Open 100k Audax - ‘The Flapjack’

Riders await the start

Almost 150 riders take part in endurance ride.

Sunday 7th February 2010 saw Chippenham and District Wheelers hold their annual Open 100km Audax cycling event. Almost 150 riders rode the course in mild conditions around the lanes of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. As per tradition, rest stops provided many varieties of excellent homemade flapjack hence the event name.

Audax is latin for ‘courageous’ and was first used in 1904 in France where this type of event was developed. Audax rides are not races (remember that). Everyone rides to their own limitations and the primary objective is just to ‘get round’. There are maximum and minimum time limits, which are designed to suit everyone from the fittest of recreational riders to more occasional riders who have plenty of determination. Routes tend to be on quiet country lanes. Distances can be from 50km to over 1000km.

Sunday's route started with a few steep climbs including Wick Hill and Spirthill near Chippenham. After passing Lyneham the first control and opportunity to eat flapjack or cake was at Brinkworth. The second stint took riders through Minety, Somerford Keynes and Ewen before a well-earned lunch of beans on toast at Kemble Village Hall. Those with a beans allergy could enjoy flapjack on toast.

The route then continued on the west side of the A429, through heavily potholed lanes near Cherington and then Westonbirt before the final rest stop at Sherston. By now, the few that didn’t initially realise were convinced that ‘Fletcher Flapjack’ provided almost unlimited amounts of energy. With less than 20 miles to go, the first snowdrops of the year were sighted near Grittleton. The last leg continued through Castle Combe village and Ford and a sting-in-the-tail climb up to Slaughterford and Biddestone. The finish was back at the Club HQ in Chippenham, where soup and rolls were most welcome.

One of the star riders of the day was Lewis Revill who celebrated his 12th birthday. Lewis rode the full route leading around his father Alex, both arriving amongst the early finishers. A fantastic achievement and well done (and happy birthday) Lewis!

Many cyclists from around the region had entered the event. A rider from Frome Cycling Club, when asked how he had heard of the event replied “My cycling friends recommended I come along. They told me it was the only endurance cycling event they had experienced where, because of the vast amounts of food, you went home heavier than when you started!”

Wheelers Club Chairman Andy Cook commented “After many volunteers have put in so much effort to make the day a success we were delighted with the large number of riders that took part on the day. We had some excellent feedback from those taking part and we look forward to running the Flapjack again next year”.

Details of future Audax events can be found on this web site under the diary section.