GPX / TCX Courses

Now that I'm starting to cycle more again (see my cycling page), I thought I might as well share some of the courses I've recorded using my Garmin Edge 705. Having looked for courses on the Internet before riding events I've had mixed success; some are available, others not, and of those which are available not all are particularly accurate.

If I've gone off course for any reason then I've attempted to detail it in the index below. Do keep in mind that some of these files relate to courses which might change year by year; don't assume that it will be identical. I've given my times so that you can use the  files to compare your pace with mine - but don't aim to keep pace with me if you're planning to win! 

The files also inculde elevation data. This is recorded by the 705 using its barometric altimeter, which tends to gradually change its readings during the course of a ride; in other words, if you were able to ride a perfectly flat course you'd probably find that it would record a long, gentle slope, either uphill or downhill. Therefore, whilst you are probably safe in assuming that a short, sharp hill on the profile will be there, you can't assume that the start and finish altitudes are particularly relevant.

Most of the courses bellow are now on Garmin Connect, which allows users to download courses in a number of formats, including straight to your own Garmin GPS, and which shows you pretty much all the information you're likely to want in one window. The links will take you to activity pages on the Garmin Connect website. 

However, some older files are still only downloadable directly from this website as TCX files or from Openstreetmap as GPX files. Openstreetmap is a (fantastic) mapping project, and well worth looking into if you use a GPS. The GPX files I've linked to there are conversions from my TCX files, but can't be viewed overlaid onto the map on the site itself (except for editing purposes). There are a number of sites that will allow you to do this, or you can simply drag and drop the file into Google Earth. Garmin Training Centre will need the TCX files, but the wonderful SportTracks (far, far better) will also import GPX files perfectly. 

