Fiddle with the Horse
Crewe
Brandon Edgeley
300 km
Summary
309Km cycling event starting from Crewe.
Controls at
- Crewe
- Macclesfield
- Wirksworth
- Eccleshall
- Gledrid
- Johnstown
- Crewe
- Plus 2 information controls
E-Brevet permitted.
Description
A new event for 2027. The iconic climbs up the Cat and Fiddle and the Llangollen Horseshoe are in completely different directions from Crewe and make a decent days riding on their own so it seems only natural to want to ride both of them in the same day! McDonalds start / finish
We head out of Crewe for Macclesfield and there is an option for an early control, whilst 35km might seem early you need to bear in mind the next section is hilly and there are no options on route for the next 55km. Dont eat too much though as out of Macclesfield we turn our attention to the first objective of the day, the Cat and Fiddle climb. An average of 3% doesnt seem too much but that is over its whole 11km distance meaning parts will be easier and other parts definitely harder. Once we crest the top we get some great views and which only get better when we reach Earl Sterndale, this is for me the jewel in the crown for the day and if you can find a setting in the Peak District better than the lane that weaves between Chrome Hill and Parkview Hill then I wait to hear of it. We eventually reach Wirksworth to control where you will be more than ready for some food and drink at one of the many cafes in the town.
The next 125km see us head out of the Peak District to Ashbourne and then for an easier leg to pass Eccleshall, Wem, Ellesmere to get to Chirk where there is a petrol station services outside the town, or carry on to the SPAR or chippy. Take on enough fuel for the second objective of the day, The Llangollen Horseshoe Pass. 6km at over 5% average makes quite the challenge, especially with well over 200km in our legs. The starts easy enough as you pass the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, the road ramps up when we hit the short wooded section, once out of it it eases a bit and you get a full view of where we are heading. The crux of the climb is the bend near the house where it steps up to 13% and remains challenging for about 0.5km, once you turn the next corner your troubles are behind you, whilst there is still 1km to the summit sign the gradient is only 1.7% and there is usually a prevailing wind behind you making this section a false flat.
A great descent off the Horseshoe, an info control and before you know it a petrol station to fuel the final relatively flat 50km back to the arrivee
The provisional route is here -
Read More
We head out of Crewe for Macclesfield and there is an option for an early control, whilst 35km might seem early you need to bear in mind the next section is hilly and there are no options on route for the next 55km. Dont eat too much though as out of Macclesfield we turn our attention to the first objective of the day, the Cat and Fiddle climb. An average of 3% doesnt seem too much but that is over its whole 11km distance meaning parts will be easier and other parts definitely harder. Once we crest the top we get some great views and which only get better when we reach Earl Sterndale, this is for me the jewel in the crown for the day and if you can find a setting in the Peak District better than the lane that weaves between Chrome Hill and Parkview Hill then I wait to hear of it. We eventually reach Wirksworth to control where you will be more than ready for some food and drink at one of the many cafes in the town.
The next 125km see us head out of the Peak District to Ashbourne and then for an easier leg to pass Eccleshall, Wem, Ellesmere to get to Chirk where there is a petrol station services outside the town, or carry on to the SPAR or chippy. Take on enough fuel for the second objective of the day, The Llangollen Horseshoe Pass. 6km at over 5% average makes quite the challenge, especially with well over 200km in our legs. The starts easy enough as you pass the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, the road ramps up when we hit the short wooded section, once out of it it eases a bit and you get a full view of where we are heading. The crux of the climb is the bend near the house where it steps up to 13% and remains challenging for about 0.5km, once you turn the next corner your troubles are behind you, whilst there is still 1km to the summit sign the gradient is only 1.7% and there is usually a prevailing wind behind you making this section a false flat.
A great descent off the Horseshoe, an info control and before you know it a petrol station to fuel the final relatively flat 50km back to the arrivee
The provisional route is here -
Event Date and Location
-
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2027 Add Event to my Personal Calendar
-
Time: 06:00 to finish by 02:00
-
Distance: 300 km (309 km) in 20h00
-
Starting from: Crewe
-
Closing Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2027
-
Entries close at: 999 riders
Event Information
Speed:
15-30 km/h
Climb:
3700m
AAA:
3.5
Category:
BRM[PBP]
Body:
Audax UK
Audax Points:
3
Event No:
27-1061
Facilities
Toilets at Start
GPS files available from organiser
Mudguards not required
Secur(ish) luggage storage at start
Parking at start
Downloads
The organiser may only provide these to event entrants