Article by: John Mitchelmore
“Axle deep floods” had prevented me from completing a Super Randonner (SR) Series in 2007 and as a result I was unable compete in the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) which runs every 4 years and fell on 20th August 2008.
An SR Series is a collection of Audax rides done in the same year and must be at least a 200km, a 300km, a 400km and a 600km – twice previously I had failed at the 600k stage. I had decided not to attempt another SR Series unless things went a little or a lot better both health-wise and weather-wise.
Problem #1 was - illness had struck deep in August 2007 when I arrived in Plymouth hospital after a seizure. I don’t know how I got there or what happened but, when I woke up in the acute assessment ward surrounded by beautiful military nurses I realised something was wrong; had I died and gone to heaven?
I was told the seizure was probably due to a brain injury I sustained either when I was knocked off my bike in France 2001 or when I was assaulted in Derby station 2006. Afterwards I lay off heavy training and took most rides steadily for the time being. I was now on anti-convulsion medication.
Another seizure in February 2008 really shook me up. I looked more closely at my lifestyle and change my drinking and eating habits.
The Elenith – 300Km
It was late March 2008, Richard B and myself, decided to do the Stevenage Start of the Summertime Specials 115k Audax. It was obvious then that the improvements in my lifestyle were improving my cycling. I felt I was whizzing along on a breeze and completed the ride easily. I felt great, so great I decided to do another ride a couple of weeks later; The Elenith – a 300k Audax from Wolverly near Kidderminster through the beautiful Elan Valley in Wales and Back. I had done it 3 times previously, it was one of my favourite rides.
The Elanith - Towards the Devil's Staircase, with Jim and Mark
I camped near the start of the Elenith in Wolverly and met up with friends, Jim Crew and Mark Grey of Derby Mercury. We started the Elenith together at 7am on a cold draughty morning in early April, with about 100 other entrants. I went well at first, but pushed a bit too hard wearing myself out towards the end. We returned together after about 18 hours at nearly 1am the following day. We decided to take a quick knap in the hall before departing. However, I awoke at 5am to an Alpine Scene realising that somewhere under the snow was my tent... all was not well.
The Alpine scene the day after The Elanith - "Where's my tent?"
Moors and Wolds - 400Km
It was 2 months before I decided to do another long distance Audax, a 400k this time. Called the "Moors and Wolds" it was organised by my friends in Alfreton. I rode the 50 miles there and back completing over 310 miles (500Km) that day. It was then that I thought about attempting another 600k. It would be another 60 miles (100Km) more than I achieved that day; my confidence was up, I felt this time - I could do it.
Midland Super Grimper - 300Km
The next ride I was set up to do was the Midland Super Grimper a very hilly 300k Audax
– with over 5000 meters of climbing - on the 28th June.
It would cross all the Peak District from Sutton Coldfield to Holmfirth and back. I was going to organise an event like this myself but when I heard about this - a new - event in the 2008 Audax calendar, I didn’t see the need for two.
I cycled to 45 miles to the start and some of the way home afterwards.
Offas Dyke - 600Km
Now I had done two 300k Audaxes and one 400k. What I needed to do now, was what I hadn’t been able to do before, a 600k - - - then I would be Super Randonner!
After organising my own Audaxes the China Run and the China Tea Pot -thanks, they did very well. Thank you very much Richard B for all your help: driving me around, helping with the shopping and serving tea and coffee - I decided to do the Offas Dyke another very hilly Audax on the 2nd August. It was a 600k and nearly 9000 meters of climbing; could it be the one?
I took the train to Shrewsbury, near where the ride would start from. The ride would take a figure of eight coming back to the start for refreshments and sleep before departing again for the second stage. I started with the other 28 riders at 5am. I went slowly reserving my energy for later. I did quite well though, arriving well within time at the first control at Hay-on-Wye. So, let's pop over the Black Mountains to Chepstow then for the next stop. On my way up to the top I caught up with Dafidd, a big Welsh ex rugby player. I kept with him as he wasn’t too slow and eventually we were joined by Steve and Mark from my home county of Devon. We stayed together for the 3rd stage back to Hay-on-Wye this time passing Tintern Abbey and going through Monmouth then across the Black Mountains, again! It wasn’t so bad this time as it was at night and we couldn’t see the hills. I split up from the group as I was still tired having not slept much in the village hall where lots of people were coming and going, waking me through the night. So, to catch up with my sleep I sat in a bus shelter and nodded of my snores accompanied by the sound of boy racers in fast cars, lorries and the church clock; I awoke about an hour later.
It was 3am, I’d completed 380 km and I now arrived back at the village hall to eat and knap before the second leg. We – Dafidd, Mark and Steve and myself - started the second leg together, leaving at about 8am for Prestatyn and back via the Horseshoe Pass.
