Bank Holiday Monday Randonax Rides …. some ‘on the day’ tips!
This is an Audax Style event run through British Cycling by West London Cycling.
These rides are designed to be fun, we have sought out quiet roads with nice views and minimum traffic. Of course, there are some points where we have to traverse main roads, but we have minimised the impact. The trade off is that quieter the roads, the less shops, so we have highlighted on your Brevet Cards places where you could stop for water and food. Please ensure you stay hydrated. It may be worth carrying an energy bar and maybe a gel just in case you get hungry between the oases.
The challenge (Brevet) is to complete your Brevet Card (see picture above) by getting it stamped at the cafe controls by our helpers, and to answer a couple of questions at certain locations en-route (we’ve blanked out the questions in the picture, you’ll have to wait until the day to find out what they are). Once back at the start/finish HQ we’ll add the final stamp and present you with your finisher’s roundel.
There will be tea, coffee, cordial and cakes at the start and finish.
Our cafe stops should have vegetarian and glutton free options. However, whilst vegan options have been ordered, they are not certain about deliveries so please bear this in mind. Some vegetarian options may be adaptable, foe example by removing an egg etc
LIGHTS AND LOCKS
We strongly advise bringing a small cafe lock for your bike at the start and finish, and controls.
If you are riding the 200km and are likely to take 12 hours, please ensure you have lights as sunset is scheduled for 7.55pm.
GETTING TO THE START
Ruislip his quite easily accessible, particularly from the A40 at the Polish War Memorial Junction, Hillingdon Circus or Swakeleys Roundabout. There are some HS2 works on all three approaches but we suspect any delays would be minimal early in the day on a Bank Holiday.
From Central London take the A40 to the Ruislip turn off at the Polish War Memorial, turn right on the roundabout (3rd exit) into West End Road A4180. After a while, just after Ruislip Rugby Club you’ll reach a mini roundabout, take the right hand fork and go straight oner the lights after the railway bridge. Continue through Ruislip High Street until the mini roundabout at the end and turn right. Parking in St.Martins Approach car park is immediately on the first left turn and the church is on the right.
From the M1, M3, M4, M40 and M25. If you are on the M25 take the junction for the M40 towards Central London and Uxbridge (Junction 16) and if you are on the M40 continue towards Central London. The M40 then becomes the A40 and any of the next three exits can be used. We recommend the third one, Polish War Memorial which is immediately after Northolt Airport. You will know when you are at the airport as the streetlamps are shorter so that planes don’t snag them. Take the slip road and take the first exit, left, at the roundabout into West End Road A4180. After a while, just after Ruislip Rugby Club you’ll reach a mini roundabout, take the right hand fork and go straight oner the lights after the railway bridge. Continue through Ruislip High Street until the mini roundabout at the end and turn right. Parking in St.Martins Approach car park is immediately on the first left turn and the church is on the right.
As we say, you can use the previous two A40 exits via Ickenham and if you are coming from the north the M25 exit at Rickmansworth is also an option, through Rickmanswoth and Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood arriving in Ruislip at Duck’s Hill Road.
BY TRAIN.
Ruislip is served by The Chiltern Line from High Wycombe or London Marylebone as well as the Metropolitan, Piccadilly and Central Lines on the London Underground. You may take your bike on any part of the Metropolitan Line but can only take them from Barons Court outwards on the Piccadilly Line or White City outwards on the Central Line. Other lines through central London that allow bikes are the Overground, Elizabeth Line, District Line, Hammersmith and City Line and Central Line.
UPON ARRIVAL
St.Martin’s Church in Ruislip is at the North End of Ruislip High Street / the start of Eastcote Road HA4 8DG. The main entrance is on Eastcote Road with parking opposite in the free car park in St.Martin’s Approach or Street Parking. There is also an entrance by the roundabout where the two roads meet, opposite Café Rouge. The Church is actually hidden by buildings so is not particularly visible when approaching. Once beyond the buildings you will find yourself in a quiet Churchyard and the hall is behind the church.
On entering the hall you will be able to enjoy refreshments and pick up your Brevet Card.
THE START
The start will be from the Eastcote Road exit of the Churchyard. We will call out riders at 8am (200km), 8.30am (100km) and 9am (70km) and let you out on to Eastcote Road in batches as and when the road is clear, it’s a right turn.
THE ROUTE
Entrants have been sent a GPX file and a Route Sheet. We fully expect that all of you will navigate using the GPX file, this is natural. But we still urge you to print out the Route Sheet and bring it with you. This is your backup should your device fail.
Also, the GPX will not alert you to the control points. Please take time to memorise these from your Brevet Card (see picture) or the Route Sheet so that you don’t miss them. Stamp Controls and Info Control questions are proof that you did the route.
These are not races, they are distance challenges and are meant to be fun. Be sociable and chat to the other riders, ride with strangers, the cycling community has thrived on friendships forged on rides like these for years …. a shared experienced can be so much more fun.
CLIMBS
Ahh yes, the c-word; ‘climbs’!
Unless you live in the Fens, there will always be hills, get used to it. But we have made sure that all of these are what we like to think, are manageable. Put it this way, the average climbing in metres in the Chilterns is about 15% of the distance, so a 100km ride should have around 1,000m climbing. The 100km and 70km routes are around this average and the 200km route well under. Whilst Swyncombe Hill on the 200km route is the stand-out climb, it is not a beast. The lower section is slightly harder, but not impossible. However, the road gently climbs for quite a while before it really starts, so don’t over exert yourself between Ewelme and Swyncombe.
On the 100km route we have two beautiful climbs in Ivinghoe Beacon and Pedley Hill, just go up them steadily, they are best tackled by finding a suitable gear ratio early on and steadily spinning up them. A similar approach will suit Ruckler’s Lane towards the end of the ride. The 70km has a number of smaller climbs on popular local roads.
We hope you enjoy them as much as we, and our test riders, have whilst creating them.
CHOICE OF ROUTES AND DNFs
We have innovatively created a Brevet Card that caters for all three routes, so you can change your mind on the day or even before the first control. But if you do change routes, or abandon, please let us know so that controllers aren’t sitting around waiting hours for a rider no longer on their route.
CAFE CONTROLS
The owners of these cafes have kindly let us use their establishments for this event. They are popular cycle club destinations and help keep the area a vibrant cycling region. Please support them if you can by having something to drink and maybe a cake at their establishments. Please look out for our controllers, who will be at a table ready to stamp your card.
THE FINISH
Please stop and share stories of your ride with other cyclists, we’ll have refreshments ready waiting for you.
