Paddington Express 400km audax 22nd-23rd April 2023

I took Paddington to meet Paddington. The legs took the strain from Bristol to London and back again. It was more Cross Country in style than Express in nature. There were delays due to unscheduled stops, equipment and driver failure and not much coffee nor cake. It was one heck of an adventure to the Big Smoke and back in just less than 27 hours on a bike. If there had been an easy way to scratch, I would have taken it.

Paddington Jnr on his way to meet Paddington snr Photo: B Hafford

I have completed 2x Randonneur Round the Year’s (RRtY) They keep me fitter, in the zone and dissuade couch potato like tendencies. It’s easier to thrash out a monthly 200 than starting over at my age. During my first RRtY in 2019, I offered to help Will out and stamp brevet cards on the 400km Paddington Express, at the first control in Swindon, still in shock I had managed 4 monthly 200km rides at that point, through winter, I didn’t think I was able to cope with much night riding. Riding a 400 was for proper audax cyclists, an achievement way off my radar, entering never crossed my mind. Imposter syndrome off the scale.

Riders appeared at The Swindon and Cricklade Railway centre in Blunsdon, I was encouraging Audax Club Bristol (ACB) friends who were taking part. Whilst taking care of Brevet Card admin, I computed they were 60km in to a 200km ride to Paddington Station. That’s doable. Why did I not just enter and ride to London contemplate the unknown on the return, or catch the post train home if need be? I did not realise at the time that Paddington Express is only on the calendar for Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) qualification years, so every 4 years. Next one was scheduled for 2023. A lot has happened since then, but I never forgot that deluded romantic notion I could possibly have a go.

Riding to the capital is a satisfying aim. Although I’m not keen on London and I rarely go there. It’s been 18 months since I rode my first 300, an overnight 300, in November 2021, because I’d forgotten I’d entered the previous year and the entry was carried over. Why not make life hard for myself? I somehow got round Moonrakers and Sunseekers in 2021 with a 22.30 depart and somewhat dispelled the myth that I could not cope with night riding. Totally on the wire and I was Lanterne Rouge. Moonrakers kicked off my second RRtY, finished in October 2022. I then fell off the wagon and didn’t restart a new RRtY this winter, a string of viruses, weather, other commitments, holiday, I made all the excuses.

I needed another goal. PBP chatter started up and I saw Paddington Express was back on the audax agenda in April. I had not ridden a 200km audax in 4 months. A mad plan was hatched for the next three weekends to ride 2 x200s and then my second ever 300, GWR Railway Connections, in mid-March. After all I had said after Moonrakers that "I'd do some training beforehand next time." 

My legs felt much better by the 300. It was quite tough as an early 6am start to fly out to Didcot and loop through the Cotswolds (snow on the ground) and then into the dark and fog after Tewkesbury to conquer all the hills in Forest of Dean through Ross and back to Chepstow and a return to Bristol over the Severn Bridge at midnight. A long day, cold, wet and windy at times, but I made the arrivée by the skin of my teeth at 1.45am. As ever I felt my best later and finished strongly. I was not last. I should imagine a proper sports coach may not have approved of my logic, but it worked for me. 

I felt happier to contemplate entering Paddington Express, my first 400. I had 5 weeks to consolidate before departure on the audax train. I ticked off Butt Buster 200 and then spent Easter in Cornwall, so plenty of stabby hills were thrashed. I carefully did not ride a 200 in April to give me extra motivation to finish my 400 and rest the old body. Real sports people call this "tapering." A sports psychologist would have a field day with my sports science theory.

Audax snacking preparation

Nervous but very happy that Paddington Express, organised by Will Pomeroy of Great Western Randonnées (GWR) and ACB, was a mid-afternoon departure. I’m better at staying up late than early starts. I rode the 9 km into Bristol, after a substantial lunch, to calm my nerves, check everything was ok, and loaded my first ride of seven onto my Garmin. A pre-ride coffee and pastry at The Bakehouse was the plan but my stomach was far too twitchy to risk it. I told myself it was a 60km ride to Swindon after collecting my Brevet card and greeting fellow audax friends from Bristol and beyond. Will sent us off with cheery waves and a very British “see you later” as if we were meeting at the pub in an hour or two for a “normal” Saturday night. The precise familiar metallic snap-clack of all the clipless pedals being attached to cycling shoes swirled into the reassuring whirl of freehubs, accompanied by the sing-song of bike computers being released joyfully into the wild. We were off.

