Audax rides

Lovely pictures. What did you take them on? Just a mobile?

I've been looking at some north-west rides. The Winter Solstice from Bredbury looks good because I can add it on to my Christmas family visitings. Also flat. It also goes past two of my childhood homes.

Speaking of the Staffs Peaks, I once housesitted for a mate there (Longnor) and got snowed in and the boiler broke. Proper cabin fever stuff but I had my decks with me and taught myself to beatmatch.

csb

Sony RX100, been dead pleased with it so far, even just taking stuff on auto!

I'm hoping to ride the Winter Solstice this year, ridden the summer version a couple of times, interesting to see what it's like in the dark... Contemplating Cheshire Safari too, ridden Eureka! before and will be flying back from the US the morning before before so maybe the shorter route is a better idea.

Stopped in Longnor on both rides, the post office and general stores were both full of local produce, although the packaging on the cans of ginger beer in the fridge was worryingly old... Cafe looked nice but was still opening up both days :(

Steamroller is in bits. Cross-Check is being re-purposed at the bike shop. So I am doing the Sightseer on the Brompton in the morning. Lets see if I can make it around on an SS Brompton.

Other than the climb up Greenwich hill, a Brompton is ideal for the sightseer. Perfect London bike really. You won't be going very fast, I guarantee the sightseer will be the slowest 100km you will ever ride.

I know of other Brompton riders who will be on the ride.

I rode it on 20+ kg single speed sit up and beg japanese city bike last year.

Again, it will be your slowest 100km ever; 7-8 hours is about right, but you have 10 if needed.

Enjoy it!

Yeah. Sightseer was my first audax and a bad choice, in hindsight. 8 hours in the saddle was punishing.

You're literally quicker walking the bit along the South Bank.

Just realised you'll be on it as we speak so hope you're enjoying it!

Actually went better than I thought. My main problem on the Brompton during the week is lugging my clothes, laptop and power brick around with me. Today I just mounted my Handlebar bag on the front and I was good to go. I usually don't put the Garmin on the Brompton either so I was surprised to see I was averaging 20-21kph (on Twickenham cyclepath) I started 45 minutes late, but had caught up with 2 groups by the second checkpoint. They decided to watch the Changing of the Guard I carried on.

This is the third time I am doing the Sightseer, first time was SS, last year on gears, and now an SS Brompton. @marcusjb you are right, I walked the last incline on that rise at Greenwich.

Good to hear about the sightseer. Love that ride. Shame to have missed it this year. Had five people in tow last year and acted as a tour guide.

LEL2017 website open: http://londonedinburghlondon.com/

Registered interest.

^Snap two years to prepare.

Excellent.

Even though there's no qualification it's a good idea to try and SR series (200, 300, 400, 600) to see if the vagaries of Audax suit you.

I know quite a few people who can ride a 300km ride no problem, but haven't been able to do a 400km ride due to the sleep dep and night riding required.

Of course, a full SR series doesn't mean you'll get through LEL with no problems, likewise not doing an SR series in advance doesn't mean you'll fail. I rode with a few people in 2009 who were riding it as their first Audax.

Also pick some nice hilly rides, LEL isn't flat.

It sounds simple if you think of LEL as a series of 300km "day rides". Likewise a 12kph minimum average speed doesn't sound much but fatigue, weather, sleep dep, etc all gang up on you to make it interesting.

Also a good idea to try and SR in 2016 before you have to cough up for LEL entry in Jan 2017, plus there's still a load of rides left in 2015.

I haven't got past 300km yet. Was going to give the Uni Challenge a go, but I now have something else happening that weekend.

I've registered as both a rider and volunteer.

That way I hope to ride it by 2021! Never done more than a 200 before, but have probably got close to 300km in a day a couple of times.

Anyone else doing the Greenwich Mean Climb this Saturday?

Oh yes indeed.

Looking forward to it!

Anyone else doing the Greenwich Mean Climb this Saturday?

About 60 others ...

Ha. Just read the email form Ivan.

Yeah bro!
See you there!

Just saw the results page and my Around Weald ride has been validated. Yay.

Been studying the route for GMC and there are a few sections where the it crosses over and retraces. I use a gpx track file so I've been adding in waypoints to show controls and what to do where the route crosses. If anyone is interested in my edited version it's below.

Am doing GMC as well. Thank you - will add that to my Garmin in case the other route gets confusing. Am I better off downloading the .tcx or the .gpx? I get confused, but I think tcx is meant to be the better option on a garmin 800 isn't it?
Slightly nervous as I'm a terrible climber and have never done an AAA before. But then it's mostly on familiar roads and plenty of stations to bail out at if necessary.

You will be fine.
Go at your own pace and take it steady on the hills!
Just remember to cycle,eat,drink and enjoy yourself

I always stress before these things. It's relatively minor stress compared to the audaxes I did earlier this year - making it through a 600 has toughened me up considerably. It's just my incredibly slow climbing that's an issue. Keen to do BCM next year so really need to get a bit faster on the hills.
I'm mostly looking forwards to it.

Bit nervous and excited for GMC tomorrow. Only got the regular route on my Garmin but sure in conjunction with the route sheet I'll be fine. First 300, and first audax. Exited for snacks. I think snacks are one of my favourite bits of riding bikes.