Sean Barker

Just to let everyone know.

The website is up and running again and can be accessed by clicking on the Saracen Web site link on the main forum page as shown on the image below

Obviously the site needs to be updated, which will be done in the coming weeks

This area of the forum is now restricted to members of the Saracen RC only.

If you are a Saracen member and unable to see the forum please let me know in here.

I bet you didn't know that I was a dab hand with water colours did you?

It depends what you mean. If you want to put a picture in the gallery just click on “Gallery” at the top of the main page of the forum and follow the steps.

If you want to put a photo in a post, well that has been simplified and made considerably more convienent in the new version of the forum. When making a post you will notice at the bottom of the text box is an image of a paperclip. Now all you have to do is drag the photo from your computer to that paperclip and the picture will appear in your post.

Any problems just get back to me 

Here is an image I have dragged and dropped onto this post

Well done to John Cartwright, who rode this event on Friday 10th April becoming the 6th rider this year to do so

Event Name = Sam Weller’s Day Trip to Wochma

Organiser = Mark Rigby

Distance = 220km

Total Climb = 2300m

Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £4

Date ridden = Saturday 7th February 2015

It really is a lottery as to what the weather will bring you at this time of year but today was milder than of late even if only reaching a high of six degrees.

The start was below zero with plenty of ice patches in the first section so discretion was very much the better part of valour.

It’s a striking course nonetheless with some truly stunning scenery, particularly the Wye Valley and Severn estuary.

The course had to be changed slightly this year due to the demise of the post office in Wormlow Tump, so an extra 10km loop was added to reach the new control at Alensmore

Controls at Alensmore, Chepstow and Malmesbury, plus 2 information controls.

Event Name = Mr. Pickwick’s January Sale

Organiser = Mark Rigby

Distance = 201km

Total Climb = 2100m

Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £1

Date ridden = Saturday 3^rd January 2015

This is a course designed should the weather conspire against us. It does for the most part stick to fairly quiet B roads, but roads that will be gritted should the need arise.

It is still a charming route as it heads north to the first control at Chaddesley Corbett, then eastwards to Warwick Services South before heading into the Cotswolds and to Chipping Norton and back to Tewkesbury.

The weather was horrendous as the heavy rain never ceased. It was hard to enjoy this one but the sense of achievement on finishing immense.

After finishing and getting changed into some dry clothes I decided I was going to have to get a better waterproof option gloves wise.

Controls at Chaddesley Corbett, Warwick Services South. and Chipping Norton, plus 2 information controls.
 

Event Name = Kings, Castles, Priests & Churches

Organiser = Mark Rigby

Distance = 202km

Total Climb = 2550m

Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £4

Date ridden = Saturday 6^th December 2014

A classic and challenging winter Audax.

With over two and a half thousand metres of climbing it’s a tough one on a cold winter’s day, but it is simply stunning in terms of scenery. Perhaps my favourite section is the climb out of Ludlow and the view back from the Mortimer Forest over the Town

The ride departs from Tewkesbury and makes its way to the first control in Bromyard taking in an info control in Ledbury on the way. The second stage takes you to Ludlow and then the third stage is where the lion’s share of the climbing is to be found as you head for Kington. From Kington it’s on to Wormelow Tump and then home to Tewkesbury.

The route is cleverly designed to follow country lanes avoiding the busier B roads

Controls were at Bromyard, Ludlow, Kington and Wormelow Tump, with two info controls

Event Name = Mr Pickwick’s Cymraeg Cyrch

Organiser = Mark Rigby

Distance = 209km

Total Climb = 2200m

Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £4

Date ridden = Saturday 8^th November 2014

This is an Audax with a difference on the way out and indeed or the return it covers a section of the cycle path that runs alongside the River. A particularly magical moment for me was on the return leg when I cycled in the dark following two badgers for fifty or so meters before they darted back into the woods.

The café stops are all pubs with plentiful food at most reasonable prices.

Without doubt an event for next year’s calendar.

Controls were at Monmouth, Yalybont-on-Usk and Symonds Yat East and no info controls

Event Name = Mr Pickwick’s Autumnal Outing

Organiser = Mark Rigby

Distance = 210km

Total Climb = 2350m

Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £4

Date ridden = Saturday 18^th October 2014

This Audax has become something of a mainstay in my Audax calendar and with good reason. Some testing climbs but without doubt the prettiest route through the Cotswolds I have ever ridden.

