Great Western Randonnées

20/10/2024

Fancy an amazing night ride with a massive field of like minded riders and great volunteers supplying support through the night?

Then Moonrakers & Sunseekers is for you. Enter soon to avoid disappointment!

Entry: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/moonrakers-sunseekers-300/

One of the biggest AUK events it keeps on giving; from seasoned audaxers to those having their first go at an audax it has brought joy, fulfilment and a great sense of comradery to hundreds.

If it is a clear night it will be the best full moon so far reaching its fullest at 21:40!

Set off from the heart of Bristol and follow the trail of red lights through Bath with its buzzing nightlife. The Cat 4 climb of Bathford Hill is THE climb of the ride as you make your way to Devizes' The Crammer where the Moonrakers legend originates from. A quick checkpoint at The Moonrakers Inn where you can grab a handful of flapjacks (inc) and a drink from the bar before a fast ride around the top of Salisbury Plain and down the Avon Valley to Salisbury for another checkpoint - cake, flapjack and hot drinks await (inc) to help you on your way down the Avon Valley. Last year temps dropped considerably in the valley so make sure you have clothing to suit if it is looking to be a cold one (though it may be barmy like the year before). Head along the coast using the Promenade from Boscombe to Poole (I am aware of the recent landslip which should hopefully be cleared by the event) before a big warm breakfast (inc) in Poole as you pass Sunseekers Yacht's HQ.

The sun will soon be coming up as you make your way north again through rural Dorset on country lanes passing through the chocolate box village of Milton Abbas and its spectacular Abbey now school. Another control at Podimore Services awaits before Glastonbury Tor and across the levels to Cheddar. Pick up the Strawberry Line for an easy ride under the Mendips through an old railway tunnel before continuing to The Strawberry Line Cafe at Yatton who will be opening early for the faster riders (a community asset giving young SEND adults skills in the catering trade). From here it is an easy ride back into Bristol to the Arrivee for some rice and dal and any left over cakes (inc).

Are you up for the challenge?

308 km⇉ & 2295 m⇈ | Moonrakers become Sunseekers! Ride through the night under a full moon to the coast. Return via a few Dorset hills passing Glastonbury Tor, use the Strawberry Line to Bristol.

12/09/2024

Wells, Mells & Broader! 200, & Old Rail Trail 100 are both back on Sat Oct 12th.

Enter:
Wells, Mells & Broader 200! here - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/wells-mells-broader-200/
Wells, Mells & Old Rail Trail 100 here - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/wells-mells-old-rail-trail-100/

Usually spring rides, has seen a summer appearance, now time for an autumn outing!

Both routes head out to Wells Market passing Chew Lake and climbing Westharptree Hill. Pass through Wells Cathedral Close with its moat as you make your way to Burton and then the challenging Kingsettle Hill with King Alfred's Tower atop. Then on to Stourhead Estate.

The Broader 200 continues west to Yeovil Railway Centre for its lunch control in the old broad gauge transfer shed. A slow ascent of the Dorset Hills begins with the teeth grinder Batcombe Hill as you pop out on top. Descend through Lion's Gate for a gentler cruise across Blackmoor Vale to Mere and back to Stourton.

The Old Rail Trail 100 will be way ahead of you know as both routes make their way to Mells before the wonderful traffic free Colliers Way to Radstock. 3 rough hills to go before the Arrivée; you may use my name in vain!

28/08/2024

A collection of routes on Saturday 14th September.

George's Delightful Abbeys and Roads 200 - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/georges-delightful-abbeys-roads-200/
George's Delightful Roads 160 - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/georges-delightful-roads-160/
Abbeys and Minor Roads 100 - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/abbeys-roads-100/

Passing various abbeys through Wiltshire & Gloucestershire the & routes first head to Lacock to then climb Howden Hill. At Malmesbury the 100 heads back to the finish whilst the 200 continues to Gloucester. Here the , an , joins having come up the Severn Valley. Both then circumnavigate the Forest of Dean before tackling the wonderful George's Delight climb, rest those legs as you swoosh down to Chepstow before crossing the Severn Bridge and back to the finish at the White Lion, Frenchay.

22/08/2024

The inaugural Steaming On! 600 will be departing from Bristol Temple Meads at 06:00 on 31st August; it will be on time and won't be cancelled...

