LEL 2017 / London - Edinburgh - London Audax

In each of mine I had some spare tubes, spare folding tyre, change of kit (shorts, jersey, socks, mitts), batteries and an inflatable airbed (which luckily coincided with my sleep schedule).

Remember no liquids in the drop bags.

I'm going to test pack tonight, and might just wack some tubes etc in them and then use them to dump stuff I no longer need on the way back from Edinburgh.

Didn't really think through the locations, as Brampton I'm projecting to pass early evenings both ways now and Pocklington in the mornings!

I've been struggling a bit to think of what I don't actually want to be without for most of the ride - unless forecast is very very good it seems worth having waterproof, insulated jacket and overshoes with me for whole ride, which are probably heaviest clothing items.
I reckon worth packing them out with a lot of pairs of clean dry socks - can never have too many + changes of base layer and whatever. But I feel like there'll still be a fair bit of room.
I suppose I might put a spare tyre in, but tubeless so am just carrying two emergency inner tubes and in the unlikely event of needing more than those I'll just buy some.
Does sudacrem count as a liquid?
I'm sure I'll start off thinking I've got loads of room and then find they're totally packed out.
I put my drop bags in slightly stupid places (Pocklington and Barnard castle) so not really going to depend on them anyway.

Don't think sudocrem in a ziploc bag wrapped up in clothes would be a problem.

The liquids ban is because the drop bags will be treated rather roughly and stacked in big piles in the trucks, so anything fragile (glass, liquids, fresh food) could make a mess of not just your stuff but other people's.

No drops for me. If i need ill just send it back home. Doubt it though.

Planning to put some power packs and some dry kit in the drop bags - more in case I get soaked and want an extra change, than anything else. Plus some muesli bars and some little single-use sachets of chamois cream.

I've got 3x battery packs, 2x spare lights + spare light battery, 3x changes of bib shorts and socks in mine.

Also spare tubes in case I use any on the way up.

I'll also put more cold and wet weather gear in drop bags. I've got enough stuff on my bike for a night of bad weather but will want more if it gets really bad.

I have no drop bag because it doesn't fit into the self-supported eth... err because I'm bad at deadlines and missed the drop bag one.

Not sure what I would have put in it though.

I just copied @ad441 bagdrops which was really stupid, as we could have spread our stuff over 4 controls. The other person we are riding with forgot to register for them completely.

Particularly as I picked mine almost at random while not really paying attention...

clothes, hygiene items and big powerbank, some food and perhaps an air matt. just nice to be able to not queue for official facilities

Well I reckon that's my cockpit sorted.

1 Attachment

You bringing the walkie talkie?

Ha, I could! It doubles up as an FM radio and the battery lasts for quite some time. No USB recharge though.

You've got one? Would be more fun than a whatsapp group..

Not sure if I need the saddle bag yet, going to try packing everything this evening. suspect I'll find stuff to pack it up with though...

1 Attachment

The Facebook group is silly. The organisers suggested people think about what they'll do to get home if they DNF - cue lots of men saying "I don't prepare for failure" or similar.

Last ride tomorrow, mostly just to check my ankle doesn't explode. Am taking everything with me, have a fair amount of space left in the saddle pack.

1 Attachment

"the only DNF that is relevant to me is 'does not fail' bro."

lolz.

Am now trying to see if everything fits in the frame bag and if I could dispense with the saddle or bar bag. It's unlikely.

I need to buy some zip ties too!

Not being funny, but by not planning bail out options it can make finishing the best option.

Sure, I do get that - but there's the way you said it, and then there's sounding like a line in a schlocky 1980s action movie. Anyway, just thought it was funny.

Does the cat not unbalance the saddle pack a bit? Also, nice bike!

Thanks, although it has a vandalised top tube.

Having been taught how to audax by @ad441 I find his method of saying "ill just go to the next control and then decide" is very useful, and the controls are so nice and close for lel.