After picking up their bikes from the transition area in Clift Meadow (and with helmets firmly in place!) Buns of Steel competitors then push their bikes across the gravel car park onto Minchens Lane (1). Once on their bikes, they ride up Minchens Lane as before but at the T-junction with Olivers (2) they turn right, over the railway bridge. They follow Olivers Lane south-east, then turn left at the junction with Bramley Lane onto Stratfield Saye Rd (4). At the Fiveways junction in Stratfield Saye (5) they turn sharp right back down Folly Lane, then right again at the junction with Olivers Lane (6) to follow that road all the way back across the Bramley Lane junction and across the railway bridge, turning left onto Minchens Lane and back to Clift Meadow, where the final event, the strength sprint, awaits.
(4) (5) (6)
Abs of Iron
6km run (NB changed from previous years!)
Abs of Iron runners start with the Buns of Steel route as described above, but instead of turning back at the Bramley Rd/Clappers Farm Road junction they turn right and follow the road almost to Clappers Farm itself. Just before the farm they turn right (7) onto an access road which leads under the railway. The turn point, with water-station, is a little further on (8). Runners then return on the same route to Clift Meadow to pick up their bikes for the 12km cycle.
(7) (8)
12km cycle
The Abs of Iron cycle route is identical to that for Buns of Steel above, except that for the 12km ride cyclists turn in Electricity Lane (9), just before the entrance to the Clift Meadow car park and on the opposite side of the road, to complete the loop a second time.
(9)