What with the slippery weather I’d not really expected to get out on the bike again this year and wasn’t too bothered as I was having fun running in the snow instead. The thaw was quite rapid though and the A and B roads started looking tempting so I hatched a possible plan for a main road 200k DIY GPS without much climbing: Oxford – Denham – Brackley – Chipping Norton – Oxford.

December 30th looked a good bet so I put in an entry the day before. The idea of 50 miles on the A413 and A41 had started to worry me so I’d quickly planned a lanesy alternative conditions permitting.

Early morning along the A40 was good, as an old coach road the gradients are good for fixed wheel and most of the traffic was on the parallel M40. High Wycombe and Beaconsfield were a bit cary and the surface was too rough for comfort but soon enough I reached Denham at 57k where I had a quick sandwich and back on the bike within 10 minutes.

My route through the Chilterns proved pleasant if a little lumpy, a couple of the valleys were still slushy and it was foggy enough to warrant leaving a rear flasher on. Definitely preferable to the dual carriageway though. Past Chequers, where I resisted the urge to ‘wave’ at the security cameras, then a rough descent and into the flatlands.

I was tiring and already had a plan for a sit down eat somewhere in Aylesbury, the distance clicked over the 1st 100k as I entered the town and once there I felt temporarily fine and foolishly rode on through only giving the last nutritional possibility, a Hungry Horse, a passing glance as I left via the busy A41 then disappeared into some foul country lanes. 120k saw me standing in something unpleasant by the side of the road munching dried fruit and ibuprofen while feeling rather sorry for myself.

Brackley arrived slowly and a rest for coffee, juice and chips by a log fire in the rather posh but empty Crown Hotel sorted me out. Just after leaving Brackley I had to negotiate one of those fast roundabouts where even the cars are hesitant to pull out so I was glad to be back on the ball.

I made good progress to Chipping Norton, it was a short stage if mostly uphill. The fields by the Oxford Canal after Aynho were under water both sides of the road which fortunately runs on a causeway. Flood water gushed down the tarmac and verges of the climb that followed. I was pleased not to have to push the fixie up any hills this time but did have to suddenly stop and ‘check my rear light’ halfway up one lump around here. As the light started to fade and I climbed back into the fog I found much of the Cotswolds was still white with snow, it was eerie in the glow of my 10 watt halogen.

Felt good enough to not stop in Chippy but with 40 dark kilometres yet to do I let common sense persuade me to have a 5 minute rest and a Frys Peppermint bar.  I usually try to avoid the folly of telling myself ‘it’s all downhill from here’ but it mostly was and the last leg proved to be the fastest stage despite the B road from Charlbury being of a reduced width due to snow.

Reaching North Oxford I realised I’d be on for an 11 hour finish if I pushed it a bit and with that in mind whizzed back to complete the 213k in 10:59. I was hungry and in time for tea so had 2 helpings of the risotto Jane had just cooked up then relaxed with a beer and a copy of the AUK events calender. I was considering a return to longer audaxes where I would ride through the night on 2 hours sleep and greet the dawn on 2 wheels – by 8 o’clock I was dozing in the chair.