Homegrown Gravel Adventure, Franklin GA - February 22nd 2025

Salinae

Salinae and Cotswold Audax

November 09 2024
Droitwich
Date Confirmed
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Distances: 212km
Limited to: 120 Participants

This popular late season audax is back for 11th November 2023. 

Salinae and Cotswold is a great way explore rural lanes bathed in autumnal colours.  It may sound sucrose but the Cotswold village almost glow in the autumnal sunlight.  The route predominantly uses good quality C and B roads.  The first and last quarters are gentle but the middle half is hilly.  Riders launch into the Cotswolds at the deep end with the ascent of Suddeley Bank but thereafter, nothing is quite so severe.

The event starts at Little Al’s cafe at Droitwich Lido.   There are plenty of cake laden cafes at the control locations on route. The event finishes at Rotary House next to the Lido, where hot drinks and food will be available.

Route details

Stage 1. Droitwich Spa Lido to Tewkesbury. It is fairly easy going as you head southwards into The Vale.  There is one nasty little climb ahead of Crowle but that is about it. It may be fairly early into the ride but there are opportunities to stop at Tewkesbury, your first control.

Stage 2a. Droitwich to Winchcombe Information Control. After crossing the Severn, it is a long gentle climb to the base of the Cotswold plateau at Winchcombe.  Stop here to either click your E-Brevet App or answer the question set out within the Brevet Card.

Stage 2b. Winchcombe to Witney. Did we mention Suddeley Hill?  It is a nasty start to the Cotswold but attempt at your own pace. Another smally nasty comes after picturesque Guiting Power.  Bourton-on-Water is not a control point but there a plenty of more cafes at this tourist honeypot. From here on you bump along the Windrush Valley on an easy section to Witney. Witney is a recommended stop for food and drink as Shipston-on-Stour is a bit more spartan.

Stage 3a. Witney to Shutford Information Control. The revised route from 2022 will be repeated, keeping riders off the B road out of Witney.  From here on there are a fair few undulations through various villages to reach your second information control of the day at Shutford.

Stage 3b. Shutford to Shipston-on-Stour. This is a short section. Once over Edge Hill and the descent to Tysoe, life becomes a lot easier for the remainder of the audax route.  Shipston has a couple of cafes located in the town. The Deli is recommended. Otherwise, it is the Coop. 

Stage 4. Shipston-on-Stour to Droitwich. You continue west as darkness starts to descend. Overall, this section is gently undulating.  It won’t be too long before you reach the bright lights of Droitwich and Rotary House to register your finish, where hot food and drinks will be available

Fact and stats

Start: Droitwich Lido, Little Al’s Cafe  

Finish: Droitwich Lido, adjacent Rotary House

Control Locations: Tewkesbury, Witney and Shipston-on-Stour. These are so called ‘free controls’ where you choose your own cafe or shop to obtain a brevet card receipt or simply press your E-Brevet App location button.  There are also two information controls at Winchcombe and Shutford.

Overall Ascent: 2,142 metres

Audax Altitude Award: 0

Entry Fee:   £7.50 for AUK or Cycling UK members; £10.50 for others which includes entry and day AUK membership. 

Brevet for proofs of passage: Either brevet cards or via the e-brevet phone app.

Salinae and Cotswold Audax

 

 

 
Start Located At: Little Als Cafe, Droitwich Lido, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
 
 
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Registration Fees

£7.50 for AUK or Cycling UK members; £10.50 for others which includes entry and day AUK membership. 

Included

GPS, Route Sheets, Food and drink at the finish line

 
Facilities
Parking
Toilets
 
Support for Participants
Route Card
 
Features
Results Within 24 Hours
Downloadable GPS files
 
Nutrition
Pre Event Meal(s) Provided As Part of Entry
Post Event Meal(s) Provided As Part of Entry
 
salinaeandcotswold
Nov 09 2024 - EVENT: Salinae and Cotswold Audax