Cotswold Outing audax.

On Sunday 14th June Mary Prior took part in her first Audax, a cycle touring event, the Cotswold Outing. Promoted by the Beacon RCC around 250 cyclists of all ages enjoyed the quiet lanes and pretty villages during a rather cold, cloudy day and were suitably ‘challenged’ by some of the hills en route. Starting at Kings Norton Rugby club the course headed south along the Worcs/Warwicks border to the first stop and checkpoint in the village hall at Welford on Avon - this bit was ridden at just under evens, ie 20mph, so pretty quick and we arrived bang on the earliest allowable time, so stopped for a quick tea as well. Then it was across the flattish roads to Honeybourne and Mickleton before a climb over the northern toe of the Cotswolds and turning north on a gradually lumpy section. The second stop and checkpoint was at Charlecote garden centre so this time it was tea and some food before setting off for the 3rd section. This climbs out of the Warwickshire plain in a series of short steps, the ups being longer than the downs, so an increasing amount of help was needed on the climbs. There's something about this course that always seems to feel like the final 5 miles will never end, however Mary completed the event (along with husband David Prior and eldest son Matthew Prior) covering the 69mls in just over 5 hours of riding and was her longest ride to date.

Next month Matthew is riding the Irish ‘End to End’, again as a solo cycle camper. He has previously completed the UK Lands End to John O’Groats, when it mostly rained; the Coast to Coast with myself, going from west to east via the Lake district and the Pennines, when it was freezing cold and snow on the hills; and his epic trans Australian ride from Perth to Sydney, when it was pretty hot.