Audax rides

If you're complaining about the climbing it sounds proper grim. Maybe I should've stuck with the 3Down.

I'm debating whether or not I should train down on Friday night after work or if I should drive down ride the 300k then beg an entry to the 200k the day after.

It has a reputation for sure, and you'll ride the night section (i.e. the first 100km) and think "well, what is all the fuss about?". Middle section has some lumps and bumps, but includes flat bits across the Somerset Levels etc.

But the last section is quite something. Shitty little lanes with massively steep grades with gravel everywhere, so you can not make up speed on the descents etc. It's hard and slow going.

But, it is a great ride. It properly beautiful around there. The whole series is amazing. Dorset Coast the next day is great, big field, been running for decades etc., some very big climbs, but not as short and sharp as the Hard Boiled, great views over the coast etc.

3Down is not too late, he is accepting entries until Friday

Nah, I've committed to this other stupidity, now I have to work my way around it.

So, I should pace myself? Uh oh...

"Shitty little lanes" is how most roads should be described in Britain ;)

How steep is massively steep?

98%ages

Oh, well as long as it's not 100% or more I should be alright. I don't want to gear down from my 58/44 Compact chainrings.

" Wait, what? What the hell have I done now?"

Not read the small print!

Everything feels steeper than it probably is because the preceding downhills are usually so strewn with shit and gravel that you can carry no speed into any of the climbs.

That puts into words what I was thinking of when I said I didn't think there would be many other TT bikes!

Of course not. It's an audax, they all start at 6-9am, right?

Anyway, I've booked a train down there on Friday night so crisis averted for now.

So, perfect territory for a crabon TT bike...

Well, the Somerset Levels are flat, so it'll be ideal for that section!

I think I might've ridden through that fetid swampland during the Exe Buzzard. There was so much mud and gunk on the bike by the time I got home I had to chisel it off...

Rode the Goyt Peak Super Grimpeur yesterday, 109km, somewhere between 2700-3000m of climbing.

A very scenic route, taking in lot of classic climbs on that edge of the Peak, linked up in a way that avoids any main roads until the very end of the ride. The first half featured some longer climbs up Windgather, Goyt Valley-Axe Edge and Hollinsclough Rake. The second half seemed a lot steeper (Meg Lane, Charity Lane, Pym Chair from Jenkins Chapel, Maynestone Rd, Briargrove Road, Gorsey Brow), a lot of 20% signs and several comments along the lines of "we use this for annual hill climb"...

Climbing generally felt ok through the day until Gorsey Brow where there may have been a "fuck this" and a few meters pushing... Didn't have a great time on the descents throughout the day, despite knowing a number of them and having dry, quiet roads. Need to work on that as it was noticeable how much ground I was losing on riders around me.

Overall a good day out, hope to get round it again as a perm before the Mille Pennines...

New tyre on the back. Now amount of grease will fix the worn bearings but it did quiet down the horrible screeching from the rear hub. Perfectly prepared, as usual!

Just need to load the route onto a couple of GPS units, charge battery pack and lights and then decide on what to wear/carry. You'd think I'd have this kit choice / packing process nailed down by now but it still causes me headaches before every ride!

Remind me, what was your reason for polypro over merino undershirt?

Looks like the 3Down return route might make for a useful ride home from Poole.

So, might I see some of the slower 3Down riders on the way back?

Anybody riding the Shaftesbury 200 tomorrow?

Tried to bump into the HB300 riders today as we nipped down to Lyme Regis this afternoon. Crossed the route just after Sector (midday and 3pm) but didn't see anyone.

Lovely views in that part of the world.

So I rode the Shaftesbury Spring 200 yesterday, and it was very nice. Very nice route, very nice fellow riders, very sunny (was gloveless from the better part of the day), very good organization. Very glad I nailed down my first 200 Audax, 10/10 would ride again.

Now looking forward to Heart Of England 300 in two weeks :)

Nice bike. That was my first 200 (the September version). Props for stepping up to 300 so soon!

Think there were about 25 riders so probably a bit hard to bump into anyone.

So how were the shitty little lanes on a TT bike?

"Interesting"

Actually they helped a bit because when I joined up with Martin and the SWRC crew I was being left behind on the climbs but I would let rip on the descents and catch them up again.

The wheel bearings in my Powertap are absolutely fooked though. I took some farm track that was on the GPS but isn't on the routesheet. Craters.

I just did the Start of Summertime Specials 200. Finished first in 7:48

It's quite windy out there! Saw a million thatched cottages.