Mike Bloom explains his thoughts behind longer rides

Mike is a life member of Audax UK and following his recent solo ride from Daventry to the Humber Bridge (and back) in 25 hours he describes in his own words the attraction of these rides and why they offer a different challenge to time trials or other cycling activities:

"Audax UK organise a big calendar of events of various distances throughout the year including foreign ones. They also have Permanent Rides which you can attempt on a date of you own choosing, also DIY Permanents for which you can make up your own route which, providing the organiser agrees with, he will issue you with a Brevet Card on which during your ride you get control stamps or attach till or cash dispenser tickets with time/date to prove your progress. As with time trials you have to ride them, not necessarily alone, but certainly unassisted. This is what I did last weekend leaving Daventry 10am Saturday. Out via Market Harborough, Oakham, Sleaford, Market Rasen, Brigg and to the Humber Bridge averaging 14.5 mph. Then returning via Caistor, Horncastle, Bourne, Stamford to Daventry through the night, especially in wildest Lincolnshire there is nowhere open so you have to carry food & liquid to tide you over. You don't need bad weather or mechanical trouble on them so your fingers are well crossed throughout. I have now completed a 2, 3,& 400k this year and only need a 600k which I already have booked, to make me a Super Randonee. So I am 'weather watching' from now on. Daventry, Marlow, Epsom, Marlow, Newark, Lincoln, Newark and back to Daventry within 40hrs is the target! To my disappointment I can't achieve a 22 min 10 mile so I get a kick out of doing these instead. I like permanents better than calendar events because you can choose your own day & weather."