Picking up brevet cards at the "Depart"

As someone said "did you bring your own bike stand?" He was looking forward to a peaceful weekend and counting down to my "off"

The first three hours were fairly none descript. Concentration on the city roads towards Bath and once the first climb was over groups formed, and most had passed me, but I was swishing into the early evening with others still around. Some chat was in evidence as we relaxed whilst establishing that rhythm required to propel us into and through the night. I pulled into Blunsdon Station and smiled, here I was riding and not stamping. Will was stamping and I deftly ordered my jacket potato and tea before getting my card stamp. Ablutions were completed whilst my order was prepared. I am very aware that a good strategy as a full value rider is to reduce faff time.

This was the point at which it was easy for me to ride home, have a shower and go to bed like a normal person. I loaded up my second route that was the longest (at 99km) of the 7, all the way to Eton/Windsor. It was very comforting to be riding in a three with two ACB club mates. We were all quite contemplative, but we automatically took turns into the headwind aiming for Didcot, we’d been here on Railway Connections a few weeks earlier. I knew there was a McDonalds but didn’t want to risk losing too much time early on. However, not eating sufficiently can cause problems and perhaps I should have “jumped” eating at Blunsdon and waited to the 100km milestone at Didcot for my audax supper. I was beginning to doubt my fuelling strategy. Our peloton of three had dissolved and I paused outside the railway station to eat a cheese roll, turn off my daytime flashing usb lights and swap to dynamo lights as dusk was falling. People were milling in groups off to the pub and I slunk off into the other audax world, the parallel detached universe. My Garmin was in night mode, switching off when not required and I was hoping that a 20 minute charge at Paddington would keep it navigating for the night until I could swap back to the dynamo to charge it by morning. I had a chuckle to myself that who did I think I was to make it to Paddington and out of London by the time the real world was waking up again, never mind worrying about charging my Garmin.

It was properly dark by Henley on Thames and after navigating theatre goers and crossing an illuminated bridge a long climb ensued. I buckled down and plodded up, felling quite nauseous but religiously taking something form my snack bag and eating every 20 minutes. At some point, as I’d been following lights in the distance, I noticed my Garmin wasn’t illuminating to navigate. I stopped and pressed everything, swiped the screen in all directions and a little flutter of terror shot through my stomach. It was dead. Some other riders passed and said to ride with them. We swerved into an express supermarket at 22.10. I remember the time as the door was being locked, the assistant did not want to be delayed by any more cyclists raiding the shelves! I googled “Garmin hard reboot” as I could not remember the process. Depressing the power button for 10 seconds worked, it sprung back to life, recovered navigation and had just lost about 10km that had not recorded. My back up Strava recording had stopped itself 15 km earlier. No worries, it meant I could continue. I am not fast enough to rely on being in a group with others.

Now I was solo, presumed last and determined to keep an eye on the time and procrastinate no more. Once through Maidenhead and the count down to the information control at Eton. I never did see Windsor Castle but the reassuring figures of others finding the trivia to record on our brevet cards was comforting.  I loaded course 3 of 7. Less than 40km to Paddington Station and the halfway point. I thought I might make it in 2 hours by 1am and was overjoyed, cut off time was 4.20 and realistically I’d hoped for 3am when planning.

The road surfaces in Buckinghamshire had been dire, potholes to drown in, rough jarring surfaces and the killer longitudinal slits that you can wedge a tyre in. Rain had set in. I was riding a relatively smooth back road near Heathrow when my front wheel crashed through a rogue pothole. I just about managed to stand up, but the back wheel thumped down hard and immediately deflated. My utter worst nightmare. I walked back to a couple of lampposts (very lucky) and got my bike upside down removed the wheel and started extracting the blown tube. Un beknown to me a couple of heroes were not far behind and stopped to help. I got the tube in but reseating the tyre is my nemesis even in a warm kitchen, my hands seize and I invariably pinch the inner using tyre levers. They managed to prise the tyre back on using strong fingers and we took turns to pump it. I thanked them profusely and sent them on their way whilst I rehung my pannier, ate something and calmed down. I did not want to jeopardise others’ rides. A food delivery scooter appeared and slowed down. He checked I was ok too, lovely humans are everywhere. Kindness lurking in Hounslow at 1am.

