Audax rides

I've just realised I'm at a party all day that day so I'm most definitely out. I still have to work out how to fit in a 12hr TT ride that weekend too. #hangover #grim

I've somehow ended up with free time this weekend I didn't expect to have. Might try and kick of a RRTY attempt with one of the Wigley Perms on Sunday, something nice and flat to ease myself back into road riding... Unless the Peak District trails magically dry up overnight anyway...

So I'm back on fixed now my arms 90% pain free and contemplating PBP. A lot of work to do and about 3 1/2 stone to lose in the process.

If I can't fit in or get a place due to the popularity of cycling these days, I'll do the Pendleton 600km instead.....

...I know some people on here have done it and I've read a few blogs, but I can't seem to find the gearing they were using. Anyone know? Just as a guide, I live very close to Andy Corlass' routes and I'm suffering with 70"/74" flip flop.

Do I persevere as I'm so unfit or is that gearing a bit high for Andy's rides?

Cheers.

Pendle 600km on fixed is the preserve of the crazy man, but if you do I'd keeping that gearing and just expect to walk the vast majority of hills.

On geared I had a low gear of 28-28

On geared I had a low gear of 28-28.

This.

I'd put a 67" as well as keeping the 70".

Cheers Ed, I agree I think I'll stick a 19 on the back next chain change. Currently has a 17/18 on the back, it came with 17 otp and only an 18 would squeeze in.

The 17 will be handy for my coastal runs. I used to run 66" but always got left behind with my riding buddy on the flats as he ran 81" to 87".

I think Justin and Steve were using 67" and 69" respectively in 2012.

Remember you want to be setting your gear as the biggest gear you can use to get up the climbs you know you've not already assigned to walking (the sections/climbs of 25% and above). That sounds like 67" to me. That gear lets me get up most things up to ~18% (there are a few sections that steep or steeper on the Elenith that I had to walk). Any lower and I'd be concerned about the descents.

Getting a place on PBP shouldn't be a struggle though, it's never really filled up (for UK riders at least) and they're increasing the size of the event slowly. It's a step beyond the "London2Paris in 24 hours" type ride that have really taken off in the last few years. Many rides sell out because it's far easier to enter them than the ride them, at least with PBP you must have done most of the qualifying rides before you can pre-register.

(For PBP in 2011 I used 67" mainly because it was what was on my bike for the qualifiers. Doing it again I'd definitely go for 71" or even 74". There are no really steep climbs on PBP but quite a few long draggy descents that I didn't get enough rest on due to having to spin 67" all the time.)

Thanks for that. I'm currently starting out with 70" and 74" but it's a struggle doing my commute home especially Manchester Rd from Burnley, 4 1/2 miles long with longish sections of 13% (if you believe the signs).

But I'm very unfit at the moment so I might get used to it. I did used to run 66" but like I said prior, I always got left behind on the flats.

I might just stick with what I've got and see if I can just MTFU.

On a side note,

Whilst the allure of the PBP kudos of been there and done that is strong. I'm not big on crowds or long queues. When I read the blogs of people who are back markers like myself they seem to not eat very well or queue for hours at the controls.

Where as the smaller gathering at the Pendle 600 km seems more my thing.

Whilst the allure of the PBP kudos of been there and done that is strong. I'm not big on crowds or long queues. When I read the blogs of people who are back markers like myself they seem to not eat very well or queue for hours at the controls.

That wasn't my experience as a back marker (I was in one of the last waves of the 90h starters ~ 8pm) and took a shade under 88h (so only 2h in hand at the finish although partly due to hammering it from Druex to the finish).

Can't remember much queuing for food (Fougères maybe the worst at 10 minutes queuing, but most of them it was less than 5 minutes to get food). On the way back I tended to stop at local cafes and boulangeries along the way so I was only resting and topping up on food at each control rather than wanting a big meal.

(The half roast chicken at Fougères, both times, sticks in my brain as being very tasty though and worth a 10 minute queue.)

Then again, by the looks of it I was behind the main bulge for the majority of the ride. Go to:-

• http://pbpresults.bikeaholics.org/pbp2011/histogram
  and add my frame number 5653 to the tracking and then hit Start to see a rough idea.
  
