Arts and Sciences, The London Midland Ride Event Details| Audax UK

Arts and Sciences, The London Midland Ride Kings Cross-St Pancras Ian Oliver

600Km

Summary

617Km cycling event starting from Kings Cross-St Pancras.

Controls at

Start
Thame
Moreton-in-Marsh
Kinver
Rugeley
Colsterworth Services
Girton, BP Station (compulsory)
Kings Cross
Plus 7 information controls

E-Brevet permitted.

Description

Ride past varied landscapes and historic places. Sunday is easier than Saturday. Plenty of motel options between 300 and 400 km. The start at Kings Cross is very public transport friendly. e-brevets supported
The start is at 7am, meaning most entrants can get a train into London on time. However we will be handing out brevets till 0730, later by prior arrangement. The ride's theme is science and the arts. You will see some marvellous engineering like Ironbridge, pass near the birthplace of Isaac Newton, and drop in on the village of the great poet John Clare. You return to Kings Cross which is probably a postal finish. A Briefing, GPXs and Route Sheet will be given out to entered riders when available ahead of time. 2024's files are available here: only small changes will be made for 2025.

The ride runs in an arc from London through the Chilterns and Cotswolds to Ironbridge, then north of Birmingham over wooded Cannock Chase to Rugeley. A stretch in the Trent Valley is followed by the National Forest. Through Loughborough and then the Wolds to Colsterworth, South of Grantham. Very quiet Lincolnshire roads take you to Helpston, home of John Clare, then Fotheringay and Oundle. From historic St Ives you take a high quality cycle path alongside the Cambridge - St Ives Busway. There are various options for passing through cyclist-friendly Cambridge. It's mainly B-Roads to the edge of London, with Highgate being the route's final flourish.

As it's run midsummer you should get halfway or more in the light. The climbing lessens as the event goes on: it splits between first and second half 60:40.

The full controls are mostly 'free' and most of the information controls have supplies nearby. There are at least 7 motels for an overnight sleep between Rugeley and Colsterworth that are on or just off the route: The map gives the approximate route. Slight changes have been made and are in the rider documentation.

Brevets return after validation included in the price. The event is a BRM this year.