Summary
Where
Bakehouse @ Cakesmiths
St Philips Road
Bristol, BS2 0JZ
Who
Organiser: Will Pomeroy
What
Series: Great Western Randonnées
Brief
A great qualifier for Paris Brest Paris. With a late start to mimic PBP and get you used to riding through the first night. You’ll get to Paddington in the early hours.
Event Info
£0.00
Audax Awards
400
409 km
15-30 kph
27h00
2955m
Facilities
Hover for brief, click for full overview.
Overview
The Paddington Express 400 is inspired by Brunel's Billiard Table because of the lack of gradients; this is the GWR mainline between Bristol & Paddington Station.
Description
From Bristol you'll make a bee line to the Whistlestop Cafe @ Blunsdon Station for the first control. Then into the Vale of the White Horse. Cross The Thames, climb over the Chilterns and pass Brunel's Sounding Arch at Maidenhead then Windsor Castle (is he in?) for a run into London.
Return along parts of the later mainline from Paddington to Exeter and on as used by the Cornish Riviera Express. First leave London through Staines in the dark then along Nine Mile Drive with an early morning stop for beans on toast.
Continue west into the Kennet Valley and track the Kennet & Avon Canal where Great Bedwyn PO & Stores will be open fro 05:00 for hot drinks, buns and other provisions before into the Vale of Pewsey. Hop over the Wessex Downs, pass through Lacock and descend Box Hill passing Box Hill Tunnel's western portal before back through Bath to the Arrivee.
Reviews
What others think.
Brilliant
Great route and impeccable organisation. The marmalade sandwiches at Paddington were brilliant. The welcome at all the checks were very much appreciated …. Especially the beans on toast in the middle of the night. Highly recommend these events 🙂
Not my cup of tea
There was a long stretch of very busy roads with too many traffic lights coming to London that I hate it. I did enjoy the first part, probably because it was daylight?
Response from Pedalution
Quieter route in but longer for the future
Great night out
What a great night out!
Fast start, keep your wits about you in the unfamiliar bustling throngs of the big smoke, before dawn and a return to the rolling west. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
A unique feel to an Audax and helped get me to PBP. After this ride I’ll always keep an eye out for more of Will’s routes
Quirky fun
Such a characterful and interesting ride. Loved the concept and gives you a different experience to the normal audax event. Riding into London in the middle of the night is bizarre, and seeing the last train to Bristol leaving from Paddington as you arrive is a little tempting 🙂 Starting in the afternoon was great for me coming down to Bristol from further afield and made getting back easier too.
2019
Excellent event
More Events
Loading events…
Booked through Pedalution before?
You know the drill, log in!
First time here? An account will be created for you as you check out.
First time here? No need to log in, just enter an event and an account will be created for you!
Contact the organiser
A quick check to keep spam away, then your email app opens with this event filled in.