Mark Rigby has built up a well-deserved reputation for excellent courses and faultless organisation and it has been noticeable how the numbers have increased over the last few years. If you intend to ride this or indeed any of the Blacksheep series then early entry is strongly advised.

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Controls at Shipston-on-Stour, Daventry and Chipping Norton with a couple of info controls along the way

Pershore (Coffee 1 or Abbey Tea rooms) 48.5 miles

This route is is suitable for a B run or even an A run in the colder and potentially icy conditions of winter

Map and GPS download

I'll start us off with this

Stourport (the cafe on the high street) 41 miles

This route is suitable for a B run

Map and GPS download

I will keep a selection of our more popular club run courses in here, please feel free to add any you wish

2014 saw 11 riders complete this event (even if I counted as 6 of those riders)

Here is the link to the results page http://www.aukweb.net/results/archive/2014/listevent/?Ride=SBA02

2014 saw 27 riders complete this audax (even if I was 22 of them)

Here is the link to the 2014 finishers http://www.aukweb.net/results/archive/2014/listevent/?Ride=SBA01

The three unnamed non Audax UK registered riders were

Chris Kent

Laura Lane

John Cartwright

On the club ride Ken Haddon, Chris Pardoe and John Shelly also completed it 

Incidentally this audax was the 5th most popular permanent 200km in the UK for 2014

The top five were

1 Great Dunmow 200 = 38 riders

2 Meridien Hills 200 = 34 riders

3 Richmond 200 = 29 riders

4 Horncastle 200 = 28 riders

5 Saracen No1 200 = 27 riders

I've been meaning to get onto that but didn't get around to it. Just done it now, thanks for the push

Rednal

Man On The Moon

The Forest car park

Tardebigge

Just click on the names for a google map location

Event Name = A Rough Diamond

Organised by = Mark Rigby

Distance = 301km

Total Climb = 2500m

Start and finish point = Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £6:50
Date ridden – August 9^th 2014

This is a delightful 300 and well worth considering if you fancy a good quality ride without too much climbing.  It probably helped that it was such a nice day but despite riding it at a comfortable pace I completed it in less than fourteen hours. So it’s a fast course

Controls at Burford, Talybont-on-Usk and Slimbridge mean there are fairly long stretches between café stops, in fact 100km between Talybont-on-Usk and Slimbridge but plenty of chances to take on sustenance between all stops.

Controls at Burford, Talybont-on-Usk and Slimbridge plus one info control

Event Name = Mr. Pickwick Takes Flight

Organised by = Mark Rigby

Distance = 206km

Total Climb = 1800m

Start and finish point = Tewkesbury

Entry Fee = £4
Date ridden – Saturday 5^th July 2014

206km cycling event starting from Tewkesbury.
I rode this last year and remembered it as being an easy and uneventful day. Well this year was to prove rather different, a heavy downpour early in the ride left us all soaked through and then I was to get three punctures and ride the last 50km very nervously indeed as I was clean out of innertubes.

The course however was as you would expect from a Mark Rigby event without fault, perhaps easier than his usual courses but a thoroughly enjoyable event nonetheless with excellent cafes at the controls.

Defenetly one for next year.

The course made its way to Wellesbourne for the first control and then on tothe Aerodrome at Turweston and finally on to his well used café in Chipping Norton, where the selection of cakes is always impressive.

Controls at Wellesbourne, Turweston. and Chipping Norton., plus 3 information controls.

After riding this on Tuesday I have made some alterations to the course which I feel improve it.

I have managed to cut out some of the busier sections of road and only added a kilometer to the overall distance. 

Here is the new updated map

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5200962

I have also updated the Audax UK pages gps and route sheet files. 

Congratulations to Tim Taylor who this week became the first non Saracen member to successfully complete this Audax ride.

Thanks for that Richard. A fantastic review and account of the course, event and whole experience. 

I rode it again yesterday and took this photo from the bridge at Bewdley

A record of Cyclosportives ridden by Saracen members

This event is proving quite popular. Despite only having been added to the Audax calendar recently, there have already been four different riders applying for Brevet cards.  (only one Saracen so far though)