADING to meet IN HERE pbp
Thursday 20th (Day 8) Quedillac to
Mortaine 113.30km at 20.4km/hr ave.
After a fulfilling breakfast we said our
goodbyes and drifted off down the hill
to the centre of town. Chris was riding
behind me and noticed that my back
wheel was seriously buckled. I had fallen
off the previous evening at the point
where my GPS ran out of power (the two
incidents were not connected) and this
must have caused the buckle due to the
lack of lateral strength of the rim. Chris
was concerned that, with the weight of
all my luggage being in the panniers at
the back, the wheel would not survive
the rest of the journey home. I was not
so pessimistic, and had a fiddle with the
spoke key for a bit to improve the gait
of the wheel. So off we went, along the
D220 enjoying the views along the way.
We stopped for lunch in Combourg.
We then rode on to Antrain, where we
had lunched on the way down, then St
Hilaire-du-Harcouet and finally to our
destination, Mortain. We missed any rain.
Friday 21st (Day 9) Mortaine to
Honfleur 158.92km at 19.9 km/hr ave.
A long day in the saddle on a sunny day,
a total contrast to the same leg on the
way down. Around lunchtime we were
passing through a small village of Le
Mesnil Villement when we noticed a sign
outside a bar, offering a three-course
meal. With no hesitation we were in
there, and had an enjoyable hour or so in
the sunshine enjoying our meal.
Continuing on, our afternoon took
us back to Falaise, looking fine in the
sunshine. The rest of the afternoon
went well and passed into evening.
We managed to get to our hotel just
in time for a meal, which was a bit
rushed, as their 10pm closing time was
approaching.
Top: Aidan Hedley and
Judith Swallow on their
tandem-trike.
Below: Andy Wills with
Chris Tracey.
‘The consequence
was that
we got lost
(another
schoolboy
error,
leaving the
paper maps
at home!)’
Saturday 22nd (Day 10) Honfleur to
Dieppe 140km at 20.4km/hr ave.
Richard was keen to visit Beuzeville, just
south of Honfleur, as his club, Eastbourne
Rovers, were linked with VC Beuzeville
from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. He
wished to see whether the town had
changed in the intervening period.
Richard rode several Paris-Honfleur
200km randonnées with them in that
period, as well as various sportive events
in the Alps and in the vicinity of Paris.
We located the Bar du Commerce (now
renamed Le Commerce) in the town
square, which used to be owned by the
then social secretary of the club, Jacques
Barreau, and had a coffee there.
The town looked better than it did
all those years ago. It was a hot day and
even by 10:30am the temperature was
29°C.
We then returned to the Seine and
followed a route closeby until a spot
of lunch beckoned. Zut Alors. Tout
fermeture! We found one small shop
open on the way to Caudebec so made
the best of what they had on offer. We
rode on, crossing the Seine via the Pont
de Brotonne but by this time, 3pm, it was
too late for any lunch. Taking the minor
roads we stopped in Yvetot for a cool
drink but still nowhere to eat.
We resigned ourselves to ‘running
on empty’ (I always have this song by
Jackson Browne (1977) running through
my mind when hungry on the bike)
until Dieppe. So we eventually arrived
in Dieppe via various cycle routes (eg
Veloroute du Lin, Hautot sur Mer/
Fecamp), some built along the line of
now defunct railway tracks.
We were taking the midnight ferry
so rode down the quayside to find
somewhere to eat. We stopped at a bar
where Sam Crossley, Dulwich Paragon
(see back page photo in Arrivée Autumn
2015) was enjoying a beer. We had a
good chat about his ride, done in 69
hours. The quayside was very busy but
we finally found a restaurant and had
something to eat, oh bliss!
Whilst queuing for the ferry we were
joined by Jon Stainsby and Stephen
Butcher of the Hastings & St Leonards
CC, both of whom had successfully
completed their first PBP.
Arriving in Newhaven around dawn
we rode to Chris's house for breakfast,
then I rode on home. I had ridden
1,285km door to door A thoroughly
enjoyable tour, and a great way to soak
up the atmosphere of PBP without
having to go through the ‘challenges’,
albeit soon forgotten in hindsight, of the
prestigious Paris-Brest-Paris Randonnée.
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 29

winter windrush populaire

photos by HEADING graham IN brodie HERE
Photographer
Graham Brodie
on his fat bike

winter populaires
Windrush Winter Warm-up 100
31st January
Ribble Blue
It’s always exciting to go on a ride in a
different area from normal and immerse
yourself in the sights and sensations of the
countryside. And so it was that we had an
early start (5:30 am) from Newton Abbot,
heading up the M5 to Bristol and then along
the M4 to junction 17, where we turned in
the direction of Cirencester. The journey
was straight forward at that time of the
morning and we arrived with plenty of time
in hand at Ashton Keynes for the start of the
Windrush Winter Warm-up.
There was a good crowd of
entrants for the two events;
there being about 200 on
the 110km ride and we were
on the look out for others
from Devon. We had spotted Drew Buck
setting off on the 150km event and as
9am approached we noticed that fellow
CTC Torbay members Graham Brodie
and Kate Hattersley had also journeyed
up for the day. Actually, we could hardly
miss them because Graham, equipped
with camera gear as usual, was riding
some kind of all-terrain beast of a bike,
apparently for medical reasons.
It was dry, but a bit chilly as we set off
down the lanes towards Down Ampney,
the birthplace of composer, Ralph
Vaughan Williams. It was immediately
apparent that the route sheet was clear,
accurate and easy to follow, which added
to the enjoyment of the day. Another
bonus was that the outward route as far
as the first control at Stanton Harcourt
was as flat as can be, weaving in and
out of the beautiful Cotswold villages
of Fairford, Eastleach, Filkins, Alvescot,
Black Bourton, the other Bampton,
Aston and Yelford. It was almost as if we
had entered a private members club in
which it was obligatory to have villages
of golden coloured Cotswold stone,
historical stately homes and gardens
surrounded by rolling hills, criss-crossed
with dry stone walls. And complimentary
to all visitors at this time of year, were the
delicate clumps of snowdrops nestling
in the verges, showing that spring is on
its way.
By the time we reached Stanton
Harcourt we were soaking wet but
we had made good time as the going
was easy. Once we had devoured the
customary cakes and tea, we returned
to our bikes to find that the rain was
easing off ready for our foray into David
Cameron’s constituency and in search
of the picturesque Windrush Valley. On
the outskirts of Witney we had our first
brush with serious traffic before we had
the lanes to ourselves again, following
the signs to the wonderfully atmospheric
Minster Lovell. From then, the route took
us along cycle route 57 through glorious
countryside from one delightful village
to the next. As we passed between the
noteworthy white gates and bollards
which heralded our entrance to the
village of Asthall, we were suddenly
amongst the willows and water meadows
bordering the Windrush and we could
see Asthall Manor, where the Mitford girls
once ran riot. Upon closer inspection we
discovered that the manor now hosted a
sculpture park with eye-catching stone
sculptures by Anthony Turner adorning
the gate-posts.
More splendour was heaped upon
splendour as we approached Burford
with its broad main street lined with
dignified old houses and ancient
cottages, all at precarious angles.
Amongst the half-timbered buildings
we spotted the Tolsey museum and it
was severely tempting to pull over and
explore the town with its myriad of pubs, tea-rooms and antique
shops for the rest of the day! However, the cycle route along the
Windrush Valley beckoned and we followed its beautiful course
on to reach distinctive Little Barrington with its stone-roofed
houses and on further still to Sherborne. The village hall was a
welcome sight and the smell of cooked bacon was welcome too.
After clocking in at the control, downing a bacon roll and having
a quick exchange with the locals, we embarked on the final
stage of the ride from Sherborne back to Ashton Keynes.
After an impromptu stop at the intriguing Donkeywell Forge
to admire the blacksmith’s quirky artistic creations, we nearly
turned at the wrong crossroads. But we knew that the route
sheet couldn’t possibly be wrong and aided by the helpful
advice of a fellow cyclist who was referring to her GPS, we
continued to the correct crossroads signposted Poulton. After
passing through the Saxon parish of Cerney Wick, we entered
the environs of the Cotswold Water Park once again. This is not
a fun water park as its name might suggest, but the largest
marl lake system in the UK, created over the last 50 years by
the extraction of glacial, Jurassic limestone gravel. It provides a
significant area for wildlife and the wintering and breeding of
birds. In fact we hadn’t really noticed much birdlife throughout
the day, but Kate and Graham had been excited to see a couple
of red kites circling in the sky.
It was an easy pedal to retrace our morning route in reverse
to the Finish Control at Bradstone Pavillion and we ended the
Audax feeling quite invigorated for a change. We had been
cycling into the wind on the return leg, but the plus side of that
was ending up totally dry. To close, I would like to express my
appreciation to Peter Holden and his team for putting together
an excellent route through some of the most picturesque parts
of the south Cotswolds and for designing a route sheet which
at first had me slightly confused by the hieroglyphics he was
using, but turned out to be deadly accurate and easy to follow
(I particularly enjoyed ‘oo’ for double mini roundabout!). I look
forward to the 2017 event.
N
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winter populaires
Jack & Grace Cotton Memorial 100
23rd January
Ribble Blue
It’s just on 100 miles up from Torbay to the
start at Aztec West in north Bristol, but I
make the trek each January to be on the
line at nine and hope for a dry, ice-free ride
going up towards Gloucester and back.
Last year’s event suffered from icy
roads in the first 25k to Berkeley
and resulted in several riders
going down, but this year things
are different. Forecast was for a
dry day with some sun but clouding over
in the afternoon, but there’s a rumour
that temperatures may get up into
double figures, not bad for January.
A large entry of close on 200 so two
start times and by choosing to join the
nine o’clock group gave me time to renew
my acquaintance with David Johnston,
one of the helpers who used to ride with
us down in Devon in the nineties.
Along the A38 going under and over
the M5 I’m soon turning into the lanes
going through Tockington and Olveston
heading for the info control at Littleton
on Severn. Lanes rather wet with surface
water on most bends but it was pleasing
to see snowdrops giving a splash of
colour to the verges, spring is on it’s
way. Flat roads all the way to the second
control at Berkeley so I’m making good
time before the hills come in during the
second half. Joined a group of about
a dozen coming out of Berkeley and
thought it a good Idea to tag along at the
back but then all suddenly turned right
in Wanswell which was not the turning
to take and I never saw them again but
hoped they got back on route later on.
Now cycling on my own around the
Slimbridge area to join the A38 again
along the main road for 5k before turning
for Frampton on Severn and the control
at Epney alongside the river. Covered the
first part of the ride in just on two hours
which I thought was quite impressive
and stayed ahead of some far younger
cyclists. Found some room in the pub
to enjoy a cuppa and cheese roll before
getting on the bike again for the return
leg.
The second part of the ride seems
to involve going round endless
roundabouts to get through Hardwick
and Brookfield and then another series
to get around Stonehouse. It’s all 1st
exit, 2nd exit stuff which makes you
think which roundabout is this and what
should I do here. Joined at this point by
a young lady who appeared lost or had
lost her route sheet, well you can’t leave
a young lady cyclist beside the road on
an audax can you! So we teamed up for
the next 10k when the climbs started to
get to Stintchcombe. My companion left
me there as she joined up with a group
coming by and I then met up with the
past organiser of this event for many
years, Jane Chapman.
After spending some minutes talking
about things in general and cycling in
particular it’s climbing up a couple of
hills to get to Stinchcombe village and
up the nasty little climb which always
catches me out as you come around a
corner and suddenly you’re faced with a
1-in-5 climb, but managed to get all the
correct gears in time to ride all the way
up. Descend and another climb finds
you facing the event photographer Becki
Robinson, so smarten yourself up and
keep pedalling to the top, got to look
good for whichever magazine the picture
may appear in.
Second control at 88k near Leyhill and
there’s cakes on offer at this place, can’t
pass that up, so with a cuppa as well, it’s a
sit down for 15 or 20 minutes.
Just 17k to go now and I team up
with Drew Buck and his friend Alan to
ride at an easy pace through the lanes to
Tytherington and up a gentle climb to
the finish at the Swan Inn on the A38, a
mile or two from the start car park.
Thanks Paul and your crew for another
very enjoyable event, the only criticism
I could make is that the typeface on the
route sheet appears to have dropped a
point or two or is it that my eyesight is a
year older now from last year's event. N
Top right: the author,
Ribble Blue
Right: Jane Chapman
Photos by Becki
Robinson
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 33

JACK And grace cotton memorial populaire
Centre: Paul Rainbow, organiser
Dave Baxandall
L: Jon Banks, R: Denise Booth

photos by Becki Robinson http://beckirobinsonphotography.co.uk
David Cooper
Andy Curran, Irmgard Tischner

