What happens if …

.. you are on an Audax ride and you find that the road is closed?

It happens, even when the organiser of a calendar event has checked the route a few days before. In fact, I can remember one period when it happened so many times that I commented to fellow riders that it’s not an Audax unless there’s a road closure. Often, perhaps usually, it’s possible to get around barriers. Sometimes not.

All was going well, really well, on my DIY 200 km on Sunday 13 November. It was warmish for the time of year and there was no rain forecast. As I reached the top of Fifield Lane to turn right on Drift Road, I met a “road closed” sign with a large digger and a van with two workmen. Instead of stopping to ask if I could ride through, I made my way past on to a very muddy road with sections where the road had been excavated across half its width ready for rebuilding. Still, I continued rashly, thinking I could probably get through.

Road definitely closed!

There was no way round this, not even on foot. I took a photo as proof of the road closure and turned around to ride back. As I hopped on to the verge my foot caught the front mudguard which then detached from the fixings on the fork. Just as well I had brought the tool kit which I had thought of leaving at home to save weight!

A quick look at the map on my phone confirmed that I could ride back down Fifield Lane and turn left and eventually left again to rejoin Drift Road at a roundabout. I’d then have to ride back along Drift Road to the end of the road works. Fortunately, there was a “Road closed” sign at the roundabout; I simply had to stop and take a photo before turning right at the roundabout to continue towards Hurst.

End of road works

When I got home I opened my planned route in plotaroute and overlaid the file showing my actual route.

Detail: I opened the planned route, then chose Clear - Leave Route, leaving the planned route as a red line. I then uploaded the actual ride which shows in blue, leaving the section I could not ride in red.

Actual route in blue, intended route in red

I sent the tcx file of my ride to Paul Stewart with a brief explanation of the road closure; he had no problem in validating the ride. First 200 km of the new Audax year completed.