Arrivee 124 spring 2014

Arrivée

AU Number 124 Spring 2014

DAX UK

the Long Distance Cyclists’ Association www.audax.uk.net

HEADING IN HERE

Simon Goodwin, Hills and Mills 100k grimpeur, East Sussex Photo: TimArrivĂŠe Wainwright 2 Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

www.audax.uk.net

editorial

Spring 2014 Following on from the 2013 AGM and the change of directors on the Board, there are things happening in AUK land which affect all members, and although you might think you'll skip the pages of 'Official' news, our new Secretary, Paul Stewart, has plenty of page space to explain what's happening.

I'll draw your attention to 'Just a Minute' on p.4 and the Changes to AUK Articles on p.6 which proposes to allow postal and proxy voting. An Extraordinary General Meeting is to be held in Birmingham on May 22nd to vote on the decision.

Contents Official News............................................................................. 4 AUK News................................................................................... 8 For sale ....................................................................................... 9 A butterfly on my tandem......................................... 10 Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100 .............. 12 June is too soon – in the frozen heart of the Alps ..................................................................................... 14 Correspondence.................................................................. 17 OCD – the way it works ................................................. 17 Boring mechanicals – Ups and downs of London-Edinburgh-London .................................... 18 Bespoked Bike Show, London................................ 22 Book reviews......................................................................... 23 Garmin Oregon 600 GPSr review......................... 24 Dartmoor Ghost ................................................................ 28 Luxos front dynamo lights from B&M ............ 30 The AUK forum ...................................................................... 33 Winter k's count as double ....................................... 34 This is how it all began................................................. 36 Paris-Brest-Paris 1975..................................................... 38 Obituary: Don Black........................................................ 39 Carradice and Bridge Street bags reviews..... 40 A brief encounter (and fond farewell)............. 42 AUK insurance for rider and employees ....... 47 On test: Wheels, tyres and bike cleaner ...... 48 Audax Calendar ................................................................. 50 Every cloud has a silver lining… ......................... 59 Front cover: Mark Gladwyn and Ann Marshall riding Hills and Mills 100k grimpeur, February 2014. Photo: Tim Wainwright Next edition of Arrivée is in August. Please send your copy to Tim (address on right) by June 16th

PLEASE MENTION ARRIVEE WHEN REPLYING TO OUR ADVERTISERS

On p.33 there's a report on the birth of the new AUK forum, which should be up and running by the time you receive this magazine. Once again, this is down to the hard work of Secretary Paul.

New Publicity Secretary Danial Webb [the 2013 LEL organiser if you didn't recognise the name] is working hard with a new designer to revamp AUK's website. This is a huge undertaking and Danial doesn't envisage it to be fully functioning until maybe some time in late 2015. We have new corporate AUK logos nearly ready, the eagle is dead, long live the new eagle. You will no doubt be seeing the logo in the next Arrivée. We also need new blood to help run AUK, please see the adverts on p.5.

■ I am sad to report the death at 62 of one of AUK's most respected members, Don Black. Don was a well-known rider and prolific organiser for AUK and the current recipient of the Audax Merit Award for his services to our association over 18 years. A quiet and private man, you can read about some of his achievements in his obituary by Peter Bond on p.39. Our condolences to his wife and family.

■ You might notice a slimmed down version of Arrivée for this issue, down from its usual 68 page to 60. I can't put it more plainly, only nine members out of 5,000 bothered to send me any articles, and two of those came as overmatter from Sheila's winter magazine. I've had to create pages by rehashing old stuff from the last century (still quite interesting though) to make up the numbers. Pull your finger out guys – use it or lose it.

Keep your wheels turning.

Tim

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

HOW TO CONTACT US Membership Enquiries: Mike Wigley (AUK Membership Secretary), Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph OL3 5UX. Email: mike.wigley@Audax.uk.net Membership Application Form: www.aukweb.net/memform.phb or Ian Hobbs (New Members), 26 Naseby Road, Belper DE56 0ER. Email: ian.hobbs@Audax.uk.net Membership fees: Renewal: £14 or £56 for five years.

New or lapsed members £19 (inc. £5 enrolment fee) or £61 for five years.

Household members: £5 or £20 for five years. No enrolment fee for new household members. Life member’s Arrivée £9 or £45 for five years.

ARRIVEE Extra current Arrivée copies, where available, are £3 (UK), £4 (EEC), £5 (non-EEC). Contact Mike Wigley (address above).

Mudguard stickers four for £1. AUK cloth badges £2 (includes UK post. EEC add £1.

Non-EEC add £2. Contact Mike Wigley (above).

Contributions – articles, info, cartoons, photos, all welcome. Please read the contributors’ advice in the Handbook.

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

Produced by AUK: editing, typesetting, layout, design by Tim Wainwright.

Printed and distributed: Headley Brothers Ltd, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH. Distribution data from AUK membership team.

TO ADVERTISE Advertising Manager: Tim Wainwright, 4a Brambledown Road, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 0BL. E-mail: twain@blueyonder.co.uk Rates per issue: Full page A4 £268. Half-page landscape or portrait £134. Quarter-page £67. One-sixth page £45. One-twelfth page £23. Payment in advance. Businesses must be recommended by a member. We rely on good faith and Arrivée cannot be held responsible for advertisers’ misrepresentations or failure to supply goods or services.

Members’ private sales, wants and events ads: free.

PUBLICATIONS MANAGERS February Editor: Sheila Simpson, 33 Hawk Green Road, Marple SK6 7HR Tel: 0161 449 9309 Fax: 0709 237 4245 E-mail: sheila@aukadia.net May and August Editor: Tim Wainwright, 4a Brambledown Road, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 0BL. Tel: 020 8657 8179 E-mail: twain@blueyonder.co.uk November Editor: Peter Moir, 2 Peel Close, Ducklington, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 7YB. Tel: 01993 704913 E-mail: peter@moir.co.uk margaret@lewismpd.plus.com Audax UK Long Distance Cyclists’ Association (Company Limited by Guarantee).

Reg. Office: Timberly, South Street, Axminster, Devon EX13 5AD. To subscribe to the AUK e-mailing discussion list, send an e-mail to: audax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Copyright © 2014 Arrivée.

Our WWW site: www.audax.uk.net AUK clothing can be purchased directly on-line at: www.impsport.com and click on Audax UK in the left hand panel.

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

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HEADING news official IN HERE

Just a Second Hello again faithful readers, it’s time to settle down with a cup of coffee, because I have an action-packed Secretary’s report for you, with developments from not one but two Board Meetings and news of other developments galore.

Publicity

Danial Webb (Publicity Secretary), made a presentation to the Board in January regarding the new AUK branding – logo, logotype and colourways – and how they might be used. He has since acquired the URL ‘audax.co.uk’ which will entitle AUK to acquire ‘audax.uk’ when it is released in the summer. Yes, finally, Audax UK will be known on the www as … audax.uk!

Danial has also been working towards recruiting a website designer to develop the new AUK website, and met with Nigel Hall (Systems), Sheila Simpson (Publications) and the Arrivée editorial team to progress arrangements for managing the website content. The website will have a ‘magazine style’ format with the front page featuring articles about recent and upcoming events and other articles of general interest. The website will also include the text-based pages from the current website (About AUK, Official, Hall of Fame, etc.) and will be the reference copy of those materials as the printed Handbook is to be discontinued. So hang onto your 2014 Handbook, because it will be the last. Other website functions such as event listings, results, the event planner, etc, will be served by linking back to the current website. The aim is to have the new website, complete with the new URL and branding, ready for the 2015 season. There is a lot ground to cover between now and then, so watch this space.

The new website will be a managed publication with a team of website editors responsible for publishing website content. This will involve receiving content and slotting it into pre-formatted webpages for publication.

It is envisaged that editors will take three month ‘shifts’, just like the Arrivée editors, as this avoids ‘burnout’ arising from being involved non-stop, and will generally be much more of a team effort than editing Arrivée. If this sounds like something you would be interested in helping with, please check out the ‘Wanted’ ads or 4

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contact Danial or Sheila directly. Whilst the handbook is to retire, Arrivée will continue and the Publications team would also like to recruit another Arrivée editor to help Tim Wainwright who looks after two editions. Interested parties should check the ‘Wanted’ ads on page five or contact Sheila or Tim directly.

Accounts

Another area where we are looking for assistance is in Accounts. Having served for three years, Linda Johnston (Treasurer), is standing down at AGM2014 as she will be moving abroad.

Accordingly, we need to recruit a Finance Director and/or Treasurer to help develop our accounting and ecommerce processes, and generally look after ‘the books’. We’d like to progress this asap so we can be ready for the new financial year which commences in September. So if you have accounting or book-keeping skills, we’d love to hear from you. Again, check the ‘Wanted’ ads or contact myself or Chris Crossland (AUK Chair) directly.

Membership

Mike Wigley has undertaken a spring clean of the member’s cycling club list, as these are required by ACP to support their award schemes and user registration for PBP 2015. This involved much correcting of spelling and rationalising club names (Bromwich West CC being really West Bromwich CC, or some such), and scratching out names of clubs which have either expired or been reorganised out of existence. Yes, CTC, we are looking at you. This involved some guesswork but we seem to have come through it unscathed. Inspired by this, John Hamilton, Events Secretary, has performed a similar exercise for the names of clubs that organise events. Mike has also been working with Rod Dalitz, the AUK Delegate for OCD (cyclists who enjoy mountain routes) to welcome the OCD membership to AUKhood.

Recorder

Peter Lewis (Recorder) has been reviewing arrangements for selling medals and badges. Allan Taylor is continuing to operate the online ‘badge shop’ on behalf of AUK for the time being.

Meanwhile Peter has been tracking down stock and sales arrangements for all of the other badges and medals related to AUK activities, some 100+ items.

Not a small undertaking. These need to be brought together for accounting purposes, and to facilitate planning for the new AUK branding and a new centralised AUK merchandise web shop.

International

Judith Swallow (International Events Secretary) has met with ACP and renewed the agreement between AUK and ACP.

Events

STOP PRESS A problem with the recording of rides for members with five-digit membership numbers has been identified which under some circumstances can cause records to be dropped. If you have a five-digit membership number, please check your results at http://www. aukweb.net/ results/detail/ this/listride/ If anything is missing, please email recorder@ aukweb.net with your name, membership number and the number of the missing event(s).

However, please do confirm the results for the event generally have been posted first!

At the April Board Meeting we reviewed AUK’s strategy for developing events.

Many of the points from the draft AUK Strategy document published in 2012 are in train one way or another; the development of a new public facing website, promoting Audax UK as an open organisation, etc, but the central issue of how to develop and promote long distance cycling events in the UK remains outstanding.

In his Events Strategy paper from 2012, John Hamilton (Events Secretary) identified the trend towards fewer well supported (in terms of number of riders and facilities) longer (300km+) events and an increasing number of smaller events. Whilst the overall number of events is increasing the number of ‘rides’ remains constant, Overall this is a negative trend, aka ‘bad’ What we are seeing is that having more events does not equate to having more riders, and whilst these smaller events meet the needs of experienced AUKs they do not attract new riders.

There are many factors which contribute towards this trend, such as a somewhat laissez-faire approach to managing the calendar, a natural progression of new AUKs looking to ‘give back’ by organising new events rather than helping to develop/support established events, organisers being generally happy to run events for 50~100 riders which they can manage with a small team, and so on. All of this has been much discussed.

The question is how to turn the trend around and indeed, whether there is a desire to turn the trend around. To answer the second question first, the AUK Board has committed to positioning AUK as a growing and developing association. This doesn’t mean AUK will turn into British Cycling overnight or your next event will have 3,000 riders, but it is a statement of intent and direction, without which any efforts to develop AUK activities are undermined. What’s the point of doing anything if the intent is simply to stay the same? Life moves on and so must we.

The conundrum is how to encourage the development of larger and better supported events – which are demonstrably attractive to AUKs both new and ancient – whilst preserving the distinctive character of audax events and the range of events in the Calendar. Some feel the market, resources and calendar space for AUK events is finite and that larger events can only be achieved at the cost of smaller events; others feel that demand and resources can be grown through marketing and development, something which historically been eschewed as ‘Not Audax’. (This is changing with the development of the new website and plans to crank up AUK marketing next year.) www.audax.uk.net

HEADING official INnews HERE These issues are addressed in John Hamilton’s strategy paper where he advocates establishing a clear hierarchy of events (International, National, Regional, Club, Group), with the events in each category being identified and promoted as such through the AUK website and calendar. This would naturally channel resources and attention towards events which AUK have identified as having a strategically important role in raising the profile of Audax nationally. This will benefit all events, including those which run ‘under the national radar’. To take this forward, John Hamilton, supported by John Ward (Permanents Secretary) and Danial Webb will develop specific proposals/actions for implementation for consideration at the next BM.

Secretary

An early focus for your Secretary was to review the AUK insurance documentation for inclusion in the Handbook, there being some confusion as to the extent of our insurance cover. The good news is that our policy is actually more comprehensive than the documentation at hand suggested; the bad news is that our current insurer is withdrawing from the sports market and we will have to go through the whole exercise again when we come to renew in the summer.

Heigh Ho! Meanwhile a summary of the policy cover has been included in the Handbook and on the AUK Website and a more detailed description can be found in the article on insurance in this edition of Arrivée.

To close what feels like the longest second in history, I’ve also been following up on the Governance related resolutions from AGM2013. Progress on proxy/postal voting and the AUK forum is covered in separate articles, and the procedure for managing the review of Resolutions for AGM2014 will be progressed once the AUK forum is established. More immediate is the task of getting to grips with the new Article 9, which has taken us from having a Board of directly elected ‘Director Delegates’ to a Board of NonPortfolio Directors who make Delegate appointments. This is not a small change; more on this later.

Wanted

Events Team Delegates Jackie Popland will be retiring from the Events Team at the end of the year, so the Events Team are looking for a Regional Events Team Delegate for SE England.

Responsibilities of the post include: • P rocessing applications for new, upgrading and returning event organisers • Validation of event routes to ensure integrity of event distances • Liaising with event organisers to manage the registration and publication of events in the AUK Calendar of Events If you’re interested please contact the Events Secretary at undulates@ hotmail.co.uk

Wanted

AUK Finance Director and Treasurer Linda Johnston, the AUK Treasurer is standing down at AGM2014 after 3 years in post and so we are looking for a new Finance Director and/or Treasurer designate to help develop new accounting and ecommerce processes and generally look after ‘the books’. We’d like to progress this asap to we can be ready for the new financial year, so if you have accounting and/or book-keeping skills we’d love to hear from you!

For more information please contact Paul Stewart, secretary@aukweb.net or Chris Crossland, chair@aukweb.net

Wanted

Four Assistant Web Editors Like the Arrivée editors, you’ll need to be available for three months every year and need to have basic internet and desktop publishing skills. You will have to deal with photos and text for the new website.

If you're keen to give something back to Audax UK, this could be quite a fun job.

For more information, contact Danial Webb at publicity@aukweb.net.

Wanted

Arrivée Editor for Summer Edition After many years, Tim Wainwright would like to hand the editorship of the Summer Arrivée to a new editor. The position involves complete production from start to finish of the magazine, so a good knowledge of desk-top publishing using Adobe InDesign (or QuarkXpress) plus PhotoShop would be essential, though help can be given to get you started. Software will be supplied

by AUK. Responsibilities of the post include: • Preparation and collation of articles and adverts for publishing • Preparation of digital images from members • Laying out the text and images into a page makeup program • Uploading press-ready files to our printer's website

All the best,

Paul Stewart

For more information, contact either Sheila Simpson Sheila Simpson sheila@aukadia.net or Tim Wainwright twain@blueyonder.co.uk

Secretary, Audax UK www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

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HEADING news official IN HERE

Change to the AUK Articles to enable postal and proxy voting At AGM2013 the AUK Board presented a resolution 'to take advice on the practicality and merits of options to amend Section 8 of the Articles of Association of Audax United Kingdom to enable proxy and/or postal voting. Such amendment(s) to be submitted for approval to an Extraordinary General Meeting not later than 8 months from the date of this 2013 Annual General Meeting'.

This reflected a desire to 'enhance and extend the formal and informal means by which members of AUK can become engaged in the administration of, and development of policy for, Audax United Kingdom, including widening the opportunity for members to participate in the business conducted at General Meetings. It is intended this measure be in place before the 2014 Annual General Meeting of Audax United Kingdom.'

The resolution was carried with a large majority and thus mandated, the AUK Secretary consulted with Electoral Reform Services, the operational arm of the Electoral Reform Society. ERS provides managed voting services for a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations in the UK and is very much the ‘go to’ body for any organisation like AUK looking for advice and support. I found ERS could provide a complete managed Postal Voting service tailored to AUK requirements for less than the cost of mailing out the agenda for AGM2014.

This would include: • Setting up a secure and private website to publish Resolutions and support online voting.

• Emailing User-ids and Passwords to AUK members who provide an email address for that purpose so they can submit their ‘Postal’ vote electronically, ie, through the ERS website.

• Posting ballot papers to members who have not provided an email address or have expressed a preference to vote by paper ballot, along with a postage paid envelope to return the ballot paper to ERS who would record the members votes onto the voting website.

• At the end of the of the voting period, forwarding a register of members who have voted and the ballots to the Returning Officer appointed by AUK to oversee voting at the General 6

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Meeting. The Returning Officer would receive the results of the votes for each Resolution in individual sealed envelopes so they can be added to the votes cast by members attending the General Meeting. The register of postal voters will verify which members attending the General Meeting have already voted and are thus ineligible to vote at the meeting.

This process could be extended to allow for Proxy Voting, whereby a member authorises another to vote on their behalf, either as directed (closed proxy) or as the proxy sees fit (open proxy).

This was presented at the AUK Board Meeting in January where the Board discussed the merits of postal and proxy voting. The Board considered the provisions in the Articles for the review and amendment of Resolutions prior to the General Meeting, including the nomination and election of AUK Directors, and provision of a private forum to facilitate discussion of those Resolutions, and concluded these rendered Proxy Voting redundant, as there would be ample provision for members to discuss and consult on matters arising prior to the AGM, and Postal Voting would allow for members not attending the General Meeting to vote directly. The Secretary was accordingly instructed to call an EGM to ratify changes to the AUK Articles of Association to enable Postal Voting based on the procedure described above, which met the requirements of being practical, secure, independent and cost effective.

Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Audax United Kingdom Long Distance Cyclists’ Association

Members are invited to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at 2pm on May 22nd, 2014 at the Priory Meeting Rooms, Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF, to consider the Resolution detailed below, the EGM being mandated by Agenda item 8 of the AUK Annual General Meeting 2013.

Proposal: Articles 8 of the AUK Articles of Association to be amended as shown to enable Postal Voting at General Meeting.

Rationale: Having taken advice on the practicality and merits of options

to enable proxy and/or postal voting as directed at AGM2013, the Board recommends provision for postal voting be implemented to widen the opportunity for members to participate in the business conducted at General Meetings.

Article 8 Amendment

8.5 At all General Meetings a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on by a show of hands by those Members present in person and entitled to vote and who do so together with postal votes cast as described in Article 8.7 and subsequent Articles, each Member having one vote other than the chairman of that meeting who shall not be entitled to vote while acting in such capacity. The chairman of the meeting will declare the resolution carried or not carried unanimously or by a particular majority in accordance with the votes cast and an entry to that effect recorded in the Minute Book of the Company: 8.5.1 in the case of changes to the Memorandum or Articles of Association, by a three-quarters majority; 8.5.2 in the case of changes to the Audax United Kingdom Rules, by a simple majority; 8.5.3 in the case of extraordinary and special resolutions, by a threequarters majority; and 8.5.4 in any other matters, by a simple majority.

8.6 In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall, with the exception of Article 14.4 where the business concerns the election of the Chairman and the chairman of the meeting is one of the nominees for that office, be entitled to a casting vote.

8.7 Members who are entitled to vote may cast their vote by means of a postal vote using a form provided by the Company for that purpose. The voting forms may be submitted by post or electronically via the Company website or extension thereof. The procedure for submitting postal votes along with a copy of each resolution will be published by www.audax.uk.net

HEADING official INnews HERE Notice to Members following the procedure described in Article 19.

8.8 A Returning Officer will be appointed by the Board to oversee voting at the General Meeting.

The Returning Officer may not be a proposer or seconder of any resolution of the General Meeting.

The Returning Officer will maintain a register of Members voting by means of a postal vote to facilitate the registration of Members who will cast their vote in person at the General Meeting, but will hold the postal voting forms in personal confidence until such time as the votes are due to be cast for each resolution at the General Meeting.

The Returning Officer may collate the voting forms personally, with the assistance of other Members and/or appoint a third party to provide that service. The Returning Officer will extend the obligations of confidentiality and independence described above to all those so engaged.

8.9 Ballots to elect Directors as described in Article 14.4 may be cast by postal vote as described in Article 8.7 and thereon.

Paul Stewart

AUK Secretary

Go clubbing with AUK

As part of your personal details, you can nominate one Club and one CTC Member Group to receive your Championship Points. Clubs and Member Groups are selected from drop-down lists. We’ve just done a major tidy-up, so all those obsolete DAs and Sections have been removed and we’ve taken the opportunity to consolidate a few duplicated names.

However, there wasn’t always a clear new-for-old match of club names and you might find that what is now showing as your club nomination isn’t really what it ought to be and if we couldn’t decide the correct replacement for an old DA, we set your CTC Member Group to ‘CTC’.

Don’t worry, it’s easy to put it right! Just go to the Members’ pages of the website (see box) and make the change by selecting from the drop-down lists.

Incidentally, we use drop-down lists, rather than allowing free-form typing of club names, as otherwise we would get a profusion of duplications, near misses and spelling mistakes, which can have a bearing on the awarding of Trophies.

What if your club name isn’t listed?

Well, first be aware that any identifier such as CTC or CC might be used either

as a prefix or a suffix; so for example, we have Bristol CTC, but CTC Bath, and CC Sudbury insist on their prefix while Catford CC have a suffix.

If your club really isn’t there, or you think it’s been named incorrectly, then contact me at mike.wigley@audax.uk.net.

What constitutes a ‘club’?

Now that’s a very good question. I suppose we could insist that they have regular AGMs, that they have a requisite number of officers, or that they are registered with a cycling body such as BC, CTT or CTC. Bearing in mind that AUK doesn’t have the wherewithal (or to be honest, the will) to police a list of ‘proper’ clubs, so we’re quite easy-going about what makes a cycling club. We’ve even included YACF as a club, but at least they have their own jersey and a buff.

Why do we hold such club nominations anyway?

Well, it’s mainly to help with the awarding of various trophies. We have a Club Points and a CTC Points trophy, won by the club which accrues the most championship points during a season – and just to level the playing field and give the smaller clubs a chance, only the scores of the top six members of each club count towards these Trophies.

Your CTC nomination is also copied onto Event Entry Forms and eventually appears on the Results Sheets which are used to help adjudicate results in the CTC Tourist Competition (the old DATC). The more active participators of the Tourist Competition will readily acknowledge that Chester & North Wales CTC are particularly on the ball here!

We also encourage Organisers to run their events on behalf of a Club or CTC Member Group. This gives the riders some reassurance that our events are put on by reliable AUK members who have the backing of their local colleagues.

(Organisers; if your club isn’t in the dropdown lists, or you get requests from your riders for additional clubs, again all you need do is email mike.wigley@audax. uk.net to request its addition.)

I suppose though, the main reason to nominate a Club and a CTC Member Group to receive your Audax Championship Points is simply to display your loyalties to your local cycling colleagues.

Club nominations and Audax Club Parisien

You can also nominate one Club or CTC Member Group as your ACP club. This is going to be important for those seeking to participate in PBP in 2015 so you should get your ACP club nomination right before we start the qualifiers and pre-qualifiers.

There is some history here. In the ‘old days’, Audax UK members used to ride

How do I review my club nominations?

Easy! Just go to the Membership Database at www.aukweb. net and click on Members and My Details; you will also need to sign in with your Membership number and Password.

While you’re on there, you might like to check that your contact details (address, email, phone) are still correct.

PBP as members of club ‘AUK’, and we used to come away with the award for club-with-most-riders-taking-part-in-PBP. After a while, ACP were unhappy with this (their event, their rules) so they decreed that riders should nominate from a larger list of approved clubs. We’ve registered all the clubs in the drop-down lists with ACP on your behalf so you should make your choice accordingly. And of course, clubs can be added as mentioned above.

You will see your current nomination for ACP club on the Membership database (see box below) and can amend it to your satisfaction. (Well actually, that’s not quite true; you can’t amend it just at the moment, so any changes will have to be made by request to mike.wigley@ audax.uk.net).

So, sign onto the Membership pages of the website and check your club nominations. Do it now! Just be warned; we don’t allow you to nominate the same organisation as both your Club and your CTC Member Group.

Mike Wigley

Membership Secretary

Organisers' News Paris-Brest-Paris 2015 – Qualifying Events

Whilst 2015 may seem some way off right now but with it being PBP year you’ll need to be thinking about qualifying events soon, to meet ACP’s deadlines for BRM events.

The qualifying periods for the various distances are expected to be as follows: 200km 300km 400km 600km

1st Jan to 10th May 4th April to 24th May 18th April to 7th June 8th May to 28th June

During these periods all events of the relevant distance will need to be run to BRM standard. If you don’t normally organise BRM events the main difference this means is that you’ll need to have your events ready for publication by 30th September at the latest – this deadline is set by ACP. Please try to get your events in as early as you can.

There’s likely to be competition for dates, particularly at the longer distances (400 and 600km) and the Events Team will be paying extra attention to scheduling to ensure clashes between events are avoided.

More information on PBP 2015 is available on the ACP website – see the presentation at http://www.audax-clubparisien.com/download/PLAQUETTE-GB.pdf

Brevet card news

I have tweaked the timing of brevet card production.

Production day is now Thursday, moved forward one day from the Friday. Orders need to be placed two weeks before your event and I will send an email to acknowledge your order. I will also notify you by email when I mail your order.

The AUK control and directional signs are no longer stocked. Organisers who need these signs can download the masters from the Organisers > Documents page on the AUK website and print and laminate their own.

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auk news

Foundation Rides

Audax England jerseys

June 8th will see the second running of the Foundation Rides from Crewe in Cheshire. These rides are the main annual fund raising event for the Up and Under Foundation – a Cheshire based charity that supports disadvantaged youngsters to take part in adventurous activities (www. upandunderfoundation.org) and it is hoped that each rider will pledge to raise at least £25 for the charity.

Thanks for all of the kind words and good wishes since my accident. Happily, things seem to be on the mend and I’m hoping to be back on the bike after Easter. As promised, I’m putting my time being housebound to good use by reopening the order book for Audax England jerseys, fleeces, gilets, wind jackets and (new) winter jackets – to see the latter, click http:// www.owayo.com/cycling-winterjackets.htm.

If you haven’t seen the design, there are numerous photos in this thread and I spotted Ben Taylor modeling one on page 40 of the winter Arrivée.

They are produced by Owayo and are very good quality.

Working out the pricing is quite tricky as it depends on the number of each product ordered but I’ve based it on covering my costs at 20 orders per item for the jerseys and wind jackets and 10 for the gilets and winter jackets, with an allowance for postage, packing, etc. If you’re abroad, please PM me for a quote. I’m assuming that there will be no major changes in the sterling/euro exchange rate between now and placing the orders. If there are, I may need to come back with a revised price or partial refunds.

This year there are three rides on offer:

Foundation Ride (50km)

The Foundation Ride, being the shortest, is the latest to start – at a very leisurely 9:30 – so if you like a Sunday lie-in, this might be the event for you.

The route is pretty flat and potters around the Cheshire lanes, taking in Audlem, Wrenbury and Nantwich. There are a couple of café possibilities in Audlem if you fancy a cuppa part way round and, of course, refreshments at the end. This ride is suitable for all sorts of riders and last year the age range spanned from about 12 to late 70s.

‘Good Stuff’ (100km)

The Good Stuff is a bit longer and bit hillier and starts a bit earlier (9:00). It heads off in the same direction as the Foundation Ride, but at Wrenbury the routes diverge as you head towards Malpas and almost into Wales. The route is slightly different from last year – to make navigation easier and to offer a choice of two possible cafés (Old Ma’s or the Ice Cream Farm) about three-quarters of the way round. The scenery is fabulous and none of the hills are too hard.

‘Tough Stuff’ (160km)

As might be expected from the name, this is further, hiller and has an earlier start (8:00) than the other two options – but the scenery and sense of achievement (and number of possible café stops en route) should more than make up for the pain! This is new for 2014 and is in response to requests for something a bit harder. The route takes in the gentle Cheshire lanes before heading whole-heartedly into Wales to Llangollen (via the Panorama) and up and over the Horseshoe Pass, before turning back towards Cheshire and the finish at Up and Under HQ.

Lorna Fewtrell

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Short sleeved jerseys in summer weight are £37 Long sleeved jerseys in summer weight are £40 Long sleeved jerseys in winter weight are £50 Gilets are £45 with a solid back or £48 with a mesh back I’m pricing the new winter jackets at £88, which is a bit of a guess as I don’t know how much they will cost to post. I haven’t seen one myself yet but will be adding one to my own collection if there are enough takers.

All jerseys have a concealed full zip.

Sizes available are 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL. Sizes of 3XL and larger cost £4 extra due to the additional material. My experience is that the sizings are on the 'snug' side. If you can, it’s worth finding someone who already has an Owaya jersey so you can compare. There’s plenty of time to try before you buy as I’ll keep orders open until well after this edition of Arrivée.

Delivery is 3-4 weeks after I place the orders. I’ll let everyone know when I send it in and, again, when I’m posting the jerseys out. From past experience, demand is highest for the summer jerseys so I’ll order a first batch of those as soon as I have 20 orders; for the others I will wait until May (unless there is a flood of demand) to be sure that I have enough take-up to achieve the discounts. If I don’t receive sufficient orders for any product, I’ll contact purchasers individually to arrange a refund or reprice.

To order, you can use PayPal, BACS or cheque.

To use PayPal please send the total as a 'personal payment owed' to rob.mcivor@me.com.

Rob McIvor's son models an extra small jersey Please include the following: YACF Forum name Real name Address for postage Product type Size Sleeve length for summer jerseys (SS or LS) Please remember to add £4 for sizes of 3XL and above.

If you’d prefer to pay by BACS or cheque, please PM me and I can give you the appropriate details. In both cases I’ll need your full name and address details as well as your order.

Any queries, please email me at ROB. MCIVOR@ME.COM.

Two new frame builders

I met Jon at the Bike Show at Excel 2014. Jon works in a converted steel container, with chickens running around, hence the name. Check his website out: Chickens Frames Emporium, Brighton, Sussex www.chickensframeemporium.co.uk.

Another new builder to check out: Richard Delacour at Oxford Bike Works, Steventon, Oxford. www.OxfordBikeWorks.co.uk

Super Randonneur Ecosse A renewed medal/sew-on patch is now available for those achieving a Super Randonneur series of events starting in Scotland as pictured here.

Claims for current season or retrospectively with counting event details.

