Audax rides

I'm gonna get the train this to the start this year. 'We' are a small group from da Waffa

I just got to the top of the Severn Across waiting list and have paid up. Yay.

Blimey, lots of activity since I was last on. Spring has sprung. I'm getting ready for my first 300 this evening from Manningtree. The Green & Yellow fields. Starts at midnight. Going to ride fixed so I can take extra clothes and food in my pannier. Don't think I'm going to go for the curry as I think I'll want to get riding once I arrive at the start rather than hang around. Guess it would be different if I was riding with a group. Will probably get a kebab in London and then eat it on the train. £36.00 return - it's an expensive line that Abellio. Spare socks too I think as the forecast is for rain in the early morning.

A big lunch followed by a nap should set me up nicely I reckon.

Good luck Arup. I'm starting at 6am tomorrow for my 300, so we're sort of riding together.

Going up to stay in a travelodge in Cirncester tonight.

Just perhaps carelessly had fish and chips for lunch, have a new Alpkit bag which I am hoping will be enough (I say I have it, currently the postroom has it). Not intending to carry anything much, thinking PTJ, 2 tubes, patches, CO2 pump+3 or 4 cannisters, food). I don't have any other pump, should I invest do you think?

Anyway, good luck

George

Deffo take a normal pump too.

Cheers George. Good luck to you too. I need to learn to pack lighter. Bit of a security blanket that pannier. Ends up around 5kg when it's full of stuff.

I have ripped the plaster off recently and stopped dragging my Carradice full of clothes and food (which I rarely use) round with me, yet to die of exposure :p

That said riding through the night, you want to be comfortable and the temp will drop overnight, not many shops open either!

My Alpkit saddlebag is now on my desk. I bought it in a bit of a panic yesterday. It looks

a) enormous
b) confusing
c) Very Yellow

You can have my BRP if necessary.

Bonne route @arup and @graunch

@fussballclub, that's kind, let me know a price and that might be lovelt. @andyp, thank you very much indeed.

http://youtu.be/tPa8EKRPGp8

Lincoln Imp Audax done ridden. 112km. The Sudafed in the shorts trick isn't working for me. Maybe I've got a dodgy pack.

Haha try the new improved sudocrem instead? You might have a more comfortable, if congested, bum.

300km done. Arrived six minutes after the start. 13.5 hours all told. 11.5 pedalling. Missing the start meant I never caught a group riding at a speed sensible for me so it was all solo and very windy. I need new legs now. No mechanicals and aside from stiff legs now no pain to speak of, just fatigue. Not that it matters but I think I was eighth home.

It was the one starting in Cirencester (heart of England?) and is the longest I have ridden (307km)

Nicely done. See you in Paris :)

Ha. Hope so. No idea how I'll manage the 400. Need a pack.

Belated thanks Andy.

I just use vaseline but only in the crack. The skin around my sitting bones is hard and calloused.

Nice one. Well done. That's a pretty fast time. I guess missing the start spurred you on.

@andyp, thank you. It worked

How was the ride @arup. Not sure I would have fancied mine already tired. Seemed a big step up from the 200 too.

OK, ride report. Green and Yellow Fields 300km from Manningtree in Essex. Rode fixed on 71". Pannier around 5kg (too much stuff) and riding through the night as it started at midnight.

Great ride. Really enjoyed it. Such a spectrum of bikes. Recumbents, tricycles, TT bars, tandems and about a dozen or so riding fixed. Think there was also an array of experience too. Good to start recognising faces. Met one guy who came for a wheel building lesson with me.

It was a clear night with little wind and good road surfaces. Just the whoosh of the tyres along the quiet country lanes and the glow of the red tail lights. With a 1.5 litre bottle of diet coke and a take way curry added to my already full pannier I could really feel the extra weight but was nice to stop and eat onion bhajis when I took a break.

Everyone I spoke to commented on how they had managed to massively improve on their 200km speeds. I was astounded to see that it was only 08:40 when I passed the 200km mark as my usual 200km time is around 11:45. Probably due to the route and only a few controls (only 4 for the whole route).

After that the headwinds started. I assumed a tuck position which I'm not really used to doing and even though it worked and pushed my speeds up by 2-3 km/h without extra effort it was very taxing on my lower back and I had to stop and take a break after an hour of it. I paid the price for it later. My strength and fitness were good up to this point but trying out that position really took it out of me. Then came the rain. A medium to heavy downpour which lasted for about 2 hours. After which the sun came out.

The gpx file that came in the email ended about 15km before the end so I had to resort to using the route sheet and following people. I normally edit the file beforehand but decided to trust it this time. Will continue with my usual procedure next time.

Was hoping to complete the ride in just under 18 hours as my 200km average is 12 ish. But finished at 15h 8 mins which left me a bit open mouthed. I usually ride 67" but have increased to 71" for commuting and decided to leave that on. Think that helped the speed. On the ride home from Liverpool Street I could hardly move the pedals and every other cyclist was passing me. Bit achy and sore today but on the whole not too bad. First 300 and first night ride all in one. Looking forward to the next one.

Excellent, well done. The variety of riders constantly amazes and impresses me.

That downpour was no fun was it, it was near the start of my ride.

I am feeling more nervous about the 400 than the 600 but we will see. Riding the next couple with a pal will help a lot I think.

I am unsure about how best to train for these things.

It can't be long before we are on the same ride.