I was low on water and quite worried that if the water refill station at Paddington was out of order I’d be stuck. I stopped at a garage and had a surreal chat with a group of lads who had obviously escaped parental clutches whilst celebrating Eid, so smartly dressed and they apologised profusely for holding me up whilst deliberating on their purchases. I stashed the rest of my 2 litre bottle of still water after refilling bidons bid the lads a good night and eventually started rolling through London Town. This was the part I had dreaded, presumed route finding in the city would be impossible. Naturally, every light pretty much turns red as you get there, an out-of-control jeep roared at stupid speed up Chiswick High Street but other than that all very quiet. The London Marathon was due to start in a few hours. After what seemed an eternity of clipping in and out at traffic lights, and the tail end of the riders ahead passing over the other side already on their return leg, I arrived at Paddington. I remembered Platform 1 and scooted left along the platform only to be shouted at for not dismounting properly, whoops!

Just before departure of the slow train home in the middle of the night

I knew Chris would be there with marmalade sandwiches. A familiar face, with a calm reassuring manner. Turns out I’m not the last in and it’s just gone 2am so I have 2 hours 20 in reserve. I am managing myself ok except for my stomach. I cannot face sweet stuff so eat more rolls and drink the coke I bought at the garage. The Platform 1 toilets shut at midnight so I walk over to Platform 12 and have the standard conversation with the cleaner, he asks if it’s a charity ride and I say no, he then says, “why are you doing it then?” I couldn’t give a rational answer. I’m lucky and privileged that I can have a go.

Paddington meeting Paddington, the marmalade was already there

 A snatched photo with the bronze Paddington statue that was smaller than I expected, and I leave into the fluorescent night. More traffic lights and gyratory systems and eventually I realise I am back towards Heathrow and onwards to the Wessex downs. The fluid movement of time has washed over my brain and I try to eat and drink regularly. I’m not being very rational and know there is no way to get home easily. The quickest way is to keep on going. I’m crawling now feeling very sick. I passed Ascot Race course and start climbing into the dawn. Just me and the birds tweeting.

I turn into the scout hut complex for the breakfast control and proceed to take several minutes finding the correct hut in my delirious state. I was so surprised to see so many bikes outside still. I wasn’t making much sense, but beans on toast and a mug of tea were placed before me by Will again, he’s on his third control! I can’t work out how, I thought he was cutting cross country on his bike from Swindon. Another lovely controller tries to encourage me to go and sleep for 20 minutes. She assures me she will wake me up, but I had no problems missing a night’s sleep on Moonrakers and know I can’t “nap” to order so I decline. She was right. I contemplated pro plus I was carrying, I’ve never taken them and have no idea why when they were needed that I didn’t take them.

The stragglers had mostly left. Beans on toast and tea would normally revive me but not today. I was riding into the headwind and it was lumpy terrain again. No rain and the sun did start to peep out but I never did take my leg warmers off, there was a nip in the air. I kept blanking, exhaustion was making me cold. I didn’t fall off but was seriously worried. I hallucinated slightly and it was light. It was 67km to Great Bedwyn Post Office and the chance of a latte. I spied a bench by a post box in a little village called Brimpton. I stopped and tried to eat something and laid down and shut my eyes. Probably 15 minutes, without actually sleeping, but it was just enough to risk continuing without crashing.

Then I passed over Greenham Common, remembering vividly the decade of demonstrating camps when I was a student in the 80s. Another place I’ve never been to before. My motivation was picking up very slightly. I had managed to work out that the Post Office was over 300km. I’d be into the last 100km. I saw a sign for Great Bedwyn which had a red railway sign on it. Befuddled brain cheered, I can get a train home and not make the call of shame for a lift now I’m close enough and it’s morning. Comically, around the next bend, a rail replacement coach passed me and dashed my cunning plan. No bikes allowed on rail replacement coaches.

I prop my bike up at the post office, another sleep deprived soul is there. I was momentarily gutted to see it wasn’t a café too, as I had presumed. However, they had a coffee machine, and I bought a latte, spooned in some sugar and had my card stamped. These wonderful people had opened very early to cater to the pointy end, audax heroes. A lovely array of pastries were on offer but I couldn’t face them and ate another half roll. I remembered my green gunge smoothie I had carried since the start. Easily absorbed calories. I downed that too on the bench outside. I was back in a normal functioning world at 11am. Route number 6 is 54km to Corsham. Perhaps I can do this?

