CTC Cambridge

Wednesday 6 May 2026 

Here are some frequently-asked questions about the CTC Cambridge audaxes on Saturday 11 July 2026:

• What's an Audax?
• How do I know where the route goes?
• You say it's family-friendly - can I bring my kids?
• Okay, I'll sign up. What happens next?
• What bike should I bring?
• Where can I park on the day?
• Ignoring those mad riders leaving at midnight, what happens on the day?
• There are riders leaving at midnight?!
• What do I do about food and drink on the day?
• Is there a time limit?
• I don't particularly like that road on your route - is the route mandatory?
• What happens if my bike breaks?
• What if I can't go on?
• I've done it! Wow, that was good. What now?
• Is there a medal at the end?
• I've heard about this Audax 50:50 initiative, what's that all about?

What's an audax?

An audax is similar to a sportive or a charity bike ride, but is volunteer-run and hence quieter and cheaper - and more focused on countryside, cake and cooked breakfasts than whizzing round at top speed.

Normally, audax focuses on long-distance riding with distances of 200km (125 miles) and beyond. But we at CTC Cambridge are offering rides of 50km, 100km, 150km (100 miles), 200km and 300km on Saturday 11 July 2026. All our rides have an entry fee of £10.50 except the 50km which is £7.50 to encourage families. Choose your route and sign up here. Entries close on 3 July.

How do I know where the route goes?

The route is not signposted, but will be provided in advance – there will be a file to download to your phone or bike computer, or a route sheet for you to print out. The idea is that you have to prove you've ridden the route by visiting controls along the way – like a giant outdoor treasure hunt, or a bit like orienteering.

On the day, you get a little card which we call a "brevet". This has boxes for each "control point" along the route. Controls may be staffed by volunteers, who will stamp your brevet. Or the control might be an unstaffed "info control", where you need to answer a question about the location, such as "How many miles to Duxford?". If you prefer to do everything electronically you can download the Audax UK E-Brevet app, and click your way around the course.

You say it's family-friendly - can I bring my kids?

Yes, but an adult must remain with children throughout and you'll need to sign a consent form per child before you start. Please let me know if you are bringing children so that I can print enough consent forms.

You'll need an entry per rider, so that riders have a brevet card each. It is probably cost-effective to join Audax UK and get household membership as children under 12ish are free. Existing AUK members: there should be an option to upgrade from solo to household membership on your dashboard, but this might not show up the discount for younger kids. Please email for more info.

The 100km route is mainly quiet roads and a long section of traffic-free path, although there is one unavoidable busier road to link up nicer sections. I reckon my kids (not particularly sporty, but happy with cycling for touring and transport) would have been able to manage it from age about 13. The 50km is almost completely traffic-free; my kids would have been fine from about 10 years old. You know your own children, and what they are capable of - but please ask if you need more information.

Okay, I'll sign up. What happens next?

A week before the event, I will email you with:

• GPX file to download
• Routesheet
• Route notes containing: cafe suggestions, useful points of interest (toilets, taps, corner shops), nerdy route trivia
• info about trains and routes from the station
• info about where to park and routes from the car park

What bike should I bring?

Whatever is most comfortable and reliable for a day out. The 50km ride includes some long sections of bumpy off-road which might be uncomfortable on very narrow tyres. I ride the tracks on my touring bike with 28mm Marathon tyres but it is a bit tiring. An on-road route will be provided nearer the time, although it will be a bit longer than the off-road route.

Where can I park on the day?

Three options:

1. Park at Trumpington Park and Ride, next to junction 11 of the M11 (the A10). Location map. If you are doing a longer ride, please consider this option: parking is free for up to 18 hours. If you're riding the 300km then note that parking costs £10 for stays of 18-24 hours. There is a height limit on the car park - do be careful if you are carrying a bike on the roof! It's a 7 km (4 miles) ride from there to the hall in Haslingfield. We'll send you a route.
2. Park on Haslingfield High Street
3. Park at the hall itself. Space is limited so this is for people who really need it. Please ask us to reserve a space for you. This is especially for people on the shorter routes.

