Gavin Greenhow's Audax rides next weekend

A brief report on the Droitwich 400k Audax 31st July
(primarily for people seeking new Audax rides or those looking to do a
400k/600k for the first time)

Start was 7pm from Gavin's house in Droitwich. Strange start time but Gavin
was also running a 600k event which started at 7am the same day. The last
400k of the 600k was the same course as the 400k event, the idea being that
the riders could meet up and ride together. So, by the time we started,
most of the 600k riders had already passed through but some were still
arriving. Excellent spread laid on by Gavin's wife - a good selection of
food and drink to stock up for the ride ahead.

Overall the course was excellent. Good choice of roads; almost all minor
roads and lanes. A good mixture of flat and climbing (nothing too severe
but a fair bit of undulation). All control points were 24hr Service
Stations but all were well stocked and equipped.

Stage 1: Droitwich to Tewksbury 38k. Nice flat start along pleasant lanes
and pretty villages.
Stage 2: Tewksbury to Cirencester 53k. Through part of the Coxwolds; a few
steep but not too long climbs. A good downhill run into Cirencester.
Stage 3: Cirencester to Membury (nr. Swindon) 55k. Dark now so not much to
see. Still undulating and navigation is tricky.
Stage 4: Membury to Sutton Scotney (nr. Winchester) 52k. Hills easing off.
Flattish run to contol as sun comes up.
Stage 5: Sutton Scotney to Membury 77k. Up though the Downs with a few
good long drags.
Stage 6: Membury to Witney 40k. Though the Lambourn Downs and then a bit
flatter
Stage 7: Witney to Droitwich 88k. Longest stage. Skirts Coxwolds and goes
though Moreton-In-Marsh and Bidford-On-Avon. Flattish/dowhill towards
finish.

Plenty of good food at the finish.

None of it is especially tough but the undulations do take their toll.
Total climbing for the 400k is 3000m (for the 600k it's 4000m) Also the
route is fairly complicated with lots of instructions so the potential to go
wrong, particularly during the hours of darkness, is quite high. Gavin's
instructions are very good, though, and he provides distances throughout
which helps a lot.

There isn't a very high turnout for these events which is a shame because
they are well thought out and planned. Gavin runs about 5 events each year,
all from Droitwich, ranging from 150k to 600k.

Ian