Prices: Sew-on patch £3.50 Medals £4.50 including p&p Paypal payments to pedaller1@sky.com Cheques payable to Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria Street, Galashiels TD1 1HL

www.audax.uk.net

for sale

Classic 1949 A.S. Gillot

Thorn tandem seeks new home

22-inch frame, No.1178 with fleur-de-lys lugs. Paint in good condition for age and has been resprayed and rebadged by Gillot. Seven-speed STI levers, TA triple 52-42-32, wide-ratio freewheel. Maillard LF 36-hole hubs and MA4 rims.

I rode an SR in 1998 and 1999, PBP 1999 and the Brighton Mitre 24-hour with 306 miles on my Gillot. I’m now 79 years of age and can no longer cope with night riding, so my bike is looking for a good home. £350. Please contact John Manville on 01273 417420. Brighton, West Sussex.

Roberts Audax Compact

Reynolds 853, Metallic Royal Blue. 54 top tube, 54 seat tube, 17cm head tube.

Crane Creek head set. Stronglight triple 46/36/26 and B.B. Shimano 540 SPD pedals. Mavic Pro rims hand built with 32 s/s spokes on Nova Tech hubs. Conti Ultragators 25F, 28R. Shimano XT 9 speed rear 11-32, Sram chain, Campag Comp front. Campag Athena ergo levers plus Crane Creek Crosstop levers. Shimano R650 brakes. Deda anatomic bars, USE Ahead stem, USE seat post. SKS black mudguards. Tubus Fly rack.

Immaculate condition as little used. £1,400 ono.

Contact Graham by email keynotemusic@btinternet.com or 01737248950 for further info and photo.

Retro Campag Record track hubs with track nuts

Thorn Audax Mk3

I no longer ride my tandem so am seeking a new owner, preferably an AUK member. There is no charge for my tandem, all I ask is a donation to be made to AUK. Brief specs as follows, contact me for further details.

Tandem is in excellent condition and well maintained by an enthusiastic cyclist. Size 20in/17in. Wheels are 26 inch. 24-speed Shimano throughout with TA chainrings, 50-40-26. Two sets of wheels, summer and winter, with tyres and cassettes, winter range 118 to 18.4 inches, summer range 118 to 19.5 inches.

Twist-grip gear changers. Computer. Spare seatpin to suit taller rider.

Also included is a box of spares with cables, brake blocks, spare folding tyre, tool set. Two panniers included as well as an hydraulic lift roof rack to easily mount the tandem on a car with built-in roof bars.

Contact Jim Bainbridge, jimbain@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 0208 406 3678. I am located in Addiscombe, Croydon, Surrey.

6 sizes...6 colours... ...classic steel bike!

Mercury

700c Rohloff

Reynolds 853 Disc options.

8 sizes...5 colours.

Drops or straights...

...a stunning ride!

NOMAD

#

32 hole, low flange. 120mm R, 100mm F. One pair is brand-new, the other pair I've used and they have just been stripped and regreased and are in excellent condition. £50 for the used and £150 for the new ones. I have a collection of retro Campag Record road and fixed for sale.

Contact me for more details and pics. Tim Wainwright twain@blueyonder.co.uk

Auk sets off around the world on a recumbent

AUK member Richard Evans set off on April 5th to cycle around the world on a recumbent bicycle. His route will take him overland from Holland to Singapore, then via Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, and back to UK through Portugal, Spain and France. He plans to complete the 30,000km circumnavigation by the end of September and will be tweeting from @laid_back_rich. Travelling with him for a while is fellow Auk Dave Bradshaw. There’s also a blog at http:// laidbackaroundtheworld.blogspot.co.uk/

MK2

Disc and suss fork options, ##12

sizes...2 colours.

With or without

S&S

couplings.

#Enormous luggage

#carrying capacity… ...lifetime warranty!

There’s not enough room in the whole of’Arrivée to list all we make and all we offer, please call, Email or look on our website.

sales@thorncycles.co.uk

01278 441 505 ##

www.thorncycles.co.uk

Richard at the start outside Bikefix in Conduit Street, London. Photo: Tim Wainwright www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

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HEADING IN HERE randonnee

A butterfly on my tandem George Berwick

All photos by the author

W When you reach three score years and ten you begin to mellow, so that’s why I’m going to give Phil an easy ride and try to be reasonably nice to him. That so-and-so was utterly responsible for me failing an audax event – the first in 37 years. We had to surrender The Twilight 600 because our hero was needed at home to cook the wife’s dinner. I ask you, would you prefer a candle-lit nosh-up consuming lots of rosé with a lady, or a cosy-up with your obnoxious tandem mate and sore bums for extra hours on a miserable 600k?

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'Phil proudly brandished his new mini luxury pump. What rubbish!

Every time I tried to disconnect the pump from the tube it would unscrew the valve and let the air out.'

e started a day late owing to heavy rain and strong winds. It’s not much fun riding over Rannoch moor in the wet. The only redeeming feature was keeping the hands warm on Phil’s alluring posterior. We commenced at 4am on an August Sunday into a strong west wind. The cycleway through Perth was taken, then onto a quiet A9 to Dunkeld. The first control came at Aberfeldy where we encountered a collie dog with its own panniers. In Killin we took the back road, a big booboo by Phil, for we suffered an impact puncture to the rear wheel on a sunken cattle grid.

The rain cheered us up as did the closed café in Cri. We queued for soup and coffee in Tyndrum then sat in fear below the billowing extension of the café. On the drop to Bridge of Orchy we found that only the middle chainring could be engaged. The fault was diagnosed the following day: when fixing the puncture our esteemed capitane had let a stick fall into the front changer.

After topping the 1,100ft Rannoch summit the rear tyre went down again.

I became a frozen poseur on the wet moor while Phil fiddled with the short track ends of the racing tandem. A mile further on the new tube began to lose air. Taking charge, I demanded a visit to the nearby Kingshouse Hotel. Over coffee, Phil produced his puncture outfit which consisted of two patches and an infinitesimal amount of solution.

I repaired as many tubes as humanly possible, then placed the table legs over them to act as a press. Phil proudly brandished his new mini luxury pump.

What rubbish! Every time I tried to disconnect the pump from the tube it would unscrew the valve and let the air out. The rear tyre also had a bad cut. Remembering a good tip from Pat Hurt, I raided Phil’s massive wallet and found a Royal Bank twenty. As a liner this smoothed the bit between tube and cover. An hour later I coaxed our colourful lad to continue and we headed down Glencoe to the Corran ferry.

Tyre gave up

On the way down to Loch Linnhe the rear tyre finally gave up the ghost.

Phil gave me laldy and threatened me with his angry wife if we didn’t do an immediate about turn. I was all for night riding along Loch Ailort and praying for a www.audax.uk.net

randonnee deflation-free run, although my brotherly love finally kicked in which prevented a punch-up. The wife and her gourmet food won, so it was back to the ferry. I’ll just have to wait and get my reward in a higher place.

The Coe and Rannoch were fairly silent and we reached Cri after 11pm.

Phil was gasping for a pint which didn’t help our undignified U-turn to a handy pub. The locals informed us that the place was closing although we might be lucky at the ‘Ben More’. After slaking his thirst Phil entertained a French couple with his cycling savor-faire about the Paris-Brest.

Half way along the Dochart a police car arrived and the officers stopped us. We had been reported for ‘having issues’ in Crianlarich. However, after a chat, the tandem duo were waved away without breathing into a bag. We cycled along the south side of Loch Earn and located the Fife and Kinross CTC hut around 2am.

Then it was homeward bound the next morning.

'Half way along the Dochart a police car arrived and the officers stopped us.'

I rode it solo

A couple of weeks later I rode it solo and had no trouble putting ‘The Twilight’ to bed. Is it my calibre or superiority that puts me on a higher plain than my poor, lovestruck pal? Phil phoned later to thank me for my compassion and said the wife was very pleased with the bouquet. She seems to have the edge on me. Happiness is being nice to McNasty.

Long live the tandem! My heart is in the right place even though its beat is a bit wonky. May all your tandem partners be as patient and loving as McNasty.

N

THE CYCLE SPECIALISTS

MADGETTS

CUBA TRAINING RIDE Feb. 2014 12 Day Sportif

✶ SALES – SERVICING – REPAIRS ✶ Superb choice of Clothing and Accessories Large range of cycles on display Excellent Wheel Building Service and Workshop

8 Shelfhanger Road, Diss, Norfolk

01379 650419 www.madgettscycles.com

Ride Trans Cuba with me, Bill Nickson www.bicycletranscuba.com peter@bicycletranscuba.com

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

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randonnee

Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100k

Ribble Blue

It’s a good 100 mile drive up from Torbay to the start of the Jack Cotton Audax at Aztec West Business Park in north Bristol which meant a 7am start from home to be ready for the off at nine. The event always seems to attract a large entry and this year was no exception with over 180 signed on for this early season audax.

P

icking up CTC Torbay member Arnold Read from the centre of Abbotskerswell, it was my turn to drive as he had done the driving up to Bristol for the Tasty Cheddar event in the previous October.

Usual faces at the start, all a year older, some saying that this might be their last season, but they said that last year and rides don’t come much flatter than the Jack Cotton.

Due to the large entry, start times were split, half going at 8.30 while Arnold and I set off with the nines heading up the old A38 for the first info control at Littleton on Severn. It was interesting to note that this area is rather low lying and beside the river Severn but not a lot of flooding in evidence. The odd puddle here and there beside the road and some fields with some flood-water but nowhere on the scale of the Somerset Levels and at no time were we forced to ride though any flood-water. The Environment Agency would do well to look and find out how they control the water up here.

Pressing on to Berkley with its castle of the same name and a dark history involving murder from the Middle Ages before joining the A38 for a few miles to reach Framton-on-Severn to ride beside the river and to arrive at the Anchor Inn in Epney, the halfway control for the usual cheese roll and drink.

Crossing the Gloucester canal at 12

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The Gloucester canal Hardwicke and the site of the old Gloster aircraft factory where such planes as the Gladiator and the Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter, were manufactured. Now the site is a nondescript industrial estate with no reference to its past.

It’s always difficult in Stonehouse, with all its Saturday traffic, to spot the turn after the Post Office and this year was no exception forcing us to do a U-turn to head for Frocester and Dursley.

One of only two hills on the entire ride coming out of Dursley, but after what we experience in Devon on every ride, this hill was hardly noticeable.

Missed the turn just after the railway bridge, fortunately Arnold had a Garmin

on his bike and picked up the error almost immediately so only little time lost as we chased down the lanes and the second hill of the ride after Stinchcombe.

This one required a bit more effort to climb and the engaging of the 26 tooth inner ring to get to the top.

New venue for the afternoon control at 88k. No longer using Leyhill Open Prison, but now the Farmers’ Table café with a more select choice of cakes and drinks being offered than ever displayed at the prison.

The last 18k took us along familiar lanes through Tytherington and up under the M5 to join the A38 just as the first rains of the day started, but we made the

www.audax.uk.net

HEADING randonnee IN HERE

Pictures show riders crossing the Gloucester canal. All photos by Ribble Blue

finish at the Swan Inn without getting too wet.

With a new team being lead by Paul Rainbow now organizing this event now it continues to be run at a high standard

and I’m sure will continue to be the audax that most members look at to be their first event of the New Year. Hope to be up riding it again in 2015.

N

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June is too soon – in the frozen heart of the Alps Francis Cooke

Last issue I wrote about the Sella Ring and mentioned Corvara as a good base from which to rack up OCD claims without actually having to work too hard. As a lazy person who likes the high roads, I think places like this have a lot of appeal.

I

n France, the most notable one is Barcelonnette, which offers good access to several cols of over 2000m and is itself at over 1100m, which makes even the biggest of the climbs, up to the Cime de Bonette (2802m), pleasantly manageable. There is a permanent brevet from here, called the ‘7 Cols d’Ubaye’ – open-ended as to how long you take to collect all seven – just call in at the Information centre to pick up a brevet card. One of those seven passes, the Larche (1991m) is sadly now closed to cyclists, and the modern version of the brevet substitutes another nearby climb.

But I digress – this article is about Andermatt, deep in the heart of the Swiss Alps and tucked between the frozen sources of the Rhine and the Rhone, at a height of about 1440m. With all due respect to France and francophiles, the scenery around here is in a league above that around Barcelonnette – though the

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weather isn’t as good. Andermatt marks the centre of a cloverleaf, three natural road circuits, each circuit over 100km and featuring three big passes. There are seven passes in all, but two of them feature twice. This is known as the ‘Alpine Star’ and again it is available as a brevet – mostly aimed at touring motorists, but there’s no reason why cyclists can’t do it too. Many of these climbs also feature in the Alpenbrevet sportive events – www. swissretreat.com/cycling-sportives/ alpenbrevet – which combine some of these circuits into Marmotte-style events.

Sheila and I have had a few goes at Switzerland, but generally haven’t had the best of luck with the weather.

Our first attempt at the Alpine Star saw us arriving in mid-June and foolishly basing ourselves in the YH at Goschenen – which is 350m below Andermatt! So from there our first challenge was to climb up the Schollenen gorge, to get up to Andermatt and join the first circuit, crossing the Oberalp, Lukmanier and St Gotthard passes – a circuit of 158km with about 3200m of climb. The OCD claim for these three passes would be 2044 + 1916 + 2109 = 6069m.

The Schollenen gorge is an amazing place in so many ways. Railway enthusiasts will love the rack-and-pinion

'… near the top there’s one of those Devil’s Bridges and it’s the scene of a famous battle of the Napoleonic wars.'

line that claws its way up to Andermatt at an impossible angle through curling tunnels. Alongside and criss-crossing it, the road, in its own set of galleries and tunnels. The whole effect is somewhat intestinal. Then there’s the history – near the top there’s one of those Devil’s Bridges and it’s the scene of a famous battle of the Napoleonic wars. This was a favourite location for Turner, the landscape artist, who painted the gorge and its bridge several times over many years – but if like me you ride up with your nose to the tarmac you’re liable to miss all this drama.

Tortuous and unavoidable

It’s a tortuous and unavoidable bit of road – but there are two big tunnels under these mountains (make that three, if you’re reading the repeat) so heavy traffic here isn’t really a problem. It’s a daunting prospect though, seen from below, and if you’re not riding a brevet you can put your bike on the train.

Anyway, gorge done and on a fine crisp morning, we turned left at Andermatt and set off up the first pass, the Oberalp (2044m). This really is one of my favourite passes – beautiful and always patched with snow, but not hard.

The railway is ever-present but not in a www.audax.uk.net

ocd bad way, and the occasional little red train was good company. This being our first Swiss trip, at the summit we made the mistake of dropping into the bar for a bit of refreshment. After checking the prices, however, we bought one glass of orange squash and shared it.

This place is as good as any to be called the ‘source of the Rhine’. Down to Disentis and right turn for the next pass, the Lukmanier or Lucomagno in Italian, at 1916m the only pass in the Alpine Star below 2000m. Not so scenic, and the weather was going off. After a long sleepy descent and now close to the Italian border, we were down to a miserable low of 380m as we turned right again for the final long climb and it started to drizzle.

All photos by the author

Spar shop to the rescue

On the way up the valley we found a Spar shop and stopped to refuel.

Prices in this little corner shop were no higher than they would be in France or the UK. In Switzerland, this is the way to keep costs down. Eventually the climb proper started and we knew there were complications – an old road (cobbled) and a newer main road which was forbidden to bicycles. They take completely different routes up to the St Gotthard pass (2109m), climbing up opposite sides of the valley. We set off up the steep old road but it was really hard going, our skinny tyres not liking the wet cobbled surface at all. After what seemed like an age, we came to a point where our road was on a zig and the new road was on a zag and they nearly met (though with a barrier between them) before heading off in different directions.

There was no traffic to be seen at all on the main road – nothing, zilch, nada – so we hoisted ourselves and our bikes over the barrier and headed up the blissful smooth empty tarmac. What a relief!

St Gotthard pass is a huge watershed – behind us, the Mediterranean, ahead, and any water ends up in the North Sea. The main road certainly took the sting out of this climb, but as we got higher the drizzle turned to sleet and then, up around the 2000m level, to wet snow.

Ahead was the welcoming sight of the long gallery/tunnel that marks the summit on the main road – we would be warm and dry in here for 10 minutes or so. Off to our right, the old road was a breathtaking sight – and that was just looking at it – I was so glad we weren’t actually struggling up it!

At the other end of the tunnel, we emerged to a different world. A white one. Already wet through and we weren’t really dressed for this, we had to get down below the snow line and quickly. Too bad – it continued to snow right down to our lowly base camp at Goschenen. Fortunately the main road descent was easy and not technical –

because our brakes weren’t up to much in these conditions and our hands too cold to operate them. Towards the end though, in the twisty steepness of the gorge, we had to stop at intervals and warm our hands by clutching our wheel rims.

Crossing into France

Next day when we woke up, we were in a winter wonderland. June was simply too early, in this frozen heart of the Alps.

We took the first train out, through the tunnel and towards Italy, and hopped off when we could see the roads looked clear of snow. Three days later after sprinting across the wet lakelands and sunny plains of NW Italy, we were on the Colle Lombarda (2350m), a very fine unplanned bonus climb. This marked the crossing into France and more familiar territory, and the abrupt end of our first attempt at Switzerland.

A couple of years later, when the exchange rates looked good, we tried again, this time in July. We approached Andermatt via Meiringen where there’s a ‘Sherlock Holmes Pub’ on every corner and our room looked out over the Reichenbach Falls. From there, the simplest route to Andermatt was the big climb over Susten pass (2224m), one of the Alpine Star seven. Unlike the St Gotthard which has a very long history, Susten pass is practically new.

The road was built during the WWII years – the Swiss presumably having nothing else on at the time. On the west side, the engineering is spectacular with many short tunnels spearing through buttresses of rock, and the glacial scenery is top-notch too. We were lucky enough to climb it in moody conditions with

'Next day when we woke up, we were in a winter wonderland. June was simply too early, in this frozen heart of the Alps.'

some dramatic cloud inversions.

With Sustenpass already bagged, and three others already done as a circuit, it made sense the next day to tackle the St Gotthard, Nufenen and Furka passes, 106km with about 3060m of climb.

Slightly less climbing than the first circuit, but higher passes so a bigger OCD total claim – 7018m. That would leave only Grimsel pass of the seven that we hadn’t seen, and we’d save that for some other year.

First the St Gotthard the other way, trying to erase memories of that bitter cold descent. Not that easy because, in several visits to this area where there are many major glaciers in the mountains, one thing we have never experienced is warmth. This time Sheila and I spent time at the historic summit village, which is slightly off the road. Descending on the main road, as we arrived at Airolo we transferred to the old road since we didn’t want to be nabbed by Swiss police who are scary and wave guns around.

Right turn for Nufenen pass, a long and dull climb. This is the highest pass wholly in Switzerland at 2478m, and was opened to traffic as recently as 1969. The views northwards from the top are terrific and the winding descent was much more scenic.

Right turn again to follow the infant river Rhone upstream and, eventually, to its source. On the way we were faced with Grimsel pass (2165m) which looks absolutely terrifying from this direction (though actually it’s a short and easy climb, and ultra-scenic just past the top). But at the foot of that climb was a junction so it was right again, to avoid Grimsel (phew) and tackle Furka pass (2429m). This was a good scenic road hairpinning through open meadows, with one bend grazing the very snout of the mighty Rhone glacier, which made everything else suddenly seem very small.

Second loop of the Alpine Star

Sadly, in recent years the ice has receded quite a lot and Furka pass is no longer as spectacular as it was when we first saw it. I expect even then it was a shadow of what it must have been, 50 or 100 years earlier. Crossing this high pass and returning to Andermatt meant we had completed our second loop of the Alpine Star. The third loop is Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes, 126km with about 3500m of climb. On paper it’s maybe the hardest of the three circuits but is certainly the most scenic.

But Sheila and I headed out eastwards.

Having visited the nascent Rhone the day before, now we followed the infant Rhine for a while through suitably Wagnerian scenery. Two days later found us climbing up Ofen pass (2149m) and keeping an eye out for a notorious narrow borehole through the mountains and into Livigno,

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an odd little forgotten corner of Italy with only three difficult roads in, and where tax is seldom paid.

And then we found it, a stub of road to our right no more than 50m long, a Swiss border cabin and toll booth, a small queue of traffic and a narrow tunnel mouth.

NB, sadly what follows is no longer possible because this tunnel has been

'… two red lights in the murk …'

closed to cyclists. The Livigno tunnel is 3.5km long, and one vehicle wide. It’s also a climb of about 100m.

We looked at the sign, without understanding the words but the meaning seemed clear enough.

We saw the lights change to green, with a rev and a roar the traffic moved in and soon vanished in the murky depths, as the lights switched back to red. What was left was a smokey little hole, but peering in we saw that it was lit – dimly – and there was a very narrow raised kerb on one side. Minutes passed and more cars and coaches assembled. About 20 vehicles spewed out coming the other way, and we readied ourselves and our lights. I glanced back, but men in uniform at the border post didn’t seem unduly bothered.

We latched on behind the last van and pedalled for dear life into the darkness.

Red tail lights receded, got duller, flickered out in the gloom. The din abated

and then it was just us, in complete silence, at peace, no light at the end of the tunnel.

It was all rather wonderful, for a while. Was that a red light ahead? Odd. Yes – two red lights in the murk, but then they rapidly changed up through orange, yellow to white and we flattened ourselves to the tunnel wall as with a mighty blast of wind and noise the downstream traffic hurtled past. Wait. All clear, and off we set again, this time with our ears pricked rearwards.

Soon enough, we heard the warning sounds, but just then the tunnel rounded a slight kink and opened out into an unexpected larger cavern, with more traffic lights and waiting cars – a subterranean passing place. Here we rested until everyone had sorted themselves out, then it was a final push to try to do the remainder in one go and emerge, blinking, to the Italian noonday sun.

N

Rohloff hubs come in various colours

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www.audax.uk.net

correspondence OCD and AUK

Further to my letter to Arrivée 123, p.16 on the topic of OCD and AUK, I voiced my concerns that the views I had expressed about the possible merger might have been mislaid or even misrepresented.

A response was also printed which confirmed my suspicions. My suggestion ‘Let the organisation die a peaceful death rather than latching on to AUK’ had been counted as, and reported as, neutral.

I have never been concerned about being in a minority, even a minority of one. What does concern me is belonging to an organisation that wilfully misrepresents that voice, and does not apologise when discovered to be doing so. I am, therefore, resigning my membership.

Incidentally, I do hope that if the NHS ever has reason to consult the ‘living will’ I have signed, it doesn’t act in a similar vein – taking ‘let me die in peace’ to mean ‘keep him hooked up to life support’.

Rob Kilby

OCD reply

Rob, I am sorry you feel that way, but I can only read the words you wrote, I cannot read your mind. You are in a minority of one against; a larger minority ‘don’t care’ and a large majority in favour.

If you really do not like the idea of OCD joining AUK, then you can ignore it: you have taken that step.

Rod Dalitz

Thanks I

Dear Mike [Wigley] This is simply to thank you for the mailing at the beginning of February

welcoming me to Audax UK. OCD was a great organisation and I am sure you’ll see an increase in interest in riding up mountains.

David Brock

Thanks II

I read the first magazine from cover to cover, probably wont do that again but I found some of the content really interesting many parts of it could be almost taken as aimed at the OCD membership, if it maintains that level I would definitely keep the membership on-going.

Thanks for all your work Rod, I see there were a couple of Audax members against the union but in general it seems to have been received OK.

Chris Oakley

Thanks III

I recently received for the first time the review Arrivée at home and I would like to thank you very much for this present during one year.

As president of the BIG-challenge, I would like to write my support to the OCD’s members. I just hope that the inclusion in the AUK, will give it a new dynamism and new members who will have much satisfaction by practicing the cycloclimbing activity.

If you need anything to make promotion for your new structure, it would be a pleasure for us to edit it in our pages.

Cycloclimbing yours,

Daniel Gobert

BIG’s president http://www.challenge-big.eu

Annual Arrivée

In the minutes from the January 2014 Board Meeting I notice that the 2014 Handbook will be the last printed copy as the material is duplicated on the website. I understand that the website is easier to keep up to date and usually more accurate than the Handbook, but I actually really enjoy receiving the Handbook. In years to come, when the internet has dissolved into grey goo, I hoped to have a copy of the Handbook with the achievements of my friends listed, something to show the great grandchildren. I am sorry to see that the Handbook's day has passed.

I also saw the ‘need to clarify the long term relationship between the (new) website and Arrivée’, as much of the material currently published through Arrivée will also go to the website which will have a ‘magazine’ style front page.

The possibility of developing the Arrivée editorial team into a website team was discussed and that Arrivée may evolve into an annual publication.

I would be very sad to see Arrivée only sent out annually; I know that it is a challenge for the compliers and editors to bring this out four times a year, but I would like them to know that I read my copy several times. I re-read articles, and re-visit photographs and I have occasionally given a copy away to a friend in the hope he would be bitten by the long distance bug.

It is good that no subject is too sacred to discuss during a Board Meeting, but a plea from an avid reader of Arrivée: Please don't replace it with the internet.

Graeme Holdsworth

OCD – the way it works A number of AUK riders have expressed interest in OCD, some have sent membership forms with cheques, and others have sent in claims for cols. Here are a few words of guidance: All AUK members are entitled to submit claims for cols climbed.

Although the OCD.org.uk website still shows a membership form, this is no longer required or useful.

Cols are defined by higher ground to each side, with ground draining to a different river ahead and behind. This may sound slightly complicated, but there are some cols in the Alps (and elsewhere) where the road continues to climb up a mountain to another higher col. You may claim both if you have ascended at least 100m between cols, but you cannot claim that col if you are descending.

Claim a mountain summit

You may also claim a mountain summit, like Mont Ventoux, but not a high point like Alpe d’Huez which is neither a col nor a summit.

What a col is worth is exactly the height above sea level. You may take that from a col sign (best of all), or a height from a reputable map, or even a GPS or altimeter reading.

Your claim should include:

• • • •

Date climbed Name of Col Height, and source of that information General location, helpful to include route number like B709 or D33, in UK OS grid reference, lat/long, in France Department and perhaps towns either side, it all depends a lot on where you are – south-west USA or Himalaya.

• Any helpful comments which might benefit future riders, like road quality, good or bad cafés and hotels, special views or hazards, whatever.

I look forward to receiving your claims, by email or post, best before Christmas in time for publication in winter Arrivée.

Rod Dalitz

rod.dalitz@me.com Tel: 07807 713311 110 Muir Wood Road Edinburgh EH14 5HE

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london-edinburgh-london

Boring mechanicals – ups and downs of London-EdinburghLondon – a 1400km Randonnée Bruce Dunbar

All photos: Tim Wainwright

Even before hearing the terms ‘randonnée’ and ‘audax’ it had been my ambition to cycle from the South of England, where I have always lived, to Scotland, land of my fathers and destination for childhood holidays.

Despite hours poring over maps on winter evenings I never quite got to go. I began riding AUK events in 2009 just to see some different parts of the South, but was soon bitten by the bug. My distances crept up and conversations on the road often turned to LEL. I was not ready to ride in 2009, but by 2013 I was very much looking forward to the prospect, and so throw a ‘six’ – and the game begins:

D

own a Snake – I sit down at my computer to enter at the first opportunity on January 5, credit card in hand, only to find that the event has sold out an hour before. Later I find I could have entered on the previous evening.

I am a bit grumpy for a few days before coming up with an alternative scheme – to ride the Mersey Roads 24 hour time trial, help on LEL then ride LEJOG (another unfulfilled aim) with a club mate

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later in the year.

Up a Ladder – LEL organisers have a waiting/reserve list and are looking at ways to expand facilities to accept more entries and I am quick to sign up. Plan B on hold.

Ladder – I’ve got a place if I still want it. Yes please Boss. Funds transferred. The bank cashier looks questioningly at the obscure payee details, so I explain. Then she looks really puzzled.

Ladder – I have good preparation by way of local early season events and the excellent Wessex SR series, the stuff of whispered legend first overheard some 17 years ago, when I accidentally went on holiday with a bunch of AUK ‘regulars’.

Snake – real life interrupts plans for early nights in the week before the ‘off’.

Ladder – with no bag drop, I sign on in about 30 seconds flat on the afternoon before, go for a potter round Epping Forest, and roll down to a pub for supper, and several pints with old friends and new.

Snake – I find myself camping in a field. In Loughton. In drizzle.

Ladder – a fair nights sleep and a last fettle of kit before a lazy boys ‘T’ group start at 09:45.

Snake – we get caught up in a BHF

'…being applauded by a lone figure in his dressinggown at Barton on Humber.'

charity ride and have to avoid being taken out by accident. I am reminded of the London to Brighton event that I rode with 20 colleagues only a few weeks earlier, and recall their trepidation before and during, and how I now feel some of that.

Ladder – a tailwind helps me get into a good rhythm. It’s good for the spirits to get some easy distance bagged.

Snake – most of the mapping on my GPS screen disappears after 100k. The ‘track’ is still there, and so no real problem with a good route sheet, but I do plan to deviate off-route later to pick off a few British Cycle Quest sites (another vice).

I am just annoyed with myself for not double-checking.

Ladder – things are ticking on nicely, I don’t have a set schedule, but accrue time in hand for a good sleep by Market Rasen (248km) but still feel good and reckon Pocklington will be spot-on for a kip.

Snake (in hindsight) – visiting a BCQ point a few hundred metres off route I come across an ideal place sleep, quiet, sheltered and at dusk. I almost get my light sleeping bag out, but then decide to press on.

Ladder – being applauded by a lone www.audax.uk.net

london-edinburgh-london Barnard Castle

figure in his dressing-gown at Barton on Humber, then crossing the suspension bridge. Then fair progress to Pocklington (333km) and a good feed. But: Snake – no room at the inn. I have arrived at peak sleep time and the waiting list is too long. This was a risk I knew existed, so I am not perturbed. I contemplate a kip outside in the grounds around, but can’t find any shelter. Then the clouds settle the issue – by issuing, so I press on into the rain and hope that Thirsk will have free beds.

Ladder – Despite the rain I continue to make good progress and I am pleased to see a hint of blue in the sky to starboard announcing the new and drier day.

Snake – just before dawn I descend a steepish hill at the bottom of which is a slick of mud – and a bend which I don’t quite take and I am heading for what looks, in the gloom, like a millstone farm sign which I don’t quite miss, and as a consequence I don’t stay quite upright.

Ladder – I am thankful that the ‘millstone’ is a hay bale roundel and that the sea of mud all around must have softened my impact with the ground – judging by the amount displaced and transferred to me.

Some others kindly stop to offer help,

but I am inconvenienced rather than incapacitated, so thank them and let them continue.

Snake – my front wheel, newly built with a dyno-hub only two weeks ago, is taco-shaped and won’t pass the forks let alone the brake. My elbow looks like it could do with some needlework and my hip is a bit sore and certainly will be later.

Ladder – I am glad I carry a first aid kit, and I spend almost an hour cleaning wounds and warning tens of others following to avoid the same peril. As dawn arrives I can see at least a dozen bike wheel tracks where earlier riders had been caught in the same way. At last I can see well enough to set about straightening my wheel; first by standing on the rim, then with the spoke key, so after another half an hour it turns fairly well with the brake adjuster backed-off, but with some spokes very over-tight, others slack. I take it easy for a mile or two through Dalby to test battered bike and body, then push on to Thirsk (398km). Here priorities are food, a proper clean-up, sleep for a few hours and a better repair.

