Audax rides

I am totally jealous now ... lying in bed with a dripping nose and sweating like an idiot, and getting out of breath from walking up the stairs ... I hate being sick!!!!

I rode the Dean, my first 300. I finished in just under 16 hours which I was pretty pleased especially considering I had to make a few adjustments to my bike and lights.

I really enjoyed the ride, nice contrast in scenery all the way round. Really enjoyed the section through the forest of dean (despite the fact that my Honjo mudguard snapped, that will teach me for being un necessarily frivulous). Finishing off the climbs over the downs around sunset was pretty spectacular too.

Looking to the future I think I may try Brevet Cymru 400 and BCM 600 for the SR series.
Does anyone know the different between the BCM Scenic and 2004 routes? The former appears more appealling on the face of it.

I rode the Dean, my first 300. I finished in just under 16 hours which I was pretty pleased especially considering I had to make a few adjustments to my bike and lights.

Where you the guy in blue with a goatee that we lent the allen keys to?

Difference between BCMs is that the scenic has more climbing and worse roads. The 2004 has less climbing and less views.

Does anyone know the different between the BCM Scenic and 2004 routes? The former appears more appealling on the face of it.

Yes, the scenic diverts off the 2004 route in several places and takes in some more gratuitous and unnecessary climbs.

The Elan Valley is one, the 2004 route stays on the A470.

On the way back: Mallwyd to the A470
Scenic: via the A458, Afon Cwm and Pandy then onto the A470
2004 route: stays on the A470 through Glantwymyn

There are a couple of other small ones after Newtown too.

It's possible to ride the 2004 route but take any of the scenic options that you want. This is what many people do.

If you enter the Scenic route you have to take all of the scenic variations.

Where you the guy in blue with a goatee that we lent the allen keys to?

No, not me im afraid. I was wearing black spectacles and riding a black and silver mercian.

It's possible to ride the 2004 route but take any of the scenic options that you want. This is what many people do.

I may adopt that approach and see how I am feeling during the ride.

I am considering riding another 300 before these two in may. Has anyone ridden the Hailsham 300 before? or any other El Supremo events? It starts at 03.00 so the practicalities of getting there sufficiently rested may be an issue.

Not sure if I saw you then. I also wear spectacles and was riding a blue Giant with a dodgily hung Carradice.

Is anybody up to do a perm

London-Brighton 100K (fish+chips for lunch) and train back
or
London - Southend-on-sea - London 100K
at the end of April ?

Anyone else off the forum on for the Severn Across in a couple of weeks?

Akin, I'm looking at you.

Anto, I'd be up for that. Never ridden to Brighton, so it'd be fun. How do you sign up, or do you just have to collect receipts?

I am going to send off a proposed route sheet + controls.
As far as I understand you collect receipt @ start + 2 receipts on the way + 1 at the end and send them to the perms organiser for your area. He/She will validate the ride and assign points.

TSK - I intended to ride it as it is a relatively convenient start from near london. However, I arranged to go riding in the peak district with a friend a long time ago so I can not make it.

I think im going to attempt Brevet Cymru and BCM at the start of May. Just looking into the finer details of sleeping arrangements now. Any resonibily priced recommendations in the chepstow area anyone?

I think im going to attempt Brevet Cymru and BCM at the start of May. Just looking into the finer details of sleeping arrangements now. Any resonibily priced recommendations in the chepstow area anyone?

A load of people camp or B&B here: http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/uppersed.html

I stayed at the Severn View Travelodge just over the Severn Bridge last year. Train to Bristol Parkway on Friday after work, Friday night and Sunday night in Travelodge, then train Monday morning back to Londinium and in to work where I slept and dribbled on my desk all day. There may not be any cheap rooms left there...

Thanks for the advice Greenbank. Got a camping space booked for both weekends to keep costs down. Entry forms in the post.

Out of interest is there any site online which alows you to make cycle reservations when you book your train tickets?

Out of interest is there any site online which alows you to make cycle reservations when you book your train tickets?

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

The above can be used for all train lines. The bike reservation process goes something like this (screenshots from back when it was National Express East Coast's website):-

http://www.greenbank.org/misc/neec1.jpg
http://www.greenbank.org/misc/neec2.jpg
http://www.greenbank.org/misc/neec3.jpg
http://www.greenbank.org/misc/neec4.jpg

I am going to send off a proposed route sheet + controls.
As far as I understand you collect receipt @ start + 2 receipts on the way + 1 at the end and send them to the perms organiser for your area. He/She will validate the ride and assign points.

You need to contact the relevant DIY organiser in advance of the ride, agree controls that give a shortest distance above the required threshold (100km, 200km, etc), that aren't too far apart (60km max separation on a 100km ride) and then submit a signed entry form for the DIY ride, including proposed control towns, agreed min distance, and the date you intend to do it.

FWIW, Clapham Common, Lindfield, Brighton only comes out as 80km.

Last time I went down that way I did Putney, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Lindfield, Brighton. That comes out at 111.5km and takes you up Ditchling. Coming back I used Horsham as a control and then up Box Hill from Betchworth (which was nice) and blasted back to London along the A217. Fair amount of climbing...

Bikely route (may take a few attempts to get it to load): http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/360977

Don't bother submitting a proposed routesheet as it is meaningless. You have free choice of route between your controls and you only get credit for the shortest possible route between controls regardless of the route you take on the day (although there is a trial of using GPX files as proof of route taken).

More info over on yacf: http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19941.0

Hi all,

Thanks greenBank for your help. I got in touch with Martin and organised the DIY.

Anto, I'd be up for that. Never ridden to Brighton, so it'd be fun. How do you sign up, or do you just have to collect receipts?

Hey Pascalo, sounds good.
However, this saturday I am doing a (100Km) DIY to Canvay Island return.
Early start (7:00 - 8:00 am) + Full english near the sea + back for lunch
What do you recon?

If you are interested let me know and I will PM the details.

Antonio

Crap, just read this ...

No problem..

Are you planning to do any rides in May?

not audax ... but would like to do one for sure. Any ideas?

I don't really keep an eye out for non audax rides

In May I would like to do another 100Km DIY (Oxford/Brighton this time). In June I think I should be ready for this http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=10-387 as a 100 or 200... These rides should get me a Brevet 500..

I haven't even got my first brevet back. Have you?
That June one looks good. Might be up for that. Time to get the cheque book out and do another medieval style transaction.

How about the 9th of may:

http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=10-205

I haven't even got my first brevet back. Have you?

No, I haven't got any of my March nor April rides quite yet. Apparently it takes a long time for them to get back to you. Which is a shame as I want to claim the FWC and AUK points for my rides previous membership...

That June one looks good. Might be up for that.

Sounds brilliant.. would you be up for the 200 ? You know you want to :) Besides you are on geared :D

Time to get the cheque book out and do another medieval style transaction.

Lol

nah, 200 is a bit much atm. I am waiting for DD, then another 200 after that to close the season. In the meantime the TNRC nursery aka SSTC and some 100 audax rides.

That's the 400k done. Managed to get just inside my target time of 22 hours. This means that I'll have 18 hours left to do another 200 on the BCM 600 in three weeks time. I'll probably spend three for all the extra climbing and three sleeping. It'll be tough but I reckon I might just be able to do it.