Audax rides

I purposely planned a flat (400km/2,779m) DIY so I’d get around at a decent (for me) pace.

As someone who used to ride far on a Mash Bolt I can totally sympathise with that!

I've done most of Dauntsey though never ridden it properly. JFL was the one I was most keen on but I've also now got a modified Asp&Strawbs route, 434.2 km, 3,040m that has the most amount of "I've not been there before" and it's flatter so might be a better choice. I could probably trim it down a bit, since it's a DIY and I also have a (probably) 2hr train ride to/from the start.

epic ! well done. i wish i could join

I've just received an email from the Fixed Wheel Challenge organiser. There is a badge for completing a SR on a fixie! This news has made my day!

It's brilliant isn't it! I was coming on here to publicise but if anyone didn't get the email, text reads ...
You are receiving this e-mail as an Audax member who has expressed an interest in a Super Fixed Wheeler badge and I am delighted to let you know that I have now been able to obtain a stock of these items. If you are interested in buying one, you should send me details of your validated SFW Brevet card – or, at least the validation number - with a payment of £4.00 and a sae large enough to cover a badge which is 4½” in diameter.

Morning.
For those who remember me, I'm alive.
Divorce, unemployment, homelessness - the last few years would have tested even the Pope.

I'm not who I was, but the love hasn't died.
In gainful employment and have a stable roof now, pootling about on a btwin 100 fold up Jobby.
It's got a cheeky 200 in it, eh?

Rule 5 & 6

Currently sellotaping four £1 counts to a piece of card and writing a self addressed envelope…

Shame there’s still no plans to make a Hyper badge ;p

Sorry to hear you've had such a rough time of it, good to hear things are on the up for you though.

If you want me to add you back to the ACH WhatsApp pm me your number, I know everyone would love to hear from you mate. Brad.

Struth mate, rough time. Good to see you're still about though and still riding.

I’m very tempted to sign up to moonrakers and sunseekers 300k

I feel like I could do it, having done 2x200 and the dynamo this year. I might even… enjoy it?

Anyone want to talk me; a stranger from the internet, in / out of it?

Will need proper lights and a shiny jacket.. but anything else?

I've done it. I think I was first back one year as I basically used most audaxes back then as training rides for races.

Whatever the weather forecasters say the temperature will be, it won't be, it will be colder.

Factor in carrying capacity for more food - not much open at night.

Try and sleep well before the event.

I fancy it just the prospect of ice puts me off slightly - speaking as someone who's definitely owed a broken collarbone from all the ice crashing I've done and somehow got away with until now.

I rode it late November 2018 according to my calendar.

There was no risk of ice when I rode it. I generally don't go out if it's icy, having seen poor Desi break bones on totally invisible black ice corner many years ago.

It's a pretty easy call - if it's been wet and then the temp drops near zero - I'll be having second thoughts and depending on how hard it is to get to the event, will make a call.

I started a Willesden or Westerley event one year and didn't make it to Uxbridge - because there was ice around I turned around. I'm not ruining a whole season for one winter ride (nah, instead I'll ruin it with one summer ride!).

Westerley event one year

The 2014 winter warmer - the first event I organised!

In hindsight I should have cancelled, and I would do now. But I fudged it then and said we would leave it up to riders - refund if you want or ride at your own risk.

We got caught out by the temps dropping more than forecast overnight (as they always do!) and it froze when it wasn't expected to. The route went up Bottrells Lane, which is always wet, and it was slippy as. Riders down everywhere. Nobody got (majorly) hurt, thankfully.

I rode the whole thing, mainly because I felt I ought to, and after that first section it was clear of ice. The following year I re-routed it to avoid Bottrells Lane, and we've never had a cold morning with ice since.

I think these might actually be your pictures

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Hmm, maybe there were two icy rides then. I do remember turning around on Bottrells as riders were going down. But the one I was thinking of I didn't even make it out to the lanes.

I guess I got more risk averse. I can't find the winter warmer in my rides list. Hmm..

Do you remember the date?

I see in my calendar

Westerley RR
Sunday, 12 January 2014

but no notes

Ah, I found it.

You can see where I turned around at Bottrells and did main roads instead.

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You'll be absolutely fine.

but anything else?

Snacks
Layers
Battery pack if you're using a GPS and you think it might not last for however long you expect to be out

As everyone else has said going into winter be mindful of ice, and the temperature will feel much colder when you're outside all flipping day. Memories of freezing my tits off at petrol stations on winter audaxes.

I think 300s might be my favourite distance. Home in time for bed.

Very wise!

You're saying this to the guy that hasn't ridden for 3 months because he hit a pothole while putting sunscreen on :D

I didn't know that was what you were doing!

I used to apply it while riding but through years of riding ultras I have discovered that I only need to put it on once and it lasts all day!

think 300s might be my favourite distance

100% with you on this. I really miss Audax, especially the petrol stations :(

It was Portugal in high 30C heat. I'd forgotten at lunch time.

It wasn't actually the putting on that was the issue, it was glancing down at just the wrong time when putting the tube back. Road looked fine... right until it wasn't.

[duplicate]

Unlucky - you spent most of your time on 4 TCRs posting on twitter with no issues, then get undone by that!

It was the smoothest, flattest, car-free, middle-of-the-day bit of road... right up until it wasn't.