Snake – now with a clearer head, I chat to Aiden who is the mechanic, and put my wheel in the jig (a home-grown work

'At last I can see well enough to set about straighten­ ing my wheel; first by standing on the rim, then with the spoke key.'

Café in Middleton-inTeesdale

of art!) but after half an hour it is clear that the tensions are hysterical and it is not up to 600 odd miles including some remote places. My problem now is that, having a dyno-hub primary front light, and only a basic back-up, I can’t just buy a stock wheel, unless I buy a new light too.

Ladder – Aiden hatches a plan to ask a local bike shop to build a new wheel on my hub and have it forwarded to Brampton by car with Lene, a German rider’s wife who is buying parts for his repairs. I accept Aiden’s kindly loaned wheel, swap tyres and eat again before heading north.

Snake – bruises and lack of sleep are making me run slower than usual.

Ladder – I still have time in hand to be laid-back, enjoy the scenery and be glad to still be riding. I pass quickly through the Barnard Castle (465km) control stoking up for the hills that I have been looking forward to. I join a group of ten or so for the rolling section to Middleton, where I stop briefly for a BCQ point, before the long pull over Yad Moss. At Alston I join a picnic outside the shop and I talk to a guy just out for a ride about what we are doing and other AUK events.

He is keen to look up the website.

Ladder – Brampton (547km) controllers have a message that my new wheel has arrived. A quality rim and new spokes built immediately for less than I could by the parts for. I thank Lene for her help and happily change the tyre over and arrange for the safe return of Aiden’s wheel.

Snake – I experience a surreal ‘soundscape’ in the Brampton gymnasium dormitory! The strangest of twilight ‘atmospheres’ – to which I might possibly have contributed in some small way.

Ladder – I have a brainwave that although not using bag-drops, I can leave kit not needed for the northern loop at Brampton. I find a box and borrow a marker to label with my name, number and ‘please leave here for collection on return’.

Snake – leaving Brampton alone before dawn in pouring rain. Made worse by the sight of returning riders effectively 300km ahead.

Snake – the coarse surface of the road (A7076) to Moffat does not agree with my bruised posterior and combined with mist obscuring the expected views means that this section is the least enjoyed.

Ladder – Moffat (622km) control, second breakfast, the sun emerging and the smoothly surfaced climb of the Devil’s Beef Tub being the highlight of the ride, more so in contrast with the previous section. BCQ points bagged at Broughton and Penicuik, the latter slightly off-route.

Enjoying greatly.

Snake – climbing from Penicuik back to the recommended route an annoying

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london-edinburgh-london Middleton-in-Teesdale controller Heather Swift and Mike Sadler

creak begins, indicative of a failing bottom bracket bearing. I hope that can be investigated at Edinburgh.

Ladder – Edinburgh (703km) control is resplendent with bunting across the spacious dining hall. The ‘halfway feeling’ and knowing it’s all downhill home!

The mechanic is very busy and I reckon my BB will last a good while yet, even if annoying.

Snake – climbing steeply from Lasswade just south of Edinburgh the creak worsens, then ‘bang’ and the bars twist away and I know I had misdiagnosed the creak and that my steel frame has broken, but it takes a minute

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to find the crack around the gear bosses on the downtube. So now what? If in doubt; head for the pub. And it is still just lunchtime. In this case it is the Laird and Dog Inn I retrace to on foot, for a drink and a think.

Ladder – Before ordering a pint I explain to the manager behind the bar my predicament, asking if he could order a taxi or knew of a welder. Within two minutes he has loaded my bike into his own car and is taking me back to Edinburgh control. He cycles a bit himself and has had a few LEL customers and would take no petrol money.

Snake – having a proper look at my

The author, Bruce Dunbar, riding through Essex on the LEL

frame it looks terminal. If I was closer to home some hose clips with hack-saw blades as splints or an epoxy resin repair kit bodge might do, but this is 700km to go. Options seem to be: Failure and an expensive train to London in smelly kit (or some new clothes first). Go down fighting and either buy a cheap off-thepeg bike, find someone willing to lend a bike or find a welder.

Ladder – I decide to fortify myself with tea before pestering the helpers for local knowledge. Serving tea is Ulli who knows Johann who runs The Tartan Bicycle Company – a cycle hire business. So we phone him.

Snake – but his last touring bike has just been hired-out (and I gather he is having an afternoon off ).

Ladder – but he does have an unsprung steel MTB and some slicks.

Not ideal, but time is ticking, so I agree.

Johann will be 45 minutes by car, so time for a shower and to start removing lights, saddle, etc, for transfer to the MTB. Snake – Rush hour is now on and it seems to take ages to get to Johann’s workshop to swap kit, etc.

Ladder – Johann has a business neighbour who welds cars, and asks him to take a look at my frame first. He is confident that he can fix it and so with grinder and MIG a repair is done. Not the prettiest welding, but quite beautiful to me! I have to force some cash on the

www.audax.uk.net

london-edinburgh-london Riders fill their bidons before setting off into the night from Middleton control

mechanic but Johann refuses payment point-blank. I reassemble the parts removed and head south again, passing the Laird and Dog Inn again but decide against calling in.

Snake – It’s raining again. But I don’t care! I am grinning like the Cheshire cat to be back on my own bike, even though the wheel-base is an inch shorter, now with toe-wheel overlap and the saddle is not quite right. I reprimand myself for crossing a cattle grid at speed on a fragile frame. I have very little time in hand and I am short of sleep. My plan now is to leave controls by my closing times, after catching sleep in short naps which is not something I am used to doing.

Ladder – I somehow have time in hand by Traquair (745km) control and celebrate by deviating slightly for a BCQ point (having previously decided to cease this ‘extra-curricular’ activity) and also by taking the ‘wee dram’ offered, and porridge, despite the inappropriate hour (for porridge).

Snake – I miss the splendid scenery of the next two stages ridden on the nightshift.

Ladder – I am reassured by the coverage of National Escort Group moto patrols in the remote hills given my recent misadventures and I take a civilised sleep at Eskdalemuir (791km) control.

Snake – setting out again before dawn, it’s cold and every item of clothing is used, latex gloves from tool kit included, and some newspaper. I am in awe of the stars above (which we don’t see like that in the light-polluted South-East) but can only see about 10 metres forward due to mist, I creep along dodging potholes and wish I had spent longer asleep.

Ladder – returning to Brampton (849km), I quickly find my ‘please leave’ kit box.

Snake – it is upside-down and empty!

I find some items scattered around the battle zone and in lost property crates.

(I should have lodged it with the bag room.)

Ladder – we return over Yad Moss in ever-warmer conditions. Magnificent.

Snake – I see a 4x4 truck turn right from the left in front of Drew Buck on his vintage machine with too little gap, only then to see that it has a huge loaded trailer too. Rod brakes not being ideal for sudden stops, he calmly turns left into the very narrow gate somehow missing both trailer and stone wall and lives to pedal backwards another day. I am angry on his behalf and adrenaline flows, at least that helps me on the hills to Barnard Castle (933km).

Ladder – I keep in time through Thirsk (1000km) and Pocklington (1065km), sleeping briefly at both, largely thanks to riding with others at various times, chatting and keeping pace.

Snake – rain and wind though the Howardian Hills and I struggle to distinguish fallen leaves and sticks from frogs and toads by lamplight (the closest I have ever come to any kind of visual disturbance) mostly successfully with just a few unfortunate soft bumps.

Snake – I pass my ‘Hollow of Sorrow’, now well flooded, and at a snail’s pace.

Snake – an inadvertent nocturnal diversion occurs whilst chatting, soon corrected but adding a few extra kms.

Ladder – I cross the Humber Bridge at dawn, slight pity to be on the west path this time. (Nobody clapping in Barton!)

Snake – into a horrible headwind across the flatlands after Woodhall Spa. And 30° plus degree heat with no shade – a bit of an ordeal all day.

Ladder – RAF Conningsby training exercises provide a free air show with two types of jet in tight manoeuvres.

Snake – I slowly catch two Italian riders and hope that we might work together against the wind which they are keen to do, but find that they are just not able to make even 20kph and evidently out of time, they understand my apologies and I pull away.

Snake – coming across a couple of riders for whom the event had come to an accidental end.

Ladder – time in hand at St Ives (1299km) for a longer stop, a shower, change and general ‘reset’. Now just a ‘club-run’ to finish (albeit a nocturnal one) with ‘elevenses’ at Great Easton.

'It’s cold and every item of clothing is used, latex gloves from tool kit included, and some newspaper.'

Snake – it’s soon cold again and longs go back on.

Ladder – I ride with two American riders who intend to make the most of their visit by making last orders at a traditional pub, and I plan to join them, but somehow we separated and so it was another dry night. (So that would be a ‘snake’ then).

Snake – a painful Achilles tendon forces one-legged pedalling through the unexpected hills and a long stop at Thaxted.

Ladder – A grand picnic control at Great Easton (1373km) with a celebratory air. A couple of hours of valuable sleep put me slightly behind time leaving, but calculated to be safe with ‘double puncture’ time allowed. I take the ‘less lanes’ option, not expecting much traffic as I ride through the fifth dawn on the trot.

Ladder- I collect a BCQ point (no.

14) on the route at Chipping Ongar and enjoy the run for home.

Snake – I change rings with about 5km to go and somehow the chain knots itself through the cut-outs and the ‘spider’. I prod and poke and twist but it won’t untangle. The chain tool is rooted out and the latex gloves go on ready for surgery.

Ladder – with an almost absentminded touch, like a Chinese Christmas cracker puzzle, the chain mysteriously unties itself and I am rolling again. How strange.

Home – I creep in quietly to finish with just 23 minutes to spare. The Arrivée looks like a scene from a weird Art-House movie with comatose bodies and the living dead inside and out, riders and helpers alike. I don’t feel too bad, so make myself some tea and toast then shuffle off to the campsite for a shower and sleep.

Note – As I nod off I hear the heavens open yet again and I spare a thought for those sleeping in the open at the Arrivée, and out-of-time riders still on the road.

Summary

I always expected a bit of an adventure, but thought that might come from riding at brisk pace with folk from far afield, and sleeping well at night to see all the sights by day. As things turned it was all very different and spells with others were short with my distractions putting paid to any sort of schedule and making me out of kilter with others at any section. That is not to say I did not enjoy the event or the company of those I met during it. Above all I feel huge gratitude to those who went out of their way to help me and all other event helpers in whatever capacity.

I have accumulated a debt I intend to repay by helping at a future LEL where I will have a better understanding of adversities overcome, especially by those at the back of the field.

N

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bespoked bike show, london – pics by tim wainwright Paulus Quiros polished 953 stainless steel

Low gears from SRAM 42t rear x 32 front

British-made custom-built carbon frames from Craddock

Moulton's randonneur bike. The stand was manned by AUK member Dan Farrell, SR

Italian builder Faggin's classy tourer

Talbot Frameworks fixed commuter with dynamo and 'guards

Swallow Bespoke Cycles of Coalport, Shropshire 953 stainless tourer

Longstaff's frame-builder Jez Hastings (aka Zonk) is a long-time AUK member and SR

book reviews

Andrew Cornwell’s

Cycling 2014 A pocket guide to road cycling in Britain Hardback, 304pp. £10.99 plus £2 delivery from www.cyclingpress.co.uk or direct from Cycling Press Ltd, 10 Digby Crescent, London N4 2HR When I received this annual guide I was pleasantly surprised to find it was in hardback format, not the paperback I was expecting. Produced by two AUK members, Andrew Cornwell and Rachel Cooke, it is a mine of information covering all disciplines of road cycling in the UK. Andrew is an LEL rider and Rachel a Randonneur Round the Year, so, no armchair riders here! Do you want the date of a local sportive, time trial or hill climb? You’ll find them all listed in the guide, along with addresses and distances.

If you are looking for an audax ride and want the dates and a brief description of terrain and areas traversed,

Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales

by Harry Dowdell Softback, 272pp. £12.95

Cycling in the Cotswolds Softback, 268pp. £12.95

by Chiz Dakin Available from Cicerone at www.cicerone.co.uk

there a good selection from the 500 in the Calendar. Andrew and Rachel have ridden many of the events over the years, so their knowledge is first-hand.

Sportives and charity rides are widely covered under the chapter of Leisure Cycling, while road racing, time trials and hill climbs (national and club) along with CTC rides all have their comprehensive chapters.

A comprehensive directory lists cycling clubs with their website address, number of members and which disciplines and age groups they cater for.

The Bike Retailers chapter is well researched, with all your local bike shops listed under their relevant county with phone numbers and opening times.

These could provide really useful help if bike problems arise while touring, or even on some of the longer audaxes.

Also covered are national cycling organisations, campaign groups, holidays and tours, festivals, trade shows, websites and magazines.

To sum up, an excellent book full of really helpful information on what’s happening in UK cycling for the year.

These cycling guides cover two of England's most popular areas for cycle touring, the Yorkshire Dales and the Cotswolds. Following the successful format of all of Cicerone's cycle touring books – pocketable and paperback – both authors have found some interesting and 'scenic' (hilly in AUK parlance) roads and villages to explore.

They are full of inspiring images taken on route routes and the maps, based on Ordnance Survey with spot heights, are clear and concise. The routes are marked with a heavy red line with direction arrows, so they are easy to follow.

The Dales guide has 24 routes and includes Stage One of the 205km Leeds to Harrogate Tour de France route. A multi-day tour, La Vuelta a Dales, which the author describes as Medium Hard to Long and Challenging, will test your legs on a six-day holiday. All routes are suitable for road bikes.

The Cotswold guide has 22 routes through the counties of Somerset, Avon and Gloucestershire and part of Warwickshire. The routes are a mix of road and off-road and quite a few are described as 'Challenging'. Mountain bikes and hybrids are advised, but cyclists have tackled rough-stuff and round the world routes on 27in wheels for many years, so don't let that put you off if you only have a road bike, just fit some sturdy tyres.

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review

Garmin Oregon 600 GPSr James Gathercole

I’ve been using my new Oregon 600 for approximately three months now and while I haven’t done anything longer than a few 200Ks with it yet, I think I now know enough to give a full review.

The Oregon and eTrex units are aimed more at the multi-sport and Hiking markets so they are a little more bulky and lack some of the cycle training specific features of the Edge.

T

Batteries

he Oregon 6xx models comes in four varieties, the 650 has a camera and flash and the 600 that does not, additionally there are versions of both that have topo maps pre-loaded. Personally, since I always carry my phone on rides, which has a superior camera and flash, I didn’t see the point of the extra expense for the 650.

My main reason for buying the Oregon, after I started to get problems with my four year old Edge 705, was the larger screen. For some prospective I’ll compare the 600 with the Edge 810 and the eTrex 30, see table below: Model

Diagonal Screen Size

Pixels

Oregon 6xx

3” / 7.6 cm

240 x 400

Edge 810 / Touring

2.6” / 6.6 cm (13% smaller)

160 x 240

While the Edge has a built in battery the Oregon 600 can use either standard AA batteries or rechargeables, enabling you to keep the unit running as long as you have fresh batteries.

It’s worth noting that after buying the Garmin rechargeable pack I discovered the NiMH batteries they use are of a relatively poor quality, I’d have been better off buying Black Eneloop XX which are higher quality and cheaper. The Garmin battery pack can be recharged in the unit, but a quick Internet search will find the details of how to rig normal rechargeables to do the same. The battery life is about comparable to my old Edge 705 at around 14 hours, using high powered disposables would probably push it up a bit more. To be fair to the Edge units it isn’t a big deal to run a USB cable to a battery extender, which is what I used to do on rides over 300K.

eTrex x0

2.2” / 5.6 cm (26% smaller)

176 x 220

The screen and accessories

In general use I’ve found the extra screen

An Opening screen on the Oregon 600. As with The trip computer and the map have a range much of the display this can be customized. of dashboards that can be selected. The fields displayed can also be customized.

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size lets me set the zoom to a level that gives the ability to see a bit more of the road ahead and reduces the feeling of looking through a keyhole that the small screens can sometimes give, but the screen resolution and contrast are about the same as the Edge and eTrex in day to day use. As is common with a lot of modern screens the Oregon 600’s is very shiny, which means there can be light reflection problems in certain conditions.

The display is multi-touch enabling pinch zoom and finger scrolling like a cell phone and it will work in vertical or horizontal orientations, although I find I have to set screen sensitivity to high when wearing thick winter gloves, generally it works well. If you wished, the unit could be used in your car too, Garmin make automotive accessories for it and the speed of the processor means it does a pretty good job.

Much more useful for most of us, the 600 will connect to Garmin’s Heart-rate and speed / cadence sensors giving you the ability to record as well as show that data. The usual vast number of data fields are available for this and all sorts of other time and distance information.

If you want to record temperature then a separate sensor is available, the Edge has it built in, but there are some advantages

Another Trip computer dashboard. Some of the The compass dashboard. dashboards are significantly different from the Recreational one I use. www.audax.uk.net

review

Nuvi dashboard

Small Data Fields dashboard

to it being separate in that the sensor will continue recording Max and Min temps when the GPSr is off. The downside is that, unlike the Edge, the Oregon and eTrex, can not connect / record info from an ANT+ power meter.

When recording your workouts the 600 has the ability to create either a standard GPX file containing all the additional information of your heart-rate, etc. or a Garmin propriety FIT file, it can even record both if you wish. Personally I prefer the traditional GPX file but there’s nothing wrong with FIT files.

The Oregon attaches to your handlebars via a bracket running down the spine of the unit which feels very secure and is quite easy to use.

Day to day use

While I prefer to just display the map on my mapping GPSr and show speed and distance on a separate speedo, there are a number of customizable dashboards that can be displayed on the map screen, giving data fields, the compass and a number of other pieces of information varying from the useful to the somewhat

Status dashboard

irrelevant. Here is a small selection of the dashboard available, I’ve zoomed the map a bit more than usual to display more detail.

One pet peeve I have is the Text prompt during routing, this piece of text in a box shows the info on the next turn, which is fair enough but it never goes away. As soon as you make the turn the next one pops up, no matter how far away the turn is. On my old Edge 705, the Text prompt would only pop up at a certain distance from the turn, disappearing again afterwards. There is a work around enabling you to turn off the Text prompts and rely on just the beeps and arrows shown on the map.

If you want the prompting text then, if you aren’t long-sighted and can read the smaller text, the Nuvi dash board might be the best alternative. There are currently eight profiles to choose from, each gives the Trip Computer screen a different look and some of them change how the map is displayed, whether that is slightly different colours or by giving it a 3D look.

As with all mapping Garmins, the

A size comparison: the Oregon 600, Edge 705 and Edge 500

Automotive dashboard

Compass dashboard free Open Source Maps work without problems and while I’ve heard some complain about them, I personally have found OSM to be generally superior to the Garmin offerings. The 600 can have multiple maps loaded if you wish which can then be enabled or disabled depending on your activity.

My other disappointment with the Oregon is it only supports Routes (typically showing turn by turn directions) and Tracks, which are a representation of a track that was previously followed overlaid on the map.

With a track the GPSr will not warn you if you miss a turn, Edge units support Courses which are basically Tracks that do beep a warning if you miss a turn.

Courses may be a propriety Garmin file type, but they are more useful than Tracks and I can’t see any reason why they could not have been a feature on the Oregon.

You’ll see many ways of creating and displaying routes on a GPSr talked about, but to my mind the only two practical methods are Tracks, which are very easy to produce but require a bit more attention when on the road or Routes that follow the road. The limitation of 50 user way-points applies to the Oregon 600 as it does to many other GPSr units, normally that’s plenty to achieve a good route if you break the ride down to trips between controls, which is generally the best way to work. It is also possible to include a Track in your Route’s GPX file, personally I find red is a colour that stands out best against the map’s background and the Route’s magenta lines.

The 600 comes with power and a function buttons on the right-hand side, both these buttons can have custom functions assigned to them for one and two presses, which is very useful to flip between screens when on the bike.

Additionally you can also create shortcuts for some common functions on the main screens making commands buried in the menus easier to get to. Should you wish to really get your geek on, you

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review can create custom symbols for items on the maps, change the start-up message, the screen wallpaper and the GPSr icon on your computer.

The Kidderminster Killer and From Clee to Heaven audaxes August 16th The Kidderminster Killer, a 200km randonnée, has a long pedigree of following its creation over 25 years ago, thanks to Kidderminster CTC’s Dave Pountney. Now under the auspices of the Beacon Roads Cycling Club, it has been joined by a smaller BP, ‘From Clee to Heaven’. The Kidderminster Killer follows a very hilly circuit from Worcestershire to Montgomery whilst the Clee audax traverses the rarely-visited Clee Hills. The event is organised by Philip Whiteman on behalf of Beacon Roads CC. All photos by Charles White.

Accuracy

The Oregon 600 in my tests has a bit better accuracy than the Edge, I estimate three to five feet, it also supports GLONASS, the Russian location system for additional accuracy if you require it. Probably not necessary for every day riding, but if you want to get into Geocacheing then it might be handy.

The Oregon 600 has a number of functions aimed at that pursuit and I’m told it is liked by the Geocacheing community.

Celebrating on the Clee to Heaven 100k

Firmware updates

The usual caveat with newer Garmin units applies to updates, there have already been several Firmware updates that caused a lot more problems than they fixed, one reduced my battery life to 3 hours and a couple of others were withdrawn before I got a chance to download them, so I’ve learnt to wait a month before trying a new update.

It does appear that throughout the Garmin range, real world testing of their Firmware updates leaves a bit to be desired.

Yes or no?

So is the Oregon 600 a good option for Audax? Long experience has shown me that when it comes to electrical components, be it lights or a GPSr, if you have a single point of failure you’re asking for trouble, so I have to confess that while I use the Oregon for routing I also have an Edge 500 providing speedo functions, but with the tracks loaded as a fallback, not to mention a route sheet in my pocket; it also means I have access to many of the extra functions provided by the Edge 810.

If you keep your eyes open the Oregon 600 can be had quite reasonably, of course the Edge 810 has better training functions if you don’t mind the cost premium and eTrex can be had cheaper if you are on a tight budget, but then it has a much smaller screen. I did once see someone with a 10” iPad mounted on his bike, I’m sure navigation was really easy, but you have to draw the line somewhere! While there was a bit of a learning curve coming from an Edge GPSr I now find the Oregon 600 superior, it is highly customizable and the extra screen size, speed and ease of use are well worth it, plus I’ve always liked to stand out a little from the crowd!

The Burway, Kidderminster Killer 200

Greg Thompson nearing the top of The Burway

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kidderminster killer

Above: From Clee to Heaven

Below: Organiser Philip Whiteman briefs the riders at the start Above: The Burway, Long Mynd. Kidderminster Killer 200 Below: Signing on to The Clee 100k with Dave Cole

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randonnee

Dartmoor Ghost Gill Simmonds (aka Baggy) It’s always great to see a new local audax in the calendar, so the appearance of the 140k Dartmoor Ghost was very welcome, particularly as it looked a bit different from the average – an overnight ride on the summer solstice, taking in some of Dartmoor’s most legendary haunted areas.

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vernight rides are one of my favourite things, so I fired off my entry on a dark, windy, wet, winter’s night, dreaming of cycling under a golden moon on a balmy summer’s night, being gently pushed along by a gentle tailwind. Fast forward several months to a hellishly windy, wet, dark summer’s night, where a lucky 13 waterproof-clad riders are wedged into Kevin Presland’s kitchen for coffee, pizza and a pre-ride briefing.

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There was a frisson of nervous anticipation in the air at the prospect of all the ghosties and ghoulies that might be waiting for us on the moor. A week before the event I’d been lying in bed turning over the usual pre-audax questions in my mind: ‘How many kilos of cake should I carry?’ and ‘will I need the space blanket this time?’ were suddenly joined by ‘What if the hairy hands are not just things of legend? What if they steer me off the road and nobody notices’.

The pre-ride briefing didn’t help to soothe anyone’s nerves. As Kevin told us a little history about the haunted sites, the kitchen door creaked open. A ghostly, hooded monk squeezed into the kitchen, unrolled an ancient scroll and regaled us with a poetic warning about the various beasties lurking en-route: the hairy hands, tragic Kitty Jay, the Lydford gaoler.

'We huddled in a gateway for a slightly shivery repair and mouthful of malt loaf as the rain bounced off us.'

As someone commented, if the whole thing was going to be like this, we’d be needing new shorts before dawn. Still, if we survived until morning there would be bacon at the finish.

Off we went, myself and Chuffy falling into our customary position at the back, joined by our friends Mike and Ian. The weather had calmed down a little as we trundled out to the first climb but as we headed upwards to the moor the wind picked up, gusting strongly enough to pluck Ian’s glasses from his head (it must have been the wind as the hairy hands don’t usually frequent this bit of the moor). By the approach to Hound Tor gusts were shoving us sideways and blowing ripples of rain up the road. There were a few tantalising glimpses of the moon as clouds shot past, and had it only been clear, the views across the moor would have been fantastic. As it was, the twinkling lights in the soggy far distance just seemed to be mocking us.

We rumbled over a cattle grid, signalling that we were officially on Dartmoor. Unfortunately, the noise woke the puncture-fairy who selected Mike as her victim. We huddled in a gateway for a slightly shivery repair and mouthful of malt loaf as the rain bounced off us. In spite of cold fingers Mike worked quickly and we were soon on our way … or were we? After a few pedal strokes I slithered to a halt with my rear wheel locked up.

I dismounted with a heavy heart – this wasn’t a great time or place to have a fiddly mechanical. A quick inspection revealed my frame-mounted pump had jumped off its mounts and jammed into my back wheel, luckily, without causing any damage. We’re still certain this incident was due to supernatural forces and nothing to do with me putting it back in a rush.

Off we went. As I subscribe to the Stannah school of climbing, my three companions gradually inched away until the rain, wind and road were my only friends. Slowing up to catch my breath, my lights picked out an odd grassy mound set back from the road, topped off with a bunch of flowers and something that looked almost like … a headstone. With a bit of a start, I realised this was Jay’s Grave.

After a brief moment of reflection on what a wild, solitary resting place it is, it dawned on me that I was on my own, on a moor, at night, in a gale, next to a grave where a weeping, hooded-figure is reputed to appear. An unusual turn of www.audax.uk.net

randonnee speed followed and on rounding a curve in the road was relieved to see rear lights in view again. A conversation followed along the lines of ‘grave, what grave? No, really? Didn’t notice it, oh, we thought you were right behind us’, etc. …

Our first control was at Whiddon Down services, where we scored our first ghostly brevet stamp. The hot drink dispenser looked very alluring, but even at this early stage we only had a little time in hand so had to push on. Mike is generally raring to go at controls, but in an unusual bit of role-reversal I had to break the news to him that there was Not Really Time for Coffee and that we had to get going. He looked pained at this unusual turn of events.

Hummers looms large

The next section of route was somewhat less challenging, but featured the most genuinely spooky experience of the night. Bashing along a long, straight, section of road we spied approaching bike lights in the distance. LEJOGers, maybe? Our paths crossed and greetings were exchanged and snatched away by the wind. One cyclist seemed to brake and almost pull into a track stand as we passed. A minute later, an apparition appeared at my right shoulder: ‘Baggy!’

Hummers! It was possibly the most unexpected time and place to bump into someone we actually knew. Mr. Hummerstone revealed he was out on a DIY LEL – Land’s End–London, with a group of friends, and we had a brief chat before he turned round again to catch his friends.

After this cheering interlude we pressed on to Okehampton and its potentially haunted castle. Descending into town we could hear ghastly shrieks and see unnatural human forms lurching around in the road … yes, our arrival had coincided with club kicking out time. As it turned out, this was a far more disturbing spectacle than anything the silent castle had to offer.

The town’s roads offered a brief respite from the elements, but we were soon heading into a stonking headwind again as we hauled ourselves up the climb to Brentor Church. As we approached, the remains of the church were briefly backlit by the silvery full moon, so we stopped to enjoy the spectacle and feast on a selection of sweeties before heading off down what should have been a blissful freewheel. Sadly on this particular night we had to pedal fairly hard downhill to make any progress.

At this point I started to feel a bit feeble and hungry, wondering why on earth I’d ever though the combination of night riding, Dartmoor’s hills and lashing rain would be enjoyable. Luckily this coincided with us reaching the Yelverton Community Cinema control where Kate and Geoff welcomed us into their night-

Riders, riders burning bright On this solstice, moonlit night Dartmoor’s darkest sites to see I say, rather you than me!

Starting here where monks were found, To Ilsington’s old hanging ground.

On to the grave of Kitty Jay Not somewhere where you’d want to stay.

Okehampton’s ruins like broken teeth, And, depending on your own beliefs Where Mary Howard’s bone-clad coach Awaits your bicycle’s approach.

Unlit Lydford’s eerie jail Where seven spectral voices wail Anglo Saxon pre-dates the Norman A bear, a pig, and a hanging lawman

time oasis, cheerfully informing us that we were well within time and plying us with hot food and drinks. With grins all round we sat, steaming gently, and filled our faces with corn chowder, tiger-bread and rice pudding, speculating that we’d soon have a tailwind, the worst of the hills were out of the way, and that there was no way the hairy hands would try to apprehend us after sun-up.

Dying quietly at the side of the road

Thanking our hosts for looking after us so well, we left the hall to find the dark, rainy sky had been replaced with a slightly more grey, drizzly one, meaning that somewhere, the sun had risen. At least this meant we could now see the hills coming. Somewhat predictably, with two bowls of chowder and several chunks of bread on board, the climb back up on to the moor was a complete killer.

Chuffy and I grovelled along as Ian and Mike dropped us even though they were trying not to. Conscious that we were probably losing any of the time we’d made up, we suggested they leave us to die quietly at the side of the road, but good friends that they are, they insisted on staying with us to watch our suffering.

With the sun up we were afforded

some fabulous views which provided a welcome distraction from our pain, and soon enough we were crossing the middle of the moor. This road is a fabulous roller-coaster with swooping descents and long climbs. By now the tailwind was ours, and we grinned like idiots as we flew downhill and then zoomed up again, powered by momentum.

Finally bidding the moor a fond farewell, we trundled up the steady climb from Moretonhampstead before the final welcome roll down onto the Teign Valley road, briefly sharing the route with Dartmoor Classic riders who whizzed past, high on energy gels. This meant we were back in Bovey Tracy – we’d survived! We reached Kevin’s house a full hour inside time and happily nattered as he and his daughter, Anna, cooked us a delicious fry-up. A welcome finale to a fantastic night.

The Ghost is genuinely one of the most enjoyable and memorable audaxes I’ve ridden. It’s not the easiest of rides, there’s plenty of climbing and there’s no escaping the fact you’re riding across one of Devon’s wildest (and most haunted) places, but this is exactly what makes it such a great experience. Roll on June …

As you gaze upon the stars Will hands take hold of your handlebars?

No point in ringing on your bell, When hairy hands drag you straight to hell.

Hearts and Aces, clubs and spades The Devil rode from out of Hades Pursuing gambling Master Reynolds, Past the whisthounds’ chilling kennels.

Unlike previous cycling jaunts If you make it past these evil haunts Survive shit creek without your paddle Remaining stable on your saddle, Outlive the fearsome ghouls of Devin You’ll have earned a breakfast from a dude named Kevin!

By Mark Lindsey-Earley

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review

Luxos front dynamo lights from Busch & Müller Chris Wilby How important is it to have continuous front beam of light that will see you right through a dark night and why is it important to use good lights in daylight?