Entry & full details: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/steaming-on-600/
(Entries close Friday 30th)

First you'll fly to Swindon (tail wind permitting) and the Steam Museum for the first stop. Then head south passing through Avebury and over the North Wessex AONB to the Pewsey Vale. Now time for a long leg west passing through Wells and the southern edge of Exmoor to Barnstaple. Follow the Tarka Trail along the estuary and south to Okehampton, followed by the Granite Way to Lydford for the night stop.

Airbeds and blankets provided, along with dinner and breakfast.

In the morning pop over into Cornwall crossing the Tamar at Horsebridge. Then enjoy the full Kit Hill climb to waken those legs before heading onto Saltash as you cross the Tamar once again back into Devon. Leave Plymouth behind and traverse Dartmoor. Through Exeter and cross the Blackdown Hills. One final push (if the legs are trembling) over the Mendips and finally back to Temple Meads.

24/06/2024

Rufus Odin Borneo Pomeroy
2011-2024

4 weeks ago I lost my beloved Red whilst we were cycle touring. There are no words. I will hold him forever in my heart and thoughts.

I hope our adventures over the too short years have inspired you. Go out and grab the outdoors, challenge yourself, camp under the stars, climb those mountains, enjoy the nature around you, and remember Red.

If you would like to donate towards Red's memorial fund please do so here: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/95txw0vM5G

Back in 2021 after Red completed his 4th 200km at the age of 9 I suggested he write a blog about it. I added some photos, gave him his own login details and left him to it. He made a start but then said he couldn't be bothered, he may have been pranking me. The other week I discovered he did finish it so have a read, it is as he left it apart from the extra I've added at the bottom.

Some of his other cycling achievements:
@2 1/2 on his balance bike around Bristol Docks.
@3 3/4 towed my signing trailer in the New Forest as I was working, and again the following year.
@4 using a FollowMe tandem our first cycle camping trip.
@4 3/4 first validated 50km audax.
@5 first cycle camping trip solo.
@6 first to claim the new AUK Brevet 250 award (5x 50km).
@6 3/4 first solo 100km.
@7 & 20d finished LEJOG solo. He is the youngest to have done so on his own bike but didn't want the recognition.
- we also climbed Ben Nevis, and over the next year Snowdon, Scafell Pike and the following summer...
@7 1/2 first 100miles.
@8 MIZMAL, the Irish equivalent of LEJOG where we celebrated his 8th at Malin Head.
- we also climbed Carrauntoohill & Slieve Donard to achieve all the British Isle Nation's highest peaks.
@8 3/4 first 200km and beginning of off road adventures.
@9 3/4 5 day hike from Weston Super Mare to Salisbury.
@10 the Islands & Highlands off road.
@10 1/2 rode Way of the Roses but off road.
@11 rode East to West England along the Old Chalk Way and other off road paths.
The day before his 12th birthday completed his first RRtY - a 200km riden every month for 12 consecutive months.
@12 1/2 completely owning me on Belmont Hill!

Ride in Peace Red X

https://www.pedalution.co.uk/2021/04/air-mail-200/

Red recounts a day out on his 4th 200. He told me he didn't finish writing it but I discovered he did June 2024 two weeks after he died. Ride in Peace Red xx

13/01/2024

Steph & rocking it once again at the first control on the Chalke & Cheese 200.

📷 The Apple Tree aka The Old Block aka Dad!

13/01/2024

A fantastic start to this year's Chalke & Cheese 200. Massive thanks to as usual for opening early. Good luck to all riders out there especially as the temp on the route is forecast to drop several degrees to below freezing until late morning 🥶

10/01/2024

Chalke and Cheese 200km will be departing on Saturday. Entries close Friday afternoon. https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/chalke-cheese-200/

Enjoy an early year cruise down the Wylye Valley to Ginny's for breakfast, through Wilton and over to the Chalke Valley and its stores for cake in the old chapel. Back through Shaftesbury, Burton & Wells to Wedmore Stores for a final cramming of carbs before up Cheddar Gorge, over the Mendips and back to the finish at the Hollybush Inn.

Plenty of stickers available to adorn your bike!

On a waste reduction note, new 'few use plastic' Ziploc bags will no longer be provided for your brevet card, though I will have some used ones. I do have some excellent EcoEco super strong perfectly sized bags made from 95% recycled material. £1.60 if selected when signing up, £2 cash on the day.

06/12/2023

It's that time of year to go and do something more nutty than the nuttiest roast! And as the bank holidays align I've extra large helpings on hand.

