Full Fat Festive 500 Pint 2
The Original

DESCRIPTION:

Pint 2: The Original – ridden nearly every year since 2014 – no skimping – 1 Ring to rule them all!

Heading off into the early morning the silence of the city outskirts gives way to eager birdsong. Climb atop the Cotswolds for an easy ride to the first control. Onwards edging the Thames Valley, passing through the centre of Oxford and crossing Ot Moor to the lunch stop. Leaving the Vale of Aylesham passing through Woburn Park for a quick run to Cambridge. Head to St Ives on the traffic free path adjacent to the guided busway; in the dark they’ll eerily creep up on you before wooshing past! Onto Higham Ferrers and it’s Christmas lights, Northampton with it’s Christmas tree atop the National Lift Tower, over rolling hills hopefully with twinkling stars above before a welcome respite at Gaydon’s – not this year, you’ll nip up to the M40 services – 24hr garage! Fast to the Fosse Way, tickle the Cotswolds and cross the Vale of Evesham; will you use an Audax hotel or will you press on? In the early throws of morning it all becomes a blur; head down into the Severn Valley and you’re almost back, Tewkesbury, straight down the A38, Gloucester, keep going, Thornbury traffic lights, left just after past the quarry, Old Gloucester Rd, edge of the city, nearly there, last descent, done! I have done this route bar a few changes thrice in the past between Xmas & NYE; with weather ranging from freezing cold with ice and frost to glorious sunshine one day followed by hurricane winds and walls of water the next to unseasonally warm and benign – be prepared for anything!

Dates:

Can’t do the calendar dates but still want to give it a go? I have 10 Permanent cards from last year that were going to be the event before Christmas was cancelled. These are available to be done over the Advent period & 12 days of Christmas.

Details:

TBC

IMPORTANT:

This is an X-rated event for experienced randonneurs and endurance cyclists only. The organiser accepts no responsibility for winter weather or road conditions and you undertake this event entirely at your own risk.

Type & Validation

• The route is advisory - you just have to visit the controls and gain proof of passage within time limits where specified; there may be parts that you'd like to take a different route and that is entirely up to you; the time limits for the controls don't change!
• Validation: Instant - you get to take your validated brevet card home straight away at the end of the event.