Willesden's Last Gasp

620km cycling event starting from Kings Cross-St Pancras. Controls at Princes Risborough, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kinver, Shrewsbury, Rugeley, Colsterworth Services, Daventry and Hitchin., plus 6 information controls.

Designed to have plenty of motel night stops and be easy for riders without cars. All the controls are commercial and you post your brevet using the SAE provided.

I have left this event in the calendar in case it can be run and if not on June 20th I may push it back. If the event doesn't go ahead or it moves to a date no good for an entrant I will give a full refund. 622km of excellent cycling. This is a route that connects Britain's greatest engineer's burial place and its two greatest scientists' birthplaces. You start from Kings Cross - St Pancras at a time when most people in London and the Home Counties can get a train into a London terminus and cycle across town. You skirt Willesden (Brunel) and then head NW to Shrewsbury (Darwin). Motels at six places en-route, including Colsterworth(Newton), to suit riders of different speeds. Hitchin Station is the end point and after 6:30am there is a good rail service back to Kings Cross. The route is very largely on B roads and minor roads. All the controls are 'free' controls, so you choose where to eat and drink and get the all important receipt. When the choice is limited at night the route sheet will tell you what's open - including at places en-route which are not controls. You will need full lighting to cycle by for only about 5hrs 30 min, and Sunset-Sunrise is just over 7 hours. For anyone who cannot make 7.00 the start will remain open to 8.00 or a bit later, but you will have to ride a bit faster to finish in time. The event is dedicated to Mike 'The Bike' Ellison who was a much loved member of Willesden CC. Mike completed five PBPs, succeeding at 80, 84 and 90 hours. One time he left qualifying so late he had to ride three 600s in one week. Entrants will have the GPX, routesheet (PDF & Excel) and Rider Briefing emailed to them. Some minor route improvements will be made using lessons gained from its first running in 2019.