andonnee
Hebridean Island Hop 200km
Part 2 – continued from p.43 Arrivée 131
John Thompson
It was a road I had ridden before in 1992 when I did the east–west myself. On that
day I rode from Fort William to Point of Ardnamurchan, then retraced along the
peninsula road to Salen and Mallaig, a total of 153 miles. I know it was a long time
ago but I really don’t remember the peninsula road feeling as hard as that. On that
day, although Fort William is not a great distance from the peninsula road it was
considerably further than the six miles I had ridden this morning and the days
leading up to it had been considerably tougher. I went through my usual excuses of
having lost a lot of fitness and I was carrying more this time. At Salen (I mean the
one on the mainland where the peninsula road junctions with the A861 – more
potential confusion with same place names) I stopped at a nice café for a sandwich
and salad lunch and a slice of cake.
The hard truth is that even though today I had a good tailwind
from Salen, I don’t remember the whole of my 1992 ride from
Point of Ardnamurchan to Mallaig feeling as tough. However,
the A861 is a scenic road, particularly where it follows the coast
overlooking Glenuig Bay and Loch Allort.
Just before Lochallort village, I observed a steam-hauled train on the
Mallaig to Fort William line. At Lochallort it was left onto the A830 for the
final 19 miles to Mallaig. A little way along I again made use of a lay-by for a
short breather and an energy bar. One memory of my ‘east – west’ ride was
of a 1 in 7 about three miles before Mallaig, for which I had been psyching
myself up all day, but it didn’t happen. There was a bit of a climb at around
that distance, but there was no gradient sign and it didn’t feel like 1 in 7.
Does anyone know if the road has been upgraded around that point? There
was a sign indicating what I interpreted as an alternative route following the
coast more closely. I am wondering if that is the old road.
On arrival in Mallaig, I had a little difficulty finding my hotel. When
leaving the town centre, I decided to retrace and ask directions if necessary
and discovered I had completely missed a large sign directing to the hotel –
it really must have been a tough day!
And guess how ‘Murphy’s Law’ came in … the sign instructed ‘up hill’. It
made it feel like hostelling! The good news on arrival at the hotel was the
plaque on the wall by the entrance indicating it had beers from the Skye
brewery. The hotel was nice, including good food and beer making a nice
finish to a testing but good day.
On a little aside, when I was first thinking about visiting Mull my intention
had been to use the Kilchoan ferry to visit Point of Ardnamurchan to take
notes for updating the information I provide for my permanent, as a lot has
changed there since I went in 1992, something told me to was not going to
be today!
Armadale to Breakish, with small detour to Harrepool – approx. 21 miles
At the Mallaig ferry terminal on Monday morning I was ‘reunited’ with
the five Yorkshire chaps. They were also going to Skye to do a thorough
exploration of it. That I had done in 2014 so this year I was going purely
to get the ferry from Sconser to the island of Raasay, which I did not have
time for then. For the sake of a 30-mile round ride rather than book two
nights in the expensive Sconser hotel, I booked into the bed and breakfast
at Breakish, that I had used in 2014. In 2014 I had two nights there after
exploring Skye by three nights at Uig. I used it to do the lovely circuit ride,
using the small summer-only ferry from Kylerhea to the mainland near the
village of Bernera, and then through the Ratagan forest – including a testing
long climb comparable to much I have done abroad – to Shiel Bridge then to
Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge back to Breakish – five miles from the
bridge.
Back to today, although it was a very short ride it worked out nicely as
a stretch of the A853 from Armadale was one of the few bits of Skye I still
had not seen and it is scenic and quiet enough. The A853 junctions with the
A87 near Harrepool, where I decided on a slight detour to hopefully find an
eatery. I was in luck. I had another sandwich lunch and sticky toffee pudding
for dessert again. Honest, I am not a ‘chocoholic’. While I was in the café it
started raining. As I had only three miles to ride I lingered to see if it would
ease or stop. When the proprietor walked past and said, ‘Are you all right?’
and I explained I was waiting to see if the rain stopped, she looked dubiously
out of the window saying, ‘Good luck with that.’ While waiting in hope, it
was nice observing a dear little girl spending part of the school holiday
helping mum with serving customers. She had obviously been taught well.
The proprietor was proved right about the rain. It was obviously not going
to stop soon so I decided it made more sense to get to the digs so it was on
with the waterproof for three miles.
Tours are primarily about visiting places for the first time but doing so
can involve revisiting some places again and it can be nice to do so if they
are memorable for good reasons. In the case of Breakish, it was a particularly
nice B&B, with a good restaurant in the village. I was also wondering if the
friendly and pretty young waitress in the restaurant would still be there!
I arrived at the B&B – ‘Ruisgarry in Lower Breakish, with a lovely view
of Broadford Bay’ – around 3pm. John, the proprietor’s husband, phoned
the restaurant to book me in and I amused myself until dinner time by
making use of the Teasmaid, reading my paperback and watching the rain
tipping down! It was a wet walk to the restaurant, but I knew from 2014
that the food should be good and that combined hopefully with seeing
the young waitress again compensated! The Red Skye restaurant was
still being run by the same couple as in 2014, the lady seemingly looking
after the general running and the husband the head chef. Alas, there was
no sign of ‘my’ waitress. Nothing that could be done about it and that is
not to say the young ladies now working there were not nice, but it was
a disappointment. Anyway, the food was good as was the beer from The
Skye brewery, albeit only bottled available. When I went to pay the bill the
lady recognised me from my 2014 visit so I asked what had become of the
waitress. We established I was referring to Sophie – well now I knew her
name! Apparently she is teaching in Fort William – ‘doing well.’ I am pleased
about that!
Breakish–Sconser/circuit of Raasay/Sconser–Breakish – approx. 45 miles
In the morning it had stopped raining but chatting to John over breakfast he
commented that he had never known rain like it on Skye. Pointing outside to
his shed he said. ‘I’ve never seen a puddle as big as that there yesterday.’ Yes,
some will be laughing that it figures as I was there! Anyway, once on the bike
the sun was making an effort. When it did break through from time to time,
after the weather of the day before it was really pleasant to feel it on you.
The 15 miles along the A87 to Sconser was a ride I had done in 2014 in the
opposite direction. It is quite busy but it is also scenic. There is also a good
climb and descent just before Sconser
The ferry crossing to Raasay only takes 20 minutes but by the time we
got there the sun was out and the sky was blue, which added to the ‘wow’
factor, which for me Raasay has – terrific sea views.
It is basically an out and back ride from the southern tip to where the
surfaced road and public right of way ends in the north at Arnish, a round
trip of about 14 miles, although there is another short out and back to the
eastern shore at North Fearns. For the last little stretch from Brochel to
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andonnee
Arnish it is known as Calum’s Road. Richard Barrett explains the history of it
in Cycling In The Hebrides. It is named after the person who built it, Malcolm
(Calum) Macleod (1911 – 1988) who was a crofter, part-time postman and
assistant keeper of Rona lighthouse. After the inhabitants of the northern
end of Raasay had unsuccessfully campaigned for a proper road that would
alleviate some of the hardship of living there, Calum decided to take matters
into his own hands and build the road himself. It is tempting to go on as it
is an interesting story but I refrain. I will say it is one of the few bits of new
road building I approve of! It is testing however, with a lot of short steep –
probably about 1 in 4 – hills, one after the other. The road may only be about
seven miles long but I found myself wondering how much longer it went on
for and on the return I conceded to walking one of them.
Initially just after leaving the ferry, near Inverarish, I started going
wrong heading – I think! – toward North Fearns. I was prompted to check
the map when I saw a signpost. Even after checking the map I could not
be completely confident, but it seemed most likely that I needed the road
signposted – wait for it! – ’North Pole.’ It also seemed to make sense that
‘North Pole’ meant the north tip of the island. It appears I was thinking right.
It struck me bizarre that on such a small island with so few roads it should be
so easy to get confused. Is it me? I concluded it wasn’t – yes, I know I would
wouldn’t I – and that ironically the problem was the smallness of the place.
While I consider the Nicholson maps good, 1 inch to 4 miles is quite small
scale. For places like that, I guess you ideally need large scale localised maps
such as the Ordnance Survey Landranger series, but on this tour it would
have been so many.
While waiting for the return ferry, the weather started deteriorating, not
raining but starting to look like it would and the wind getting up. However,
it was a tail wind back to Breakish. There were now some roadworks on the
climb, with temporary traffic lights. I was stopped at them for a little while
and once they turned green because of the length of the roadworks the
lights for the other direction turned green just before I got to the end so I
had to quickly pull over to the side until the oncoming traffic had passed.
Not an uncommon problem for cyclists at temporary traffic lights.
At the Red Skye in the evening, there was further confirmation of my
weather effect. The male half of the proprietors said he had never seen water
so deep in their backyard.
Breakish–Lochcarron – approx. 30 miles
Again, this was a ride I had done on my 2014 visit, although I did vary it
slightly this time with a little detour.. Previously, I had been riding from
Breakish to Loch Maree, which is a fair ride so I didn’t visit Plockton, instead
heading straight from Durinish to Strome Ferry. This year, as it was only a
short ride I went to Plockton. It would have been silly not to as it is one of
the ‘classic’ places to visit in Scotland and justifiably so as it is picturesque as
are the villages on the way. Once over the bridge and into Kyle of Lochalsh
it is along pretty lanes through the picturesque villages of Badicaul, Erbsaig,
Drumbie and Durinish, which is particularly nice. The tame highland cattle
allowed to graze on the green add to its charm. It didn’t surprise me that
Plockton was quite full of tourists but I wouldn’t say it spoilt it. I ‘joined
them’ in taking photo’s. Plockton was used in the opening scenes of The
Wicker Man but I don’t think I will get into that – I did see the film! As the
road ends at Plockton it was a short retrace to turn left and shortly retrace
my 2014 route through Achmore and Strome Ferry – lovely wooded lanes
overlooking Loch Carron – from where there is a short hill to junction to join
the A890, which has a few good hills, despite running alongside the rail line
for a good part, through Attadale to Strathcarron. There are fine views of
Loch Carron and between Attadale and Strathcarron I could look across and
see my destination. At Strathcarron the road swings west (left) by the head
of the loch, and at the t-junction it is again left onto the A896 for the final
two miles or so to Lochcarron. I arrived nicely at lunchtime to use the café in
the golf club. A friendly proprietor asked where I had come from, what my
plans were etc. I was amused though when he said, ‘I think you’ve been lucky
with the weather today, it hasn’t rained.’ Well yes, as far as that goes! It had
been looking as though it would but it didn’t, but it wasn’t a great day. I was
going to say it is my observation the Scottish are hardened to the rain and
take it as a matter of course, but it was obvious from the chap’s accent he
did not originate from Scotland. Perhaps the same happens when you have
lived there for a while and weather wise everything is relative. One thing I
found striking was that when cycling in the rain in Scotland you don’t get
the gasps, head shaking and comments like, ‘Are you really going out in this?
I wonder if it makes the point! I told the chap I was doing the Applecross
Training Centre for
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Peninsula the next day. Obviously they are used to cyclists coming there for
it because he didn’t gasp! I explained I had been told it is probably easier
north to south and he agreed. Although I still had reservations about advice
from non-cyclists I had more or less resolved I would do it north to south.
Again, I arrived at my digs, the Lochcarron hotel, ridiculously early, a bit
before 2pm. However, it gave me a chance to wander to the village store to
buy my sister’s postcard. and then write and post it The year before, I had
used the village stores for lunch provisions, which I sat and ate on a seat
overlooking the loch. The store proprietors offered me a complimentary
free cup of tea or coffee. My interpretation of it was that it was something
they offer tourists using the store in that way. From what I could gather, it
had changed ownership so I don’t know if the idea is ongoing as I could
hardly expect it just for buying a postcard! However, at the time it was most
welcome!
Watching the BBC news in my hotel room, there was more evidence of
the JT weather effect. There was a feature on the problems of the relentless
rain and it was commented it was the worst weather in Scotland for 30 years!
The Applecross peninsula circuit (Lochcarron–Lochcarron) – approx. 60
miles
In the morning I had definitely decided I was doing it north–south! Today
was the day of one of my main objectives of the tour, having decided it over
a year ago when I last came to Lochcarron. Realising I did not have time for
the peninsula that day, on arrival at Lochcarron, seeing there was a hotel and
what a beautiful place it is and considering its proximity to the peninsula, I
realised it would be the perfect and logical place to stay. I had been looking
forward to this day for over a year but come the time, with the climbing in
mind, I admit to some nerves. However, it did not stop me having a good
breakfast!
Weather-wise it was another instance of following a drab day, the sun
today was making an effort. I remembered from before that there is a slight
climb out of Lochcarron on the A896 and it is an ‘up and down’ ride, but
nothing particularly testing, to the point just before Sheldaig where you turn
left onto the peninsula road and the real climbing begins!
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It does, however, level off around the hamlet – if you can even call it
that – of Arrisa and what a stupendously scenic ride following the sea,
particularly as the sun was making an effort. However, once riding direct
north to south after the hamlet of Fearnmore I had a stiff headwind. I didn’t
attempt heroics, just took my own time. I arrived in Applecross nicely at
lunchtime. There was a food trailer and the lady was offering fish and chips –
bliss! Me having fish and chips twice is saying something!
Nice as Applecross is, I didn’t linger there too long deciding it was best
to get on with the climbing rather than thinking about it and, no, I didn’t
do the short out and back bit to the end of the peninsula road at Toscaig.
The climbing starts immediately on leaving Applecross and well … er yeah!
It is tricky to judge how long it is and my map is not helpful in that respect.
It is one of those that just seems to go on and on. I was impressed by the
patience of the drivers, pulling over and waiting for me, often sooner than
they really needed to, and which often included words of encouragement
like ‘You’re doing well,’ and the ‘traditional’ ‘Allez, allez.’ I guess they are used
to cyclists but at the same time I have a feeling it is a lot to do with the
easy going, tolerant and friendly Scottish temperament. Relating to their
apparent better attitude to cyclists, I often joke I can understand why many
of them want to be ‘separated’ from the English. Perhaps that is enough on
that issue! Back to the point, I cursed myself for listening to the bad advice
of non-cyclists, having concluded that the theory it was easier north to
south was a load @!@! – whatever your preferred adjective is! When I did
reach the top, however, and started the descent, I realised I had done them
an injustice. I admit I am not a great descender, probably deploying far
more brake use than necessary. (A pity because with my sort of physique,
if I relaxed a bit I could probably descend fast! Possibly it has something to
do with it.) Nevertheless, it is one of those steep descents (if anyone knows
the gradient please advise, but I would think much of it is 1 in 4) on a twisty,
narrow road where you could easily come to grief if you ‘let it go’ just a bit
too much and it is as though the brakes are straining. The A896 is rejoined
at Tornapress for the last few miles back to Lochcarron. As I came into the
village of Snachan I considered whether it was worth stopping at the stores
for a quick drink with just around four miles to go. I decided it was – what
the heck, it’s not an audax, you’re on tour.
Back at the hotel making use of the Teasmaid I reflected on another
objective realised. A little later it was back the theme of good food and beer
giving the finishing touches to a perfect day’s riding.
If you have not done the Applecross peninsula put it on the ‘to do’ list,
it’s a humdinger. Unless you are one of those who feels they have not done
something properly if it is not done the toughest way, I recommend doing
it north–south, even if you get a headwind alongside the sea. Apart from
anything else, while Applecross does get a lot of tourists it is a good place for
lunch. I did not use the pub, but it does food and looks mighty fine. Bearing
in mind the climb after leaving, however, I suggest a non-alcoholic drink is
advisable! That said, considering the gradient of the climb if doing it south–
north, I guess for some it could still be lunchtime by the time of reaching
Applecross and the really tough climbing is done. That might be another
way of considering it!
Lochcarron – Invergarry – approx 52 miles
Weather wise it was an indifferent day, no rain but not sunny either, but at
least there was little wind.
Although today’s ride was a main road bash, it nevertheless went
through some great scenery, which helps makes the point that although
lanes are in short supply in some parts of Scotland many of the main roads
are very scenic and are not uncomfortably busy.
My ride started by retracing along the A896 to join the A890 back
through Strathcarron to tackle the steep hills in the opposite direction
to two days before, to the junction near Strome Ferry. Two days earlier
there had been roadworks traffic lights at the start of one of the descents.
Today obviously it was a climb so I had concern I might again get into the
predicament I experienced on Skye. However, although the workmen were
there, seemingly doing various things, the lights were not in place.
After passing the junction with the lane to Strome Ferry, it was a nice
descent to the A87, where I turned eastward to Shiel Bridge. This stretch
of the A87 was a retrace of part of my 2014 circuit starting and finishing
at Breakish, using the Kylerhea ferry. (I even stopped for a quick drink at
the same garage store as a year before.) It is quite busy, but at least for me,
not uncomfortably so, and it is reasonably scenic running alongside Loch
Duich. You also pass Eilean Donan castle, where I stopped for photos. While
it was welcome, I cannot see any logical reason why the traffic suddenly
considerably reduced once out of Shiel Bridge. There are no major road
junctions there, just for the lane to the ferry I used the previous year, which
also takes you to the villages along those lanes. From my experience of that
route the year before, it cannot all be going along there. Perhaps those of
you who might ride in the area regularly will say I happened to hit it lucky.
Whatever, the decrease in traffic added to the enjoyment of the rest of the
A87 because it is east of Shiel Bridge that the scenery is stupendous, with
both the hills and the lochs, Cluaine, Loyne and Garry.
Hills-wise, I don’t remember anything particularly steep but a lot of long
drags did seem to take their toll as while riding alongside Loch Cluaine, I
realised I would be in trouble if I did not eat soon. I was not worried as I had
my energy bars but I like to regard them as a last resort. However, the nature
of the area and a check of the map indicated it was unlikely any village
stores or café would be forthcoming so it looked likely the last resort would
be necessary. Nevertheless, I kept going for a bit further and I came to the
Cluaine Inn. I stopped there for a little while looking hard at it pondering
whether to use it. It was tempting but it looked busy. As it was now only
about 14 miles to Invergarry and service would likely be slow, I judged it
would be better to have the energy bar and get to Invergarry to get settled
in earlier and then have something more substantial to hold me over until
dinner time. A few miles before Invergarry there is a quite long drag of a
climb taking you alongside Loch Garry, with an idyllic view just before the
top, followed by a nice descent to Invergarry. The Invergarry Hotel is on the
western edge of the village, conveniently – for me – close to the junction
with the A87. It is a nice old-world building, the proprietor informing
me it is not allowed a lift as there is a preservation order on it. However,
there was only one upper floor so not too taxing after a testing ride! The
slight ‘problem’ was that my room had a low slanting roof, particularly the
bathroom, which meant that … well … both types of toilet visit involved
sitting down!
The dining area serves as a café during the day so I had the light bite I
intended – forget what it was. As I had judged, it kept me going until dinner,
which was again back to the theme of good food and beer at the end of the
day putting the finishing touches to a good day’s ride.
Invergarry–Oban – approx. 72 miles
It was not raining first thing but it looked imminent. Possibly making a slight
contribution to ‘shaking off’ a stomping breakfast, there is a short climb away
from Invergarry followed by a nice descent to then follow the shore of Loch
Lochy. It was on the descent that the rain started so reluctantly I stopped
to don waterproof. Again, it is a case of despite it being a main road – A82
still – the scenery is good and it is not particularly busy. It is also flat and
gentle for the most part. That said, while usually I am not one for bothering
about weather, I admit to feeling disappointment on this occasion because
the scene would have been so much more stunning in sunshine. The road
eventually swings slightly east away from the loch to Spean Bridge and
then to Fort William. It was there that the ride deteriorated for a while. Fort
William is a nice town but it was busy. The fact it was Saturday was perhaps a
contributing factor. Also, it was from there that the A82 was very busy. I am a
hardened cyclist so it was not that I was nervous, but it was just tedious and
unpleasant, particularly as it was also narrow. I also don’t remember it being
particularly scenic despite the fact it follows Loch Linnhe. Indeed, I don’t
particularly remember many views of the loch. Perhaps, I was feeling too
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eager to get off the road as soon as possible. I will say again however, that in
fairness the drivers were patient. I know it is no more than what they should
do, but it is refreshing to experience that amount of patience!
Despite how busy it was I passed about four – possibly more cyclists
going the other way. My guess is that they live in Fort William and have
no option but to use the road for a few miles to get to wherever they are
going and back. As I came into North Ballaculish I spotted a café with a sign
advertising hot bacon rolls. It was tempting but as it was only 11.45 I quickly
resolved to resist deciding the priority was getting off this road as soon as
possible, all the more so because I was nearly at the point where I would. At
Ballaculish main village there is a twisty ride off the A82 and over a bridge
– to give credit to the designers, a nice looking structure – onto the A828.
The bridge is more or less at the point where lochs Linnhe and Leven merge.
The A828 was quiet and what a relief! The A828 was also another part of the
Argyll and Bute coastal route for me. It was now lunchtime and, luck was on
my side in that I was not far along before I came to a golf club entrance with
a board advertising a café, so I made a quick left turn. Scrambled egg on
toast went down nicely.
Things had picked up in more ways than one when I came onto the
A828 as, ironically, it was around then that the weather picked up. That was
continuing and on leaving the café it was sunny but as my direction was
south, yet again there was a niggling headwind. However, time was not
an issue so I took it easy. I would not describe the ride along the A828 as
one of the more spectacular parts of the tour scenery wise, but it was nice
enough, following the coast in the forms of lochs Linnhe and Ceran and
also Ardmuchnish Bay. Terrain wise it was a pretty level road but with a few
short sharp surprises. That said, I don’t think they were that sharp really,
rather I was suffering the knock-on effect of a few days of continuous up and
down – it really must be an age thing – and the headwind wasn’t helping.
Once over the bridge at Connel it was onto the A85 for the final five miles to
Oban. I was starting to feel empty again and pondered whether it was really
necessary to stop to eat my last energy bar with such a short distance to go. I
decided it was and stopped at a nice spot with a sea view. Well, finishing the
energy bars did mean a bit less weight in the panniers!
The A85 was busy around Connel, but for the most part I didn’t find it
so. It was also pleasant enough following the coast for a little way and then
passing through pleasant woodland. With around four miles to go there is
a sting in the tail with a long drag. To get it right, it is really not so long. On
a short ride and feeling fresh it probably would not be noticed much, but
it is enough to be a bit of a sting if the signs are showing, which they were!
Anyway, once at the top it was not long before a nice descent into Oban to
finish and back to the Royal hotel.
When I arrived in Oban it really was rather warm. Everyone was walking
around in shorts and light clothes. I noticed one chap with an ice cream,
which struck me as a good idea. After checking-in to the hotel I strolled to
the quay where a Mr Softee van was parked and treated myself to a cornet.
A final thought; perhaps the deterioration in the ride from Fort William
might have been compensated for somewhat if I had spotted Sophie; sadly
not!
Ferry to Barra
Today was a strange Sunday for a cyclist as there wasn’t any cycling. Well,
‘technically’ there was in that I rode from the Royal hotel to the ferry
terminal, which is just round the corner and later from Castlebay ferry
terminal to the hotel, which was also just round the corner, albeit a ‘splash’
further than at Oban.
As the ferry departure wasn’t until 3.40 pm, you might wonder what I
did with myself all that time. There was a short ride I considered, but as I
was vacating the hotel and would have had to carry the panniers I judged
that I might as well do it at the end of the tour when I was doing two nights
at Oban – more on that to come. As I didn’t need to be up early I had a late
and lazy breakfast. As the sunshine was continuing and Oban is an attractive
place I spent some time taking photos. I decided I might as well buy my ferry
ticket early and clarified a few things about other ferries I wanted to use
later. Then, as it was a nice day I sat with my paperback. I used the cafeteria
on the rail station for a bite of lunch, then back to the novel before going to
the terminal. One way and the other the time passed nicely
I was joined by two other cyclists at the ferry queue, a couple from King’s
Lynn, which is kind of my ‘neck of the woods.’
The ferry journey to Barra from Oban is four hours 50 minutes so for a
lot of the time it was back to my paperback. However, there was also some
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dolphin spotting, which made me curse for not having my camera to hand.
When I booked the hotel, I was told they advise people to eat on the ferry
because it is likely you will arrive after the kitchen has closed so I also spent
some time making sure I did that!
I checked into the Craigard hotel just after 9pm. The lady asked if I had
eaten on the ferry as the kitchen had just closed. Whether that means she
would have arranged something for me if I hadn’t I don’t know because it
didn’t matter. After a stomping breakfast and a decent meal on the ferry on
a lazy day it didn’t matter. That said, I had a packet of crisps in the bar, which
apart from myself and a few other hotel residents was full with locals.
Circuit of Barra including Vatersay – approx. 35 miles (guestimate)
Alas, the weather had deteriorated and although it wasn’t raining when I set
off, it looked as though it would not be long.
I started by heading north-east along the A888 and wasn’t far out
of Castlebay before there was a short but fairly steep hill, but nothing
horrendous. How do I most accurately describe the charm of Barra? I guess
it is the peacefulness of roads. I had a real sense of being away from it all and
almost as though I was in a different world. One of the most striking features
of Barra is the beautiful white sandy beaches (as it is for some of the other
islands I will be coming to), including the airport landing strip. I wanted to
see this, particularly as the cyclists I had met at the ferry queue explained
that it was one of only two airports in the world that have landing strips on
beaches. I believe they said the other one is somewhere in the Caribbean
(I tried Google to get it precise but it looked like it would take a long time
to find, if it can be). However, those beaches made it all the more the pity
it wasn’t the day Sunday was. Not that I would have had a swim. I didn’t
bring a costume and I don’t indulge in that sort of behaviour! It is just that,
as when I was riding alongside Loch Lochy, the scene would have been that
more stunning with sun and blue sky.
Anyway, I followed the A888 swinging westerly passing through a
particularly charming little village with a small quay, I think it was Bogach,
but I expect there will be some who can correct me if I am wrong – I must
start taking a notebook with me! I continued to the junction with the road
to Barra airport and the north tip of the island, which I then took . Part of
this road forms part of the Hebridean Way cycle route. It comes off this road
at the right turn for the terminal for Eriksay ferries. It is a flat road and while
all roads on Barra are by the sea,, the combination along with the weather
made it windswept. Yes, Barra airport was interesting, tempting a number
of photos including the sign advising to keep off the beach when the wind
sock is flying and the airport is active. I continued to the island’s north tip
and a mile or so before reaching it, a cycling family came out of a b and b
riding the opposite way. (On all the small islands I saw a number of parents
with young children. Obviously the short distances lend themselves to it and
some of them are not so hilly and, in any case, if the distances are very short
they are probably avoided. While it will be a few years before they become
AUK members, it was pleasing to see and perhaps one day!)
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I retraced past the airport to the junction with the A888, where I turned
right to cover what I had not yet done. I continued along the A888 – amused
to be passed by a police car – to the right turn to Vatersay to be ‘confronted’
with a sign saying 12.5 per cent. After tackling it well – I think I did! – I was
soon on the charming little causeway onto Vatersay ( the causeway opened
in 1991 as a result of campaigning by local people due to a bull drowning).
A little further along and I saw the couple from King’s Lynn coming the other
way. We stopped for a brief chat and they told me that a bit further along
I would come to a memorial sign to the nine crew members of a Catalina
aircraft on a training exercise at the spot where it crashed on the 12th May
1944 – three were killed, six survived. In addition to the sign, the wreckage is
still there, I guess as a sign of respect and to make it more poignant. I spent a
few minutes at the point and took photos.
I then continued through the village of Bhatersaigh to the tip of Vatersay.
Although there is no sign to indicate, I interpret the spot as the southern
tip of the Hebridean Cycleway. If so, I have to say it is an anti-climax, the
road abruptly ending at someone’s back yard. The Hebridean Cycleway
sometimes gets called ‘the outer Hebrides end–end.’ The north tip is the
Butt of Lewis, ie, the north tip of the Isle of Lewis. As I had been there and
to the southern tip of Harris and then to Berneray, through the Uists and
Benbecula to the ferry terminal at Eriksay and now circuited Barra to the
southern tip of Vatersay, it was silly I had not bothered to do the little bit to
the ferry terminal on Barra, as I could then say I had done the outer Hebrides
end-end, albeit not in one go. Of course, I could easily have then done it but
I have to admit I didn’t feel it mattered much I agree with Richard Barrett’s
description that while ‘it is a relatively modest ride of just less than 150 miles
it is undoubtedly one of the great cycling journeys in the world, packed with
antiquities and taking you past dazzling white beaches, alongside turquoise
seas and through dramatic hills.’
I retraced and considered the Vatersay Community Hall café, which
looked quaint and interesting, but in my wisdom I decided to continue.
If I had realised just how close I was to Castlebay I would probably have
stopped. Never mind, the café at Castlebay was nice enough, with cycling
families for company. A cheese and ham toastie was adequate after such a
short ride and another good Scottish breakfast. Another early finish but it
gave me time to take some photos of Castlebay – and read some more of my
paperback!
Ferry to Oban and short ride Oban to Ganavan and return
Tuesday morning was beautiful; hardly a cloud in the sky. I was of course
pleased about that but felt some annoyance that it had deteriorated just for
the one day I was on Barra – never mind!
After checking-out of the hotel I went to the ferry terminal and was
joined by the King’s Lynn couple. We told each other about our days on
Barra. The male of the two explained that initially they had difficulty finding
a camping spot – ‘We went to Bhatershaigh and there’s a sign saying no
“overnight camping in our township.” It’s barely a hamlet.’ My judgement
had been that it was big enough to be a village but I understood him. I
commented that perhaps on a little and very rural place like this in relative
terms it is a township. He didn’t seem convinced! Apparently they wild
camped somewhere just off the road. He agreed with me that the southern
tip of the ‘end–end’ was an anti-climax and rather a tip – no pun intended.
The ferry arrived in Oban at 2.30pm. It wasn’t the ride I had considered
for Sunday but while lingering in Oban I decided that on embarking the
ferry on Tuesday, I would take a look along the short road – probably less
than two miles – which forms part of NCR78 to Ganavan. I had considered
checking-in at the Royal hotel first to leave the panniers but decided about
three miles with them was neither here nor there! It is a pleasant enough
road following the coast and passing Dunollie castle.
There are signs advising drivers that as cyclists and walkers use the
road they should drive appropriately and there is a 20 mph speed limit
into Ganavan, both of which I approve. Ganavan is a place of expensive
properties, rather typical of a nice place just out of town but close enough
for convenience for those who can afford such homes. The road ends
at the beach, which was busy. Presumably people were jumping at the
opportunity of making the most of the good weather while it lasted.
Hypothetically, if I was to ride an audax based at Oban, wanting a lazy day
afterwards, if the weather was good that is probably where I would go.
Circuit of Lismore – approx. 18 miles (guestimate)
Lismore is a small island, just under 15 square miles and I admit when
planning the tour I nearly overlooked it. I was looking at the area around
Oban on the map and suddenly noticed it. I am pleased I did because to
have not gone there would have done it an injustice and I would have
missed something. There is a saying ‘small is beautiful’ and it certainly applies
to Lismore, with great views on the east side to the hills of the mainland. On
the west side is lovely Port Ramsay. The name makes it sound like a big place
but it is just a few houses – mainly a row of the white slate terraced variety –
by the sea and one of those white beaches ,with the backdrop of the hills of
the Kingairloch area of the mainland,
While waiting for the ferry I got into conversation with a chap who had
just finished a night shift at a care home. He explained that he likes going to
Lismore for short walks and unwinding. A mountain biker also arrived and
joined in the conversation. On the ferry I also chatted to a friendly American
couple. It was to be the start of a friendly day.
The terminal on Lismore for Oban ferries is at Achnacroish. There is a bit
of a pull up from the ferry terminal to the T-junction but after that the B8045
is gentile for its entire seven miles between the south and north tips of the
island; just the odd little rises. (I jokingly refer to the B8045 as the Lismore
‘main highway.’ Despite its classification, it is a narrow country lane, in parts
with grass in the middle.) This means that you have lovely sea views with
the backdrop of hills, with the ‘bonus’ of easy riding. I opted to turn right
at the T-junction and go to the north tip first. It is at the little harbour there
that a small private ferry operates to and from Port Appin on the mainland.
I watched one of them arrive and some cyclists get off. It looked as though
it was mum and dad with their daughter and two adult friends or relatives.
I took some photos before retracing south along the B8045. I caught up
with the family and friends group who were a little split up and some were
stopping to wait for others. As I came alongside the little girl she started
going faster, her little legs doing a lot of revs. ‘Are you trying to race me?’ I
joked, and a sheepish smile appeared. I actually saw a significant number of
cyclists on the island. Not of our ilk but what are probably best described as
casual tourers, all part of the current leisure cycling ‘renaissance.’ Back to the
ride and after a little way I turned right toward the west side and the village
– or should I say hamlet – of Port Ramsay (a point of clarification in that if it is
a port I think it is because where the ferry arrives and departs at the north tip
is regarded as part of Port Ramsay). After some more photos I again retraced
continuing south, passing the junction with the road to the ferry terminal
to the south tip. On the way I passed the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre. I
looked hard to see if it incorporated a café but it did not seem to. I continued
through Kilchoran to the south tip and felt pleased to have completed the
seven-mile ‘Lismore end–end!’
A few photos and I retraced. As I came past the heritage centre I again
looked hard to see if there was a café. I figured that it might have been
closed when I came past before. On such a small place it seemed likely it
may not open until late. As I came by the entrance someone waved to me. It
was ‘matey’ – the night-shift worker – and I thought I could see all the others
I had chatted to on the ferry sitting at a table together. It was amusing to
see so many – mostly mountain – bikes parked at the entrance so it seemed
there was a café there. I proceeded up the slope to the building. It was nice
enough to sit outside, at least initially. I ordered a toastie and pot of tea and
joined my acquaintances. ‘Matey’ seemed knowledgeable about Lismore. I
mentioned I had not noticed a pub and he confirmed there wasn’t one on
the island ( having ‘double-checked’ via Google, I am as certain as I can be
there is no hotel on the island, ie, there is no place that might have a bar. It
leads me to conclude that AUK members would not want to stay overnight
on the island! The accommodation available appears to amount to two bed
and breakfasts and some self-catering apartments). After a while the wind
started gusting and quick action was required when it blew over the sun
shade.
As Lismore is so small and the ferry did not leave until 3pm. I intended
seeing every possible ‘nook and cranny.’ I had partly done so by detouring
to Port Ramsay main village. I now just needed to do the little out and back
detour along the road to Achinduin in the south-west corner. This road does
involve a steep hill – and not so short – followed by a descent to sea level
and vice versa coming back. Achinduin is interesting in that the village –
bigger than a hamlet I think! – sign is letters on a block of wood attached
to a wooden gate, which has to be opened to get into the village properly.
My interpretation was that the idea of the gate is to tell non-residents
something so I did not open it.
The gusting wind while at the café had been the start of the weather
deterioration and it started raining while waiting at the ferry terminal,
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necessitating use of the very basic shelter. Eventually, matey, the American
couple and the mountain biker all arrived. We chatted in the shelter and on
the ferry about life in general, such as me saying how much I was enjoying
retirement, and putting the world to rights, which with an American couple
brought Barack Obama into the conversation.
In conclusion, it seems ironic that I regard such a short day miles wise as
one of the high points of the tour. If you really do feel just doing the island is
not enough distance wise, there is a ‘leg buckling’ 35 miles, or so, circuit you
can do based on Oban. Take the ferry to Achnacroish and do the ‘Lismore
end–end,’ plus, I suggest the two little detours, take the private ferry from
the north tip to Port Appin and then ride back to Oban.
Circuit of Colonsay – approx. 18 miles (‘guestimate’)
The ferry terminal is at Scalsaig on east of the island, more or less at the
north – south midpoint. The island is circuited by starting on one of the two
roads that head north from Scalsaig and returning via the other. However,
at the junction – sort of! – of the two roads near the north tip it is important
to detour to beautiful Kiloran Bay, regarded as the ‘classic’ spot to see on
Colonsay This caused me the same confusion as I had on Raasay, with the
map scale being a bit too small to properly show all the roads on such a
small place.
On arrival at Scalsaig, I asked a Caledonian MacBrayne employee if she
could direct me to the Colonsay hotel. My thinking was to leave the panniers
at the hotel to circuit the island without being laden. The lady pointed to a
white building just a few hundred yards along the road straight ahead. They
were happy for me to leave my panniers and after doing so a ‘double-check’
of the map confirmed to me that I just needed to continue along that road.
In itself that was correct, but because of the way it is shown on the map
in relation to the position of the ferry terminal – that’s my excuse and I am
sticking to ‘blaming my tools’ – I interpreted that I was on the road (B8087)
that initially runs alongside the east shore before turning slightly inland,
rather than the road (B8086) that cuts across to the east side, which I was on.
It caused me confusion at the point where the two roads meet. At that
point the B8086 actually ceases although it appears to go straight-on round
a left-hand bend. The B8087 on the right is the road that has to give way as
a T-junction. As I had the two roads confused I was puzzled to see a road
on the right but guessed it must be a short dead-end road to the sea that
the map did not show. As I knew I had at some point to swing south my
interpretation was that I would after the left-hand bend. It made sense in
relation to the road I thought I was on.
As I reached the junction a lady walker called out asking if I knew the way
to Kiloran bay. I stopped and opened the map and I was at least pleased she
could not make any more sense of it than me! I was baffled and had doubts
as to whether I was correct about the road I needed. I told the lady that as
far as I could make out she needed the road to the right. When she replied
that she knew it wasn’t as she had been down there, I could only apologise
profusely for not being able to help and suggested there ought to be a local
person or someone who knew the way soon.
I then continued straight ahead and round the left-hand bend feeling
dubious as to whether I was on the right road. My doubts increased when
the road became a very narrow lane with grass in the middle and in places
rough-surfaced. While Colonsay is small, it is not Lismore, and as the road
up to the junction had been … well … relatively wide and well surfaced, it
seemed odd that the island’s other main road would be like this. Incidentally,
it involved a number of very short but steep – probably about 1 in 4 – hills.
Eventually I came to a spot overlooking a bay with one of those white
beaches. I decided it merited a photo but first I looked at the map to see
if I could now make sense of it. After a little while I did and can you guess?
If you can’t, it was Kiloran Bay! It is a lovely spot and I spent a few minutes
absorbing it, as two people on the beach seemed to be also. It is one of
those spots where the beauty and peacefulness with just the sound of the
waves gently crashing really helps you feel away from it all so you can switch
off from the pressures of life.
Although I had managed to figure it out, this road was not properly
indicated on my map. Out of curiosity I decided to follow it further. Straight
away from the bay there is another short steep hill and after a little way
you come to a hamlet consisting mainly of those ‘island traditional’ white
cottages – yes, definitely small enough to be classed as a hamlet! As far as
I could make out it was Bainsard. At the end of the hamlet the way then
becomes rough stuff so I decided to retrace to the junction of the B8086
and B8087 (I did not use it, but just north-west of the junction on the road
to Kiloran bay are the Colonsay Gardens and estate, which has a café open
Wednesdays and Fridays 12 to 5 pm. At the junction I turned onto the B8087
and was soon tackling the ‘col de Colonsay.’
Of course that is humorous exaggeration but it is a fair climb, and a long
drag – in as much as a west–east road on an island two miles wide can be
long – rather than steep.. The isolated nature of the road, the gradient and
the countryside and the great view at the top do give it a col feel. Colonsay
is another of the islands that attracts cycling families, but it is pretty certain
they do not tackle that bit! A quick photo and it was down the glorious
descent to follow the east shore for a little way back to Scalsaig, the island
covered in a couple of hours or so I admit to thinking, good lord, all done
already! (Strictly speaking, not entirely correct as there was a corner still
to see that I had planned for the next day) I had a lot of time in hand so
decided to ‘explore’ a road without a signpost. It turned out to be just a short
cul de sac but it had been a good idea to check it out because there was a
café at the end – The Pantry – and it was lunchtime.
The Colonsay Hotel was very nice run by Italians who were also very nice.
They all spoke English as though it was their natural language so I didn’t
bother to show off being able to speak their native language! As I like Italian
food I appreciated that while the food was predominantly English, there was
an Italian touch, particularly the desserts.
I still regard Raasay as the island with the biggest wow factor, but along
with Lismore I regard Colonsay as a close second. What also has the wow
factor is the beer from the island brewery! I can recommend the ‘sixty
shilling’ but there is also an IPA. I chatted to a local person in the hotel bar
who confirmed it was the only bar on the island. I commented on the irony
of a real ale brewery somewhere that has no pubs. He explained that a lot of
residents have ‘set ups’ in their sheds and that I might have noticed barrels in
people’s gardens. I hadn’t noticed but made a point to look out for them in
the morning.
Further exploration of Colonsay – approx 10 miles (guestimate)
It was raining while I had breakfast – another good one! – but it cleared
nicely in time, which somewhat belied the ‘drama’ to come.
There were just a couple of ‘nooks and crannies’ I wanted to see today
and as the ferry did not leave until 5.30 I would have a lot of time to kill or
so I thought – as I said, the drama to come! I headed north along the B8086
with two aims, firstly, to follow the road to the island airport On turning left
onto the airport road I discovered that after a few yards it becomes rough
stuff – yes, the road to the airport! Not being a big rough stuff enthusiast,
I retraced along the B8086 to the junction with the B8085, which I turned
right onto for my second aim of the day to follow the road to its end, which
is the southern most part of the island accessible by road, and from where it
is possible to sometimes get a ferry to Oronsay, or is sometimes accessible
an hour or two either side of low tide.. I passed what was presumably mum
with her young son and a little further along at the top of a slight hill it was
presumably dad stopped waiting for them. At the end I spent a few minutes
again absorbing a tranquil and beautiful scene and taking photos.
I arrived back at the hotel around 11.30. As it was nice I was happy to sit
at a table on the lawn enjoying the sun with my paperback. Around midday
I bought a soft drink from the bar and took it outside. It was so lucky I had
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 41

