My 1st Audax

My First Audax Ride: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Arriving at Warwick Racecourse early on a cold, windy, and soon-to-be rainy Saturday morning had me feeling a bit nervous, to be honest. The ride I signed up for was called "The Warwickshire Lamb."

There were two groups of riders: those tackling a 200 km route leaving at 8 am, and others, like me, doing the 100 km ride starting at 9 am. The crowd was a fantastic mix of people – friendly and chatty. One guy was riding a fixed-gear bike, a beautiful blue-framed machine with no gears! 😲 Another cyclist, wearing just shorts and a jersey, looked absolutely frozen, given the 5-degree chill in the air. Then there was a gentleman in vintage attire – trousers tucked into long socks (later I learned they're called plus fours), a classic shirt, and a flat cap. It felt like a group of kindred spirits, people I could easily get along with.

After registering at the desk, I received my Brevet Card, which included instructions for the four stops, or control points, along the route. At the first three stops, the card needed to be stamped or signed. The final stop required finding a specific underlined word on a noticeboard in Stoneleigh. The second control point was at a café – a perfect excuse for a steaming coffee and a bacon sandwich 😋. By this time, the rain had started, so we all squeezed under a tiny canopy outside the café, chatting and laughing. The camaraderie was incredible, far warmer and friendlier than what I’ve experienced at Sportives. Of course, there was a time limit to complete the ride – we had to finish by 4:30 pm.

I ended up riding alongside a friendly guy named Kev from South Derbyshire. He had completed plenty of Audax rides before and shared some invaluable tips and advice along the way. The entire event was so well-organized and laid-back, with a scenic route winding through quiet country lanes. I finished at a pizza place in Warwick around 2:30 pm, feeling accomplished and happy. The warmth of the people, the seamless organization, and the joy of the ride itself have convinced me to sign up for two more Audax events. There's definitely more Audax in my future 🚵‍♀️!