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o ensure speedy and safe progress through a night these dynamo lights illuminate onto the road surface and straight ahead which most battery high powered units do not as they are generally designed for off-road use, they often give a robust beam of light with no particular footprint on the road. This is not a critical factor in deciding lights but you will experience a safer ride when you can see the road surface and road edges clearly.

A significant ill-effect on cyclists’ safety is not being seen, specifically by drivers who make decisions based on a quick look before making manoeuvres such as changing direction, pulling out of a junction, overtaking head-on.

Cyclists don’t have the same width as cars and are not usually positioned far enough from the kerb line for a motorist conditioned into looking for cars. That’s why the national cycle training teaches cyclists to move into the primary position when passing side roads and to wear bright clothing. Using good lights in dull lighting conditions increases driver awareness and reduces the chance of an accident due to not being seen.

Day-time and night-time modes

These new dynamo lights from Busch & Müller have day-time and night-time modes which automatically switch as the light changes. The daylight setting engages bright LEDs, and the night time mode switches on the headbeam which targets a footprint of light onto the road.

The parking light is the third function which is an essential requirement because it stops the headlamp from going dark when stopped at traffic lights due to no power input from the dynamo.

Both versions of the Luxos lamps operate these modes and have shown to be highly effective. I have been using these lamps for a year and other cyclists have also commented on how effective they are.

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Luxos U and Luxos B

These front lights both provides a fully lit footprint of light ahead to tackle unlit country lanes. Both lamps have the strong headlight and very effective daylight function whilst Luxos U has additional features: a higher intensity headlight from the reserve power, automatic zoom onto the road which adjusts with speed, charging output via USB, a manual single flash and a green indicator light for the rear light (if attached).

Luxos U includes a handlebarmounted thumb switch which also has the USB output.

Motorists do seem to have the impression that it’s a motorbike approaching because of the bright headlamp and so tend to dip their headlights. This is something that is rarely done for a cyclist.

The size of the Luxos is bigger than previous dynamo lights I have had but was easily fitted above the crown central bracket and it can be positioned offset from the handlebars with the right bracket.

The robust black plastic shell on the lamp looks good and has some deliberate side light albeit quite small. B&M have effectively blocked spillage of light upwards with this new design so you don’t get any eye glare.

The fork crown is a great place to position the lamp because it does not cramp any handlebar space which is needed for route sheet mounts, a GPS or phone. The brackets supplied with the light are strong enough to secure it behind cantilever or caliper brakes. If using discs, then even better. I have not

Above: B&M 'barmounted thumbswitch with USB output to charge mobile phomes and GPS units

Left: The Luxos headlamp

had a single problem with this location through 12 months of riding, about 8,000 kilometres.

The wires are fitted to spaded clips on the unit so wires can easily be replaced instead of having wires rooted internally into a device. These connectors are positioned underneath at the back of the lamp where they are sheltered from the elements but they can still get wet, suffice that Busch & Müller provide rubber outer tubes that cover the connectors. Initially I just used the dynamo with the front lamp but since seeing the rear line models of rear lamp and how they can easily be fixed to a seatpost of any size I now use a rear light.

The Secular light is a big advance on the older model with the light equivalent to the very best LED battery pack versions of rear lights. It does not have flashing mode but is very effective.

The front lamp has a green LED to show that the rear light is working and an orange LED to show that the front light is working.

These powerful front lights have three modes of operation whichv are quite unique: 1. The daylight function where all power goes into the LEDs presenting a very bright ball of light for driver awareness but without any road projection.

2. The full beam which switches on automatically when it gets dark or dusk when the device detects subdued lighting. This effect can be www.audax.uk.net

review

Panorama light at close range, controlled automatically LICHT24, daytime running light Standlight Light ON/OFF

USB power for smartphone, GPS...

Floodlight Flashing headlight Charging indication

Handlebar push button

Riding light 70 Lux. Floodlight 90 Lux. Rear light monitor Integrated lithium cache battery

A light delight IQ2 technology – light revolution, the next generation: dynamo power creates a light field of unprecedented brightness, size and width. Light output is adaptable to riding conditions, automatically or at the push of a button. With daytime running light. USB socket supplies non-fluctuating charging power for smartphones or GPS devices. LUXOS – a pure delight, day and night.

800% brighter, 200% wider than German traffic regulations demand.

seen when riding through tunnels, as the lamp automatically switches between daylight and night time modes.

3. Parking light when temporarily stopped the lights stay on.

Luxos U

This version has a switch fastened on the handlebars to operate other dynamo functions. Using your thumb you give a quick press for a flashlight and a long press to turn on the booster light. The booster light is produced from a small internal storage of charge from the lamp and shows a blue indicator light when on.

It is supposed to be for short periods of time but I found it stayed on for at least 30 minutes enough for a tricky descent in the dark.

Also on the switch is a red indicator light that shows when current is available for charging through the USB socket.

Rear lights

The two new rear lights from Busch & Müller are brighter than previous models. They have the new system of line design (LineTec) which make them more effective for drivers to gauge distance by giving a spatial light. The smallest version (Secula) has two different designs, one for a seatpost, the other for a mudguard. The

Made in Germany Meinerzhagen • Tel. + 49 (0) 23 54-9 15-6 • bumm.de

wider version (Toplight) is intended for a rack carrier and has two versions, with a brakelight and without. The brakelight version determines a deacceleration from the power output of the dynamo. In practice a sudden uphill triggers it and it really would be useful when commuting.

Dynamos

It is a dynamo light so requires a dynamo

to power it and I have been testing the unit for over six months with two different power units.

1. The small, compact hub unit (Shutter Precision) from Taiwan.

2. The larger Sturmey Archer combined hub brake from Holland.

Below: The Shutter Precision hub dynamo

The amount of light produced by either of these units is the same when cycling but the U version has an extra headbeam from stored energy when riding.

The lightest unit (Shutter Precision), which is basically unnoticeable from a normal hub and only 200gms heavier, does not produce a full light at lower speeds. At walking speed where it doesn’t matter about seeing the road, the light will flicker like a front flashing light and becomes a floodlit lamp when speed in increases. About 8mph is the point at which the change is apparent. Once moving both units are capable of lighting the road not just into the distance but also onto the road surface where its needed.

USB charging a GPS and Smartphone ‘Luxos U’

The USB output from the handlebar switch is very convenient to power a GPS

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review device or phone. The switch shows a red indicator light when there is enough charge to send power to a device. This will come on and off depending upon riding speed and accumulated charge. If a device is connected then it will receive charge whenever the red light displays so the charging will be intermittent depending upon the accumulated charge. Uphill the charge will dissipate and downhill it will return. The lights take priority above the charging. If a direct line is taken from the dynamo hub then this could power a device as a priority over the lights. Having a USB output on the handlebars is very convenient and short USB cables can be easily obtained.

Charging was produced even when lights were on full and when riding with daylight lights.

1. There are various cases and bags that can be used on the handlebars.

I have discovered the quadlock that I have glued to a phonecase and using a waterproof phone this fits like the twist and clip Garmin mount. I have attached a safety cord to the case if the glue joint fails.

2. The best method is a waterproof phone, or using a waterproof case/ bag.

3. I found that the phone can be seen easily in dull light but needs the brightness turned up for bright conditions.

4. Battery can be helped by switching the phone to airplane mode and keeping the display switched off as much as possible. In addition I carry a spare battery booster just in case.

No problem with charge power

The Etrex 20/30 are good GPS devices that are able to be powered from the Luxos, have bright displays, are waterproof and have good handlebar mounts. The Etrex units do not have rechargeable batteries built in so any power from the Luxos is used directly instead of the AA batteries but when the power input drops below a certain level, eg, when stationary, then the Etrex prompts for the user to switch to battery power. If you don’t press the button in time the Etrex switches off and you lose tracking information until you switch on again.

When using the Garmin Edge the unit does not attempt to switch off when the power supply drops.

The Garmin displays use less power than a smartphone and I have managed to ride with illuminated displays for many rides, but it is annoying to discover the distance information has been lost because the unit has switched off at a junction or turn.

But having used the Etrex 20 I find the display small and often find myself taking the wrong turn because I can’t zoom or move the display sufficiently in time.

Compared to my smartphone which has a bigger display and with the right software installed, the smartphone is easier. Two Android applications I found that both show maps and GPX tracks are OSMAND and Viewranger. Viewranger also has a beacon feature that shows beacon buddies where you are.

I first noticed other cyclists using iPhones for navigation on South Korea’s first 1200mm in 2012.

The GPS used was a Garmin Etrex 20 and this could be powered directly from the USB. There was no problem with the charge power except that the dynamo does not produce a constant stream of power because riding uphill will give enough for the lights but the storage battery will deplete. Also using the booster light will reduce the power to the switch.

When this happens the Etrex will ask for a prompt to revert to its batteries and if you don’t see the prompt it will switch off. In practice the Etrex kept switching off.

For the other Edge models the extra power provided will prolong the battery life.

For a smartphone a similar situation to the Edge exists, except that the display takes most of the power.

What B&M say about the charging feature Luxos U : ‘When it comes to the Luxos U and charging , some things have to be taken into consideration: • Only charge with the light switched off, otherwise there’s not sufficient dynamo power for charging.

• Make sure the cache battery has a basic charge by riding for a few minutes with lights off and no mobile device connected.

• As some devices can take up to 5W of power, the Luxos’s power output might not be sufficient to charge them – only to subsidise energy consumption and therefore slow down discharging.’

There are these main issues to overcome with the use of a mobile device and cycling as follows: 1. How to mount securely on the handlebars.

2. Waterproofing.

3. Display in sunlight.

4. Battery.

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The Seculum rear light

'Using a smartphone gives the oppor­ tunity to use ­different software for the type of riding.'

After a lot of rides and determination to find a way of using this on Audaxes I have found that the phone can be charged from the Luxos even when the lights are on but the power input will only successfully be able to charge the phone when the screen display is off.

Using daylight mode on the Luxos with the phone power (Huawei Ascend P1 phone) set to battery saving mode, and the OSMAND software on sleep tracking, the phone battery started to gain charge and this increased with the lights off altogether. To check the map it was simply a matter of pressing the screen on to see the map.

The OSMAND software has free downloadable maps and will show a GPX track. It shows position and is easy to zoom by touchscreen.

Summary

Compared to many battery high power lights available in the cycling shops which use a battery pack, this lighting is not as bright but it does display the road properly as many of the brightest battery lights do not as they have been designed for off-road use primarily and tend to be more general purpose with a large blast of light for uses such as exploring caves or walking. They are a problem giving greater glare to oncoming road users.

The Luxos lights give probably the best lighting and the U version has a few extras which are particularly relevant to long-distance cycling.

As with all dynamos there are no batteries to change, the road is better illuminated with these lights for less eye strain and safer riding. Daylight lights (B and U versions) are a great safety feature and in the U version a boost-light for difficult, dark descents is a great feature as is also charging a smartphone or GPS.

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Navigating by smartphones

Using a smartphone gives the opportunity to use different software for the type of riding. With the introduction of Bluetooth version 4.0 which is a low energy system, the use of a heart monitor and other Bluetooth sensors is possible.

The phone could be used for navigation, mileage, speed displays and heart monitor to just maps or satnav. www.audax.uk.net

official news

The AUK forum

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t AGM2103 it was proposed ‘that the Board will provide an electronic forum for AUK’s members to discuss policy and strategy issues. A deadline to provide this will be agreed at the AGM’. The rationale for this being ‘it is unsatisfactory that these issues are discussed on public forums in the absence of a members’ only facility. Given that there is already a forum for the Board, it should be technically easy to provide a forum for any member to join, and its provision would enhance democracy and transparency within AUK and hopefully lead to sounder decision making that reflects the wishes of club members. Its implementation date should be agreed at the AGM, allowing the implementer to have a say in when that would be practicable’.

Whilst I agree with much of the proposer’s sentiments, there comes a point when ‘technically easy’ meets the harsh reality of time and effort!

Regardless, AUK is the only organisation I’m aware of that doesn’t have its own forum and its absence holds us back in many ways, most immediately from my point of view as AUK secretary in that there is no means of open communication between AUK Delegates and Members regarding official AUK business beyond ‘letters to the Arrivée editor’, which in our modern world is somewhat ridiculous.

So I am pleased to announce … the AUK Forum, which can be found at www.audax.co.uk/forum. To sign on, use your regular Audax UK user ID and password, ie, the credentials you use to sign onto the AUK website.

The forum will go ‘live’ by the end of April, to support the ‘Proxy Voting’ EGM scheduled for May 22nd and the review of Resolutions for AGM2014 thereafter. Some aspects of the forum may seem a bit basic at first – for example, we have opted to use the default forum ‘theme’ (layouts and colourways) until the new AUK branding is available – but it will soon develop with your feedback.

We have adopted SMF for the forum software – as used by YACF – as it

Paul Stewart is familiar to many and offers a wide range of user and support facilities, including private messaging, bookmarking of favourite topics, notifications of posts to those favourite topics, and so on. All good stuff. On launch the forum will have ‘boards’ for AUK Delegate teams, Event Organisers and the wider membership, and more can be added as required. General guidance on using the SMF forum and communicating with the forum moderators will be provided through a board called ‘The Office’. Snappy, eh?

As the proposal indicates, the rationale for the forum is to support ‘official club business’ such as the publication of Notices to Members – as required by the AUK Articles of Association – and general discussion of points of interest to AUK members. It is not intended to promote events or serve as a general social media platform, those functions being better served through the new AUK website and other social networking media.

This is not to say that discussion of upcoming events, chain lube or whatever will be frowned upon – it’s your forum – but from launch at least, the forum will be restricted to AUK members. Only AUK members will be able to sign in and only signed in users will be able to post and otherwise view forum content.

We are aware that many AUKs profess a dislike of social media and forums, and the comments and banter which anonymous posting encourages. Accordingly, users will post under their given name and guidance will be offered regarding respecting AUK and members’ privacy.

The forum will be moderated by Ian Oliver, Peter Lewis (AUK recorder) and myself (Paul Stewart, AUK Secretary).

This is a ‘bold new initiative’ for AUK and we will all be learning as we go, so please do bear with us. If you have any queries or suggestions, feel free to post at ‘The Office’ or send a message to ‘The Office’ via the forum – not to me, please!

Happy Posting!

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Rohloff upgrades & servicing Custom Building INVICTA FRAMES and complete bikes

Frame Building Courses Standard 5 day and Advanced 10 Day Build your own fillet brazed or lugged frame julie@downlandcycles.co.uk | 01227 709706 www.downlandcycles.co.uk | Canterbury Kent CT4 6EG

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randonneur-round-the-year

Winter k's count as double Phil Whitehurst

In the weeks following LEL my long distance riding entered a lull. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy going out on my bike; I was still commuting daily. But the drive, the challenge, the focus of my riding that year was complete. Maybe I was in a post-coital state, lying in a warm embrace, in a period of contentment.

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he end of August I put a little back into Audax and manned the Saffron Walden control on the Mildenhall 300 Audax.

This was the Audax in 2012 where my dreams of LEL firmed into a commitment; for better or worse. It was great to see the last riders come through, and to give them that extra lift and belief to keep going to the finish.

The weeks had drifted by, and the end of August approached. The tingling in my fingers had subsided. Once more I felt energised to do something further with my long distance riding. I was looking for inspiration, and RRTY found me.

I’m sure many of you know what RRTY is, but for me, it was something new. The challenge of RRTY is to do a minimum of one Audax ride of 200km a month, for 12 consecutive months. You can, of course, 34

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do longer rides in a month if so inclined.

I looked back over 2013 and realised I’d done this minimum each month since April. I had my next challenge and long distance aspiration to be getting on with.

It was August 28th when I had my conversion. St Paul was on the road to Damascus; I was on the road to work.

LEL counted towards July RRTY and so I needed something for August. I didn’t have long to get myself sorted. Luckily I’ve used GPS for over 11 years now, and DIY by GPS came to my rescue.

DIY GPS is also something new to me. The DIY organiser is really helpful.

Buy some virtual brevet cards from one of the organisers (anyone of them can help). Plan your route on Google Maps using walking mode. Uses get directions, adding additional destinations to form your controls/checkpoints. Make sure Google comes up at more than 200km.

Submit your list of controls using the online form on Audax UK (see DIY GPS link on left hand side). Then plan your route to ensure it comes up more than 200km. Your route can be what you want as long as it passes through the controls you chose. Ride your route, ensuring you have your GPS turned on. Submit the subsequent track to the organiser via

'I was looking for inspiration, and RRTY found me.'

email. See the result come up on your membership section of the AUK website.

So my first DIY 200 by GPS happened on 31st August to keep RRTY going.

I wasn’t leaving it too late was I? Fortunately my first route out through the rolling countryside of North Essex and Suffolk, turning round at Lavenham, went smoothly. The weather was nice.

We were still enjoying the long, warm summer, and sitting on benches in villages eating my supplies, under a warming sun and azure skies with a light breeze, was a delight.

September I planned a route out through the Cambridgeshire Fens, crossing the LEL route near Fenstanton.

I also learnt that Google Maps seems to think bridleways are OK for road bikes.

There were three sections of bridleway on the route my GPS indicated. Two sections I went for and one I avoided.

I now put the calculated route onto Ordnance Survey mapping to do final checks by loading to my GPS. This was ridden on September 30th, not too close for comfort?

October I entered the Anfractuous 200 which was only a week later. This starts from Chalfont St Peter community centre. There was an option to sleep www.audax.uk.net

randonneur-round-the-year over the Friday night which I took up.

The advantage: having a few drinks with some of the other riders. Oh, and a later start on the Saturday morning.

This was the first time I saw some of the other riders who’d been on LEL, Marcus Jackson-Baker, Steve Abraham, Wilkiboy, Pistol Pete. It was nice to catch up and see what others had been up to since LEL. Steve Abraham, I am disappointed to say, did not have any Jack Danials on him this time. It was a lovely ride out through the Chilterns, and through horse country to Lambourne, Berkshire. A right cleat bolt fell out about 50km from the end and other was too seized to move. I rode the last bit with one foot clipped and one not. There were many up and downs, and the hilliest 200 I’ve ridden this year, but it was also my quickest. Flatter does not mean faster.

A ride to the AGM would have satisfied the November RRTY. It clashed with a week’s holiday with my wife and so sadly I was unable to attend. I did, however, have permission to ride my November RRTY during our holiday. I was feeling inspired to theme my DIY 200s by this point and so choose a coastal route visiting as many lighthouses as possible for controls. Leaving before 6am, there were no lights in the lanes, and the Milky Way dazzled above me. They say it is cold in space; well it was cold in the dark solitude of the lanes, sub-zero.

There was a heavy frost and a little ice about. On some of the uphills; I could feel the rear wheel reaching the edge of traction. On the downhills I could feel the more dangerous condition of the front wheel losing traction. I took it easy in those hours before sunrise. Not long after sunrise I found police attending a car that had left the icy roads on a bend. The sunrise warmed my bones but it wasn’t till 10am that I began to feel warm again.

Strong northerly winds

At the southern lighthouse I took the bike onto the beach and sat and gazed out to sea awhile; before returning 10km north to meet my wife at a pub. The warmth was welcoming. Heading north I now faced a strong northerly with storms racing in.

About 20km further north my wife passed me in the car again, having stopped to food shop. She said I was on the drops; head down, with a look of determination on my face. It was that kind of headwind and I was getting a regular battering from the hail storms racing off the North Sea. I was hoping to be back for sunset, but I had a problem with my front dynamo.

The bike had fallen over when I stopped to eat and take respite in a bus shelter. It had pulled the cable out, and now it wouldn’t stay in place. So I rode a good 20km with the light flicking, and stopped a number of times to reseat the connector, after it came out following a direct pothole hit.

Eventually I rode the final 2km back to my

starting lighthouse with no front light, using the bright moon and lighthouse beam as a guide. The route had gone back past the cottage we were staying at for the week. Being later than I’d forecast; I tried ringing my wife to say I’d finished, but I had no signal. She met me near the cottage with a light, having seen me ride past. I later crimped the connector back with a pair of pliers and all is well with the dynamo again.

Following my themed DIY 200’s I decided upon windmills for my December DIY. I managed to find 13 or so windmills for a local route, starting from my house. I like to ride the dark sections first in winter, and then hopefully finish before or not long after sunset. I set off from the warm house around 5.30am, having got up just before 5am. Once more it was cold, with a frost about.

Within 15 minutes of leaving the house I entered the unlit lanes of Hertfordshire.

Jupiter was bright in the sky and the moon was low on the horizon. I rode under that milky tapestry, looking upon those twinkling stars, and felt humbled and still. Everything slows down and minds empties when I ride my bike, and during the hours of darkness on Audax rides it is especially true. It is fine state to enter, and one you reluctantly leave. An antidote the modern world: constantly grabbing for your attention.

The first windmill was within 30 minutes of leaving the house. I stopped and took a picture on my camera phone. It subsequently came out with a green tinge due to the darkness and small sensor, inadequate flash on it.

Pedalling on, the ever shrinking lanes had only me, my bike, and the stars for company. Till I came face to face with a stag so close I could smell its breath frosting in the night air and almost touch its magnificent antlers. Coming out onto the A10 I realised Google had picked a dual carriageway section. I lifted the bike over the middle barrier, and pedalled for all my worth to the next roundabout to get back onto quiet lanes.

Joining the LEL route

The eastern horizon began to have colour with purple, blue, greens, oranges promising a fine day to come. Sunrise as still an hour away, however. I joined the LEL route north for 10km or so. The second windmill came about 30 minutes before sunrise. Again I stopped, took a photo, and had a nutty bar to eat.

The cold was once again eating into my bones, and I longed for the sun to clear the horizon and touch me. It teased, and prodded me, before finally deciding to send me warmth-giving rays. The forecast was for strong winds but in the pre-dawn light it was still calm.

I approached Thaxted (another windmill), and pondered about stopping at the café for some breakfast and a hot

'I came face to face with a stag so close I could smell its breath frosting in the night air and almost touch its magnificent antlers.'

tea. I needn’t have pondered, it was not yet open. So I snacked alone, by the windmill, before continuing.

I now turned north-east and headed up to Six Mile Bottom (another windmill).

Here I got a puncture, the first in eight months. I hate punctures when it is cold, but it was at least a fine, sunny day by now. I was making good time, and the delay was not too long.

On and on I cycled gradually turning north, then west, and then south-west.

Each windmill visited had a different character and dimension. One thing they all had is common, a good location for gathering wind! Now on the return I’d reached 130km and was looking forward to the pub lunch I’d promised myself.

Alas the village pub I’d intended did not serve food, nor did the next. I visited the windmill at Bourn, only half mile off the LEL route. Still hungry, I rode another 20km before I stopped at a pub. They had stopped serving but they didn’t mind me going over the road to the co-op, and eating a pork pie with my pint.

Ever since 110km I’d been fighting a strengthening headwind, the kind that just saps your energy. It was gusting quite strongly as well. On the drops, head down, and push on with determination. I’d bought a five-pack of mini pork pies and they were going down well. Just before sunset I found a wooden bus wooden shelter with a proper bench. The bike, I and pork pies fitted in. Perfect.

The final section joined my commute home, and after a short 12 per cent hill I was back on familiar territory. A fabulous boost, against the winds now trying to blow me into orbit (I later found out they were gusting around 50-60mph directly into my path). A few final villages and soon enough I was back home and in the shower getting warmth back into my extremities. Then off to the Chinese and a few beers to round off the day.

I think RRTY is a bit of a love/hate relationship. Sometimes I think I’ve got myself onto a, admittedly self-imposed, treadmill. But at other times I love the focus it gives me to keep riding through these cold, dark, and what are turning out to be increasingly wet winter days. Once I’m actually out riding I love it, but leaving a warm bed to head out into a pre-dawn winter’s day is hard.

So I’ve got three more months to complete to reach my first RRTY and all the rides are now known; the Willy Warmer being the first. Lynn Hedley did say no need to ride it, she’d knit me one, but that could be awkward, when it came to her taking measurements, to get the fit just right.

I’ve always felt that riding in the winter months is harder than spring and summer.

I know that the spring 400s will feel easier than this winter 200s. Winter km definitely count double and RRTY is the excuse you need.

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in the beginning

This is how it all began John Nicholas, AUK's founding secretary, recounts how AUK was formed Reprinted from Bicycle Times, circa 1970s. Article supplied by the late Nev Chain (pictured on right)

Audax Club Parisien [ACP] played its part in the creation of randonneur events which AUK now organises in Britain. Because the ACP has been called a ‘small Paris cycling club’ by a correspondent to the CTC’s magazine Cycle Touring, it is as well to remind readers that the ACP is, possibly, the most prestigious of French cycle touring clubs and Audax UK is, in its fullest sense, its partner in Britain.

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erhaps it is better to quote from the current issue of Guide du Cyclotouriste published by the Fédération Francais de Cyclotourisme (FFCT).

The Touring Club de France (TCF) was founded in March 1890 on the lines of the already existing CTC in Britain but, where the CTC refused admittance to motorists the TCF allowed them to become members and had separate sections for motorists and cyclists.

Paul de Vivie (Velocio) had, in 1889, endeavoured to create an organisation which was specifically for cyclotouristes but it was not until the end of 1904 when the TCF was becoming notably favourable to the motorists, that cyclists began to form their own clubs and at the forefront was ACP. These clubs felt that, as organised bodies, they could exert more influence in the TCF than individuals could. This situation existed until December 8, 1923, when Gaston Clement, President of the ACP and principal member of the Cycling Committee of the TCF, created the Fédération des Sociéties de Cyclotourisme (FSCC) which remained within the aegis of the TCF. Paul de Vivie continued his campaign for a separate body for cyclotourists and, in 1926, the FSCC finally broke away from the TCF. Paul de Vivie was, himself, a member of the ACP and ACP president Gaston Clement was the first president of the FSCC. The FSCC is now the FFCT. So much for the past which does, however, show that the ACP has played a significant part in the development of French cyclotouring, not least in the preservation of the famed Paris-BrestParis ride.

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So far as can be ascertained from the records, before 1975 only three Britons had successfully ridden the PBP Randonnée. They were Barry Parslow of the Marlborough CC, George Davis of the Hampshire RC and the late John (Jock) Wadley of Colchester Rovers CC and the Paris club, U.S. Creteil. John published his marvellous account of the 1971 PBP in his book Old Roads and New and Steve [the author’s son, ed] bought a copy in 1974.

The account was so enthralling that we determined to ride the PBP in the next ‘edition’, the eighth PBP of 1975.

Breakthrough

As we were both members of the 24-hour Fellowship, we canvassed our friends and eventually raised a team of 19 to ride the event. This was really a breakthrough.

For the first time Britain would be represented in strength in the PBP. Alas!

There was one big snag. To enter the PBP one had to have qualification of having ridden a ‘brevet ride’ of at least 600km and we had no such events in this country. It seemed that all our hopes would be dashed.

I wrote to the President of ACP, Robert Lepertel, and pointed out our predicament. Would a 600km (375 miles) ride in a 24-hour event be acceptable I asked. I pointed out that these rides were done under time-trial conditions on stripped machines. Graciously, Bob Lepertel accepted our idea of a ‘qualifying ride’ and welcomed us to the PBP.

'Our knowledge of the PBP was scant. John Wadley’s account was our guide and most of us had little idea of riding on the wrong side of the road!'

Our knowledge of the PBP was scant.

John Wadley’s account was our guide and most of us had little idea of riding on the wrong side of the road! All the same, we were determined to make some impact on the PBP and Barry Parslow, Ray Craig, Norman Maggs and Dave Jackson decided to take a truly British flavour to the event by riding trikes! What a furore they caused!

Trikes are a 'gimmick'

Henri Bergdolt, the cycling correspondent of l’Equipe, wrote quite plainly in that newspaper that they were simply a ‘gimmick’ and would ‘pack up’ after 200km. But we had the last laugh, as our four ‘barrowmen’ finished comfortably in sufficient time to get the latest edition of l’Equipe which stated that the ‘English tricyclists are still far from their goal.’ We did point out, at least, that they had lasted rather more than the 200km which he had forecast. We had done far better than we had hoped.

Harry Apsden, already retired from work and George Davies counted as our over 55s and Steve Nicholas and Peter Stubbs counted as our under-25s, thus we fulfilled the requirements for winning the most important trophy the PBP had to offer: the Sir Hubert Opperman Cup. We had gone to France to ride the PBP for fun, as an end-of-season ‘fillip’, little more.

We had no idea that there were trophies to be won and it was with enormous surprise that I received a letter from Bob Lepertel telling us of our success and inviting us to the Reunion des Anciens du PBP the following December. Bill Airey, Dave Jackson, Steve and I duly appeared in Paris and what an occasion that was! It was absolutely amazing just how many of the vast gathering recognised us from those few hours together on the road to Brest and back.

Stealing

John Wadley. His book Old Roads and New, was the catalyst for UK riders to enter PBP

Immediately, we felt we were among friends and any thoughts that our ‘stealing’ the Opperman Cup would be resented in the slightest degree were straightaway put at rest. Rather, the French attitude was simply ‘to come over here and ride so well in completely foreign surroundings is surely deserving www.audax.uk.net

in HEADING the beginning IN HERE of success.’ Accepting the Cup, with such resounding applause from the several hundred ‘anciens’ was rather emotional.

Then came the film and that sealed our enjoyment. So great a proportion of it was taken up with us! Steve doing his 'time-trial’ on his ‘curly Hetch’ and that brought him a lot of fun on the ride, I must say – magnificent shots of the trikies in close ‘line ahead’ which brought whistles and gasps of astonishment from the French. The man who made that film was a real artist! The French TV film had some wonderful shots of Harry Apsden whom they described as the ‘doyen of English randonneurs’. Harry had done a great ride and it was truly appreciated by the French.

Despite the great warmth of our welcome, there was a small fly in the ointment. Our 1975 entry to the PBP had been an act of grace, therefore we should have to enter under the proper qualifying conditions in 1979. That meant we needed some method of having qualifying events in Britain or going to France to ride them.

I discussed the matter at length with Bob Lepertel and Roger Bauman (John Wadley’s ‘wizard’) and the upshot was that I was given the job of ‘correspondant’ for the ACP in Britain and charged with creating a system of qualifying rides in this country. I got all the advice I needed from Bob and plenty of encouragement from over the Channel. It was a different story in Britain. Nobody wanted to know about randonneurs and I was left to my own devices. Of necessity, I could fall back only on the hard-riders of the 24-hour scene and felt that the only way I could start was by providing an event which would attract them and, perhaps, some of the hardriding members of the CTC who would rise to a challenge.

Drawn

So, I started planning the first WindsorChester-Windsor in early April and had the event on the road in mid-June with 32 entrants! In this I was helped by some free publicity from Ken Evans, now of Ron Kit. The 1975 PBP team acted as controllers and, in general, the entry was mainly CTC cyclists.

In its limited way, the first WCW was successful, not least because we had drawn more people into the randonneur sphere and, fortunately, they so enjoyed this ‘new form’ of cycling that they became active disciples of the cause.

They were the ones who went forward and asked me if they could run shorter events on the same lines. From the first WCW in 1976 we progressed to the 1977 WCW with a doubled ‘field’ and a supporting programme of 14 shorter events. The fourth WCW, in the 1979 PBP year, attracted 101 entrants and, to fulfil the PBP entry requirement had an extra 600km events with 38 shorter rides.