andonnee
decided to sit on the hotel lawn as a number of others were and I overhead
one lady’s mobile phone conversation. I understood her to be saying the
plane had been cancelled but I thought I better check with her that it wasn’t
the ferry. It was the ferry! You can imagine it was not a nice moment. Not
being able to get back to Oban until the next day was going to completely
throw my itinerary. It would almost certainly have meant cancelling going to
the islands of Coll and Tiree and cost me a lot of money. Also depending on
how full the Royal Hotel was there could be an accommodation problem in
Oban.
The lady who had been on her mobile advised that the proprietor of The
Pantry had contact with someone who had a private rib that comes out in
those situations. I quickly went to The Pantry and to cut a long story short
he sorted it for me. Indeed he was helpful in trying to find me the cheapest
way, including phoning the plane operator to ask if they could take a bike,
which they claimed they couldn’t. I did shudder when he told me the price
– £425 – but I ‘gritted my teeth’ deciding I had to accept it. I went to the ferry
office and explained it and the chap said he would phone and explain it to
the head office. When I returned he said they had confirmed any expenses
incurred due to a technical cancellation are refunded. It was reassuring but I
still entertained some apprehension as it seemed an exceptional amount.
Remember I said earlier that little did I know I would be paying an
unexpected return to Easdale? Well, this was it, the rib operates to and from
there, It arrived and I got on board with help! The company was Seafari
Adventures, as far as I could gather, a small family concern that offers trips
to see whales, porpoises and sea birds. (As I have made a note to see the
Slate islands more thoroughly some time, the boat trip to see the bird life
will be a nice ‘time off’ thing to do.) I was ‘psyched up’ to ride the 16 miles
from Easdale to Oban, but was told their person at base had arranged for
the 4.30 bus to wait for me – you will of course understand I would have felt
uncomfortable telling them I didn’t need it! I wasn’t sure what to make of the
bus service. It was just about 4.30 when we docked so I only delayed the bus
a couple of minutes. The driver was happy about the bike coming on board,
but then I was the only passenger and it didn’t stop all the way to Oban.
The driver nicely dropped me off near the ferry terminal so I could get my
ticket for the morning. I queried whether there were problems with an other
services and was told there were not.
My total claim was for £435.15, consisting of the £425.00 charge for the
rib, £3.00 bus fare and £7.15, being half the return ferry fare, I can report
that after submitting the claim, Caledonian MacBrayne soon paid it, with no
questions.
Circuiting Coll – approx. 21 miles
Saturday morning was an early call, 5.30 am for the 7.30 ferry. However, most
of the help-yourself Continental breakfast was available and the night shift
receptionist brought a generous amount of toast. On the ferry I decided that
having a full Scottish would just be making a pig of myself! I chatted to some
more casual leisure cyclists at the terminal, including a mother with her
young son and adult friend – lady that is!
The islands of Coll and Tiree apparently have the most recorded sunshine
anywhere in the British Isles. When we docked at Arinagour it was pretty
good. Arinagour is a delightful place, albeit quite busy and not just with
tourists. Being the main place on the island it is the hub for residents It is
amusing because once out of the village boundaries it is so quiet! Riding
up the slight hill from the ferry terminal, I was amused to see a sign saying,
‘Public roads on this island are unsuitable for exceptionally heavy vehicles’ I
intend posting it on my own club’s Facebook page and in the newsletter. No
doubt my clubmates will question how I managed to get around Coll!
The Coll hotel is conveniently very close to the ferry terminal. Again, I
asked if I could leave my bags there, which they were happy about. There
was a couple there who had the same idea. Coll’s road network totals three,
with a number of short, sharp hills, although nothing daunting Firstly I
followed the B8071 westwards to the junction with the B8072, which I
followed to the north-east tip of the island at Sorisdale. On the way on one
of the short sharp hills I encountered an amusing short one way system – I
think that’s the best way of describing it – of a green triangle with a sign
indicating one direction only and vice versa in the other direction. It was
amusing on such a narrow and quiet road. I took a photo and if it is used you
will see what I mean.
After a few photos at the end of the road, I retraced to the junction with
the B8071, passing mum and son and friend going the other way and gave
them an indication of how far it was. At the junction I continued straight
ahead onto the continuation of the B8071 to Ballyhaugh on the eastside,
probably just a little south of the midpoint of the island. At the end of the
road is the Hebridean Centre, a trust that encourages volunteering work by
young people.
I then retraced to Arinapour for lunch at the island’s only café – simply
called Island Café. The other couple were there and we discovered we had
the same plan of going to Tiree the next day and were staying in the same
hotel. The afternoon ride was along the B8070, past the island’s medical
centre and Breachaha castle in the distance to the end of the road on the
south-east side just south of Arileod. On retracing, again passing mother and
son and friend going in the opposite direction, the weather did deteriorate
somewhat, giving me a Hebridean headwind and there were some spits of
rain, but it didn’t come to anything. Indeed when back at the hotel, the sun
had got out again and I sat on a seat on the hotel lawn with my paperback –
perhaps there is something in it being the sunniest part of the UK! The wind
on Coll and Tiree is apparently the price paid for the sunshine. I mentioned
earlier that I understood Islay had a reputation for its winds but maybe its
Coll and Tiree who are equal first. They attract sand-yachters and all types of
surfers.
In the evening in the hotel bar I chatted to a couple of surfers and the
barman – who had also served me dinner – who was from Liverpool. We
discussed living on a place like Coll after what one is used to. He loved
being away from it all and I responded that lovely as it is I felt I would have
difficulty adjusting to somewhere that small, especially from a cycling
perspective. He explained that the one policeman for Coll was shared with
Tiree where he was based and that a dentist from the mainland visits every
six months and sees everyone. He explained that high school children go to
Oban where they ‘boarder’ during the week, coming home Friday afternoon
and returning to Oban on Sunday afternoon. There is a high school on Tiree
but because of the ferry timings it is easier for them to go to Oban. It was his
opinion that the school on Tiree was likely to close soon. That might sound
like ‘anorak’ information, but I was interested to know how such things
worked on the small islands.
The beauty of Coll is in sea views and what I can best describe as its sheer
rurality, combined with being quite green, despite being supposed treeless,
although I feel sure I remember riding through a few just out of Arinapour
on the B8070. I should be honest and say that I could have made more of my
visit if I had been prepared to walk or rough stuff a little a couple of times, at
Sorisdale in the north east corner and particularly in the southern corner if I
had wandered to Crosspool Bay.
Circuit of Tiree – approx. 29 miles (guestimate)
Once off the ferry at Scarinish, there was more confirmation of it being the
sunniest part of the British Isles. I am sure it would have been good anyway,
but it helped my introduction to Tiree in that despite it’s flatness I found it
one of the prettiest islands of the tour. There was hardly a cloud in the sky
and it stayed that way. That made it good that it was my last island of the
tour thus contributing to a good finale. To best describe Tiree’s beauty, it
is back to the theme of white beaches, pretty white cottages and what I
can best describe as a rustic rurality. It is like Coll in as much as it is green
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and treeless – in this case I don’t remember seeing any. It is also the most
fertile of the islands. Tiree means ‘land of the corn’ in Gaelic – again, despite
being green. All the islands have things about them that give them their
own specific character and beauty, but I think Tiree perhaps most of all and
ironically I would say part of it is its flatness.
Although a bit more than just along the road from the ferry terminal than
the hotels on Coll and Colonsay, the Tiree Lodge hotel was pretty easy to
find thanks to the combination of directions from the Coll hotel barman and
spotting a building in the distance that looked like a hotel. It is in a lovely
setting, opposite the white beach of Gott Bay. Again, I was able to leave the
panniers in my room before circuiting the island, as again also did the couple
who had been at the Coll hotel with me.
First I headed west back through Scarinish, first along the B8069 from
the hotel, then the B8065 and then the B8068, my destination being Hynish
in the island’s south-west corner. It was just before Hynish that I had an
amusing incident. Having had a flat ride and under the impression their
were no drastic climbs on Tiree, suddenly, to my surprise, I saw a severe
climb in front of me past an observatory. I quickly got into the 34 ring in
preparation. However, just a ‘splash’ further along I discovered that my road
swung right and actually descended slightly down to the sea – did I laugh!
The information I have been able to get from Google is that it is an ocean
observatory and the old signalling station – not sure what that means.
After a pause at the road end at Hynish and a photo of another white
beach, I retraced to ride to the next white beach at Balephull, which involved
a lovely lane providing a cut through from the B8068 to the B8067. After
photos at Balephull, I had a few choices of roads to get to the north shore of
the island. I decided the most scenic option was almost certainly to take the
longest route that follows the coast along lanes by the west shore for a way
via Barrepool and Sandaig. I was well pleased with my choice. It was a lovely
ride with great blue sea views in the almost cloudless sky and more white
beaches . It was on swinging east to follow the north shore and then south,
past the airport, back to the south shore, that I had the headwind and it was
a strong one!
It was in the evening that I had an uncomfortable few moments. I went
outside to lock the bike parked at the back of the hotel. Two locals were
getting into a car while I did so and one of them said, ‘Hey mate, that’s a
waste of time. Nobody’s going to pinch a bicycle on Tiree.’ I know that is
basically true and that the lack of crime is a source of pride for the islanders.
For that reason I did think is it really worth bothering? However, it would be
Murphy’s Law to take a lock on tour, not use it and the bike gets pinched.
Not everybody on the islands are residents. I understood why he said it, so
what could I say to him other than, ‘I know,’ with a shrug of the shoulders. He
didn’t say anything more and I wasn’t sure how to interpret his smile as they
drove off. He didn’t exactly look offended but it was as though he couldn’t
really understand why I seemingly didn’t want to take his word and unlock
it. Although he clearly couldn’t understand it from my point of view I could
understand his feelings. One of those unfortunate situations that the less
than decent people in this world create.
Scarinish – Salum/Caolas, with slight detour to Ruaig – approx. 10 miles
(guestimate)
On Monday morning before my final ferry ride of the tour, I visited the
eastern tip of the island at the hamlets of Salum, Caolas and Ruaig – yes,
more white beaches!
Circuit of Lock Awe (Oban–Oban) – approx. 86 miles
This was the big one, the ‘grand finale,’ an 86-mile ride and a testing one.
Yes, I hear you, about time too after so many ridiculously short mileage and
boozing days. Okay, I admit, enjoyable as it had been it did feel good to now
be doing a decently long ride that was a bit of a test. Ironically, initially my
thinking had been to return home from Oban the day after Tiree, but while
browsing the map in the planning of the tour the ride caught my attention.
I am pleased it did as it would have been tragic to have missed such a
beautiful ride.
The ride started following part of NCN route 78, which is a lovely lanes
route, enabling avoiding the A85, through Glen Lonan to Taynuilt. I passed
a few cyclists going the other way, probably relatively local. I also had to put
my foot on the ground to squeeze past a stationary car not able to get past
a ‘stubborn’ sheep ‘refusing’ to move. At Taynuilt it was a short stretch along
the A85 to then take the B845, which follows the west shore of the loch from
just south of Annat, and passing through Inverinan forest. A lovely road but,
my goodness, the hills.
In the village of Dalavich I stopped at the store for a quick bottle of
orange juice. The store incorporates a café but I resisted – how’s that for
discipline! The head of the loch is at the village of Ford, where I turned
north-east onto the B840 to follow the eastern shore. It was a nice respite
being pretty flat, with just the occasional little rise, that is until right at the
end where there is a little brute up to the t-junction with the A819, which
I followed for the nine miles to the A85, just west of Dalmally, to follow
back to Oban, following and sometimes alongside the rail route I would be
travelling on in the other direction the next morning – with a stop for food
at the store in Lochawe village.
Once on the A819 it is predominantly a gradual descent causing me to
be surprised how quickly I got to Lochawe. It did, however, cause feelings
of lethargy whenever there was an ascent, including the ‘sting in the tail’
about four miles before Oban that I mentioned in the account of my ride
from Invergarry. I admit to whimping out of retracing the hilly NCR route 78.
However, the A85 was not especially busy and running alongside what at
that point becomes the river Awe and then Loch Etive it really is not a bad
ride and it was a stretch I had not done before – that’s my excuse and I’m
sticking to it.
A great ride with the combination of what often makes a good audax:
testing but through superb scenery. The fact it was the last day made it the
‘icing on the cake’ – the perfect end to a great tour giving that great feeling
of satisfaction.
Now, however, I come to the confession. In my account of the day I took
the ferry to Barra, I mentioned there was a short ride I could do but decided
to add it on to the final day’s ride so it would be without panniers. At the
time I had forgotten how long the Loch Awe circuit is. Okay, I get it, it should
not be for an audax rider, but on getting back I admit I whimped out. For
those who know the Oban locality, it was the little ride to Gallanach and
return. I guess that makes me seem even more of a whimp – well, I don’t
care, so there!
Homeward bound and reflections
I sat on the train from Oban, enjoying my final views of the western
Highlands – for the time being that is – and looking at the A85 – which
seemed even quieter than when I was on it the previous afternoon –
reflecting on yesterday’s ride and a great tour. What did I consider were the
main high points – metaphorically speaking – of the tour? Well, the ride on
Islay, the islands of Raasay and Lismore, definitely the Applecross peninsula
and the final day. Rather a lot but makes the point really.
The train journey home involved an extra change at York but everything
went smoothly.
Looking to the future
My plan for 2016 is to ride Dick McTaggart's ‘150 classic’ based at Galashiels
in June and combine it with a tour including the Firth of Clyde islands and
seeing Jura properly. Also one of these days I must return to the 'far north'
to get to Cape Wrath to join the Fellowship. Perhaps I will combine that with
another ambition to do the 'south–north' from Lizard Point in Cornwall to
Dunnet Head and visiting Orkney and Shetland. That said, Dave Husband's
Forfar events are tempting. If they run in 2017 as Forfar is only 50 miles from
Aberdeen I could get the ferry from there afterwards.
It looks like I wont be suffering the rigmarole of putting the bike on a
plane for some time. No doubt the 'itch' to go abroad will return but I think
it can wait until using my credit card for UK tours helps me amass enough
NatWest Your Points for a free flight – makes sense doesn't it?
Finally, to those who consider me a whimp for doing 'Applecross' the
easier way, again I don't care!
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 43

eviews
Lumicycle Explorer Enduro lighting system
Lumicycle, the Hampshire-based British
manufacturer, has revamped its headlights
for 2016. New Panasonic lithium-ion
batteries move from 2.6Ah to 3.1Ah,
increasing runtime up to a claimed 30
per cent over the 2014 models. There is a
complete internal redesign, housing the
latest CREE LEDs, leading to improved
cooling for better performance at low
speeds. Each headlight contains three
LEDs which can output up to 3,500 lumens
for a three-minute boost or 7.7 hours at
permanent boost, giving an output of 7,000
lumens.
One of the numerous 2016 refinements
is in the circuitry which detects if a lamp
is running too hot – which can damage
the LEDs – and automatically reduces
power until the bike starts moving again.
This condition could arise if the bike is
stationary and the lamp is on high power,
The set I am currently testing is the
Explorer Extender Pro Pack, which runs
two headlamps simultaneously from a
6.2Ah Extender battery. One headlight
is designated as the Master with the
other as Slave, so just one toggle switch
controls boths lights in whichever of the
six brightness modes you select.
If you wish only to run one light, for
example in flashing mode in daylight
hours, just toggle either lamp off. I
run one lamp permanently like this in
daylight and I know that motorists spot
me far quicker than without it. I don't
feel quite so vulnerable as I approach a
car waiting to turn at a junction now and
when the road narrows to single track, I
am very often given the right of way by
approaching motorists.
I have been used to riding with only
one headlamp and always felt it did an
adequate job lighting the near-side verge
and road ahead, but with two headlamps
the difference is amazing. The whole
road, from side to side and covering both
verges, is lit up like daylight, far into the
distance. It gives confidence for spotting
obstacles like potholes, bumps and
broken surfaces and as for descending
at speed – well, these lights just rewrote
the rulebook.
The lamps come with strong and
reliable quick-release handlebar clamps
– once adjusted to the correct diameter,
mounting and releasing takes only
seconds. To fit oversize bars insert the
supplied extenders. The lamps stayed in
position facing straight ahead but with
slight hand pressure can swivel left or
right to suit conditions. With twin lamps I
never felt the need for this as the verges
and road ahead was just flooded with
white light.
Construction looks bulletproof
and although I haven't ridden them in
extreme conditions, Lumicycle's website
shows a powered-up lamp being boiled
in a kettle, frozen in a block of ice then
struck with a hammer, and the extreme
test – an ice hockey team striking the
lamp at full power into the sidewall and
still surviving.
Price for this hi-tech twin-light,
extender-battery set-up is £514.95. If that
stretches your budget too far Lumicycle
offer multiple options such as a single
light/battery pack, single light/extender
battery, or lower lumen output lamps.
View the complete range, including
helmet lights and taillights at www.
lumicycle.com.
Review and photos by Tim Wainwright
Flash Low Mid High Boost Smart Boost
Lumens 150.0 400.0 1100.0 2200.0 3000.0 3500.0
Runtime hrs. (1 lamp) 102.0 40.0 15.4 7.0 4.1 3 mins
Runtime hrs. (2 lamps) 51.7 19.8 7.7 3.5 2.0 3 mins
Lumicycle have
taken a lead
from Sony and
Apple packaging
and supply the
lights in a smart
silver hinged-lid
tin with sponge
rubber cutouts
for the lights and
accessories. Very
classy. I should have
made a video of the
unboxing!
44
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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I'm sure many readers will
be in a similar situation
to me: as you age and
your eyesight slowly
deteriorates, you find you
need reading glasses to see
the small text of newspapers
and magazines, computer
screens, etc.
This is not a great problem until you get on your bike and want to either
read a routesheet, map, GPS or computer. You can't ride in reading glasses
as everything is out of focus so you have to switch your sunglasses for
your reading glasses when you want to consult a routesheet or map. Two
Australian sportsmen who had similar problems have come up with the
solution – action sports sunglasses with bifocals.
I don't use bifocals normally, so I was a bit sceptical when I saw these
at the London Cycle Show at Excel. However, once I tried on a pair they
transformed my thinking. The pair I chose were the PHO Graphite frame
+2 bi-focals with photochromic lenses, priced at £80. There are two other
magnifications: +1.50 and +2.50. They are lightweight and a perfect fit first
time, no slipping down my nose and very comfortable on an all-day ride.
HEADING reviews IN HERE
Bi-focal action sports sunglasses from BZ Optics
I liked the fact that they were clear to start with, meaning that if the sun
wasn't shining it didn't look like a gloomy day through dark glasses and I
could wear them in very low light conditions. Once the sun came out the
photochromic darkening soon kicked in.
On the bike I quickly became accustomed to the bi-focal part – just
glance my eyes downwards and I could read text or computer without
problems. Glance up again and normal vision takes over. Just what
I needed. No swapping glasses over to fix a puncture or make any
mechanical adjustments to the bike. Great for reading café menus or just
sitting in the sun and reading as well.
Over my cycling career I've bought many items which have had limited
use or were just plain useless (think mini-pumps, 'waterproof' gloves and
overshoes which aren't, fall-to-bits clothing, etc) but these glasses have
been one of my best-ever purchases and I can highly recommend them.
They come with a nice slim zipped neoprene case and cleaning cloth –
much more useful than the large hardcase which fills a jersey pocket that
some glasses come with.
BZ-Optics www.bzoptics.com just has appointed Ison Distribution
(www.ison-distribution.com) as their British suppliers so the glasses will be
available through your local bike shop, though you might have to prompt
them to start stocking them.
Tim Wainwright
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance
Author: Leonard Zinn
Published by Velo Press, Boulder, Colorado
468pp 216mm x 280mm ISBN -13: 978-1937715373
Paperback Price: £19.99
Available direct from Cordee Ltd, Leicestershire
www.cordee.co.uk or booksellers
This is the fifth edition of this book, bringing it thoroughly upto-date
with the latest trends in new bicycles while still covering
vintage components as well. A new layout and a new, modern
typeface differentiates this edition from previous ones. The
book is full of step-by-step guides with hundreds of hand-drawn
illustrations and exploded part diagrams explaining the tools
you need and the sequences for repairs and maintenance.
Zinn has an easy-going writing style that doesn't blind
you with science and theory. If you've never attempted bike
maintenance before, Zinn, with his expert knowledge as a bike
technician and tech writer for Velo magazine [USA publication]
will guide you through simple tasks like applying new 'bar tape
to fitting and troubleshooting the latest 11-speed electronic
shifter systems from Campagnolo, Shimano and the new kid
on the block, the highly rated SRAM e-tap cableless 'paddle'
shifters as found in F1 cars.
If electronic shifting is not your thing, Zinn covers all shifting
systems from DT levers, bar-end shifters and manual STI/Ergo
levers. Mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes and through axle
forks and cyclocross are also covered in new chapters.
Is your seatpost stuck or has your stem rusted itself in? Zinn
guides you through workshop techniques to free them. Each
time I pick up the book I learn something new. For example,
before SPD pedals arrived I occasionally stripped my pedals
and regreased them. I always thought my SPDs were a sealed
unit till this book showed me the way to dismantle them. Most
other pedals are covered too. The Emergency Repairs chapter
is invaluable to us independent riders, often miles from the
nearest bike shop or public transport, so Zinn's get-you-home
tips could be worth their weight in gold if you get stranded in
the Highlands on a dark and cold night. Tim Wainwright
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 45

