Audax rides

I work on Upper Ground so if I know the rough timings I can come outside and shout HTFU at various people...

Forgot I'm working from home today. Idiot.

What a lovely day out. I had five riders in tow as I had ridden the route before and I had also mapped the route sheet as a gpx file. Never been on the Emirates Air Line before so that was nice. Being able to ride to and from the start was also good rather than rely on trains. No significant hills so did it fixed and with a ton of stuff in my pannier than wasn't needed.

Someone addressed me by name and asked how I was enjoying the ride. I answered, "good thanks", but then realised that I didn't know the person (or at least didn't recognise them) only later on when they had gone. Anyone here?

Lovely stuff! What sort of time did you do it in?

Got in around 17:50 which is 8h 20min I guess. Lots of stopping and chatting. One guy taking photos of everything. We stopped to watch the changing of the guard as well as we arrived just in time. Good to meet some new people.

One guy in the group was 72 and said that he'd done every audax both UK and abroad. Still cycles at least 200 miles a week.

Just booked on the 10 Thames Bridges. Three quid - bargain. Is it fixed friendly?

Mille Cymru

1020km tour of Wales in a weekend (?!!!!)

*One ride to rule them all. One ride to find them. One ride to bring them all, and in the green hills bind them. An epic quest across Wales' ancient land of myths and legends. The dragon awaits... *

#crazy!!

:-)

(chapeau RodMunch!!)

Aw man, didn't even notice that, it look amazing! put the BCM to shame.

1020km tour of Wales in a weekend (?!!!!)

No, 75 hours.

Just noticed that audax club hackney have another steam ride in september. The other way round this time.

Im in on Hackney escapade doubt fixie will be built by then so gears it will be and plenty of pub stops!

The 3D 300km for me this weekend a legendary ride across Devon and Dorset always get my fish and chips at Dawlish and sit on the seafront train spotting then head back to the finish an epic route

Just booked on the 10 Thames Bridges. Three quid - bargain. Is it fixed friendly?

Sounds like it is doable, going to do it SS.

Organiser here. There's also a 100K event, 10 Thames Bridges at 0900 same place and date, that I reckon is doable on fixed, even by me, with a couple of short walks on Chiltern Lanes, and a pretty flat 60K ride too. See http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.u...k_eason_rides/

Organiser reckons it's doable fixed. Cool. Fixed it is then. Along with a heavy pannier full of shite.

I was on the route, started late at 10:20 due to not leaving enough time to ride out to the start. Spent the morning trying to catch up which i managed just before lunch along the Lee Valley canal.

I abandoned in Rotherhithe as the route went past my flat's front door, I was flying to Rome this morning and realistically didn't have time to ride back out to Hampton and home again to get packed etc. Which I was glad I did when I had to get up at 2:00am this morning!

If you were riding the fixed with bullhorns (don't think I saw anyone else riding fixed) I said hello at the Velodrome, I recognised you from the Boulters Bash ride didn't use your name though. I was riding a red Mercian and wearing a Brooklyn cap. I am doing the 10 bridges with my wife, it will be her first Audax, will introduce myself properly this time if I see you.

What a lovely day out. I had five riders in tow as I had ridden the route before and I had also mapped the route sheet as a gpx file. Never been on the Emirates Air Line before so that was nice. Being able to ride to and from the start was also good rather than rely on trains. No significant hills so did it fixed and with a ton of stuff in my pannier than wasn't needed.

Someone addressed me by name and asked how I was enjoying the ride. I answered, "good thanks", but then realised that I didn't know the person (or at least didn't recognise them) only later on when they had gone. Anyone here?

Yes, I remember saying hello at the Velodrome and remembered you from the Boulters Bash. The chap I didn't recognise had a green top and shades. I'm sure I'll bump into him again on another ride.

During the post ride tea many of the riders said that they'd booked on the Thames Bridges ride. Looks like it may be another social one.

