Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: wilkyboy on 23 September, 2018, 11:58:45 am
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We're once again running The Cambridge Autumnals, two late-year/early-season, very sociable rides from Girton, Cambridge.
The 200km Cambridge Autumnal heads due east to the historic and picturesque castle-and-market town of Framlingham in Suffolk, as frequented at about 2am on the Dunwich Dynamo. The first stage is a straight 101km stage via Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Debenham to Framlingham, but you can pass straight through without stopping and carry on all the way to Fram without putting a foot down (this has been achieved, on fixed-wheel, no less!). After a light lunch (or a heavy one if that takes your fancy), the return route gets a little lumpier with a crossways return via Stowmarket to the Maglia Rosso bike shop + café in Hawstead. It's then a laney run all the way back to Balsham and Fulbourn descent back to Cambridge. Just two commercial controls, zero infos. Details for the 200 here (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-autumnals/2018/200/).
The 100km Cambridge Autumnal climbs up onto the chalk massif via Six Mile Bottom and heads fairly directly to the first control at Great Thurlow, where Alex will be stamping cards. The next stage hits a series of very narrow, deserted lanes to cross from Suffolk to Essex, visits everyone's favourite medieval Thaxted and heads on to the historic Saffron Walden for lunch. The return is over a couple of noticeable climbs to Balsham, and one info control, to then blast down the 7km descent to Fulbourn and Cambridge. We think this is a delightful route for those not yet confident at 200km in possibly wintry conditions — although who knows, it may be sunny! 8) Three commercial controls, one info. Details for the 100 here (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-autumnals/2018/100/).
These are ideal rides to give the winter bike a shakedown, as the routes are straightforward and will be vaguely challenging only if the weather's up, and scenic in the sense of having lots of scenery (but not hilly). We've ridden both routes many times on fixed-gear, and both are fixed-friendly, if your winter-steed's a fixie ;)
We will be serving hot and cold refreshments at the start, and something hot with plenty of Mrs W's homemade cake at the arrivée :thumbsup:
These events are a week later than last year due to a prior booking in the hall, but they will return to the third Saturday in October next year — we've booked the hall over a year in advance, just to be sure!
As always, the start is easy to get to by train from London and the 8am start of the 200 allows enough time for London-based riders to catch the first train from King's Cross. Girton is also easy to get to by car. Hopefully many will simply cycle to the start.
And in other news:
— The Cambridge Pork Pie 200 (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-pork-pie-200/2019/) on 16 March 2019 will be a qualifier for Paris-Brest-Paris. And there's The Cambridge Spring Dash 100 (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-spring-dash-2018/) on the same day.
— Our brand new event, The Capitals of East Anglia 300 (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/2019/) on 27 April 2019, will also be a qualifier for PBP.
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Are the GPX files marked 2017 still correct?
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Are the GPX files marked 2017 still correct?
Probably. Route check will happen maybe next weekend, maybe the weekend before the event and any corrections will be applied then. We're planning on keeping the route exactly the same, but there's no accounting for Anglian Water arbitrarily closing roads we want to use ...
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Sounds about right! Or the council deciding to spend what's left on the budget redressing a road with the sharpest flint-based stones known to man...
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I may still be on my Summer bike. The Winter bike may be re-built by then, but it’s touch and go.
Both are fixed, though.
Is the sausage festival on this year ?
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Sounds about right! Or the council deciding to spend what's left on the budget redressing a road with the sharpest flint-based stones known to man...
The first year we ran it, the 200 coincided with hedge-trimming season in Suffolk, and there was one 1km stretch that caused a dozen punctures! We're much later in the season now, so less likely to be an issue, plus I think we miss that stretch of road since a minor update to the route last year.
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Is the sausage festival on this year ?
Unfortunately not, it's a fortnight before — https://www.framlinghamsausagefestival.com/ (https://www.framlinghamsausagefestival.com/).
And I seem to recall you didn't stop long enough to sample anything when it did coincide, Rob?
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Is the sausage festival on this year ?
Unfortunately not, it's a fortnight before — https://www.framlinghamsausagefestival.com/ (https://www.framlinghamsausagefestival.com/).
And I seem to recall you didn't stop long enough to sample anything when it did coincide, Rob?
TBH I only had a brief stop in Framlingham, but a longer one at the Maglia Rosso. I also had a little navigational issue on the last leg, which I’ll try to avoid this time.
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2 am? I think it was getting on for 8 am the first year I did it!
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If I am not busy and the weather forecast is reasonable.....
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It's definitely beginning to look autumnal out there! I checked the 100km route (as a DIY) last weekend (https://www.strava.com/activities/1876288992) and the leaves are already beginning to turn, it should be the most autumnal yet!
I'll be sending out acknowledgements to all entrants after the weekend :thumbsup: Still room for plenty more! ;)
I'm stamping cards at the first control on The Richard Ellis Memorial 200 this weekend — we're forecast rain. Hopefully you'll be treated to something a little less autumnal in a few weeks' time.