Suffice it to say that 74 Britons qualified for the PBP and 54 actually rode it!

Influence

Prior to 1975, only three Britons had ridden in seven PBPs. In 1975 we fielded 19 cyclists and in 1979 our entry was 54.

Progress indeed! This is but part of the story as AUK influence has massively increased the participation by Britons in the prestigious randonneurs events in France. Apart from the PBP, three Britons were among the starters in the 1979 special Paris-Briançon 75th anniversary ride of the ACP. In one 1000km event in 1981, all the entrants were members of AUK! In each year since the Bordeaux-Paris 600km events was revived, AUK has taken the foreign team’s trophy. In other ways, AUK has expanded. Apart from its formal events, it also has permanent randonnées which may be ridden at any time to suit the convenience of the cyclists concerned.

The major one of these is the Land’s End to John o’Groats, 1400km of road to be covered. Lesser rides are the Aberystwyth to Great Yarmouth 500km, the Cardiff to Scarborough 500, the Poole to Gt Yarmouth 400 and the proposed PooleYarmouth-Aberystwyth-Poole 1000km triangle which will have several starting points. These events are run at three levels of competence but, generally, they are entered by cyclists of the ‘tourist category’ who must cycle at least 50 miles each and every day – that is 80km per day, at least – and average 100km per day overall. Thus, the End to End calls for a 14-day ride.

Testing

Another AUK innovation is the ‘grimpeur idea’. A grimpeur is a hill-climber. We have a 200km event over Exmoor where some 10,000ft of climbing is involved and this is a testing ride in beautiful scenery. Even harder, though shorter, are the SuperGrimpeur events which are 100km in length and which call for about 7,000ft of climbing which includes riding the same very difficult hill several times. Not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but the three super-grimpeur events which we organise at Greenhow (near Harrogate), in Darley Dale and around Leith Hill, near Godalming, draw a goodly quota of cyclists who accept a different kind of challenge. These events are sponsored by the Paris firm, Specialites TA who provide free gifts which are drawn for by lottery among the successful participants. The medallions for those events are the authentic French ones, although the standard AUK grimpeur medallions may be taken up in addition.

In a sense, AUK has far exceed its expectations. We began by adopting a form of cycling event, which proved to be popular in France, solely with the idea of creating qualifying events for the PBP. To our surprise, the Brevet ride has drawn far greater support than we ever envisaged and, almost, has overwhelmed secretarial

'A grimpeur is a hillclimber.

We have a 200km event over Exmoor where some 10,000ft of climbing is involved and this is a testing ride in beautiful scenery.'

resources. Today, AUK has been forced by ‘popular demand’ to institute shorter events than the standard 200, 300, 400 and 600km and we have been delighted to support a scheme which ‘educates’ cyclists into the joys of the randonneur events which leave aside the constraints of compulsory group riding. We now have the ‘Petit Brevet’ of about 50km where we wish parents to teach their youngsters the very best ways of riding cycles for sheer enjoyment, and the longer 100km Populaire brevets which, too, are designed as ‘family days out’. From all accounts we are succeeding in our aims in these respects.

The award and medallion system is an intrinsic part of the scheme. These outward and visible signs of cycling achievement are designed as an incentive to ride a cycle over longer and longer distances. We do this in the full knowledge that cycling is an activity which has so many blessings in the physical and spiritual senses. Cycling gives one exercise and takes one into the open air to enjoy the beauties of our countryside.

AUK does not care what kind of bike you ride so long as it is safe and not ‘stripped down’. We do not care if you belong to a cycling club or not. All we are concerned about is whether you are a cyclist. We want you to enjoy the comradeship of cycling over routes which do have some appeal – and places for various kinds of refreshment – since AUK organisers do know their local roads.

AUK has events ranging from the deep south-west up to the north of Scotland. In addition, we have a whole week of events based on the Salisbury Youth Hostel and plans are in hand for a similar week based on Strathpeffer. We try to organise what our members want!

Even so, we do admit that our major aim, apart from the obvious enjoyment of cycling itself is to produce as many people who will venture greater and greater distances. Audax means ‘bold’ or better still ‘have a go’. Until you do ‘have a go’ you will never discover what you are really capable of achieving.

I can point to dozens and dozens of people who have surprised themselves by having a ‘go’. The answer to the question, ‘Why climb Everest?’ was ‘Because it is there.’ Just think of the challenge of the millions of miles of road that are there, not only in Britain but abroad. They are there for the taking and AUK will help you take them!

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www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

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history in the making

Paris-Brest-Paris 1975 First published in Cycling (now known as Cycling Weekly) www.cyclingweekly.co.uk

Paris to Brest, France’s most westerly port, and back is 1,200 kilometres (about 750 miles) and every four years the Audax Club of Paris organises a ride over the distance, setting a time limit of 90 hours for all participants. In effect, the event is a reliability trial similar to the sort of rides favoured by CTC groups in this country, but on a vastly different scale.

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uite apart from the distance, which dwarfs the 24-hour trials which the West Kent CTC and one or two other clubs arrange in this country, Paris-Brest-Paris is big in every way.

The entry is huge, over 700 paying approximately £6 each to ride in this year’s event, and all having to submit qualifying rides to be accepted.

In addition to giving details of previous rides – and many of the 20 British riders rode the Catford ‘24’ to qualify – the organisers required a passport photo, blood group details, and names of next-of-kin with the more normal information associated with an entry form.

Eighth in the series

PBP is the longest single-stage cycling event now held, and must rank as the ultimate goal for the hard-riding cyclist. In this year’s event, the eighth in the series, the British contingent was the largest foreign entry, and they were backed up by former Catford CC ‘24’ winner, Ken Price, in one of over a hundred support cars which followed the riders across Normandy and Brittany and back again.

The ride started from a hypermarket car park some 10 miles to the west of Paris at 4pm on a Monday, with the entire entry, less a handful of tandems, girls on solos and tricyclists, moving off together!

Four trikemen – Ray Craig, Dave Jackson, Norman Maggs and Barry Parslow – were given a 15-minute start with the tandems and the girls, but they were quickly absorbed by the second group, some 650-odd strong!

Preceded by police motorcycle outriders ensuring almost closed roads, the group covered the first leg of about 90 miles at well over ‘evens’, some of 38

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the front-runners out to complete the distance in less than half the time limit.

Three, in fact, did so, finishing in under 43½ hours, at an average speed of about 17½ miles per hour, and only four hours slower than the winner of the last professional race held over the course.

The British riders were not out to break any records, however, and with a hotel booked near Brest for an evening meal and a bed on the second night, most of them achieved this more modest goal without much difficulty. From the 19 who started (a collision with a car beforehand prevented one from starting) five British riders dropped out during the first 24 hours. All five had camped on the night before the start; not perhaps the ideal preparation for a ride of this nature.

The remaining 14, including all the trikemen, were in good heart ‘at the turn’ with Steve Nicholas, Warrington RC, and Les Lowe, Speedwell BC, proving to be the strongest riders, with time for a brief sleep before the evening meal at 10pm.

Return to Paris

On the return leg, some riders headed for Paris with only short rests at the eight intermediate control point, each of which provided meals at all times and opportunities for sleep for those

'The ride started from a hyper­ market car park some 10 miles to the west of Paris at 4pm on a Monday.'

requiring some ‘shut eye’. About half the British riders decided to split the second half of the ride up into to long days and spent up to six hours of the third night at Laval, leaving them with some 175 miles to Paris on the fourth day.

Steve Nicholas continued ahead of his compatriots to finish in mid-morning on the Friday. He was the 104th rider to finish, taking 66 hours 44 minutes for the journey.

Les Lowe was the next Briton to finish, in time for lunch nearly two hours later, and he was followed by Brian Morrison, South Western RC, Ray Craig, Farnborough and Camberley CC, on trike, and Harry Apsden, North Lancs Clarion, who clocked in during the afternoon.

Aged 64, Harry turned in a particularly outstanding performance.

Chris Davies led in the evening ‘rush’ shortly after 7pm, followed 20 minutes later by the largest British group, comprising the three other trikemen, Dave Jackson, Norman Maggs and Barry Parslow, Peter Stubbs, Catford CC, George Davis, Hampshire RC and Jack Calvert, Hirwaun YMCA Wheelers.

Alex Duncan, Chryston Wheelers, and Bill Airey, Fenland Clarion, arrived safely later in the evening and well ahead of the 10am deadline on Friday.

All the British riders were participating for the first time, with the exception of Barry Parslow, who has now finished twice on two wheels and once on three, and George Davis, who achieved his second success in the event.

Altogether, 558 riders completed the ride successfully, but a shadow was cast over the future of the event by a fatal accident involving three French riders and a lorry at a railway crossing near Mayenne during the third night.

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Left: Harry Apsden, one of AUK's founder members www.audax.uk.net

history in the making

'I gave my address as Route Nationale 12' Chris Davis aka 'CCP of the CTC', one of AUK's founder members In the end it wasn’t as hard as I’d been led to believe from what others had told me, and what I’d read in Jock Wadley’s book. It was three or four days of hard riding, really, unless you wanted to be like some of the French and Belgians and go for a fast time.

I even stopped during the third night for a sleep at one of the controls, so as to be able to arrive in Paris reasonably fresh, and still in the hours of daylight.

It was just a matter of enjoying riding a bike for long distances.

There would only have been problems if your position hadn’t been right, but since all of us were 24-Hour Fellowship members, and had ridden at least one ‘24’, that wasn’t likely.

I split the ride into three sections, covering just over 24 hours for the first, then just over 12 hours for each of the other two, meaning the total riding time was about 49 for the 750 miles. Overall I averaged about 10mph, including stops.

The start was very impressive, with the police outriders, and we were bowling along at about evens in an enormous bunch until the first control after 90 miles, when some stopped for a snack and others pressed on.

Then it was down to groups of 30 or 40, which in turn split up as we continued. But you were never alone. Up ahead you could see

A farewell to Don Black

Photo by Cliff shakespeare on LEL 2001

1951-2014

Many of you will already have heard that the much-loved and respected Don Black died at the end of March. He died surrounded by his family.

He was only 63. Readers will probably know Don only through his exploits as a long-distance cyclist, so I will try to expand a little on the giant whose loss leaves such a huge hole.

Don was born in Nottingham to a Scottish mother and a Yorkshire father. The family moved to Cambridge and Don gained an Exhibition to Cambridge University, where he studied engineering. He hated this time but stuck it out, getting involved in radical politics at a time when collective and creative actions were making changes.

a group, turn round and there were others. Anyone suffering and dropping off one group wouldn’t be on his own for long.

The difference in attitude between one rider and another was striking. A lot of the French had it all organised with following cars and caravans, so they could stop and eat just when they wanted, whereas we could only have a proper meal at the controls, where there was always a restaurant.

In fact the British got the reputation of always eating – soup, omelettes and steaks seems to be most popular.

One lucky chap I rode with for a while actually lived on the route at Rennes, and his wife had a meal waiting for him.

It was quite expensive – it must have cost me £10* during the ride, plus the entry fee – and of course a week of my holiday. I think I’d do it again, but next time be better prepared.

One particular memory I have. On the way back from Paris I stopped to change some money at a bank, and you know they like to get an address from you. So I wrote ‘Route Nationale 12’ – it felt like home. I'd been on it so long. *In 1975 the average weekly wage in UK for that time was about £40 and most people only got two or three weeks’ annual holiday.

Don met Mary and they moved north, where he worked variously at computer giant ICL, Salford University and British Telecom. For the last 20 years of his working life, he was in IT for Tameside Council. His cousin Grant said of Don that 'he was an exceptional example of someone that avoided the rat race and was always happy and contented with his lot.' I take that to mean that he deliberately avoided flying as high as his great intelligence might have predicted, in order to make time for the things that really interested him, which included hill-walking (a pleasure he shared with Mary), an industrialscale allotment, jazz and, of course, his children and grandchildren.

Those of us who are aware of his status in the Audax world, may nevertheless be astonished to know what his accomplishments were. I never heard him talk about them and I never saw him wear a badge. Even Mike Wigley, AUK secretary and close friend of Don, was astonished when he started looking into Don's records. Here are just some of his achievements and it's sobering to think he only joined in 1996: • Super Randonneur (SR) x 17(!)

• Hyper Randonneur • Ultra Randonneur (and well on the way to 2 x) • RRTY x 11 • Land's End to John O'Groats • Lowestoft to Ardnamurchan – this is a nice touch, as his mother, Rhona, is from Ardnamurchan.

• PBP x 3 – this would have been x 4, except that Don came off on a forest track on the way to a qualifier in Scotland and broke his collar-bone. The organiser, Tom Hanley, tells how, with bruises, broken clavicle and a shin gashed to the bone, Don lay in the woods overnight before seeking help the next day.

• London-Edinburgh-London x 3 – I was fortunate enough to be with Don when we volunteered at Eskdalemuir in 2013. I had

been relieved that he was finally easing back and helping out instead of riding. You could have heard my jaw hit the floor when I discovered that he'd ridden the whole thing, unsupported, a few days before, to check the route.

Just as impressive as his ride-record (which I doubt if Don even thought about – they were just rides to him), was what he gave to us as an organiser. He ran a series of sensationally hilly calendar events from Saddleworth and a long list of permanents based on the same routes.

I've ridden all of them and they are wonderfully worked-out to give the maximum visual reward for the effort. It was never about speed for Don, but about what you could see. Just before he died, he had completed a series of 200s to take riders right round the coast of Great Britain.

It's appropriate that Don is the current holder of the Audax Merit Award for his services to our association over 18 years.

I've only know Don for a few of those years but I'm so grateful. One of his rides was my first Audax. Naturally, I was nervous. Don just said (and you can hear it, can't you?), 'You'll be reet.'

And I was. Since then, I've ridden with him, abandoned with him, and just enjoyed being with him. While out riding, I've only ever met one audaxer who wasn't actually on the same ride.

That was Don, miles from home, doing a route check.

Don didn't talk much – he didn't have to. He just had that gift of making you feel you'd got a friend without having to say anything. Thanks, Don; I'm going to miss those envelopes sealed with insulating tape. We're all going to miss you.

Just before I started this, I was out walking and admiring the bulrushes and blackthorn around a local pool. The blackthorn has been wonderful this year and from now on, I'll never see it without remembering its namesake. Sleep well, Don. Peter Bond

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reviews Left: Quick release from seatpin mount.

Right: Extra luggage D-rings and LED mount.

Bottom: Removable lid.

CarraDry SQR bag £75 14 litres expanding to 18.5 litres. 1,560 grams inc SQR bracket Another new product joins the ever-expanding range of their Britishmade and British-designed luggage systems from Carradice. This large, wedge-shaped bag joins the CarraDry range of bags, made from wipeclean reinforced PVC. This bag is a modern version of the very similar sized popular cotton duck SQR tour. The main differences between the new and the old, apart from the material, is the roll-top buckle fastening and a removable lid with height adjustment straps to allow more contents. Also, inside the lid is a transparent zipped document holder and in the main compartment a zipped, removable mesh pocket for valuables. On the lid are four D-ring strapping points to add a waterproof or additional kit; these features are not found on the cotton duck version. The payoff for the extra features is more weight, the CarraDry with SQR bracket is 1,560 grams, the cotton duck is 1,134 grams (weighed on my electronic scales). Leaving the removable lid at home will reduce the overall weight though.

As a bit of traditionalist, I’ve always preferred cotton duck but a big advantage I can see with the CarraDry range is that when they get soaking wet in prolonged rain, a quick wipe over with a towel and they are bone dry again, whereas the cotton duck, though still just as waterproof, remains quite damp on the exterior and takes a fair while to dry unless you are fortunate enough to have some hot sun to help it on its way. Under prolonged severe rain, even cotton duck can leave the contents feeling damp. As I mentioned waterproofing, I did my usual test and left the SQR bag under a running bathroom shower for seven minutes and not one drop of water penetrated, an excellent record and comparable to the CarraDry saddlebag. With a strong carry handle, reflective straps, LED attachment strip and the superb SQR release system, this is a great alternative to the original. I wouldn’t try mounting it to a carbon seatpost though.

Tim Wainwright

Bagman2 Support – Expedition

Below: An innovative bike lock. Check out the winner of ‘Hands off my bike’ competition for further details. http://www.biklox.com

Further to my review of this fourpoint saddlebag carrier in Spring 2013 Arrivée, I’ve now got the Expedition version which is suitable for larger bags like the Camper and Super C. It is 10mm wider and 30mm deeper and weighs just 40g more. This one does not need the saddlebag loops as the one shown on the Carradice website, it has the new quick-release fitting, the same as my smaller support.

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reviews Left shows the saddlebag mounted.

Right shows the clips for mounting through saddlebag loops.

Carradice Classic saddlebag rack Carradice have reintroduced an old favourite with a new twist. This rack will support a small or large saddlebag (up to Camper size) and with a quick click of a snap buckle on the nylon webbing strap, the rack and bag are easily removed as one from the saddle in seconds. You will need a traditional leather saddle with metal saddlebag loops though.

Depending on the height of your bag, you can fix the bag to either of two positions on the ‘ladder’ and two metal clips are positioned

£29 Weight 330 grm

through the saddle loops and the tensioning strap fixes quickly around the seatpost.

In use I did not notice the bag rubbing on my body and the whole assembly felt very stable. The only minor downside is if you store the bike by hanging it from the front wheel, eg in your shed/garage or on a train, the bag will fall off, but it’s simple to remove it before the event.

Mark Green

Bridge Street saddlebag

2

1 Here's a new-style saddlebag produced using the Kick-Starter.com project and designed and marketed by AUK member Jonathan Ward of Kineton, Warwickshire. It is a lightweight (734g with support), fully waterproof roll-top bag, coming in three sizes and various colours. The bag clips to a Rixen-Kaul bracket attached to the seatpin, using the same design as a handlebar bag mount. It is constructed from two layers of high-strength coated nylon, wrapped around a hollow polymer frame.

Being a simple bag, there are not a lot of features. The lining material is a grey nylon that makes it easier to find your stuff . There is a single full width zipped interior pocket that is big enough to hold a map. A discreet second zip provides access to the internal frame for crash repairs, and offers a secret place to stash your emergency bail-out cash.

There is also a mount for a rear LED and reflective shoulder strap with plastic buckles which clips to the top, very useful for off-the-bike use.

In use, I preferred using the long-arm fixing (pic. 1) as my traditional-style frame doesn't have enough seat-post showing to give easy access to opening the bag using the shorter fixing (pic. 2). A frame with a sloping top tube should be fine for use with

the short fixing. The bag was very stable, no swaying from side to side when loaded. My medium-size bag could accommodate a fair amount of luggage, seemingly more than the eight litres claimed. When only using half the interior space with luggage, the bag cinched down quickly, leaving a compact-sized bag.

There is no need to clip the buckles together after rolling the bag closed, that's just more fiddling about. The buckles are designed for the shoulder strap.

The waterproof test, five minutes under a power shower, proved the bag to be fully waterproof – not a drop entering the roll-top or seeping through the seams.

For an alternate use, clip the bag to your handlebar bag R&K mount to make a lightweight front bag. My medium sized bag just gave minimum clearance for thumbs around the hoods, so ideally the smaller version with a width of 280mm is preferable.

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touring

A brief encounter (and a fond farewell) Peter Bond

Thornton viaduct

All photos by the author

This all started because three of us had enjoyed a ride out from Ilkley so much that we wanted to ride together again. On the original occasion, Dean and I had performed a pincer movement by train to Ilkley where we were met by Steve, who had ridden up from his home in Menston. We had had a very enjoyable, if windy, potter around such dales as are reachable in 60 miles before celebrating with a pint or two in a pub across the way from the station. It had been a brief encounter. But this piece really gets its title from the routes that Dean devised for our subsequent meeting, which would take us to Carnforth, north of Lancaster and setting for the famous film of Noël Coward’s play. As it turned out, we didn’t get to the railway station itself and our visit to Carnforth was significant for a different and wholly unexpected reason.

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D

ean had come up with a fascinating series of routes, the idea being that we would all meet in Ingleton in Yorkshire, Dean and Graeme coming down from their homes in Teesside, through Leyland and Hawes, Steve through Skipton and Settle and I from Rochdale, via Gisburn and Paythorne. From Ingleton, we would ride south over the Forest of Bowland to Longridge, then north to Carnforth, which would be a little over halfway round our 300k rides. Then we would head north-east, towards the Howgills and Sedbergh. In Sedbergh, Steve would branch south to ride home alone through the stilly night, while the rest of us would head for Teesside, via Kirkby Stephen and Middleton-in-Teesdale. I’m an exile in Lancashire and was looking forward to the opportunity to ride again in Durham, county of my birth.

I was up betimes and hauled myself up the steep hill outside my house, hoping that a 6.15 start would get me to the trysting place in Ingleton for 10.30.

I would have been a few minutes earlier but for the usual failure of the Co-op ATM to issue a receipt after a hard Friday night’s bashing. The weather promised to be warm but the sun struggled to come through the haze as the earth warmed up after a week’s soaking. My trip up the snub-nosed hanging valleys of the Cliviger Gorge between Todmorden and Burnley was uneventful, although it seemed likely that I would need all the time I had allowed, as I was a little ringrusty after almost three weeks off the bike, give or take a few very short rides.

Skirting Burnley via the ring road which passes the fabled Turf Moor stadium, I was soon riding steadily through the mill-town satellites of Brierfield and Nelson before dropping down to Barrowford to begin the lovely climb over Greystones to Gisburn in the Ribble Valley. The mist made it impossible to see mighty Pendle Hill, though it’s almost close enough to touch at this point. However, I was able to pick out the ‘staging posts’ as I climbed: Blacko Tower, a folly built to help the unemployed; The Moorcock Inn just before the drop on the bend; the parish sign for Rimington and Middop on the left, denoting that the climb is nearly done. I was feeling fine but constantly re-evaluating my arrival time, which by now had lengthened to about 10.45.

Through Paythorne and Wigglesworth

The ‘fast’ main road route from Gisburn to Ingleton is safe enough but soon gets busy with agricultural tankers and holiday changeover traffic, so I have taken to coming off it to the left through Paythorne, Wigglesworth and Rathmell, to meet the A65 on the Settle by-pass.

This is a rolling road but much quieter

and lined with daffodils and celandines at this time of year. I had already heard curlews and lapwings and larks and along this section kamikaze blackbirds kept me on my toes. My determination to take it steady after a bout of illness was rewarded when I arrived at the Inglesport Café 25 minutes early. My body was working better than my mind at this stage, obviously. The two were to converge, later on, and in the wrong direction, but for the moment I was thrilled to have made it in time. In fact, everyone arrived within a few minutes and we were soon upstairs eating a late breakfast. We were well met. At this stage, Steve had done about 70k, I had 80, Dean 90, and Graeme about 110.

Dean’s routes were courtesy of Googoogajooble and so it was now down to me as the local lad to turn this section into reality on the road. From Ingleton, there are two obvious crossings of Bowland. Both end up in or near Slaidburn,one over the outcropping Bowland Knotts, to the east of Stocks Reservoir, the other to the west is the legendary traverse of Tatham Fell, known as Cross of Greet. I’d decided on the latter, because, although it is tougher, especially near the top, it would give Dean a great scenic ride that he had never seen before. The Forest of Bowland is an ancient hunting ground, centuries old and there is deliberately little habitation.

So it is pretty much as wild as you can get, certainly in Lancashire. Not long

'I'd decided on the latter, because, although it is tougher, especially near the top, it would give Dean a great scenic ride that he had never seen before.’

ago, a large section of Bowland was in Yorkshire and the summit at Cross Of Greet was on the Lancashire-Yorkshire border. Now, however, the redrawing of boundaries has meant that much of the Yorkshire border has been pushed agreeably east, closer to Settle and to ride over Tatham Fell is to cross the roof of Lancashire.

We saddled up and hit the trail, crossing the A65 at The Masons and following the rolling road to High Bentham. This is a typical northern market town with plenty of pubs and narrow streets. Interestingly, as we turned left at the foot of the long moorland crossing, we were only about fifteen miles from Carnforth, though our actual route would add another 45 or so to that.

The border is still intact here and High Bentham is in Yorkshire. In fact, Yorkshire reaches to within a dozen miles of the west coast, at this latitude. Turning left in the centre of the town, we dropped down past the station and the art deco factory to take the first steep dig of the crossing.

It’s very satisfying how quickly the habitation drops away. Obviously, that’s partly a function of the gradient and we were soon into our climbing rhythms.

Actually, there were two rhythms, with Graeme and Steve disappearing into the distance and Dean and I chatting someway behind. Fortunately, one topic of conversation was how wild and beautiful the area is, so I was pleased with my choice of route.

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touring This is a climb of about five or six kilometres but there are respites, where loins can be girded for the stiffer tests just near the summit. The surrounding moor is more lumpy than sweeping but the views are spectacular and the sense of primeval ecology is enhanced by the eldritch calls of curlews and peewits.

The power of nature was emphasised by the strength of the opposing wind and I was really pleased to get up to the cattle grid at the top, where Steve and Graeme were striking what I thought were rather studied nonchalant poses. We had a brief pause to take photographs before racketing off down the southern slopes towards Slaidburn. When it is clear, you can see Stocks reservoir gleaming several kilometres below but today the air was opaque. Like so many reservoirs, Stocks covers a drowned village, though they have at least perpetuated its name.

The descent from Cross of Greet is fabulous as it twists past the infant River Hodder on the right, which has cut a deep gulley in the hillside. Not far from the top is the point where a classic photograph was taken to advertise

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the Lancashire Cycle Way. I was hoping to point out the very spot to Graeme and Steve as we descended but at the appropriate moment they were already long out of sight, so I pointed it out to myself, for which I was very grateful.

Actually, it makes me feel good to think of riders swooping down hills at speeds I no longer dare and enjoying ‘my country’.

Anyway, I get to see it for longer – or I would if I could focus faster. Not long after this, I came up to Dean, who had dropped his pump and was improvising some form of lashing. I offered to carry it in my capacious pannier, alongside the Very flare pistol and the inflatable busshelter. This was to present a problem much later in the day, but I’ll come to that much later.

There was no blood on the track

After the first exhilarating drop from the moor, there is still a bit of climbing to do and you need your wits about you as you twist across the river at speed and then have to negotiate a stiff climb through the woods on a poorer surface. However, there was no blood on the track and we

Below: Steve, Graeme and Dean

all met up again at the war memorial in Slaidburn, where various substances were consumed. The war memorial is itself very evocative but even without it there is, for me, a pervasive sense of the past centuries. Most, if not all of the ancestral Bowland tracks run through Slaidburn. The Pendle witches came through here on the ‘Judges’ Road’ on the way to Lancaster Castle. The route we had used was an old drove route from the Scottish border country to the cattle markets around Clitheroe and was a road between the castle in Clitheroe and that in Burton in Lonsdale. Off to the northwest runs the Salters’ Gate, which I hope to explore one day.

I wrested myself back to the present to warn about the very steep but mercifully short climb just beyond Slaidburn on the way to Dunsop Bridge. As we rolled through Newton, I was elated to have got up Cross of Greet in my state of fitness, and was reflecting that we had probably done the hardest climbing of the day, though I wasn’t sure how steep the evening crossing of Durham would be. Soon we had reached the junction

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Weaving through Lancaster

We wove our way through the busy centre of Lancaster, which entailed a tricky manoeuvre across three lanes of traffic to reach the A6 for Carnforth. There does appear to be a cycle-path through this section but it only became apparent after we had ploughed our nervy furrows. Note to traffic managers: why are direction signs for motor-traffic done on huge metal plates, while the ones that could save a cyclist’s life are about nine inches square? (Answers on one side of a ‘tax-disc’ only, please.) Reaching Carnforth, we were about to lose most, if not all of our gains, as we visited Booths supermarket café. There was an excellent soup of the day on offer, tomato and peppers, which looked wonderful is it was ladled, steaming, into Graeme and Dean’s bowls. Unfortunately, they took the last two portions and we had quite a delay while the staff rustled up a carrot and lentil version for Steve and me. This was very good, too, and conviviality abounded, though when I offered the others some of my mixed fruit salad there

were low mutterings and signs of the cross.

Riding with Don Black

I was enjoying the food while thinking that we had probably spent longer than was wise at all our stops, when Graeme, who was checking his e-mails, dropped a bombshell: Don Black had died earlier that morning, unexpectedly. The first audax I rode was one of Don’s notoriously hilly Saddleworth rides. I’ve ridden many of them since. When he catered, even his barm cakes had climbing points. He’d been kind enough to give me lifts to the odd ride and all the way back from Eskdalemuir, where we had a lovely time helping at the control on the flagship London-Edinburgh-London ride. It would be presumptuous to say I knew him well; he was so unassuming and reticent, that I doubt if many did, but he impressed me no end with his quietness and his attitude. His Audax achievements are legendary both on and off the bike.

I’m also proud to say that we once abandoned a ride together, then had a lovely afternoon making our way back home below the snow line. Graeme’s news was a terrible shock and Don will be

desperately missed. I hope I won’t offend anyone if I say that he was the towering figure in Audax UK. When we left Carnforth, we probably had another hour and a half of light.

I was looking forward to riding in the dark, although conscious that it would have been better to have been beyond Sedbergh by then. Again, I abandoned my plans for a more scenic route in the interests of speed and we carried straight on up the A6 until it branched with the Sedbergh road. Soon, Dean pointed out that we had passed into Cumbria and also commented that the road surface had suddenly deteriorated. Beyond Burton in Kendal, we turned right onto narrow lanes for Gatebeck. I don’t think any of us had ridden these lanes before and I was just allowing my anticipation to push sad thoughts of Don to the back of my mind, when I got that sinking feeling in the back wheel. We hove to and I used Dean’s pump in the hope that it was only a slow puncture. However, a kilometre or so short of Gatebeck, it was clear that I would have to change the tube. In order to save time looking for the cause, I told the others that I would change the tyre, too (I was carrying a folding one, for the

'Don ­impressed me no end with his quietness and his attitude.

His Audax achievements are legendary both on and off the bike.'

Photo: Tim Wainwright

beyond Dunsop Bridge, where the sorry witches would have turned right to climb the Trough of Bowland, punishment enough, I would have thought. We followed the road round to the left, heading for Longridge. This was easy riding along the Hodder valley, through Whitewell. There was one brief hiatus while I forced my instincts to override the road-signs; I was keen to avoid climbing up the side of Longridge Fell and we approached the town from the north.

This brought us out at the Alston Arms, causing wheel wobble for Graeme as we made for the nearby supermarket, when his bike had assumed it would be going to the pub.

Failing to find appropriate sandwiches, I ate two of the largest iced buns I’ve ever seen and we all stocked up with drinks and snacks. We were now on a section I think only I had ridden before and it was fun to point out an old AA sign on a wall in Inglewhite and other sights familiar to me as we rode towards the A6, near Cabus. Initially, I’d intended to lead the troop off the A6, via less busy roads to Cockerham and on to Lancaster but after a few miles, we decided it was a good idea to try and make up some time by staying on the main road to Lancaster.

I was about to overreach myself.

I have come to cycling late and have very little practice at riding in a pace line or chain-gang. I went to the front and rode what I hoped was a steady and reasonably hard pace, occasionally checking to see that Dean was on my wheel. Soon he took over and although I took another short turn at the front, by the time we reached Lancaster, I really was just hanging on. However, we certainly made up some time.