eviews
Drynamo base layer
Review by Colin Gray
I recently discovered this brand new base layer when I purchased one from my golf club shop.
Drynamo is an innovative technical fibre composition developed by Megmeister and produced using
specialised machinery in Italy. The yarns used to manufacture the garment do not absorb water and
quickly transmit damp and perspiration to the outside of the material (see http://megmeister.com/
pages/fabric-technologies.) Consequently my wife and I have both found the drynamo base layer to
be warmer and more comfortable than a Helly Hansen or merino wool base layer. This is particularly
noticeable at a café stop, or more usefully when dealing with a ‘mechanical’; after a brisk ride perspiration
makes other base layers feel significantly colder. Might be even better for sleeping in a bus shelter, but
that’s something I avoid at all costs.
The material is also non-allergic and will not trap bacteria or mould so it stays odour free even after
strenuous activity.
The Drynamo base layer is extremely comfortable. It is ergonomically designed with four-way stretch
and a completely seamless finish. There is ample stretch to provide a comfortable fit for either sex
(despite the fact that the Megmeister website shows only male models). It fits snugly around the neck
and pulls down comfortably over or inside of your shorts so that the small of the back is always fully
covered.
At six ounces it’s marginally heavier than a Helly Hansen (5.7 ounces) but at least as warm as a merino
wool garment at 10 ounces. It’s perfect for all cycling activities, especially audax and touring. It washes
easily, cool wash, and dries quickly.
For cycling, the long-sleeved top is probably the most useful of Megmeister’s range; short-sleeved
tops, shorts and long tights are also available. Because they are very warm, light (4.6 ounces), fold up
small and dry quickly the long tights would be ideal for night riding or for sleeping in.
Two newly-published (2016) cycling
guides plus two more revised guides in
popular cycling terrains
Cycling in the Hebrides (£14.95) by Richard Barrett covers 37
day rides and 22 linking routes in the Hebrides and islands of
the Firth of Clyde. Suitable for weekend rides there is also a
challenging 600-miles tour of the seven areas of the Hebrides,
taking in the Cuillin mountains on Skye, Colonsay, Islay and Jura
and the white shells sands on Tiree and Harris, Barra and the
Uists and palm trees on Bute.
The Danube Cycleway Vol.2 (£16.95) is the companion
guide to Vol.1 published in 2015 and covers the lower part
of the Danube from Budapest through Croatia, Serbia and
Romania to the river's delta on the Black Sea. The author,
Mike Wells, is an experienced long-distance cyclist and hiker,
including riding a circumnavigation of Iceland and a ride across
Cuba.
Border Country (£12), by John Brewer, covers 40 circular
routes from 24 to over 65 kilometres through leafy lanes and
quiet villages, including some off-road sections, from the
Scottish Borders to Northumberland. If you've ever ridden
London-Edinburgh-London you will recognise a lot of the areas
covered – Alston, Carlisle, the Cheviots, north Pennines and the
Northumberland National Park – all superb cycling territory.
Cycle Touring in Spain (£14.95), by Harry Dowdell, was
first published in 2003 but has been reprinted and updated
in 2013. Offering some of the best cycling in Europe, Spain
is an ideal destination for the cycle tourist with an agreeable
climate, friendly people and a long history stretching back
many centuries. The guide has eight detailed routes, including
Andalucia (Malaga and Ronda areas), central Spain (Avila,
Segovia, Madrid) and the Basque country from the Bay of Biscay
to Girona on the Med.
Each of these four guides continues the high standard of
information covering routes, accommodation, getting there,
local climates and terrain, etc, which publishers Cicerone
specialise in with their cycling and hiking range. Each guide
is conveniently sized to slip into your saddlebag to refer to on
route, and pages vary from 160pp to 304pp. Tim Wainwright
Available from good booksellers or direct from Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7PY. Email: info@cicerone.co.uk Web: www.cicerone.co.uk
Currently there are limited retail
stockists but it is available from: http://
megmeister.com/collections/cycling.
The long sleeved top is £49.99 post
free.
Pros: Warm, light, comfortable.
Cons: Limited range of colours.
46
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

news and correspondence
HEADING IN HERE
Other long
distance cycling
organisations
Jim Hopper
Many older members
will remember the late
Nev Chanin doing a
write-up of members’
distances in the
300,000 mile club. This is a cycling
organisation for riders who can verify
that they have covered 300,000 miles
awheel. The miles can be done on
any cycle, solo or tandem, with any
number of wheels.
As most AUK members keep a check
on their milages, there must be many
riders out there who can qualify. All
that is needed is proof that you have
done the distance, through diaries or
similar recording systems, and you
can apply to the Secretary. There is
no joining fee I seem to remember, so
that should be an incentive to get out
your old recordings. The Secretary, Wilf
Lawson, can be reached at sjudal@
hotmail.co.uk, or should you want to
chat to me about it, please call 01543
472349. Evenings are the best.
Also in AUK there is an interest
in making records, so how about
an attempt at a road record? Most
members have heard about various
attempts upon the End to End record,
but there are lots of other records
around the country to be attempted.
The Road Records Association
administers a series of national records
that date from the early days of cycling
along the classic routes that the mail
coaches took out of London and
other major cities, as well as over the
standard British cycling distances.
There are also regional record
associations who administer local
records in their areas. The whole
of Great Britain is covered by these
organisations. To attack lots of these
records riders do not need speed only,
but stamina and determination, of
which AUK members are not short of.
Record breaking is an interesting
side of cycling and to take a record,
your name will be entered into the lists
and be there for ever. The records that I
have held, and still hold, give me great
satisfaction. I still smile at the thought
of taking the Cardiff to Birmingham
record on my trike, in a time faster than
the bike time.
The Road Records Association
have a website that also has links to
the regional associations www.rra.
org.uk Or again you can call me for an
informal chat about records.
Dear Editor
In part 1 of my article on my Scottish tour
in winter Arrivée 131, I make a lot of the
Isle of Islay reputedly being the wettest
part of Scotland and indeed the UK.
By chance I was watching the BBC
news when there was a feature on a
village in North Wales heading for the
Guinness Book of Records for the most
recorded days of continuous rainfall
in the UK, having had 81 days of it.
However, it still had a few days to go to
beat the record of 89 days held by …
guess where!
It is a question of whether Islay has
its reputation because of a freak one-off,
which seems unfair, or it really is the
wettest part of the UK. Googling does not
provide definitive information.
It seemed appropriate to follow up my
article with this bit of information.
John Thompson
Corrections
Alex Turner’s name was omitted from the
list of new Super Randonneurs on p.46 of
Arrivée 131. Apologies to Alex.
In Arrivée 131 on p.23, the rider in front is
not Drew Buck, but rather Alberto Boschi
from Italy. His pal Simone Lamacchi,
behind, is also from Italy and not from
Taiwan.
Mallorca Moonpig
A new 144km 3AAA perm
A classic ride over the
spectacular Tramuntana
mountain range of the
island; start from Porto
Pollenca, Soller or Bunyola (closest to
Palma). All climbs less than six per cent
with stunning views of the whole island
including the lunar landscape and Puig
Major.
More information at http://www.
aukweb.net/perms/detail/MM03/
Or from Martin Malins, 4 North
Common, Weybridge, Surrey T13 9DN.
malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk
For sale
Obituary – Lars Ericsson 1965-2016
It is with great
sadness that we
have to report
the unexpected
death of Lars
Ericsson on 2nd
February 2016.
He was laid to
rest on 23nd
March in his
hometown of
Högsby.
Lars started
his audaxing
career in 2009
after moving
from Bristol
to Cambridge
to work for
ARM (a leading
computer chip
designer) as a
design validation
engineer. With several patents to his name, there is a good
chance that your smartphone is more stable thanks to his
efforts.
In seven years he racked up a total of 425 points over
166 Audax events, more than many achieve in a lifetime.
This included 115 points in 2014, getting him the coveted
Randonneur 10000 award and coming 4th overall in the
points championship. He also rode an estimated 15 SRs,
including both the Essex and Wessex series.
Unfortunately a slight knee problem deteriorated on
the day before the start of PBP last year whilst Lars was
hanging around at registration, and he was forced to
abandon the ride partway as the pain worsened. Sadly,
due to this lack of fitness we had seen less of him on rides
recently.
Originally from Sweden, he joined us at Audax Club
Hackney in 2013 and quickly earned the epithet ‘The
Viking’, becoming our top points scorer two years in a row.
He was a regular attendee at our monthly drinks around
London, often travelling down from Cambridge for the
night, and a big fan of ale with his seemingly annual
pilgrimage the Great British Beer Festival in Olympia.
Lars had a great sense of humour and an infectious
smile. He was someone you were always happy to bump
into on a ride and despite a reserved manner was very
sociable, leaving behind a great number of friends who
will continue to fondly recall the time spent on and off the
road with him.
Ivan Cornell, Audax Club Hackney
Two pairs of FSA K-Force Compact Road Handlebars, 420mm
width (centre to centre). Continuous unidirectional carbon
fibre reinforced with kevlar composite construction. Extra-wide
110mm centre section. Double-width cable groove. Reinforced
and textured clamp areas (stem/brake levers). 1.8mm clamp
diameter. 25mm drop, 80mm reach. Carbon fibre 3K weave gloss finish.
Very little wear and tear if any, ie, no scuffs on the stem clamp finish or on the brake/gear lever finish.
Photographs are available if required.
I am selling the bars because I have recently bought the same bars in 440mm.
Collect for £65.00 (per pair) or posted for £70.00 (per pair) within the UK. Location Greater Manchester.
Please contact Michael on: 0794 1142 260.
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 47

paris-brest-paris 2015
My blue bridge to PBP
John Wilkie
Ride the Chester Millennium Greenway, towards Wales, from my home it’s 6km to ‘my blue bridge’
It was my target and challenge to get
there, on my new mountain bike, on my
first ride; as I changed to the lowest of
gears, sweating, puffing and straining on
the gradient to climb its summit, flashes of
vehicles below on the A494 Welsh Road, all
oblivious to my pain and euphoria. As I hung
over the handlebars, taking gulps of air,
getting a polite nod from a passing cyclist,
I realised, it was only halfway, I had to get
back! About 12 months later, I was in Brest,
France, thinking just the same!
Five years earlier I had been in a
car crash. I had been active and
fit, not to previous and younger
Army levels but enough to walk
the hills, play rugby or hold
my own in the gym with friends or with
my teenagers. The shoulder and back
injuries over this time had taken away
my physical ability and stature. I couldn’t
walk more than a short distance, worse,
leaving me with mental disabilities, as I
was diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder). So with the challenge
and journey to get home on my bike it
was the voice in my head, ‘Go-Go-Go’
not the stern, aggressive fighting voice
of old, from the Army but the squeals of
delight from my granddaughter learning
to walk. ‘Another’ voice shouted ‘taxi’,
but the giggles won and have done ever
since. After a day’s rest and recuperation,
I rode to the blue bridge and back, again
and then again, a day on and a day off,
going further, getting stronger and
even faster. I knew I was eating better,
sleeping more and actually happy.
The physical and health benefits are
measured and recorded, the mental
benefits not so easily, although combat
stress do try. I know the peace, relaxation,
space and environment my head gets
when cycling helps, sometimes only pure
exertion, pain and exhaustion works to
quell the anger and turmoil in my head.
Better times are with those quiet country
lanes, wildlife and scenery, where time is
lost and peace is found, even if only for
while. It could be called mad to thank a
bicycle, I do talk to my bikes! giving a big
thank you, every time I clean and oil them
after my ride. Although now a cliché,
cycling has saved my life, fellow cyclists
have fulfilled it. It is the people, called
cyclists, who have helped change my life,
I just rode along.
From the manager, Chris and his ‘crew’
at Halfords, Chester, who as I progressed,
supplied and serviced three bikes,
replacing under warranty, worn and
broken parts, ‘above and beyond’ plus
encouraged and supported me as much
as my first club, Chester and North Wales
CTC. Its groups varied, all enthusiastic,
each took me in, accepted me as a cyclist
and person. I still remember thinking, as
I drove with my bike in the car to meet at
the Eureka café for the first time, how am
I going to do 50-60k at 15-20kph? Cyclist,
like Glennis, Brian(s), John F. to name a
few, say ‘we never leave anyone behind’
which was akin to my Army philosophy,
‘and we stop for lunch’, a benefit I would
cherish. The continuous outpouring of
stories, adventures, touring holidays with
crucial cycling information, patiently
repeated and led by example, has kept
me safe, educated, encouraged and
motivated, to be not only a better cyclist,
but to aspire to be a better person,
helping me live with PTSD, enjoying
cycling.
Great human beings, like Harry
Watson (the legend) – every ride with
him teaches something new about
cycling and amazes you about the
person. He was pulling up to a junction,
chatting about one of his epic tours of
Scotland. I changed down the cogs on
the rear sprocket on my new Boardman
road bike. Casually, mid-sentence his
advice ‘just change the front chain ring
John, it saves time and wear, plus gets
you away safe’. As always, I accepted his
advice and knowledge. It wasn’t until
later, I read in a cycling magazine that
70 per cent of all accidents happen at
junctions, did I realise how important just
that one of many casually passed tips was
to my cycling, to my safety.
Discuss safety, organisation and
real-world cyclists, you must think of
and thank, Lowri Evans, our dedicated
and hard working CTC secretary, who
had enough faith in me to allow me to
be trained as a ride leader, as a member
of the group she leads – the Wrexham
Reivers and Café Hoppers who are an
exceptional and large mix of cyclists. They
split into comfortable, relaxed, easygoing
groups, headed by an exceptional
individual, who I am so fortunate to know
and ride with, groups that make each ride
a pleasure and adventure. Depending on
which group, there is a surprising and/
or testing pace, from some who are 10
or 20 years plus my age, especially up
those Welsh hills. The size of the turnout,
diversity of people and cycles in the split
of groups, is testimony to its organisation
‘So I got
serious,
professional
even, I used
and reused
every bit of
information
I had been
taught.’
any other club would envy.
I continued to seek out what I wanted
from cycling, my competitive streak
always prominent, yet I knew I would
never compete, too late, unfit and old
now for serious competition. So it always
became a race and challenge against
me. Riding to be the best I could be,
doing the best I could, so I rode to ride
meetings and rode the long way home.
One of the many tips, from my guru or
go-to-guy, who used to compete, was
cadence, heart rate and speed. These
are the primary displays on my Garmin,
always in view, measuring, my aim to go
faster with a lower heart rate, maintaining
a steady cadence. This was the main
reason for my improvement and the
enjoyment of cycling, due to developing,
I now am able to average 80-90 rpm at
120-130 bpm and I do 25+ kph all day
and all night.
As speed and distance increased
with CTC groups, my own training rides
and Audax events, I met through Harry
his Tuesday super group of riders, who
amazed and inspired me to a new level,
as several had heart attacks and still
cycled! It put my injuries and speeding
recovery into perspective.
An offshoot was meeting and joining
Chester Easy Riders, although they split
the rides into two groups, they are one
group of wonderful people and cyclists,
whose founder Bryan Wade, had a vision
of a CTC affiliated club and it really works,
from nine meeting points in and around
Chester, to an excellent blog and gpx file
posted, from every ride, be that the brisk
or moderate group. My first rides were a
test, ‘boys will be boys’ – how I hung on
to Ivan, Clive, Colin, Tom and Ray I don’t
know. The pace was a test and distance
a challenge, if they weren’t such great
blokes, I might not of cared and never
returned, which would have been as
much a loss to my cycling abilities, as to
my new rekindled social skills, as before
I went cycling, due to PTSD, I used to
go out rarely and only on occasion with
family to a café or pub.
I don’t know when or who first
mentioned Audax. I do remember it
sounded nuts and extreme, but maybe?
Then I learned of AAA, long distance
and big hills, ouch! My first Audax was
David Matthews’ (who I now call a friend)
50k Momma’s Leafy Lanes 10/08/14.
On the day, five people showed due to
the effects of hurricanes to the weather
forecast. Glennis was one of the special
‘volunteers’ who make these rides
48
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

paris-brest-paris 2015
possible. I was so nervous, I rode the
route the week before.
Each day I rode, I had the next ride
to look forward to, to prepare for, each
week a plethora of statistics to analyse
and criticise, articles in magazines and on
the web, to discuss and question with my
experienced riders. Starting from scratch,
physically as well as mentally, learning
and improving day by day from all my
cycling buddies’ input. Yet I was always
aware of those who had or were doing
more, I needed to have my own targets
and dreams. Doing Audaxes was my
test, my measurement of improvement,
always pushing my breaking point. Rider
and organiser, Mike Wigley, mentioned
RTY BR where each month for 12 months
you do a 200k+ ride (BR) and RTY AAA 12
months of hills – my weakness – I needed
to practice and improve, it seemed
logical. Then one day he said ‘are you
doing the PBP qualifiers?’ I never believed
I was actually going to do it, never mind
finish it, even after entering the qualifiers.
Doing the qualifiers only confirmed one
thing, I wasn’t up to it, each distance such
a mental challenge, as physical, so I never
thought I’d do the event. Unfortunately
people talk – cyclists more than most,
so every ride was ‘how’s the training for
PBP going?’ I needed to know the answer.
So with words from an Army training
instructor in my head, ‘If it is easy anyone
can do it, so if it’s hard, push harder, if it’s
tough, be tougher. Go, Go, Go!’ With a few
expletives!
So I got serious, professional even, I
used and reused every bit of information
I had been taught. I studied food, drink
and equipment. I know from experience
how to push myself, the resting was
harder, but important as my preparations.
Drinking 500ml of fluids before a ride,
one bottle every one to two hours
maximum, energy gels, bars and protein
bars, spread out between meals, protein
with whey milk shakes after rides, leaving
my leggings on for compression for at
least an hour after a ride. ‘Minimal gains’,
said the guy who designed my bikes,
so my Garmin, not only to save time on
route, reducing stress, also to measure my
performance, striving to find my rhythm
and pace, as I once had when I ran and
canoed competitively in the Army. I used
set routes each month as templates, one
from Blacon down the millennium, to
Mickle Trafford via Frodsham, up through
Hatchmere and Delemere, right on the
A556 to A51 and right again on Wicker
lane, to return via Mickle Trafford and the
millennium. The first time for the 30 miles
and 1,200ft climbs, was a difficult three
hours plus, now it is comfortably, inside
two hours.
I was checking out the PBP website,
reading the ins and outs. A qualifying
page of rides came up, so I filled it in,
then a list of available slots came up,
I pressed the button, I paid the fee. I’d
entered the PBP, 17:30 start. It was official,
yet I still didn’t believe I was going to go
but the stress was immense. I needed a
plan.
I used a recommended website, yacf.
co.uk, to get an overview and insight,
then to ask specific questions, finally
checking with my trusted cycling guru
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 49

paris-brest-paris 2015
and buddies. It was the thought of
having to come back and say, ‘I didn’t
finish’ that was so scary, it would be like
letting them down, breaking a trust or
belief. PTSD means I am stressed, it’s
just a matter of how much. So with a
list of lists, I started. The bike, Boardman
Pro Carbon, upgraded wheels and seat,
serviced and checked by the lads at
Halfords, complemented by all cycling
magazines. SPD pedals and shoes, easier
to walk in with distance to cover at
controls. Lights with power packs and
spares with batteries. Front bar bag,
with gels, snacks, glasses, basic first
aid plus tablets for, drinks, Imodium,
Rennies, Paracetamol and eye wash, 50+
sun cream and chamois cream, all used
and needed. Top bar bag, with more
supplies for washing/cleaning but mainly
power pack and batteries. Rear bag,
with change of clothes and two extra
layers, one for rain, one for cold nights.
Plastic wheelie bin liner and thermal
blanket, for sleeping. Bike multi-tools and
Leatherman tool, plus spares, including
cable for brakes/gears, ties, tape, tubes,
repair kit and oil, not all used but most.
Two drinks bottles and pockets with
money/cards, scarf, hat and spare gloves,
along with the kit I wore and my new
sunglasses from a French Decathlon.
Ferry and camping
I couldn’t risk being with or relying on
other organised groups. I couldn’t take
on the responsibility of looking out
for others’ safety. So I decided to drive
myself, go by ferry and camp. I drove
the whole way, never above 60mph,
staying calm enjoying the journey. When
I arrived in torrential rain, I found a quiet
and basic hotel. What a result that was.
Two riders turned up, French and Belgian,
they spoke a little English. I don’t speak
French, we went for a meal together in
town, cyclist together, what a wonderful
memory. One had done five events, the
other two, ‘go off slowly and build up’
and ‘exercise your neck regularly, eat,
drink and rest at all controls’ again, great
advice from fellow cyclists.
Now a whole week off my bike,
then officialdom with check in at the
velodrome, bike checked, numbered and
tagged, along with my own leg tag! Then
the next day. Nothing prepared me for
the huge numbers of cyclists, the masses
of groups, the variety of language and
countries represented. Closed roads,
only because no vehicle could move,
for the supporters and family, only
outnumbered by spectators, everywhere
you looked, with hundreds of cyclists, in
each segment from A-Z, set off in timed
spaces, adding up to thousands, a human
cycling army, meandering and flowing
like a river towards Brest, all being
cheered enthusiastically, watch Youtube.
The French are awesome and love
cyclists. The overwhelming memories
from the whole event are of the French
people, 24 hours a day, everywhere,
supporting, cheering and encouraging.
Including the drivers of vehicles!
Early hours of the first morning, I
thought I must be hallucinating, I heard
children’s voices, ‘Allez! Allez! Allez! I
couldn’t see anything it was so dark in
the countryside, then I saw three children
hanging out of the bedroom window
of a remote farm; it gave me a refill of
energy and power, plus a massive surge
of emotion. The next farm had a big
hand-written sign next to a table, with
water and cakes left for passing cyclists,
something I got to see and use, time after
time, as so many families had done this
all along the route, all for free! Barbeques,
parties and gatherings, any excuse it
seemed to stand or park to support the
riders of the PBP. The controls, along with
The Secret Control, were all the same but
different, hoards of cyclists coming and
going, all different but again the same,
after one or ten of the 2,500 volunteers,
point you in the right direction, no
matter the language or state of mind
of the individual, you park your bike in
the racks, fill your water bottles at the
taps or barrels, then ‘beep-beep’ as you
walk or shuffle past the sensors, happy
smiling faces on both sides behind
tables, welcoming gesticulation, to
stamp and sign your brevet card, always
with a kind word. Then you look and see
food, everywhere, so another queue,
volunteers all over, feeding cleaning
and answering questions, in a thousand
tongues. Sit down and share a smile, all
comrades, all fellow cyclists, shoes off,
food in, the first faces I recognise are
not people I know from Audax UK, who
I do see and ride with later, no, I see the
French and Belgian cyclist from the hotel,
like long lost family, it is so good to see
them; the clock ticks faster at controls
and time flashes by, an hour gone, equal
to 25k further down the route, but
remember, listen, learn and finish, it’s the
first control and you’ve still got 86 from a
total of 90 hours to use.
Outside is even more congested, more
people, more cyclists, more spectators,
more noise, it’s good and relaxing to turn
the pedals again, heart rate, cadence and
speed, check, now enjoy the spectacle,
the views, being part of this magnificent
event. Still can’t believe I’m here!
From time to time, a group or rider
is caught, or you are passed, to join or
not to join? It is difficult, so many are
organised, clubs and groups together,
from every country on the planet. Alone,
but a cyclist amongst a world migration,
to a French coast. In front and to the rear,
every bike and piece of equipment, a
mass of a magnitude to tilt the country
so it goes downhill? No chance, no one
told me about the hills, over 6,000 metres
climbed ‘down’ to the coast, some are so
long, some so steep, just watch the valve
PBP apron featuring
PBP cake.
‘ I feel
pretty
good,
eating and
drinking,
but “café
legs” has a
whole new
meaning as
I start back
to Paris.’
come around, just head for the next post
or tree, don’t look too far ahead, it hurts
your eyes, turns legs and brain to mush.
When someone points out the coast,
I realise I haven’t slept, 30 hours have
passed, 615k covered. I actually feel smug
for a second, then reality hits home. I
have to get back but at least I’m ahead
of schedule. Queued for an hour for a
bed, wrong one, got a token for a shower
and directions to the right queue, much
longer;eventually I get directed to a
room, four hours I say to the man with a
clock and plan of beds and rooms.
Then 40 minutes later I’m woken,
alerted and shocked, a door being
opened, lights ablaze, noise I don’t
understand. Every sense in confusion,
fear and anger start to take hold, then I
realise where I am! After my roommate
settles, I try but fail to relax, so go for
my shower, change into clean and fresh
clothes. I feel pretty good, eating and
drinking, but ‘café legs’ has a whole new
meaning as I start back to Paris.
It’s better in the dark, the cool. I don’t
like the blistering heat of the day, so
sleep 12 till 1, hiding in the shade; I rest at
all controls, eat and drink. Is it adrenalin,
fear of failure, or plain stubbornness that
rotates the pedals, maybe all together,
anything to turn the pedals to the next
control? Sometimes it hurts, really hurts.
I’d stopped to sleep, it was so hot, I took
shelter under a tree: it was damp. I had
my black plastic bin bag and thermal
blanket. I awoke thinking I was on fire,
realising it was the sun that had moved
into my shelter. I got up watching bikes
pass, mine had fallen from the fence. I
picked it up and packed my gear, had a
drink and started to ride. It was only a
small gradient up to the main road and
route back, yet I struggled to get going.
I was in a low gear, I pushed harder and
for the first time had really negative
thoughts; it was so hard to turn the
pedals, had I hit ‘the wall’? Had I reached
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paris-brest-paris 2015
my limit? ‘Bonked’ in cycling terms! I
pushed and pulled each pedal, strained
and struggled like never before, after an
hour or so I had done only ten kilometres.
Just ahead was a family and a table of
drinks, cakes and goodies, many happy
smiling faces. Refreshed and refuelled I
moved my bike ready to ride on, but the
rear wheel skidded, the brakes locked on,
on inspection the calliper was bent, the
wheels black from rubber. Fixed, cleaned
and released, the pedals turned with
such ease and the pain disappeared and I
laughed out loud!
It must have been when the bike fell
earlier, tired and sleep deprived, that I
could deal with, until the next control.
They were all Italians that surrounded
me as we left the control. The club
colours, flag and language obvious, so I
asked could I join on the back. Yes was
the answer: the pace crisp and serious
but easy enough for me to take turns in
front, 30 kilometres plus, hour after hour,
until a hiss, a puncture, a crash as I hit the
edge of the road with a rider hitting me.
Once they helped their rider and all were
OK, they left. From the Citroën van with
flashing lights parked behind me in the
road, a nod from a Frenchman, as I took
off the front wheel and checked the bike,
he started to chat in English and removed
the tyre, no levers! Asked for the spare
tube and handed it back, ready for a blast
from my CO2 and it was done. I was ready
to go and thanked him, a fellow cyclist
but driving that late night.
I realised the lever to the front
chainrings was damaged and had to stop
at the bottom of several hills to change
by hand, then climb and change back
again, until the second control, as the
first was an hour’s wait for first aid and
an hour for a mechanic who could not
help. The two gentlemen of senior years
at the next control took a while but fixed
the lever; the time wasted over that
evening and morning was a negative and
disappointing. Yet I was able to continue,
me and my bike still worked. I met a few
different riders, from senior regulars, to
lightweight, stripped down time-chasers,
with helpers in mobile homes, massage
chairs and food at the ready, after they
had jogged through the controls and
passed the queues. One rider explained,
that if we rode at a pace, helping each
other we may be able to finish in three
days, it sounded insane, so I thought
that’s for me!
It actually worked, as a small peloton
of eight to ten riders kept together for
the last two controls and we all helped
like the United Nations but with one aim.
I had no idea why the pace kept climbing,
until an English rider told me how close
we were to finishing.
All of the cyclists that helped me
from day one, they all rode with me in
spirit, when I rode the Paris-Brest-Paris,
1230 kilometres and 11000+ meters of
‘… as I took
off the front
wheel and
checked
the bike,
he started
to chat in
English and
removed
the tyre, no
levers!'
climbing. All of their knowledge, tips,
encouragement and goodwill pushed
me, none more than my ‘go to’ guy Martin
Brooks, supported by his lovely lady
Sarah. How many times I have totally
relied on him I cannot count, from sitting
behind his skilled, easy style, hiding
and resting from the wind on an Audax,
sitting in his garage-cum-bikeshop,
being taught how to use my Garmin
and BaseCamp software, or reading his
blog describing in detail his and Sarah’s
awesome rides. As he rides with all C
and NW groups, does many Audax and
rides with Chester RC, I do get to see him,
always supported by Sarah. I always ask
his advice and opinion, always getting
an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and
honest reply. Once on the PBP, listening
to a rider at a control, discussing all the
reasons why he was packing in, negatives
looking for a place to settle in my brain, I
looked at my route sheet, Martin’s voice
popped in my head. ‘It’s only 80k to the
next control, you can do 80k can’t you?
Just one control at a time’. So I put my
shoes back on, got dressed and headed
out alone, into the cold and dark for my
bike, smiling, all the way to the finish. I
remember standing there, stunned, I took
a photo, looked around, yes I’d done it.
Into the velodrome, brevet card
stamped, happy but desperately
tired cyclists, the great French people
organising and encouraging, the shower
and into clean civvies, then sleep in the
back of my MPV in a underground car
park too tired to move. Sitting in a café,
rain pouring outside, riders still finishing
as I started another meal and another hot
drink, alone but surrounded by cyclists
who were predominately English, the
emotion flooded into my head, heart
and eyes, the poppy on my bike outside,
a reminder, I thought of all my friends of
past who could not be here, those that
had got me here, it was just too much, so
I went to the gents, washed my face and
came out proud.
I have now done 30 plus Audax,
including RTY (12 x 200k), RTY AAA (12
x AAA), the PBP (first Audax 10/08/14)
totalling 17,000+ kilometres in my first
year cycling. Due to a lot of motivation,
encouragement and support, from
many special people, who fashioned yet
another cyclist, grateful and humbled by
their efforts, I hope my efforts show my
respect and gratitude to all. N
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www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 51

