The Beacon Message Board

A Century of Cycling by William Fotheringham More a text book than a good read but it does provide a very readable summary of the subject (well at least the male side of the sport, a point made by a previous reader of the copy I borrowed). There's a section for each of the 3 big stage tours and all...

Nevertheless, the glimpses one gets of LA don't endear him to me. He comes across as cold, arrogant and vindictive. I'm currently reading "A Century of Cycling" by William Fotheringham which profiles all of the most successful male cyclists over that period and it appears that this could be said ab...

It sounded like a fabrication at first and I didn't believe it but hey ho. I'm not sure whether it's good for cycling, he seems to have a different agenda and noble that that might be, I'm uneasy about a major sporting event being used to promote it. I expect the ASO will find some way of excluding ...

Roule Britannia - William Fotheringham A history of Britons in the Tour de France (up to 2004) A chapter on each of the key figures. Each chapter refers to all of the subjects contemporaries and as each ones career may overlap a number of chapters the exact chronology is tricky to follow. Based par...

Upton Magna 130km "Horseshoe Panorama" Early August. Organised by John Hamilton. Clear and accurate route sheet. Crosses the Froncysyllte aquaduct but a road alternative is offered. Only one control at the halfway point so take some food to eat at the aquaduct before the climbing begins. No informa...

Hampton in Arden 100km "Solihull Micro Rando" Early July Accurate route sheet Controls at Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre and Newton Regis garden centre (good food at both) 2 info controls Pleasant route, undulating but no big or steep hills. Looked like lovely countryside, especially the middl...

Loads of useful GPS stuff here....

http://www.aukweb.net/services/gps1.htm

I think there's been a comparison somewhere in AUK stuff, I'll see if I can find it. IIRC some models are more oriented to navigation of a pre-determined route and other sporty models more oriented to recording what you've done and how you did it. Maybe one of the most recent models combines both, I...

One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers - Memoirs of a Cyclist by Tim Hilton A sort of history of cycling covering most of the 20th century but focussing on 1930-1970. Includes accounts of key amateur (British) and professional racers. A good balance between professional and club cycling. As a ...

Winchcombe 101km "Falling Leaves Randonee" Early October Clear & accurate routesheet 3 roadside controls & 1 info control No facilities at start or food at controls so take food and/or stop @ cafe in Bibury (about mid-distance), cuppa & cake at finish Route: Winchcombe, Brimpsfield, Bibury, Bourton...

I started to read Krabbe but found it rather difficult to engage with his rather turgid and descriptive style of writing unlike Seaton's own publication. I managed around three chapters before returning it to the shelf. I was probably in a terrible mood at the time as I have heard plenty of raving ...

The latter, I was getting nervous.

Phew that's a relief. Well done Neil & Rod.

2:48

I reserve the right to decline any prize involving 39 miles of pain in the highly unlikely event that I'm closest.

Glapwell 106km "Peek at the Peak" Early July. Clear & accurate routesheet apart from slightly overstated distances. Controls in Eyam & Elton plus 4 info controls. 2nd cafe closed but others listed on routesheet and besides there was plenty of cake at the first. Route a bit fiddly near start & end b...

:roll: Tommy Godwin called round today and left me a few copies of the book that he has written, entitled ;; "IT WASN'T THAT EASY" They will retail at £15. A quick browse through at the pictures leaves me thinking it should be a good, humerous read. Anyone interested in a copy? I picked up a copy ...

Parkend 111km "Lumpy Scrumpy" Mid May. Through Forest of Dean, to Eastnor Castle via Marcle Ridge and returning via Linton Ridge and more forest. Good routesheet, clear instructions although the distances are inaccurate. Would be a beautiful ride on a nice day. Only one stop at a van with hot drink...

Bishops Lydeard 113km "Dustman Dave's Demon Hilly" Mid-late April Routesheet good and easy to follow despite distances only being given for controls & info's. Lovely route all way round including coast, moors, a lake, quaint villages, oh yes and a few hills. Goes over the northern edge of Exmoor to...

Shenstone 160km “Derbyshire Dalesâ€￾

Mid-late April
Route sheet accurate but poorly formatted and without distances
Controls at Village Halls in Ipstones & Wyaston plus 2 info controls. Coffee & cakes only at controls – take extra food or get some in Hartington, nice cafe down hill just off route apparently.
1680m climbing. Long hill towards & beyond first control plus further long hills in middle section across Peak National Park.
A bit monotonous from Yoxall back to Lichfield on fairly busy roads otherwise mainly quiet roads – section through Peak National Park particularly scenic.
Take care on steep descent towards Lower Tean, tight bend half way down, I nearly went off-road.
Starts at village hall - parking at train station or near local shops
Other distances 102km & 213km

Picklescott 102km “Long Mynd 2000â€￾

Late March / early April
Good route sheet
Control at Bishops Castle café plus four roadside controls
Briefly into Wales - over Kerry Ridgeway to Sarn and then back to Anchor
Big climbs start middle & end - 1880m total
Don't hang around at start - first control after 10km with steep climbs
Also best not to stop too long in Bishops Castle - long climb to 3rd control
Long mainly descending section after 3rd control
Route varies taking either Asterton Bank or Burway up to Long Mynd
Start at village hall - parking tight but alternative parking signed
Other distances: 59km

Coalport 105km “Discovering Shropshire" (now from Upton Magna) September Good route sheet Controls at Acton Scott tea room & Ray’s Farm 2 info controls Pleasant route, mainly quiet lanes. Quite popular - about 50 entrants Quite hilly 1680m climbing. Main hills in the middle section but some lon...

Redditch 162km “Broadway"

Mid July
Good route sheet
Pleasant route, undulating but no really big hills.
Controls at Wellsesbourne airfield, Broadway Corners tea room & Craycombe
6 info controls
Sparse field - only about 12 entrants
HQ at cricket club, parking OK
Other distances 109km & 200km

Redditch 109km "Broadway Babe" Mid July Good route sheet Controls at Broadway Corners tea room & Craycombe tea room 4 info controls Pleasant route, mainly quiet lanes, a few hills but nothing challenging Quite popular - approx 50 entrants HQ at cricket club, parking OK Other distances 162km & 200km

Please add your notes of any audaxes you've done including location, distance & name in subject field. Add other information in the body such as approx route, comments and any other useful info for somebody considering the event. Please add events only in this thread (one per posting) - any chat / q...

Thought about it last year but decided I couldn't really justify it. Half the cost of a budget bike for no more than 10 rides per year. Of course if I'd already got a garage full of bikes.......

There's nothing wrong with 32 spokes either is there? Not for me but country lanes, audaxes and the fact I couldn't go very fast whatever was between me and the road means my priorities may be different to yours. My priorities were strength, possibility of managing another 100 miles minus a spoke o...

I bought some new hand built wheels recently - albeit not the sort you're likely to want (32 spoke, shimano 105, Mavic open pros). However I was surprised that I could get wheels hand built using decent components for less than many standard factory built wheels. Maybe it's because the factory ones ...