San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

Hi,

I am looking for a 200k Audax to fit into my training which should help me to work out if I could handle the Fairy 300k Audax 28 June

I have some 20 - 160k rides planned before 17 May, but as per everyones advice I am looking for a 200k to drop in either weekend of the 10 may / 24 may / 14 June or 21 June.

Are there any decent ones relatively close to london or Kent on those dates?

Thanks.

Hi Joe,

10th May - Hop Garden 200 from Meopham is the only local one on your dates. It's a good route - over the Ashdown Forest and then over to the Romney Marsh.

You could do a Permanent on any day - just enter with the organiser before. You get a route and have to get proof of start and finish times and of passing through various places en route. Shop till receipts or bank machine slips (all details except date and time obliterated!) are the usual.

The Audax UK website lists them all under the organisers' names
http://www.aukweb.net/cal/perms/index.htm
Best is our own David Winslade's Man of Kent which he is running as a calendar event on 29th March.

Dave Hudson has 3 - Medway Meander, Hailsham-Liss and Dave's Dover Dash.

Click on the event name to get an entry form which you print and post.

I'd second the Hop Garden 200km in the early part of May. It's a fairly interesting route with varied terrain and there's usually a good mixture of abilities riding.

There's also several Audaxes ran with the ECCA Festival in early May. I've not ridden them myself but have heard good reports.

As Ron suggests you may wish to consider one of the Kent 200s ran in the second half of March- the Invicta 200 on 16/03 or Dave Winslades Man of Kent 200 on 29/03.

There's also several Audaxes ran with the ECCA Festival in early May

Yes, well run, interesting (not flat) routes and only an hours drive. Unfortunately they are on the same day as our Sportive. This will be the fourth year that I've missed them!

There's also the choice of 100/150/200 in Chelmsford on 19/04/09.

I recommend the Hop Garden from Meopham too. It is a really well organised scenic route over the Ashdown Forest before a stop at the World of Water cafe at Rolvenden at about 100k. The food is basic but good and the service is really fast. This is one of Dave Hudson's regular controls on his events which are considered by many riders to be the benchmark for Audax events. The second half is fairly gentle but does climb Holly Hill and another horribly short steep climb just before the end.

The ECCA 200 on May Bank Holiday Monday is also a really good ride and definitely disproves any thoughts that Essex is flat! I rode this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. The Youth Hostel control at Castle Hedington is the best commercial control I have come across, good food, quick service and really cheap.

If you want a bit of flexibilty over when to ride my Man of Kent 200 starts at Tonbridge. As with all permanents you enter in advance but can ride on a date that suits you.

I recommend the Hop Garden from Meopham too. It is a really well organised scenic route over the Ashdown Forest before a stop at the World of Water cafe at Rolvenden at about 100k. The food is basic but good and the service is really fast. This is one of Dave Hudson's regular controls on his events which are considered by many riders to be the benchmark for Audax events. The second half is fairly gentle but does climb Holly Hill and another horribly short steep climb just before the end.

The ECCA 200 on May Bank Holiday Monday is also a really good ride and definitely disproves any thoughts that Essex is flat! I rode this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. The Youth Hostel control at Castle Hedington is the best commercial control I have come across, good food, quick service and really cheap.

If you want a bit of flexibilty over when to ride my Man of Kent 200 starts at Tonbridge. As with all permanents you enter in advance but can ride on a date that suits you.

Thanks for all the posts,

I am pretty certain the Hop Garden fits the bill, i ve got 8 sportives / auxades to be booked when I get paid that will help train for the 300km.

7 sportives starting at 125km and working up to 202km on the 7 June, that should help me prepare for the 300k, and the hop garden audax at 200km mid may should help to show me what I may need to address in my training. ( I might be asking for some pointers nearer the time). 1 of the sportives is the SFA on May bank holiday so looking forward to doing that.
Figures crossed I dont get man flu as I am looking forward to all of them.

I have tried to focus my events around kent and close to London as I have options if I decide cant reach the ambitious distance of 200km, let alone 300km. I figured knowing the local terrain and general form of the local counties would be a good advantage to have as a total audax novice. Maybe further afield next year.

The major concern I whether I will be able to stop myself from sitting at my natural intermediate pace, rather than the long distance pace that I should adopt. Suppose I will only get it wrong once, lol.

looks like I am free for that one so I may just tag along, maybe my slow pace will (and a tow rope) may tame your enthusiasm

Joe / Dave,

I'm planning on riding the Hop Garden too, so I'll see you there.

Cheers,

Tim.