kidderminster killer 2015
Kidderminster Killer
The name of the ride says it all, it is a
challenging and hard 215km audax with
3.75AAA points, it is not going to be easy.
None of the climbs are straight forward
either. Starting from Belbroughton near
Kidderminster, it is an easy start which
fools riders into a sense of security. That
all unravels by the time riders reach
Wenlock Edge the Stretton Hills.
The iconic Burway is included in the
100 Greatest Climbs in the UK, a great
little book by the way. It is classified as
a 9/10 for difficulty. It is 290m over 3km
with an average gradient of 10 per cent,
the steepest part of which is a 20 per
cent gradient. Riders are rewarded by
stunning views from the Long Mynd
before a rapid descent only to hit yet
another sharp 20 per cent gradient onto
Stiperstones.
By Montgomery, riders fall into that
awful sense of security again. After all,
it is now half way and they are lunching
in this tranquil former county town.
Energy regained, legs are soon sapped
by the drag onto the Kerry Ridgeway.
Now comes the real killer where you can
almost see the lactic acid oozing from
the rider’s legs, The Fiddler’s Elbow rises
out of Clun, first through dark and damp
forestry then onto the large hills that
border The Marches. Ludlow provides a
sense of yet more premature relief.
Beyond Ludlow, the 2016 event will
use a new route home via a set of quiet
lanes clinging to the sides of Titterstone
Clee Hill and Clowes Top, with an
emphasis on the ‘Top’. After which, the
route makes a long descent towards
Stourport and riders are nearly home.
For riders seeking something shorter,
the KK’s little sister is From Clee to
Heaven which is a 120km jaunt around
the Clee Hills – not easy either with 2AAA.
The year's event is on 23rd. website:
www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/index.html
Philip Whiteman, Organiser
Duncan Carson
Rikki Goode, Mike Stoaling
Beacon CC riders
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photos by ian taylor
Anne Nicholson
Roy Bishop
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 53

andonneur round the year
Oh to become a Randonneur
Round the Year
– Part 1 by longflaps
The year, my first as an audax-riding cyclist,
began rather abruptly with the Poor
Student. Being local I cycled to the start. I
was amazed to see that so many had turned
out in the cold, wet and dark morning so
early in the year. ‘Are you doing PBP?’ I was
asked several times. Uncertain whether the
enquirer was referring to drugs or some
obscure event I answered that I was still
thinking about it.
In the bleak midwinter I cycled in
the penetrating drizzle with two
experienced audaxers up from
London, first through the Cotswold
lanes to Chipping Camden (where
we rung out our gloves and socks before
entering the Bantam Tea Rooms) to
allow the aforementioned garments to
steam by a crackling fire, and then, after
re-entering the Scotch mist to rise up
and over the Cotswolds and down to
Malmesbury. Here we found refuge in
a building that looked like it may have
been a town hall and appeared to be
open late to accommodate the needs of
a wedding reception. Rob, Alistair and I
flopped rather dejectedly into our café
seats and refuelled until our spirits were
sufficiently lifted to begin the last leg of
our triangular odyssey.
I had stumbled across yacf while
eagerly preparing myself to become an
audaxer and had found some very helpful
advice suggesting bringing spare gloves
for winter rides. I stuffed my saturated
(and frankly cheap and hopeless cycling
gloves) into my saddlebag together with
my helmet and removed my dry and
warm gloves and hat. The boost to my
morale was instantaneous. So much so,
that I briskly surged to assume a leading
position and swiftly led my cycling
companions onto the wrong road – we
were heading in more or less the correct
direction – due east and Swindonbound.
To my surprise the experienced
audaxing-Londoners agreed to pursue
this course and I learnt a valuable lesson
– everyone has the capacity to make bad
decisions during an audax ride.
I remember when I was young and
Above: The author
standing at the top of
Hartside Pass on The
Mosstrooper, May 2015.
daft and a student in London doing
crazy things like cycling along very
busy dual-carriageways, but since then
I had refrained from such hair-raising
escapades until the evening we ventured
into the heart of Swindon (if Swindon
even has such a thing – maybe it is buried
beneath the magic roundabouts). It took
several attempts before we found an
escape portal known as the A420 – by
now danger was our friend and whatever
caution we had ever known was cast
aside as we edged ever closer to our
Oxonian destination.
We rejoined the route proper at
Shrivenham. No sooner had we done so
than a group of cyclists emerged from
the direction of Highfield and, buoyed
by greater numbers we pressed on
along fine quiet lanes until someone
shouted behind me that there was a
mechanical. A poor chap, Will, had a
broken chain. No one had a tool to fix
it, other than I. Swiftly taking out my
toolkit (I generally carry a few extra tools
for good measure and added weight)
I produced a chain-extractor. Soon the
54
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andonneur round the year
chain was mended and we were on our
way again. I felt uplifted that I had been
able to help out a fellow cyclist on a such
a night, particularly as by now the night
was closing in and a frost was starting to
glisten beneath clear skies. I was thankful
for my Russian-style hat as I dug deep for
the final miles, the descent into Oxford
and the last stretch back to the car park
we had left over 12 hours 209km earlier.
After partaking of some snacks from
the services we said our farewells and I
cycled home exhausted and perhaps a
little apprehensive about the task that
I had set myself for 2015 – to become a
Randonneur Around the Year.
One month later I was back for more.
This time it was a splendid Mark Rigby
ride under the wacky name of Sam
Weller’s Day Trip to Wochma. I must say
that I never found Wochma on the route
sheet. It was a frosty morning and not
long before I missed a turn. I pressed on
and was soon joined by another chap
who had good navigation and a route all
planned out in his head. I tagged along
and together we reached the garage via
Hereford using main roads.
We heard some dreadful tales of icy
tumbles down the country lanes and I
was glad not to have taken that route.
The air had now warmed up as we
travelled along the undulating road to
Monmouth before taking the delicious
road past Tintern and down to Chepstow.
I noticed that some chaps snacking at
a Co-Op store on the outskirts of town,
but I pressed on to the official stop at a
very busy garden centre. This probably
cost me at least half-an-hour, but as some
might argue, I certainly got my money’s
worth! It was quite a moving moment
to be recrossing the Severn Bridge on
two wheels again (the previous and only
other time has been while cycling LEJOG
the previous autumn).
Some lovely lanes between the bridge
and Malmesbury where I rode alone
and hit a real low point just before the
sharp ascent leading up to the Somerset
Monument. I hadn’t been drinking
enough and now I was paying the price.
After the control in the Summer Café I
began to pick up again and it was quite
a magical experience to travel along the
north-bound lanes in the cool evening air
catching the occasional sight of a fellow
cyclist’s rear light like a beacon of hope
in the intense darkness of a winter night.
After clambering over Birdlip Hill I felt as
though I would complete within time. I
met another chap navigating around the
outskirts of Gloucester and we joined
forces and rode the last stretch up the
A38 and back into Tewkesbury over 13
hours after I’d set out with 203km in the
legs.
It had been a tough day in the saddle
but I believed that having weathered two
winter rides the worst was now behind
me.
Mr Pickwick’s March Madness also sets
out from Tewkesbury into the Malvern
Hills – relatively new territory to me. It
turned out to be another excellent day in
the saddle exploring another Rigby route.
A tough ride out against a challenging
headwind but had company first meeting
Neil (on something that looked far too
carbon and lightweight) and then a
heroic chap who had cycled LEJOG and
then JOGLE (back-to-back and with a
broken wrist) riding something beautiful
and titanium.
At Bromyard I met up again with
Brawleyburst who I barely recognized
without the facial injury sustained during
A Day Trip to Wochma. After a generous
slab of chocolate cake and custard it was
back into the wind and over the hills to
the Heritage Centre in the Forest of Dean.
Here it was a treat to discover none other
than Pie Week was in full swing and the
steak and kidney number had one of
the thickest crusts I’ve seen since my old
grandmother was alive. My rear wheel
was pretty badly buckled (and the tyres
were on their last legs too) so I took the
descent into Chepstow nice and steady.
After making my way to the town
centre I had a ‘moment’ where I asked
perplexed bystanders where I could find
Stables Café. Then the penny dropped
as I checked the route sheet again and
caught sight of a couple of our clan
riding up the A48. I managed to hang on
to their tails long enough to make it to
the bridge and then allowed myself to
drop back to a more sedate pace (some
were riding at a fast pace and there was a
strong wind on the bridge).
The lanes that followed reminded me
of the Somerset Levels for some reason
and the tailwind was welcome indeed
as twilight descended. The Stables Café
was long since closed for the day when
I arrived and I (again) caught sight of a
few distinctly audaxy tail-lights heading
back towards the A38 (I’d had more than
enough canal towpath the week before
sliding from Tring to Southall so had no
plans to repeat the experience in the
dark). Should I catch up to the other
chaps or … just then a chippy appeared
on the other side of the main road. The
large portion of chips and worth-thewait
mega haddock set me back my
last pennies, but I secured a receipt
(amended because the till clock was out
by the best part of an hour) and a carrier
bag with which to resume my fishy feast
and continue the journey along the A38
to the nether regions of Gloucester’s
darkened peripheries.
Starting to lose the plot again I
followed several cycleroute signs
into the city centre where gangs of
drunken youths staggered about the
thoroughfares – ‘ha! ha! look, he’s
got a map hee! hee!’ the pre-printed
Googlemaps were no use in this
urban terrain. I looked up sighting a
‘I decided
to push
the boundaries
a little
and went
for a 300k
ride across
Northumberland
and
Cumbria in
the form of
The Mosstrooper.’
sign ‘Northgate’ and followed it until
I encountered a priest scrubbing the
pavement outside his enormous church.
I guessed he was clearing up some vomit
to freshen the path for his sheep to follow
upon the morn. But I was lost and was in
need of a shepherd to guide me ‘just left,
right and straight passed the rugby club
and you’re on your way to Tewkesbury’.
‘Thank you Father’. True to his word and
I was on the A38 again and, in what
seemed a shorter time that I recalled at
the end of A Day Trip to Wochma I was
back at the RHP.
The first person I met at arrivée (after
207km) was Neil who I didn’t recognise
as he’d sustained a facial injury by
dismounting into the bushes on the very
last metre of his March Madness. Back
just before the bell again (over 12 hours
on the road) and there was Brawleyburst
secured in his nook opposite Mark and
it was just like the end of A Day Trip to
Wochma all over again but without the
injuries. Met a charming tandeming
couple from way up north who had
come way down south especially for
the pleasure of a Blacksheep adventure.
Spring is in the air. Let the madness
continue.
With April came the showers and for
the first two hours of the Two Battles the
rain did indeed fall until we reached the
Wistow control. The rain let off for the
rest of the ride but there was a pretty
stiff NW wind. I got seriously lost before
Upper Stowe control but did discover
the last resting place of Princess Diana
as I skirted around Althorp Park’s walled
acres – and for that I was very thankful.
At Stowe I met up with an old-timer
who was enjoying his tea. He took his
time and we ended up leaving together
and completed the rest of the ride in his
company at a very slow but steady pace.
It was a delight to reach the pub at last
with only about 10 minutes to spare after
completing (officially) 209km. Sadly the
special offer roast meals had long since
gone and I was left scratching around a
packet of nuts before the long drive back
home. Another ride in the bag – but only
just.
For May I decided to push the
boundaries a little and went for a 300k
ride across Northumberland and Cumbria
in the form of The Mosstrooper which
had captured my imagination when I
first heard about it earlier in the year. The
start is actually quite close to where my
parents now live and where I grew up, so
to journey to Newcastle from Oxford was
not as radical as it might have seemed
to Aidan Hedley, the organiser. A swift
start had us over the Tyne and into the
moors before you could sign a verse of
The Bladon Races. Breakfasted before
clambering up and up onto the backbone
of the country to the giddy heights of
Hartside Pass where bikers and cyclists
gather respectively to admire petrol-
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 55

andonneur round the year
powered porn and the stunning views
that stretch around in all directions. The
descent was sweeping and exhilarating
and a welcome break for the legs after
the hard northern ascent.
Down into Penrith for some fine
grub and a chance to gather breath. It
was a fine, sunny day and the wind was
negligible. I cycled on up some quiet
lanes with Matt to the outskirts of Carlisle
before crossing the A69 and a road that
led up and onward to remote moorland
and a gem of a café stop at Newcastleton.
It was here that I learnt that overeating
on a long ride is not a good idea. For
while the generous family-sized bowl of
pasta and accompanying basket of chips
was rapidly demolished it sat in my guts
like molten lead for the next couple of
hours and seemed to sap every ounce of
energy from my body. I slowed to a crawl
and saw Matt disappear into the last rays
of daylight as the shores of Keilder Water
came into view. At Bellingham I tried a
remedy that I’d read about on yacf and
managed to download the contents of
a chocolate milk drink in the hope that
it would somehow dissolve the fatburg
lodged in my digestive tract. It seemed
to do the trick and I gradually picked up
speed as the final control finally appeared
(in a friendly couples’ front room). I felt a
little guilty not getting anything to eat
or drink but my digestive system had
gone into lockdown and reconnecting
with Matt and completing the final leg
was my only thought. Gibbet Hill marked
the final main ascent of over 11,000 feet
that day, and from then on it was a fine
run in towards the dusty orange glow of
Tyneside and the farm from where the
adventure began over 17 hours earlier.
My next event was also in the north
– Knockerdown 200k in the Derbyshire
Peak District. I’d read about it in Arrivée
and also knew some of the roads well as
I’d taken part in the first L’Eroica Brittania
the year before. I arrived at the start a
few minutes late and then was delayed
still further by a non-participating friend
I’d arranged to meet at the start. So I
set off 20 minutes late and the rest of
the day was spent playing catch-up as I
opened and closed countless farm gates
and suffered clambering over the 3,750
metres of climbing. I ended up joining
forces with a fairly easy-going chap
called Jim which made the gate-opening
significantly easier. The organisers were
great guys who had prepared meals for
the participants which they served from
the back of a campervan. Jim also had
a Garmin which was able to predict our
estimated end time – it was looking tight
even before we crashed either side of a
small coffee table outside an Italian café
soaking up some of the last of the sun’s
rays (we really should have called control
at this point to let them know we were
still on our way, but instead we lost the
time we’d worked so hard to recoup).
From Bakewell it was a frantic scramble
down old railway paths and lanes with
hidden signs to the now desolate arrivée.
We were just seven minutes too late and
when I finally emailed the organisers
on the Monday after, I was told that all
paperwork had been completed and
posted off to Paris and that we were
irreversibly timed-out. I was so gutted
that it took me weeks to recover from the
shock. Being at the end of June and with
no time left to complete another ride
my first RRTY attempt was now back to
square one. Among many other things
I’d learnt that a 200 can sometimes be
harder than a 300. It was now too late
to stay over at my friends so I set off
driving down the road back home. After
a brief stop at a service station to grab a
bite to eat I had to crash out in a remote
layby where I woke to find a strange
lorry-driver peering in at me at some
godforsaken hour. Even the birds hadn’t
begun to tweet when I finally placed my
head on my home pillow.
So, what better way to start my
RRTY all over again with a refreshingly
lumpy Clee and Herefordshire Hills 200k
event organised by Roy Bishop? Despite
the hills I managed to get around in
something under 11 hours which was my
fastest event to date. The small number
of adventurers rode mainly as a group
which probably added significantly to the
shorter time and increased pleasure.
For my next ride I decided to use
my 1994 Dawes Galaxy – a beautiful
machine with 10 fine gears at my
disposal, and slightly lighter than the
Claud Butler – but only fractionally so,
being also made of Reynolds 531 steel
tubing. The event selected was Mark
Rigby’s Benjamin Allen’s Spring Tonic
200k from Tewkesbury. It was a gloriously
hot day and the route as sumptuous
as ever passing through Leominster,
Hay-on-Wye, Soudley and back. Very well
attended with several people heading
out to Paris the following weekend to
do PBP, including a chap called Dan
[Howard] riding a tricycle. I completed
in an even better time than my previous
event.
It was now time to add another 300k
to my bow and the University Challenge
Steam Ride seemed like just the ticket. In
the early morning I failed to notice a chap
I had ridden LEJOG with the previous
September. We set off at a goodly pace
and got to Cambridge far faster than I’d
anticipated. After a Wetherspoon lunch
we shot out of Cambridge as quickly as
we’d arrived. Near Gamlingay I passed a
fellow Zappi travelling in the opposite
direction – part of a vast horde who were
taking part in the London to Cambridge
BHF charity bike ride – a ride I’ve taken
part in more times than I can remember.
My companion was on a titanium bike
and was clearly having an easier time
of it than I was on my heavy old CB
Tourer. Just a few miles out of Sandy I
lowered my pace and allowed him to
disappear with some other faster riders. I
immediately felt relieved but had already
paid the price of riding at too high a
pace and for most of the rest of the ride
I was sluggishly following the route on
my tod. At Oxford Services I was just
four miles from home and it was tough
forcing myself in the opposite direction
and making my way steadily back to the
arrivée at Ruislip Lido. The A40 can be a
very long road when you’ve spent the
day in the saddle and the small section
between the M40 and Ruislip is not
recommended for those valuing their
lives. I was surprised to discover that
several more riders were behind me as I
tucked into a late supper of dubious pub
grub and chatted to the organiser, a fine
fellow called Tim Solesse. N
Pictures below from
Dale Ramage (dale_
ftw) on Strava Festive
500 DIY by GPS routes
around the Derwent
valley between
County Durham and
Northumberland. The
rider is Peter Baggily
of Sunderland
Clarion.
56
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

andonnee and news
Fairies * 100k
Audax/C&NW CTC rides from Corwen,
North Wales – Saturday July 16
Ron Lee
Not content with running a 200k audax in
March and the Fairies Five in June, our hardworking
audax organiser David Winslade
was the driving force behind the new 100k
and 200k rides in September. Trevor Oliver
took on the role of event organiser, a new
experience that hopefully he will repeat in
the future.
Our five June rides are as
flat as possible and are
intended to attract new
riders who want to try an
audax before progressing
to the more usual hillier ones, whilst
the 300k is a gentle step up from the
popular 200k rides. The Man of Kent
200k in March is a more typical audax
– an interesting route that does not
deliberately seek or avoid hills and these
new ones are similar.
Since discovering the world of
audax in 1991 I have enjoyed events at
distances up to 600k. Six years ago a
combination of age and health problems
put a stop to rides over 100k as even the
minimum overall speed of 15kph did not
allow enough time to climb hills slowly
and stop at cafés. More recently I’ve only
ridden our Flat 100k informally with no
time pressure.
So why did I enter the new 100k?
Answer – because I looked at the outward
route from Bethersden to Herne Bay
but didn’t study the return! Subsequent
closer examination of the route sheet
led to preparing a schedule based on
an overall speed of exactly 15kph and
thinking that it would be enough to get
round no matter how slowly and how
much out of time.
It was in this frame of mind that I
made sure that I was the backmarker
when we set off at 9.30 on a sunny
morning with a rising easterley wind.
Several other club riders were in the
group and the first half mile confirmed
my thought that this would be a solo ride
at my own speed.
The first climb was up to Pluckley and
the next, after some lovely quiet and
mostly unfamiliar lanes, was Hart Hill.
Payback for this was nine mostly downhill
miles to the A2 at Faversham. Another
couple of miles to the café control at the
Freewheel Cyclist Inn at Graveney, where
I was right on my 15kph schedule and
expected to see the other riders about
to leave. However, there were no audax
Ron Lee Photo: Lise Taylor-Vebel
riders there at all, a reminder of my slow
progress.
A quick coffee and teacake then along
the coast to Whitstable where the sunny
Sunday traffic was snarled up all through
the town, completely writing off any
possible flat road gain on schedule. More
flat roads through Herne Bay to Beltinge
– apart from Beacon Hill out of Herne
Bay – for an information control and a
tailwind final leg. About 20 minutes up
on schedule.
Some minor ups and downs to
Fordwich then 15 miles of varying
degrees of uphillness over Wye Downs.
The 22 chainring and 28 sprocket were
the essential survival kit in getting me to
the Devils Kneading Trough café and the
30+ mph descent into Wye.
Passing the village shop in Wye I heard
a shout and realised it was some club
members. They caught me soon after and
I managed to stay with them for a few
miles. Apparently they had not stopped
at Graveney and by Wye needed proper
food, like sandwiches.
The last few miles after crossing the
A20 at Potters Corner were very familiar
lanes and not having dared look at my
schedule for some time I was surprised
to finish the actual 109k about half an
hour up.
My longest ride for several years
and, according to plotaroute, with just
over 4,000 feet of climbing certainly
the hilliest. Somehow the 4,000 feet of
descending didn’t register in the same
way!
N
* San Fairy Ann CC
The Barmouth Boulevard 204km and 3650m climbing. A
beautiful and challenging ride with glorious scenery and lots of
interesting hills. Route includes the Trawsfynydd mountain road,
Bwlch-Y Groes and the Northern Hirnant pass from Lake Vyrnwy.
The Brenig Bach 107km and 1,920m climbing. This classic
ride visits some remote and beautiful areas of North Wales.
Stunning scenery throughout, excellent café stops. Last 20k is all
downhill. A wonderful and stimulating day out enjoying one of
the best 100k rides in Britain.
The Bala Parade 60k and 1,000m climbing. A lovely ride
around Lake Bala which provides an excellent introduction
to Audax riding. Pub/café stop at the south end of the lake to
complement a pleasant day out.
Full details of these excellent value rides and entry
arrangements (Paypal or postal) at www.audax.uk.net.
Routesheet/map holder
This new, not-yet-on-the-market routesheet holder looks to
be ideal for our style of riding. It's a Kickstarter project, so
production depends on raising enough funds. More details
here on this great touring website: www.cyclingabout.com/
life-ultralight-19g-bike-map-holder/
A traditional shop with well equipped
workshop and experienced staff.
For ALL your cycling needs.
8 Shelfhanger Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4EH
01379 650419
www.madgettscycles.com
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 57