Ignoring those mad riders leaving at midnight, what happens on the day?

We have rides leaving every 30 minutes, so please aim to arrive 25 minutes before your start time. You'll get:

1. tea/coffee and light breakfast (toast, cereal, porridge)
2. loos
3. a brevet card.

Then we'll wave you off! Riders on the 50km route will come back to Haslingfield partway; we'll have a light lunch/cake on offer, or you can bring your own.

There are riders leaving at midnight?!

Yes, the 300km ride sets off from Cambridge central train station just after midnight. Riders will head up to Swaffham in Norfolk for the 24hr McDonalds, then down to Southwold on the Suffolk coast for breakfast. Roger will provide hot drinks and cake/bacon until the cafe in Southwold opens; the Co-op opens at 6am. Then on to Lavenham for lunch or afternoon tea and finally back to Haslingfield for teatime. The departure is timed to line up with trains; if have any problems, text me on the day.

What do I do about food and drink on the day?

Controllers will have snacks (probably haribo) and water available, but there's nothing like the feed stops you get on a sportive or charity ride. I'll give cafe and shop suggestions for you to purchase your own food on the road, so bring your wallet. Food will be available on your return to Haslingfield (there'll be plenty of vegetarian food, do let me know if you have any other special diet and we'll try our best).

Is there a time limit?

There is, but it is quite generous - it's not a race and there are no prizes for coming first. Rides are not about gratuitous hills and flogging yourself; there may be the odd bit of busy road or an annoying hill on longer routes, but they are primarily about seeing lovely landscapes and pretty villages. The timings on Saturday 11 July 2026 are roughtly:

• 300 km ride: start 12.15am (just after midnight), finish by 9.15pm
• 200 km ride: start 8am, finish by 10pm
• 150 km (100 miles) start 8.30am, finish by 10.15pm
• 100 km ride: start 9am, finish by 6pm
• 50 km ride: start 9.30am, finish by 3pm

I don't particularly like that road on your route - is the route mandatory?

No; so long as you visit all the controls, then it's up to you what roads you use.

What happens if my bike breaks?

We are a small group doing this for fun, so please make sure your bike is in roadworthy condition before you set off. If something happens, phone the organiser number on your brevet card and we'll do our best to help. There will be lots of other riders around, many very experienced and more than happy to help. We encourage all riders to help each other out - it's not a race! Riders who help each other out get extra kudos and cake (and time if need be).

What if I can't go on?

Oh dear! Luckily there are plenty of train stations around, or you can look up nearby taxi companies. Please also phone the organiser to let us know, and we may be able to offer suggestions on getting back.

I've done it! Wow, that was good. What now?

Well done! We'll check your brevet card (or your e-Brevet app) and validate your ride. Hurrah, you get points and a sticker! Then join us for more drinks and food (beans on toast, pizza, cake). Chill with other riders, debrief and bask in your glory.

Is there a medal at the end?

We will have medals and cloth patches for sale - please bring cash or a way of doing an online transfer as I don't have a card machine. Medals are £3 and patches are £1.50, or free for children - got to have something to show off at school on Monday! There will also be mudguard stickers available for free.

I've heard about this Audax 50:50 initiative, what's that all about?

To celebrate Audax UK's 50th year, me and some other audax women are trying to get more women to give audax a try, with an aspiration of getting to 50:50 on some rides. I find audax works really well for me, as I'm not really into the rushing about aspect of sportives.

I am particularly hoping that the 100 mile ride (branded as 150km because Audax UK is all about kilometres rather than miles) will be of interest to women who are looking for a challenge. There's something massively exciting about your first imperial century, it's a real landmark. The 150km (100 mile) event should be a really good first imperial century - lovely route, lots of support, very achievable.

Do get in touch if you have any questions: audax@ctccambridge.org.uk

Yasmin