Reviews

My first Audax, a really good route, well organised with well thought out controls. Lucky with the weather, highly recommend. Great fun.

What an incredible route with beautifully brutal climbs, brilliant scenery and an epic feat of endurance. Myself and a friend took it on as we were keen of the medal for our collection. What I remember from all those months ago:

• Very well organised, with complimentary breakfast early doors, and friendly faces at several check points.

• A number of the published ‘Greatest Climbs’ en route

• Volunteers waiting a good few extra minutes for us at the top of the mighty Gold Hill

• An unforgettable pedal through the disused railway lines almost home and dry in Bath

• The view looking back to the coastline on the image above

• Will kindly waiting up for us in the early hours as we rolled in after the PBP cut-off time

…and then there’s our stats: 9,403 calories, 4951m of elevation gain, Bristol-Weymouth-Bristol, start time 6AM, finish time 2:38AM.

Well done Will! What a great January ride. Covered much of the country I knew on many roads that I had never ridden before. The ride up Cheddar Gorge in the dark really was a highlight. I also loved the glimpse I had of all the riders coming down the Bristol Bath cycle track with their front lights on – quite magical. Did 220km in all including two and from the car. It was my first Audax and I enjoyed every minute (even the final climb up to Queen Charlton). I will be riding the Chalke and Cheese next year and will try to get more of my club mates to join me.

An awesome ride but took me a good couple of hours longer than my usual 300k time. The ride down a Portland to the Lighthouse was amazing all be it there was a gratuitous hill on the way. The stage via Burton Bradstock was deceptively hilly and I bottled out of riding up Gold Hill as it was lethal on wet cobbles! Riding across the Longleat Estate at dusk was amazing. The cycle path and tunnels were exciting although I wish I’d got there before dark and the final climb up Lansdown Lane almost finished me off. I lost my way coming into BrIstol so local knowledge may help. The Dahl at the end was scrummy. A really challenging and varied route with amazing scenery and landscapes but possibly one of the hardest 300s I’ve done. But in a good way.

My first PBP qualifier, so had to complete in time.

I didn’t use a Garmin and used the very detailed route sheet instead. Very well thought out route and quite a challenge so early in the season. Finished with time to spare… just!

Will do again if personal timetable permits.

I really enjoyed this event, stops were well chosen and route was challenging enough, especially for a January ride.

The only thing I would change is using the Cycle path. I found it uncomfortable that many riders with flashing lights in a narrow path. I felt sorry for those riding in the opposite direction. I know plenty of alternative routes via the north or south of the path as it is part of my commute from Trowbridge to North Bristol

Keep up the good work

Lovely to ride roads with little traffic.Great way to see the Christmas lights.Great way to a good midweek ride in.Low key but great organisation

Great route, plenty of ‘Will’s Hills’ and excellent controls. Beautiful countryside to ride through on quiet roads. Very much recommended – I will be doing it again.

Excellent choice of start, plenty of parking and refreshments in the cafe. A picturesque ride with “interesting” climbs, the one up to Alfred’s tower just keeps giving! First stop in Wells market place, with lots of stalls selling local produce. The Red Lion does an “Audax special” express menu of jacket potatoes with various filling, the chilli is excellent. Colliers way railway path is always a pleasant respite from the hills, of which there are more to test the legs before arriving back at the garden centre.

A nice fast blast out to the first control, then many good hills thereon!

Gorgeous scenery throughout the ride, and really well placed sleep options.