Audax rides

A few snaps.

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A few more.

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Have you got another one lined up?

Yes, I've entered the midweek one from Bristol in a couple of weeks' time. Will give me time for some knee rehab! It's a bit lumpy but not Pendle standards of steepness

I've got 30x42 on the Mason. I don't know how I rode the Tan Hill 600 on the TT bike. Stupidity and anger probs

@frank9755 I hope everything settles back down with your knee in time.

Those are great pictures, thank you.
If I saw them together without context I would know they're from an audax.
That nicely spaced group, guy really happy he found a wonky bench to eat his strange food, your wife's (?) "this is a bit stupid but good" smile.

Any thoughts on recovery from a 600? I had a bit of knee and achilles swelling which seems to have let up but still feeling pretty wiped out at this point.

Rode with my down jacket this time but didn't put it on until I stopped at 4am during the night at a control - was feeling pretty cold but worried I would get too warm and fall asleep if I was riding in the jacket. I had merino winter base layer, perfetto jacket and a waterproof on top with winter gloves and running tights on over bib shorts - top half was warm ish and legs were cold. Could maybe get some winter cycling tights with no pad to use during the night...

Any thoughts on recovery from a 600?

Do another 600. Preferably harder.

What about 1000k instead?

Sure. If you haven't already burned all your holidays on other cycling events. :)

Not a lot, main thing is not to rush back to riding straight away. You'll have inflammation in various places and most of those aches and pains will settle down with a bit of rest. And get plenty of sleep.

Sounds like you had pretty much the right kit. If your legs are cold it doesn't necessarily mean you need more layers on your legs, might be better to put an extra layer on your core. If you are cold, do put on more clothes. You shouldn't need to freeze to stay awake!

Generally my approach is 'ride your commuter bike around very chilled for a few days, eat 150% of what you do normally' and you'll be reet.

On a more serious note: I prefer active recovery - very easy riding for the days afterwards. I also note down any issues I recall, in the hope that I will fix them before the next one.

It depends how deep you dig to get through it. I'm worried about Pendle because Brimstone was a cluster fuck and we finished it with no sleep and very little time to spare, although physically I felt great on day 2.

If you have overuse injuries that might be fit related, think about adjustments or changes to make and try them out before the next one.

I have a lot of natural insulation so would die if I wore all that stuff you had on. I think I might take my down jacket up north though for any stop time or if I bail out in the middle of nowhere. I think I took tights on one of the Wessex rides because it was clear and cold overnight. Leg warmers can slip down and be annoying too. I use a summer undershirt as after the first ride I found my LS merino too warm. Debating which rain jacket to take up north - hooded or not.

Excellent ride report, I do enjoy the lyricism of the sleep deprived.

My toes have finally nearly recovered from my DIY LeJOG. Started at 5am on the penultimate Sunday in May, I chose to stay in a hostel near the start, pocketing the remaining breakfast bits I had pre-ordered, including the two hard boiled eggs. There was a bit of a breeze but nothing too serious yet, although I rode into the thick fog around Penzance and Hayle and got absolutely soaked. Soon dried out and had to deal with a lot of diverted traffic as the main road in Cornwall was shut. My partner was meant to be meeting me near St Kew Highway around 9am but I was pushing too hard so I was waiting for her for about 20 minutes. I thought I'd crack into a hard boiled egg, only to discover they weren't cooked 🤦. I saw her a few times en route to Sourton Down, where we had lunch together. It was to be the last time we saw each other for a week.
I was finally off the busy roads for a bit, as I picked my way across Devon on the smaller lanes. Most of the ride so far was from memory, temperature was rising though and so was the wind. The levels and the Mendips are bit of a blur, and getting to the Clifton Suspension bridge took a bit more thought because they were setting up a big event in Ashton Court. A couple of posh petrol stations stops later, a setting sun and I was racing to get to Gloucester before the 5guys near the Premier Inn shut. A burger, fries and milkshake later I was asleep.
Not such an early start, 6am, aiming for Penrith. The wind was really up, right on the nose and the long straight roads I had picked were straight into it. The corridor between Manchester and Warrington sucked to navigate, so much traffic and so many temporary lights. Going through cities really knocked my speed right back and I knew it was going to be a late one today. Was treated to a stunning sunset as I approached Lancaster. I was in good spirits climbing Shap Fell in the dark, and felt like I flew down the other side. Into the Travelodge at 1 I think, where I polished off one packet of the instant mash I had with me.