Steamride Ghan - LOL Reversed..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407447882722214/permalink/494148700718798/

After my introduction to night riding in Essex last week I have signed up for the Old 240 (400km) in August. Anyone done it before or riding it this year? The route looks amazing (ie. tough).

I was really tempted by that (over optimistic and under prepared as always), supposed to be a good route, if not a little empty at times. Hopefully getting out for a 200km cross ride through Wales instead though so it's on the list for next year...

Old 240 has been on my list of "rides to do" for ages. I'd happily do lots of IanH's rides if I could.

Annual plug for the Suburban Breakout, 100k audax from London N2 on July 20th. New route this year, all you need to know at www.centrallondonctc.org.uk/audax

Anyone else doing this tomorrow?

I guess not!

Report
I know doing a ride report for a 100k audax is a bit much. I'm wary of stepping into tyre-lever-review territory here - but hear me out. This is my first audax since being ruled out of action with ITB issues last September. My main goal was to get round pain-free and I pretty much succeeded.

It was a friendly bunch and we covered the first 25km in an hour exactly which I was pretty chuffed with. I was bombing up those punishing Hertfordshire "climbs" and leaving couples - some as young as their early 50s - in my dust. Again my steed of choice was a dinglespeed Pompino, my Spa bike not being quite ready yet.

We got to the 50km half way point within 2.5hrs, which again I was happy with. Still no knee pain and I still had a lot in my legs. I should also add that apart form commuting I've ridden two proper rides this year, one 30 miles and one 40 miles so again I was feeling good. I grabbed a few bits of lunch and eyed up the Islington CC guys who were having sit-down food. I didn't hang around the control so as to avoid my knee seizing so I left after about 15 mins, knowing the clubs guys would soon bomb past me.

The dreaded third-quarter went lots better than planned. With a couple of fastish guys we did the 15km to the next control in under 30 mins which my mathletics tells me is an ILLEGALLY FAST AUDAX PACE. However, this all caught up with me in the final stretch of 20km where I crashed, badly.

I crawled the last 10km down the beautiful A1000 from Potters Bar to East Finchley with a pretty sore neck and right foot - I assume the symptoms of being too long in the saddle and out of practice. I still managed to beat the Islington guys by about 5 minutes as well, with a total road time of 5 hours, 2 minutes for 100km - not too bad - but the main thing was no knee pain.

Add to this my riding to the start and back and the total distance is about 90 miles today and to be honest I feel f*cked.

Positives
No knee pain
No pain in the rectal/goochular region
No mechanicals
Choice of barbag over saddlebag paid off
Risked not taking a waterproof - did not rain!

Negatives
Sore right foot might eventually require new shoes
Clicky pedals on both sides affecting sanity
Feel f*cked.

9/10 would ride again

good man!

@doppelkorn well done. It's good to hear about the 100k rides. Some of us aspire to riding the longer ones but whether through time, fitness levels or injury we can only do the shorter ones.

I was also on the ride yesterday. Did it on gears for a change as I'm still getting used to riding gears. Great day for it and great turn out. The Islington guys made for quite a big group. One of them was wheel client of mine.

Stayed a bit longer than I wanted at the halfway control but nice to have a proper sit down meal and a chat with someone. I rode with them for the rest of the ride.

Got caught in the thunderstorms on the way home from the ride.

You foot may be down to lack of support innersole with or cleat placement rather than the shoe.

yeah the Islington guys were very nice. I sounds like I hate them in my post above but I was just trying to avoid the psychological blow of having a bunch of fast people overtake me when I was feeling rough! I said I "beat them" but they probably stopped at the lunch control for a lot longer than me.

Arup, which bike were you on? Is that you in your avatar? I don't immediately recognise your face...

So for my next one it's either the Tour of the Hills (can get to easily on train) or the Mildenhall Rally Brevet (would need a lift).

Any audaxmengers going to either?