Audax rides

I've got 120GB of mp3 but my mp3 player only holds maybe 8 or 16gb so I tend to have some favourites on there and then rotate in newer stuff.

I’ve always had shit second hand phones tbf.

I canoffer ou shitn second hand s/

Wht'att theh slaw on noise poo;llllitions?

This sounds like a great story that I absolutely want to hear about!

Rode Oh! To be in Kent 200 on Saturday. Past month has been a bit shit working long hours, eating shit and no time on the bike aside from 20k round trip commute a few times a week. Come to think of it I hadn't actually been on the bike proper for 5 weeks since Hereward The Wake 300. Turns out this is sub-optimal preparation. Bike fit last weekend tweaked position a bit and threw a new saddle into the mix as well... "make sure you do a couple of adaptation rides before that Audax next weekend..." Did I get a chance to do that? Did I fuck.

Started off in a shit mood, on the way to the start in Peckham Rye I was already beating myself up for not having ridden, shit night's sleep, this saddle is weird, etc. Roll out from Peckham, lovely day but still grumpy, up Sydenham Rise I notice rear disc rubbing, fan-fucking-tastic. I am mechanically inept, maybe if I drag my rear brake down Corkscrew Hill it'll help? It kinda did and brightened my mood a bit. This is a privilege, enjoy it you miserable cunt.
Through Layhams, no Qashqais, no close passes, recent news in mind I look over my shoulder and, to quote Ice Cube, not a jacker in sight... maybe it was going to be a good day. Maybe.

Feeling a bit better now, rolling through Kent past Hever Castle and on to first control at Hartfield. Getting quite warm now. Few kms out of Hartfield and felt pretty flat, started thinking of bail out options then remembered that wasn't actually an option at all because of train strikes. That really fucked with my head and made the next 55kms through Burwash and to lunch stop at Tenterden really suck. Had to have a proper sit down lunch, fancy ploughman's and a can of coke from a posh cafe, few mins rest and on I rolled. Felt awful. Half a pound of cheddar and two of the densest scones ever probably didn't help things much.

Next info control at Pluckley (124kms) and I was gassed, newsagents for another can of coke. Just after this I caught up with Richard, a Clapham Chasers member who informed me the next 30kms or so to East Peckham were fairly flat and the wind was picking up. Worked together for that stretch and made decent progress, thank you Richard. Co-op in East Peckham, met a few other riders and 5 of us rolled out headed for Herne Hill. All of a sudden, probably down to the double espresso can thing I had, I felt alright. Little incline so I thought I'd push on for a bit. I'll be honest, I thought I was fucking smashing it, then just after 180kms at a slight rise two women from Penge CC who were part of the group I'd left East Peckham with just roll past me, breezy as anything: "Hiiiya! Sorry, you'll probably come right past us at the next hill..." Would I fuck. I was blowing out my arse! I did catch up to them about 5kms later when they'd stopped, I waved and carried on. They came past again... Well fuck it, I'm sitting on their wheels, they can drag me back to the Velodrome. And drag me they did, until I couldn't hang with them on the climb up to Crystal Palace. Rolled into the Velodrome, thanked the Penge CC Express and trundled home.

Good day out, decent route. Must ride bike more often though and not do stupid shit like go into a long ride with a brand new saddle and untested bike fit.

Enjoyed reading this and

This is a privilege, enjoy it you miserable cunt.

this really made me lol 😂. Very apt for Audax.

Lovely stuff. Those Penge women are my buddies and would give a tow to anyone!

We did Devil's Hell 300k as a DIY on Sat. Lovely riding. Not such great riders.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7679663142

In other news, ALPI4000 points added to our AAA totals so I'm now back on top and the missus has cracked 100 AAA for the season. Badge time, bitches!

Nice write up!

Awesome ride, those climbs do ramp up bit at the start. Nice descent from Gospel but not so nice the Tumble afterwards

I don't really know any of these climbs but I did recognise the back of Tumble, having climbed it the other way during Rollin and Tumblin a month back. It was dark by then so no views.

not a jacker in sight

Excellent read, did lol. All audax write ups should include Ice Cube quotes from now on...

Did my first 600 over the last two days. Rode fixed as I’ve already completed a 200, 300 and 400 fixed this season, so why not?

Set off at 6am on Friday, 4 hour sleep in a bivvy and then finished for 7:30 pm on Saturday.

No mechanicals, minimal faff and no other issues made for an amazing time all round.

https://strava.app.link/V2kO0wxqRsb

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Great stuff, some cracking photos too!

Looks really nice. What did you bivvy on? Sports stadium seats or something?

@ElGonzo Thanks!

@hippy Exactly that. It was surprisingly comfortable, although we were woken earlier than planned by Dr. Dres 'Still D.R.E. (feat. Snoop Dogg)' being played on a mobile phone as some youths enjoyed a post-club/wake-and-bake spliff nearby.

I just submitted a full write up to Arrivee. Will be interesting to see if they publish it with the references to drubz, lol.

An elite club.

Hey, long time no see. Hope you're doing ok dude.

What's that quote about clubs and not being a member if they'd have me? :)

Life's hard mate, I'm struggling.

Getting by though, keeping up the good fight - I will win this race 👌

Aiming for a 400km ride from North to South Wales next year - having never completed more than 200km I'm slightly concerned. Will have plenty of saddle time between now and then hopefully to get the legs and arse sorted, however anyone got a decent route? Could follow Lon Las Cymru, a mate has got a coastal ish route but didn't know if anyone had something they could recommend?

@hippy was it porkers i met you, or brimstone?

The Bryan Chapman would be a good template, decent mix of scenery in Snowdonia / Cambrian mountains and elevation isn't gratuitous. It's 300 each way, to make up the 400 you could add something on -one suggestion would be to turn at Bronaber towards Welshpool.

Stunning and super remote, some long gradual climbs. Photo below from when I was there in July.

Then maybe route South from Welshpool and rejoin the Chapman route.

Both routes below.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20922029

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40778773

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Good good.

Must've been Porkers. That was the 400k after Brevet Cymru right? Don't think I've done Brimstone yet.