Right: Don Black riding LEL 2009

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touring ploy, the building having been The Golden Lion originally). I’d missed the evening meal but got something from the Chinese take-away next-door and sat and ate it outside the hotel. I had a lovely bath and slept well, if not for as long as I could have because of the summertime clock change. Sedbergh has lovely church bells, too, though they don’t only ring at lovely o’clock.

In the morning, I had a great breakfast and decided to ride home, though that’s for another story. As it turned out, Steve, who is the least experienced Audaxer of the four of us, was the only one who completed his ride. Dean became unwell in Kirkby Stephen and stayed the night there. Graeme, who had ridden further than any of us and could probably have ridden to the moon, if it had been clear, was persuaded by his wife not to ride on alone in the dark. There’s no doubt that I made a mistake in starting this ride. I wasn’t properly recovered from illness but was desperate to ride with the others.

That said, I think it was a lot lumpier than we were expecting, so maybe it was just too ambitious under the circumstances. first time). This would take a little longer and I beseeched them to ride on, though they were for staying, as I pulled over to a farm gate and started work. Dean came over and said they were going to go on to get Steve to Sedbergh and on his way home and would wait for me in the town.

It was a scene worthy of the Saturday matineés of my youth: ‘give me a chaw of tobaccy and a gun in every hand and leave me here!’ Far from feeling let down, I was actually relieved; even more so when it took longer than I expected to fit the tyre, which had never been used before. I slung the ‘faulty’ tyre around my neck, like the old-time Tour riders did.

Unfortunately, what looks so photogenic with a soft tubular tyre in the old black and white pictures is just a pain with an unyielding ‘wired’ tyre and this didn’t help my mood.

Extra kilometres uphill

Dusk was falling as I rode through Gatebeck and followed the signs for Killington and by the time I reached the three lane ends where I was supposed to go right, it was fully dark and I misinterpreted my own instructions and went straight on. This entailed an extra couple of kilometres uphill but I only realised I was off course when I came out of the forest (leaving the bats behind) and saw Killington Lake glittering close at hand. It was built in the early 1800s to serve the Lancaster Canal and the mediaeval village after which it was named is mercifully intact, though I missed it on this occasion, unfortunately.

I should have been far further east. Also nagging at me throughout the section was the fact that I still had Dean’s pump.

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the Kendal to Sedbergh road, turned right and put my head down. If they’d had any sense, they would have already left for Kirkby Stephen but knowing them as good men and true (and me having Dean’s pump), I had a suspicion Graeme and Dean would still be in Sedbergh, wondering.

And so it turned out. When Dean discovered me in the narrow, dusky street, looking like a bicycle thief, he and Graeme had seen Steve on his way south and been waiting in the Social Club for about three-quarters of on hour. I joined them there. I was relieved that Graeme had finally had his pint. Assuring them that I would be fine (which was no more than the truth) I wished them well and sent them into the night. I was going to ride on but I’d held them back long enough. Maybe I’d catch them for last orders in Middleton in Teesdale – but I doubted it.

I ordered a drink and some nuts and got my road map out. I had about 100k to go to my brother’s in Teesside. There was almost no chance of me getting there when I’d said I would. I looked at the distance to home, where my arrival in the early hours would be less problematic; also 100k. It was when I had spent 40 minutes doing and re-doing these calculations many times and getting the same result, that I realised that I was in no state mentally to go anywhere, although physically I felt ok.

I rang home to ask my wife to make the necessary communications and set out to get myself accommodation for the night.

After a couple of failures, I managed to get a room at The Dalesman which is a sturdy, stone-built hotel of real character (though the name is twee and an obvious

Above: Bowland Knotts

Lots of good memories

I’ll have lots of good memories of this outing, the company and the sights. But the abiding one will be of that fateful e-mail. In some peculiar way it seems appropriate that I abandoned a journey on the day that Don finally finished his.

N

Below: Descent from Cross of Greet

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official

AUK Insurance for rider and employees AUK regulations state ‘All riders must have third party liability insurance cover for the duration of an event’.

To promote access to AUK events, Public Liability (aka third Party) insurance is provided by AUK’s insurers to affiliated and temporary members normally resident in the UK, the Channel Isles or the Isle of Man. Employee Liability, Public & Products Liability cover is provided for AUK staff and volunteers, i.e., all those involved in delivering Audax UK authorised events including registered organisers and helpers.

The AUK insurance for riders is offered as a ‘catch-all’, ensuring all (UK resident) riders have insurance cover as required by AUK regulations. The policy provides ‘secondary cover’, which means it covers riders who don’t have personal third party insurance. Riders who do have personal insurance or insurance through their club – and the CTC third Party insurance for members is the given example – will progress claims through that policy rather than through the AUK policy.

Regular cyclists – and that’s all of us, right? – should consider taking out personal third party insurance, as AUK’s insurance for riders only operates during AUK regulated events. So for example, riding to or from an event is not covered.

The residency restriction is a common point of UK insurance law yet it is very difficult to obtain a definitive statement of what this entails. If in doubt it is simplest and best for riders to obtain personal third party insurance.

A little appreciated point is that as AUK is a CTC affiliated club, AUK members can join the CTC as personal affiliate members at a considerable saving over the full membership fee. Affiliate membership provides much the same benefits as full membership – including third party insurance – but only full members have automatic access to the legal claims service.

For more info see http://www.ctc.org.uk/membership/affiliatemembership-for-cycling-clubs-and-groups-of-all-types-and-sizes. The AUK affiliate club code is AUDAX (8001647).

AUK insurance for riders applies to Audax UK authorised events worldwide (some restrictions apply to the USA and Canada). Cover commences when riders sign on at the assembly point for the event and ceases from the point when the event closes, or from the point the rider signs off on completing the ride or otherwise abandons or cuts short the ride. Riders alleged to have been at fault for an incident where a third party has been injured, or their property damaged, are provided with up to £5 million of Public Liability cover in respect of a successful third party claim.

The policy is subject to a £250 excess payable by the rider incurring the liability, and covers legal liability for damages, legal costs and expenses in the event of negligence only and does not cover deliberate acts.

What do I do if I become aware of an incident?

Every incident, particularly those involving personal injury, should be immediately reported to the AUK Secretary.

What type of incident should be reported?

• A fatal accident or injury involving either referral to or actual hospital treatment • Any circumstance involving damage to third party property If you are unsure as to whether an incident should be reported then contact the AUK Secretary for further advice.

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you admit liability or agree to pay for any damage caused as this may prejudice the position of Insurers and COULD RESULT IN THE WITHDRAWAL OF ANY INDEMNITY.

Enjoying the climbs of Hills and Mills grimpeur

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on test

Pete Matthews hand-built wheels

Continental Grand Prix 4000s II £49.95

It’s spring and I’m ready for a new set of wheels (and tyres) for the coming season.

Continental's latest lightweight tyres, aimed at the audax and fast-touring market, are the Grand Prix 4000s Mk.II. I've chosen a wider width than my usual 23 or 25mm, this time a 28mm. The extra width gives 50 per cent more volume than a 23mm tyres.

Independent tests have shown that wider tyres have lower rolling resistance than narrow tyres. For further information, see the report from respected German cycling magazine Tour at http://tour-int.com. Most of the pro team at Paris-Roubaix were running 28mm and some were running 30mm tyres. Shimano's new 105 11-sp groupset has brakes redesigned to take 28mm tyres. When I used to ride events of 600k or more I would always prefer a wider tyre for the extra comfort needed after many hours in the saddle and it seems that tyre manufacturers are at last coming round to my way of thinking by producing lightweight tyres for the job!

I initially fitted these tyres to a pair of Kyserium rims in my Roubaix carbon bike but there were a few issues to contend with so I transferred the tyres to my audax bike with mudguard clearance and so far have only ridden about 100k on them. Here are a few pros and cons to ponder:

I chose a pair of Pete Matthews 28-spoke Poggio rims, Miche hubs and 14 gauge stainless steel butted spokes. These are new lightweight rims in the Pianni range from Matthews, well finished in matt black and laced to shiny black smoothrunning sealed-bearing hubs. Some might question my choice of 28 spokes, but I prefer lightweight wheels and tyres for a lightweight bike just for the sheer pleasure they give me over a pair of heavier traditional 36-spoke touring wheels.

My previous pair of wheels from Matthews, also 28-spoke, have been ridden through the last two years of hills, pot-holes, floods and winter roads and are still running as true as the day I got them with plenty of wear left in the rims and hubs. They’ve carried my 14 stone (89kg) without complaint with no broken spokes or dented rims and they will be transferred to my winter bike.

The initial few outings gave a lively and smooth ride, just what I have come to expect from classy hand-built wheels. I have full confidence in the reliability of this new set and I will report back on their progress in the summer magazine after I’ve had chance to give them a good workout.

Weighing in at a sprightly 790g front and 926g rear and around the £300 mark (depending on your choice of hubs, rims and spokes) contact Pete Matthews in Liverpool on 0151 924 9311, tell him what discipline you need the wheels for, plus your weight and riding style, and Pete will talk you through the options available and price to suit your budget.

With 50 years’ experience of building wheels for Britain’s top professional riders, and as a former international rider himself, he knows what he’s talking about.

Tim Wainwright

Negative points for the Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels that came with my Roubaix.

The rims are now badly worn, though the hubs and spokes are in good condition (one broken spoke in their lifetime). Mavic obligingly don't make the rims any more so I will have to scrap a perfectly sound, good quality set of hubs. I'm sticking to hand-built wheels from now on.

Pros • • • • •

Rolls easily with no discernible drag Extra comfort Built-in anti-puncture Vectran strip Wear indicator Weighs only 260 grams

Cons

• Tight fit on close-clearance frames. I only had about 1mm clearance between tyre and fork crown.

• Can't get the wheel out without deflating the tyre (brakes just don't open wide enough). Vee brakes or cantilevers would be no problem though.

• You will have to buy four new 28mm innertubes (two for the saddlebag). If you chance using narrow tubes designed for 20–25mm tyres you stretch the tube past its maximum and risk bursting the valve area.

• Larger tubes weigh more and take up twice the space of narrow ones in your tool bag. I couldn't fit two tubes in my bottle cage-mounted toolbox as I can with 25mm tubes.

I'll report my riding experience with them in the summer mag.

Schwalbe Kojaks 26 x 1.35 These are my new tyres of choice for my Thorn Raven Sports Tour, to replace the original Panaracer 26 x 1.75 rigid tyres. The original tyres have done three long tours plus plenty of local riding and have still plenty of wear left in them, so they will be put aside for further tours. A further bonus, they've never punctured. The Kojaks are folding, 35mm wide and weigh only 295g, and along with a new lightweight Schwalbe SV12a tube at 122g the revolving weight is considerably reduced. I'm hoping for a more responsive and lively ride on my Raven for unladen rides and will report back with my findings in the summer Arrivée.

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Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

www.audax.uk.net

on test

Continental Grand Prix GT £39.95 I've fitted these new Continental Grand Prix GT tyres to my new set of Pete Matthews wheels and replaced the Kyseriums. If they perform as well as a previous pair of Gator Hardshells which I used regularly for two years before my first puncture, I'll be well satisfied.

According to Continental, they have the Black Chilli compound (used in the GP 4000s) for performance with the PolyX Breaker anti-puncture extra wide layer beneath the tread.

These folding 700 x 25 tyres weigh in at 260 and 272 grams respectively, as opposed to the claimed 250g, so they are quite a sturdy tyre, well-suited for long distance riding.

We shall see, and I will report back on their progress in a future edition of the magazine.

Tim Wainwright

Biodegradable Bike Clean

is to rinse thoroughly with clean water after application with a recommended dilution of 100:1. How one is supposed to measure out this amount I don’t know, so I just put a squirt of it in a bowl of water and carried on as per my usual washing procedure. I’d guess there’s probably enough fluid in the threelitre drum for a few hundred bike washes.

This new product on the market is an overall bike cleaner, safe to use on steel or carbon fibre when diluted. It is a nonflammable and non-abrasive cleaning solution. It made a good job of cleaning the encrusted mud off the wheels and frame of my carbon bike after a particularly muddy section of road I couldn’t avoid after the local floods. The mud was so thick I had to walk and the wheels jammed up and wouldn’t revolve.

The three-litre carton has a drum tap and a neat integrated 250 ml detachable trigger spray bottle. The recommendation

Orders can be placed via ebay, or via www. chemicalsdirectltd.com. Alternatively, you can email chemicalsdirect1@gmail.com Price £14.99 plus £3.50 carriage.

Right: The drum tap and trigger spray bottle store neatly into the back of the drum

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

49 AU

DAX UK

auk calendar

Calendar key A(1) free/cheap accommodation 1 night

C camping at or near the start F some free food and/or drink on ride L left luggage facilities at start B very basic – no halls/beds, etc P free or cheap motor parking at start BD baggage drop T toilets at start DIY own route and controls, cards by post M mudguards required R free or cheap refreshments at start and/or finish X some very basic controls (eg service S showers stations) Z sleeping facilities on route (14/4) entries close 14th April 175 entries close at 175 riders YH youth hostel at/near start

300 03 May Alfreton, NW of Nottingham Everybody Rides to Skeggy!

06:00 Sat BR 302km 1141m £7.00 L R P T X 100 15-30kph

Alfreton CTC 01 773 828 737 auk@ishorne.gotadsl.co.uk ROA 2000 Ian Horne, 32 Ashop Road Belper Derbys. DE56 0DP

100 10 May Alveston, N Bristol South Glos 100 09:30 Sat BP 106km £5.00 P R T 150 12.5-25kph

Bristol DA 01179 672893 Alex Rendu, Whitethorn Cock Road Kingswood Bristol BS15 9SJ 100 10 May 09:00 Sat Updated

Dore, Sheffield BP 103km 2100m AAA2 £5.00 F L P T 12-30kph Sheffield District CTC

Peaks and Troughs

60 10 May Dore, Sheffield 9:30 Sat BP 1150m AAA1.25 £5 F L P T 10-22kph Change of Date Sheffield District CTC John Cripps, 8 Brincliffe Crescent Sheffield S11 9AW 200 10 May 08:00 Sat

Feeling a Bit Peaky

Egmanton nr Tuxford, N of Newark Lincolnshire Cross BR 218km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net

400 03 May Chalfont St Peter, Bucks Severn Across 06:00 Sat BRM 407km 3500m £7.00 YH L P R T 70 15-30kph

Willesden CC Liam Fitzpatrick, 13 Heron Close Rickmansworth Hertfordshire WD3 1NF

100 10 May Egmanton nr Tuxford, N of Newark Ogee 100 09:00 Sat BP 109km £5.00 L R P T (100) 12.5-30kph

Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net ROA 4000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL

400 03 May Chepstow Brevet Cymru 06:00 Sat BRM 401km 4900m AAA2.25 [2300m] £9.00 c f l p r t nm z 100 15-30kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

300 10 May Honiton 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

150 03 May 09:15 Sat

Forfar Amulree for Tea BP 1552m £5.00 C P T S 15-30kph Angus CC 01307 466123 d.c.husband@btinternet.com

200 10 May Thorneyford Farm, Nr Morpeth 08:00 Sat BR 201km 3000m AAA3 £7.00 F L P R T 60 27/4 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com

Chevy Chase

50 03 May Forfar Lintrathen Loop 10:00 Sat BP 587m £2.50 C L T R P 10-25kph

Angus CC 01307 466123 d.c.husband@btinternet.com ROA 3000 David Husband , 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar DD8 1JP

100 10 May Thorneyford farm, Nr Morpeth 09:30 Sat BP 1600m AAA1.5 £5.00 FPRT 12-25kph Updated Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX

Burma Road

100 03 May Hailsham, E Sussex The Hell Forest 100 09:00 Sat BP 103km 1360m £5.00 P F (50) 15-30kph

David Hudson ROA 25000 Dave Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6LG

100 10 May Wigginton, York 10:00 Sat BP £2.50 A(1) YH L P R T 12-24kph Updated CTC North Yorks Judy Webb, 12 Little Lane Haxby York YO32 3QU

110 03 May 10:00 Sat

Parkend, Forest of Dean The Lumpy Scrumpy 100 BP 1850m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH C P T 75 12-25kph Royal Dean Forest C.C. p.steve21@yahoo.co.uk

200 10 May Willington Hall, E of Chester Seamons CC 'Tour of the Berwyns' 08:00 Sat BR 208km 3100m AAA3 £5.00 L F P R T 100 (12/5) 15-30kph Seamons CC cyclistdavid@hotmail.com

54 03 May Parkend, Forest of Dean Dean Bluebell Doddle 10:30 Sat BP 1200m AAA1.25 £4.00 YH C P T 75 12-25kph

Royal Dean Forest C.C. p.steve21@yahoo.co.uk Steve Price, 7 Allsopp Close Newnham On Severn Glos GL14 1DP

130 10 May Willington Hall, E of Chester Seamons Llangollen Panorama 08:30 Sat BP 131km 1750m AAA1.5 [1500m] £5.00 L F P R T 100 12-25kph Seamons CC cyclistdavid@hotmail.com David Barker, 221 Dane Road Sale Manchester M33 2LZ

300 03 May Wigginton, York Wigginton 300 05:00 Sat BR 302km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 769 378 dk.benton@virgin.net Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB

200 11 May Lymington 08:00 Sun BR 204km £6.00 C L P R T 100 (7/5) 15-30kph W J Ward cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

200 04 May Forfar 08:00 Sun BR 2450m AAA2 [2025m] £8.00 L C P R T 15-30kph Angus CC d.c.husband@btinternet.com ROA 3000 David Husband, 78 Old Halkerton Road Forfar Angus DD8 1JP

Deeside Loop

100 04 May Grange School Pavilion, Hartford Ron Sant Memorial Ride 09:00 Sun BP 106km £5 P R T S 15-30kph Weaver Valley Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ 400 04 May Poole Porkers 400 14:00 Sun BRM 5900m AAA6 £10 L P R T M (50) (20/4) 15-30kph

Wessex CTC Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT 200 05 May Bredbury, Stockport May-as-well Solstice 08:00 Mon BR 202km 700m £5 P R T 60 (05/03) 15-30kph

Peak Audax 01457 870 421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX 100 05 May 10:00 Mon

High Easter, Nr Chelmsford BP 105km £5 L P R T (70) 15-30kph ECCA 01245 467 683

The Counties Festival 100

56 05 May High Easter, Nr Chelmsford The Counties Festival 50 11:00 Mon BP £5 L P R T (70) 12-25kph

ECCA 01245 467 683 ROA 5000 Terry Anderson, 1 Claypits Road Boreham Chelmsford Essex CM3 3BZ 100 07 May Hurst, E of Reading Dinton 100 10:00 Wed BP 103km £3.00 L P R T 60 15-30kph Reading CTC emaich7@gmail.com Mike Hardiman, 7 Somerset Close Woosehill Wokingham RG41 3AJ 50

Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

160 11 May 08:00 Sun

Old Roads 300

Wiggy 100

New Forest Excursion

Lymington New Forest Century BP £6 C L P R T 100 (7/5) 15-30kph W J Ward 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

100 11 May Lymington New Forest Day Out 10:00 Sun BP 104km [2m] £6.00 C L P R T 100 (3/5) 10-20kph

W J Ward 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com ROA 10000 John Ward, 34 Avenue Road Lymington Hants SO41 9GJ 200 11 May Meopham, nr Gravesend 08:00 Sun BR 1550m [1800m] £9.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk

Hop Garden 200km

160 11 May Meopham, nr Gravesend 08:30 Sun BP 1350m [1550m] £9.00 P R T 15-30kph Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk

Hop Garden Century Ride

100 11 May Meopham, nr Gravesend Hop Garden 100km 09:00 Sun BP 975m £9.00 F L P R T NM 10-30kph Gravesend CTC pmcmaster@blueyonder.co.uk Patrick McMaster, 207 Colyer Road Northfleet Kent DA11 8AT 200 11 May 08:00 Sun

Shenstone, Staffs Castleton Classic Revised BR 213km 2963m AAA3 £8.00 F L P R T 15-30kph CTC North Birmingham audax@nbctc.co.uk

160 11 May 08:30 Sun

Shenstone, Staffs BP 1680m £7.50 F L P R T 15-30kph CTC North Birmingham audax@nbctc.co.uk

Derbyshire Dales

100 11 May 09:00 Sun

Shenstone, Staffs BP 102km 680m £5.50 L P R T 12.5-25kph CTC North Birmingham audax@nbctc.co.uk

Staffordshire Lanes

www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar Rosliston Roller

110 18 May Elstead, Surrey The Elstead 100 09:00 Sun BP 115km £5.00 F L P R T 12.5-30kph

CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk Nicholas Davison, The Bield Mill Copse Road Fernhurst West Sussex GU27 3DN

600 17 May Chepstow Bryan Chapman Memorial (Classic) 06:00 Sat BRM 619km 8300m AAA8.25 £30.00 BD C F L P R S T Z (4/5) 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC ritchie.t.tout@uk.pwc.com Ritchie Tout, Sunnyside Cottage Mynyddbach Monmouthshire NP16 6RT

200 18 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 15-30kph

Islington Cycling Club 07918 147548 secretary@islington.cc Islington Cycling Club, 20 Castle Road Finchley London N12 9ED

100 17 May Crich, Derbyshire Tramway 100 09:00 Sat BP 104km £6.00 P R T 150 11-25kph Updated Alfreton CTC Sandra Wilson, 12 Gray Fallow South Normanton Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 3BQ

100 18 May Uffington Blowingstone 09:30 Sun BP 106km 1346m £5 P T R 15-30kph

Oxfordshire CTC Nick Dunton, 44a High Street Sutton Courtenay Abingdon Oxon OX14 4AP

160 17 May 08:00 Sat

200 24 May 08:00 Sat

54 11 May Shenstone, Staffs 10:00 Sun BP £4.00 F,P,R,T 10-25kph

CTC North Birmingham audax@nbctc.co.uk Terry Dwyer, 5 Damson Grove Solihull B92 9EN

Meriden, Warwickshire Cotswold Challenge BP 1300m £8.00 C L P R T NM 100 15-30kph CTC Heart of England audax2014@ctc-heartofengland.org.uk

Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond BR 203km 2752m AAA3 [3000m] £6.00 FLPRT 14.3-30kph VC167 07887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net

Hartside 200

100 17 May Meriden, Warwickshire Warwickshire Wanderer 09:00 Sat BP 105km 602m [1000m] £8.00 C L P R T NM 100 12-25kph

CTC Heart of England audax2014@ctc-heartofengland.org.uk Jon Porteous, Tumnus Corner Springhill Gdns Webheath Redditch Worcs B97 5SY

100 24 May Aldbrough St John, Nr Richmond Northern Dales Summer Outing 08:00 Sat BP 1475m [3000m] £4.50 FLPRT 10-30kph

VC167 07834750576 david.atkinson577@virgin.net Dave Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL

400 17 May Musselburgh The Southern Uplands 06:00 Sat BRM 5000m AAA5 £2.00 X P T 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU

300 24 May Kinross Tayside Transgression 06:00 Sat BR 303km 2921m [2960m] £12.00 C P T R NM (80) 15-30kph

Kinross Cycling Club 07980 475151 Trevor Keer, 21 Morlich Road Dalgety Bay Dunfermline Fife KY11 9UE

200 17 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria The Cumbrian 200 08:00 Sat BR 203km 3900m AAA4 £5.00 YH L P R T S (60) 15-30kph Lakes School Windermere paul@revells.com

400 24 May Manningtree, Colchester Asparagus & Strawberries 09:00 Sat BRM 414km 2600m £4.00 PT X 17/05 15-25kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA

100 17 May Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria La'al Lakeland 100 10:00 Sat BP 107km 2350m AAA2.25 £5.00 YH L P R T S (60) 12.5-30kph Lakes School Windermere paul@revells.com Paul Revell, Kirklands, Brow Edge, Backbarrow Ulverston Cumbria LA12 8QL 160 17 May Uffculme School, Uffculme 08:00 Sat BP 1900m [1500m] £6 P R T 14-25kph CTC Devon 100 17 May Uffculme School, Uffculme 09:00 Sat BP 1300m [1500m] £6 P R T 12-20kph

CTC Devon Roy Russell, 52 Whitchurch Avenue Exeter EX2 5NT

Coast to Coast

Coast and Back

100 17 May Washington, W Sussex The Devils Punchbowl 100 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1100m £5.00 F P (8/5) (50) 15-30kph

David Hudson ROA 25000 Dave Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6LG 200 18 May Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield 08:00 Sun BR 210km 2450m AAA2 [1930m] £8.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB

World's End

200 18 May 07:30 Sun

Claughton, N of Preston BR 212km 3290m AAA3.25 £5.50 P R T 15-30kph Ribble Valley C & RC harveygws@btinternet.com

150 18 May 08:30 Sun

Claughton, N of Preston Lunesdale Populaire BP 158km 2280m AAA2.25 £5.50 P R T 100 13-30kph Ribble Valley C & RC harveygws@btinternet.com

110 18 May Claughton, N of Preston 09:00 Sun BP 112km 1540m £5.50 P R T 10-25kph

Ribble Valley C & RC harveygws@btinternet.com Susan Harvey, 15 Kingsley Drive Chorley PR7 2NE

Fleet Moss 212

Pilgrim's Way

160 18 May Devoran, S of Truro The Granite and Serpentine Way 08:30 Sun BP 167km 1880m [1671m] £6.00 C F L P R T 15-30kph Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk 100 18 May Devoran, S of Truro 09:00 Sun BP 106km 1419m [1637m] £5.00 C F L P R T 12.5-28kph Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk

A Lizard Loop

54 18 May Devoran, S of Truro Carns and Killas 09:30 Sun BP 730m [760m] £5.00 C F L P R T 10-28kph Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk Martyn Aldis, Sundown 25a Kersey Road Flushing Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5TR

600 24 May Poole Brimstone 600 06:00 Sat BRM 7700m AAA7.75 £10 L P M (50) (24/5) 15-30kph

Wessex CTC Shawn Shaw, 22 Shaftesbury Road Longfleet Poole Dorset BH15 2LT 400 24 May Poynton, S of Stockport Llanfairpwllgwyngyll gogerychwyrndrobwll llantysiliogogogoch 400 09:00 Sat BRM £8.50 XP 15-30kph

Peak Audax 01457 870 421 mike@PeakAudax.co.uk ROA 10000 Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Fm Millcroft Lane Delph Saddleworth OL3 5UX 300 24 May Thorneyford Farm, Nr Morpeth The Mosstrooper 06:00 Sat BRM 4100m AAA4 £6 C P T A 15-30kph Tyneside Vagabonds northern.audax@gmail.com Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX 100 25 May Caton, NE of Lancaster Bowland Forest Populaire 09:00 Sun BP 1800m AAA1.75 £3.00 P R T 75 12.5-20kph

CTC Lancaster 01524 36061 mikehutchinson@fastmail.fm ROA 5000 Mike Hutchinson, Heatherdene 9 Whinfell Drive Lancaster LA1 4NY 200 25 May Pendleton, Lancashire Dales Delight 200 08:00 Sun BRM 203km 3600m AAA3.5 [4100m] £5 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 120 28 May Chapel-en-le-Frith The Old Lead Miners Trail 09:00 Wed BP 2350m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T S 60 12.5-25kph Peak Audax davecatlow@PeakAudax.co.uk David Catlow, 9 Friars Close Rainow Macclesfield SK10 5UQ 600 31 May Exeter Kernow and Southwest 600 06:00 Sat BRM 8200m AAA8.25 £15.00 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 31 May Pateley Bridge Dales Grimpeur 200 08:00 Sat BR 215km 4596m AAA4.5 £5.00 L P R S T 15-30kph

Hambleton Road Club paul.roberts901@tiscali.co.uk Paul Roberts, 37 The Close Romanby Northallerton DL7 8BL 300 31 May Portmahomack, nr Tain Quinaig Quest 06:00 Sat BRM 313km 4142m AAA4 [2000m] £5 A(2)CFLPRS(14/5) 15-30kph

CTC Highland 01862 871 136 biker_carroll@hotmail.com ROA 10000 Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Village Portmahomack IV20 1RF

200 18 May 08:00 Sun

Elstead, Surrey The Stonehenge 200 BR 201km 2210m £5.00 F L P R T 15-30kph CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk

100 31 May Tewkesbury The Silk Run 09:30 Sat BP 800m £3.50 P, T, 10-25kph BlackSheep CC ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

150 18 May 08:30 Sun

Elstead, Surrey The Danebury 150 BP 152km £5.00 F L P R T 12.5-30kph CTC West Surrey 01428 642013 nickandmarion.davison@hotmail.co.uk

200 31 May 08:30 Sat Change of Date

Village Hall, Long Melford Edmunds Folk Sally Forth & Paddle BR 205km 1524m £5.00 C L P R T S 15-30kph Cycle Club Sudbury peterwhiteley133@hotmail.co.uk

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

51 AU

DAX UK

auk calendar 100 31 May Village Hall, Long Melford Edmund's Folk Sally Forth 09:30 Sat BP 106km 774m £5 C L P R T S 10-30kph Change of Date Cycle Club Sudbury peterwhiteley133@hotmail.co.uk Peter Whiteley, 133 Melford Road Sudbury Suffolk CO10 1JT 200 31 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@googlemail.com 170 31 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@googlemail.com 130 31 May Wem, Shropshire Two Rivers Ride 09:00 Sat BP £7.00 L F P R T 50 12-24kph CTC Shropshire sandehargraves@googlemail.com Edwin Hargraves, 22 Trentham Road Wem North Shropshire SY4 5HN 100 01 Jun Boothferry, Goole Beverley 100 09:00 Sun BP 102km 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 110 01 Jun 09:30 Sun

Congleton, Cheshire BP 118km 724m £4.50 P R T 15-30kph Congleton CC 01260 271258

110 01 Jun 09:00 Sun

Congleton, Cheshire BP 1700m AAA1.75 £4.50 P R T 12.5-25kph Congleton CC 01260 271258

Just the Plains of Cheshire

Just the Hills of Cheshire

200 01 Jun Congleton, Cheshire The Hills & Plains of Cheshire 08:00 Sun BR 210km 2285m AAA1.5 [1500m] £5.50 P R T 15-30kph

Congleton CC 01260 271258 Rob Waghorn, The Querns Congleton Edge Cheshire CW12 3NB 100 01 Jun 10:00 Sun

LLangefni, Anglesey BP 104km 1200m £3 L P R T 12-30kph Holyhead CC 07748 584927 j.h.sharp@bangor.ac.uk

Anglesey Lanes

52 01 Jun LLangefni, Anglesey Anglesey Wandering 10:30 Sun BP £2 L P R T 10-24kph Holyhead CC j.h.sharp@bangor.ac.uk Jasmine Sharp, 409a Crafnant Ffriddoedd Road Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2GX 200 01 Jun Padiham, Lancashire Tan Hill 200 08:00 Sun BRM 206km 4500m AAA4.5 £5 P X 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 200 01 Jun 08:00 Sun

Portmahomack, nr Tain BR 1730m £5 A(2) C L P R T S (40) 15-30kph CTC Highland 01862 871 136 biker_carroll@hotmail.com

Cromarty Cruise

100 01 Jun Portmahomack, nr Tain Dornoch Dander 10:00 Sun BP 765m £2 A(2)CFLPRTS 12-24kph