Kicking it off we have the Double Creamed 1000 - 16:00 27th Dec. This is made up of the following back to back. https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/double-creamed-1000/

Full Fat Festive 500 Pint 1 - also 16:00 27th Dec.
Up the Severn Valley to Ironbridge then on to Crewe. Back towards Shrewsbury to the centre of Wales and home. https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/full-fat-festive-500-pint-1/

Full Fat Festive 500 Pint 2 - Original - 06:00 29th Dec.
Through Oxford to Cambridge, back via Northampton, Vale of Evesham and Severn Valley. What will the weather bring this year? https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/full-fat-festive-500/

17/11/2023

2 upcoming events on Saturday 9th December from Bristol.

Levels, Lumps & Lions 200 - www.pedalution.co.uk/events/levels-lumps-lions-200/
The Wookies & Chewie 100 - https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/the-wookies-chewie-100/

Grab yourself an amazing cake and hot drink from The Bakehouse before you start. Then head off west over Clifton Suspension Bridge towards Clevedon. Level riding, with the odd lump, across The Levels to stop at Sweets Cafe.

The 100 then heads back to Bristol through The Wookies, over the Mendips and past Chew Lake.

200 continues into Dorset to Sturminster Newton. On the return pass though Longleat CAUTION - LIONS. Last stop at The Full Moon @ Rudge before the traffic free 2Tunnels & Bristol & Bath Railway Path back to the finish.

Fingers cross it isn't freezing like last year!

25/10/2023

A month to go before Moonrakers & Sunseekers 300 sets off for its 6th running and entries are almost at capacity.

Come join the fun with loads of others! Entry & full details: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/moonrakers-sunseekers-300/

Moonrakers become Sunseekers! Ride through the night under a full moon to the coast. Return via a few Dorset hills passing Glastonbury Tor, use the Strawberry Line to Bristol.

Plenty of cake through the night, breakfast at Poole and food at the finish included.

23/07/2023

Bairdy's Audax Club Bristol events are upcoming this weekend with a funky climb included! A few places still left on the 200, more on the 160.

Entry:
Rumble on the Tumble 160 - https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10286

Rollin & a Tumblin' 200 - https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10287

May see you there for the 200 😁

12/07/2023

Another brilliant video from this year's Bristol Glasgow Bristol 1600 - Randonneur brought to you by Neil Cocklin aka Diary of a Randonneur on youtube.

Prior to 2023 Bristol-Glasgow-Bristol only 17 riders had completed the distance of 1600km (over 1000 miles) and the elevation gain of over 26 000 meters (85,...

30/06/2023

A little video from Paul Jennings aka Saddlesore of his recent Bristol Glasgow Bristol 1600 - Randonneur adventure. Probably the best cycling vid out there. Expect a bit of swearing.

The Bristol-Glasgow-Bristol audax is a pig. Riders have seven days to cover a distance of 1600km (just over 1000 miles) and an elevation gain of 90,000+ feet...

18/06/2023

7 intrepid riders set off on the 3rd Bristol Glasgow Bristol 1600km via many and some in 7 days.

Bon courage!

26/02/2023

Railway Connections 300 route check done.

A Paris Brest Paris qualifying . Lots of flat and rolling sections with the odd for good measure.

Entry & full details: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/railway-connections-300/

A quick start from Warmley along the A420 at the crack of dawn with hardly a vehicle in sight. Through Wiltshire villages. A cheeky climb after Clyffe Pypard that I have yet not to walk on fixed. Pick up the Icknield Way running below The Ridgeway for some views of Uffington White Horse; the oldest of them all. Red kites will become abundant! Across the Vale of the White Horse for a blast into Didcot and the Railway Centre for some quick and filling grub; perhaps as a steam engine trundles by.
Back out over the Vale, across the Thames to Burford, the Gate to the Cotswolds. Pass through picturesque villages and Bourton on the Water as you climb to the north western edge with views of the Brecon Beacons on the horizon; drop down to Toddington Station & the Flag & Whistle Cafe that'll be open late for you.
Over the Severn; as the sun sets the Malverns will be silhouetted with the lights of Great Malvern twinkling in the distance. A cruise to Newent then a steady climb to Ross on Wye. Follow the river before climbing into the Forest of Dean.
Plans are afoot for one last evening hot drink stop at the GWR Museum in Colford before the cruise across the top. The lights of Thornbury, Bristol and little villages on the otherside of the estuary will catch your eye on the cracking descent to Chepstow; as will the castle all lit up.
Over the Severn Bridge; I may send you all on the south side just for the graffiti in the underpass.
Almost back, Fernhill to go then skim the edge of Bristol back to Warmley Waiting Room for hot drinks and cake.