auk calendar
Calendar key
A(1) free/cheap accommodation 1 night
B very basic – no halls/beds, etc
BD baggage drop
DIY own route and controls, cards by post
R free or cheap refreshments at start and/or finish
S showers
Z sleeping facilities on route
175 entries close at 175 riders
YH youth hostel at/near start
C camping at or near the start
F some free food and/or drink on ride
L left luggage facilities at start
P free or cheap motor parking at start
T toilets at start
M mudguards required
X some very basic controls (eg service
stations)
(14/4) entries close 14th April
400 01 May Poole Porkers 400
14:00 Sun BRM 5900m AAA6 £10.00 L P R T M (50) (17/4) 15-30kph
Wessex CTC
Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT
100 01 May Winnington Park Rugby Club, CW8 3AA Ron Sant Memorial Ride
9:00 Sun BP 106km £5.00 P R T S 15-30kph
Weaver Valley
Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ
110 02 May High Easter, Nr Chelmsford The Counties Festival 100
10:00 Mon BP £5.00 L P R T (70) 15-30kph
Updated
ECCA
53 02 May High Easter, Nr Chelmsford The Counties Festival 50
11:00 Mon BP £5.00 L P R T (70) 12-25kph
Updated
ECCA
Chris Regan, 58 Bramwoods Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 7LT
100 02 May Kilburn, N.of Derby National Arboretum
09:00 Mon BP 103km £5.00 P R T 12-30kph
Alfreton CTC 01773 833 593 tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk
ROA 5000
Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP
100 04 May Hurst, East of Reading Dinton 100
10:00 Wed BP 103km £3.00 L P R T G 60 15-30kph
Reading CTC emaich7@gmail.com
Mike Hardiman, 7 Somerset Close Woosehill Wokingham RG41 3AJ
100 07 May Alveston, N Bristol South Glos 100
09:30 Sat BP 106km £6.00 P R T 150 12.5-25kph
Bristol CTC 01179 672893
Alex Rendu, Whitethorn Cock Road Kingswood Bristol BS15 9SJ
150 07 May Bolsover Dovedale and Beyond
08:30 Sat BP 152km 3010m AAA2.25 [2030m] £5.00 L P R T 12.5-25kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
100 07 May Bolsover Beast of Bolsover
09:00 Sat BP 104km 2030m AAA2 £5.00 L P R T 12.5-25kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
ROA 5000
Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL
200 07 May Bynea, Llanelli Carmarthenshire Snapper
07:00 Sat BR 202km 2200m £8.00 C L F P R T 50 15-30kph
Swansea & W Wales CTC jb@reynoldston.com
John Bastiani, The Brambles Reynoldston Swansea West Glamorgan SA3 1AA
300 07 May Honiton Old Roads 300
06:00 Sat BRM 3400m £8.00 LPRT 15-30kph
Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk
ROA 10000
Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU
110 07 May Parkend, Forest of Dean The Lumpy Scrumpy 100
10:00 Sat BP 1850m AAA1.75 £6.00 YH C P T 75 G 12-25kph
Royal Dean Forest CC
54 07 May Parkend, Forest of Dean Dean Bluebell Doddle
10:30 Sat BP 1200m AAA1.25 £5.00 YH C P T 75 G 12-25kph
Royal Dean Forest CC
Adam Taylor, 68 Sneyd Wood Road Cinderford Glos GL14 3GD
400 07 May Preston, Lancashire Heartbeat 400
06:00 Sat BRM 409km 5160m AAA5 [4000m] £7.00 L P R T 15-30kph
Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
200 07 May Wem, Shropshire Four Rivers Ride
07:30 Sat BR 215km 3150m AAA3.25 £7.00 F L P R T 40 15-30kph
CTC Shropshire
sandehargraves@gmail.com
170 07 May Wem, Shropshire Three Rivers Ride
08:30 Sat BP 2200m AAA1.75 [1800m] £7.00 F L P R T 50 15-30kph
CTC Shropshire
sandehargraves@gmail.com
130 07 May Wem, Shropshire Two Rivers Ride
09:00 Sat BP £7.00 L F P R T 50 12-24kph
CTC Shropshire
sandehargraves@gmail.com
Edwin Hargraves, 22 Trentham Road Wem North Shropshire SY4 5HN
300 07 May Wigginton, York Wigginton 300
05:00 Sat BR 302km 2132m £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph
CTC North Yorks
01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net
100 07 May Wigginton, York Wiggy 100
10:00 Sat BP £3.00 A(1) YH L P R T 12-24kph
CTC North Yorks
01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net
Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB
51 08 May Coppice House, Crewe Foundation Ride
09:30 Sun BP 189m £14.00 L P R T NM (100) 10-25kph
Up & Under Cycling Club admin@upandundergroup.com
100 08 May Coppice House, Crewe Three Counties
08:30 Sun BP 101km 828m £14.00 L P R T NM (100) 12-30kph
Up & Under Cycling Club admin@upandundergroup.com
53 08 May Coppice House, Crewe Feisty Fifty
09:00 Sun BP 621m AAA0.75 £14.00 L P R T NM (100) 12-25kph
Up & Under Cycling Club admin@upandundergroup.com
Andy Fewtrell, Up and Under Foundation Coppice House Quakers Coppice Crewe
CW1 6FA
200 08 May Dalmeny The Crow Road
08:00 Sun BR 208km 2000m £12.00 F L P R T 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse neil.fraser@blueyonder.co.uk
Neil Fraser, 14 Maryfield Drive Bo'ness West Lothian EH51 9DG
200 08 May Lymington New Forest Excursion
08:00 Sun BR 204km £7.00 C L P R T 100 (8/5) 15-30kph
Cycling New Forest
cyclingnewforest@gmail.comJ
160 08 May Lymington New Forest Century
08:00 Sun BP £7.00 C L P R T 100 (8/5) 15-30kph
Cycling New Forest
01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com
100 08 May Lymington New Forest Day Out
10:00 Sun BP 104km [2m] £7.00 C L P R T 100 10-20kph
Cycling New Forest
01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com
ROA 10000
John Ward, 34 Avenue Road Lymington Hants SO41 9GJ
200 08 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden 200km
08:00 Sun BR [1800m] £8.00 F L P R T NM 15-30kph
Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.ukT
160 08 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden Century Ride
08:30 Sun BP [1550m] £8.00 F L P R T NM 15-30kph
Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk
100 08 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden 100km
09:00 Sun BP 975m £8.00 F L P R T NM 10-30kph
Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk
Patrick McMaster, 207 Colyer Road Northfleet Kent DA11 8AT
100 08 May Minehead Exmoor Spring
09:30 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T 100 12.5-25kph
Minehead CC
57 08 May Minehead Exmoor Spring 50
10:00 Sun BP £5.00 YH L P R T 10-20kph
Minehead CC
Richard Miles, 1 Lower Park Minehead Somerset TA24 8AX
200 08 May Shenstone, Staffs Castleton Classic
08:00 Sun BR 214km 2700m AAA2.5 [2400m] £6.00 F L P R T 15-30kph
Updated CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
160 08 May Shenstone, Staffs Derbyshire Dales
9:00 Sun BP 1680m £6.00 F L P R T 12.5-30kph
Updated CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
100 08 May Shenstone, Staffs Staffordshire Lanes
08:30 Sun BP 102km 1000m £5.50 L P R T 12.5-25kph
Updated CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
54 08 May Shenstone, Staffs Rosliston Roller
09:30 Sun BP £5.00 F,P,R,T 10-25kph
Updated CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 1EB
100 08 May Uffington, near Wantage Blowingstone-White Horse
09:30 Sun BP 107km 1162m [1346m] £6.00 P T R 15-30kph
Oxfordshire CTC
Nick Dunton, 44a High Street Sutton Courtenay Abingdon Oxon OX14 4AP
600 14 May Chepstow Bryan Chapman Memorial (Classic)
06:00 Sat BRM 7500m AAA7.5 £32.00 BD C F L P R S T Z (4/5) 15-30kph
CTC Cymru ritchie.tout@mazars.co.uk
Ritchie Tout, Sunnyside Cottage Mynyddbach Monmouthshire NP16 6RT
150 14 May Forfar Pitlochry 150
09:15 Sat BP 1465m £3.00 G P T S 15-30kph
Angus CC 01307 466123 dchusband@icloud.com
ROA 4000
David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP
200 14 May Lodge Moor, Sheffield The Sheffrec Full Monty
08:00 Sat BR 206km 4000m AAA4 £5.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph
Sheffrec CC henry@henryfoxhall.co.uk
100 14 May Lodge Moor, Sheffield The Sheffrec Mini Monty
09:00 Sat BP 109km 2100m AAA2 £5.00 L P R T 10-25kph
Sheffrec CC henry@henryfoxhall.co.uk
Henry Foxhall, West View Grindlow Great Hucklow Buxton Derbyshire SK17 8RJ
50 14 May Oasis Leisure Centre, Swindon Tour de SnowSwindonia
10:30 Sat BP £5.00 P 12.5-25kph
Pat Hurt 07887 87 61 62 iddu.audax@gmail.com
Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL
300 14 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria The Westmorland Spartans
07:00 Sat BR 4000m AAA4 £6.00 A(2) P YH L R T S (60) 15-30kph
Lakes Velo paul@revells.comL
58
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar
200 14 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria The Cumbrian 200
08:00 Sat BR 203km 3320m AAA4 [3900m] £6.00 YH L P R T S A(2) (60) 15-30kph
Lakes Velo paul@revells.com
Paul Revell, Kirklands Brow Edge Backbarrow Cumbria LA12 8QL
200 15 May Devoran, S of Truro Lizard and the Camel
08:00 Sun BR 211km 2500m £6.00 C L P R T 14.4-30kph
Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk
110 15 May Devoran, S of Truro Cove and Cliff
09:00 Sun BP 1520m £5.00 C L P R T 12-28kph
Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk
59 15 May Devoran, S of Truro Peter's Point
10:00 Sun BP £5.00 C L P R T 12-28kph
Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk
Martyn Aldis, Sundown 25a Kersey Road Flushing Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5TR
200 15 May Look Mum No Hands! 49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX The Great Escape
08:00 Sun BR 2000m £7.00 YH F T NM R (400) 15-30kph
Islington CC 07918 147548 secretary@islington.cc
Islington Cycling Club, 20 Castle Road Finchley LONDON N12 9ED
200 15 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special
08:00 Sun BR £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph
VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com
160 15 May Lound, nr Lowestoft The Norfolk Special
09:00 Sun BP £5.00 FRTP 12.5-25kph
VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com
John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT
110 15 May Maidenhead 10 Thames Bridges
09:00 Sun BP £4.00 P R T 15-30kph
Change of Date
Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com
64 15 May Maidenhead Kaf to Kaf
10:00 Sun BP £4.00 P R T 12-25kph
Change of Date
Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com
Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm Leigh Square Windsor Berks SL4 4PT
200 21 May Dore, Nr Sheffield Plain, Peaks and Troughs
08:30 Sat BR 205km 2900m AAA3 £5.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph
Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net
100 21 May Dore, Sheffield Peaks and Troughs
9:00 Sat BP 103km 2100m AAA2 £5.00 F L P T 12-30kph
Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net
62 21 May Dore, Sheffield Fewer Peaks and Troughs
09:30 Sat BP 1150m AAA1.25 £5.00 F L P T 10-22kph
Sheffield District CTC 0114 258 8932 cripps@uwclub.net
John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent Sheffield S11 9AW
300 21 May Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland The Mosstrooper
06:00 Sat BRM 3900m AAA3.5 [3600m] £10.00 F P T A(1) 15-30kph
Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com
Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX
160 21 May Meriden, Warwickshire Cotswold Challenge
08:00 Sat BP 1200m £8.00 C L P R T NM 100 15-30kph
Jon Porteous audax2016@heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
100 21 May Meriden, Warwickshire Warwickshire Wanderer
09:00 Sat BP 105km 700m £8.00 C L P R T NM 100 12-25kph
Jon Porteous audax2016@heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
50 21 May Meriden, Warwickshire Meriden Meander
10:00 Sat BP 540m [546m] £8.00 C G L P R T NM 100 12-30kph
Jon Porteous audax2016@heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
Jon Porteous, Tumnus Corner Springhill Gardens Webheath Redditch Worcs
B97 5SY
400 21 May Ruislip Lido Café, London HA4 7TY Steam Ride : London Circuit Event
CANCELLED
100 21 May Uckfield, East Sussex D2DR
10:00 Sat BP 103km 1750m AAA1.75 £3.00 FPR 12.5-25kph
CTC West Surrey
malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk
Martin Malins, 4 North Common Weybridge Surrey KT13 9DN
200 21 May Willington Hall, E of Chester Tour of the Berwyns
08:00 Sat BR 205km 2190m AAA3 [3100m] £6.00 L P R T 75 (17/05) 15-30kph
Chester & North Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com
130 21 May Willington Hall, nr Chester Panorama Prospect
08:30 Sat BP 131km 1150m [500m] £6.00 L P R T 75 (17/05) 12.5-25kph
Chester & North Wales CT dmanu@outlook.com
ROA 5000
David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG
160 22 May Carron, Nr Aberlour Dalmunach Dash
09:00 Sun BP 163km 1900m £5.00 G, L, P 12-25kph
Oliver Giles
Oliver Giles, The Spinney Carron Aberlour Aberdeenshire AB38 7QP
100 22 May Carron, Nr Aberlour Dalmunach Dander
09:00 Sun BP 1264m £5.00 G, L, P 12-25kph
Oliver Giles
100 22 May Falmer Sports Centre, Brighton Brighton Rock 2016
– Pinkie Brown Returns
9:15 Sun BP 109km £7.50 F L P R T S NM(100) 15-30kph
Brighton & Hove CTC brightonandhovectc@gmail.com
Brighton and Hove CTC , 85 Hangleton Road Hove East Sussex BN3 7GH
100 22 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Between the Parks
09:00 Sun BP 500m £6.00 G L P R T (75) (10/5) 15-30kph
Southampton & Romsey CTC rid@ecs.soton.ac.uk
200 22 May Woodley, Romsey, Hampshire Grand National Park2Park
08:00 Sun BR 1660m £8.50 F G L P R T (150) (10/5) 15-30kph
Southampton CTC
rid@ecs.soton.ac.uk
Robert Damper, 12 Julius Close Chandler's Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 2AB
600 28 May Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Three Steps to Severn
06:00 Sat BR 612km 6400m £10.00 F L P T 14.3-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
perrin_john@sky.com
John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB
400 28 May Bushley, Nr,Tewkesbury. Dros Fynyddoedd ac Anialwch Niwlog
05:30 Sat BRM 401km 6000m AAA6 £9.00 c f l p r t nm z 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
600 28 May Exeter Kernow and Southwest 600
06:00 Sat BRM 8200m AAA8.25 £17.00 YH L F R Z 60 15-25kph
Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk
ROA 10000
Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU
200 28 May Long Melford, nr Sudbury Grand Tour de Stour
08:00 Sat BR 212km £6.00 CGLNMRT(60)(14/05) 15-30kph
CC Sudbury andrew.hoppit@gmail.com
100 28 May Long Melford, nr Sudbury Tour de Stour
09:00 Sat BP 106km £6.00 CGLNMPRT(60)(14/05) 15-30kph
Andrew Hoppit
07528 498036 andrew.hoppit@gmail.com
Andrew Hoppit, 15 Middleton Rd Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2DB
400 28 May Musselburgh The Southern Uplands
06:00 Sat BR 5000m AAA5 £3.00 X P T 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com
Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU
200 28 May Pateley Bridge Dales Grimpeur 200
08:00 Sat BR 215km 4596m AAA4.5 £6.00 L P R S T 15-30kph
Hambleton RC paul.roberts901@tiscali.co.uk
Paul Roberts, 37 The Close Romanby Northallerton DL7 8BL
600 28 May Poole Brimstone 600
06:00 Sat BRM 7600m AAA7.5 £10.00 L P M (50) (24/5) 15-30kph
Wessex CTC
Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT
600 04 June Alfreton Nine Counties 600k
06:00 Sat BR £10.00 X,F,L,T,P 15-30kph
Alfreton CTC 01773 833 593 tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk
ROA 10000
Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP
200 04 June Bitteswell, Leicestershire Heart of the Shires
08:00 Sat BR 210km £6.00 L F P T 15-30kph
Leics & Rutland CTC
100 04 June Bitteswell, Leicestershire Heart of the Shires
09:00 Sat BP £5.50 L F P T 12-30kph
Leics & Rutland CTC
Tony Davis, 2 The Courtyard Claybrooke Magna Lutterworth Leicestershire LE17
5FH
300 04 June Coryton, NW Cardiff Peacocks and Kites
05:00 Sat BR 301km 3900m AAA3 [3000m] £8.00 YH L P R T 15-30kph
Cardiff Ajax glharper1973@gmail.com
Georgina Harper, 68 Hazelhurst Road Llandaf North Cardiff Wales CF14 2FX
400 04 June Kirkley, Ponteland The Hot Trod
10:00 Sat BR 4020m £8.00 LTPZFG 15-30kph
Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com
Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX
400 04 June Manningtree, Colchester Asparagus & Strawberries
09:00 Sat BRM 414km 2600m £4.00 XCTM 15-25kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA
400 04 June Newark Northgate Station, Nottinghamshire Lincolnshire Poacher
06:00 Sat BR £5.00 X A1, L, P, R, 15-30kph
Lincoln Whs richard.parker05@gmail.com
Richard Parker, 28 High Street Carlton Le Moorland Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 9HT
300 04 June Padiham, Lancashire Knock Ventoux 300
06:00 Sat BRM 4000m AAA4 [4600m] £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph
Updated Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
100 04 June Tewkesbury Over the Hills and Far Away
09:15 Sat BP 102km 800m £5.00 C G NM P R T 150 10-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
200 05 June Clitheroe, Lancashire Dales Delight 200
08:00 Sun BRM 203km 3600m AAA3.5 [4100m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph
Updated Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 59