CTC Highland 01862 871 136 biker_carroll@hotmail.com ROA 10000 Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Village Portmahomack IV20 1RF

100 07 Jun Great Dunmow, Essex 09:30 Sat BP 107km £6.00 L P R T M (30/5) 12.5-25kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com

Flitchbikes 100

53 07 Jun Great Dunmow, Essex Flitchbikes 50km 10:00 Sat BP £5.00 LPRTM(30/5) 8-20kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA 300 07 Jun Kirriemuir The Snow Roads 06:00 Sat BR 4800m AAA4.75 £12.00 A(2) C F L P R T S(80) 15-30kph

Angus Bike Chain alexandalli@kirrie.eclipse.co.uk Alex Pattison, 1 Angle Park Crescent Kirriemuir Angus DD8 4TJ 600 07 Jun Pendleton, Lancashire Swan With Two Necks 600 06:00 Sat BRM 8000m AAA8 £10 L P R T Z 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 100 08 Jun 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 200 08 Jun 08:00 Sun Updated

Brentor Village Hall, Nr. Tavistock Moor & Coast BR 3400m £5.00 N A(1) L P R T MN 50 6/6 15-30kph Tavistock Wheelers 01822 860261 jim@wilkinet.demon.co.uk

160 08 Jun 08:30 Sun

Brentor Village Hall, Nr Tavistock Devon Dash BP 2950m £4.50 N A(1) L P R T MN 50 6/6 15-30kph Tavistock Wheelers 01822 860261 jim@wilkinet.demon.co.uk

100 08 Jun 08:30 Sun

Brentor Village Hall, Nr Tavistock Dartmoor Delight BP 1860m [825m] £4:00 N A(1) L P R T MN 50 6/6 15-30kph Tavistock Wheelers 01822 860261 jim@wilkinet.demon.co.uk

50 08 Jun Brentor Village Hall, Nr. Tavistock Roadford Lake 09:30 Sun BP 800m £3:50 N A(1) L P R T MN 50 6/6 15-30kph Updated Tavistock Wheelers 01822 860261 jim@wilkinet.demon.co.uk Jim Wilkinson, Wellspring Chillaton Lifton Devon PL16 0HS 160 08 Jun 08:00 Sun

Coppice House, Crewe BP 162km [502m] £10 L P R T NM (150) 15-30kph Up and Under Foundation audax@upandundergroup.com

Tough Stuff

100 08 Jun 09:00 Sun

Coppice House, Crewe BP 102km 502m £10 L P R T NM (150) 12-30kph Up and Under Foundation audax@upandundergroup.com

Good Stuff

51 08 Jun Coppice House, Crewe Foundation Ride 09:30 Sun BP 189m £7.50 L P R T NM (100) 10-25kph

Up and Under Foundation audax@upandundergroup.com Andy Fewtrell, Up and Under Foundation Coppice House Quakers Coppice Crewe CW1 6FA 200 08 Jun 08:00 Sun

Ware Herts High Five BR 209km 1634m [1509m] £4.00 L P R S T 15-30kph Hertfordshire Wheelers 07985 019214 graham.knight5@gmail.com

Moors and Wolds 400

160 08 Jun 09:00 Sun

Ware Four Counties 150 BP £4.00 L P R S T 15-30kph Hertfordshire Wheelers 07985 019214 graham.knight5@gmail.com

50 07 Jun Alfreton Victorian Post Boxes 50 10:30 Sat BP 669m £3 FLPT 10-25kph Updated Alfreton CTC nigel.randell8664@gmail.com Nigel Randell, 15 Hammer Leys South Normanton Derbyshire DE55 3AX

100 08 Jun 10:30 Sun

Ware Two Counties 100 BP 108km £4.00 L P R S T 12-25kph Hertfordshire Wheelers 07985 019214 graham.knight5@gmail.com

400 07 Jun 10:30 Sat Updated

200 07 Jun 08:00 Sat

Alfreton BR 404km 2425m £8.00 P R T X 15-30kph Alfreton CTC nigel.randell8664@gmail.com

Bitteswell, Leicestershire BR 206km £6.00 L F P T 15-30kph Leics & Rutland CTC

Heart of the Shires

51 08 Jun Ware One County 50 12:00 Sun BP £3.00 L P R S T 10-20kph

Hertfordshire Wheelers 07985 019214 graham.knight5@gmail.com Graham Knight, 25 Lordship Road Cheshunt Waltham Cross Herts EN7 5DR

100 07 Jun 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 Leics LE17 5FH

200 08 Jun Wimbledon Common The London Ditchling Devil 08:00 Sun BR 205km 2400m [2700m] £12 F P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC pxstewart@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN

300 07 Jun Coryton, NW Cardiff Peacocks and Kites 05:00 Sat BR 301km 3900m AAA3 [3000m] £8.00 YH L P R T 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC glharper1973@gmail.com Georgina Harper, 68 Hazelhurst Road Llandaf North Cardiff Wales CF14 2FX

200 14 Jun Anywhere (Bovey Tracey) Dart-Moor-Ghost-Dart ::::: Sat BR 1850m £10 FLRT 14.3-28.6kph

CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com ROA 3000 Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT

200 07 Jun Great Dunmow, Essex 08:30 Sat BR 218km £6.00 L P R T M (30/5) 15-30kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com

Flitchbikes 200

200 14 Jun Apperley, Nr Cheltenham 08:00 Sat BR 3075m AAA3 £12 A(1)CPRTL 14.3-30kph CTC West stephen.poulton@btinternet.com

Gospel Pass 200

150 07 Jun Great Dunmow, Essex 09:00 Sat BP £6 L P R T M (30/5) 12.5-30kph FlitchBikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com

FlitchBikes 150

150 14 Jun Apperley, Nr Cheltenham 09:00 Sat BP 2230m AAA2.25 £9 A(1)CPRTL 12.5-30kph CTC West stephen.poulton@btinternet.com

YatMon 150

52

Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar 100 14 Jun Apperley, Nr Cheltenham Hoarwithy 100 (2Severn2Wye) 09:30 Sat BP £5 A(1)CPRTL 12.5-30kph CTC West stephen.poulton@btinternet.com ROA 5000 Stephen Poulton, Leckhampton Lodge 23 Moorend Park Road Leckhampton Cheltenham GL53 0LA

600 21 Jun Bushley, Tewkesbury Mae Mr Pickwick yn mynd i chwilio am

ddreigiau a chwedlau 05:30 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 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

140 14 Jun Bovey Tracey, Devon Dartmoor Ghost 22:30 Sat BP 145km 1850m £10 FLRT 12.5-28.6kph

CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com ROA 3000 Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT

110 21 Jun Hulme End, nr Hartington 09:30 Sat BP 1800m AAA1.75 £6.00 C F P T 12.5-25kph Change of Date Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB

300 14 Jun Galashiels Alston and Back 07:00 Sat BRM 2700m £5.00 PBX 15-30kph

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

200 22 Jun Hereford, Leisure Centre 08:00 Sun BR 210km 3200m AAA3.25 £6.00 FLPRTS 15-30kph Hereford Wheelers

600 14 Jun 06:00 Sat

Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The 3 Coasts 600 BRM 607km 5611m AAA1.75 [1631m] £10.00 A(3) L P R T Z YH 15-30kph CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk

100 22 Jun Hereford, Leisure Centre 09:00 Sun BP 105km [1450m] £6.00 FLPRTS 14.3-24kph Hereford Wheelers

Lutudarum

Hereford Towns

Hereford Villages

600 14 Jun Mytholmroyd, W. of Halifax The East & West Coasts 600 06:00 Sat BRM 605km 4380m [5380m] £10.00 A(3) L P R T Z YH 15-30kph

CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF

55 22 Jun Hereford, Leisure Centre Hereford Hamlets 09:30 Sun BP £6.00 LPRTS 14.3-24kph Hereford Wheelers Maurice Tudor, Apartment 1 Barton West 73 Barton Road Hereford Herefordshire HR4 0AU

100 14 Jun Swaffham Community Centre The Iceni 100 09:00 Sat BP £5 LPRT 12-30kph Change of Date NorfolknGood audax sandk.tandem@btinternet.com ROA 5000 Keith Harrison, 11 Heather Avenue Hellesdon Norwich NR6 6LU

100 25 Jun 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@blueyonder.co.uk Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP

100 15 Jun Evegate, Ashford Mick Andrews Memorial 100K 10:30 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T X 100 (1/6) 15-30kph

Sugar Loaf Animal Sanctuary Roger Burchett, 'Haytor' Stone Street Lympne Hythe Kent CT21 4JY

1000 27 Jun Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Mille Cymru 11:30 Fri BRM 1007km 16000m AAA16 £75.00 A(1) BD C F L P R T S Z 13.3-20kph Updated CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk ROA 10000 John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF

100 15 Jun Hewas Water, The Merlin Centre Merlin's Coast to Coast 09:00 Sun BP 101km 1429m £10 F P R T NM 12-30kph

Probus Pedallers 01726 338354 Kathryn Mcfarlane, 3 Bos Noweth Probus Truro Cornwall TR2 4HE

300 28 Jun West Stafford, Dorchester 05:00 Sat BR 312km 5150m AAA5.25 £6.00 A(2) C F L P R T 30 15-25kph

Wessex CTC 01305 263 272 pete_loakes@yahoo.com ROA 5000 Peter Loakes, 1 Church Cottage West Stafford Dorchester DT2 8AB

200 15 Jun Mytholmroyd, West of Halifax The Good Companions 08:30 Sun BR 2697m AAA1.75 [1631m] £5.00 A(2) L P R T YH 15-30kph

CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF

600 28 Jun York Station York-Langholm-York (YLY) 06:00 Sat BRM 608km 6000m AAA2.5 [2500m] £15 F Z T 15-30kph VC167 northern.audax@gmail.com Aidan Hedley, 16 The Close Lanchester Durham DH7 0PX

84 15 Jun Stevenage (Marriotts), SG2 8UT Bike Week - Stevenage Circular Cycle 10:00 Sun BP 747m £6.00 L P R T (4/6) 12-28kph

Stevenage & N Herts CTC 01438 354 505 jim@stevenagectc.org.uk ROA 5000 Jim Brown, 38 Brick Kiln Road Stevenage SG1 2NH

100 29 Jun 10:00 Sun

200 15 Jun Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham 08:00 Sun BR 212km £8.00 C L P R S T 100 15-30kph Beacon RCC

Cotswold Expedition

160 15 Jun Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham 08:30 Sun BP £8.00 C L P R S T 100 15-30kph Beacon RCC

Cotswold Journey

100 15 Jun Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham 09:00 Sun BP 108km £8.00 C L P R S T 80 12-25kph Beacon RCC

Clockwise Cotswold Outing

100 15 Jun Woodrush RFC, Wythall, S Birmingham Anticlockwise Cotswold Outing 09:30 Sun BP 108km £8.00 C L P R S T 80 12-25kph

Beacon RCC Paul Deane, 9 Baccabox Lane Hollywood Birmingham B47 5DD 400 20 Jun Anywhere, to York 06:00 Fri BR £12.00 DIY Also on 21/06 15-30kph AUK dk.benton@virgin.net

Summer Arrow to York

3D 300

Easingwold, N of York Mother Shipton 100k BP 103km 769m £2.00 L P R T 12-25kph CTC North Yorks 01904 795 695 gerry.boswell@hotmail.co.uk

51 29 Jun Easingwold, N of York Linton Locks 50k 10:30 Sun BP 204m £2.00 L P R T 12-25kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 795 695 gerry.boswell@hotmail.co.uk Gerry Boswell, 5 Invicta Court Acomb York YO24 3NL 200 29 Jun Galleywood, Essex 08:30 Sun BR 210km £5.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Essex CTC s.eichenseher@googlemail.com

Windmill Ride

120 29 Jun Galleywood, Essex Windmill Ride 10:00 Sun BP £5.00 F L P R T 12-25kph Essex CTC s.eichenseher@googlemail.com Stefan Eichenseher, 42A Whitegate Road Southend-on-Sea Essex SS1 2LQ 200 29 Jun 08:00 Sun Updated

Hampton in Arden BR 207km £6.00 RFPT 15-30kph Solihull CC

A Cotswold Adventure

150 29 Jun 08:30 Sun Updated

Hampton in Arden BP 156km £5.00 RFPT 15-30kph Solihull CC

Solihull CC mini Randonnee

350 20 Jun Anywhere, to York Summer Dart to York ::::: Fri BR 360km £5.00 DIY Also on 21/06 14.3-30kph AUK dk.benton@virgin.net Keith Benton, 127 Greenshaw Drive Wigginton York YO32 2DB

100 29 Jun Hampton in Arden A Warwickshire Wander!

09:00 Sun BP £4.00 F P R T 15-30kph Updated Solihull CC Roger Cliffe, 11 Warren Drive Dorridge Solihull B93 8JY

300 21 Jun Baldock, Herts 07:00 Sat BR 2554m [1650m] £6.00 XPT 15-30kph Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk Ian Oliver, 68 St Dunstans Avenue London W3 6QJ

Rutland Weekend 300

300 04 Jul Great Dunmow, Essex Hereward the Wake 21:00 Fri BRM 301km £8 X R L P T M (26/06) 15-30kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA

200 21 Jun Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire Katrine Kapers Revival 08:00 Sat BR 203km 2670m [2775m] £8.50 C F L P R T 15-30kph Glasgow CTC graham.hanley@btinternet.com Graham Hanley, Kelton 59 Kilgraston Rd Bridge Of Weir Renfrewshire PA11 3DP

160 05 Jul Bangor, N Wales Aberdaron Day Out 09:00 Sat BP 1500m £4 LPRT 15-30kph Holyhead CC j.h.sharp@bangor.ac.uk Jasmine Sharp, 409a Crafnant Ffriddoedd Road Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2GX

200 21 Jun Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield 08:00 Sat BR 201km 3150m AAA3.25 £8.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph Change of Date Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB

200 05 Jul East Grinstead Meridian Hills 08:00 Sat BR 3500m AAA3.5 £5 FPR 15-30kph

San Fairy Ann CC 01342 314437 malinseastg@tiscali.co.uk Martin Malins, 64 Blount Avenue East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 IJW

Knockerdown

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

53 AU

DAX UK

auk calendar Triple Reservoir Challenge

150 13 Jul 08:30 Sun Change of Date

Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Fairly Flat 150k BP £5 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com

100 05 Jul Oundle, Northants Single Reservoir Challenge 09:00 Sat BP 101km £4.50 L P R T 12.5-30kph

CTC Northants & M K Richard Daniells, 6 Matson Close Rothwell Northants NN14 6AY

100 13 Jul 09:00 Sun Change of Date

Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flat 100k BP £5 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com

200 05 Jul 08:00 Sat

Oundle, Northants BR 204km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph CTC Northants & M K

300 05 Jul Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Golden Road and Standing Stones 06:00 Sat BR 3850m [3200m] £12 A(3) 80 L P R S T F C 15-30kph Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk 110 05 Jul Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Hebridean Hundred 10:00 Sat BP 113km 1068m £5 A(3) R S P T (22/6) 12.5-30kph Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk Ian Gilbert, 19 Churchill Drive Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2NP 200 05 Jul Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick Takes Flight 08:00 Sat BR 206km 1800m [2700m] £4.00 c f p r nm t 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 67 06 Jul 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 06 Jul 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

50 13 Jul Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Easy Peasy 50k 10:00 Sun BP £5 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph Change of Date San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com David Winslade, 3 Albany Close Tonbridge Kent TN9 2EY 200 13 Jul 08:00 Sun

Denshaw, NE of Oldham Bowland BR 4400m AAA4.5 £5.00 P R T 14.3-30kph Saddleworth Clarion 07850 208 977 nephi@alty.fsnet.co.uk

170 13 Jul Denshaw, NE of Oldham 08:30 Sun BP 3200m AAA3.25 £5.00 P R T 12.5-25kph Saddleworth Clarion nephi@alty.fsnet.co.ukG

100 13 Jul Denshaw, NE of Oldham Widdop 09:00 Sun BP 2500m AAA2.5 £5.00 P R T 10-25kph

Saddleworth Clarion 07850 208 977 nephi@alty.fsnet.co.uk Nephi Alty, 13 Ambrose Crescent Diggle Saddleworth OL3 5XG 200 13 Jul Milton, Abingdon 08:00 Sun BR 210km £5 R T P L 4/7 15-30kph Didcot Phoenix

Barbury Bash

Barbury Bash

Barbury Bash

100 06 Jul Combe Down, Bath 08:30 Sun BP 1650m AAA1.75 £7 N.P.R.T 15-30kph

Bath CC Robert Mcmillan, 228 Bloomfield Road Bath BA2 2AX

Mendip Transmitter

160 13 Jul Milton, Abingdon 08:30 Sun BP £5 R T P L 24/6 15-30kph Didcot Phoenix

200 06 Jul 08:00 Sun Change of Date

Maidenhead BR 2365m [2388m] £6.00 P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk

Jack Eason Struggle

110 13 Jul Milton, Abingdon 09:00 Sun BP £5 R T P L 4/7 15-30kph

Didcot Phoenix Ian Middleton, 4 Isis Close Abingdon OX14 3TA

110 06 Jul 09:00 Sun Change of Date

Maidenhead Jack Eason 10 Thames Bridges BP £4.00 P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk

64 06 Jul Maidenhead 10:00 Sun BP £4 P R T 12-25kph Change of Date Willesden CC ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk Ian Oliver, 68 St Dunstans Avenue London W3 6QJ

Jack Eason Giggle

200 06 Jul Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Outer Hebrides Island Hop 08:00 Sun BR 2300m £10 A(3) 80 FLPRSTX (22/6) 15-30kph Hebridean CC ian_d_gilbert@yahoo.co.uk Ian Gilbert, 19 Churchill Drive Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2NP 100 12 Jul Alfreton 09:00 Sat BP 108km £6.00 L P R T M 100 14-28kph Updated Alfreton CTC Mark Wilson, 12 Gray Fallow Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 3BQ

To the Races

600 12 Jul Galashiels Borderlands Roc Trevezal 07:00 Sat BRM £10.00 P,L,R,T,S 15-25kph Updated Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 600 12 Jul Leighton Buzzard 07:00 Sat BRM 5600m £5 X 15-30kph

Exeter Whs 01404 46993 ian@ukcyclist.co.uk ROA 10000 Ian Hennessey, 10 High Street Honiton EX14 1PU

The Buzzard

200 12 Jul Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 08:00 Sat BR 216km 2300m £7 P R T 50 14.4-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Brix'n Water

160 12 Jul Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 09:00 Sat BP 1400m [2300m] £7 P R T 50 14.4-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Brix'n Bouquet

110 12 Jul Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Double Bouquet 09:30 Sat BP 750m [2300m] £7 P R T 50 14.4-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com Geoff Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth B78 1BY 300 13 Jul 02:00 Sun Change of Date

Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Flattest Possible 300 BRM 304km £5.00 C F L P R T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com

200 13 Jul 08:00 Sun Change of Date

Bethersden, nr Ashford, Kent Fairies Half-Flat 200 BR 201km 1000m £5 C,F,L,P,R,T 15-30kph San Fairy Ann CC manofkentaudax@gmail.com

54

Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

Slaidburn

200 13 Jul 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 13 Jul Otley, West Yorkshire 09:00 Sun BP 107km 1050m £4.00 L R T S 12-25kph Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net

The Two M's Ride

100 13 Jul Otley, West Yorkshire 09:00 Sun BP 101km 1800m AAA1.75 £4 L R T S 12-30kph Otley CC chris.boulton@lineone.net Chris Boulton, 15 Adel Towers Close Leeds LS16 8ES

Over Jordan

200 13 Jul 08:15 Sun Change of Date

Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy BR 203km 2265m AAA1.5 [1500m] £15 L P R T 15-30kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com

130 13 Jul 09:15 Sun Change of Date

Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy BP 135km 1400m £10 L P R T 12.5-25kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com

Cestyll Cymru

The Legend of Gelert

51 13 Jul Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy Glan-y-Mor 10:15 Sun BP 750m AAA0.75 £9 L P R T 10-20kph Rhos-on-Sea CC cbwilby@gmail.com Change of Date Chris Wilby, Gwenallt Henryd Road Gyffin Conwy Conwy LL32 8HN 200 13 Jul Smallworth, Garboldisham, nr Diss Garboldisham Groveller 08:00 Sun BR £6.00 P R T 15-30kph Diss CTC tomandeileenelkins@hotmail.co.uk 100 13 Jul Smallworth, Garboldisham, nr Diss 09:00 Sun BP £6.00 P R T F 15-30kph Diss CTC tomandeileenelkins@hotmail.co.uk

Garboldisham Grafter

55 13 Jul Smallworth, Garboldisham, nr Diss 10:00 Sun BP £6.00 P R F T 15-30kph Diss CTC tomandeileenelkins@hotmail.co.uk Tom Elkins, 6 Marston Lane Norwich NR4 6LZ

Garboldisham Grinder

100 16 Jul Hailey, N of Witney, Oxon Midweek Tour of the Cotswold 10:00 Wed BP 106km £6.00 L P R S T 70 12-25kph Oxfordshire CTC john.bridgman558@btinternet.com 60 16 Jul Hailey, N of Witney, Oxon Midweek Tour of the Cotswold 10:00 Wed BP £5.00 L P R S T 50 15-30kph CTC Oxfordshire john.bridgman558@btinternet.com John Bridgman, 44 Church View Freeland Witney Oxon OX29 8HT 600 19 Jul Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Three Steps to Severn 06:00 Sat BRM 610km 4800m [4300m] £8.00 F L P T 15-25kph Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar 200 19 Jul 08:00 Sat

Corwen Barmouth Boulevard BR 204km 3650m AAA3.75 £5.00 P R T 50 15-30kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com100

19 Jul Corwen 09:00 Sat

BP 107km 1920m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com

The Brenig Bach

60 19 Jul Corwen The Bala Parade 10:00 Sat BP 1000m £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph

Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com ROA 5000 David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG 200 19 Jul 09:00 Sat Updated

Fulford Church Hall, York BR £3.50 L,P,T,R 15-30kph Clifton CC 07799023760 greg.melia@cliftoncc.org

Three Bridges

160 19 Jul Fulford Church Hall, York 09:30 Sat BP 162km 1086m £3.00 LRT 15-30kph

Clifton CC 07799023760 greg.melia@cliftoncc.org Greg Melia, 10 Curzon Terrace York YO23 1HA

Three Bridges 162

300 19 Jul Penzance 06:30 Sat BR 307km 4940m AAA5 £3.00 BXYHC 15-30kph Audax Kernow martyn.aldis@syntagma.co.uk

Many Rivers to Cross

200 19 Jul Penzance Four Hundreds 200 08:00 Sat 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 20 Jul 08:00 Sun

Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hurrah BR 2200m £6.50 L P R T 50 6/7 15-30kph Southampton & Romsey CTC alanandemma@talktalk.net

100 26 Jul 09:30 Sat Change of Date

Bildeston, Suffolk BP 104km £5.00 L P R T S 15-30kph CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com

Bildeston Lanes

200 26 Jul Bildeston, Suffolk Suffolk Lanes Extravaganza 08:30 Sat BR 209km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph

Cycle Club Sudbury 01449 741048 pamandrobinw@gmail.com Robin Weaver, 14 Chapel Street Bildeston Ipswich Suffolk IP7 7EP 200 26 Jul Droitwich Clee and Herefordshire Hills 08:15 Sat BR 207km 3050m AAA3 £4.00 C P R T M 14.4-25kph

Gavin Greenhow 01905 775 803 ROA 10000 Gavin Greenhow, 44 Newland Road Droitwich WR9 7AG 400 26 Jul Ingleby Barwick, Teesside National 400 10:00 Sat BRM 3920m £30 A(1) F L P R T S (200) 15-25kph New Event VC167 01325 374 112 nigel.hall@finklecroft.me.uk Velo Club 167 , c/o Andrew Clarkson 76 Arthurs Avenue Harrogate HG2 0GB 200 26 Jul Trowell, Nottingham The Cheshire Cat 08:00 Sat BR 206km 3630m AAA3.75 £7.00 L P R T 80 15-30kph

Nottinghamshire CTC 0115 932 9978 Mark Chambers, 62 Queens Avenue Hallam Fields Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 4DJ 100 30 Jul Marple Dark Peak Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 106km 2290m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 60 (257) 12.5-25kph

Peak Audax Derek Heine, 10 Whitehall Drive Hartford Northwich Cheshire CW8 1SJ 200 31 Jul Galashiels To Ecclefechan. Wear The Fox Hat 200 08:00 Thu BR 1974m £5.00 BPX 15-30kph

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

140 20 Jul Awbridge, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire Hungerford Hooray 09:00 Sun BP 1450m £6.50 L P R T 50 6/7 15-30kph

Southampton & Romsey CTC alanandemma@talktalk.net Alan Davies, 7 Queens Close Romsey Hampshire SO51 5EG

200 02 Aug 08:00 Sat

110 20 Jul Earlswood 09:00 Sun BP £6.00 PRT 15-30kph Change of Date MC & AC Jim Lee, 107 Shustoke Road Solihull West Midlands B91 2QR

Down the Vale

60 02 Aug Bolsover Robin Hood 60 10:00 Sat BP £5.00 L P R T (100) 10-20kph

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

100 20 Jul East Finchley, N2 9ED Suburban Breakout 09:30 Sun BP 103km 1085m [755m] £5 PRT 15-30kph Change of Date Central London CTC nick@centrallondonctc.org.uk Nick Bloom, 32 Fortis Green Avenue Fortis Green London N2 9NA

200 02 Aug Cardiff Gate, Cardiff Dr. Foster's Summer Saunter 08:00 Sat BR 201km £6.50 C P R T 50 15-25kph

Cardiff Byways CC tonypember@gmail.com Tony Pember, 9 Donald Street Nelson Treharris CF46 6EB

200 20 Jul Newton Abbot, Devon 08:00 Sun BR 210km 2900m AAA3 £7.50 F L P R S T 15-30kph CTC Devon

200 02 Aug Harringay, London Straight Outta Hackney 08:00 Sat BR £11.00 CFLPRT 15-30kph

Audax Club Hackney 07932672561 justinjones1969@gmail.com Justin Jones, ACH HQ incorporating The Stag's Head 39 Harringay Road London N15 3JB

Torplex Two Hundred

100 20 Jul Newton Abbot, Devon Devon Delight 09:00 Sun BP 107km £7.50 F L P R S T 10-25kph

CTC Devon ROA 5000 Graham Brodie, 81 Twickenham Road Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 4JG 200 20 Jul Steyning, W Sussex 08:00 Sun BR 207km 2248m £5.00 F P T 15-30kph David Hudson

The Devils Punchbowl 200

100 20 Jul Steyning, W Sussex The Double Devils Punchbowl 100 08:30 Sun BP 108km 1200m £5.00 F P T 15-30kph

David Hudson ROA 25000 Dave Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6LG 1300 21 Jul Brodick, Isle of Arran The Highlands, Glens and Western Isles 11:15 Mon BRM 1302km 17950m AAA18 [2200m] £10 T NM YH X 60 12-30kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 300 26 Jul Beech Hill, S of Reading 06:00 Sat BR £6.50 L P R T 15-30kph Reading CTC offroad@readingctc.co.uk Ian Doyle, 29 Princes Street Reading RG1 4EG 200 26 Jul 08:00 Sat

Rural South

Beech Hill, S of Reading Alan Furley's Up the Downs BR 202km 2100m £7.00 F L P R T 100 15-30kph Reading CTC 01491 651284 philipmdyson@btinternet.com

100 26 Jul Beech Hill, S of Reading Alan Furley's Down the Ups 09:00 Sat BP 107km 1000m £6:50 F L P R T 12.5-30kph

Reading CTC 01491 651284 philipmdyson@btinternet.com Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL 160 26 Jul 08:45 Sat Change of Date

Bildeston, Suffolk BP 168km £5.00 L P R T S 15-30kph CC Sudbury pamandrobinw@gmail.com

100 miles of Suffolk Lanes

Bolsover Clumber to Humber (John Kerr Memorial Ride) BR 211km £5.00 L P R T 50 15-30kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net

200 03 Aug 08:00 Sun

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

200 03 Aug 08:00 Sun

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

110 03 Aug 09:00 Sun

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

50 03 Aug Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Three Counties - Clover Leaf 09:30 Sun BP £2.00 F P R T 10-25kph

Evesham & Dist. Whs petehutch1959@btinternet.com Pete Hutchinson, Hazelwood Shinehill Lane South Littleton Evesham Worcestershire WR11 8TP 100 06 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Mid Peak Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 109km 2400m AAA2.5 £5.00 L P R T 40 (31/7) 12.5-25kph Peak Audax chris.keelingroberts@ntlworld.com Chris Keeling-Roberts, 17 Lower Strines Road Marple Cheshire SK6 7DL 400 09 Aug Galashiels Over the Hill and Back 07:00 Sat BRM £5.00 PBX 15-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 300 09 Aug Tewkesbury A Rough Diamond 06:00 Sat BR 301km 2500m [3450m] £6.50 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

55 AU

DAX UK

auk calendar 600 09 Aug Windsor Windsor-Chester-Windsor 07:00 Sat BRM £20.00 A(1) F L P R T S Z (100) 15-30kph Updated LEL2013 sandk.tandem@btinternet.com ROA 10000 Keith Harrison, 11 Heather Avenue Hellesdon Norwich NR6 6LU

100 17 Aug Musselburgh The Crystal Run 10:00 Sun BP 1600m AAA1.5 £5.00 F L P R 12.5-25kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU

100 10 Aug Connor Downs, NE of Hayle 09:30 Sun BP 104km 1350m £4.00 C L P R T 12.5-30kph Audax Kernow

110 17 Aug Shere, Guildford Tour of the Hills 09:50 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

The Celtic Coastal

60 10 Aug Connor Downs, NE of Hayle 10:00 Sun BP 750m £4.00 C L P R T 8-30kph

Audax Kernow Chris Rayne, 1 Reawla Lane Camborne Cornwall TR27 5HQ 150 10 Aug 08:30 Sun

Celtic Canter

Dorchester Dorset Downs 150 BP 2552m [2177m] £9.00 F P R T 150 15-25kph AUK 01305 266798 justinoakley@hotmail.co.uk

100 10 Aug Dorchester Dorset Downs 100 10:00 Sun BP 102km 1995m AAA1.75 [1630m] £6.00 F P R T 150 12-24kph

Justin Oakley 01305 266798 justinoakley@hotmail.co.uk Justin Oakley, 6 Linden Gardens Wollaston Road Dorchester Dorset DT1 1WB 120 10 Aug North Petherton, S of Bridgwater 08:30 Sun BP 125km £8.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Bridgwater CC

Three Towers and Middle Earth

100 10 Aug North Petherton, S of Bridgwater The Two Towers 09:00 Sun BP £7.00 F L P R T 15-30kph

Bridgwater CC Alan Windridge, 2 Gogs Orchard Wedmore Somerset BS28 4BP

100 20 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 davecatlow@PeakAudax.co.uk David Catlow, 9 Friars Close Rainow Macclesfield SK10 5UQ 300 23 Aug Mildenhall Cycling Rally 04:00 Sat BR 312km £5.00 CPT (16/08) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally Roving 300

200 23 Aug Mildenhall Cycling Rally 08:00 Sat BR 206km £5.00 CPTS (16/8) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally Randonnée

