On the road to La Berade, SE of Bourg D'Oisans, French Alps, July 2006

Audax News by Richard Thomas

THE  2ND HAILSHAM 200                SUNDAY  11TH MARCH  2007

The 2nd Hailsham 200 followed the same route as the 1st Hailsham 200 in February.  Fortunately  the weather this time was nearly perfect for the time of year.  Equippe Space Vedettes set off from Hailsham Leisure Centre Car Park at 7:30am with about 50 other like minded souls.  The undulations between Wilmington Cross Roads and the Cuckmere Country Park readied us for the climb up to Seaford.  By the time we reached John Seviour at the checkpoint at the top of High and Over we were adequately warmed up and ready to negotiate the descent to Alfriston (why am I always in the wrong gear for the short climb just before Alfriston? advice please).

Our group of about 12 riders sped along through Berwick to Upper Dicker,  with average speeds nearly at the Audax maximum of 30km/hr.  The climbs up to the first control at Brightling would reduce this average to around 25km/hr.  We reached this control in good spirits and Dave “El Supremo’s” feed was very welcome.  After a short stop the Space Vedettes left in a small group of 6 riders. We went past Darwell Reservoir, which looked pretty full after the wet February, on our way towards Mountfield and Robertsbridge.   The speed went up again on the fast run down from Cripps Corner to Rye, but the mist towards the coast made it difficult to see our next stop at the Light Railway Café next to Dungeness Power Station.  Just after Rye we were passed by the only tandem on the ride.  Yes you’ve guessed it, everyone jumped on the back and up went the speed beyond 40km/hr for the 7km along the A259 until our right turn onto the Cycle Route by the Woolpack Inn.  Some of our group slowed here but I kept the pace up a bit on the route down to Lydd.  A quick left and right by the church in Lydd had us plugging into the wind down to the Light Railway Café.  Near to the Café we saw the fastest riders already making their way back.  We arrived at the control just after noon, 105km done in just over 4½ hours,  about 25 minutes quicker than the time for the February ride. 

I was quite hungry and needed to eat so I succumbed to a bacon sandwich, a cake and a coffee.  Suitably refreshed, we started the longest stage, 58km to Rolvenden, where a pre-ordered meal of a bacon and egg sandwich followed by apple pie and custard awaited.  This leg is harder than it looks on paper and we were heading east into a westerly wind.  Nice!  On this stage we had the one and only information control, in Smarden, when we had to deviate 1km off route to get the answer to the question at the info control.

We then continued through Biddenden and on to Rolvenden,  arriving just after 3pm.  The stamp for the brevet card says “Stoke up for the hills”.  Although only 40km, the last stage is rather laney and involves many short climbs stressing tired legs.  The first climb is up to the A268 main road, which becomes a struggle as it is straight out of the Café control.   A right turn at Hurst Green onto the A265 is followed by a fast descent towards Etchingham and a few climbs before reaching Woods Corner.  I always forget about the climb up to Brightling Beacon from this direction and it catches me out!  Nearly home now, swooping down through Dallington and on towards Bodle Street.  A right turn at Thorneyfield Cottage and a few lanes later we arrived at the left turn by the Merrie Harriers in Cowbeech.  A chance to crank up the speed on the way down to the main road(A271) saw me going head to head with Andy Uttley, having left our other two Space Vedettes back down the road.  We got back to Hailsham just after 5:30pm, 205km in 10hrs 11minutes, at an average riding speed of 23.5km/hr and an overall speed including stops of 20km/hr.  Not too bad for the time of year.  Two riders were first back in 9hrs 10 mins, one being  Angela Nainsby of East Grinstead.

After a coffee and a chat in the warmth of the Leisure Centre, I headed off down the Cuckoo Trail to home.  Another successful ride and the completion of my Randonnee Round The Year (RRTY) Brevet series. 

THE  INVICTA NATIONAL  200                     SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 2007

I thought I had better do this ride in preparation for the 400km London to York “Arrow” on 6 April.  I had already arranged to ride with Andy Uttley, as we would be doing the Arrow together.  Rob Bullyment was not riding as he is the controller at the Hythe control .  This is the first time that I have ridden this event. 

The alarm went off at 4:15am and I reluctantly got up and was ready to leave by 5:45am.  The drive up was uneventful and reasonably traffic free, and I arrived at just after 7am.  This gave plenty of time to get ready  for the 8am start.  There were 85 starters, sent off in groups of 10 to reduce bunching.  I got in the first group, which may have been a mistake as it went off rather fast and we soon reached the first control at Goudhurst, 53km covered in just over 2 hours.  The next stage to Hythe, into a cold sidewind from the northeast saw me trying to keep up with three riders from the Crest CC of Ilford.  The route included a cycle route which was dirty and rough, causing black water to be pumped out the top of my headset!  I blew up 5km from Hythe and had to stop to get out some food.  I arrived at Hythe by which time the temperature had dropped and the warmth of the Café was welcome, as was the baked beans on toast, tea and apple tart. 

I was reluctant to venture forth as there was a steep climb of Barrack Hill to endure straight out of the control.  Ouch.  I was feeling very “saggy” after my overexertion and a headwind did not help.  I struggled along at 12km/hr on the flat until Andy Uttley  (San Fairy Ann CC) caught me up and I had shelter from his back wheel.  He had a bad patch down to Hythe but had now recovered.  The route to the next control at Wye took us high onto the hills behind Hythe , and then via Etchinghill, Lyminge, Rhodes and Stelling Minnis, Bossingham and the Hardres villages.  I was to hang on his back wheel for most of the rest of the ride, as I did not really recover.  We were later joined by fellow San Fairy Ann CC rider Colin Mildwater and other “Fairy’s” which gave a good group to the control at the Co-Op shop in Wye.  Just under 80km left to do to complete the 208km event distance. 

From the control Andy, Colin and I plugged on into the wind, rain and cold, feeling rather miserable as the kilometres slipped by so slowly as we passed through Staplehurst, Marden and Yalding.  Despite the apparently slow progress there were more riders behind us than in front of us, as we pulled into the last control before the finish, at the Shell garage at Wateringbury .

With just 23km left to do and fortified by a chicken sandwich, we set out towards Mereworth and Borough Green, by which time dusk was falling on this dull day.  So it was “lights on” for the last half hour through the lanes back to Otford via Wrotham and a loop to Kemsing to ensure adequate distance.  The overall route was convoluted and several short cuts were possible so five  information controls were necessary to prevent this.

We were very pleased to complete the ride.  A fine free spread of food was laid on at the finish, which was very welcome after such a hard day.  The drive back was challenging as I was tired and had difficulty staying awake!   I arrived home safely at 9pm and went straight to bed, as I had to get up fairly early on Sunday morning to get to Lower Dicker for the CTC 50km in 2 ½ hours ride.