Audax Rides 27th June 2010

Fairies Five Audaxes - 27th June  2010

If you enjoyed riding our Sportive how about trying something that is similar in some ways but very different in others. Like the Sportive it can be as hard or easy as you choose to make it (i.e how fast you go).

A few words to explain what an audax ride is. Riders cover a set route, following a detailed route sheet like the one provided for the Sportive. However there are no signs so it involves a degree of mental concentration. You carry a card that is signed at various control points, some of which are cafes and at others we provide roadside refreshments. Some controls are not manned and require you to write on the card the answer to a question about some unique feature at that place.

You are required to cover the ride at an overall average speed of between 9½ and 18 mph. Clubrun pace of 14mph plus stops gives an average of 12 - 12½mph and still allows time for punctures. Most routes use the quietest possible lanes and are not afraid to include hills. Some actually seek out hills and these can usually be identified by a clue in the title or reference in the description to AAA (Audax Altitude Award) points.

Our 5 rides have been specially designed to attract audax novices or those who do not particularly enjoy too many hills Experienced audaxers often ride them as a change and as a way to do a faster than usual ride.

They all start and finish from Bethersden village hall.

Easy Peasy 50k - click here  for a gpx version
Does a totally flat figure of eight around Shadoxhurst and Headcorn with a cafe control at Headcorn aerodrome. A great favourite with our Easyriders.

Flat 100k  - click here f or a gpx version
Goes through Appledore to a control at the Railway Cafe at Dungeness and then across Romney Marsh to another control at the Hythe Railway Cafe. The final leg is on the Marsh to Bilsington then Ham Street and through the woods to Shadoxhurst.

Fairly Flat 150k - click here  for a gpx version
 Starts with a loop through Hothfield to Headcorn then Frittenden - Benenden -Wittersham to Appledore where it joins the 100k route

Half Flat 200k  - click here  for a gpx version
Goes through Headcorn to Matfield and Frant to a cafe control at Mark Cross garden centre. Then Wadhurst and Hawkhurst to join the 150k route near Benenden.

Flattest Possible 300k.-click here for a  gpx version of the first 100k  and here for the last 200k
 The distances shown in the gpx file for the second 200k do not include the first 102k of the total distance 
Starts at 2.00am (!) and goes down the A20 almost to Folkestone then the A259 to Rye before returning through Tenterden to Bethersden HQ at 102k for bacon rolls. It then uses the 200k route.

There are 2 reasons for the early start. At 9½ mph you have up to 20hours to cover the 188 miles and a later start would mean some riders finishing in the early hours of Monday. Fine for those who don't have to go to work................ Also riding in the dark is much easier on traffic free main roads and at 2.00am both the A20 and A259 are virtually deserted. Seeing the sun rise over Romney Marsh can be quite an experience. Click here to read the report in Arrivee of  the 2009 ride.

You can print an entry from the audax uk website - in the Calendar http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm just click on the ride that you want to enter and print off the entry form. Send this to Tim Feneron with 2 SAEs- one for the route sheet and one for when the validated brevet card is returned to you after the event.