https://www.strava.com/activities/20897471091
Another Audax completed, this time the ACME 3Rs, a 107 km event starting and finishing in Witham. The 3Rs refer to the three rivers and reservoirs along the route, which was actually familiar territory for me. I’d ridden the same route earlier in the year on the Little Essex R&R Audax, though this time we rode it in reverse. It turned out to be an enjoyable day out on the bike, helped by unexpected company and reasonably good November weather. The second half was rather harder than the first, with busier roads and more climbing than I’d anticipated, but we completed the route comfortably within the time limit.
A Familiar Face at the Start
The event got under way at the Battesford Court Wetherspoons in Witham’s Newland Street (a very convenient meeting point and place to get breakfast before we set off). I arrived there, and it was a pleasure to run into someone I knew from the CTC South Essex group. We chatted for a bit and decided to ride together, which was a great way to start.
I enjoy cycling on my own, but having someone to ride with makes a difference on a longer event. There’s someone to chat to as the miles pass, and it can make the more demanding sections a little easier. It was also good to have some company for a change, particularly on a route that would keep us out for much of the day.
An Enjoyable First Half
The route took us out of Witham and through the Essex countryside, passing places including Layer de la Haye and the area around Abberton Reservoir. For November, the weather was pretty good. There was hardly any wind, which was particularly welcome given how much a headwind can affect a long ride, and the temperature was comfortable enough once we got going.
The first part of the ride went well. We averaged between 14 and 15 mph over several of the early five-mile sections, and the miles passed comfortably. The countryside was pleasant, the roads were generally quiet, and we had plenty to talk about along the way.
The route also passed through some familiar Essex villages, with opportunities for refreshments around Abberton Reservoir, Maldon and Stock. One thing I like about Audax riding is the chance to stop for something to eat or drink along the way. By the halfway point, we’d made good progress, and everything was going reasonably well.
The Hills Begin to Add Up
As we continued towards Stock and Danbury, however, the ride’s character began to change. The roads became noticeably busier, which I didn’t particularly enjoy. One of the pleasures of cycling around Essex is finding quieter country lanes, so more traffic was a disappointment. There also seemed to be rather more climbing, and as the afternoon progressed I became increasingly aware of the effort involved.
Essex is often described as flat, but anyone who regularly cycles around Danbury and Stock knows that isn’t entirely true. The climbs aren’t especially long, but some are quite steep, and after several hours in the saddle they begin to add up. We’d get over one hill, enjoy a bit of easier riding and then find ourselves climbing again. I wasn’t struggling particularly, but I was certainly feeling the difference compared with the morning.
My Garmin recorded 756 metres of ascent, or 2,480 feet, over the ride, which is a fair amount of climbing for 66 miles around Essex. The section between miles 40 and 45 was particularly demanding, with 94 metres of ascent in just five miles. Our average speed dropped to 10.6 mph, the slowest five-mile section of the day. More climbing was to come, so even towards the end the hills weren’t finished with us.
A Chilly Finish
One thing we didn’t have to worry about was the wind. It remained relatively calm throughout the ride, which was a relief given how exposed some Essex roads can be. The temperature, however, was another matter. It had been quite pleasant earlier in the day, with Garmin recording a maximum of 16°C, but as the afternoon wore on it became noticeably colder.
By the final few miles, the temperature had dropped to around 8°C, and I was beginning to feel it. After more than five hours on the bike, I found the cold became more noticeable, particularly when I was getting tired. It wasn’t desperately unpleasant, but I was certainly looking forward to getting back to Witham and somewhere warm.
Almost Last, but Who Cares?
We eventually arrived back at the Battesford Court in Witham, where our brevet cards could be validated. By that point, most of the other riders had already finished, and we were practically the last ones back. We’d had a good day out, covered the distance and finished with plenty of time to spare.
My Garmin recorded 65.72 miles (105.8 km), with a moving time of 5 hours 16 minutes and an elapsed time of 6 hours 13 minutes, including our stops. Our average moving speed was 12.5 mph, which I was quite happy with considering the climbing. With an event time limit of 8 hours and 55 minutes, we finished with more than two and a half hours to spare.
Another Audax in the Bag
Looking back, the ACME 3Rs were a real treat. The weather was mostly in our favour, and having the company made it a lot better. The second half was a lot harder than we anticipated, with a lot of traffic and a lot of climbing, but we managed it all without any real problems.
I’m increasingly of the view that this is how I want to approach my long-distance cycling. I’m not trying to be the fastest rider, and I don’t particularly care where I finish compared with everyone else. I want to enjoy the ride, be comfortable on the bike and know that I can still cover these distances.
So, almost the last riders back at Witham, but I’ve completed another 66 miles. I’m perfectly happy with that.