The route was sometimes rough but the views excelled expectations. In Wales we saw beautiful castle topped hills and long sweeping valleys. After a long hard day in the saddle with hardly any kip you’d have thought we’d have been exhausted, but we spurred each other on and felt buoyant. Mark had been a little remote for some of the ride but after telling me about his serious cycle accident and subsequent head injury I began to understand why. He had nearly lost his life. He was still under care but was able to work as a gardener. Sympathising with him I told him about my head injury and resulting problems – in a way to show support. He was faster that Dafidd and Steve and we would often push out on our own having a break whilst waiting for the others to catch up. On one occasion we did this we lost the others entirely – we waited for a while but they never came along. As we pushed on we climbed what I though would be the Horseshoe pass. Up and up we went arriving high on the moors. Concerned I asked another cyclist - out for a spin with his lady-friend – where we are. “Worlds End!” he exclaimed. I thought he was joking but it turns out this is what the place is called. We had to retreat back down from whence we came to ask again the route to the Horseshoe Pass. Finally, after asking many walkers for directions we ground our way to the top of the Horseshoe Pass. Even though I was trying to follow my route sheet we managed to get lost a few times often asking the way or consulting my map. In Prestatyn I even had to ring the organiser for directions. I was upset at all this, tired and aching, I just didn’t want the hassle anymore. Mark and I had argued often when we got lost but at this point it got too much for both of us. It was getting late we had a long way to go and a difficult route sheet to follow. I thought it was all too hard and was ready to throw the towel in. I was airing my views somewhat vehemently and as a result Mark started to get upset. He told me how he so much wanted to do this ride as it would prove to him that he could move forward, put some things behind him and move on. I realised then that this ride would have a similar effect on me, so we took a break sat down and decided to support each other - we were going to do it together, come what may.
I didn’t realise Mark had a route sheet on him, he had just been following me all the time. I think he had lacked the confidence to use it but, now I needed his help we needed to work together if we where to get back in time. He took it out and read it as we progressed – holding it in his left hand. Soon, I noticed some discrepancies between mine and his and decided his was probably of more use. I made changes to mine so it was the same and we carried on together sticking to his route sheet and back up to the top of the Horseshoe Pass. We arrived 25mins late at the Ponderosa Café at the top, a control used for proof of passage; it was closed. I rang the organiser again and he said it would be OK to use Llangollen as a control, as long as we didn’t arrive late at the finish we would be alright.
It turns out that I had downloaded the route sheet from the website, but it was wrong.
A sweeping descent to Llangollen we went as fast as we could. We ate outside a chippie - Fishcake and Chips both - we left at about 9:30 pm. We had 35 miles (55 Km) to the finish and two and a half hours to do it in. This meant averaging 14mph at night using a very complicated route sheet and having already done 560k of the route and with only a few hours snatched sleep. No time for getting soft.
We strode out from Llangollen as quick as we could. I pushed Mark on when he slowed on his turn at the front.
As we progressed, I could see that we would have to maintain a good pace and with twenty miles (32 Km) to go, we had an hour and a quarter to finish.
With eight miles to go and thirty minuets left, we were hit by the lights on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.
Up over bridges and through industrial estates the route seemed to take us all around the town. Approaching traffic lights we prayed for green and on junctions we took a chance. Soon we were to be thrust out in the dark night air again around the country lanes. Faster and faster we went as we progressed towards the tiny village of Upton Magna, the Hall and the finish.
Time was ticking away with only minuets left, we saw some lights and hoped we were nearly there. The last few miles took an age, I kept looking at the clock on my computer. We both wanted - needed to do it within the time to feel good and to be able to move on. Finally with just seconds to spare I saw the village sign. But, my computer had ticked over and we would be late. I’m sure the organiser would overlook a few mins but I so wanted to do it within the official limits, so did Mark.
Delighted I had done it at all I walked into hall with Mark. John H the organiser was at the table ready to take our Brevet cards. He looked up at the clock and noticed we had 45 seconds left. My computer clock was fast, the clock we had done the ride by was slow. Mark and I shook hands and raised them triumphantly – we had done it.
Super Randonneur
I had completed a 400 K Audax plus two very hard 300k Audaxes and the hardest 600 K Audax in the calendar - I was now a Super Randonner 2008 and proud of it. I’m going to do it all again next year as well as the London Edinburgh London 1500 K Audax. Come and join me.
The Finishers - the Super Randonneurs
(notice there’s a few from round your way)
| Steven ABRAHAM | North Bucks RC | Northants & N Bucks DA |
| John BARKMAN | CK Distans | |
| Chris BEYNON | Willesden CC | South Bucks DA |
| Pete COATES | Peak Audax | |
| Tony DAVIS | South Leics CTC | Leicestershire DA |
| John EVANS | ||
| George HANNA | Cardiff Byways | Central London DA |
| Mike KELLY | Vegetarian C & AC | |
| Dafydd LLOYD | Cardiff Ajax | |
| Martin LUCAS | Willesden CC | West London DA |
| Stephen MAIN | Devon DA | |
| Graeme MCCULLOCH | Transpennine CC | Manchester DA |
| Richard MITCHELL | Lune & Lakes DA | |
| John MITCHELMORE | Derby Mercury | Derby DA |
| James REYNOLDS | Corinium CC | |
| Ray ROBINSON | ||
| Mark WHITEHOUSE | CTC Cymru | Chester & North Wales DA |
| Julian WILLIAMS | Bedfordshire DA | |
| Mark WILLIAMS | Devon DA | |
| Marcus YEO | ACF |
Highlighted - the guys I did the ride with.
More Information, see the Audax UK website.