The second official running of this event.
Last year was fantastic weather.
About
.This challenging 300K Audax cycling event was devised by Chris Bennett shortly before his death in April 2012, and takes place annually in his memory.
Description
The 'Chris Bennett 300' is an annual 300K Audax held annually in memory of the man himself. He devised the route shortly before his death in April 2012, and thanks to the tireless effort of his cycling buddies this event has become a reality.
This year, the event will take place on Saturday 26th April 2014, starting and finishing in Newton Abbot, Devon. The route spans the very best of Devon and ...Cornwall, and can be found through this link:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/150280379If you would like to take part in the 2014 event, sign up here at the Audax website:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-277/Some background about Chris Bennett, from his eldest daughter Grace:
Bikes were one of our father’s greatest passions. Whether he was taking them to pieces on a Saturday afternoon, debating the merits of one type of hub sprocket over another, (here, we show our ignorance of bicycle mechanics), or even building them from scratch for his cycle commuter daughter, bikes never ceased to fascinate him. More importantly, however, it was about the challenge of a steep climb on the Dartmoor Devil, the single mindedness of long distance cycling events (he would say to me, 'there is room for nothing else in your head other than the sheer determination to get to the top') and the camaraderie and friendship that he found through his local CTC section.
Being something of an 'honorary Devonian' having moved there with his young family many years ago, he loved nothing better than being out on his bike in the Devon lanes, watching the seasons change. He would often say how lucky he felt to have such beautiful countryside on his doorstep. It was this that led him to idea of creating a 300k Audax event around Devon and Cornwall (his 'true' home), to enable other cyclists from around the UK (and perhaps further afield?) to combine their passion for epic cycling events with experiencing 'the best of the South West' for themselves.
Chris was intending to do a trial run, had he not suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on a Sunday ride with his local CTC section on a sunny April 1st 2012. A brave group of local cyclists decided to undertake this challenge last April -
http://www.bikeweb.org.uk/chris_bennett300.htm - and, thanks to the hard work and commitment of Chris's cycling buddies, they turned his vision of a 300k Audax in Devon and Cornwall into reality in April 2013. Last year's event was a great success, and we hope to repeat that in 2014.
A note from the organisers, Rod and Lisa Pash:
For those of you that have not taken part in an Audax before, the wikipedia definition below may help to make it all a little clearer: Audax is a cycling sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. Audax is a non-competitive sport: success in an event is measured by its completion.
Chris Bennett 300 – Additional Information (please note, this is a rough guide, applying only to the 2013 event - not yet updated for 2014)
THE HALL
• Start/Finish located at Scout Hall, Wolborough St, Newton Abbot TQ12 1LJ. The Hall is located centrally in a municipal car park (All day parking charged at £3.80, charging period 9am – 6pm)
• The Hall is available from 20.00 on Friday evening for those coming from afar. Please inform organisers if you’d like to sleep over and bring your own sleeping mat/bedding.
• A light breakfast of tea/coffee/cereal/toast will be available from 05.15 prior to 06.00 start. On return, light food/soup etc will be available.
• A safe place to store baggage will be provided.
• At the end of the ride participants will be able to feed and sleep until 06.00 on Sunday at which point the Hall must be vacated.
CONTROLS
• The first 3 Controls are cafes where your cards will be stamped:
1. Torrington 70k The Green Lantern
2. Widemouth Bay 120k Bay View Inn
3. Polzeath 172k Galleon Beach Café
• The final 3 Controls are 24hr service stations from which you’ll need to purchase a receipt as proof of passage:
4. Camelford 198k BP/Londis
5. Launceston 226k Texaco/Co-op
6. Okehampton 260k BP/Budgens
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-277/https://www.facebook.com/ChrisBennett300#!/ChrisBennett300