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Day 3 late start again, only to find the Gregg's wasn't opening at the advertised time! Cock. Had to push on to Carlisle for my first Gregg's experience. Gretna Green and a repeat of the LEL road past Moffat(bumpy with a rattler of a road surface). Again the wind was in my face but at least I had the Scottish vistas. The noise from the A74 was insane. Hit Glasgow eventually, confirmed that I'm not a fan of city traffic. The last food shop for the day was in Balloch, so pockets filled with scotch eggs, chicken bites, cakes and sundries I hit out onto the A82 which was pretty busy. Taking every opportunity to get on parallel road, I felt like I was on holiday riding along Loch Lomond. The clouds were gathering at the north end, so I was getting a bit worried about riding up into the Highlands if a storm was forming. I rationalised it with myself that it's lower than Haytor, so I made sure I enjoyed the views whilst I had them. What followed was probably one of the most enjoyable roads I've ever ridden, the sun was low, the traffic practically non-existant, and wind had dropped. The 65km Inverarnan to Glen Coe was undescribable. The colour fantastic, so many animals around.

Some long descents and I made it to Fort William for chicken nuggets and the last packet of mash.

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Final leg, day 4 Fort William to John O'Groats. The first chilly morning, let down by the cafe I had planned on stopping at being closed. So back to a garage forecourt for breakfast. Some fantastic riding, properly felt like being on holiday. The hunt for a soft toy began at Fort Augustus. A steep climb on the south shore of Loch Ness sucked all life out of my legs, but the views and the descent were worth it. I found a small cafe on the quieter roads near Foyers which had some lovely Highland cattle calves. A quick ride though Inverness later and I was at the Harry Gow bakery, with stunning views back along the Beauty/Moray Firth. This next section I wasn't looking forward to, as I was eventually joining the A9 for 9 miles. That said, despite the now crosswinds, I hammered down towards the Cromarty Bridge, which was exhilarating...the bridge was a constant battle to keep the bike upright though. The winds were, again, a constant headwind as I crossed the high land towards Aultanamain and Lairg. I had to disappear into the woods as the public loos at the Falls of Shin were long shut.
Going was tough across the moors to Crask Inn, but my word the views along Loch Naver were incredible. In my head I was counting back from midnight, wondering if I make it in my target of 3 nights/4 days. Hit the coast at Betty hill where I stuffed the croissants I'd been carrying all day, and picked up the first proper tailwind of the trip. Dodging the crap surface, interspersed with fresh tarmac, I felt like I flew to Thurso. What a shithole. Nothing open other than a takeaway surrounded by drunks. No dinner for me tonight, and still 30km to John O'Groats. It took me an hour and 10 minutes. Getting to JOG at 2330!! MADE IT. 90.5 hours. It then took me 90minutes to get the 15miles to Wick, adrenaline all gone.

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Nice adventure. I'm far more inclined to do the "Lumpy" version or at least take some time with it, having spent a lot of time on the LEJOG A-roads back in 2014.

I'm now looking at bailing on my second entered Pendle, this time due to car battery (not Di2 this time). Not sure I can be arsed with all this fucking drama over and over again.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi32M_J17P_AhWV0tUKHRajASAYABACGgJ3cw&sig=AOD64_3OZmtLEvQ_FFEbj0QrNIwBQa0-eg&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwir88fJ17P_AhXKgf0HHXBMAUYQ0Qx6BAgJEAE

I'm charging the battery now. I might still go. I'm just gettin real tired of drama and it's providing me a nice excuse to sit on my arse all weekend in the sun drinking beers instead of grinding my knees away up north.

Thanks, I think there was only one road where I thought "What the fuck am I doing on this?" some where between Newport and Market Drayton. If I did it again, I'd still try for Bristol first night, and then ride through Wales. Middle England was just dull.

![https://ridewithgps.com/trips/122864105
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Chapeau!

LEJOG as an Audax is on my big long list of things to do one day (can't take the time away from family life right now).

Partly because if I did it as a gentle tour I'd probably just give up at some point, whilst an entirely arbitrary validation goal (14 AUK points!) is often enough to keep me going.

Great effort and nice write up!

Glencoe is either incredible or utterly shit depending on the traffic. I rode through with a friend a week before you and the road was closed at Kingshouse so there was almost zero traffic. No wind, moody lighting, just perfect. I’ve done it in the day as well with all the trucks and tourists zipping by and it’s not that nice.

Thurso is a strange place. The last time I was there I got told to “Get tae fuck” when I asked for chippy sauce on my chips, and there was a chap in the hostel slurping sardines out of a tin on his bed at 4am in the morning.

Loved the LEJOG write up, thanks for that.

I had a weekend off but did anyone get out?