Charnwood in the Spring

Published on 20 March 2024 at 08:55

So my 2nd Audax was called "Charnwood in the Spring"

The morning was bitterly cold, around 5°C, making it hard to leave the warmth of bed and hit the motorway to Trowell Village Hall. The challenge ahead—a 107 km (66 miles) ride with 2,500 ft (766m) of ascent—was far from inviting. But the moment I arrived, the effort felt worthwhile. Warm smiles, hot coffee, and biscuits greeted me during check-in, setting a positive tone for the day.

The route included five checkpoints, in addition to the ones at the start and finish.

On my very first Audax, I had the pleasure of meeting Kev. Coincidentally, he was also riding this event, so we teamed up again. I owe him a huge thank you for helping me push through the chill of the day 🥶👌.

A special shoutout goes to the volunteers who braved the cold at the checkpoints to stamp our cards. Sitting out there in freezing conditions couldn’t have been easy. They may never read this, but if they do—thank you for your dedication 👏🙏.

The first checkpoint was at Stonehurst Farm, where local Community Support Police Officers kindly offered free bike registrations. The process was quick, taking just a couple of minutes. While I hope my bike never gets stolen, it’s reassuring to know that if it ever is, it can be traced back to me if recovered. 😊

The sausage bap and coffee were absolutely delicious and much appreciated. 😋 We continued on our journey, stopping at the next four checkpoints to tackle fun challenges, such as identifying the animal on a pub sign, determining the distance to Great Dalby, and noting which bus stopped at a particular bus stop.

Cycling through Charnwood, a stunning part of Leicestershire, was a real treat. The route was varied and engaging. According to my Garmin, there were two climbs—though how it calculates that is beyond me! Some sections definitely felt like serious ascents. 😲

While many of the lanes were peaceful and scenic, some roads were busier than expected, with heavy traffic and large lorries passing by. 😬

The ride concluded back at the Village Hall in Trowell with an exceptional finish. The effort put into the refreshments was both unexpected and outstanding. We were treated to freshly made cheese or ham rolls, steaming hot tea and coffee, and an impressive selection of cakes (see photo below). The choices were endless—lemon drizzle, chocolate cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, fruit cake, and more. Deciding what to try was no easy task, but every bite was as delicious as it looked 🍰🧁. A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone involved—it was a magnificent ending to a fantastic day!