auk calendar
200 05 June Elstead, Surrey The Nearly Stonehenge 200
08:00 Sun BR 209km 2210m £6.00 F L P R T 15-30kph
CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk
150 05 June Elstead, Surrey The Danebury 150
08:30 Sun BP 152km £6.00 F L P R T 13-30kph
CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk
110 05 June Elstead, Surrey The Elstead 100
09:00 Sun BP 113km £6.00 F L P R T 12-30kph
CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk
Nicholas Davison, The Bield Mill Copse Road Haslemere Surrey GU27 3DN
100 05 June Hook, Goole Beverley 100
09:00 Sun BP 108km 327m [270m] £3.50 P R T 30 15-30kph
Goole Vermuyden CC 01405 761 790 harvey.tripp@btinternet.com
Harvey Tripp, 40 Carter Street Goole DN14 6SN
300 05 June Penzance Many Rivers to Cross
06:30 Sun BR 307km 4940m AAA5 £3.00 BXYHC 14.3-30kph
Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk
200 05 June Penzance Four Hundreds 200
08:00 Sun BR 207km 3760m AAA3.75 £3.00 BYHXC 15-30kph
Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk
Martyn Aldis, Sundown 25a Kersey Road Flushing Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5TR
200 05 June Ware Herts High Five
08:00 Sun BR 209km 1634m [1509m] £10.00 L P R S T 15-30kph
Hertfordshire Wheelers 07969 080175 audax@herts-wheelers.org.uk
100 05 June Ware Two Counties 100
10:30 Sun BP 108km £7.00 L P R S T 12-25kph
Hertfordshire Wheelers 07969 080175 audax@herts-wheelers.org.uk
c/o Valdis Belinis, 2 Little Horse Lane Milton Road Ware Herts SG12 0QB
200 05 June Wimbledon Common The London Ditchling Devil
08:00 Sun BR 205km 2400m [2700m] £15.00 F P R T 15-30kph
Willesden CC paudax@gmail.com
Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN
600 11 June Bushley, Nr,Tewkesbury Mae Mr Pickwick yn mynd i chwilio am
ddreigiau a chwedlau (clasurol).
05:00 Sat BRM 601km 9500m AAA9.5 £17.50 C F L P R T S Z NM 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
150 11 June Forfar Amulree 150
09:15 Sat BP 1552m £5.00 C P T S 15-30kph
Angus CC 01307 466123 dchusband@icloud.com
ROA 4000
David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP
600 11 June Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 600
06:00 Sat BRM 603km 7800m AAA7.75 £10.00 BD F L P R S T Z 15-30kph
Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
100 12 June Abergavenny Monmouthshire Meander
09:00 Sun BP 1500m AAA1.5 £5.00 YH F P L T 15-25kph
Abergavenny RC
waville@yahoo.com
Jonathan Saville, 9 Trehonddu Llanvihangel Crucorney Abergavenny
Monmouthshire NP7 8DG
100 12 June Evegate, Ashford Mick Andrews Memorial 100K
10:30 Sun BP £5.00 P T 100 (30/5) 15-30kph
Sugar Loaf Animal Snctry
Roger Burchett, 'Haytor' Stone Street Lympne Hythe Kent CT21 4JY
100 12 June Finsbury Park, London, N4 2NQ The Italian Job
08:30 Sun BP £6.00 F, G, NM, P, R, (400) 15-30kph
Islington CC 07918 147548 secretary@islington.cc
Islington Cycling Club, 20 Castle Road Finchley London N12 9ED
200 12 June Forfar Deeside Loop
08:00 Sun BR 2450m AAA2 [2025m] £10.00 L C P R T 15-30kph
Angus CC dchusband@icloud.com
ROA 4000
David Husband, 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar Angus DD8 1JP
200 12 June Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 200
08:30 Sun BRM 206km 4500m AAA4.5 £5.00 L P R S T 15-30kph
Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
100 12 June Sheffield, Wharncliffeside Comunity Cote de Holme Moss
09:00 Sun BP 108km 2200m AAA2.25 £6.00 LPRT(120) 12-30kph
Birdwell Whs woodyauk@btinternet.com
John Woodhouse, 9 Brightholmlee Lane Wharncliffeside Sheffield Yorks S35 0DD
84 12 June Stevenage (Marriotts), SG2 8UT Bike Week – Stevenage Circular Cycle
10:00 Sun BP 747m £6.00 L P R T 12-28kph
Stevenage & N Herts CTC luke.peters@live.com
Luke Peters, 86 Skipton Close Stevenage Hertfordshire SG2 8TW
400 17 June Anywhere, to York Summer Arrow to York
06:00 Fri BR £12.00 DIY Also on 18/06 15-30kph
Audax UK pedaller1@sky.com
350 17 June Anywhere, to York Summer Dart to York
::: Fri BR 360km £5.00 DIY Also on 18/06 14.3-30kph
Audax UK pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria Street Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
400 17 June Clayhidon, near Taunton Avalon Sunrise 400
22:30 Fri BRM 407km 3300m £15.00 flprtc 15-30kph
Exeter Whs
Jamie Andrews, Cemetery Lodge Ashill Road Uffculme Devon EX15 3DP
200 18 June Apperley, Nr Cheltenham Gospel Pass 200
08:00 Sat BR 3075m AAA3 £12.00 A(1)CPRTL 14.3-30kph
Cheltenham CTC
stephen.poulton@btinternet.com
150 18 June Apperley, Nr Cheltenham YatMon 150
09:00 Sat BP 2230m AAA2.25 £9.00 A(1)CPRTL 12.5-30kph
Cheltenham CTC
stephen.poulton@btinternet.com
100 18 June Apperley, Nr Cheltenham Hoarwithy 100 (2Severn2Wye)
09:30 Sat BP £5 A(1)CPRTL 12.5-30kph
Cheltenham CTC
stephen.poulton@btinternet.com
ROA 5000
Stephen Poulton, Leckhampton Lodge 23 Moorend Park Road Leckhampton
Cheltenham Glos GL53 0LA
140 18 June Bovey Tracey, Devon Dartmoor Ghost
22:30 Sat BP 145km 2150m AAA2.25 [2300m] £12.00 FGLRT(11th June) 12.5-25kph
CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com
ROA 4000
Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT
100 18 June Knavesmire, York Rally 100
09:00 Sat BP £7.50 A(1) C F P R T S 15-25kph 15-25kph
CTC North Yorks
01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net
Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB
300 18 June Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Cestyll Cymru 300
6.:00 Sat BR 305km 3550m £13.00 A(2) G L NM P R T S 15-30kph
Rhos-on-Sea CC
07462690318 cbwilby@gmail.com
200 18 June Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Cestyll Cymru
08:00 Sat BR 203km 2600m AAA2.25 [2200m] £12.00 A L P R T 15-30kph
Rhos-on-Sea CC
07462690318 cbwilby@gmail.com
130 18 Jun Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy The Legend of Gelert
09:00 Sat BP 135km 1400m £10.00 A L P R T 12.5-25kph
Rhos-on-Sea CC
cbwilby@gmail.com
50 18 June Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Glan-y-Mor
9:30 Sat BP 750m £5.00 A L P R T 10-20kph
Rhos-on-Sea CC
cbwilby@gmail.com
Chris Wilby, Gwenallt Henryd Road Gyffin Conwy LL32 8HN
300 19 June Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flattest Possible 300
02:00 Sun BR 311km £7.00 C F L P R T 15-30kph
Updated San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com
David Winslade, 3 Albany Close Tonbridge Kent TN9 2EY
200 19 June Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Half-Flat 200
08:00 Sun BR 201km 1000m £6.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph
Updated San Fairy Ann CC tonyh.flat5@gmail.com
150 19 June Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Fairly Flat 150k
08:30 Sun BP £6.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph
Updated San Fairy Ann CC tonyh.flat5@gmail.com
100 19 June Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flat 100k
09:00 Sun BP £6.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph
Updated San Fairy Ann CC tonyh.flat5@gmail.com
Tony Huntington, 17 Castle Street Upper Upnor Rochester ME2 4XR
50 19 June Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Easy Peasy 50k
10:00 Sun BP £5.00 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph
Updated San Fairy Ann CC tonyh.flat5@gmail.com
Tony Huntington, 17 Castle Street Upper Upnor Rochester ME2 4XR
200 19 June Claughton, N of Preston Fleet Moss 212
07:30 Sun BR 212km 3290m AAA3.25 £6.50 P R T 15-30kph
Southport CC allan.taylor@southportcc.co.uk
150 19 June Claughton, N of Preston Lunesdale Populaire
08:30 Sun BP 158km 2280m AAA2.25 £6.50 P R T 100 13-30kph
Southport CC allan.taylor@southportcc.co.uk
110 19 June Claughton, N of Preston Pilgrim's Way
09:00 Sun BP 112km 1540m £6.50 P R T 10-25kph
Southport CC allan.taylor@southportcc.co.uk
Allan Taylor, 23 Osborne Road Ainsdale Southport PR8 2RJ
150 19 June Galashiels Dick McTs 150 Classic
09:00 Sun BP 1576m [1600m] £8.00 PRTG 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
100 19 June Maidenhead Boulters Bash
09:30 Sun BP 1000m £4.00 P R T 15-30kph
Updated
Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk
50 19 June Maidenhead, Jenners Cafe Locked and Boulted
10:00 Sun BP 447m £4.00 P R T 10-25kph
Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk
Ian Oliver, 68 St Dunstans Avenue London W3 6QJ
400 25 June Aldbrough St John, Nr Darlington The Lincoln
06:00 Sat BR 411km 1457m £5.00 X L P R T 15-30kph
VC 167 01325 374 112 nigel.hall@finklecroft.me.uk
Nigel Hall, Finkle Croft Aldbrough St John Nr. Richmond DL11 7TD
400 25 June Alfreton Moors and Wolds 400
10:30 Sat BR 406km 2425m £8.00 P R T X 15-30kph
Alfreton CTC nigel.randell8664@gmail.com
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Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar
54 25 June Alfreton Victorian Post Boxes 50
10:30 Sat BP 669m £4.00 FLPT 10-25kph
Alfreton CTC nigel.randell8664@gmail.com
Nigel Randell, 15 Hammer Leys South Normanton Derbyshire DE55 3AX
300 25 June Beech Hill, S of Reading Rural South
06:00 Sat BR £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph
Reading CTC offroad@readingctc.co.uk
Ian Doyle, 21 Woodford Close Caversham Reading Berkshire RG4 7HN
200 25 June Beech Hill, S of Reading Alan Furley's Up the Downs
08:00 Sat BR 202km 2100m £7.00 F L P R T 100 15-30kph
Reading CTC 01491 651284 audaxphil@btinternet.com
100 25 June Beech Hill, S of Reading Alan Furley's Down the Ups
09:00 Sat BP 105km 1000m £6.50 F L P R T 12.5-30kph
Reading CTC 01491 651284 audaxphil@btinternet.com
Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL
600 25 June Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Offa's Dyke
06:00 Sat BRM 610km 8300m AAA8.25 £15.00 C F G L P R T Z (50) 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
300 25 June Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Offa's Double Century
06:00 Sat BR 330km 5100m AAA5 £8.00 C F G L P R T (50) 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
ROA 10000
John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF
100 25 June Usk, Monmouthshire Gwent Gambol
09:00 Sat BP 109km 1200m £5.00 C G P R T 14-30kph
Cardiff Byways evansrichardd@googlemail.com
ROA 5000
Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW
67 26 June Carharrack, Cornwall Mines and Mineral Railways (ON-road)
10:00 Sun BP 820m £5.00 C L P R T 8-28kph
Audax Kernow brindisijones@tiscali.co.uk
66 26 June Carharrack, Cornwall Mines and Mineral Railways (OFF-road)
10:00 Sun BP 1257m [773m] £5.00 C L P R T 8-28kph
Audax Kernow brindisijones@tiscali.co.uk
Simon Jones, The Cottage Pulla Cross Truro Cornwall TR4 8SA
100 26 June Caton, NE of Lancaster Bowland Forest Populaire
09:00 Sun BP 1800m AAA1.75 £5.00 P R T 75 12.5-20kph
CTC Lancaster & South La 01524 36061 mikehutchinson@fastmail.fm
ROA 5000
Mike Hutchinson, Heatherdene 9 Whinfell Drive Lancaster LA1 4NY
200 26 June Chelmer CC, Meteor Way, Chelmsford Windmill Ride (210)
08:30 Sun BR 210km £7.00 F L P R T 15-30kph
Updated
Essex CTC
120 26 June Chelmer CC, Meteor Way, Chelmsford Windmill Ride (120)
10:00 Sun BP £7.00 F L P R T 12-25kph
Updated
Essex CTC
Stefan Eichenseher, 42a Whitegate Road Southend-on-sea Essex SS1 2LQ
200 26 June Old Sils Rugby Club, Junction 5 M42 A Cotswold Adventure & BBQ
08:00 Sun BR 207km £10.00 U FPRTS NM 15-30kph
Roger Cliffe, 11 Warren Drive Dorridge Solihull B93 8JY
150 26 June Old Sils Rugby Club , Junction 5 M42 Solihull CC mini Randonnée & BBQ
08:30 Sun BP 156km £9.00 RFPT 15-30kph
100 26 June Old Sils Rugby Club , Junction 5 M42 A Warwickshire Wander & BBQ
09:00 Sun BP £8.00 F P R T 15-30kph
Solihull CC chat2rog@gmail.com
Roger Cliffe, 11 Warren Drive Dorridge Solihull B93 8JY
200 26 June Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Clwydian Horseshoe
07:30 Sun BR 225km 2750m AAA2.5 [2425m] £6.00 C G L P R T (50) 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
ROA 10000
John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF
200 26 June Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham Cotswold Expedition
08:00 Sun BR 212km £9.00 C L P R S T 100 15-30kph
Change of Date Beacon RCC pete@cotswoldaudax.com
160 26 June Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham Cotswold Journey
08:30 Sun BP £9.00 C L P R S T 100 15-30kph
Change of Date Beacon RCC pete@cotswoldaudax.comL
100 26 June Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham Anticlockwise Cotswold Outing
09:30 Sun BP 108km £9.00 C L P R S T 80 12-25kph
Change of Date Beacon RCC pete@cotswoldaudax.com
100 26 June Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham Clockwise Cotswold Outing
09:00 Sun BP 108km £9.00 C L P R S T 80 12-25kph
Change of Date Beacon RCC pete@cotswoldaudax.com
Pete Marshall, 45 Butler Road Solihull West Midlands B92 7QL
100 29 June Hampton Hill, W London London Midweek Sightseer
09:30 Wed BP £5.00 C L P T 10-20kph
Hounslow & Dist. Whs 020 82873244 billcarnaby@outlook.com
Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP
1000 01 July Bispham, Lancashire Mille Pennines
10:00 Fri BRM 1002km 11750m AAA10 [10000m] £55.00 BD C F L P R S T Z (120) 13.3-30kph
Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
110 02 July Alfreton In Memory of Tommy
09:00 Sat BP 115km 1050m £5.00 L P R T 12-30kph
Alfreton CTC
Amanda Reeve, 82 Rutland Rd Westwood Nottingham NG16 5NQ
200 02 July Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hurrah
08:00 Sat BR 2200m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph
Winchester CTC
alanandemma@talktalk.net
170 02 July Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hindon Hip Hip
08:30 Sat BP 1750m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph
Winchester CTC
01794 514124 alanandemma@talktalk.net
140 02 July Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hooray
09:00 Sat BP 1450m £7.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph
Winchester CTC
alanandemma@talktalk.net
Alan Davies, 7 Queens Close Romsey Hampshire SO51 5EG
400 02 July Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Kingdom of the East Saxons
11:00 Sat BR £15.00 A(1) C L P R F T Z M (75) 15-30kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA
600 02 July Galashiels Borderlands Roc Trevezal
07:00 Sat BRM 4900m £6.00 PRTXBG 15-25kph
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
200 03 July Lichfield Vale of Belvoir III
08:00 Sun BR 1498m [1329m] £5.00 G R P T 15-30kph
CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 1EB
110 03 July Lichfield, The Acorn Inn Charnwood Forest
09:00 Sun BP 119km 1055m £5.00 G R P T 12.5-30kph
CTC North Birmingham 0121 357 2570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
53 03 July Lichfield, The Acorn Inn Moira Furnace Fifty
08:30 Sun BP 470m £5.00 G R P T 10-25kph
CTC North Birmingham 01213572570 bikeway@virginmedia.com
Roy Bishop, 88 Millfield Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 1EB
200 03 July Smallworth, Garboldisham, Diss Garboldisham Groveller
08:00 Sun BR £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph
Diss CTC elkinste@outlook.com
100 03 July Smallworth, Garboldisham, nr Diss Garboldisham Grafter
09:00 Sun BP £6.50 P R T F L 15-30kph
Diss CTC elkinste@outlook.com
Tom Elkins, 6 Marston Lane Norwich NR4 6LZ
100 03 July Tockwith, York Tockwith Audax
10:00 Sun BP 470m £5.00 L P R T 12-25kph
CTC North Yorks 01423358264
60 03 July Tockwith, York Tockwith Audax
10:30 Sun BP [470m] £5.00 L P R T 10-30kph
CTC North Yorks
Nick Folkard, 208 Prince Rupert Drive Tockwith North Yorkshire YO26 7PU
200 09 July Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond Hartside 200
08:00 Sat BR 203km 2752m AAA3 [3000m] £6.00 FLPRT 14.3-30kph
VC 167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net
100 09 July Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond Northern Dales Summer Outing
09:00 Sat BP 1475m [3000m] £4.50 FLPRT 10-30kph
VC 167 07887618913 david.atkinson577@virgin.net
David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL
300 09 July Bushley, Nr Tewkesbury A Rough Diamond
06:00 Sat BRM 301km 2500m [3450m] £7.00 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
100 09 July Bushley, Nr Tewkesbury The Teddy Bears' Picnic.
09:00 Sat BP 103km 975m [900m] £5.00 C,G,L,NM,P,R,T (100) 10-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
600 09 July Exeter The Exe-Buzzard
06:00 Sat BRM 5600m £5 X 15-30kph
Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk
600 09 July Leighton Buzzard The Buzzard
07:00 Sat BRM 5600m £5 X 15-30kph
ROA 10000
Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk
Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU
300 09 July Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Golden Road and Standing Stones
06:00 Sat BR 3102m [3200m] £11.00 50 L R T F C A(2) 15-25kph
Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk
110 09 July Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Hebridean Hundred
10:00 Sat BP 113km 1015m [1068m] £5.00 50 L R T F C A(2) 12.5-30kph
Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk
Ian Gilbert, 19 Churchill Drive Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2NP
200 09 July Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Brix 'n Water
08:00 Sat BR 216km 2300m £7.00 P R T 50 15-30kph
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 61

auk calendar
160 09 July Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Brix 'n Bouquet
09:00 Sat BP 1400m [2300m] £7.00 P R T 50 14.4-30kph
Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com
110 09 July Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Double Bouquet
09:30 Sat BP 912m [2300m] £7.00 P R T 50 14.4-30kph
Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com
ROA 10000
Geoff Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth B78 1BY
100 10 July Combe Down, Bath Mendip Transmitter
08:30 Sun BP 1650m AAA1.75 £7.00 N.P.R.T 15-30kph
Bath CC robertmcmillan@sky.com
Robert Mcmillan, 228 Bloomfield Road Bath BA2 2AX
200 10 July Denshaw, Saddleworth Bowland
08:00 Sun BR 3500m AAA3.5 [4400m] £5.00 P R T 14.3-30kph
Saddleworth Clarion 07850 208 977 nephialty@gmail.com
100 10 July Denshaw, Saddleworth Widdop
09:00 Sun BP 2100m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 10-25kph
Saddleworth Clarion 07850 208 977 nephialty@gmail.com
Nephi Alty, Heath House View Ridings Lane Golcar Huddersfield West Yorkshire
HD7 4PZ
100 10 July East Finchley, N2 9ED Suburban Breakout
09:30 Sun BP 103km 1085m [755m] £5.00 PRT 15-30kph
Central London CTC nick@centrallondonctc.org.uk
Nick Bloom, 32 Fortis Green Avenue Fortis Green London N2 9NA
300 15 July Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Hereward the Wake
21:00 Fri BRM 301km £9.00 X C R L P T M (08/07) 15-30kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA
200 16 July Corwen Barmouth Boulevard
08:00 Sat BR 204km 3650m AAA3.75 £6.00 P R T 50 15-30kph
Chester & North Wales CT vickypayne8@hotmail.com
Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH
100 16 July Corwen The Brenig Bach
08:30 Sat BP 107km 1920m AAA2 £6.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph
Chester & North Wales CT vickypayne8@hotmail.com
Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH
60 16 July Corwen The Bala Parade
09:00 Sat BP 700m [1000m] £6.00 P R T 50 10-25kph
Chester & North Wales CT vickypayne8@hotmail.com
Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH
600 16 July Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland The Border Raid
06:00 Sat BR 5500m £10.00 A(2) F L P T 15-30kph
Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com
Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX
300 16 July Rowlands Castle, nr Portsmouth Wonderful Wessex
05:30 Sat BRM £8.00 f l p r 15-30kph
Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk
Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road Emsworth Hampshire PO10 7XR
200 16 July Whaley Thorns, N of Mansfield Clumber to Humber
(John Kerr Memorial Ride)
08:00 Sat BR 202km £5.00 L P R T 100 15-30kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
50 16 July Whaley Thorns, N of Mansfield Robin Hood (Rough Stuff) 50
10:00 Sat BP £5.00 L P R T 10-20kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
ROA 5000
Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL
200 17 July Milton, Abingdon Barbury Bash (210)
08:00 Sun BR 210km £6.00 R T P L 4/7 15-30kph
Updated
Didcot PhoenixJ
160 17 July Milton, Abingdon Barbury Bash (160)
08:30 Sun BP £6.00 R T P L 10/7 15-30kph
Updated
Didcot PhoenixJ
110 17 July Milton, Abingdon Barbury Bash (110)
09:00 Sun BP £6.00 R T P L 10/7 15-30kph
Updated
Didcot Phoenix
Victoria Lawson, 77 High Street Milton Abingdon Oxon OX14 4EJ
200 17 July Newton Abbot, Devon Torplex Two Hundred
08:00 Sun BR 210km 2900m AAA3 £8.00 F L P R S T 15-30kph
CTC Devon brodie@bikerider.com
100 17 July Newton Abbot, Devon Devon Delight
09:00 Sun BP 107km £8.00 F L P R S T 10-25kph
CTC Devon brodie@bikerider.com
ROA 5000
Graham Brodie, Homelands 10 Courtenay Road Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 1HP
200 17 July Otley, West Yorkshire Yorkshire Mixture
08:00 Sun BR 203km 2400m AAA1.75 [1750m] £5.00 L R T S 15-30kph
Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net
100 17 July Otley, West Yorkshire Over Jordan
09:00 Sun BP 101km 1800m AAA1.75 £4.50 L R T S 12-30kph
Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net
Chris Boulton, 15 Adel Towers Close Leeds LS16 8ES
200 17 July The Steyning Centre, Steyning, W Sussex The Devils Punchbowl 200
08:00 Sun BR 205km 2248m £8.00 F P T 15-30kph
Updated ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com
100 17 July The Steyning Centre, Steyning, W Sussex The Devils Punchbowl 100
09:00 Sun BP 108km 1200m £8.00 F P T 15-30kph
Updated ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com
Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3RT
200 23 July Bath Raglan Castle
08:00 Sat BR 203km 2500m £7.00 Xtrpc 15-30kph
Bath CC robertmcmillan@sky.com
Robert Mcmillan, 228 Bloomfield Road Bath BA2 2AX
200 23 July Belbroughton, N Worcestershire The Kidderminster Killer
08:00 Sat BR 214km 3750m AAA3.75 £7.85 F L P R S T (90) (8/8) 14.3-30kph
Beacon RCC 01562731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk
120 23 July Belbroughton, N Worcestershire From Clee to Heaven
09:00 Sat BP 123km 1950m AAA2 £7.85 F L P R S T (70) 13-25kph
Beacon RCC 01562 731606 p.whiteman@bham.ac.uk
Dr Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terrace Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9
0BW
160 23 July Bildeston, Suffolk 100 miles of Suffolk Lanes
08:45 Sat BP 168km £5.00 L P R T S 15-30kph
Change of Date CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com
100 23 July Bildeston, Suffolk Bildeston Lanes
09:30 Sat BP 104km £5.00 L P R T S 15-30kph
CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com
200 23 July Bildeston, Suffolk Suffolk Lanes Extravaganza
08:30 Sat BR 209km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph
CC Sudbury 01449 741048 pamandrobinw@gmail.com
Robin Weaver, 14 Chapel Street Bildeston Ipswich Suffolk IP7 7EP
200 23 July Harringay, London Straight Outta Hackney
08:00 Sat BR £13.00 CFLPRT 15-30kph
Change of Date Audax Club Hackney 07932672561 justinjones1969@gmail.com
Justin Jones, ACH HQ incorporating The Stag's Head 39 Harringay Road London
N15 3JB
600 23 July Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The Three Coasts 600
06:00 Sat BRM 607km 5611m AAA1.75 [1631m] £10.00 A(3) L P R S T Z YH 15-30kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
600 23 July Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The East and West Coasts 600
06:00 Sat BRM 605km 4380m [5380m] £10.00 A(3) L P R S T Z YH 15-30kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
ROA 25000
Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF
54 24 July Dalkeith East Lothian Rough Stuff
09:00 Sun BP 415m £5.00 G L P R (50) 10-25kph
Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com
Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU
200 24 July Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The Good Companions
08:30 Sun BRM 2697m AAA1.75 [1631m] £5.00 A(2) L P R S T YH 15-30kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
ROA 25000
Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF
1200 25 July Craignure The Highlands, West Coast and Glens
08:10 Mon BRM 1205km 15885m AAA16 [2200m] £25.00 A C F G S T NM P YH X 2Z 13-30kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
1200 26 July Craignure The Highlands, Glens and West Coast
08:40 Tue BRM 1205km 15885m AAA16 [2200m] £25.00 A C F G S T NM P YH X 2Z 13-30kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
400 30 July Biggin, nr Hartington National 400km
07:00 Sat BRM 405km 3900m £39.00 YH A(1) C F G L P R Z 15-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
perrin_john@sky.com
100 30 July Biggin, nr Hartington AUK life Biggins at Forty
10:00 Sat BP 107km 1050m AAA1 £8.00 YH A(1) C F G L P R Z 15-30kph
Peak Audax CTC
01457 870 421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk
ROA 10000
Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX
100 03 Aug Marple Dark Peak Grimpeur
10:00 Wed BP 106km 2290m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (257) 12.5-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ
200 06 Aug Cardiff Gate, Cardiff Dr. Foster's Summer Saunter
08:00 Sat BR 201km £6.00 C P R T 50 15-25kph
Cardiff Byways CC
tonypember@gmail.com
Tony Pember, 9 Donald Street Nelson Treharris CF46 6EB
200 06 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Elan and Ystwyth
08:00 Sat BR 208km 3750m AAA3.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 14.3-25kph
Up Hill Down Ale
rossjeal@gladestry.com
100 06 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Radnor Roundabout
09:00 Sat BP 104km 1826m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 12.5-25kph
CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com
53 06 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Gladestry Trot
10:00 Sat BP £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 10-20kph
CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com
Ross Jeal, Monymusk Meadow Vale Gladestry Kington Powys HR5 3PR
200 06 Aug Richmond-upon-Thames Cogidubnus CC (Cheese and cake double
century)
08:00 Sat BR 208km 2250m [650m] £6.00 X G T 15-30kph
Updated Marcus JB marcusjbaudax@gmail.comB
62
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar
110 06 Aug Richmond-upon-Thames Cheesy Peas 110km
09:00 Sat BP 1100m [1050m] £6.00 X G T 10-30kph
Marcus JB marcusjbaudax@gmail.com
Marcus Jackson-Baker, 30 Red Lion Street Suite 179 Richmond-upon-Thames
TW9 1RB
200 06 Aug Tewkesbury Benjamin Allen's Spring Tonic
08:00 Sat BR 206km 2050m £6.00 P T C NM (100) 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
100 06 Aug Tewkesbury 'Mint' Stalwart's Mania
09:00 Sat BP 105km £5.00 10-30kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
200 06 Aug Witham, Essex Essex R&R
07:30 Sat BR 209km [650m] £7.50 F G P T X (100) 14.3-30kph
Witham Cycling
grant@huggys.co.uk
100 06 Aug Witham, Essex A little Essex R&R
09:00 Sat BP 103km £7.50 F G P T X (75) 14.3-30kph
Witham Cycling
grant@huggys.co.uk
Grant Huggins, 76 Bryony Close Witham Essex CM8 2XF
200 07 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Tregaron Dragon
08:00 Sun BR 209km 4800m AAA4.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 14.3-25kph
CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com
160 07 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Llandovery Discovery
08:30 Sun BP 3250m AAA3.25 £5.00 YH C L P R T 150 8/16 12.5-25kph
CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com
100 07 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Gladestry Gallop
09:00 Sun BP 107km 1625m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 12.5-25kph
CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com
Ross Jeal, Monymusk Meadow Vale Gladestry Kington Powys HR5 3PR
200 07 Aug Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties –- Four Leaf Clover
08:00 Sun BR 202km 1930m £6.00 F P R T 15-30kph
Updated Evesham & Dist Whs 07977 516574
110 07 Aug Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties – Two Leaf Clover
09:00 Sun BP 111km 1057m £4.00 F P R T 15-30kph
Updated Evesham & Dist Whs 07977 516574
50 07 Aug Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties – Clover Leaf
09:30 Sun BP 448m [609m] £2.00 F P R T 10-25kph
Updated
Evesham & Dist Whs
Neil Robinson, Flat 7 Swans Reach 45 Swan Lane Evesham Worcs WR11 4PD
100 09 Aug Alfreton Prison for Dinner
09:00 Tue BP 103km £5.00 G L P R T 12-25kph
Alfreton CTC bandj.smith@sky.com
Brian Smith, 10 The Crescent Clay Cross Chesterfield S45 9EH
100 10 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Mid Peak Grimpeur
10:00 Wed BP 109km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 L P R T 40 (31/7) 12.5-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
chris.keelingroberts@ntlworld.com
Chris Keeling-Roberts, 17 Lower Strines Road Marple Cheshire SK6 7DL
400 13 Aug Galashiels Nae Bother to Us
06:30 Sat BRM 3400m £5.00 PRT 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
400 13 Aug Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Pengwern Pedal
07:00 Sat BRM 405km 6300m AAA6.25 £10.00 C F G L P R T (50) 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
ROA 10000
John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF
300 13 Aug Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Pengwern Pedal
07:00 Sat BRM 302km 5500m AAA5.5 £8.00 C F G L P R T (50) 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
ROA 10000
John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF
200 14 Aug Swaffham Assembly Rooms Swaffham Georgian 200
08:00 Sun BR 204km £6.50 15-30kph
Jonathan Reed
iceniaudax@gmail.com
Jonathan Reed, Swaffham Community Centre The Campingland Swaffham PE37
7RD
110 17 Aug Maidenhead Riverside to Riverside
10:00 Wed BP 118km £4.00 P R T 15-30kph
Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com
Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm Leigh Square Windsor Berks SL4 4PT
110 17 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Staffs Peak Super-Grimpeur
10:00 Wed BP 2650m AAA2.75 [2800m] £5.00 P R T (22/8) 60 12.5-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
audax@idnet.com
Peter Coates, Holy Bank Pant Oswestry Shropshire SY10 8LB
200 20 Aug Sparsholt, Nr Wantage Old Roads and Drove Roads
07:30 Sat BR £5.00 P R T NM 15-30kph
Pat Hurt 07887 87 61 62 iddu.audax@gmail.com
Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL
100 21 Aug Merthyr Tydfil Brecon Reservoirs
09:00 Sun BP 104km 1650m AAA1.75 £5.00 P R T 12-30kph
Merthyr CC 01685 373 758 adrianmcd2010@talktalk.net
ROA 2000
Adrian McDonald, 2 Brunswick St Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glam CF47 8SB
110 21 Aug Shere Village Hall, Guildford Tour of the Hills
09:40 Sun BP 115km 2300m AAA2.25 £8.00 F L P R T 225 15-30kph
CTC West Surrey
01483 810028 dggray7@hotmail.com
Don Gray, Greenleas Beech Lane Normandy Surrey GU3 2JH
100 24 Aug Marple West Peak Grimpeur
10:00 Wed BP 103km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 P R T 60 (16/8) 12.5-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
davidcatlow1947@gmail.com
David Catlow, 31cavendish Way Mickleover Derby DE3 9BL
400 27 Aug Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire The Old 240
05:30 Sat BRM 407km 6400m AAA6.5 £8.00 A L P R T S YH 15-30kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
400 27 Aug Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire Not Quite The Spurn Head 400
05:30 Sat BRM 403km 2450m £8.00 A(2) L P R T S YH 15-30kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
ROA 25000
Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF
200 27 Aug Newtonmore Rothes Reccie
08:00 Sat BR 202km £2.00 C YH L P R T 15-30kph
CTC Highland biker_carroll@hotmail.com
100 27 Aug Newtonmore Grantown Gallop
10:00 Sat BP 104km £2.00 C YH L P R T 12-25kph
CTC Highland biker_carroll@hotmail.com
ROA 10000
Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Tain Ross-shire IV20 1RF
100 31 Aug Marple Memorial Park White Peak Grimpeur
10:00 Wed BP 103km 2310m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (8/8) 12.5-25kph
Peak Audax 01457 870421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk
ROA 10000
Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Farm Millcroft Lane Delph OL3 5UX
110 03 Sept Ludford, NE of Lincoln Lincolnshire Wolds
09:30 Sat BP 867m £5.00 F P R T 15-30kph
CTC Lincolnshire
timnewbery@hotmail.com
ROA 2000
Tim Newbery, 7a Linden Walk Louth LN11 9HT
200 03 Sept Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Pistyll Packing Momma
08:00 Sat BR 209km 3400m AAA3.5 £6.00 P R 50 T L 15-30kph
Chester & North Wales CT dmanu@outlook.com
130 03 Sept Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Mountain Views
08:30 Sat BP 137km 2000m AAA2 £6.00 P R 50 T L 12.5-25kph
Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com
50 03 Sept Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Leafy Lanes
09:00 Sat BP £6.00 P R 50 T L 10-20kph
Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com
ROA 5000
David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG
200 03 Sept Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick goes to Hay in a day
08:00 Sat BR 209km 1900m £6.00 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
200 03 Sept The Water's Edge, Ruislip Lido, London Steam Ride:
London-Oxford-London (LOL) The Ghan reversed
08:15 Sat BR 2078m [2128m] £8.00 L P R T YH F 14.3-30kph
AC Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com
110 03 Sept The Water's Edge, Ruislip Lido, London Steam Ride: Chinnor Scenic
08:30 Sat BP 117km £6.00 T YH R NM L 12.5-30kph
Audax Club Hackney timsollesse@gmail.com
Tim Sollesse Tim Sollesse, 59 Lynwood Road Ealing W5 1JG
300 03 Sept Uffculme, Devon Marlborough with Lights
08:00 Sat BR 307km 3060m [3400m] £13.00 FGPTLRT 15-30kph
Exeter Whs
Jamie Andrews, Cemetery Lodge Ashill Road Uffculme Devon EX15 3DP
100 04 Sept Budleigh Salterton, Devon Utterly Butterleigh
09:00 Sun BP 106km 1300m £6.00 C G L NM P R T 15-30kph
CS Dynamo 07779020426
55 04 Sept Budleigh Salterton, Devon East Devon Escape
09:30 Sun BP 300m £6.00 G L NM P R T (23/8) 15-30kph
CS Dynamo 07779020426
Steven Medlock, 11 Marpool Hill Exmouth Devon EX8 2LJ
100 04 Sept Hampton Hill, SW London London Sightseer
08:30 Sun BP £5.00 C L P T NM 10-20kph
Hounslow & Dist. Whs 020 8287 3244 billcarnaby@outlook.com
Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP
200 04 Sept Lymington New Forest On and Off Shore
07:15 Sun BR 202km 2150m £19.00 L P R T 100 (2/9) Ferry 15-30kph
Cycling New Forest
01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com
160 04 Sept Lymington New Forest and Isle of Wight Century
07:15 Sun BP £19.00 L P R T 100 (2/9) Ferry 15-30kph
Cycling New Forest
01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com
100 04 Sept Lymington New Forest and Coast
10:00 Sun BP 105km £7.00 C L P R T 100 10-20kph
Cycling New Forest
01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com
ROA 10000
John Ward, 34 Avenue Road Lymington Hants SO41 9GJ
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 63

