The Paddington Express 400
Bristol
Will Pomeroy
400 km
Summary
409Km cycling event starting from Bristol.
Controls at
- Start
- Purton
- Maidenhead
- Paddington Stn
- Pinewood Activity Centre
- Corsham
- Bristol
- Plus 1 information control
Description
A great late qualifier for Paris Brest Paris and ride in general. With a late start to mimic PBP and get you used to riding through the first night youll get to Paddington in the early hours.
Loosely following Brunels GWR mainline, nick named the Billiard Table because of the lack of gradients, from Bristol to Paddington Station. But first a climb onto the Cotswolds then head to the edge of the Thames Valley passing north of Swindon and into the Vale of the White Horse. Cross The Thames, climb over the Chilterns and pass Brunels Sounding Arch at Maidenhead for a run into London with wiggles including Eton and Windsor Castle is he in for the least number of traffic lights. Paddington Station awaits in its deserted nighttime mode, will you see Paddington Bear Im hoping you will as Ive been informed hes been moved from the 1st Class Lounge into a more public place! Head back through Kensington and south of Reading and passing Greenham Common and continue west into the Kennet Valley and the Vale of Pewsey tracking the Kennet Avon canal through the North Wessex Downs to descend Box Hill stop on the descent to see the Box Tunnel Portal. Continue through Bath and back to Bristol for the Arrivee.
For those aiming for PBP you will more than likely ride through the first night and into the next day. This is an ideal opportunity to see how you will fare. No sleeping facilities but 2 evening controls with food, and perhaps some Marmalade sandwiches at Paddington...
Read More
Loosely following Brunels GWR mainline, nick named the Billiard Table because of the lack of gradients, from Bristol to Paddington Station. But first a climb onto the Cotswolds then head to the edge of the Thames Valley passing north of Swindon and into the Vale of the White Horse. Cross The Thames, climb over the Chilterns and pass Brunels Sounding Arch at Maidenhead for a run into London with wiggles including Eton and Windsor Castle is he in for the least number of traffic lights. Paddington Station awaits in its deserted nighttime mode, will you see Paddington Bear Im hoping you will as Ive been informed hes been moved from the 1st Class Lounge into a more public place! Head back through Kensington and south of Reading and passing Greenham Common and continue west into the Kennet Valley and the Vale of Pewsey tracking the Kennet Avon canal through the North Wessex Downs to descend Box Hill stop on the descent to see the Box Tunnel Portal. Continue through Bath and back to Bristol for the Arrivee.
For those aiming for PBP you will more than likely ride through the first night and into the next day. This is an ideal opportunity to see how you will fare. No sleeping facilities but 2 evening controls with food, and perhaps some Marmalade sandwiches at Paddington...
Event Date and Location
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Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2027 Add Event to my Personal Calendar
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Time: 15:00 to finish by 18:00 (+1 days)
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Distance: 400 km (409 km) in 27h00
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Starting from: Bristol
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Closing Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2027
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Entries close at: 999 riders
Event Information
Speed:
15-30 km/h
Climb:
2954m
AAA:
0
Category:
BRM[PBP]
Body:
Audax Club Bristol
Audax Points:
4
Event No:
27-1074
Facilities
Toilets at Start
GPS files available from organiser
Mudguards not required
Free or reasonably priced refreshments at start &/or finish
Downloads
The organiser may only provide these to event entrants