Audax rides

I don't think I've eaten fish and chips for about 3 years, but by the time I'd seen about the 100th shop, I was really starting to fancy some!

No worries with the rain as just coming of a course of antibiotics.

They mostly not what they used to be so you doing well.

I'm getting the 22:30 from Liverpool Street to Manningtree for Green and Yellow Fields, looking like it's going to be a bit wet, route looks pretty flat compared to what I have ridden recently so hoping to get it done quickly!

Really enjoyed the Green and Yellow Fields last year. My only regret was that I missed the pre ride curry. Shame to have to miss it this year. Will be doing the Asparagus and Strawberries in June though which is the same sort of area.

The weather has perked up.

Ludwig you so pedantic.

@mustardbeak probs do the same.

Will be in ACH kit with a Planet X, say hi if you see me!

Will likely be on a shiny white new Trek instead of my Cross Check, but naturally head to toe in Rapha :-)

Oh - and looks like we're getting blown back into Manningtree!

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/413dab83-18e4-4882-b259-86a410c110a6

It will be great if it stays like that!

@pastry_bot in Arrivée💥👍

Even better now!

G&Y Fields was greeeaaattt but elapsed time was 17 hours which seems like way too long. Moving time was 11.47 though so not too upset.

Good effort dude! Really want to try one of these near-midnight start 300s sometime...

00:00h is an early start. From my experience that is good to remember when you do multi day events. 17:00h or 20:00h would be late.

Edited original post...

There's a nearby 300 that starts at 23:00. Might give it a go next year.

Green and Yellow fields done.

Enjoyed the ride, was fine without sleep, had a couple lulls, but only a bit of a drop in pace. In the afternoon I was with another club member and our pace had dropped right down, a group of three went flying past and we both had the same thought of 'get on the back' this gave us a boost and we flew along to the final control (me just clinging onto the back trying not to get dropped!).

We took our time at controls, and more or less stuck to my planned strategy with times and stops, except at the 274km control which I had planned to bounce, we stopped for a well needed coffee and cake.

I felt it was a shame the ride goes so close to the coast, but you don't actually get to the sea, but overall it is a good route gently rolling with no real hill.

Nice to meet @JB and put a face to a name too.

Next ride for me is BCM, I have put the work in to hopefully make it enjoyable!

Entered the Heartbeat 400 next weekend after organiser said it was fine starting starting ~45 minutes late. Hopefully catch some riders at normal pace by the first control or it'll be a long, lonely day out!

Rode around my Cogidubnus 200km route on Saturday. First time since January. Such a better ride without the persistent rain, relentless headwinds and flooded roads! Took gears as well, so stuff like Barhatch was less walky.

Both the 200 and 110km events have had a steady flow of entries since January, but plenty of space left on both.

http://www.marcusjb.com/cogidubnus-200

Don't forget the Ditchling Devil in just over a month - Brighton and back with a large field and huge amounts of cake. Rode the route yesterday. Can't ride the event as riding a long DIY audax but may pop up to the pub for the latter half of the finishers.

Here's some photos taken by a friend of mine on G&Y

http://mark-erro.tumblr.com/ including one of @mustardbeak !

nice,

Anyone ridden the Buzzard? Considering it as a first 600.

Also need to think about luggage. At the moment for 200s and 300s the large Ortleib saddle bag has been ample but will probably need a bar bag or top tube bag for 400s and 600s.

You reckon? What are you planning on taking!?

For BCM I'm doing saddle bag and and a stem cell/food pouch thingy. Feel like it should be ample.

Seems like it'll be easy to travel lightly on BCM with the bag drop, which presumably means any overnight stuff can be picked up and dropped at the youth hostel.

Quick BCM question to save me finding my yacf login. Does anyone whose done it before know if it's possible to leave a car at Severn Travelodge over the Saturday night without getting clamped/fined (am booked in there fri and sunday nights).