Bluebells can't fail to lift the spirits

My brain is fizzy, but my legs start working and my speed is improving. I haven’t had to walk anything and I am pushing uphill steadily. The Pewsey area is lovely, feels like big sky prairie and the rape seed is blinding. I’m riding amongst 3-4 others, we hop each other at intervals and life is less lonely again. I fall into a rhythm with one of the guys and we are very evenly matched. He stopped in Corsham village, and I climbed up to the co-op garage that I’d used as my end of route marker. Another coffee and a timed receipt stowed and I sat on the forecourt floor eating my food and messaged home. ETA 5-5.30 cut off time was 18.00. Messaged my daughter that I was sitting on a garage forecourt floor and she presumed that meant I’d given up. I felt the best I had since early evening and as I got back on my bike the same guy is just approaching. He’d stopped in the village and with the final 38km route loaded we rode on together in good spirits, I was confident we could coax each other home.

Box Hill down. Wow, such fun. I was aware now, through gritted teeth, that punctures and accidents had to be avoided so was reasonably careful but what a rush. I’d never ridden the A4 back through Bath to Bristol so was none the wiser. A few more #wills_hills to conquer and a lot of Saturday traffic plus more traffic lights. My middle three left toes were cramping from the unclipping for the London lights and were suddenly very painful. Eventually my Garmin pushes us out onto the Bristol to Bath Path for just the last mile. The Bakehouse café arrivée had shut at 16.00 and moved to the Brewery tap around the corner for the last 2 hours. 

Blitzed but still standing after cider!

I was mightily pleased with 16.50 as my finish time all things considered. Somehow Will was there again! Far better to celebrate with a pint of cider after all. It was lovely camaraderie with earlier finishers. We had passed my two puncture rescuers in Bath who were charging a Garmin, so we were also not last back. We finally exchanged names and started chatting freely. In answer to the cheerful night cleaner at Paddington I did it because I can. I am very lucky that I can. I do remember saying “no way though am I ever attempting a 600………”

About 10 out of 79 Pad Ex finishers were not men. I’ve contacted some of them “up the road from me”, for their perspective of Paddington Express.

“Hearing the familiar beep from my Garmin I glance down to register my 320^th kilometre: an invisible finish line in a series of invisible finish lines, but one to be celebrated with a snack, all the same.  Like clockwork I eat every 20 km, so in a well-rehearsed and robotic routine I unzip my top tube bag and reach for the Kendal Mint Cake I’d been looking forward to since I’d set out from Bristol, 15 hours earlier.  I bite off a large chunk, but not before an even larger chunk flies straight from my hand and into a puddle.  RIP, there’s no rescuing that. I had plenty more with me, but that’s not the point.  I’d spend the remaining hours back to Bristol thinking about that lost square…gone but never forgotten.

Those final hours passed in a blur of sleep-deprived nonsensical conversation, as I linked up with some others and rolled into the Arivée feeling satisfied in a way only possible through physical exhaustion.  Now with only one ride left to get my Super Randonneur, I made a mental note to bring plenty more Kendal Mint Cake with me on that one.”

- Vic

“It was a tale of two rides. The first 200k was fast, with fresh legs and impending rain clouds speeding me into London, but the second half was a slow grind. The views on this route are not spectacular, and apart from a dry chain, I didn’t have any memorable mechanicals either. This meant I had a lot of time to overthink – about my week and life – until all conscious thought was replaced by autopilot, and I must have reached a meditative state of being comfortable with discomfort.

Now I was thinking about it, it was the easiest night ride I’ve done despite the nausea. Because much of it was through London, which was still lively, I never had to deal with my 2am demons on some lonely country lanes. And it wasn’t cold. I think after PBP I won’t do night rides anymore – I don’t enjoy them.”

-Dulce

“After a few years of certainty that 300km was the longest distance I would ever want - or be able - to ride, I finally threw caution to the wind and signed myself up to the Bryan Chapman 600. The Paddington Express seemed like a fairly safe option for some 400 practice in the lead up. Propelled by a healthy tailwind and tucked in behind my partner, Nick, the ride to Paddington was hugely enjoyable. Hurtling along lanes in better-than-expected weather, we flew to the outskirts of London.

