Audax rides

Anyone know if something changed at Waddesdon Manor? I must've ridden through there 10x in the past on Boat Trips but this time we had a security guy follow us and when I stopped to let him pass he said "you know you're on private property yada yada". He let us continue the normal way, but does this mean BBC600 and Boat Trip are not feasible routes now or did people have tickets for this place in the past or what?

I rode this 2-3 years ago and remember a locked electronic gate on the estate that I only got through as I tailgated a Range Rover through it.

Someone did shout something about needing a grounds ticket but I'd just read Nick Hayes Book of Trespass and ignored them

Keen to hear of people’s Easter Arrow tales if anyone would like to share.

I've always just gone through the ped gates on the sides. Didn't think anything of it.

I think half my RRTY rides in 2016 were Boat Trip Perm that goes through there.

It's been like that since 2020.

https://www.amershamrcc.com/eythrope-park-restricted-access-1st-june-2020/

Was a (mostly) fun experience! I had my moment of doubt in a maccies at 1am, was ready to move in and call it home but ended up carrying on. I was lucky enough to be riding with some great pals which made it all the better and kept eachother going. We had a pretty dreamy tailwind to carry us all the way, did not envy those going north to south!

I mapped out a route taking snippets from a number of other audaxes with a lot of chunks from LEL. Made for a super nice route and worked in the luxury of 2 well positioned 24hr McDonalds for somewhere to warm up as our overnight controls at 300 and 380km.

I had seemingly endless bikes issues though. An early puncture followed up by a big slice in my sidewall. Took 4 attempts over 50km to find the correct combination of bits of cardboard, £5 note, sweet wrappers and plastic to make it hold. My rear gear cable then snapped at 160km which I didn't have a spare. Didn't want to hold up the group again so spent the next 40km in the 11t. At the next stop I was able to do a pretty horrific but functional bodge to get the derailleur to stay mid cassette which actually held quite well. However, a while later while stood outside a Spar in Louth at 9pm a guy came up to asking if we were on an audax as he always comes out to watch LEL pass through. 5 minutes later we end up in his back garden taking apart a road bike he recently bought off Facebook marketplace to try salvage some parts for mine. His family were so lovely inviting us in for teas and biscuits while I faffed on trying to fix my bike to no avail. I did however manage to make a more secure fix and was able to use the two front chainrings and the 23t at the back which worked out kind of manageable for the route. Thanks Greg if you ever see this, an absolute hero!!

Poorly timed trains home did mean a 4 hour layover in the spoons at the finish but was fun to sit and watch as all the other groups filtered in, some looking way too fresh after 24 hours on a bike

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Sounds like fun and chapeau for completing it!

Amazing that that guy came over to offer help. Sounds like it may have been tough work in the 11t otherwise.

Gabi said that she thought she spotted you at the end. Not sure if she chatted to you? Think her and her team were pretty burst after the constant headwind from Edinburgh. They seemed to have had fun as well even though betting back was also a bit of a faff due to delayed trains.

We went south to north and so with a raging tailwind had like 150 miles of ChatLaps chill at 31kph. I was instructed to up my gearing to 74gi which saved my ride. Major night demons for me due to horrendous week in the run up but battled through at 5am with Costa mocha.

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Ah yes, spotted her roll in not long after us! Great effort from her and the team to make it

@youramericanlover - shame you guys had to head straight off, was looking forward to a sleep deprived catch up over a spoons breakfast

Yeah we had pre-booked trains so had to dash . There were a variety of opaque train delays as well so it remained logistical until the final moments. Well done overcoming your mechanicals! 💪

Always fancied the Arrow, there's a badge that includes it isn't there?

I think it might be one I go for next year, only others I've not got are the daft ones like 10x rrty which isn't likely to happen.

I was saying to someone on this very ride that with a bit of organisation and a badge at the end people will do just about anything

Great work - super impressed you finished!

Hmm, I don't remember any mention of tickets when doing any audaxes through there. Looks like I've been through at least 8 times previously with no one bothering me. I'll ask the orgs if I do any of the events again.

Oh 2020, I thought you'd written 2000. Ok, so most of my passes were much earlier.

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Those stories make for the most memorable rides. :)

Anyone travelling from Glasgow to Nairn this weekend for the 200?

Anyone know if something changed at Waddesdon Manor?

Yes, they stopped letting people ride through on their roads and made you use the public footpath, about 2 or 3 years ago.

I got caught by this doing the audax from Ruislip to Oxford, whatever it's called, in 2021. Instead of bowling down the path you had to ride down the side of a field then carry bike over a style what was overgrown with bushes.

This wasn't a major drama for most riders but I was on a tandem with a blind stoker which made it a bit tricky. Not been back that way since.

Yeah, the security guy said "you're supposed to use a foopath but it's underwater so you probably wouldn't make it through on those"

I talked him in to letting us continue and he seemed fine about it. Another staff member didn't say anything earlier on but perhaps I wasn't at the private bit at that stage.

I just need to remember to go around in future. LOL200, BBC600 and Boat Trip 200 all used that road.

It appears they’ve just cut that whole section out of the Steam Ride (LOL200) route now
I just checked my 2023 Strava

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Aha, that would make sense. Looking at my files, I've not ridden through it since before the ban so I had no idea.

Newish to audax...
Oasts and Coasts next week I can only get the first train to Meopham arriving at 6:30-7ish, event starts at 6. This shouldn't be an issue should it?

Everyone else will set off at 6, so a fair chance the organiser will have gone back to bed by 6:30. If you ask nicely in advance they might be able to hide your brevet card somewhere near the start for you to collect.

(I rode out there when I did it, which was not unpleasant compared to riding through SE London in the daytime)

Email Tom Jackson and let him know. There is probably someone not riding who will give you your card.

Edit: @youramericanlover did this and can probably give more info.

The organiser usually rides the event.

You should be fine! Just drop Tom an email.

@ElGonzo asked this I believe and he said this was fine to do, you just might miss the stampers at Farningham and have to take a photo instead. The final time cut off will be the same but also shouldn't be an issue