K20 goes Audaxing!
audax
noun
‘A type of long-distance road cycling event in which participants must navigate a route within a specified period of time.’
Some of the K20 riders before the start of the 100 km route
On 3rd October Bob Watts of San Fairy Ann CC put on another of his Crown and Half Crown audax events.
They are named after the Wye Crown, high above the first control on Wye Green, which was cut into the chalk of the North Downs 119years ago to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII.
The two routes are 200K and 100K. Both start out from, and finish at, Ulcombe village hall. The longer has an 0800hrs start, and takes riders down to the sea, also passing famous castles at Walmer, Dover, Sandgate, Hastings, Bodiam and Sissinghurst. The 100K, with an 0900hrs start, is mainly within the North Downs and High Weald areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Just for those who still deal in old money the shorter route was in fact 66miles long with 4455ft of climbing, whilst the longer was 130miles with 7394ft of climbing.
This was not the first time that some K20 members had done this event. The long route is indeed a bit of a “beast” particularly if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction down on the coast. Once bitten twice shy was the motto for some who, last time completed the long route, on this occasion opted for the short!
The more intrepid riding the 200 km route on the south coast!
K20 had a particularly good turnout for this event. Out of the 77 who registered on the morning of the event 30 of those were K20 members. We had 20 riding the short route and a die-hard cohort of 10 who opted to test themselves against the long.
Thankfully the weather, apart from the wind on the coast, held in our favour with a slightly dampish start, which then broke out into nice autumn sunshine.
It was great to see the Club members working for each other throughout the event. There was plenty of cross group riding with many prepared to do longer stints at the front when others might have been struggling. One or two mechanical problems arose and once again members rallied round to help those in trouble. So, all in all, a real team event for us.
We have to congratulate Bob on putting on another fine, well organised event. The route and the checkpoints all worked well and the soup and hot food at the finish were very much appreciated. Well done to you and your team of volunteers.
Despite some mechanicals, and a bit of getting lost by some, all our members made it back safely.
Most of our short route riders started to get back to Ulcombe between 1530 and 1700. The long route guys did have it tough though!
A headwind for mile after mile whilst heading down the coast was really energy sapping, with Nathan Wake, - a particularly strong rider, observing that it was a much tougher ride than the Chase the Sun event which he had completed back in June.
The last leg is from Hastings back to Ulcombe. Some unexpectedly left there in the dark, and progress was made slow by limited lighting, - a learning point for all of us!
Everyone dug deep though, helping one another where necessary, and keeping safe. These Trojan efforts saw our members on the long route get back to Ulcombe at times between 2000hrs and 2120 hrs! Chapeau to all of you! I bet hot soup and a coffee never tasted better!
A short video following some our riders on the 100 km route
