As many of you know, I (Norman King) enjoy the joys of Audaxing and other long-distance rides. Over the last eight years or so, these have been in the form of sportives, Dunwich, Ride to the Sun, but the majority have been Audaxes. A number of other members take part in long-distance rides, but a great number don’t, and I intend to share my experiences and the reasons why I do them (everyone has different reasons).

My “athletic” background started in running, and I ran my first marathon at 19 — still my fastest at 3 hrs 08 mins — at the RAF Marathon Championships at RAF Swinderby on the flats of Lincolnshire in 1976. Incidentally, one of my warm-up races was the now-defunct Brampton 20, which went around Grafham, with the finish through Buckden.

Thereafter, I ran over 40 marathons (London seven times), ran the Coast to Coast in 1993 with a good friend of mine in 6.5 days (some 196 miles), and also ran the Cyprus Walkabout (80 miles over two days) three times for an RAF station, which involved a lot of navigation (orienteering). I was also a high-standard orienteerer and competed in the KIMM (Karrimor International Mountain Marathon, now OMM) and the SLMM (South Lakes Mountain Marathon). In addition, I participated in two triathlons, but my swimming was poor and I always ended up chasing on the bike and run.

During the majority of this time, I cycled from being a teenager until I was 32 — nothing more than 40 miles — but I could do my work route of 13 miles in 40 minutes (oh, to be young again). Latterly, I joined Riverside Runners and ran for them from 1996 to 2009, until shin splints, dodgy knees, and a bad back stopped me running. I missed it, but after doing a lot of long-distance walking, it took me five years to get back to cycling.

In 2017, when I retired, I had ridden one 100-miler (the good old SNCC Sportive) in a very slow time with my brother and a friend — so slow that everybody had gone home from One Leisure!

Around this time, SNOGs were formed, and I slowly realised I had a “talent” for long-distance riding, in so far as I could ride at the same pace at the start of a long ride and finish at the same, or sometimes a faster, pace. Thus, the seed of long-distance rides was planted. Initially, I satisfied this by riding solo, mainly into the Fens. Then I met Lotty after organising the SNCC 2019 Sportive, along with Chris Preston and Simon Richardson.

Simon and Chris got me into my first Dunwich Dynamo — a ride overnight of over 111 miles — and I loved it. The bug was truly planted. I began to look around at other long-distance rides, and Simon and Lotty both kept mentioning Audaxes. I looked it up and became interested. Then COVID hit.

Around June 2020, Lotty started taking me on 110-mile-plus rides, including a self-made Pathfinder ride she’d created of 155 miles. I wasn’t fast, but I loved it. I recovered quickly and was eager for another. I rode the Round Norfolk 200-mile sportive twice (2023 and 2024) and found no issues with that — it’s a shame the sportive has now ceased to exist.

So, the main purpose of this “story” was Audaxing. I entered my first Audax — not a 100 km (pah, a ride before breakfast!!) but a 200 km (the Horsepower) from Great Dunmow, organised by ACME — and rode it with Lotty. Simon Richardson was also riding, but at a fast pace.

I found it tough. Essentially, it went from Great Dunmow to Snetterton. You had to have mudguards at this event, and I chose to ride my Argon 18 with 50 mm wheels — a mistake. Fast forward to approaching Cottenham at about 110 miles: I had a double puncture, and my spare tube had too short a valve. Various riders came by, but nobody had 80 mm valves. By now it was almost dark, and I told Lotty to crack on. I put out a call to the SNOGs, and Pat very kindly came to get me.

For the rest of 2022, I did Dunwich again with Mike Biggs, Simon Richardson, and Simon Winter, and loved it again. I then attempted my first 300 km, the Rutland Midnight Express, with Simon Richardson. I rode to the start with Simon, but after starting I was “not feeling it” and rode home after 47 miles. Pants. Was I suited to this?

Over the winter, I decided to join Audax. The year’s membership runs from November to October. By now, I was watching lots of YouTube videos on Audaxes, long-distance riding, and tiling (a story for another day). I was still riding long distances but with no plan or method. I resolved to set targets.

In 2022/23, I started with two 100 kms: the Kelvedon Oyster (with Simon Richardson) and the Rutland and Beyond (by myself), and got on well. I then looked for my first 200 km as an Audax member, settled on four that year, and successfully finished them all. I did not complete a 400 km due to constantly getting soaked; myself and a guy called George Alexander abandoned. Surely, I’m made of harder stuff.