The first to reach Paddington, we didn't stop for long. Bits of rain started to fall as we left the city lights behind, and the roads became lumpier. Reaching Pinewood Scout Hut just before 1am, I realised tiredness and disorientation had crept up on me. After a welcome warm up and beans on toast, we carried on our way.

Now blasting Abba into the night, my pace began to slow. Not long after, breathing became more difficult and nausea set in. A quarter of a cereal bar fuelled the rest of my ride, which slowed to a stop and a fairly major meltdown with 70km still to go. It being 4.45am on a Sunday, the only choice was to carry on, and we crawled home as the sun rose. Rolling downhill along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path to Bakehouse, the arrivée, I thought I might burst into tears at the end. Instead, a restorative croissant was placed into my hands, and I promptly fell asleep. 17 hours and 18 minutes after setting off, we were the first back. Next stop, the Bryan…”

-Katherine

And finally, from Will, the organiser:

“It was a joy seeing everyone get round especially for those challenging their limits and doing their first 400 or through the night ride.” 

 

My original “railway journey” style notes for context from IG:

Depart Bristol: Sat 22nd April 2023 15:00 @bakehousebs2

Swindon -jacket and beans/cheese

Didcot

Henley on Thames -Garmin fail

Maidenhead

Windsor

Hounslow for LHR -pot hole puncture

Kew

Chiswick

Shepherd’s Bush

Paddington Station -marmalade sandwiches

Hammersmith

Hounslow for LHR

Ascot -baked beans on toast for Ladies' Day

Brimpton -driver fail village bench for 15 mins attempted zzz

Greenham Common

Great Bedwyn -1st coffee

Corsham -2nd coffee

Box Hill -wheeeeeee

Bath

Hanham

Arrivée Bristol: Sun 23rd April 2023 16:50 @lhgtaproom Brewery CIDER 🍏🍎🍏

410km 🚴‍♀️

3000m 🏔️

20hrs 30mins 🚴‍♀️

25hrs 45 mins ⏰

🐻 2

Adventure Level 10/10

Thank you @gwraudax for one heck of an adventure that I’m still processing. 80 minutes inside cut-off and didn’t keep you waiting as not quite last!

My longest ride to date. Super Randonneur or SR progress:

200km ✅

300km ✅

400km ✅

600km ❎

#parisbrestparis2023 pre qualification

3/12 for my third #rrty

Missing 10km and another 300m climbing!

A few weeks later my ratified brevet card appeared in the post. I had not noticed the Paddington Bear stamp!

GWR Chalke and Cheese 200km Audax Saturday 12th January 2019

It's been a year. A year since I wrote a blog post not a year since I rode my bike!

I have started a draft post for our Cairngorms mountain biking outer loop trip last summer. I haven't written up any of last year's rides or audax. Oh well, I missed my 8000km target for 2018 by 1500km but it was my highest annual total to date in 3 complete years of Strava. I completed the 200km Raglan Castle Audax last July in the foulest wet and windy weather in the middle of the heatwave summer! My hardest ride to date. Lots of errors on my part, over estimating speed, underestimating weather and food needs, worrying about delaying a very patient ride buddy (Blair) and not being able to drop back as my Garmin froze at 100km. It was far too far to ring up the patient husband and drag him over the bridge to pick me up. I'm still not sure how I did it other than not wanting to let down my ride buddy or inconvenience my husband!

I have ridden a 200km audax or charity ride once per year in summer in the three years that I've been riding "properly." So about 10 days ago I thought I'd have a go at a winter 200km randonnée (an audax of 200km) because everyone else just bangs them out so surely I should stop making excuses and just get on with it. I haven't made myself any targets this year. Do targets motivate or intimidate? (Edited to add a few days later that this may not actually be true now.)

Audax are self supported rides. They are not signposted, don't have broom wagons or feed stations. You get a designated route for Garmins/Wahoos etc and written directions if needed. Collect a brevet card at the start and collect stamps or receipts at the controls, which are normally at cafés shops or pubs at the extremes of the route. To stop short cuts answers to some information controls are also required. They are not races but to complete an audax officially it has to be done in "audax time" which roughly equates to 15km/hr minimum average INCLUDING stoppage time. I reckon I should comfortably be able to average 20km/hr moving time. However this always seems difficult in practice due to unforeseen and/or adverse conditions.