Course / Event / Date Distance / Time Other notes Available downloads
B-10-33
Stowmarket & Dist CC 10
May 15th 2010		10 miles /
24:02		This course seems actually to be about 100 metres long - worth bearing in mind! It made the difference between this being a long 23 and a short 24. There was a north-westerly wind, giving an unhelpful cross wind out to the turn and much faster return. This ride got me 11th place. Garmin Connect
B-10-38
Stowmarket & Dist CC 10 - September 6th 2009		10 miles / 23:12When I started cycling "seriously" again at the start of 2009 I said I wouldn't ride dual carriageway courses. I'd managed it until this ride, which reminded me why. Phil Hollingsworth, and East Anglian CC time trialling stalwart who's been around since I started time trialling  in 1983, was in collision with a car. Luckily, his injuries were not as serious as they might have ben, and he was out of hospital fairly quickly. Anyway, I had a pretty clear run; it was a westerly wind, so it's much faster to the turn than the return leg. Garmin Connect
B-10-39R - CC Sudbury Club 10 - June 24th 201010 miles / 0:23:07Fairly straightforward; this was a pretty fast evening with a light NNW'ly wind. This is the "10" course CC Sudbury use for their evening time trials, though they do also use several non-standard distance courses, too.  Garmin Connect
B-10-43a
Gt Yarmouth CC 10 -
April 2nd 2010		10 miles /
23:31		There was a pretty strong southerly wind for this event - it was much faster out to the turn. Garmin Connect
B-25-2R
Ipswich BC 25
June 19th 2010		25 miles / 1:01:44A distinctly interesting day, with very strong winds and a torrential storm half way through my ride. This is a great sporting course, though - recommended. This ride got me 5th place. Garmin Connect
B-25-17 - Diss & Dist CC 25 - July 25th 201025 miles / 59:20There was a headwind out to the turn, but it was a fast return ride. One short delay when two cars cut me up at South Lopham on the way back. This is a rolling course on a busy-ish single carriageway "A" road. Garmin Connect
BS5 - Haverhill Wheelers Hilly 20 - April 4th 201019.8 miles / 50:18A fairly clear run (which can't be counted on with this course, it must be said!). This got me 9th place. Garmin Connect
BS31R - West Suffolk Wheelers 21 - March 13th 201021 miles / 52:35Recording stopped some distance beyond the finish line. This ride was good enough for 5th place. There was a brisk (14mph) wind from the west on the day of this event. Garmin Connect
CC Sudbury's Brent Eleigh course - June 3rd 20108.25 miles / 0:19:04This course is actually downhill. It just doesn't feel like it! It's one of four courses CC Sudbury use for their evening time trials. This time gained me the win.  Garmin Connect
CC Sudbury's Acton course - July 8th 20108.1 miles / 0:19:30This is one of the four courses CC Sudbury use for their evening time trials. It's quite easy for the first two miles... This ride got me 2nd place. Garmin Connect
CC Sudbury's Hitcham course - May 6th 201013 miles / 0:33:06This is a fairly tricky course - the first few miles are easy enough, but it then goes through a couple of villages and takes in some narrow lanes which make it a bit hair raising in the right (wong?) conditions. This ride got me 4th place. Garmin Connect
E7-50
Colchester Rovers 50
April 25th 2010		50 milesA slightly complicated one because I punctured after 10 miles. I finished, but spent 6 minutes sorting out the tub, and as a result the pace is a bit strange. Also, note that this course was both short, and different to the version used the previous year - check the course instructions before using this route!Garmin Connect
E9/25 - Unity CC 25 - June 13th 200925 miles / 1:00:31I reckon this course is about 200m too long - worth keeping in mind! This is not a particularly fast course. My ride was good enough for 5th place. Garmin Connect
E14/28 - Hainault RC Hilly - March 8th 200929 miles / 1:23:40I suggest not doing the little diversion around Passingford Bridge roundabout - it slows you down. This was only my second time trial after a lay off of many, many years, and it hurt.  annoyed smileyOpenstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
E18/20 - Maldon & Dist CC Hilly - March 1st 200920 miles / 55:14The short hill just after South Woodham Ferrers doesn't look as spectacular as Danbury on the course profile, but it's the one to take note of. Trust me, and if you don't, look at my speed at that point... This was my first time trial for a long time, right at the start of my "comeback". Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
E21/25a
Maldon & Dist CC 25
May 9th 2010 		25 miles / 1:02:51This is quite a technical course in places. It's also quite a complex course! the event was held in light drizzle, and the greasy roads resulted in at least two riders sliding off on corners.this ride gained me 10th place. Garmin Connect
E22/24
Essex Roads CC 24 mile
May 23rd 2010		24 miles / 58:14Quite a tough circuit. There was a bit of a W'ly wind for this ride. Garmin Connect
E22/47 - Colchester Rovers 47 - August 2nd 200947.4 miles / 2:02:12A nice clear ride, with two fairly evenly paced laps. The altitude readings at the start are a bit out - you'll be able to see this because the two laps are at different elevations!Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
E91/25
Elite CC 25 - April 18th 2010		25 miles / 1:00:17This isn't a particularly fast course, but it was a great (if cold!) and fairly windless day. Garmin Connect
E99/25 - Chelmer CC Hardriders 25 - March 28th 201025.5 miles / 1:06:37I was 9th with this time. There was a 17mph WSW wind, which made all but the first and last few miles very hard indeed. Different wind conditions might well result in much faster times.   Garmin Connect
ECCA Festival Road Race (3/4) - May 2nd 201054.6 miles / 2:21:03This was my first road race since 1994! It was a truly fould day, both wet and extremely cold. I was 3rd from a break of 3 riders which went clear just after half distance. Garmin Connect
Victoria CC Brazier's Run 100km Audax - February 27th 2010 64.2 miles / 4:01:55 There's one slight error in this route (detailed on Garmin Connect). Garmin Connect
End of Hibernation 200km Audax - March 21st 2010129.5 miles / 6:55:46My first case of the bonk for a long while. This is a lovely route, but when the ride broke up early on I did a bit too much work and ate rather too little (be aware that some of the cafes on the course can be very, very busy!). Garmin Connect
Essex Roads CC Spring Lambs Sportive - April 11th 2010 93.1 miles / 4:40:43 This is a great route, taking in some of Essex's best lanes. A tough ride! Garmin Connect
Garboldisham Grovel 200km Audax - July 11th 2010127.2 miles / 8:18:14 (including stops)This really was a bit of a grovel, largely because I rode most of the route either by myself or on the front. Lovely route, though. Garmin Connect
CC Sudbury Raid Essex 200km Audax - May 29th 2010122.2 miles / 7:09:44 (including stops)This is a decent course, although some of the roads can be a bit busy, especially on Saturdays. Garmin Connect
West Bergholt - VC Revolution Reliability Trial - February 1st 2009 50.3 miles / 2:46:28 I was the first rider back in the "silver" group, aiming for 2:45. This course would be useful if you are aiming for that standard. It was a windy day, so the pace fluctuates a bit! Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
Playford - Ipswich BC Reliability Trial - February 22nd 2009 64.7 miles / 3:13:49 The group went off course at two points (Hollesley, where we missed the first left, and south of Woodbridge on the way back, where we avoided Sandy Lane). I was within 30 seconds of the first riders back in the fast ("3:30") group.  Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
London Phoenix Easter Classic (sportive / reliability trial) - Fairlop - April 13th 2009 71 miles / 3:29:38 My actual time was 3:37, but the GPS was set to disregard "stopped" periods, of which there were several, due to (other people's) crashes as well as the check. There's one short section where I doubled back due to a crash; this may confuse the GPS slightly if following the route. Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)
Essex DA Windmill Ride 200km audax - June 28th 2009 131.5 miles / 8:40:35 (including stops -  7:34:08 without) This is a really lovely route. It should be almost exactly 130 miles, but I missed the Victoria CC club hut  at Ugley and had to double back to the checkpoint. The route will still work, although the distance to go will be slightly too great until that point. Openstreetmap GPX / TCX file (zipped)