Meeting at: Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy
Visiting: Made in Swindon, Orbital Shopping Park, Canadian Spitfire Pilot Memorial, Swindon, Honesty at The Base
Meeting at: Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy
Visiting: Made in Swindon, Orbital Shopping Park, Canadian Spitfire Pilot Memorial, Swindon, Honesty at The Base
Provided as a more accessible companion to Aces High, Tailgunner is aimed at riders who are not quite sure about taking on a 200 km distance just yet, or maybe haven't fully emerged from their winter hibernation. The Iron Maiden track, Tailgunner, draws on the horrors and realities of World War II aerial bombing campaigns and therefore dovetails in nicely with the spitfire themed Aces High. A shorter distance, but still with our Maiden-inspired style.
A moderately challenging ride, starting in Tadpole Garden Village with 2 info controls and 1 coffee stop!
The Audax distance award is 100K.
We operate all audaxes as shoestring+ events as we do not have access to a community hall/space.
We always provide refreshments (hot and cold) and light snacks at the start and end of each Trooper Series event. Those who have attended one of our events before will know there's usually a surprise at the end!
Starting at our usual location in Tadpole Garden Village you'll first head a short distance to the local retail centre where a modern art piece in the form of a Spitfire wing is the first Info control. From there, the route continues to the next memorial site on the east of Swindon marking the location where a pilot died after he crashed his Spitfire into a tree (this still stands bearing the scars of war).
You leave Swindon heading into Berkshire to RAF Greenham Common for the first Control; a café on the site of the old base. While the site is perhaps best known for the anti-nuclear protests of the 1980s, it also played an important role during the war years, hosting Spitfire training operations in the 1940s.
Enjoy a coffee with event participants with the added bonus of it being possible to meet up with some participating in the Aces High 200km event.
The return to Tadpole Garden Village is via Great Shefford, Lambourn and Shrivenham.
3 km - Info at Orbital Shopping Centre, Swindon
9 km - Info at Ermin Street, Swindon
54 km - Honesty at the Base, Greenham Common
The main TGV Audax Trooper Series rides (scheduled between April and July 2027) are a great way to experience Audax events. The series is designed to be progressionary with enough time to prepare you and your bicycle for the next increment in distance.
As an added incentive, riders who complete all four rides (500 km) in the series will receive a complimentary patch.
We also run a few out of series rides [such as this one] so keep a check on the Audax UK Calendar.