Upper Thames

General information
The Upper Thames in its current format has been running since 2004 with a gap in 2020 for COVID. There was a gap in the calendar for rides qualifying for "Randonneur Round the Year" in November, so this event was slotted in. While there are now plenty of November events in the calendar, this event is well-established, with large entry fields. As it is always on the first Saturday in November, the slower riders have traditionally been entertained to firework displays in the latter stages.
This is a 207 km ride, and requires considerable stamina. Daylight hours are short (most riders finish in the dark) and November weather is likely to be cold and/or wet. Entrants are expected to be experienced cyclists, familiar with riding this distance, and able to carry out routine simple repairs should they be needed. Wet roads over the Chilterns are notorious for flints, so it is wise to carry multiple spare inner tubes. GOOD, RELIABLE LIGHTS ARE ESSENTIAL. There is no mechanical support on the ride, and no roadside event signage.
This event is not a race. Please avoid doing anything that could spoil the event - be courteous to all those you meet on the ride (including drivers, horse riders and pedestrians) and act as an ambassador for audax and cycling generally. Because the roads are likely to be wet and muddy, we request that you fit mudguards if possible so that we can maintain good relationships with our cafe controls at Waterperry and Chipping Norton. As with most of the country, the state of repair of the roads can best be described as poor. Many roads, particularly in the Chilterns and Cotswolds, will be covered in leaf-fall, making the spotting of poor road surfaces more difficult. It is the responsibility of all riders to take suitable care.
The 2022 event will be on 5th November 2022
Entries are now closed

New organisers for 2022

If you have entered the Upper Thames in previous years then there are two notable changes for 2022.
1) Since we are in our first year of organising, we cannot validate Brevet cards at the finish and will have to send them off. If you would like your Brevet card back, please bring a stamped self-addressed envelope with you.
2) We will do our absolute best to match the standard of catering that Phil and Mary have perfected over the years but we might not quite match it. We promise that you won't leave hungry, but there's a chance you might not leave impressed.

Any queries about this event should be directed to the organiser, Victoria Lawson, at lawson.victoria@ymail.com

About the route
From Cholsey the route goes up the Chiltern escarpment to Stoke Row (look out for the Maharajah's Well - BBC article and consider quipping that you didn't know he'd been ill), then skirts the edge of Henley, along the Assendon Valley then up and over to Christmas Common and Watlington. The route then has a relatively flat interlude, skirting Wheatley to the tea-room at the Waterperry garden centre. Soon after Waterperry the lumpiness starts again, taking riders through Long Crendon, out to an info control at Ashendon, on via Bicester, and then through some pretty North Cotswold villages to Chipping Norton where riders stop at the Old Mill Cafe. Riders then travel south through rolling country to cross the Windrush Valley at Minster Lovell, then on to Brize Norton (it's pretty much all flat now), Bampton, Charney Bassett, the Hanneys, Steventon and skirt south of Didcot back to Cholsey. Apart from the Cafe controls at Waterperry and Chipping Norton, there are also Information controls at Dunsden Green, Northend, Ashendon and Charney Bassett.
There will be snacks at the start, and hot food available at the finish, all included in the entry fee. You will be responsible for feeding yourself during the event. The controls at Waterperry and Chipping Norton (approx 1/3 and 2/3 of the way round) provide a range of food and drink. There are plenty of shops on the route - these are marked on the routesheet.
While the Old Mill at Chipping Norton is well set up to handle large numbers fairly quickly, it does get very busy during "normal" lunchtime, so faster riders arriving before 2 may wish to eat elsewhere. There are other cafes, a Sainsburys, numerous pubs, and a fish and chip shop.

Event HQ
The start/finish is at Cholsey Scout Hall, which is behind the Red Lion pub in Wallingford Road, Cholsey. (OX10 9LG, W3W canny.covers.thousands but see note below re parking) The control will open at about 0645, and hot & cold drinks, toast, and bananas will be available. You will find your brevet card on the table opposite the entrance. There is no need to register - if your card is taken I assume you have started. The event starts at 0730, in order to maximise daylight riding. The start control will remain open until about 0800 to allow for late arrivals.
How to get there
Cholsey is between Reading and Oxford, just south of Wallingford and east of Didcot. The nearest station is Cholsey, on the London Paddington - Oxford line.
Parking
Parking is provided about 300 m away from HQ (W3W proud.crouches.everybody), and will be signposted on the day. Please park tidily, and remember that local residents will likely still be asleep! Cars must not be parked in the pub car park - this can be used for drop-off only.

Riding the event as a permanent
Because of the use of info controls on this route, it is not available as a conventional audax permanent. However, it can be ridden as a GPS DIY. If you are from That London and Paul Stewart is your perm organiser, you can simplify the entry process by telling Paul on the entry form you are entering "DIYSE Brevet 12872".
Files
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41316667
Routesheet and joining instructions will be emailed to riders

The Upper Thames 2021

From event founder Phil Dyson:
The 2021 event concluded successfully, with 102 riders completing the event. Over the years this has always been a popular event, and I am very grateful for the support it, and I, have received. There are many riders, some now regular audax participants, for whom this event was their first 200km event. I've always said it was a brave choice to use a November 200 that traverses both the Chilterns and the Cotswolds as a first try at the distance. This year was no exception - I am aware of at least three people who were audax novices, including my son Andy. Chapeau to all.
£600 was donated to Thames Valley Air Ambulance as a result of the large number of entries and the generosity of riders at the arrivee.

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