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General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Dave W on June 09, 2025, 10:59:30 PM
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Audax Update
With LEL (London–Edinburgh–London) approaching, I’ve been trying to make the most of my time and ride more events.
The Bryan Chapman was this weekend, but the date had been moved, meaning it clashed with another 600km event – Au Pied Cochon – Fruits de Mer 600km. So, being me, I asked Robin if I could ride that the week before as a course recce and then still do the Bryan Chapman.
How hard could it be to do a 600km one weekend and another the next?
I booked Friday 30th May off and reserved a hotel in Leigh Delamere for the sleep stop.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47060883
I asked Mark R and Nigel if they fancied joining for the first half, with the promise of fish and chips at the seafront in Aberaeron.
Mark came along and did the first half, which was his longest ride to date. He enjoyed riding some new roads and stopping at a few different places:
A bakery (not Greggs),
A Co-op and a petrol station – making it a proper Audax,
And, of course, a chip shop.
There was no chance of convincing him to come along for the second half out to Burford and back, though.
Once I got to Burford, the return leg to Bridgend was a long slog into a headwind.
I completed the ride in 38 hours and 39 minutes – for a 600km Audax, you're allowed 40 hours.
Sleep stop was the Travelodge at Leigh Delamere Services, where I managed about 5 hours of rest.
Rode home from Cardiff making the total distance 412miles total time 42hour 27minutes
Bryan Chapman Memorial Ride
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51089166
I’d been watching the weather all week – it didn’t look good. Then, on Wednesday, I picked up a stomach bug, and for two days, anything I ate came out like water. This put massive doubt in my mind about whether I should bin the ride on Saturday and just go out on the p*** in Chepstow instead.
This is my fourth year doing this event. Each year I’ve stayed in the Severn Services Travelodge (a bit of a theme here), with Sarah coming along, and I treat her to a meal in a nice Italian in Chepstow.
I rode to Chepstow on the Friday, taking it steady and constantly thinking, am I going to do a Tom Dumoulin on the side of the road?
That same thought was my main concern on Saturday for over 12 hours – it at least took my mind off everything else.
There were 120 people entered for the ride.
21 dropped out before the start,
Around 17 dropped out during the ride.
We crossed the Severn Bridge at 3:10 am. The weather was damp, but at least it wasn’t raining.
Our group – me, Jake and Tom – set off at 4 am, with around 20 of us in total, including Matt Page, who was on a smashfest and finished in 24 hours.
From the start, our plan was to ride through without sleep. All was going well until I punctured before the first stop – a quick tube change and I was back on the road. (And before anyone says it – no, I’m not going tubeless.)
Weather stayed mostly good with some light morning showers. We had a headwind most of the way to the Menai Bridge, so we were really looking forward to the turn back and a tailwind.
It was here Tom started planning – could we come in under 30 hours? We all knew that meant no proper stop to sleep. I’ve always struggled to sleep on these, and now that the sleep stop is in Aberdyfi village hall, with just foam mats on the floor, it wasn’t exactly inviting.
To break up the food stops on the way to Aberdyfi, we stopped at a kebab shop in Barmouth. That was interesting – mixing with the locals who’d been drinking, all while wondering what three idiots were doing on bikes at that time of night.
We got to Aberdyfi at 23:13, 243 miles into the ride. Quick kit change and some warmer layers on, and we were off into the night.
As I’ve been told many times – it's very dark in mid and north Wales. You only have to look at the ITV News weather map to see that.
Next stop was 40 miles to Newtown for the 24-hour McDonald’s. Tiredness really kicked in here. On the way, it started to pour down – we took shelter in a bus stop just for a bit of respite.
Next checkpoint: Knighton – 304 miles – arrived 5:22 am.
Then on to Hay-on-Wye and up over the Gospel Pass – not an easy task after riding for 24 hours.
Final checkpoint before the finish was Redbrook, just before Tintern – 362 miles – arrived 11:30 am.
Then it was back to Chepstow for the finish.
Total time: 32 hours and 35 minutes.
We were 6th back out of the field. I know it’s not a race, but it’s still nice to know where you placed. Looking at other riders’ times, many opted for a long sleep and finished just under the cut-off.
This is a challenging ride – but the scenery and the experience make it worthwhile. I’ve ridden a fair bit with Jake and Tom over the last couple of years. Jake did this with me two years ago. This was Tom’s first 600km Audax – not a bad effort at all!
This week will be a rest week and a weekend off
Here are the pictures from the ride.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jCnSxJ5uvT9RDyy78