  

I'm not one for big crowds either. Loudeac (where I spent nights 2 and 3) was the only time it felt very busy due to the area where you arrive at the control which had a very busy/cramped bike park.

It would have been much busier if you did the ride in 75-85 hours, and I did hear stories about those right on the time limits finding limited food at the controls. Guess I was lucky ending up in the sweet spot between the two.

If you're thinking about PBP then just go for it. It's definitely worth doing at least once.

(I'm skipping PBP2015 as I simply don't have enough spare time for that amount of Audaxing at the moment but PBP2019 is a definite possibility and my daughter will be at a better age for a week long holiday in France whilst I'm on the bike. I'd also approach it a completely different way, aiming to do a faster ride - 75h or so - and on a geared bike maybe.)

Thanks for the write up, sounds like the sort of thing I'd like. Maybe the one or two blogs I've read were, like you said, hitting the busy periods.

And if I get to see (?) Andrew on his really old bikes in his French outfit then that'll be a bonus.

After my first dnf earlier this month and in pursuit of RRTY this year I am doing The Boat Ride as a perm on Wednesday. Looks like a nice route pretty flat with only 1300m to climb in 200k starts and ends in Uxbridge

And if I get to see (?) Andrew on his really old bikes in his French outfit then that'll be a bonus.

ITYM Drew Buck.

I had 'fun' spinning stupidly down some hills on PBP at o'dark-thirty am with some other fixeds only to find out later that one of them was Drew's son Byron. #csb

Hope the perm has gone well - still a bit blowy out there! It's a nice route and really well suited for winter riding as the roads are generally pretty good and there's not too much ascent on it.

Entered Brazier's Run 100 again, but it is the day after I get back from skiing so I might not look forward to the 5am wake up to ride to the start. Then again, I only really do 2 Audaxes a year now (this and the Ditchling Devil) so apathy has a big cost.

Can I use DIY's for RTTY? My giggling powers have failed me in finding and answer.

Yes.

http://ebasic.easily.co.uk/04C053/02C00B/rrty.htm#FAQ5

Can I claim an RRtY ... using Perms?
Yes, we've had successful claims from people riding just Perms, and others using just Calendar events - it's a debatable point which might be the more challenging method. Most riders use a mixture of Perms and Calendar Events.

(DIYs are just a type of Permanent event).

Thanks, I have read that. Unless I'm reading it properly it doesn't mention DIY.

Oops sorry, I didn't see the bit at the bottom of your reply.

A DIY is a type of Perm. So, no it doesn't mention them explicitly, but they do count.

How about:-

http://www.aukweb.net/results/other/

Randonnée-Round-the-Year (RRtY)

Often held to be one of the tougher challenges on offer, RRtY requires a BR or BRM event in each of 12 succesive calendar months. Perms (and DIYs) of at least 200km completed at Randonneur pace can be included and you can start in any month, but miss a month and you have start all over again.

I'm thinking of doing my first (200km) Audax in December but having neither a car, nor the the confidence to cycle the 50 miles to the start, getting the train seems the best/only option.

The problem is that the earliest train I can catch gets me to 10miles from the start 10 mins before the 7am starting time, meaning I'll likely be half an hour late. Is this a big no no in Audax etiquette? I'll email the organizer but thought it would be good to get an idea of how standard this is, Cheers

Email the org, they are the only one that can say.

It depends on the ride and the org. Sometimes, they may have a village hall and be using that for multiple distances (a 200 and a 100), so might be there anyway for the later start of a 100.

But if it is a more shoe string event, the org probably won't be hanging around a car park in the cold waiting for late starters.

One thing to not take liberties with is the finishing time - if you start half an hour late, don't expect the org to give you another half an hour to finish as that is very unfair on them to have to hang around even later at the end.

One final option is to put out a plea on here and YACF and see if anyone from your area is doing the ride and can offer a lift for petrol money.

Hope that helps.

Don't forget as well, it's not a race and depending on your fitness levels, should still easily make the controls.

Thanks, that's just the sort of information I was after.