I know that Will, who organises a series of Great Western Randonnées of varying lengths, plans the best audax routes. I have completed 100km Wells and Mells and Old  Rail Trail and 200km Plains Trains and No More Automobiles in spring/summer 2017. I signed up for his Chalke and Cheese 200km audax starting at Warmley near Bristol; south east to Salisbury, south west to Shaftesbury, north west to Cheddar and north east back to Warmley. I hadn't realised earlier it was a little less elevation than the summer version Chalke and hAAArd Cheese so once I realised that it could be a possibility, I waited until the last minute to enter as the weather forecast had to be good. 9 degrees and 15km/h westerly wind and overcast and 10% chance of rain is brilliant for January. I paid my £7.50 entry fee on the Wednesday evening after my 100km "practice" jaunt earlier that day. Steve agreed to get up at some ungodly hour to take me for the 7am start, as no way could I add another 30-40km riding to the start and back afterwards.
I joined up with a local Wednesday group I had ridden with a couple of times to see how a 100km ride was feeling, as I needed to do my 100km Gran Fondo for January anyway. Up Burrington, round to Glastonbury and back via Wedmore the flat way as a group of 5. It was hard work and I certainly could not have done 200km starting at 9am that Wednesday! It was not necessarily the wisest move as most "training" gurus say to rest before a big event, anything other than loosening up in the week before doesn't help your outcome. My average speed was only 20.6km/hr. I needed to do that over 200km including night riding and probably nobody to take turns into the headwind!

I spent the next two days feeling slightly sick. I was at work for most of the time for distraction and didn't do my normal gym/spin classes on Friday morning to rest my legs. Yes I've given in and mix gym and outside cycling these days.

I brought my bike inside on Friday evening to load up with my seat post bag. My major concern were lights, or lack of, as I knew I'd be riding 3-4 hours in the dark in total. My eyesight is not the best and I don't have a dynamo so I took both our sets of rechargeable good "to see" lights and a third set of mini daytime "be seen" lights. I also had my phone, a battery pack, Garmin and multi charger lead to complete the electronics chaos. My Garmin 1000 would need to be charged up at controls too as that doesn't last for navigating 200km at my pace. However, I was pleased that my new all weather all roads/tracks audax/touring/adventure/gravel bike was running smoothly, I have finally got the hang of indexing gears. I now have disc brakes and 32mm touring tyres and I had ridden Skye for 500km since new, so she was run in. For the first time ever I made a list of everything I needed to check off in the morning. I still forgot my sandwiches in the fridge! I did have 5 Graze bars, 3 bananas, salted peanuts and extra electrolyte tablets for my two bidons. I even remembered the IKEA pencil for the brevet card.

I had broken the route down into the 4 sections between the main controls from the route above and uploaded to the Garmin, in the past I have missed controls so it makes sense, as the Garmin is not great on routes over 100km. I psyched myself up for just 4 manageable rides.

1/4 Warmley-Bristol to Boyton-Wilts (Ginger Piggery Café)  55km 500m ascent

Alarm set for 5.30 we set off for Warmley at 6.15 which was actually cutting it a bit fine. We arrived at the car park and I stopped Steve driving into it, height limitation hanging sign! Thank goodness as he did admit he hadn't clocked "bike on roof" at that moment and that was nearly the end of my Chalke and Cheese! I quickly mounted my seat post bag full of supplies like bananas and flapjacks, loaded first route on my Garmin, attached lights and collected my brevet card after waves of welcome from the lovely El. Apparently I am riding in the company of Jasmijn Muller, I never saw her! There were a lot of bikes, bodies and flashing lights. This is my first dark depart. A few words of wisdom and caution from the organiser Will, who was also riding (like many others) on a fixie to make it harder. Nobody is stealing my gears. "If you beat me back post your signed card in the box at the Hollybush that the bar staff will have." said Will in all seriousness. "Me back first, ha ha ha" I thought! Steve went off home for a lie in.

Chalke and Cheese 200km Audax Grand Depart at Warmley, Bristol.  Pic @Eleanor Jaskowska

Off we went at 7am in the dark. We held up the minimal traffic crossing over onto the bike path in the Bath direction. It was all very civilised and quiet (everyone's bikes running as smooth as silk at this point and no chatter) pootling along crocodile style trying not to focus on the mesmerising flashing tail lights. I was glad it was steady and quiet, it really settled my nerves. I set my mind on just riding to Boyton and looking forward to coffee and cake.

