Sean Barker

We just need to agree on a date, sometime in the summer. Dave is keen but it would have to be at a time that won't interfere with his TT commitments. Dave if you can throw a month into the ring we could work from that. Anyone else fancy a group ride on this course?

If we ride as a group it will be at the comfortable pace of the slowest rider. But three cafe stops

Event Name = Mr Pickwick’s March Madness Organiser = Mark Rigby Distance = 209km Total climb 2600m Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden = Saturday 1nd March 2014 A Spring classic. Tackling the Malverns before breakfast. To & through the Forest of Dean for lunch. And an afternoon in the Severn Vale. It really is apparent that the series of Audax events run by Mark Rigby are becoming ever increasingly popular. I should think that it’s only a matter of time before they are selling out. This was my second year riding this and it is a delightful ride. All the climbing is in the first three quarters leaving you with a relatively easy final 50km There really is something captivating about riding through the Forest of Dean at this time of year, the canopy is far from closing so you can see deep into the woods as you climb and descend. This is certainly an event that is pencilled in again for next year. Controls at Bromyard., Lower Soudley. and Saul., plus 3 information controls.

That sounds like a great idea Alan I'm up for that too. Perhaps sometime in the summer months?

Along with our summer 100km calendar event we have now added a 200km permanent event to our Audax selection. This is an event that can be ridden at a time of your choosing. Full details can be found in the following link http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/SBA01/ Should any of you fancy taking on this challenge please let us know in here. I do know Laura is considering riding a longer event like this at some stage and Dave has expressed an interest in riding a 200km Audax, although it may well get in the way of his racing programme during the summer months.

Event Name = Sam Weller’s Day Trip to Wochma Organiser = Mark Rigby Distance = 213km Total Climb = 2300m Start and finish point = The Hop Pole Pub, Tewkesbury Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden = Saturday 1st February 2014 This was the second running of this event and one I suspect (and hope) will be a permanent fixture on the Audax calendar. Having ridden the inaugural event last year I was very much looking forward to it this year and despite some truly awful weather it was still (for the most part) an enjoyable day’s riding but then again, as with any Audax Mark Rigby is involved in, you are guaranteed a first class event. The course made its way through the Herefordshire cider orchards, Wye Valley, Cotswolds and Severn Vale Controls at Wormelow Tump, 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 4th January 2014 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. After some extremely heavy rain during the previous weeks Tewkesbury was heavily flooded as indeed were a number of sections on the course. Mark had adjusted the route sheet at the eleventh hour and even made further amendments via a briefing as we set off. This not only kept us moving safely but allowed us to witness some severe flooding from a safe distance, Controls at Chaddesley Corbett, Warwick Services South. and Chipping Norton, plus 2 information controls. This was my second riding of this event and one I’ll look forward to again next year.

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 7th December 2013 Definitely one of my favourite rides of the year. 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. 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 seems to me almost entirely on quiet deserted country lanes. This was my second year to ride this course and I look forward to riding it again next year. 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 9th Npvember 2013 I rode this last year and remembered it as a particularly picturesque and pleasant ride. My recollection was clearly spot on as once again I loved everything about this event, from following the river Wye to the rugged and rustic Welsh countryside, be it with some 2,200m of ascent. The three café stops, which were all pubs offered excellent fare and value. The numbers were well up this year so the riders were offered the choice of two start times. 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 19th October 2013 This was my second time to ride this Audax and one I look forward to riding again. With around two and a half thousand metres of ascent and an interesting course and it takes you through some of the prettiest Cotswold villages, this is one to savour. One thing that was clearly noticeable was the numbers were well up on last year and as the riders were briefed before their departure, the organiser (Mark Rigby) gave us further options of café stops in case the intended cafés couldn’t cope with the numbers. Some other Audax events would do well to afford the riders this option. . Controls at Shipston-on-Stour, Daventry and Chipping Norton with a couple of info controls along the way

Event Name = Droitwich – Lechlade Organised by = Gavin Greenhow Distance = 215km Start and finish point = Droitwich Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden – 12th October 2013 215km cycling event starting from Droitwich This is the second time I have ridden this event and to me it has one positive and one negative. The positive is it’s a lovely course through the Cotswolds with a couple of testing climbs, the negative is there is only one café stop (I do like my café stops) We made our way through Worcester and on to the first control at a garage in Cheltenham, then it was on to Lechlade for the only café stop. Then it was back to Droitwich stopping at Tewkesbury on the way for the final control. Controls at Cheltenham, Lechlade and Tewkesbury with three info controls

Event Name = Droitwich – Witney (or the 6 Gates) Organised by = Gavin Greenhow Distance = 201km Start and finish point = Droitwich Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden – 28th September 2013 201km cycling event starting from Droitwich. I have done a number of Gavin Greenhow’s Audax events now and I really can’t think of a more pleasant and interesting one than this one, We made our way to Shipston via Bidford for the first control, then on to Witney via Chipping Norton for the second control. The next stage was onto Chipping Camden via Stow-on-the-wold for the third control and then the final stage back to Droitwich. The first control was at a pre-designated café but the controls in Witney and Chipping Camden were open controls and with both towns boasting a fine selection of cafes you were spoilt for choice. There was just the one info control, which was easy enough to spot. All in all an event to look forward to next year Controls at Shipston. Witney and Chipping Camden with just one info control