Audax rides

Stunning. Adding that to the to-do list

It’s a very good route through one of my favourite parts of Scotland to ride.

We actually took quite a lot away from this one as this is the first audax we’ve done together where we made the tough decision to stop riding together and go at our own pace.

Gabi was having a tough time from the start as, unknown to us at the time, she was coming down with a stinky cold and was struggling to keep up energy levels. But we carried on as best as we could and I would always wait up for her. At a little over the halfway point, when I was wet and finding it hard to keep warm while waiting or riding with her, I left and head off at my own pace.

It sounds kinda harsh reading this back but it was the only option which meant neither of us had a wholly terrible time; she was happy to spin on at her own pace and would keep warm doing so; and I would go at my pace and hopefully warm up a bit. We’ve both ridden the roads a hundred times so we weren’t exactly in uncharted territory or anything.

Normally we get around the route together at a decent pace with no issues, so it was a bit of a downer to leave her behind, especially since I’ve been looking forward to this event all winter. But I guess we’ve now experienced a new challenge together and hopefully we’ll be better equipped for any hiccups on future rides.

Gabi finished with plenty of time to spare :)

wow! great place to ride!!!

Is anyone doing Man of Kent next weekend?

Sadly got other plans but I am tempted by the The Shark the following week

I bumped into George ‘McNasty’ Berwick yesterday on an out-and-back DIY to Dundee. I’d only met him once before, last autumn when I was doing exactly the same route, so was surprised when he invited me in for a cup of tea. I was hardly going to turn him down so I followed him back home for a cuppa. We chatted for almost an hour and he showed me some old photographs as well as his collection of bikes. He even obliged when I asked if I could take his portrait. What a great human being.

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The rest of the ride was quite good, too.

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Few local mates from Favs, I forgot to enter before it sold out

Would love a few riding buddies - anyone I could look out for?

You could always bandit ride (just kidding! kinda. Not really. of course I am)

on a similar note, anyone riding Amesbury Amble on the 15th?

I could be tempted out of bed for a rebel run

In for the shark after DNSing my planned PBP 200 on Sunday having been sick. Not too unhappy about not riding in what would have been 4hours of relentless rainy headwind from the start. Now I'll get to ride/walk in the rain up hills instead. Am feeling a bit intimidated by it, much like from this which washed up on a beach in SA.

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Possibly - it's one of two 300s I've entered.
If there I'll be on the front of a white Dolan tandem.

wicked - I'll keep an eye out for you!
(I'll be on a Rih fixed)

I will be on the front of another tandem for the Amble.

I've barely ridden either so maybe we can be washed up together??

I'm down for the Amble but doubtful of my riding condition, barely ridden for months

I cancelled my White Hart 200 entry for this weekend as have other plans.
https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10134-the_white_hart

Easter Arrow will be the next event. There's gonna be a tandem with us, so for a change I might not be the fastest fattest thing going down the hills

Up for that. Just to be clear, not joking about walking all the steep hills though.

safe! I'll be on gears and so wont be going much faster thank walking pace anyway...

Yep, I'm down for this one. I think it's quite a nice route from memory.

I had a good experience turning a 200 into a 300 by doing the majority of the ECE on the way out. I am now thinking similarly for a 300 into a 400 with the full 100 beforehand. I'm thinking that with a no-faff 300 I could start the ride out at 1am or a little before and then do the 300 (which starts at 6am) and finish at 8pm ish, rather than complete the ride balls deep into the night with no trains and fatigued in the dark. Anyone do similar, or have other ideas?

Think you need to calm down

Yeah, I've done things like that. But I've never done an ECE, I just used to ride to/from events so it would mean I'd be getting up stupid oclock to get to the start on time.

"Other ideas" include not fucking doing it. :D

Yeah but I want to do it! Well kinda. Anyway the only thing I'm worried about is fatigue and getting home afterwards, so thinking this might help solve the problem. Aren't there audaxes with 2am start times? Maybe LWL. I'm guessing this is the idea right, to avoid riding through the night?