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| Steve Ward & Kevin Watson dawdle behind the Tuesday group on one of the lanes on the Audax route. |
“Challenging” was the description by some riders after the 10th June test run on the route of the 2012 100 and 00k Calder Clarion Audax which started and finished at the Waterton Country Park visitors centre at Wintersett
The ride wasn’t held as an Audax, some of the riders going hard whilst others ambled round with no minimum speed limit to worry about.
A map of the proposed route is on the Club Audax web page along with a Fly Over Video of the route and a downloadable gpx file.
Several riders had printed route sheets or downloaded gpx files from the web site. Details of control points at the Windmill Cafe above Ingbirchworth and the ‘Too Hoots’ near Carlton were also given.
Details on the web site showed the height gained (Mostly in the first 100k) was 4400 feet, but several Garmin owners felt the gain was much more. The Seven Peaks showing on the profile below in the first half of the ride are: Woolley Edge, Storthes Hall, Upperthong, BAre Bones Rd (1430 ft), Hoylandswaine, High Hoyland and Haigh “Cardiac” Hill.
All the riders started together, but on the first hill at Chevet, the group splintered into several small groups. On the drop down to Newmillerdam Steve Burton was nearly driven off the road by an elderly lady who overtook him, but misjudged the clearance she had and truned right into a side lane, almost clipping Steve’s front wheel.
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| Keith Allwood and Tom McGhie look happy above Hoylandswaine after 70k. |
At Honley, a group including Andrew Spittlehouse, Martin Watson and Steve “Bad Brains” came accross a rider out training who had a very expensive bike, a (used) gas inflator cartridge, a (used) spare inner tube, no pump. He was scratching his head looking at his 2nd puncture. Martin kindly gave him an inner tube and Andrew used his pump to get the stricken cyclist back on the road.
Meanwhile the ‘Heroes’ pressed ahead without stopping at the Windmill Cafe. Out of the hills and out towards Snaith, the group had a giggle as Jonny Croston locked his rear wheel and ended up in a Hedge bottom. Too Hoots was closed just when they needed sustenance, probably Askern will be a better option on the official Audax.
In the closing stages, Tom Butler had the group lined out as he put some pace into his effort on the front after the hamlet of Heck. As he slowed to turn right for the wooded lane to Womersley, those intent on holding Tom’s wheel had to take evasive action to avoid a collison.
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| Kevin Watson climbing out of Holmfirth |
The exercise has proved useful with lots of positive feedback to consider before everything is finalised.
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| Helen Mann on High Hoyland |