Gorilla's Grand Day Out Audax

Translations of audax:

adjective

bold, audacious, daring.

KEY INFORMATION:

When - June 10th, 2023 - From 7 am (Cafe opens at 7:30 pm) to be finished no later than 7:30 pm.

Where - Gorilla Coffee Cafe, the lanes of Leicestershire and back to the cafe.

What - 208km approx. 1650m ascent.

Cost - £10 - Pay on the day

What is included - free cafeteria coffee, your brevet card, a plate of hot food, and an embroidered patch for finishers.

Audaxs are generally a big day out. They normally start at 200km and go up in 100km increments. It is normally as much a test of the mind as it is a test of the legs. For some this will be your longest ride of the year, for some your longest ride ever, whilst for others it might merely be a stepping stone to other challenges. Whatever category you fall into, the event will give an opportunity for a great day out on the bike, culminating in a few beers, some food, and a chance to swap stories of the day back at HQ. Whilst the Gorilla's Grand Day out will not be an officially sanctioned Audax event (not this year anyway), the event will encompass the spirit of Audax and ask you to observe almost all the same rules. There will be a minimum speed of 16.6kph (12.5 hours) but no customary maximum speed of 30kph, which may only be a relief for very few… (I’m looking at you Kev!). There is a suggested route, but this is not mandatory, as long as you pass through the mandatory control points obtaining your “proof of passage” as you do so. You will add these to your brevet card that you will receive on the morning of the event. Proof of passage can take several forms. For this particular ride we will be using “Information controls” – you’ll be asked a question about something on route that you will have to write the answer in your card, and “General Controls” which may take the form of a stamp in your card or you needing to obtain a receipt from a specific location. Your brevet card and pre-ride briefing will give you all the details so don’t worry about that for now.

Our route takes us east away from Birmingham, passing the cyclist's monument at Meridian and continuing north of Coventry into the rolling farmland of south Leicestershire. You will pass through Ullesthorpe where you can make a pitstop at the village shop and note the answer for the first information control. On through picturesque and quiet lanes, you will meander your way to Tugby and Café Vonteux, our destination for the day. As a specialist cycling café they will be happy to welcome you for lunch at the halfway point, where you will obtain your 2nd proof of passage... Get a receipt and tuck it in your pocket. After availing yourself of the culinary delights, JB and I can recommend the fish and chips, you will briefly head south before turning east and passing through the bustling market town of Market Harbour.

I believe this is the only opportunity for a Greggs stop on the entire route! Clearly the product of poor planning on my part, but it is what it is. At Bitteswell you will need to once again answer a question for the 3rd control of the day. You may want to stop here for some “light refreshment” or press on, the choice is yours. After crossing the M6 we skirt the southern edge of Coventry, before passing through Warwick University and onto familiar roads back to the café or arrivée as randonneurs would call it, to get your card stamped for the final time.

The route uses mostly quiet roads and avoids cities, towns and A roads as much as possible. As already mentioned you don’t have to stick to the suggested route, (as long as you pass through all the control points) but we believe we have chosen the best options for a pleasant ride, even if it isn’t always quite the shortest option. The condition of the roads are generally good, far better than the roads of Shropshire for example. There is one very small section of gravel, but before all you “summer bike primadonnas” start cursing my name, it really is the width of a wide pavement at the end of a dead end that avoids a detour on a potentially busy A-road.

The entrance fee is £10 (payable on the day, cash only) which covers; free cafeteria coffee in the morning, your brevet card – always a great souvenir of your day out, an embroidered patch for all those that finish in time with a completed card, and a plate of hot food at the end (veggie options available), no doubt needed after a long day turning the peddles. Any profits will go to this years’ chosen club charity.

For those who are really keen to get off early and make full use of the time limit, Bruno and I will be at the cafe from 7 am to give out cards, however, the cafe will not be open until 7:30 am if you want a coffee before you ride out. The cafe will be open until 7:30 pm, the final finishing time, but if you want your finishing food you will really need to be back for no later than 7 pm. The route will be made available approximately one week before the event.