Avalon

400k - 31 May 2019

Starting from a pub on the Blackdown Hills near Taunton at 10:30pm this event rides through the night to dawn somewhere in Somerset. Then across the Severn Bridge and back home again.

There were 29 successful finishers on the 2015 edition of the ride

The route passes Glastonbury Tor at dawn in midsummer

Photo by Lokabandhu from Flikr

What riders say:

" highly recommended. Pitched tent in evening sun. Ate in pub. Rolled off into the night. Sunrise as promised after a mystical ride across the levels. Badgers duly spotted. The final climb to the finish rewarded by included pub meal and a couple of non included pints. Slumped into tent waking to birdsong and glorious sunny morning among the buttercup meadows. Unforgettable."

"Some loverly descents"

"I liked crossing the Somerset levels with the low sun"

"Really impressed with the route through the night, just wasn't expecting the main roads to be so amazingly quiet"

"Great day out"

"I did it! My first 400"

"Excellent event & one I'd like to do again"

"The people at the pub were friendly, great send off"

"Could be a classic..."

"This is a totally wizard ride"

"..a wonderful section across the Somerset levels followed with early morning light across the wide open fields; Glastonbury was reached just as the sun topped over the Tor"

Review article from Arrivée magazine HERE

Preview of 2011 edition HERE

Report of the 2011 start here

Some highlights are: descending from Wheddon Cross at night, the Bristol-Bath cyclepath and crossing the Severn Bridge

Includes the internationally recognised BRM certification. The 2015 version is a Paris-Brest-Paris qualifying ride.

Although this a long way to ride it isn't a race. The challenge is to complete the course in less than 27 hours.

The start in the dark