20/02/2023

Shifty 200 route check done.

An easy 200km midweek BRM Paris Brest Paris qualifying audax for those unable to make a weekend.

A Shifty 200 | Wed 15 Mar 07:00 | Entry: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/a-shifty-200/
B Shifty 200 | Wed 26 Apr 07:00 | Entry: https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/b-shifty-200/

A flat start out to Yatton before following the northern edge of the Mendips. Some old railway lines in and out of old mill towns.
Halfway at Westbury you then travel along the edge of the Vale of Pewsey with views across, and also of the Salisbury Plain escarpment. Several White Horses can be spied.
Cross the Vale and climb Milk Hill for a wonderful descent into Marlborough passing sleeping sarcen stones at Lockeridge. Back out of Marlborough's Downs to descend Hackpen Hill passing another White Horse.
Into the Avon Valley, through Malmesbury before a gentle climb to the edge of the Cotswolds then drop back down to Brizzle.

30/01/2023

A bit of GWR fun.

All the lines from 1935, 100yrs after the formation of the GWR with Brunel's Paddington to Bristol line aka The Billiard Table.

Move your trains between stations. Collect, barter and steal cards to try and get full sets, then race back to Paddington. Think a game is going to take quite some time with 80 station cards in the deck!

29/12/2022

Before the crack of dawn riders from across the country assembled for the Full Fat Festive 500 to do the yearly challenge of riding to Cambridge and back and complete the Festive 500 challenge in one. Bon courage!

15/11/2022

Another Moonrakers & Sunseekers 300km update. Mike's vegan Lemon & Ginger cake stole the show usurping my flapjacks! Here's the recipe. It was so dense I had to saw through it and it took 2 of us to lift from the tray; Mike had actually already portioned it up but it had self amalgamated itself!

15/11/2022

Audax Club Bristol's resident photographer took some photos of riders at Lilliput Sea Scouts Hut, the breakfast control on Moonrakers & Sunseekers 300km

Here are some of the digitals. He also took a dozen on film, if you were one of those people give Fergus a nudge and he'll send you a copy once developed [email protected] or on Insta https://www.instagram.com/fergus_coyle/

11/11/2022

As I write this an amazing father & daughter are nearing the end of an epic walking adventure. So far they have walked from John O'Groats to Land's End and are combining that with the most northerly point, Dunnet Head, and will be finishing off at Lizard Point, the most southerly - a trick me and Red missed when we did LEJOG.

Check them out at Our Spectrum Adventures. Their photo.

27/08/2022

2 weeks left to enter my September 10th events from Bristol.

Granny's Cotswolds Telegram 160km - www.pedalution.co.uk/gwraudax/gct160
Slaughtered in the Cotswolds 200km - www.pedalution.co.uk/gwraudax/sitc200

Both starting from north Bristol they head to Wotton-under-Edge for the first proper climb of the day to take you over to the Stroud Valleys and The Ladder at Nailsworth. A quick stop @ Felt Cafe Brimscombe before over the hill you go once more and descend to the edge of Cheltenham.

Here the Grannies head back up top to Northleach to meet the retuning Slaughtered...

The 200 continues north stopping at Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway Toddington Station before through Broadway and back up onto the Cotswolds to Chipping Campden where you turn south along the rolling top of the edge and through picturesque villages including Lower Slaughter.

Pick up the Grannies at Northleach and continue across the rolling landscape before down to Nailsworth and back up over to Dursley.

I save the best to last as you will find out leaving this old mill town! Then an easy cruise back to the finish.

25/08/2022

I've just reopened entries for The Giant's Tooth 500km if anyone is interested in busting a gut it looks like it's going to be a good weekend for it. You have till noon tomorrow to sign up. Tarka dal at the start, breakfast at Steve's and a carb boost at the finish included.

Entry: www.pedalution.co.uk/gwraudax/gt500

10/07/2022

Plains, Trains no more Automobiles 200 - A Busman's Holiday

This event was the first 200 I organised back in 2017. It has had a couple of updates over the years now squeezing in a final control at an old station and finishing on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.

This year I got to ride it with everyone. It was fun. The Whistle Stop Cafe on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway was nice and quick. Ginny's at Boyton spot on as ever. And new for this year the Somerset & Dorset's Midsomer Norton Station ice-creamed me up ready for the last stint. Pub garden and pint at the Hollybush a deserving end to great day, well done all!

The weather was a bit too good for my liking, could have done with a thunderstorm in the afternoon 🥵

And I was cussing myself at points!