400k - 12 June 2020
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.
The route passes Glastonbury Tor at dawn in midsummer
" 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
The Bath cycle tunnel
Bristol-Bath Cyclepath
Finishing the following evening
GPX files for 2015 here http://www.aukweb.net/gps/401g.zip
Elevation profile below
Details on the start pub the ""Half Moon Inn", Clayhidon