FAST TIMES IN HIGH WEALD - AUDAX No. 2 DONE

It’s 7.40am as we roll into the registration and start point for the Fast Times in the High Weald Audax. It’s situated at the South London Scout Centre in Dulwich and there are already a few riders knocking around waiting to get their Brevet card, or for the modern folk, scan the QR code for their E-Brevet.

FAST TIMES IN THE HIGH WEALD AUDAX REGISTRATION

I love all aspects of cycling, from short bimbles, to bikepacking, to sportives. You meet all sorts on every type of ride. So when a pal said he’d signed up to do an audax a couple of weeks back, I said I’d join him to check out the vibe - it seemed, to me, the riders who did ‘audaxes’ looked like the sort of people I’d like to have a pint with. So we did The Shark 200km Audax, and whilst fearing I had bitten off more than I could chew, we made it back and that was that….let’s sign up for another.

So Fast Times in the High Weald was Audax number two. 208kms with 3200m of elevation. Promising one of the finest medieval landscapes in the UK with the ride leaving Dulwich, heading east to take in the Knatt's Valley before turning south into the High Weald. And then back again.

For those who haven’t done an Audax, it’s a completely different type of organised ride. Old school and new school at the same time (which is the same ethos we have at Crank&Watt). With riders of all ages and gender, bikes of all types and village hall control points to check into (and eat at). Plenty of club riders mixed with solo types (I was told the guy who started Paris-Brest-Paris joined us), all chatty, all willing to offer a wheel when you’re in a dark place, audaxes are definitely something I’m going to continue doing. There’s admin involved (we missed the first control, see pic, due to being overwhelmed with the beautiful countryside we were riding through) which means you have to ride with care and also stop. Which is good. 8 control points on this one, meaning you had to keep a clear mind, especially after 160kms when brain fatigue can set in.

FTITHW didn’t disappoint on the route. It was what was promised. There are few headline climbs but the elevation soon starts to mount up as you enter the undulating landscape of wooded hills, duck ponds, roast houses and tile-hung villages of the Weald itself. Passing through Rudyard Kipling country the route turns west at Battle, then heading north across The Ashdown Forest at Uckfield. You drift between different groups and riders over that distance. So it was nice to catch up with Chris with about 50kms to go, who is in training for Paris-Brest-Paris 2027. It’s a welcome distraction to draft and chat, helping the kms tick by. Somehow I managed a PB on Hogtough Hill on the way back (for those who know it). Which meant I’d eaten and drank well throughout the ride (including the petrol station steak bake!). It puts things in perspective that’s for sure. On paper you can look at a distance and go ‘I can manage that’. The reality on the road is quite different.

So it was 100% great practice for Chase the Sun Coast to Coast 330km ride in June. Bring it on. 😉