Aces High
Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon
Karolina Deutsch
200 km
Summary
218Km cycling event starting from Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon.
Controls at
- Start - Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon
- Honesty at The Base, Thatcham
- Salisbury *FREE*
- Upavon *FREE*
- End - Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon
- Plus 4 information controls
Description
Welcome to Aces High, a 200K audax that visits a selection of locations commemorating the aircraft that helped repel the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. The Iron Maiden track, Aces High, tells the story from the perspective of a British pilot facing the Luftwaffe in aerial combat. This event marks the anniversary of the first Supermarine Spitfire, prototype K5054, flight in the skies above England.
Starting at our usual location in Tadpole Garden Village youll first head a short distance to the local retail centre where a modern art piece in the form of a Spitfire wing is the first Info control. From there, the route continues to the next memorial site on the east of Swindon marking the location where a pilot died after he crashed his Spitfire into a tree this still stands bearing the scars of war.
You leave Swindon heading into Berkshire to RAF Greenham Common for the first Control a café on the site of the old base. While the site is perhaps best known for the anti-nuclear protests of the 1980s, it also played an important role during the war years, hosting Spitfire training operations in the 1940s.
Onwards to Salisbury where youll be routed to an Info control with a full-size replica of a Spitfire commemorating the citys secret contribution to the war effort - in this case Spitfires were built in secret within the walls of existing businesses. Salisbury is a FREE control where there are ATMs, cafes, shops as preferred the GPX navigates you to a retail park with a Waitrose/ATM.
At three quarter distance theres a FREE control at Upavon offering a village shop and a choice of 2 pubs. Then a final Info control awaits at Lower Seagry where another Spitfire memorial, this time sadly marking the site of a training accident, is to be found allowing you to reflect on those who gave their time and their lives. The finish at Tadpole Garden Village is not far to go now so see you there!
A challenging ride, starting in Tadpole Garden Village, 4 info controls and 3 controls 2 FREE.
Please note:
- This is a PBP qualifier
- Route is advisory and route sheet aligns with the GPS track of 218K
- This route includes loose gravel at 52K for approx. 2K
- This is a shoestring event with complimentary refreshments and light snacks
- The start is an outdoor public space
- There is no parking on street is available
- There are no toilet facilities provided
- Lights are required
- Mudguards are not mandatory but recommended
- The route sheet should be read by all riders as it may contain information on optional supplies stops, road types and surface conditions
Read More
Starting at our usual location in Tadpole Garden Village youll first head a short distance to the local retail centre where a modern art piece in the form of a Spitfire wing is the first Info control. From there, the route continues to the next memorial site on the east of Swindon marking the location where a pilot died after he crashed his Spitfire into a tree this still stands bearing the scars of war.
You leave Swindon heading into Berkshire to RAF Greenham Common for the first Control a café on the site of the old base. While the site is perhaps best known for the anti-nuclear protests of the 1980s, it also played an important role during the war years, hosting Spitfire training operations in the 1940s.
Onwards to Salisbury where youll be routed to an Info control with a full-size replica of a Spitfire commemorating the citys secret contribution to the war effort - in this case Spitfires were built in secret within the walls of existing businesses. Salisbury is a FREE control where there are ATMs, cafes, shops as preferred the GPX navigates you to a retail park with a Waitrose/ATM.
At three quarter distance theres a FREE control at Upavon offering a village shop and a choice of 2 pubs. Then a final Info control awaits at Lower Seagry where another Spitfire memorial, this time sadly marking the site of a training accident, is to be found allowing you to reflect on those who gave their time and their lives. The finish at Tadpole Garden Village is not far to go now so see you there!
A challenging ride, starting in Tadpole Garden Village, 4 info controls and 3 controls 2 FREE.
Please note:
- This is a PBP qualifier
- Route is advisory and route sheet aligns with the GPS track of 218K
- This route includes loose gravel at 52K for approx. 2K
- This is a shoestring event with complimentary refreshments and light snacks
- The start is an outdoor public space
- There is no parking on street is available
- There are no toilet facilities provided
- Lights are required
- Mudguards are not mandatory but recommended
- The route sheet should be read by all riders as it may contain information on optional supplies stops, road types and surface conditions
Event Date and Location
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Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2027 Add Event to my Personal Calendar
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Time: 08:30 to finish by 22:00
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Distance: 200 km (218 km) in 13h30
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Starting from: Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon
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Closing Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2027
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Entries close at: 40 riders
Event Information
Speed:
15-30 km/h
Climb:
1899m
AAA:
0
Category:
BRM[PBP]
Body:
Audax UK
Audax Points:
2
Event No:
27-1087
Facilities
GPS files available from organiser
Mudguards not required
Minimal Organiser Facilities
Free or reasonably priced refreshments at start &/or finish
Downloads
The organiser may only provide these to event entrants