Heart of England 300 2025

Ride Details

Series 6a Super Randonneur 2024-25, Ride number 3

Ride Stats

Ride Notes

This was second time at this event. As per last year I stayed in Cirencester and was at the départ ready for the off (after the obligatory tea and toast). Unlike last year I as riding the CAADX as the Sabbath has mechanical issues.

The weather was fine, dry and chilly in the Cotswold Hills and I tried to get my head up to take in the views and chocolate box villages. On the descent just after Broadway Castle I was passed by several chaps in a group. This proved fortunate as I was able to hold their wheels for a fast run, with a tail wind, to the first control at Alcester. After a bacon butty, and stashing the gilet, arm warmers and full gloves, I was quickly on my way and was able to keep with another group for most of the way to control #2 in Atherstone - this was in the market square and, as the pictures show, was lovely for a sit down, a cuppa and a chat with some of the other riders in the warm sunshine. As with all Audaxes, the camaraderie is great on the road and at the controls.

Section #3 to Daventry was quite hard as it was pretty warm and there was quite a strong easterly head wind - after 60km of riding I decided to stop at a Co-Op for water and hooked up with Ian who’d had the same idea. The town centre at Daventry was busy with a Saturday market, but the café control (a different one from last year) afforded the opportunity for a Bacon and Brie panini which I was careful not to wolf down given the upcoming climbing. Control #4 is 50-odd km but the route is nice and quite sheltered from the wind and I managed to get going, especially on the new roads diverting us around the HS2 contrustion site… smooth tarmac is great when you are tired! After stopping for a drink and some nuts (well, it warked last year) I headed out into the increasingly grey and cold evening. After about 5km I realised I hadn’t hooked up the battery pack to the front light (no dynamo on the CADDX) so took a roadside stop to sort this, and put on my gilet, before it got dark.

The darkness closed in as I passed through Witney and I was alone on the road. Brize Norton came and went but, about 5km from the finish I was passed by a couple of guys - while I was tempted to try to hook up with them for a tow, I decided to let them go (actually my legs made the decision!) and rolled into the Arrivée on my own.

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