It seemed like someone turned the lights on whilst we were inside the two tunnels, some creeping daylight appearing as we emerged and the first obstacle overcome, the night riding in a big group. I left at the back of the bunch on purpose so that I could see ahead better and not have to deal with faster people passing. Will and the ACB crowd waved cheery hellos as the passed, having started last of course being the organisers, shepherding the flock. Mostly on fixies too.

We came off the path at Midford and onto the road, and the first hill of the day. We passed through delightful villages, rode through Rode and I found myself riding at the same speed as a local guy called Bob. We were to spend the rest of the day together. I had a route on my Garmin, he had not ridden as many audax as I but was experienced and having a team definitely made my day. The reassurance that two heads are better than one, someone to chat with a little, although in practice not that much. Mainly I didn't want to let him down, which in turn meant I didn't let myself down.

The tailwind meant we made ok time, but not as good as I hoped. There was a very long stretch into the westerly to do this afternoon that my head was not looking forward to. Followed by Cheddar Gorge in the dark.

We arrived at Ginger Piggery (Ginny's) Café in Boyton around 9.45am A large latte and a huge piece of lemon drizzle cake fuelled me up, a quick chat with Mildred (I had only met her a couple of times off the bike so good to see she was at the start too) and Will's dad who was stamping our brevet cards. Thank you Will's dad. Thank you to lovely Ginger Piggery staff, not at all  phased by smelly grinning mad audax types, they just cut the cake slices larger than normal.

Ginny's Café Boyton, overrun with audax types!

Large latte and huge lemon drizzle at Ginger Piggery

Hi Mildred!

There had been a bit of a wait and the rain set in whilst we were inside. A 45 minute stop is not efficient but I have learnt my lesson about proper rest and fuelling for me. I just cannot eat on the bike, I briefly stop and snack but need to stop properly every 2-3 hours. Ideally we would have been there 15 minutes earlier and stopped 30 mins max. So 30 mins down in my head from ideal. It was me that kept Bob waiting.

2/4 Boyton-Wilts to Broad Chalke-Wilts 29km 195m ascent

A very short leg, but an info control is needed at the easterly point of our loop to prove we hadn't cut the corner off, so a quick halt in Wilton (near Salisbury) opposite the very statuesque Italianate church to answer the question on our cards. No time for pics, off we race to the General Stores in Broad Chalke. We're still 15km short of half way and the rain has been quite persistent and the wind is getting up. The café was busy with riders who had not stopped at Boyton, our plan was to push on but we purchased sandwiches and jelly babies to fuel us for the tough stint coming up. We made sure we kept our dated and timed receipts as evidence.

3/4 Broad Chalke-Wilts (via Shaftesbury-Dorset) to Wedmore-Somerset 85km 690m ascent

A couple of kilometres out of Broad Chalke a beaming cyclist appeared riding in the opposite direction, quite a normal occurrence but I had to stop and have a quick chat, not just the cheerful hello as is normal, as it was my audax pal Blair. I knew he was doing a different DIY 200 audax and our routes overlapped for about 20km in total, the chances of passing each other were very slim. He was riding strong and at his halfway point. We had completed the Raglan 200km Audax back in July, he didn't leave me behind when my Garmin failed halfway round. No time to linger and chat for long though. Onwards.

This was the tough section. Forecast was for 15mph moderate westerly winds, in actuality it was only just off a gale, 35-40mph westerly. Officially the route was Shaftesbury, Bruton, Wells to Wedmore. Somehow, when sectioning my route, it rerouted and I had not noticed, as the totals were very similar so I didn't examine in detail. My route turned out to be Shaftesbury, Wincanton, Castle Cary and Glastonbury to Wedmore via Sustrans advised route. Bob had a paper route, I cannot see to follow paper route so I said I had to stick to my route otherwise I'd get lost and had no time to faff as so tight on time anyway. He did follow me, we had not met before, quite heroic or daft? We did waste some time trying to reconcile the routes. My route also managed to miss the info control, but heh-ho. we are not trying for Paris-Brest-Paris qualification. This is one of the first official BRM qualifiers, hence the large numbers for a 200km in January!