My favourite ride of the year was the off-road Old Roads and Drove Roads over Salisbury Plain with Simon Richardson — a great ride and such fun. I finished about 20 minutes after Simon, in the dark. The highlight of the year, though, was Ride to the Sun (I wrote a report on that at the time): a ride of just over 205 miles, with the aim to get to Weston-super-Mare by 21:30. I failed on the time, but I completed the ride. This time, Vince Murray and Simon Richardson were ahead of me; Vince dropped out with heatstroke, and Simon accompanied him to Weston on the train. That was my best achievement of the year, despite riding Round Norfolk in a far quicker and more comfortable way.

Again, in September 2023, I started the Rutland Midnight Express but broke two spokes. Luckily, I was near home and rode back with two broken spokes down the A428 at 1:30 in the morning. I got home, couldn’t get in (no key and no wife answering my phone or doorbell for over 30 minutes), and I was already timed out. Another time!

Over the Christmas/New Year period, I entered a 500 km from Bristol to Cambridge and back to Cambridge. Yet again, I got soaked three times. There were only 15 of us, and I never saw anybody from Oxford onwards. I did ride 143 miles that day, and it was a great lesson in how to cope with the elements. Despite dropping out of a 300 km, 400 km, and 500 km, I felt I was getting the hang of it.

Along came 2023/24. Over the winter, I had agreed with Simon Richardson to enter the 11 Cities Tour in Friesland, Holland — a ride of 147 miles in May 2024. I was upping my training and feeling much more comfortable.

I started my Audax year early, with a 100 km in November and another in January (with Lotty and a friend of hers). My first 200 km was in March from Stevenage, which I found tough but completed in plenty of time. After that came my first Double Dutch, which was pleasing, riding with Simon Richardson, and we averaged well over 15 mph for 200 km.

Then I entered the Cambrian Audax with Gary Stevens. Gary has completed many Audaxes over the years and could, if he wanted, do a lot more long-distance riding (to be fair, he does some impressive mileage). I met Gary twice during the ride: once where he got lost, and then coming up a five-mile climb coming back from Machynlleth, as I was still climbing up from Llanidloes. He was over an hour ahead.

I turned after eating sausage and chips. It had been raining, I got cold, and after starting the climb I got cramp. I had to walk almost two miles, then it eased off and I got to Llanidloes and stopped to eat. I considered retiring — it was 6 pm and I had four hours to ride 45 miles. Gary had finished, and I finished too, but sadly 15 minutes too late to get my points. Still a very pleasing ride, but another lesson learnt.

I rode the 11 Cities Tour with a good average and had a great ride with Simon — I’d highly recommend this event. I then rode another 200 km in June and started a 600 km Audax, where I had to stop at 147 miles with “hot foot”. I booked into a Travelodge and slept. I was timed out, but still cycled over 90 miles back to St Neots the next day, so not bad. Then I lost five weeks to a knee injury.

I still completed two more Audaxes: the Rutland Midnight Express at the third attempt, and my first 300 km. The last event was a 180 km off-road Audax with Simon again — great fun. I finished in the dark (it was October) with one minute to spare.

So, another year — 2025 — was coming upon us. I signed up for LEL in August 2025 (London–Edinburgh–London), kept training through the winter, and kept my mileage high. I started out with a number of 200 kms from January onwards, and when I was confirmed for LEL, I entered two 100 kms — one in Teesside and the other in the Dark Peaks — all good training for LEL.

In early May, I started a 400 km. By the time I left Portland Bill, I was running close to time. I wasn’t on form, and about 9 pm I headed back to the start. A disappointing event for me, but I was happy with the kit, the food, and the drinking. I did two more 200 kms, as well as the 11 Cities Tour with Simon again — really quick again. I also did the Dunwich; I rode there with the intention of cycling home. By Sunday 7 am, I had finished but chose to ride to Stowmarket with Mike Biggs and his son and took the train home. A 210-mile ride, and I felt OK — I could have gone further. I was recovered in a couple of days, which was good for my training.

So, what now? LEL runs from August 3rd to August 8th. Max Honey is also in the event — 957 miles in 125 hours. Will I complete it? Yes. In time? I don’t know. But I’ve prepared. I have the bike ready, know my sleeping strategy, drinking routine, planned stops, and I’ll be riding with three others as well, which will help. Look out for more on that event.

After LEL: sleep, put the bike in the garage, eat cake and sausage rolls!

What have I learnt? Enjoy it. No faffing — in and out of the controls whilst eating and drinking. Have the right bike that you can ride all day. Have kit you can ride in all day (or days).

I highly enjoy the challenge, the navigation (OK, we have a route to follow), the controls — both brevet card and eBrevet (the app) — seeing different places, meeting new people, and the various cafés and pubs.

See you on the road soon. 🚴‍♂️