CYCLING as a sport and pastime has many different aspects and one which seems to be becoming increasingly popular is timed touring in what are known as Audax events or Randoneurs.

AN increasingly popular aspect of cycling is timed touring - in what are known as Audax events or Randoneurs.

Several Cycling Club Breckland members have set their sights this year in participating in their most adventurous target so far.

The challenge is to ride from London to Edinburgh, some 870 miles, starting on July 26 and finishing on July 30.

Entrants will have to check in at control points situated at every 50 mile point along the route.

In total six riders from this area will be taking up the challenge - Ken Price, Tony Reynolds, Don Saunders and tri-cyclist Martin Badham from CC Breckland together with Norwich Amateur BC members Daryl Glover and Tony Goodall.

Getting their legs in training Price and Saunders, along with Mark Fairhead, rode the Raid Essex 200km Audax on Saturday which started at Long Melford in Suffolk and dipped deep into the Essex countryside before returning to the start point.

Not a popular distance for time triallists, the 15-mile midweek club event attracted a mixed field - some of whom opted to ride just one lap of the Scoulton-based course.

But actual fastest over the full distance was Oliver Milk (Norwich ABC) in 35 minutes 56 seconds.

Chris Nudds was second in 36:32 closely followed by junior Adam Cross in 36:55.

Geoff Maller recorded 38:06, Don Saunders 38:11 and newcomer Steve Artherton 43:16.

Second-claim member Pete Hamon finished in 45:25 while Steve Penney rode one lap in 27:03 and 13-year-old Emily Davis took 25:20 over the same distance.