Audax rides

The last section from Longridge is very tiring but thats not the problem its the weather! It's held on what for some reason usually turns out to be one of the coldest miserable days of the year (but don't let that put you of!)
In the past you've been able to enter on the day so if you're local then you can decide on the day, or even ride the 100.
I normally ride the 200 as a DIY a couple of times a year when the weathers better, then it's a cracking ride

The real problem with the North West Passage is the route sheet. Despite being offered a fully updated routesheet in a fairly standard audax format, the organising club seem keen to stick with the original sheet which is now out of date and likely to cause some misdirection to new users. There will likely be a thread raised on YACF where you might be able to beg the new version there as the author is on there.