The Sunrise & Snowdrop Express 2014
Philip Whiteman
Posts: 470
THE SUNRISE AND SNOWDROP EXPRESS
22nd February 2014
This event is February's most popular audax and one of the largest Brevet Populaire audaxes in the UK. Already, well over half of the 240 available places are sold. So if you intend to enter then please do not leave it too late. It will be sold-out within coming weeks.
Cafe Controls
- START: GHQ Whitlenge, Hartlebury (nr Kidderminster)
- Upton-Upon-Severn (45km)
- Evesham (77km)
- FINISH: GHQ Whitlenge, Hartlebury (123km)
The Routes
The two rides pass clockwise and anticlockwise around Worcestershire. The official route primarily uses quiet country lanes but if icy conditions prevail, there is also a route using gritted roads.
The People
Many an audaxer has announced that the Express audaxes were their first event prior to taking up serious audaxing. The event attracts are whole array of participants from the experienced audax fraternity to elite time trialists, club riders or individuals wanting a day out along local country lanes. It is an event inclusive to all. Quite a few experienced audax riders have claimed that they were introduced to audaxing via the Sunrise and Snowdrop Express.
Features
- Quiet country lanes
- Dedicated webpages - http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/express/events.html
- Dedicated Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/expressaudax/
- Low entry fee (£5.75 for CTC AUK member or £7.75 others)
- Paypal Entry
- GPX downloads
- Clear route cards
- Extremely grumpy control staff in the true tradition of audax
- Food available to purchase at Upton and Evesham
- Bread pudding the size which is big enough to sink a battleship, available at Evesham
- Free Food vouchers at GHQ
- Full breakfast available to purchase for early arrivals
Overall, there is always a good atmosphere with a positive sense of camaraderie. Any miseries will be strictly instructed by the controllers to enjoy themselves. The route is not undulating and not overly hilly but many riders report the rides as quite challenging given the time of year and prevailing weather conditions - but feel a sense of well-being and achievement.
Regards
Philip Whiteman
Organiser
On behalf of the Beacon Roads Cycling Club
22nd February 2014
This event is February's most popular audax and one of the largest Brevet Populaire audaxes in the UK. Already, well over half of the 240 available places are sold. So if you intend to enter then please do not leave it too late. It will be sold-out within coming weeks.
Cafe Controls
- START: GHQ Whitlenge, Hartlebury (nr Kidderminster)
- Upton-Upon-Severn (45km)
- Evesham (77km)
- FINISH: GHQ Whitlenge, Hartlebury (123km)
The Routes
The two rides pass clockwise and anticlockwise around Worcestershire. The official route primarily uses quiet country lanes but if icy conditions prevail, there is also a route using gritted roads.
The People
Many an audaxer has announced that the Express audaxes were their first event prior to taking up serious audaxing. The event attracts are whole array of participants from the experienced audax fraternity to elite time trialists, club riders or individuals wanting a day out along local country lanes. It is an event inclusive to all. Quite a few experienced audax riders have claimed that they were introduced to audaxing via the Sunrise and Snowdrop Express.
Features
- Quiet country lanes
- Dedicated webpages - http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/express/events.html
- Dedicated Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/expressaudax/
- Low entry fee (£5.75 for CTC AUK member or £7.75 others)
- Paypal Entry
- GPX downloads
- Clear route cards
- Extremely grumpy control staff in the true tradition of audax
- Food available to purchase at Upton and Evesham
- Bread pudding the size which is big enough to sink a battleship, available at Evesham
- Free Food vouchers at GHQ
- Full breakfast available to purchase for early arrivals
Overall, there is always a good atmosphere with a positive sense of camaraderie. Any miseries will be strictly instructed by the controllers to enjoy themselves. The route is not undulating and not overly hilly but many riders report the rides as quite challenging given the time of year and prevailing weather conditions - but feel a sense of well-being and achievement.
Regards
Philip Whiteman
Organiser
On behalf of the Beacon Roads Cycling Club
0
Comments
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This event should carry a health warning !! causes potential addiction to Audaxing
After a very cold and foggy Snowdrop got caught up into the Audax snare with subsequent 200, 300 and 400 rides last year ---and planning even more for 2014.
Great event though and a good reason to ride 120km in February bleakness !!0 -
Did this event this year - nice ride and lovely cafe at the end doing beans on toast and cup of tea. Recommended!0
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This was my first ever audax too! It may not reach the 200km length like most audaxes but it certainly one of the best audax events in the UK. The Beacon Cycling Club lay on a real sense of 'event' that far surpasses most other audaxes or sportives.0
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With record entries for the 2014 event, only a handful of vacancies remain on the Snowdrop Express (9am start). Who said audax isn't popular?0
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I rode this yesterday and can recommend it as a thoroughly enjoyable early year event. The organisation was top-notch, with Philip issuing updates as the flood situation developed so that we had a set of comprehensive set of routes to meet various flood scenarios and icy conditions.
Add in a great starting point with good food on tap, and two cycle-friendly cake stops (more good food) and it made for a very enjoyable Saturday ride (apart from the two p******** I suffered
).
Highly recommended.Purveyor of "up"0 -
If you have ever doubted the worth of audaxes and seen them as cheap and unprofessional, this event will destroy any previous prejudice. Yes it is cheap (£7.75) but it was certainly not unprofessional. A great day, on great routes with great fellow cyclists.
Wiggle and Evans watch out, if this event is anything to judge by, you are going to be in trouble.
Many thanks to the Beacon0 -
+++1 to both above--Philip even managed to sort the weather and despite all gales, floods etc the very laney route was a joy to ride Upton On (In) Severn was spectacular with flood waters extensive, daffodils and cherry blossom out in teh sunshine, and some really lovely villages. A brisk headwind first 60 km then was a great tailwind back to the finish. Top marks event---no wonder it sold out quickly. 0
