 | Peak AudaxSheila's Super Randonneur Series
|   | last updated 22/4/2008 15:30 |
 If you are looking for a Peak Audax Super Randonneur series - that's events at 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km - then look no further than Sheila's events from Poynton.The Chirk 200 is a very popular ride, starting from the public carpark in Poynton (south of Stockport) and heading over the Cheshire Plain to Chirk. We call at the craft centre cafe near Nantwich, Chirk Milk bar and Beeston Lock Gate cafe. It's not a hilly event, but don't expect it to be flat; the climb out of the Dee valley just after Chirk (pictured) is a bit of a brute but at least it's short. The Cambrian 300 is another flat event from Poynton, but this time with a sting at the beginning - it's an 11 o'clock start (that's the one at night) so you will definitely need your lights. However, we don't go through any big towns on the way so you sholdn't have too much problem with rowdy pub customers. It's almost an out and back ride to Newtown skirting Shrewsbury using Montford Bridge and Dinky's Diner The Plains 400 starts again from Poynton and lives up to the name for most of the route. Unlike the 300, it's a civilised start time. Bypass Shrewsbury to the east this time at Atcham, then an un-Plains-like climb to Bridges and on to Newtown and another visit to Dinky's Diner (24 hour service!) The old A5 right through the middle of Telford is relatively quiet in the small hours, to arrive at the 24 hour transport cafe at Cannock. There's then a lovely lanes route to Whitchurch before heading back to Poynton The final leg of the SR series is the Cambrian 600 to Aberystwyth. A different start, this time from Hazel Grove a couple of miles north of Poynton. Visit Builth Wells, Aberystwyth, Newtown, Iron Bridge, Cannock and Whitchurch. David Atkinson and Chris Crossland the climb on the Chirk 200 (photo: Damon Peacock) |