160 23 Aug Mildenhall Cycling Rally 08:15 Sat BP 161km £5.00 CPTS (16/8) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally 100 miler

100 23 Aug Mildenhall Cycling Rally 09:00 Sat BP 105km £5.00 CPTS (16/8) 12-30kph Suffolk CTC

Mildenhall Rally Brevet

50 23 Aug Mildenhall Cycling Rally Mildenhall Rally Brief Brevet 10:00 Sat BP £5.00 CPTS 16/8 10-25kph

Suffolk CTC Andy Terry, The Nook Colchester Road Great Bromley Essex CO7 7TN

200 10 Aug 08:00 Sun Change of Date

Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Pistyll Packing Momma BR 209km 3400m AAA3.5 £5.00 P R 50 T L (16/09) 15-30kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com

130 10 Aug 09:00 Sun Change of Date

Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Mountain Views BP 137km 2000m AAA2 £5.00 P R 50 T L (16/09) 12.5-25kph Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com

200 23 Aug Newtonmore Rothes Reccie 08:00 Sat BR 2347m £3 CPT 15-30kph

CTC Highland 01862 871 136 biker_carroll@hotmail.com ROA 10000 Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Village Portmahomack IV20 1RF

50 10 Aug Old Ma's Tattenhall, Cheshire Momma's Leafy Lanes 10:00 Sun BP £5.00 P R 50 T L (16/09) 10-20kph Change of Date Chester & N Wales CTC dmanu@outlook.com ROA 5000 David Matthews, Hill View Cottage Cross Lanes Oscroft Tarvin Cheshire CH3 8NG

100 23 Aug Newtonmore Grantown Gallop 10:00 Sat BP 104km 992m £2.00 C YH L P R T 10-20kph CTC Highland biker_carroll@hotmail.com ROA 10000 Steve Carroll, Creag Charrach Rockfield Tain Ross-shire IV20 1RF

110 13 Aug Maidenhead Riverside to Riverside 10:00 Wed BP 118km £3.00 P R T 15-30kph Willesden CC anemograby@hotmail.com Anne Mograby, 5 Castle Farm Leigh Square Windsor Berks SL4 4PT

400 23 Aug 05:30 Sat

100 13 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 Oldham Saddleworth OL3 5UX 200 16 Aug 08:00 Sat

Belbroughton, N Worcestershire Kidderminster Killer BR 211km 3750m AAA3.75 £7.25 F L P R S T (70) (8/8) 14.3-30kph Beacon RCC 01562731606 montgomery@beaconrcc.org.uk

120 16 Aug Belbroughton, N Worcestershire From Clee to Heaven 09:00 Sat BP 1950m AAA2 £7.25 F L P R S T (65) 13-25kph

Beacon RCC 01562 731606 montgomery@beaconrcc.org.uk Dr Philip Whiteman, 2 Drayton Terrace Drayton Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 0BW 200 16 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington Elan & Ystwyth 08:00 Sat BR 208km 3750m AAA3.75 £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 12.5-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com 100 16 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 16 Aug Gladestry, W of Kington 10:00 Sat BP £5.00 YH C BD P R T 150 5/8 10-20kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com

Gladestry Trot

200 17 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 12.5-25kph CTC Cymru rossjeal@gladestry.com

Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire The Old 240 BRM 407km 6400m AAA6.5 £5.00 C F L P R T 15-30kph CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk

400 23 Aug Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire Not Quite The Spurn Head 400 05:30 Sat BRM 403km 2450m £5.00 C L P R T 15-30kph

CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF 100 24 Aug Droitwich Saracen Century Audax 09:00 Sun BP 106km 1600m AAA1.5 [1500m] £8 L P R T 12.5-25kph

Saracen Road Club saracenroadclub@gmail.com Sean Barker, 16 Leahouse Road Stirchley Birmingham B30 2DD 200 24 Aug 08:00 Sun

Larkhall, nr Hamilton BR 2420m £6 T P R L 15-30kph Royal Albert CC

Four Passes

100 24 Aug Larkhall, nr Hamilton Glen Taggert Splash 10:00 Sun BP 106km 1130m £4 T P R L 15-30kph

Royal Albert CC John Robertson, 64 Victoria Street Larkhall S Lanarkshire ML9 2BL 110 27 Aug Marple, Memorial Park, SK6 Staffs Peak Super-Grimpeur 10:00 Wed BP 2800m AAA2.75 £5 P R T (22/8) 60 10-25kph Peak Audax audax@idnet.com Peter Coates, 182 Moor Lane Woodford Stockport Cheshire SK7 1PJ 200 30 Aug Bangor, North Wales Sych it and Sea (Gwynedd Traverse) 08:00 Sat BR 210km 2850m AAA2.75 £5 L P R T 15-30kph Holyhead CC j.h.sharp@bangor.ac.uk Jasmine Sharp, 409a Crafnant Ffriddoedd Road Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2GX 160 30 Aug 08:15 Sat

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

160 17 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 30 Aug Dore, Sheffield An Amber Gambol 09:00 Sat BP 1550m AAA1.5 £5 L P R T 12-25kph

Sheffield District CTC 0114 255 0907 bigT.ridinghigh@gmail.com Tony Gore, 8 Ladysmith Avenue Sheffield S7 1SF

100 17 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

100 31 Aug Kirkintilloch Ivy's Mid Scotland Meander 10:00 Sun BP 1311m £8.50 P. R. T. NM. 15-30kph

Glasgow Ivy CC richardbarnes776@hotmail.com Richard Barnes, 14 St Columba Drive Kirkintilloch G66 3JN

56

Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar 100 31 Aug Merthyr Tydfil Dic Penderyn 09:00 Sun BP 1900m AAA2 £4.50 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 400 06 Sep Stonehaven Old Military Roads 10:30 Sat BRM 6000m AAA6 £6 X P L R T (25) 15-30kph

Stephen Reed Stephen Reed, Cairnbanno 34 Dunnottar Avenue Stonehaven AB39 2JJ 200 06 Sep Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick goes to Hay in a day 08:00 Sat BR 205km 1900m £4.00 c f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ

200 13 Sep Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 08:30 Sat BR 208km 1400m £7.00 X P R 50 (31/8) 15-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com 110 13 Sep Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH 09:00 Sat BP 111km 1094m £7.00 P R T 50 (31/8) 12.5-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Wem, we get there

Charnwood Challenge

51 13 Sep 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 Geoffrey Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth Staffordshire B78 1BY

Northern Dales

110 14 Sep Ludford, NE of Lincoln Lincolnshire Wolds 09:30 Sun BP £5.00 F P R T 15-30kph Updated CTC Lincolnshire timnewbery@hotmail.com ROA 2000 Tim Newbery, 7a Linden Walk Louth LN11 9HT

100 07 Sep Arnside YH Northern Dales Populaire 09:00 Sun BP 109km 1675m AAA1.75 £5.00 YH R S T 12.5-25kph VC167 julian.dyson2@baesystems.com Julian Dyson, 5 Duke Street Gleaston Ulverston Cumbria LA12 0UA

200 14 Sep Musselburgh The Erit Lass 08:00 Sun BR 3000m AAA3 £7.00 F L P R T 15-30kph Audax Ecosse martinfoley@btinternet.com Martin Foley, 78 Denholm Road Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6TU

100 07 Sep Hampton Hill, SW London London Sightseer 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 C L P T NM 10-20kph

Hounslow & Dist. Whs 020 8287 3244 billcarnaby@blueyonder.co.uk Bill Carnaby, 225 High Street Hampton Hill Middlesex TW12 1NP

100 20 Sep 09:00 Sat

200 07 Sep Arnside YH 08:00 Sun BR 202km 3000m AAA3 £5.00 YH R S T 15-30kph VC167 julian.dyson2@baesystems.com

Bolsover Beast of Bolsover BP 105km 2030m AAA2 £5.00 P R T 12.5-25kph Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net

200 07 Sep 07:45 Sun

Lymington New Forest On and Off Shore BR 202km 2150m £17.00 L P R T 100 (3/9) Ferry 15-30kph W J Ward 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

50 20 Sep Bolsover Mini Beast 10:00 Sat BP 934m £4.00 L P R T 10-25kph

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

150 07 Sep 07:45 Sun

Lymington New Forest and Isle of Wight Century BP £17.00 L P R T 100 (30/8) Ferry 15-30kph W J Ward 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com

160 20 Sep 08:00 Sat

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

Welland Wonder 160

100 07 Sep Lymington New Forest and Coast 10:00 Sun BP 102km £6.00 C L P R T 100 (3/9) 10-20kph

W J Ward 01590 671 205 cyclingnewforest@gmail.com ROA 10000 John Ward, 34 Avenue Road Lymington Hants SO41 9GJ

110 20 Sep 08:30 Sat

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

Welland Wonder 100

200 07 Sep 08:00 Sun

Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch East Midlands Forests 200k BR 207km £5.40 C P T R YH (40) (03/9) 15-30kph CTC East Midlands 01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk

100 07 Sep Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bosworth Battlefield Sightseer 09:30 Sun BP 107km £4.50 P R T C YH (80) (28/08) 12-24kph

Mercia CC 01283 223 581 hilly@hillyswad.co.uk Ian Hill, 33 Wren Close Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 7QP 200 07 Sep 08:00 Sun

Walton, Wakefield Vineyard, Windmills and Moss 200 BR 2250m £5 PRTF 15-30kph Calder Clarion CC 01924 251488 rich.hanck@tiscali.co.uk

100 07 Sep Walton, Wakefield Vineyard and Windmills 100 10:00 Sun BP 1830m £5 PRTF 15-30kph

Calder Clarion 01924 251488 rich.hanck@tiscali.co.uk Richard Hancock, 51 Manor Crescent. Walton Wakefield West Yorkshire WF2 6PG 200 13 Sep Chepstow Castle Border Castles Randonnée 07:30 Sat BR 3000m AAA3 £2.00 YHXPRT(14/9) 15-30kph

Bristol DA ROA 5000 Nik Peregrine, 46 Bridge Street Chepstow NP16 5EY 200 13 Sep Coryton, NW Cardiff Ferryside Fish Foray 07:00 Sat BR 225km £8.00 YH L R P T 50 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC evansrichardd@googlemail.com ROA 4000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW 600 13 Sep Great Dunmow The Flatlands 06:00 Sat BRM 606km £6 X A(1) CLPRTM (06/09)(50) 15-30kph Flitchbikes CC tom.deakins@btinternet.com Thomas Deakins, 31 The Causeway Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2AA

53 20 Sep Husbands Bosworth Welland Wonder 50 09:00 Sat BP 525m £5.00 LPRT 12-24kph

Welland Valley CC 01858545376 ROA 2000 Mike Vybiral, Logan Cottage Grange Lane East Langton Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7TF 100 20 Sep 10:15 Sat

Rodborough, Stroud BP 106km 2150m AAA2.25 £5 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com

Pedersen 100

100 20 Sep 10:00 Sat

Rodborough, Stroud BP 105km 1650m AAA1.5 £5 L P R S T (60) 12.5-25kph Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com

Budding 100

62 20 Sep Rodborough, Stroud Awdry 60 11:00 Sat BP 1000m AAA1 £5 LPRST(60) 12.5-25kph

Dursley RC 01453 762235 james.reynolds@lein-ad.com James Reynolds, Ambleside The Butts Rodborough Stroud GL5 3UG 160 21 Sep Linlithgow Three Glens Explorer 09:30 Sun BP 164km 1350m [1850m] £7.50 F L P R T 15-30kph Change of Date West Lothian Clarion neil.fraser@blueyonder.co.uk Neil Fraser, 14 Maryfield Drive Bo'ness West Lothian EH51 9DG 200 27 Sep Alfreton Straight on at Rosie's 08:00 Sat BR 1190m £6.00 L P R T 15-30kph Change of Date Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk ROA 5000 Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP 200 27 Sep Broken Cross, nr Macclesfield Venetian Nights 08:00 Sat BR 210km 2750m AAA2.25 [2333m] £8.00 F L P R T 14.3-25kph Peak Audax perrin_john@sky.com John Perrin, 20 Princes Way Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8UB

200 13 Sep 08:00 Sat

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

150 13 Sep 08:30 Sat

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

100 13 Sep 09:30 Sat

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

100 27 Sep Sonning Common, near Reading Henley Hilly Hundred 09:00 Sat BP 1660m AAA1.75 £5 FLPRT 12-30kph Reading CTC brianperry_3@hotmail.co.uk Brian Perry, 16 Rowland Close Wallingford Oxon OX10 8LA

100 13 Sep Richmond, N Yorks Lucia's Vale of York Meander 100 10:00 Sat BP £5.50 C F L P R T 10-20kph

VC167 078887628513 david.atkinson577@virgin.net David Atkinson, 4 Borrowby Avenue Northallerton North Yorkshire DL6 1AL

200 28 Sep Denmead, Nr Portsmouth Wylye and Ebble Valley 07:30 Sun BR £5.50 L P R T M (19/09) 15-30kph Hampshire RC mrpaulwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk Paul Whitehead, 73 Spencer Road Emsworth Hampshire PO10 7XR

100 27 Sep Coryton, NW Cardiff Trefil Travail 9::00 Sat BP 105km 2270m AAA2.25 £8.00 YH L P R T 50 12-24kph

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

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

57 AU

DAX UK

auk calendar 160 28 Sep Haynes Road, Leicester, LE5 4AR The Leicester Circle 08:00 Sun BP 166km 1500m [1525m] £5.00 L P R T NM 15-30kph

Leicester Forest CC 84 28 Sep Haynes Road, Leicester, LE5 4AR Inner Circle 08:30 Sun BP 1100m [1200m] £5.00 L P R T NM 12.5-30kph

Leicester Forest CC Mat Richardson, 18 Clumber Close Loughborough LE11 2UB 200 28 Sep Pendleton, Lancashire Last Chance Dales Dance 200 07:30 Sun BRM 3300m AAA3.25 [3000m] £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph Burnley Sportiv burnleysportiv@yahoo.com Andy Corless, 31 Castlerigg Drive Ightenhill Burnley Lancashire BB12 8AT 100 04 Oct Bristol Tasty Cheddar 09:00 Sat BP 101km 1510m AAA1 £4.00 P YH 12.5-30kph

Bristol DA 0117 925 5217 joe.prosser@blueyonder.co.uk ROA 4000 Joe Prosser, 8 Portland Court Cumberland Close Bristol BS1 6XB 200 04 Oct Chalfont St Peter The Less Anfractuous 08:10 Sat BR 207km 2400m £6.00 L P R T M 75 15-30kph Willesden CC pxstewart@gmail.com 200 04 Oct Chalfont St Peter The AAAnfractuous 08:00 Sat BR 207km 2900m AAA3 £6.00 L P R T M 75 15-30kph Willesden CC pxstewart@gmail.com 100 04 Oct Chalfont St Peter The Nyctophobic 08:30 Sat BP 109km 1400m £6 L P R T M 75 12.5-30kph Willesden CC pxstewart@gmail.com Paul Stewart, 25 Devonshire Gardens Chiswick London W4 3TN 200 04 Oct Coryton, NW Cardiff Gower Getter 07:30 Sat BR 203km 2200m £8 YH L P R T 15-30kph

Cardiff Byways CC glharper1973@gmail.com Georgina Harper, 68 Hazelhurst Road Llandaf North Cardiff Wales CF14 2FX 150 04 Oct Darley Abbey, Derby Over the Trent to Dance and Pray 08:30 Sat BP 152km 1041m £6.00 L P R T 30 15-30kph

CTC Derby & Burton 100 04 Oct Darley Abbey, Derby Over and Over the Trent 09:15 Sat BP 109km 637m £6.00 L P R T 60 12.5-30kph

CTC Derby & Burton Keith Scholey, 1 Killis Lane Kilburn Belper DE56 0LS 110 05 Oct Blaxhall, Suffolk The Suffolk Byways 09:00 Sun BP 117km 620m £5.00 YH C L P R T (120) 15-30kph Suffolk CTC suffolkcyclist@gmail.com Paul Bass, 21 Thomas Close Ixworth Bury St Edmunds IP31 2UQ 100 05 Oct Bredgar, Nr Sittingbourne Hengist's Hills 10:00 Sun BP 103km 1750m AAA1.75 £5.00 RLPT 15-30kph

Tim Ford 01622 884 622 timfarmerford@btinternet.com ROA 4000 Tim Ford, Glinwood Bexon Lane Bredgar Sittingbourne ME9 8HB 200 05 Oct Galashiels Etal-u-Can 08:00 Sun BRM 204km 2379m £5.00 BPX 15-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 100 05 Oct Hebden Bridge Season of Mists 09:00 Sun BP 2555m AAA2.5 £4.00 L R T YH 12-24kph

CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk 50 05 Oct Hebden Bridge Mellow Fruitfulness 10:00 Sun BP 1200m AAA1.25 £3.50 L R T YH 8-20kph

CTC West Yorkshire 01422 832 853 chris.crossland@halifaxctc.org.uk ROA 25000 Chris Crossland, 14 Stanley St. West Sowerby Bridge W. Yorks HX6 1EF 100 12 Oct Abergavenny Marches Grimpeur 09:00 Sun BP 1950m AAA2 £5.00 YH F P L T 12.5-25kph Abergavenny RC waville@yahoo.com Jonathan Saville, 9 Trehonddu Llanvihangel Crucorney Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 8DG 200 12 Oct Congleton Rugby Club Horseshoe Pass 08:00 Sun BR 210km £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com 170 12 Oct Congleton Rugby Club Chirk Aqueduct 08:30 Sun BP 175km £5.00 P R (60) 15-30kph Congleton CC dhurst085@aol.com Denise Hurst, 10 Firwood Road Biddulph Staffordshire ST8 7ED 100 12 Oct Hailsham, E Sussex The Winchelsea 100 09:00 Sun BP 103km 1200m [1100m] £5.00 F P 15-30kph

David Hudson ROA 25000 David Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham by Sea West Sussex BN43 6LG 100 12 Oct Minehead Ken's Autumn Colours 09:30 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T 60 10-20kph Minehead CC 60 12 Oct Minehead Ken's Autumn Colours 10:00 Sun BP £5.00 L P R T 60 8-20kph

Minehead CC Richard Miles, Raglands 45 Tower Hill Williton Taunton Somerset TA4 4JR

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Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124 AU

DAX UK

100 12 Oct Wigginton, N of York Gerry's Autumn Brevet 10:00 Sun BP 101km 942m £3.00 L P R T 12-25kph

CTC North Yorks 01904 795 695 gerry.boswell@hotmail.co.uk Gerry Boswell, 5 Invicta Court Acomb York YO24 3NL 200 18 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Clwydian 08:00 Sat BR 212km 3200m AAA3.25 [3488m] £5.00 P R T 50 15-30kph

Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com 130 18 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Clwyd Gate 08:30 Sat BP 138km 2250m AAA2.25 £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph

Chester & N Wales CTC vickypayne8@hotmail.com 60 18 Oct Corwen, N. Wales The Bala mini-Bash 09:00 Sat BP £5.00 P R T 50 12.5-25kph

Chester & N Wales CTC 01745 560892 vickypayne8@hotmail.com Vicky Payne, Bryn Celyn Penyffordd Holywell Flintshire CH8 9HH 200 18 Oct Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick's Autumnal Outing 07:30 Sat BR 206km 2350m £4.00 c l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 150 18 Oct Trowell, West of Nottingham An Autumn Day Out 08:15 Sat BP 153km 1135m £6.00p L P R T(80) 15-30kph

Nottinghamshire CTC 0115 932 9978 Mark Chambers, 62 Queens Avenue Hallam Fields Ilkeston Derbys DE7 4DJ 200 19 Oct Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk 08:00 Sun BR £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph

Velo Club Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com 160 19 Oct Carlton Colville,Lowestoft, Suffolk The Silly Suffolk 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 FRTP 15-30kph

Velo Club Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT 110 25 Oct Bolsover Colourful Clumber 09:00 Sat BP 111km £5.00 L P R T (100) 12.5-30kph

Bolsover & District CC 01246 825 351 matt.connley@talktalk.net ROA 5000 Matt Connley, 7 Eskdale Close Bolsover Chesterfield S44 6RL 200 25 Oct Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Beyond Shropshire 07:30 Sat BR 202km 2970m AAA3 £6.00 A(1) C F L P R T 15-25kph Updated CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk 120 25 Oct Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury Discovering Shropshire 08:30 Sat BP 1650m AAA1.5 [1545m] £6.00 A(1) C F L P R T 100 12.5-25kph Updated CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk 80 25 Oct Upton Magna, E of Shrewsbury A Shropshire Lad 09:30 Sat BP 1030m £6.00 C F L P R T (50) 10-22.5kph Updated CTC Shropshire undulates@hotmail.co.uk ROA 10000 John Hamilton, 22 Oaks Crescent Wellington Telford TF1 2HF 100 26 Oct Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 8 08:00 Sun BP 104km 2500m AAA2.5 £8.00 F P R T 125 (23/10) 12.5-25kph

CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com 100 26 Oct Bovey Tracey The Dartmoor Devil @ 9 09:00 Sun BP 104km 2500m AAA2.5 £8.00 F P R T 125 (23/10) 12.5-25kph

CTC Devon 01626 833 749 kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com ROA 3000 Kevin Presland, Hind Street House Hind Street Bovey Tracey Devon TQ13 9HT 100 26 Oct Galashiels Ride of the Valkyries 10:00 Sun BP 106km 1200m [1517m] £7.00 LPRTS 12-30kph

Audax Ecosse 01896 758 181 pedaller1@sky.com ROA 10000 Lucy McTaggart, 30 Victoria St. Galashiels Scottish Borders TD1 1HL 100 26 Oct Stevenage (Fairlands), SG2 0BL Emitremmus Desrever 10:00 Sun BP 1019m £7 L P R T (19/10; 360) 12.5-28kph

Stevenage & N Herts CTC 01438 354 505 jim@stevenagectc.org.uk 67 26 Oct Stevenage (Fairlands), SG2 0BL Emitremmus Lite 10:30 Sun BP 643m £7 L P R T (19/10; 100) 10-20kph

Stevenage & N Herts CTC 01438 354 505 jim@stevenagectc.org.uk ROA 5000 Jim Brown, 38 Brick Kiln Road Stevenage SG1 2NH 200 01 Nov Cholsey, E of Didcot Upper Thames 07:30 Sat BR 212km 1900m [1943m] £6.00 L P R T M 15-30kph

Thames Valley Audax 01491 651 284 philipmdyson@btinternet.com Phil Dyson, 25 Papist Way Cholsey Wallingford Oxon OX10 9LL 200 01 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 4000 Richard Evans, 73 Conway Road Cardiff CF11 9NW 200 07 Nov Anywhere, to AUK Annual Dinner Dinner Dart ::::: Fri BR £5 DIY 14.3-30kph

AUK 0161 449 9309 ROA 25000 Sheila Simpson, 33 Hawk Green Road Hawk Green Marple SK6 7HR 110 08 Nov Alfreton Prison Run 09:00 Sat BP 113km 1000m £5.00 P L R 12-30kph Updated Alfreton CTC bandj.smith@sky.com Brian Smith, 10 The Crescent Clay Cross Chesterfield S45 9EH

www.audax.uk.net

auk calendar 200 08 Nov AUK Annual Dinner After Dinner Dart ::::: Sat BR £5 DIY 14.3-30kph

AUK 0161 449 9309 ROA 25000 Sheila Simpson, 33 Hawk Green Road Hawk Green Marple SK6 7HR 200 08 Nov Tewkesbury Mr. Pickwick's Cymraeg Cyrch 07:00 Sat BR 209km 2200m £4.00 c p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 100 09 Nov Carlton Colville, nr Lowestoft, Suffolk The Waveney Wander 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 LPRT 15-30kph

Velo Club Baracchi johntommo6@btinternet.com John Thompson, 136 Dell Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 9NT 200 09 Nov Cheadle, Stockport Eureka!

08:00 Sun BR 210km 800m £6 .00 P R T M 60 15-30kph Peak Audax hamhort84@talktalk.netZ 160 09 Nov Cheadle, Stockport Cheshire Safari 08:30 Sun BP 570m £6.00 P R T M 60 12.5-25kph Peak Audax hamhort84@talktalk.net Peter Hammond, 3 Dorac Ave Heald Green Cheadle Stockport Cheshire SK8 3NZ 100 09 Nov Petworth, W Sussex The Spordax 100 08:30 Sun BP 103km 1350m £7.50 F P T 15-30kph

David Hudson ROA 25000 David Hudson, 151 Middle Road Shoreham by Sea West Sussex BN43 6LG 200 06 Dec Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2SE The South of Bucks Winter Warmer 08:00 Sat BR 206km 1100m [1290m] £5.00 YH A1 L P T X 100 15-30kph Terry Lister lister4cycling@btinternet.com Terry Lister, 4 Abbey Walk Great Missenden Bucks HP16 0AY 200 06 Dec Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Tinsel and Lanes 08:00 Sat BR 211km 2060m £7.00 P R T 60 15-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

100 06 Dec Tamworth, Pretty Pigs PH Flowers to Furnace 09:00 Sat BP 104km 940m £7 P R T 50 12-30kph Geoff Cleaver audaxgeoff@gmail.com

Geoff Cleaver, 43 Goodere Drive Polesworth Tamworth B78 1BY 200 06 Dec Tewkesbury Kings, Castles, Priests and Churches.

07:00 Sat BR 202km 2550m AAA1.75 [1800m] £4.00 f l p r t nm 100 15-25kph

BlackSheep CC 01684 292 390 ybgirkram@talktalk.net ROA 25000 Mark Rigby, 16 Battle Road Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury GL20 5TZ 50 07 Dec Carharrack, Cornwall Ed's Mince Pie & Mulled Wine 50 10:00 Sun BP £3.50 F L P R T (85) 10-25kph

Audax Kernow 01326 373421 angells@talktalk.net

Eddie Angell, 14 Belhay Penryn Cornwall TR10 8DF 200 21 Dec Great Bromley, nr Colchester Santa Special 08:00 Sun BR 202km £5.00 L P R T 15-30kph

CTC Suffolk 07922772001 Andy Terry, The Nook Colchester Road Great Bromley Essex CO7 7TN 200 03 Jan Oxford The Poor Student 08:00 Sat BRM 206km 2000m £6.00 YH P X 15-30kph

Pat Hurt 07887 87 61 62 iddu.audax@gmail.com Pat Hurt, 10 Newbury Road Lambourn RG17 7LL 100 14 Mar Alfreton Three Fields 09:00 Sat BP 104km 1270m £5.00 L P R T 100 12-30kph Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk 200 21 Mar Alfreton Roses to Wrags 08:00 Sat BRM 212km 1391m £6.00 F P R T 150 15-30kph Alfreton CTC tomandsuefox@yahoo.co.uk ROA 5000 Tom Fox, 180 Nottingham Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FP

Every cloud has a silver lining…

Ann Marshall

On November 2nd my world crumbled when I fell riding into the village hall car park for the start of Upper Thames 200k … broke my left elbow, nasty break, needed op … the elbow man said I wouldn’t be back on my bike for 3–6 months …

What do you do when your world crumbles? I had some precious goals to achieve (as we all do), so I offered my services as stoker on tandem, not that I had ever ridden one before, nor did I know where to find one!

I asked around, and discovered that Mark Gladwyn, whom I’d met (on solo) a couple of weeks earlier, had a tandem, so I dropped him a line. His wife Maggie thought I was bonkers (apparently so did the entire Tandem Club!) but Mark was kind enough to throw me a life-line as stoker, providing I passed the test-ride. So we set a date, and I realised it was a two-way thing. Would he feel OK with me as a liability and novice stoker, and would I entrust him with my broken elbow…

One week after elbow op we met at Leatherhead Leisure Centre and wobbled around the car park for a lap or two on Mark’s lightweight touring Trek, practising the all-important protocol of who gets on/off first, etc, then set off for an intrepid 40k in the North Downs. Mark had all the controls and let me know when he’d be changing up or down, plus I was delighted to discover he could hold the bike steady at junctions without me having to unclip (not that we stopped much)… Inside my voluminous jacket, my plaster cast was set in a straight-ish position (perfect to rest my left hand on handlebars) so all I had to do was pedal (and chat). Mark chose a challenging route which included a gentle cycle path then hard climbs, technical descents, fast flats and more climbs… I hadn’t appreciated quite how much each is aware of the other’s input, loved the sensation of working as a team, pleased to say we both passed the test.

On November 30th rode my first event on tandem with Mark, Whitchurch Winter Wind-Down 100k – finished in the top 25 per cent of the field despite being fully plastered. We had a ball! Mark said the rolling terrain suited tandem and measured our power output as 20 per cent higher than usual – I think Maggie no longer doubted our ability as a team, neither did the Tandem Club.

Meanwhile, another recent acquaintance, Barry Sercombe, admitted to owning a tandem and offered me job as stoker for Winter Boat Trip 200k, subject to another test-ride! Different protocol, but pleased to say we both passed. So on December 8th (thanks to lift from Alan Parkinson) set

forth before dawn with pilot no.2 Barry on his sturdy Thorn (which comes apart in the middle, bit like a giant Brompton). Barry gave me the task of navigating, so I was kept busy! Even though the last few hours were in the dark, we had a ball! It was only after we’d finished that Barry admitted he’d never ridden 200k on tandem before.

I had somehow managed to finish Upper Thames in November (well, at the time I didn’t know elbow was broken did I?) so Barry’s stupendous effort enabled me to qualify for my precious RRTY×2.

Pilot no.1 Mark also offered me a ride mid-December when the weather looked fine. We squeezed in Jonathan Walters’ perm which includes 21 per cent Barhatch Lane – once again Maggie and the Tandem Club were impressed. With December’s AAARTY in the bag, I began to believe I might make it through to April for my AAARTY×5, but how? Mark was away skiing for most of January and all of March…

Enter Anthony Bell, San Fairy Ann’s Tandem Time Trial Champion … with Anthony’s speed and my hilly expertise, you might think we’re not the obvious pairing but you’d be surprised. We set a date mid-January to ride Martin Malins’ AAA Milne Perm, no test-ride necessary. On the way to the rendezvous at Groombridge (meeting Anthony for the first time) it was very icy, with cars skidding into hedgerows here and there. I was quite nervous but pilot no.3 Anthony was confident. We waited an hour and then set off, terrifying for the first 10 minutes but perfect after that, we had a ball!

January AAARTY in the bag.

Mark was back end January – we rode Hills and Mills (see front cover pic– Ed.) in inclement conditions followed by the tough Mad Jack Fuller 125k in February, very hilly and on March 1st I rode another 200k with pilot no.2 Barry, Kennet Valley Run, to start a new RRTY. End March rode Kent Invicta 100k grimpeur with Anthony which included 20 per cent Yorks Hill and in April rode Billy Weir’s Meridian Hills solo … Although back on my bike, I realise tandem is special.

I’ve had such fun on tandem with my three pilots, I would definitely choose this over riding solo in the future, when the ride dictates! I heartily thank Mark, Barry and Anthony (plus wives) for throwing me a life-line, as well as their kindness, patience, teamwork, expertise and results! – they are all excellent pilots…

Who would have thought out of such adversity would come such fun and enjoyment!

www.audax.uk.net Arrivée Spring 2014 No. 124

59 AU

DAX UK

Liam Morris, Hills and Mills grimpeur Photo: Tim Wainwright