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I'm in. Another meal deal at the Framlingham Co-op :)
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I'm in. Another meal deal at the Framlingham Co-op :)
Other — possibly nicer — eating establishments are also available :thumbsup:
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Hoping my body is a bit more in shape in 10 days time.....
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I'm hoping all the Weather we had this weekend just gone means there's not much left and we'll get a nice day :thumbsup:
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Lateish entry from me. Have I missed any emails?
I've opted for the 100. Seeing as I'll be pedalling the 240km round trip to the start, I've chickened out of doing a 450km day with the chance Autumn weather.
And I get an extra hour in bed.
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Lateish entry from me. Have I missed any emails?
I've opted for the 100. Seeing as I'll be pedalling the 240km round trip to the start, I've chickened out of doing a 450km day with the chance Autumn weather.
And I get an extra hour in bed.
Emails should go out this evening. Still space for a few more on both events.
The weather is looking nice this time :thumbsup:
And we're looking forward to that extra hour after we've cleared up the hall ;)
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Don't tempt the weather gods just yet! If its like this weekend I'll be very pleased.
Talking of which I should really get some accommodation booked for Friday evening.
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I've just sent out emails with details for next weekend — if you think you've entered and didn't receive the email, drop me a line — nick@camaudax.uk.
There are still spaces on both events — I've ordered extra brevets, and moved the closing date by a few days, so get your friends to enter and join you on the event :thumbsup:
It's getting exciting — we start baking in a couple of days, and that's always fun, I'm so easy to please ;D
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Guess who booked his hotel room for Thursday instead of Friday.......
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this guy
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Wow .. full on winter gear and a strong cross wind both ways !!
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Wow .. full on winter gear and a strong cross wind both ways !!
What's not to like ?
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Wow .. full on winter gear and a strong cross wind both ways !!
Mildly bracing, 'tis all. It's a good 10°C warmer and 25MPH less windy than The Cambridge Pork Pie in March and everyone enjoyed themselves then, too :thumbsup:
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We did?
Oh yes, sorry.
We absolutely did Mr Organiser, sah!
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We did?
You know you did, really, deep down :P
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Thanks Nick and all the helpers (did you actually do anything on the day or just swanned around doing "the host" thing?).
Thoroughly enjoyed the 200, bit more "laney" than I like due to the front wheels of the velomobile having to run in the crap on the side and down the middle, which accounted for a 100% increase in p*n*t*r* hits for this year (not that it would stop me riding it again), at least only one had to be repaired in a rain shower, talking of which I really felt for all those coming in with the temps dropping to 3 deg C and heavy rain/sleet! I nearly succumbed to hypothermia just walking to the car and packing up!
Bloody good food as well and coffee to die for!
Ian
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Likewise, thanks Nick (and all your helpers)!!
The cakes at the finish were divine, and the food really nice (soup especially)!!
Riding up (and back) to/ from Cambridge station meant I got the ride through the city centre 3 times today [was particularly challenging riding back tonight in the rain through the local traffic]; but heh, I made the fast non-sop service to Kings X!! :thumbsup:
Forecast was better than expected and a taiilie all the way to Framlington in glorious (though noticeably cold) temps.
The return leg was more difficult, with a nice (not really) persistent headwind, and riding fixed (72 inches), some of those 'little climbs' made themselves known!!
Still, a great day a'wheel and glad I ignored the Beeb forecast and just did it!
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Thanks to Nick and Mrs Nick and Nick Junior. Wonderful organisation and food. I'm guessing this is the only audax event in the country where the organisers bring a three tiered display case to show off their cakes?
Also great to meet the recent 10 year old star of Arrivee (and his dad) doing his third 100k. He brought the average age down to 59 and three quarters. Hope he made it round safely as it was bitterly cold with the weather deteriorating later on.
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Enjoyable day out. Ride out was easier and was in and out of Framlingham in 4hrs.
The ride back from there was a bit more challenging with a cold head/side wind. Chatted to Alexb at the Maglia Rosso for a while. As I hadn’t read the last update e-mail I sailed past a key turn and added 5 ks.
I was runnning a bit low for the last 20k and a little wobbly on arrival. This was resolved with a fantastic spread and a lot of sitting around warming up. Must have been quite tough for the later finishers.
Thanks to Wilkyboy, family and team for looking after us all. I’m going to feel this a bit tomorrow.
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Nick (but especially Ewa), thanks again for a great 100k and another superb spread of food at the finish - one of our crew described the butternut soup as heavenly and she's not wrong :)
Our group had 4 audax cherries popped today, so I'll see how many of them are up for the Pork Pie 200k next March.
I'd also love to hear how the 10 year old got on, I'm hoping he was close to the finish before the weather turned nasty.
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A repeat of what has been said really. The food and welcome at Arrivee was indeed very welcome and delicious. The bean soup really did hit the spot.
A lovely day out. I'm glad the weather was booked. Rumour is of 0.5C at the first control! It did warm up just enough for me to enjoy the headwind on the way back from the halfway point, but not to take any of my layers off.
