San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

Ron, just to let you know my form is in the post! 100k !

I got my route map through the post yesterday, and just a few questions to clear things up.

1.Do I really need to purchase an OS map, looking at the instuctions, I feel more than confident I can follow them perfectly well without a map, as the details and directions given are very good and clear?

2.Just wondering why in the 200k stage 3 is missing? Im guessing stage 3 is part of one of the other distances?

Michael, You have spotted my non-deliberate mistake. As you thought, this stage is also used in the 300k where it is stage 4. Please re-number 4 and 5 as 3 and 4.

It is standard practice to give details of the OS maps as some riders take them as a back-up in case they somehow go off route. I always take a map when I'm riding away from home- it enables me to find my way to the next highlighted village and so back on route.

Being local roads I don't think you need bother.

Ron, I'll be sending 5 entries for the 100K to you in the next few days as Rob Sissons, Sarah & I and 2 newbies from work, will all be entering.

Judging from some of the earlier posts there will be a lot more riders than usual through the Mark Cross control before the cafe opens at 10am this year so i'd better stock up!!
As others have said please support the commercial controls by buying something, however small, and don't eat your own food in them. I was gobsmacked on the Invicta 200 this year when I saw one rider sitting inside the RHD cafe in Hythe eating his own food from a tupperware container, b------ cheek!!

I bet he also used their toilet!! I warn riders - I hope no SFA need this - that in our event where Ted & I traditionally do the Dungeness cafe check, I will murder anyone who does that there. I do not know how people have the nerve to do this anywhere, even in pubs etc on runs. We have depended on the good will of these cafes over the years, & especially as Dungeness let us check riders inside if wet, & are busy anyway with the train trade so need all the seats for their own diners, including Audax riders who buy! Its a god-forsaken spot when it rains. So eat outside if you take your own grub, rain or shine, or else!

Pat

Current entries are

50k 4 entries, all Fairies - Pam Berry, Mark,Karen and Naomi Steadman

100k. 29 entries including 9 Fairies - Dee Black, Ben Farmer, Julia and Jodie Hope, Kevin Puttock, Linton Schwarz, Rosemary and Adrian Tomlinson and Mark Williams

150k 11 entries including 3 Fairies - Jon Dix , Phil Harris and Philip Thorpe

200k 17 entries including 4 Fairies - Philip Barlass, Pam Goode, Michael Gore and Chris West

300k 24 entries including 10 Fairies - Andrew Nannery, Richard Berry, Steve Berry, Simon Goodwin, Celia Hardy, Carolyn Hawkes, Rob Linney, Ron Smith, Dave Stocker and Joe Wigens.

There is no official closing date, in fact I take entries on the day, but it makes life a lot easier if I do have them in advance.

Entries by today are

50k 4 entries, all Fairies - Pam Berry, Mark,Karen and Naomi Steadman

100k. 44 entries including 12 Fairies - Dee Black, Ben Farmer, Julia and Jodie Hope, Kevin Puttock, Linton Schwarz, Colin and Sarah Shea, Rob Sissons, Rosemary and Adrian Tomlinson and Mark Williams

150k 16 entries including 4 Fairies - Robin Clarke, Jon Dix , Phil Harris and Philip Thorpe

200k 29 entries including 6 Fairies - Philip Barlass, Pam Goode, Michael Gore, Trevor Oliver, Chris West and Ann White

300k 31 entries including 10 Fairies - Richard Berry, Steve Berry, Simon Goodwin, Celia Hardy, Carolyn Hawkes, Rob Linney, Andrew Nannery, Ron Smith, Dave Stocker and Joe Wigens.

It's the experience of many audax organisers that the number of entries that have been received 2 weeks before the ride will be doubled by time the ride starts. 84 with 2 weeks to go, 123 a week later.....................

There is still just enough time to post an entry to reach me by Wednesday which will allow time for the route sheet to get back to you. Otherwise you can enter on the day.

Gutted!!!

I won't be doing this as I now have to work all this weekend.

It's funny how having to work all weekend makes you realise how much you were looking forward to riding 300k.

Oh well, perhaps there's another flat(ish) one somewhere I can do this year. Any suggestions?

Sounds like you'll be doing the 100m reliability trial this year then!

Sorry to hear that you can't make it Celia.

That means 32 should start the 300k. 33 in the 200k, 19 in the 150k, 46 in the 100k and 4 in the 50k.

Judging by the number of late enquiries there could be a few entering on the line.

Thanks Ron, a great event. Being mostly flat it wasn't too tiring but I'm just saddle sore now and was for the last 80k- good practice for the 12, I guess.

Thanks to all involved in yesterdays Audax, and a big thankyou to pat who came to my rescue with a pen at the first check point ( it was my first Audax, but not my last ) 100K dealt with in 4.44 and no mechanicals !
Thanks again to all and well done every one who took part.

Many thanks again Ron.

Cracking weather once the mist cleared (no sunrise over the marshes for the 300k riders). As Dave says saddle sore for about the last 120k, but have to get used to that if I want to do the 12hr.

Very enjoyable day yesterday on my first ever Audax. I did the 200k, and found all the people at the checkpoints very helpful and friendly. The route card was very good and I was able to follow it without getting lost, really made a novice Audax rider such as myself feel confident and relaxed throughout the day!

The hardest leg I found was the second stage upto Dungeness, I was glad to see the cafe and Patsy there as well, I sure needed a break!!! after that I flew to the finish and felt great!

Thanks to Ron for organising the event and I look forward to hopefully attempting the longer 300k next year