2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Details of and discussion about club news & events (excluding races)

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Philip Whiteman
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2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Philip Whiteman » 01 Jan 2021 10:28

AUDAXES FOR 2021: HAPPY NEW YEAR AND SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

Happy New Year all. If stories are to be believed, 2021 will eventually improve compared to 2020. Last year, Phil Richards managed to get his Sunrise and Snowdrop Express audax done just in time before the pandemic hit. Whilst some events were cancelled, the pop-up x rated audaxes to Montgomery and to the Cotswolds were a success even with reduced facilities and a restriction on entries.

What do we have in store for 2021?

· The Kidderminster Killer will return with vengeance on 24th July. Following reports that some sections were too easy in 2019, that problem has now been redressed through some small but significant tweaks to the 2021 route. Starting from Belbroughton the route takes an obscene 215km route to Montgomery and back. 3.75AAA. Entries: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8716 Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33297530

· Begwyns, Books and Stones is scheduled for 17th April and is a brand new 200km ‘x rated’ event starting from Stourport, heading for the Begwyns, the Wye Valley, Arthur’s Stones and back through the Teme Valley. There are hilly sections but the route contains flatter sections in between. It is already fully booked but please get in contact for the reserves list. A few riders usually declare ‘DNS’ before the event. Entries: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8906 Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33993917

· Gospel Pass Skivers is another new 200km x-rated event starting from Bewdley on Friday 14thMay. No prizes for guessing the destination of this event. Whilst the Gospel Pass is a popular location for many audax events, quite a few sections en-route are branch new, especially on the Herefordshire section through Woolhope and behind the Malvern Hills. The route qualifies for 3.25 AAA. Entries https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8959. Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34702797

· Summer Brevet Populaire. Phil Richards is planning a summer weekday Brevet Populaire, so watch this space for details.

· Beyond the Dyke on 2nd October is dedicated to the route’s founder and former audax organiser, the late Alan Mason who passed away earlier in 2020. Beyond the Dyke starts from Belbroughton heading for the other side of Offa’s Dyke. Stops are at Craven Arms and Presteigne. Entries: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8945. Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34675201

Numbers are currently restricted to 30 people for April and May audaxes but if regulations are relaxed then the cap will be removed. The Sunrise and Snowdrop Express will not take place this year due to the likelihood of continued restrictions. The Clee to Heaven remains suspended due to uncertainty on control venues.


The state of audaxing in 2021

2021 will still have its challenges for audaxing with many of the earlier audaxes unable to proceed due uncertainty on control locations, organiser availability, etc. The Audax UK calendar pages suggest that many other events later in the year will also remain suspended unless the organisers make eleventh hour decisions to proceed. The likelihood is that there will be considerably fewer audaxes overall resulting in demand outstripping supply, exacerbated by the current cap of 30 entrants per event. That is one reason why we have two extra calendar events planned for April and May. If you are planning RRTY (Randonee Round the Year) or Super Randonneur Series then you will need to plan well in advance for calendar events. If events remain in short supply then I may consider repeating the Montgomery Madness and Cotswolds audaxes during the autumn on an x-rated no thrills basis.

However, with air of optimism surrounding vaccination and post pandemic recovery, audaxes will start to gather pace at some stage later in the year.

I hope you can join our events during the coming year.


Kind regards
Philip Whiteman

Dave Cox
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Dave Cox » 03 Jan 2021 17:17

Thanks Phil I've tried to express and interest in Beyond the Dyke hoping all will be well or at least better by October and that I'll still be riding. Having some difficulty getting into Audax account at the moment but will get that resolved next week.

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Philip Whiteman
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Philip Whiteman » 04 Jan 2021 11:07

Dave Cox wrote:
03 Jan 2021 17:17
Thanks Phil I've tried to express and interest in Beyond the Dyke hoping all will be well or at least better by October and that I'll still be riding. Having some difficulty getting into Audax account at the moment but will get that resolved next week.
Thanks Dave. I am not riding on the road at the moment but that is simply down to ice. I am aware that you were isolating earlier this year but I hope that you have maintained some semblance of cycling too.

I may well investigate whether one of Alan Mason's shorter routes is also feasible. The Clee event audax won't happen this year due to uncertainties on Rays Farm.

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George
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by George » 02 Feb 2021 14:34

An impressive programme, Phil. I hope they go well.

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Fenella
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Fenella » 09 Feb 2021 16:50

Thanks for organising all of those, Phil.

Glad to see a version of the Offa's Dyke making a come-back.
That was my very first Audax, back in 1996. It was also where I first met Andy - got Alan Mason to thank for the last 25 years! %~/

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Andy Terry
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Andy Terry » 11 Feb 2021 22:55

Remind us what a Brevet Populaire is exactly?

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Simon Woodward
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Simon Woodward » 12 Feb 2021 09:24

Andy, A Brevet Populaire is a shorter version of Audax, (less than 200km)

The type of event doesn't really matter unless your trying to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris, or going for one of Audax UK's awards.
Last edited by Simon Woodward on 16 Feb 2021 11:11, edited 1 time in total.

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Andy Terry
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Andy Terry » 16 Feb 2021 08:47

Thanks. Good to see some shorter events being organised.

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Philip Whiteman
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Re: 2021 AND AUDAX EVENTS

Post by Philip Whiteman » 16 Feb 2021 17:55

Andy Terry wrote:
16 Feb 2021 08:47
Thanks. Good to see some shorter events being organised.
Phil R was theorizing the potential for a midweek 100km event during the summer but that may be the sum total of events less than 200km this year.

The Sunrise and Snowdrop Express will not be happening for very obvious reasons and From Clee to Heaven will not be taking place due to uncertainties on: (i) Rays Farm as a control location, and; (ii) any continued policy of social distancing and requirement for staggered starts that would impact upon the Kidderminster Killer.

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