Audax and Sportive Reports

Mark Tappenden and Sam Lipscombe rode the 10th edition of the legendary" Willy Warmer" 200km Audax from Chalfont St Peter.

From Hertford to Thaxted, Linton, Newmarket, Soham, St Ives, Royston and back to Hertford.  It was a cold, bright & sunny day with light rain after Royston.  It was a bit of a slow journey, especially across the Fens, as there's no protection from the wind yet everything was reasonably OK until 200kms.  Unfortunately for the final 6kms the rot set in and there was nothing left in the tank to deal with it.  Those last 6kms took over half an hour to cover.  From Royston had the choice of the A10 in the dark or the lanes via Sandon, Walkern etc.

Started from Gt Bromley (nr Colchester) at 08:00.  A fast wind-assisted trip up to Halesworth via Wickham, thence onto Palgrave (Diss) for more food and hospitality.  This set us up for the toughie (headwind) bit down to Sudbury with most of the old hands saying "it's not as bad as last year".  Left Sudbury just at 15:50 but soon it was dark with torrential rain, a strong cross-wind on an unlit road and all a bit tricksie.  I made fairly good time and got back at 18:10.  A reasonably flat course engineered so that the bits that were worth seeing were during the day, whilst once it got dark

I'd never done a DIY Audax before, just calendar events.  So I sent in an application showing my proposed route and got the OK with the proviso that I "controlled" at every place mentioned.  I think that this was my first mistake.  Next time I'll put fewer place names.  From Hertford to Chesham, then Wendover.  After a few hours of cycling into the wind it was a blessed relief to freewheel the last few miles at over 20mph.  From Wendover to Dunstable wasn't that tough but this changed as I turned south for the short climb up to the Chiltern Visitor Centre.  Markyate was my 100km point and s

Thinking that I'd get my November 200 done ASAP I entered this without reading the small print.  Whaddamistakertomaker!  It was an AAA event ie bloody hilly.  Starting at Ruislip but mainly set in the Cotswolds you'd expect a few lumps and maybe some bumps but some of these posed quite serious problems.  It's all very well suffering physically uphill, but no fun downhill on the mental front.  Some of the descents were as steep as the climbs.  Therefore brakes fully on and travelling at speeds equivalent to climbing speeds.  And less fun as everywhere was wet although it didn't rain.  But th

Congratulations to Peter Walton and Martin Wheeler.

Congratulations to Peter Walton and Martin Wheeler.

Once again Peter has led a group of Wheelers across the Channel for a tour and a randonée. They survived a variety of weather and consumables and returned in good order.

Once again Peter has led a group of Wheelers across the Channel for a tour and a randonée. They survived a variety of weather and consumables and returned in good order.

Fifteen Wheelers rode "Le Carré de Vallées" randonnées based on Ardres near Calais on 12th May. See the photo compilation