Despite cheating and only riding singlespeed and not fixed, the route itself had a couple of little ups, but nothing really to test, even into the headwind at times. Just a lovely rolling day out in the countryside. Very, very enjoyable. I definitely made the right decision to only ride the 100 - completely messed up the ECE calculations. Got home on 370km for the day - despite only registering for a +200km. Conditions later on turned a bit wintry, but once I got back into the sprawl, it definitely warmed up again. I do like a bit of smog to warm the lungs.
I assume the young lad got back in time and wasn't too chilled?
All of this has left me with quite a dilemma on 16th March. Do I put to bed the demons from the snowy ride that I DNFd, or do I ride the Pork Pie?
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Thank you all for your comments — I'll make sure I pass those on to the team — Ewa, Ben, Alex and Alex. I'll do a fuller write-up, with pictures, in due course.
Well done to all the riders who started and finished — it was a tough day for all but the quickest 100km riders and yanto, as once it started raining then the windchill was magnified — for the first time ever we had to break out the foil blankets for some riders, who came back borderline hypothermic. Ewa's hot soup took the edge off it, and riders stayed for longer than usual to warm up before making their various ways home. Impromptu car-shares popped up around the hall as riders begged lifts so as to avoid going back out into the cold to ride their various ways home ;)
As for Toby-the-ten-year-old — Toby and his dad, Elliot, got around the 100km event with twenty minutes to spare to a round of applause. Toby was pretty knackered after the mix of head/cross-headwind after the turn at Thaxted in bitterly cold, wet conditions, but he dug deep and rode through it and was really pleased to have completed it, and his Mum was somewhat relieved. Ewa made him a frothy hot chocolate to celebrate. Twenty minutes later he looked like he was ready to do it all again :thumbsup:
My sincerest heart-felt thanks to the team who made the event happen — Ewa, Ben and AlexW at the hall, and Alex B who roamed both routes taking photos and stamping brevets :-* :thumbsup:
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What to add .. good route .. untypical for east Anglia .. as they are mainly N/S .. so E/W was new for me .. produces the oddity .. wow crossing the A140 . I know where I am .... home is only 30 miles up the road .. DARN .. the car is in Cambridge.
The care that i received as I finished just in time on the 200 was great .. so many many thanks to team Wilkinson .. especially the Scary one .. who will know who she is !!
Roger
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Another most enjoyable Autumnal - thanks to the team of Nick, Ewa and the family W for making it happen :thumbsup:
I rode the helpers' ride two weeks ago, and the main hazard I had to contend with then was getting too hot. What a difference a fortnight makes: although I "only" did 130km yesterday I think I got to sample all the fun too, with a bitterly cold start and rain and headwinds after dark - it was sluicing down by the time I reached Cambridge.
Photos from the event are on Flickr here (https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-asc&safe_search=1&tags=autumnalaudax2018&user_id=45086087%40N00&view_all=1): feel free to use/share/adapt etc.
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The day started with me leaving my brevet card on the refreshments table and falling on my arse rushing to get it. Looking the only casualty was my banana.
I'd underestimated quite how cold and wet it would be and didn't bring enough layers or a rain jacket. I thought we'd got away without any serious rain but then it absolutely poured down in the final couple of hours. I lost all will during the final 60 km leg and it took me an hour longer than in 2016.
As always, brilliant hospitality at the end. The freezing cold trundle to the station afterwards, less so.
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Can I add my thanks to Nick, Ewa and the family for their part in another great day.
As part of the group that arrived in the deluge your help in reviving the shivering bodies, several on their first Audax was much appreciated. Despite the tough introduction we have a few more converts. That spicy bean soup was a lifesaver.
With the help of the discarded space blankets stuffed down our tops we survived the further 50Km run into the wind to get home at 10pm. Another hour of hard driving rain and rivers on the roads adding to the epic day 300k day.
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Thanks to Nick and everyone for putting on yet another great audax. The weather was pretty bitter wasn't it? I was wishing I had worn my overshoes by mid-morning when the temperature really did plummet.
Anyway I've made my way through editing another video for YouTube this morning which I have just published online - I call it - "Two Left Gloves"... because as you might guess I picked up Two Left Gloves upon hastily packing the night before.
https://youtu.be/NudyUfb91GY
Bravo on the food too - that Butternut? soup at the end did wonders to warm up my insides. I was thinking that the eventual ride around the back of the field to the car park after the warmth of the village hall was going to be a shivering affair, but I needn't have worried the hot food did it's trick and I was soon bringing my car around to the front of the building to get some normal clothes on for the lengthy drive home.
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I've now managed to finalise the results for The Cambridge Autumnals and we're just waiting on Audax UK to give their approval :thumbsup:
I've also written a report from the organising team's point of view, here — https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-autumnals/2018/ (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-cambridge-autumnals/2018/). All the photos I previously posted to Facebook are now viewable on this page without needing to visit FB :)