Audax rides

Riding the Bryan Chapman one year and descending Llanberis Pass behind someone riding fixed definitely put me off ever considering riding a lumpy audax on one.

Cadence was in the 250rpm+ range ...

Yeah and going uphill doesn't look like much fun either. :) Basically, yeah naaaah.

Looks like Alan got busy in October riding most days so could get close at the end:

Alan 236.25 @ 22/10
Hip 251.25 23/10

I did fuck all in the last week of Oct so if he pulled a big week I could still get taken down.

Hmmm, sounds exciting. Don't want to get you worried but hard to imagine he went out loads right through October then sat on his arse for the last week...

I expect not. I didn't expect him to care as much but if he's going to crush it at the end when I slacked off (or should I say, moved focus to MTB), so be it. This year's competition was basically an accident. It won't happen a second time.

It's like what happened in the 24hr. Accidentally came 2nd chasing another goal and that was the catalyst to go for the win.

googles weight weenie bikes

Fingers crossed...!

Off topic (but it's still an audax so maybe not), what was the goal with the 24? Were you just going for the club record, but when you got it you found you had an hour or so still to go?

He ECE'd it too!

From London? Is he retired?

I'm going to really regret not taking Oct 31st off and riding a 200k now aren't I?

Goal for the 24hr was the club record, which was a pretty decent 480mi. When I came in second by, I think it was 8mi, I was like "that was 30min of stop time to get 1st place and I was stopped for 30min, all I need to do is not stop and I could win a national champs" and then it escalated to leaving no stone unturned for the win.

Shaun lives near Coventry I believe and not retired!

Well, I got the train. nyer! Don't think I've ever done an ECE actually. I'm taking unpaid leave this year as it is. I always max out my holidays for events as it is without adding journey time.
Also, I don't really ride in/near London now, save for the odd 200k into the Chilterns. Fuck that joint.

Yeah, that makes sense, in the way these things do. And the plan came off.

Was your target really 480 though? I have it in my head that it was 460, as the Westerley one was similar - 455. And still is as I never got my act together to get it.

In fact yes, here you go:
https://www.ttlegends.org/mens-womens-year/?mile=24&gen=1&y=1995

Don't know why I remember this stuff when even you don't!

Sorry, you're right, 24hr record was 459.07 held by Simon Doughty since 1995 so I was aiming for 460. I think I then did a 480mi ride coming second to Ultan and then reversed this the year after when I went all out for the win.

I don't remember my own PBs. They're not that important. Once I've achieved the goal, I don't really think about it, it's just another arbitrary number that I may or may not target again in the future. Obvs the 518mi sticks out but I can't remember the official distance without looking it up. I've no idea about my other distance PBs either. I know my 12hr is 299 because that can get fucked but basically once a goal is achieved I have no interest in it.

460 was still a decent target. I didn't get it the first go but I knew I would get it the next year. I didn't know I'd come second though and that prompted yet another year.

It's the same with the AAA thing - I was going for 100 points, AAA SR (which I'd forgotten I'd already done!) and AAARTY (200k rides not the weak official one) and then saw we were both in the lead so the new goal was to win male and female trophies. If Alan fucks this up for me this year I'm going to commit to it fully next season and win, crushing all comers, yada yada :)

Audax photo essay in Volume 4 of Dropped Magazine

I was working the whole time under the assumption that the AAA submissions could only be a couple of weeks or so out of date because you have to submit rides within 2 weeks I think, but LEL rides only just got added on, so it's getting way closer than I'd like... there's only 5 points in it and I'm up to date so if there's more rides coming out of the woodwork... :S

https://audax.uk/results/?memId=18146&searchId=Individual&seasonId=2022

Oh dear.

I had a quick browse through this the other day. Only about 6/7 photos, a couple of nice portraits but an fairly flat write-up of audax in general. I'd say save your £12

Anyone planning to do Bristol Glasgow Bristol next year?
https://www.pedalution.co.uk/events/bristol-glasgow-bristol-1600/
It sounds fun.
It says either entries have closed or not opened yet, which is pretty annoying. I'm assuming it is the latter but I might have missed the boat.

Entries close 16/06/23 it says and it's X-Rated so I don't see why there would be a limit anyway

Yes, I expect it hasn't opened yet and probably won't for ages...

It sounds fun.

You're also mistaken on this point

:D

Obviously I've put it in the calendar.

I meant 'fun'

Deffo sounds "fun". I'm already quadruple booked for June though.

Pendle 600k the week before for a warm up?
https://burnleyccevents.com/pendle-600-2/

That would be a good alternative, always meant to do one of his mental rides.