A Reliability Ride event with 2 distances of 60km and 78km – a nice early season workout with a finisher’s roundel available for all finishers!
We have finalised the routes for the new Spring Reliability Rides coming your way from West London Cycling … an unconventional route designed for a winter ride, with your enjoyment. We won’t give the routes away yet, but the profile does appear on the flyer below and you’ll see that there is plenty of flat fast roads at the outset and it is rolling towards the end. The profile is of the 78km route, but we have added a 60km option which trims a bit off in both halves of the ride.
This will be an Audax style event, so you’ll get a Brevet Card which you’ll need to get stamped in Burnham Beeches and at the Rusty Bike Cafe finish, where all finishers will receive a Finisher’s Roundel/Sew On Patch
The start and finish are at the Rusty Bike Cafe in Fassnidge Park, Rockingham Parade, Uxbridge, UB8 2UW. If you are not riding to the start, there is pleanty of town centre parking (paying) or frequent trains on the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines to Uxbridge Station, a 5 minute ride away.
As this is an Audax Style event, you will need a device to navigate with, we will send all riders a GPX file during the week leading up to the event.
BEFORE THE RIDE
We will send out route GPX files, digital route sheets, instructions by email approximately one week before the event. You need to download the GPX files onto your bike computer (eg Wahoo, Garmin, Hammerhead, Bryton etc). This will be your navigation for the route, there will be no roadside signs. Please have a look at the manual routesheet, even if you don’t intend to use it, because it does highlight some aspects of thec route that are worth beng aware of. Garmin users can download using Garmin Connect whilst Wahoo users can upload via the phone app or by syncing with Strava / RWGPS etc.
YOU MAY CHOOSE TO DOWNLOAD BOTH ROUTES AS YOU CAN SWITCH ROUTES ON THE DAY.
Please check your bike, this is a Reliability Ride, let’s make sure our kit is reliable! Make sure your sealant is topped up if riding Tubeless Tyres, and bring a spare Inner Tube whatever tryres you are on!
GETTING THERE
BY BIKE – We are expecting a lot of local riders to ride to the start, you can enter Fassnidge Park from the Slogh Road via Rockingham Parade. There is another gate at the start of Oxford Road near the Town Centre Roundabout where it meets the Harefield Road. The cafe will be visible from the Oxford Road entrance, whilst from Rockingham Parade enter the park by the Recycle A Bike premises.
BY TRAIN – You can take your bike on any part of the Metropolitan Line, so you could pick it up anywhere from Aldgate, Kings Cross, Euston, Baker Street, Wembley, Harrow etc and travel to Uxbridge. The cafe is a 5 minute ride away. You can take your bike on the Piccadilly Line from Barons Court outwards … you may need to change to the Metropolitamn Line at Rayners Lane. Other possibilities are the Central Line to West Ruislip, or Elizabeth Line to West Drayton and then cycle to Uxbridge. There is a full guide to taking your bike on the tube via the link below.
TAKING YOUR BIKE ON THE TUBE GUIDE
BY CAR – Uxbridge is a shopping destination so has various car parks including the convenient Cedars Car Park or Grainges Car Park. It may prove expensive, although there are discounts if you are a resident of Hillingdon Borough. For non residents, up to 5 hours is £5.60, up to 8 hours is £8.60. It may be preferable to park further away and cycle a kilometre or so to the start.
AT THE START
We will issue you with a Brevet Card, Routesheet and Frame sticker. You just need to get the card stamped at the control point. There will be free instant coffee and basic tea but you can also buy food and more exotic beverage from the Rusty Bike Cafe.
DURING THE RIDE
You will navigate via the GPX file on your bike computer device. However, we will also provide a printed routesheet as a back up should you device fail etc.
Approximately half way though your ride you will reach the Burnham Beeches ECO Cafe (situated in Burnham Beeches). There will be a West London Cycling official at one of the tables, who will stamp your Brevet Card as proof of passage. This is crucial as you’ll need to show this at the finish in order to receive your Finisher’s Roundel.
Most of the roads are reasonable but there are rough parts and potholes, just like anywhere in the UK at this time of year. Some lanes may have standing water and puddles but our test rides have been okay, and these should not prove a severe hindrance.
This is a Reliability Ride so there is no support vehicle, if you have to give up, then you’ll have to make your own way back. There are railway stations at Iver – Sunnymeads/Wraysbury/Datchet -Langley/Slough/Burnham – Gerrads Cross but not directly on the route. Please use the contact number on the Brevet Card to inform us if you aren’t going to finish – it saves us waiting for you in vain.
AT THE FINISH
Upon your return, please head into the Rusty Bike Cafe where we will stamp your Brevet Card and present your Finisher’s Roundel. The cafe will be open for food and drinks to purchase … recommended fayre as our regular riders will attest!
There are loads of events happening in 2024, be part of the West London Scene
