Emitremmus - Stevenage End of Summertime Special is back. Why not round out your audax season, with a ride to mark the end of summertime as the clocks change?
Emmitremus - The Stevenage End of Summertime Special is back. Why not ride this event as your final ride of the audax season to round out your year?

Note the event is now x-rated after the pandemic with no WI (or Cycling UK) village hall support. There are plenty of cafe and shop options at the half way point at Saffron Walden, and a few shops along the route, but you should look to carry more snacks on your bike than previous editions.

The event will start from Hampson Park, Stevenage.

The event will have a finish at the Cricketers pub in Weston. Note that the finish is about 6km of gentle riding back to the start. I will be offering instant validation and a Hertfordshire Audaxes enamel pin badge (if you donÆt already have one) at the finish, plus certificates to any child who finishes (must be with a guardian / parent during the ride).

The minimum speed has been set, such that full value riders will have a maximum of 8 hours 15 minutes to get round in time. If you use the full time allowance you'll be finishing just at sunset. Bring lights as there will still be the ride back to the start or the station.

There is easy access from Kings Cross, Cambridge or anywhere on the East Coast mainline via train. From the station to the start is about 15 mins of gentle uphill riding on traffic free segregated cycle ways. There is free parking at the start.

The route explores many of the quiet lanes and scenery of Hertfordshire and Essex, including a ford. Though I would not recommend riding through the ford (there's a bridge to walk across). The route is typical of the area with undulating and meandering lanes, no steep climbs, some sunken lanes, plenty to keep you engaged. From Saffron Walden you will follow the reverse of the Start of Summertime 200 route, before looping north around to Weston to finish at a pub with a large beer garden.