 | Peak AudaxMarple Series
|   | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 You might not at first expect a 100 km midweek cycle ride to attract that many riders. After all, most people ought to be working, or spending time with families, or catching up with the gardening or decorating. However, that would not be the case if you were to call at a certain Marple car park on any Wednesday in August.It all began when Sheila Simpson of Peak Audax decided that cycling in the Peak District on an August Sunday was not a Good Thing. The amount of traffic is just unpleasant, and the queuing at beauty-spot cafes takes up too much time for those with an eye on the maximum time limit. So, how about running them midweek? Make it a civilised start time to avoid getting up at an unearthly hour and miss the worst of the rush hour traffic. Find a route that will take all day but still enable riders to get home early evening. Choose a pub for the finish for a buffet spread. Let's just see how many people actually turn up. Well, the rides have proved to be very popular, with numbers increasing year on year. Be warned that numbers are restricted to 60 so that we can enjoy our stops at the selected cafes. The start is outside Marple library, where there are handy public toilets. However, there are no facilities for handling paperwork, so there is strictly NO ENTRIES ON THE LINE! All the rides involve climbing (the 'Peak' in the titles is a clue) but they are only 100km with a 12.5kph lower limit so you should get a good day's ride. Start time is 10am so you can miss the worst of the rush hour. Enter these in the usual way by sending an entry form, 2 self addressed envelopes and of course a cheque for the entry fee (£4 if you are a member of AUK, CTC, BCF, otherwise it's £6) to the address listed on the entry form. As a special offer, you can enter 2 or more of these events at the same time and save on postage by sending them to Mike Wigley (see White Peak for Mike's address). You still need to fill in an entry form for each event, but just send 2 SAEs (C4 size) to cover the lot, as you'll receive all the route sheets in one and all your validated Brevet cards in the other. Don't forget to send a cheque for the total entry fee. Entries should be with Mike at least one week before the first of the events you intend to ride. Climbing the Snake Pass on the MidPeak Grimpeur (photo: Francis Cooke) |
| | Peak AudaxWhite Peak
| | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 Wednesday 30/07/2008 : White PeakDistance: 103kmAAA points: 1½ Total Climbing: 2015mNo entries on the line (deadline 23/07/2008) The opening stage of the Wednesday Peak Grimpeurs takes us into the southern Peak District with its limestone scenery. Cafes at Monsall Head overlooking the famous viaduct, and Monyash via Lathkilldale, the Long Rake and Long Dale. Back to Marple via Wormhill and Eccles Pike.
Contact: Mike Wigley |
| | Peak AudaxMid Peak
| | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 Wednesday 06/08/2008 : Mid PeakDistance: 106kmAAA points: 1½ Total Climbing: 2000mNo entries on the line (deadline 30/07/2008) Stage two of the Wednesday Peak Grimpeurs, this time over a surprisingly quiet Snake Pass with the heather at its purplest. It gets strenuous over Bamford and Abney Moors. Return to Marple via Monyash, Millers Dale and Combs.
Contact: Winston Plowes |
| | Peak AudaxDark Peak
| | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 Wednesday 13/08/2008 : Dark PeakDistance: 106kmAAA points: 1½ Total Climbing: 1920mNo entries on the line (deadline 06/08/2008) Stage three of the Wednesday Peak Grimpeurs, taking in the climbs of Holme Moss and Mam Nick, and passing through Strinesdale. The northern Peak District at its best! Cafés at Holmfirth or Langsett, and at Edale Station.
Contact: Derek Heine |
| | Peak AudaxWest Peak
| | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 Wednesday 20/08/2008 : West PeakDistance: 103kmAAA points: 2 Total Climbing: 2100mNo entries on the line (deadline 13/08/2008) Stage four of the Wednesday Peak Grimpeurs, this was once known as Roy Carr's Westedge of Peak. Through Middlewood to Bollington and Langley, then a climb through the Macclesfield Forest. Wildboarclough and Danebridge gets us to Meerbrook and the Reservoir Visitor Centre. After the Mermaid climb to Warslow, we visit Flash then the Laundrette cafe in Buxton. A fast descent into the Goyt valley is followed by further climbs up The Street
Contact: Dave Catlow |
| | Peak AudaxStaffs Peak
| | last updated 22/4/2008 15:26 |
 Wednesday 27/08/2008 : Staffs PeakDistance: 110kmAAA points: 2½ Total Climbing: 2400mNo entries on the line (deadline 20/08/2008) Stage five of the Wednesday Peak Grimpeurs and we've saved the hilliest until last. We visit the upper valleys of the Goyt, the Manifold and Dane, with the high country of Windgather, Axe Edge, the Mermaid and Gun Moor, some of the gems of he Peak District.
Contact: Gerry Goldsmith |