Travellers’ tales: (Cycle) rider on the storm
Where: England
Who: Nadia Kerr
When: August 2025
What was meant to be a 1,540km London-Edinburgh-London audax cycling adventure with 2,000 riders in 2025 was cut short by Storm Floris.
I set off from Writtle at 5am on Sunday 3 August. I had cycled 470km to Richmond, North Yorkshire, by noon on Monday when the event was suspended. By evening, it was cancelled.
Around 1,000 riders groaned in unison. Richmond was the last control before the Pennines. Sending us on would have meant battling storm-force winds at one of the highest points. Safety came first but, after eight months of training, the disappointment was huge.
My ride back to Writtle became a very different experience: sociable, relaxed and in near-perfect weather Nadia Kerr
The cancellation created a major logistical task. Beds, blankets and food were suddenly in the wrong locations.
My ride back to Writtle became a very different experience: sociable, relaxed and in near-perfect weather. Riders heading south were in good spirits. No stopwatch, no racing through food stops, just steady miles and conversations.
In the end I had a 940km ride that was far more leisurely than planned. Will I return in 2029? Quite possibly!
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