auk calendar
200 04 Sept Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch East Midlands Forests 200k
08:00 Sun BR 207km £5.50 C P T R YH (40) (01/9) 15-30kph
CTC East Midlands
01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk
100 04 Sept Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bosworth Battlefield Sightseer
09:30 Sun BP 107km £4.70 P R T C YH (80) (01/09) 12-24kph
CTC Derby & Burton 01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk
Ian Hill, 33 Wren Close Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 7QP
200 04 Sept Musselburgh The Erit Lass
08:00 Sun BR 3000m AAA3 £10.00 F L P R T 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com
Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU
600 10 Sept Churchend, Dunmow, Essex The Flatlands
06:00 Sat BRM 606km £6.00 X A(1)C L P R T M (03/09) 15-30kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA
100 10 Sept Coryton, NW Cardiff Trefil Travail
9:00 Sat BP 105km 2270m AAA2.25 £8.00 YH L P R T 50 12-24kph
Cardiff Byways CC
02920633970 A.H.Mackay@open.ac.uk
Hugh Mackay, 131 Stanwell Road Penarth CF64 3LL
160 10 Sept Dore, Sheffield Amber and Green
08:15 Sat BP 2850m AAA2.75 £5.00 L P R T 14.3-30kph
Change of Date Sheffield District CTC 0114 255 0907 bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com
100 10 Sept Dore, Sheffield An Amber Gambol
09:00 Sat BP 1550m AAA1.5 £5.00 L P R T 12-25kph
Change of Date Sheffield District CTC 0114 255 0907 bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com
Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue Sheffield S7 1SF
300 10 Sept Galashiels Alston and Back
06:30 Sat BRM 2700m £5.00 PRT 15-30kph
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
100 11 Sept Rodborough, Stroud Budding 100
10:00 Sun BP 106km 1770m AAA1.75 [1650m] £5.00 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph
Change of Date Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com
100 11 Sept Rodborough, Stroud Pedersen 100
10:15 Sun BP 106km 2150m AAA2.25 £5.00 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph
Change of Date Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com
61 11 Sept Rodborough, Stroud Awdry 60
11:00 Sun BP 1000m AAA1 £5.00 LPRST(60) 10-25kph
Change of Date Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com
James Reynolds, Ambleside The Butts Rodborough Stroud GL5 3UG
200 11 Sept Surbiton, Greater London Rowlands RAAAmble
07:30 Sun BR 215km 2700m AAA2.5 [2550m] £5.00 F G L P R T (100) (4/9) 14.3-30kph
Updated
Kingston Whs richard.m.evans@talktalk.net
Richard Evans, 29 Somerset Avenue Raynes Park London SW20 0BJ
300 17 Sept Greenwich, London Greenwich Mean Climb
06:00 Sat BR 302km 4500m AAA4.5 £14.00 F G R T (5/9) (80) 14.6-28kph
Audax Club Hackney justinjones1969@gmail.com
Justin Jones, ACH HQ incorporating The Stag's Head 39 Harringay Road London
N15 3JB
200 17 Sept Richmond, N Yorks Dales Dales Tour Plus
08:00 Sat BR 3150m AAA3.25 £6.00 C F L P R T 14.4-30kph
VC 167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net
150 17 Sept Richmond, N Yorks Dave's Dales Tour 160km
08:30 Sat BP 2500m AAA2.5 £5.50 C F L P R T 12-30kph
VC 167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net
100 17 Sept Richmond, N Yorks Lucia's Vale of York Meander 100km
10:00 Sat BP £5.50 C F L P R T 10-20kph
VC 167 078887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.netL
100 17 Sept Richmond, N Yorks Dave's Mini Dales Tour 100km
09:30 Sat BP 1900m AAA2 £5.50 C F L P R T 10-20kph
VC 167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net
David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL
200 17 Sept Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Wem, we get there
08:00 Sat BR 208km 1400m £7.00 X P R 50 (31/8) 15-30kph
Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com
110 17 Sept Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Charnwood Challenge
09:00 Sat BP 111km 1094m £7.00 P R T 50 (31/8) 12.5-30kph
Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com
51 17 Sept Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH National Forest 50
09:30 Sat BP 400m £6.00 P R T 50 (31/8) 10-20kph
Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com
ROA 10000
Geoffrey Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth Staffordshire B78 1BY
200 17 Sept Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Beyond Shropshire
08:15 Sat BR 207km 3110m AAA3 [2970m] £8.00 C F G L P R T 15-25kph
CTC Shropshire
undulates@hotmail.co.uk
ROA 10000
John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF
200 24 Sept Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Venetian Nights
08:00 Sat BR 210km 2750m AAA2.25 [2333m] £8.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
perrin_john@sky.com
John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB
200 24 Sept Chepstow Castle Border Castles Randonnée
07:30 Sat BR 3000m AAA3 £3.00 YHXPRT(14/9) 15-30kph
Audax Club Bristol
ROA 5000
Nik Peregrine, 46 Bridge Street Chepstow NP16 5EY
200 24 Sept Coryton, NW Cardiff Ferryside Fish Foray
07:00 Sat BR 225km £8.00 YH L R P T 50 15-30kph
Updated
Cardiff Byways CC
Bernard Brown, 20 Heol Don Whitchurch Cardiff CF14 2AU
300 24 Sept Hungerford, Berks Cheddar Gorge(ous)
06:00 Sat BR 2600m AAA1.5 [1500m] £6.00 F T (50) 15-30kph
New Event Pat Hurt iddu.audax@gmail.com
Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL
160 24 Sept Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 160
08:00 Sat BP 1675m £6.00 LPRT 15-30kph
Welland Valley CC 01858545376
110 24 Sept Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 110
08:30 Sat BP 116km 1350m £6.00 LPRT 12-24kph
Welland Valley CC 01858545376
53 24 Sept Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 50
09:00 Sat BP 525m £6.00 LPRT 12-24kph
Welland Valley CC 01858545376
ROA 3000
Mike Vybiral, Logan Cottage Grange Lane East Langton Market Harborough
Leicestershire LE16 7TF
200 24 Sept Kirkley Cycles, Ponteland Copshaw Holm 200
08:00 Sat BR 205km 2163m [1916m] £5.00 P G 15-30kph
Tyneside Vagabonds
Rob Wood, 43 Holly Avenue Jesmond Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE2 2PX
100 24 Sept Sonning Common, near Reading Henley Hilly Hundred
09:00 Sat BP 102km 1660m AAA1.75 £6.00 FLPRT 12-30kph
Reading CTC brianperry_3@hotmail.co.uk
Brian Perry, 16 Rowland Close Wallingford Oxon OX10 8LA
200 25 Sept Clitheroe, Lancashire Last Chance Dales Dance 200
07:30 Sun BRM 202km 3300m AAA3.25 [3000m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph
Updated Burnley Cycling Club burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
200 25 Sept Denmead, Nr Portsmouth Wylye and Ebble Valley
07:30 Sun BR £6.00 L P R T M 15-30kph
Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk
Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road Emsworth Hampshire PO10 7XR
100 01 Oct Bristol, The Lamplighters, Shirehampton Tasty Cheddar
09:00 Sat BP 101km 1225m £4.00 YH G NM P R T (250) 12.5-30kph
Updated Bristol CTC joe.prosser@blueyonder.co.uk
ROA 4000
Joe Prosser, No postal entries accepted
200 01 Oct Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Flitchbikes 200
08:30 Sat BRM 201km £8.00 C L P R T M (24/09) 15-30kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
100 01 Oct Churchend, Dunmow, Essex Flitchbikes 100
09:30 Sat BP 103km £8.00 C L P R T M (24/09) 12.5-25kph
Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com
Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA
100 08 Oct Dore, Sheffield Ring of Steel (City)
09:00 Sat BP 101km 1693m AAA1.75 £5.00 GLPRT 12-25kph
Sheffield District CTC cripps@uwclub.net
John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent Sheffield S11 9AW
200 08 Oct St Herbert's, Windermere Brant and Slape
08:00 Sat BR 203km 3500m AAA3.75 £7.00 A(1) P L YH P R T S 15-30kph
Lakes Velo paul@revells.com
Paul Revell, Kirklands Brow Edge Backbarrow Cumbria LA12 8QL
120 09 Oct Birdwell Community Centre, S70 5TQ Rarnd Tarn
09:00 Sun BP 125km 1929m £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph
Birdwell Whs bob@bobwaterhouse.wanadoo.co.uk
Robert Waterhouse, 46 Racecourse Road Swinton Mexborough S64 8DP
100 09 Oct Hailsham, E Sussex The Autumn Tints 100
09:00 Sun BP 103km 1200m [1100m] £7.00 F P 15-30kph
Updated
David Hudson Christrauk@yahoo.co.uk
Christopher Tracey, 20 Salisbury Road Seaford East Sussex BN25 2DD
100 09 Oct Mytholmroyd Season of Mists
09:00 Sun BP 105km 2555m AAA2.5 £4.50 L P R T YH 12-24kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
55 09 Oct Mytholmroyd Mellow Fruitfulness
10:00 Sun BP 1200m AAA1.25 £4.00 L P R T YH 8-20kph
West Yorkshire CTC
01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk
ROA 25000
Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF
200 15 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Clwydian
08:00 Sat BR 212km 3200m AAA3.25 [3488m] £6.00 P R T 50 15-30kph
Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com
64
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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auk calendar
130 15 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Clwyd Gate
08:30 Sat BP 138km 2250m AAA2.25 £6.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph
Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.comH
60 15 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Bala Mini- Bash
09:00 Sat BP £6.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph
Chester & N Wales CTC 01745 560892 vickypayne8@hotmail.com
Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH
200 15 Oct Galashiels Etal-u-Can
08:00 Sat BR 204km 2379m £8.00 PRTG 15-30kph
Change of Date
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
200 15 Oct Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick's Autumnal Outing
07:30 Sat BR 206km 2350m £5.00 c l p r t nm 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
150 15 Oct Trowell, West of Nottingham An Autumn Day Out
08:30 Sat BP 153km 1135m £7.00 L P R T(80) 15-30kph
Nottinghamshire CTC terrydpscott@hotmail.com
Terry Scott, 22 Kinglake Place Nottingham NG2 1NT
200 16 Oct Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk
08:00 Sun BR £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph
VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com
160 16 Oct Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk
09:00 Sun BP £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph
VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com
John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT
200 16 Oct Congleton Rugby Club Horseshoe Pass
08:00 Sun BR 210km 1650m £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph
Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com
170 16 Oct Congleton Rugby Club Chirk Aqueduct
08:30 Sun BP 175km 1197m £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph
Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com
Denise Hurst, 10 Firwood Road Biddulph Staffordshire ST8 7ED
100 16 Oct Galashiels Ride of the Valkyries
10:00 Sun BP 106km 1200m [1517m] £8.00 PRTG 12-30kph
Change of Date
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
100 22 Oct Bolsover Colourful Clumber (1)
09:00 Sat BP 106km £5.00 L P R T (100) 12.5-30kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
ROA 5000
Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL
100 23 Oct Wigginton, N of York Wigginton Autumn Brevet
10:00 Sun BP 101km 942m £3.50 L P R T 12-25kph
CTC North Yorks
chris.boulton@lineone.net
Chris Boulton, 15 Adel Towers Close Leeds LS16 8ES
100 29 Oct Bolsover Colourful Clumber (2)
09:00 Sat BP 106km £5.00 L P R T (100) 12.5-30kph
Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351
ROA 5000
Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL
200 30 Oct Bispham, Lancashire Ride The Lancashire Lights 200
07:30 Sun BR 204km 1800m £5.00 C L P R T 15-30kph
Burnley CC burnleysportiv@yahoo.com
Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT
100 30 Oct Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 8
08:00 Sun BP 106km 2500m AAA2.5 £9.00 F G P R T 125 (23/10) 12.5-25kph
CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com
100 30 Oct Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 9
09:00 Sun BP 106km 2500m AAA2.5 £9.00 F G P R T 125 (23/10) 12.5-25kph
CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com
ROA 4000
Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT
100 05 Nov Alfreton To the Races
09:00 Sat BP 108km £5.00 L P R T M 100 12-28kph
Updated Alfreton CTC bandj.smith@sky.com
Brian Smith, 10 The Crescent Clay Cross Chesterfield S45 9EH
200 05 Nov Cholsey, E of Didcot Upper Thames
07:30 Sat BR 212km 1900m [1943m] £6.00 L P R T M 15-30kph
Thames Valley Audax 01491 651 284 audaxphil@btinternet.com
Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL
200 05 Nov Coryton, NW Cardiff Transporter 200
07:00 Sat BR 202km £8.00 YH L P R T 50 15-30kph
Cardiff Byways CC
02920 341768 evansrichardd@googlemail.com
ROA 5000
Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW
200 05 Nov Galashiels The Long Dark Teatime of The Soul
08:00 Sat BR 2000m £8.00 G, P,R,T 15-30kph
Change of Date
Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com
ROA 10000
Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL
200 05 Nov Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick's Cymraeg Cyrch
07:30 Sat BR 209km 2200m £4.00 c p r t nm 100 15-25kph
BlackSheep CC
01684 292 390 blacksheepaudax@gmail.com
ROA 25000
Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ
200 06 Nov Cheadle, Stockport Eureka!
08:00 Sun BR 210km 800m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-30kph
Peak Audax CTC
hamhort84@talktalk.net
160 06 Nov Cheadle, Stockport Cheshire Safari
08:30 Sun BP 570m £6.00 P R T M 60 15-25kph
Peak Audax CTC
hamhort84@talktalk.net
Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Ave Heald Green Cheadle Stockport Cheshire SK8 3NZ
100 06 Nov Merthyr Tydfil Dic Penderyn
09:00 Sun BP 1900m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 12-30kph
Merthyr CC 01685 373 758 adrianmcd2010@talktalk.net
ROA 2000
Adrian McDonald, 2 Brunswick St Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glam CF47 8SB
200 06 Nov Pound Street Car Park, Petworth, W Sussex The Petworth 200
08:00 Sun BR 210km 2006m £8.50 F P T 15-30kph
ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com
100 06 Nov Pound Street Car Park, Petworth, W Sussex The Petworth 100
09:00 Sun BP 103km 1350m £8.50 F P T 15-30kph
ABAudax anton.brown@btconnect.com
Anton Brown, 19 Northlands Avenue Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3RT
100 26 Nov Cranbrook, Exeter Breakfast in Bampton
09:00 Sat BP £5.00 T NM 12-20kph
Exeter Whs shbritton@outlook.com
Sarah Britton, 17 Copse Close Lane Cranbrook Devon EX5 7AP
100 27 Nov Carlton Colville, nr Lowestoft, Suffolk The Waveney Wander
09:00 Sun BP £5.00 LPRT 15-30kph
VC Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com
John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT
Hills and Mills Grimpeur – riding fixed
www.audax.uk.netArrivée Spring 2016 No. 132 65

ordre des cols durs
OCD claims for 2015
2015 was a fantastic year for OCD claims
with a seven-fold increase over 2014 in the
number of riders claiming cols. Many OCD
members have been revitalised, and there
has been keen interest from AUK members
who have recognised a new dimension to
their riding. One member has submitted
detailed claims for every year since 1960,
while another has used col climbing as
a way of maintaining fitness while undergoing chemotherapy – he is
now back at work. Cols have been ridden worldwide from Yorkshire to
Kyrgyzstan.
The table shows the summary for 2015 claims, with a few from 2014
which were late in arriving. Due to computer failure earlier in the year, I
may have missed your claim. If I have, please let me know. Remember, if
your given totals differ from what is printed, I have just have checked your
arithmetic, or perhaps you have missed a rule …
The rules suggest that you should not claim cols under 300m. That is a
matter for your conscience. If you feel compelled to claim cols like Col du
Petit-Mont near Bordeaux at 26m, well, it will not count much toward the
rank of Commander at 200km.
Remember, OCD is about riding over cols, and claiming the height
above sea level. OCD does not require proof of a climb, relying on members’
honesty, and is a non-competitive personal achievement. Nonetheless, the
triple ascent of Mont Ventoux is hard to beat, but a small few (none AUK)
have managed this remarkable achievement twice in one day. Although
it is a personal achievement, we do award certificates for those who have
achieved significant milestones. To remind yourselves of OCD regulations,
see www.aukweb.net/ocd/
I would remind Audax organisers, if your ride goes over valid OCD cols,
it would be good to list these on your calendar page or in your route-sheet.
For example, the Moffat Toffee 200 claims five cols, total 1619m. This would
simplify the task for riders (and me!) and might encourage more riders to
enter your event.
Rod Dalitz
RANK (TBA) Current total 2015 Total '14 2014 2013 2012
ABBATT Fred Commander 14 228723 6476 222247 64272 34495 46900
ACLAND Ken Officer 14 123402 549 122853 2459 32074
ALLAN Douglas Commander 07 491735 45033 446702 34451 37715 32390
ANDERSON Alan 40583 2505 2486
ARCHER Chris 13251 12727 524 524
BATE Ben Commander 09 432421 40452 391973 33430 27465 35530
BLAIR James Officer 13 116822 17265 99587 48679
BRABBIN Thomas 6656 5750 906 906
CARSON Russell 22974 17008 5966 4052 1914
CHARD Ronald Ancien 10 2402K 129061 119613 32026
CLARKE Sue Venerable 05 1404100 1404100 24078 30324
CLARKE Tony Venerable 05 1469562 1469562 24078 30324
DALE Peter officer 11 158816 21387 137449 14350 2649 14214
DALITZ Rod Commander 09 293638 5748 282843 5048 21633 7319
DAMPER Bob Commander 15 205683 37909 167774 10622 0 14563
DONALDSON Bob 15638 15638
EGRY Carlos Officer 14 61379 6410 54969 10017 31556
EICHMEIER Harald Venerable 11 1500844 28784 1471960 144140 141267 156155
ELLIS Richard Officer 13 150985 10298 140687 30137 27530 24040
ENGLAND Peter Ancien 15 2000K 23614 16412
GLADWYN Mark Commander 13 293578 11732 281846 35242 118,893 40652
GOBERT Daniel Honourable 09 645550 645550 30527 27281 25207
GOSDEN Jeff 2066 2066
HAILWOOD Paul 5676 5676 5676
HAILWOOD Terry 8672 1828 6844 6844
HARRISON Paul Venerable 09 1297453 45785 1251668 46077 37654 37094
HILBERS Martin Commander 09 581238 1269 19176 32036
HOLLIN Dave 8738 8738
HORSWILL Linda Member 05 83045 2280 80765 6676 2575 4128
HORSWILL Brian Member 05 93707 2280 91427 6994 2575 4128
JOYNSON Dave Venerable 03 1239685 24512 1215173 23517 28246 18455
LISTER Terry Officer 13 217506 35745 181761 57245 70598 19512
MALINS Martin 35169 3884 31285 5965 8249
MILLAR Bob 11733 11733
MORRISON Dave Member 13 92103 3784 88319 22688 38515 19947
NEILSON David 4025 1859 2166 2166
PINTO Mark 22395 21812 583 583
PRESLAND Kevin Commander 13 256431 29648 225563 25053 20453 12761
RATTRAY Julie Ancienne 11 2200K 85624 119613 32026
RICH David Member 14 98866 43509 55357 55357
ROBERTS Daphne Venerable 04 1212K 21215 15507
SMITH Andy Commander 11 369237 57452 311785 14196 44702 13605
TALBOT John 11830 11830
THOMAS Huw 5706 5706
WADDINGTON Ivan Commander 05 308572 19176 289396 11202 4742 2899
WATERTON Robert Honorable 07 706525 23693 682832 24756 23041 19513
WATERTON Helen Honorable 08 721577 23693 24756 22683 19513
WATTS Bob Commander 10 294884 9694 25946 10664 23612
WEBB Alan Commander 09 481727 111633 370094 28688 49812 38070
66
Arrivée Spring 2016 No. 132
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Hills and Mills Grimpeur, East Sussex
Photo by Tim Wainwright

George Berwick riding his 50th 24hr TT
Photo by Tim Wainwright