Audax rides

Are you talking about the Trading Post in Goostrey?

I am (I stopped there last time too... http://www.lfgss.com/post4102304-2197.html)

I also spotted my first fixed gear there the other week - ginger kid on a silver create with red rims

Reprazent. Their eclairs are boss.

I will remember that next time I'm there! Quad choc cookies grabbed my attention yesterday, how do you even get chocolate in a cookie 4 times?!

Supposed to be riding the Peaks and Troughs tomorrow, weather has been horrible all week and the forecast for tomorrow is heavy rain all day. Need to get some miles in this weekend but wary of spending a day cold, wet and ending up making myself ill... Choices, choices...

P2 of the most recent Arivée - Gerry Adams looks much more cheerful riding his bike rather than being questioned over a grisly murder.

Very windy. Wondering about tomorrow's Hop Garden ride. Did a short training ride into Kent yesterday and felt like I was going to get blown over. Hmm. What to do?

Not sure about the Hop Garden myself. Was going to enter the 200, then looked properly at the forecast and realised that the stretch along the marshes would be dead into the teeth of the gale, with no shelter.

But today's been so much drier than predicted that I'm thinking about emailing the org to see if I can turn up and EOL. See what the forecast says in a bit, I guess.

Draw up the route following the route sheet that was emailed earlier today, made some small change to it...

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/2597653-bryan-chapman-memorial-2014/

Did you guys do the hop garden?

Draw up the route following the route sheet that was emailed earlier today, made some small change to it...

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/2597653-bryan-chapman-memorial-2014/

12959ft what went wrong Ed ?

One of the bridge is closed so a big detour is needed, plus I found a quieter if hiller route after the detour.

Going to work on the route until I'm happy with it.

Did you guys do the hop garden?

I did, found it harder than the Cambridge 300 previously....wind was a bit of a killer....hills were a relief....

I think you might regret that shortcut. It's going to be pretty testing amid all of the other climbing that you're going to be doing, particularly with a couple of 17% ramps chucked in. If you're going to chuck in the extra climbing for a short cut you'll be better of doing the double pass of Trawsfynedd.

Also worth noting that Penrhyndeudreath is an important refueling point for those wishing to travel a bit lighter. With good weather being forecast, you don't want to get yourself caught short of water facing the Pen Y Pass.

Are helmet lights a good idea when audaxing? I know it's handy when mountainbiking at night to see where you're going, wondering if it's too distracting, dangerous for drivers (contemplating sticking an Exposure Joystick on it's lowest setting + mini redeye on the back...) etc.

Opinion is divided.

One on hand they provide a handy means of picking up high signs and reading a routesheet in the dark. On the other hand they can be distracting for drivers and fucking annoying for anyone riding with you if you turn your head unexpectedly.

I prefer a handlebar mounted light and occasional use of a finger light if I'm going to be picking through a bitty route in the dark.

A helmet light is massively useful when you do get a puncture in the middle of the night, needn't be a proper one, just a cheap head torch is ample enough.

But mainly as TSK said, great to read sign without jerking your bike toward it to glimpse it before veering away from the verge.

Bear in mind the law don't count helmets light as part of the bicycle if you intend to only ride with them.

Good points there. I'll pop it on the fork eyelets and Hope on the handlebar. Will leave the helmet mount on anyway, always useful to have hand's free light if there's midnight repairs, opening gates, finding somewhere to piss and so on...

Did you guys do the hop garden?

I bailed. Too scared of the wind.

Just signed up for the Ditchling Devil. I have done London-Brighton and Brighton London a few times now so not that worried. But I still suck at climbing. I need to spend some time over the next couple of weeks doing some climbing training.

That looks like a top ride. I'd love to do that.

Having said that however, is 2400m over 200k a lot of climbing? I did L-B last year with my GF and a mate and between us we were pretty poor climbers on fairly crappy bikes but we managed it OK.

The DD's a nice ride - did it last year and would do it again in June if I wasn't signed up for the Snow Roads. Three climbs that took a bit of effort - the rest was grand.

As for the Hop Garden, decided I didn't fancy it and sat at home listening to the wind howling. Should have entered it in advance - I don't think I'd have DNSd.

I think you might regret that shortcut. It's going to be pretty testing amid all of the other climbing that you're going to be doing, particularly with a couple of 17% ramps chucked in. If you're going to chuck in the extra climbing for a short cut you'll be better of doing the double pass of Trawsfynedd.

Invaluable advice, thank you, The main reason is that when going through Street view, it look like a much more scenic route.

I reckon it very much depend on how I feel when I'm near Trawsfynedd, if I feel like I got plenty in my legs, scenic detour it is.

Also worth noting that Penrhyndeudreath is an important refueling point for those wishing to travel a bit lighter.

Indeed, though I'm very much self sufficient, but gonna carry two very big bottle just in case.

Having said that however, is 2400m over 200k a lot of climbing?

I would says that there's four climb that you'll find a challenge; Turner Hill, Ditchling Beacon, Tongdean Lane and Combe Lane, but otherwise fairly decent, the return legs after Devil Dykes is fairly flat with the exception of Combe Lane.

12959ft what went wrong Ed ?

Probably forget to delete one point that add an extra 20km.

Finish my route, happy with it, bring it on.

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/2599490-bryan-chapman-memorial-2014/

How is your climbing total so low?