Fleet Moss Audax - May 2013

Fleet Moss and Supporting Audax Rides

For my sins, I will be taking part in the Fleet Moss Audax Ride that is taking place on Sunday 19th May 2013.  I did the ride last year with the cycling club that I am currently a member, the Ribble Valley Cycling and Racing Club, who help organise the event each year.  Last year the ride was very enjoyable, and quite challenging.  The Fleet Moss climb is very tough and has a couple of steep kicks at the end.  You really need some pretty low gears for those.  I personally was zigzagging all over the road at the latter stages of the climb just to get up it.

A View from Fleet Moss Looking Back Towards Hardraw and Hawes

If you have ever tried or are thinking of riding a Sportive, then why don't you have a go at an Audax as an alternative?  Why not join the RVCRC (Ribble Valley Cycling and Racing Club) for one of three challenging but beautiful cycle rides starting and finishing at Claughton Memorial Village Hall, near Garstang in Lancashire (Grid Ref. SD 513428).

The rides are open to all cyclists (not just Audax UK members) and they will suit club-men, time-trialists, recreational riders, cycle tourists, 'born again' cyclists, young and old, male and female.  The length of the rides and the climbing involved means that cycling experience is definitely necessary.  It's important that you sure you are capable of tackling these rides before entering.

The rides are NOT races and should be ridden at your own pace. People ride them more in the spirit of an event like the London Marathon, everyone riding to their own limitations with the primary objective to 'get round'.  The three available rides offer distances of 112km (70 miles), 158km (98 miles) or 212km (132 miles) and all have the same start and finish point.

Pilgrim's Way 112km (70 miles)

Beautiful, moderately hilly ride, through (or close to) Longridge, Waddington, Downham, East Marton, Hellifield, Bolton-by-Bowland, Waddington, Chipping, Claughton. Café stop at Abbot’s Harbour.

Lunesdale Populaire 158km (98 miles)

This ride is shorter than the main Fleet Moss ride, but still a hard, hilly event.  This ride follows the Fleet Moss route to Dent, which includes the Trough of Bowland and Lamb & Tatham Fell.  After that the route goes to Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, then Quernmore to Scorton and back to Claughton HQ. 

For Audax members this ride is worth 2.25 Audax AAA climbing points.

Fleet Moss 212km (132 miles)

This is the main ride and is a very challenging ride through beautiful countryside including the Forest of Bowland and Upper Wharfedale.  The climbs include the Trough of Bowland, Lamb & Tatham Fell, Dent & the infamous Fleet Moss.  After Fleet Moss the route takes in Wharfedale, Kettlewell, Grassington, Gargrave and Bolton-by-Bowland.  There is a final climb of Chaigley (Walker Fold) through Chipping and then the route takes the rider back to the HQ in Claughton. 

For Audax members this ride is worth 3.25 Audax AAA climbing points.

Fleet Moss

RVCRC (Ribble Valley Cycling and Racing Club) Fleet Moss Audax Profile

The hardest part of the Fleet Moss climb is on Beggarmans Roads, which is on the way from Hawes to Oughtershaw and Deepdale.  Photographs, maps and aerial views never really give the true steepness of a climb away, but the hardest part can be seen on the following view on Google Maps.

View Larger Map

If you are thinking of having a go or definitely want to take part in one of the three available Audax rides, please see the PDF document of an A4 poster that RVCRC have published to promote the event.

Fleet Moss Audax Rides RVCRC Sunday 19 May 2013

For further details and entry forms, please see the Audax UK web site (www.aukweb.net) or get in touch with the RVCRC event organiser by email: rvcrc-fleetmoss-2013@hotmail.com

The specific page on the Audax UK web site relating to the Fleet Moss 212 event is on the following URL:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-880/