The Cambridge Pork Pie — Extra Slice — 200 calendar event Enter this event »

8am, Saturday 18 March 2017, from the Recreation Pavilion, Girton, Cambridge (next to the church).

225km, 15 to 30kph (6h48m to 13h32m).  2200m of climbing.

The Extra Slice is an alternative route for the Cambridge Pork Pie 200km audax event.  This route is 10km longer and 300m more climbing — it is just about AAA status for 100km — and yet uses the same single control at Melton Mowbray as the Classic Pork Pie.  You must work harder for the scenery, but it's worth it if you have the legs for it!

IMPORTANT

This route is offered as an alternative to the Classic for those riders who rode the Classic last year, and are looking for a new route, and are full of winter miles!  If you are not one of these riders then you probably want the Classic Pork Pie instead!  As far as entry is concerned, this is the same event as the classic, just an alternative route — you can decide on the day which you would prefer to ride, you do not have to do anything different.  And if you do ride this then please let us know how you get on!

ONLY USE THIS ROUTE IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT OF YOUR ABILITY ON THE DAY — YOU MUST STILL FINISH IN THE SAME TIME AS THE CLASSIC RIDERS!

The first quarter of this route is the same as the Classic with a group-friendly 60km run to Oundle.  Shortly after Oundle this route turns left where the Classic heads straight on — the Extra route heads west into hillier country, passing through many picture-postcard villages of sandstone and thatch, climbing up-and-over to Laude Abbey and eventually dropping down into Melton Mowbray from the other side.  From Melton Mowbray all riders use the same return route to Girton, Cambridge.

If you ride this route, when you turn left just after Oundle, please check that all your riding partners intend to go the same way as you — I don't want to lose any Classic riders on the Extra route, that would be not-good!

Strong riders should be fine on this route — the extra distance is not onerous and the climbing is steady.  As a benchmark, I managed to ride this route on fixed-gear in just over 12 hours, so geared riders with plenty of winter miles ridden should be okay, so long as their endurance holds.  Note, though, that if the wind is in the wrong quarter then this could be a very tough choice!

The routesheet and GPS files

We rode the route to check the route, routesheet and GPS files on 29 October 2016; the route was ridden again in January 2017.  (updated 5 March 2017)

There are two versions of the GPS files, depending on your device: the standard GPX files will work with all modern devices; the 500-point GPX files are required for eTrex and similar legacy devices.  You need to download only one, unzip the two GPX files and install BOTH GPX files to your device. 

NOTE There are THREE GPX files in each ZIP file: both out and back routes for the Classic PLUS the OUT route for the Extra.  You need at least one out route PLUS the back route. If you take all three routes then you have options on whether to ride the Extra or just the Classic after Oundle.  (updated 5 March 2017)

You can browse the route and view the elevation profile on RideWithGPS here

Have a great, safe ride!  Enter this event »