Windrush Winter Warm Down 157km Audax

Riders getting ready to leave Ashton Keynes 
(click once to enlarge the pictures)

I’m a bit of a sucker when it comes to sales talk. On Sunday 1^st February 2015, Cirencester Corinium CC staged two Audax rides, both starting from the sports pavilion at Ashton Keynes. The shorter of the two; the Windrush Winter Warm- Up over 108km was billed as a ‘beautiful and not difficult ride’, whereas the Windrush Winter Warm-Down, around a 157km course, was described as ‘slightly harder than the Warm-Up.’

I can manage ‘slightly harder’ and that’s how I came to take my place among the clutch of hardy souls who had gathered for the 8.00am start. The much depleted field was undoubtedly due to the possibility of ice with temperatures hovering around freezing point and the predicted strong winds.

Heading north into a very strong headwind I decided to try and conserve my energy for later use. There was the occasional frozen puddle, but the roads were dry and any potential hazard was easy to spot.  

After Bibury things started to get a bit lumpy, as the route followed the River Coln through the Coln Valley to its source near Brockhampton. Of some concern was that regardless of the ground I made, according to the fingerposts, I was somehow never more than 8 miles from Cirencester.

The hills and wind were definitely thwarting my progress and whilst I was enjoying the glorious Cotswold countryside, made all the more spectacular by the brilliant winter sunshine, the prospect of my missing the cut-off time at the first control, suddenly occurred to me.

The Orchard Tea Room at Hailes Abbey

It was with some relief that I came across the first signpost for Winchcombe. Sweeping down the steep descent into the picturesque town I arrived at Hailes Abbey with a bit of time in-hand, but not too much. Inside the control at the Orchard Tea Room were a handful of other riders including an exiled Chippenham Wheeler now living in Dorset. We all chatted amiably until those already fed drifted out leaving me and Drew Buck, a seasoned Audaxer from The Mendips, to enjoy our beans on toast.

Looking west from the top of the hill

Audax tends to be a world of extremes and challenges are often understated. The pre-ride information mentioned a ‘hard climb’ after the control, which outside of Audax normally means that it's the sort of climb best tackled with the aid of a Sherpa. The ascent, once conquered, afforded fine views across to the distant Malvern Hills.

With the wind now in our favour, it was a quick sprint on to the next control at Sherborne, just 26km away. Our route took us through the chocolate box tourist town of Bourton-on-the-Water and up to the curiously named Clapton-on-the-hill. Has Eric ever performed there, I wondered.

Sherborne Village Hall Social Club

One of the many things I treasure about Audax is that it provides a rare opportunity to sample a slice of a particular village’s life. I can’t think of any other circumstance in which I’d find myself drinking tea inside the delightful Sherborne Village Hall Social Club even though the notice swinging outside in the wind said ‘Visitors Welcome.’ The interior was from a bygone age, the only concession being a wide screen television. We shared this control with the ‘Warm-Uppers’ who were riding anti-clockwise.

The burst banks of the River Windrush

After Sherborne, still with the wind behind us, we followed the River Windrush with its willow tree lined banks to Burford and beyond. Gradually the roads levelled out and by the time we’d reached Witney and the next control at Stanton Harcourt, there wasn’t a hill in sight.

One rider wasn't taking any chances at Stanton Harcourt

Two others were just leaving when I arrived at Stanton Harcourt’s vast village hall. This had earlier been the first control for those on the ‘Warm-Up.’ Helpers were folding up the last of the trestle tables and sweeping the floor. With three DNF’s already reported, two with mechanical problems, our small troupe had whittled down to fifteen, of which I was now the penultimate rider. I was still made very welcome and after the solitude of riding solo, I enjoyed their company over a bowl of warm rice pudding, a cup of tea and some cake.

The final 45km was a fairly fast run over mostly flat roads. There was a flurry of snow on some high ground just before Fairford which, although not pitching on the ground, did begin to take shape on the back of my glove. 

With darkness having fallen, small pockets of water at the edge of the road began to glisten. Entering Ashton Keynes the inviting lights of the sports pavilion shone like a beacon of hope and guided me safely back. Once inside, the warmth and hospitality from those waiting for their flock to return was truly humbling.

After a cup of tea, some flapjack and far too many slices of lardy cake, I said my farewells and disappeared into the night reflecting on what had been a great ride. The organiser and his team were definitely the friendly faces of Audax UK. My first Winter Windrush, but certainly not my last.