It got very tough after Shaftesbury. The route was very pleasant off main roads, but relentlessly up and down. We battled the whole way into the sapping wind. Bob didn't have mudguards so I couldn't ride behind him as the lanes were liquid mud/cow pat. The rain eased off but the perceived temperature was dropping off. In no danger of freezing but once tiredness sets in and wet clothes the body feels colder. I also drink a lot, I still had 1 1/2 full bottles at Broad Chalke but ended up having to stop at a house and ask for refills, a very obliging teen did the honours with a smile and only a slightly bemused face when faced with a mud splattered middle aged woman in lycra at dusk!

On and on, we were having a mouthful of sandwich here, a Jelly Baby there. I even tried eating Jelly Babies from my pocket but they just went slimy, yuck! I have to try and crack this eating on the move lark, you need constant energy on longer rides. In fact if you start to feel thirsty or hungry you have gone too long without drinking/eating and slow down/fatigue will already have set in.

It was a relief to come into Glastonbury but from the south, through lanes with many parked and occupied caravans, a few people out walking with dogs all very friendly.

Now back on more familiar roads and we push on to Wedmore through Godney. at least the hills have subsided now.

The run into Wedmore was in the dark, gone 5pm, still within maximum audax time just, lights fully on now. Our average speed had slipped from 23 km/h at Boyton to about 19kmph. the control was at Wedmore Village Stores and more sandwiches were purchased. Unfortunately the promised coffee machine was off and with nowhere inside to sit we had to picnic on a bench outside and the public toilets were shut. I was very wobbly at this point. I shovelled sandwiches, nuts etc in but a warming cup of tea and sitting inside for 20 minutes would have helped the most. I was surprised that there were a fair few of us about, quite a lot more in the pub but no time for the pub for us.

4/4 Wedmore-Somerset to Warmley-Bristol 44km 508m ascent

We set off again just before 6 our cut off time to reach Warmley was 8.30pm. 2.5 hrs for 44km. Easy peasy, yeah right NOT!

Given the long long slog to Wedmore and rapid loss of oomph, I had been absolutely dreading Cheddar Gorge as the major and penultimate climb of the day. I have ridden it many times before, know the significant kicker bends, length etc so there should have been no worries at all about tackling in the dark. Riding Cheddar in the dark was a first though. I settled into a plod, was pleased it was early enough that there should be no joy riders screaming about (there were a couple) I felt great, yes I did stand up for that bend but was a bit alarmed to see Bob tumble. He had caught a stone or something and crashed down hard at the steepest bit. I waited at the top of the bend and he assured me he was OK, he will be sore in the morning. The climb was ethereal, I loved it. The walls loomed and it was so peaceful, except for the odd idiot boy racer car but mostly just peace. I was so glad it was not raining.

We crossed over at the top and I warned Bob about the descent down West Harptree, we took it very carefully and were soon down into Bishop Sutton where I basically ordered us both to stop at the Spice Inn for a quick bite to eat, audax style not a sit down curry! Oh my it smelt so good. Bemused diners likely wondered what the heck those nutters were doing wolfing down flapjacks and bananas and swigging pink liquids from mud splattered bottles. It was 7.15. Bob was having light issues so I leant him one of mine and fortunately they held out to the end.

We pressed on, actually a few riders around now as we were on the right route this time. Into Pensford and then the small matter of bloody Publow Hill, I halfheartedly got out of the saddle but quickly dismounted. Bob had already done the same and it was just as quick to walk. Back on and we were on a race against time, so near and yet so far. Through Keynsham conurbation and the Warmley sign before the last pull up and a sprint to the arrivée at The Hollybush pub.

Oh my goodness we had done it. Well it was minutes after 8.30 but Will said we'd been locking up our bikes for ten minutes, so we agreed. We were full value audaxers!

Bob headed the 4 miles home and I rang Steve who nobly came to pick me up. I had a lovely Thatchers with the audacious sociable inclusive bunch that are audax participants. We phoned ahead and picked up fish and chips on the way home, after being so short of fuel I found it hard to eat half.

The most welcome cider.

Excellent organiser Will of Great Western Randonées. Started after me, in hours before me on a FIXIE!

My brevet card is in that box for validation! Beer for Will

209km (plus a few in the Two Tunnels)
2241m elevation
10hrs 42mins moving time
19.5km/hr average speed (not good)

Full value audax!! Not bad for January.

The only logical conclusion is now I have a bash at Randonnée-Round-the-Year (RRtY)

I may regret this.

Paris-Brest-Paris is NOT on my horizon!