Audax rides

Saucelands lane, Skully. ffs.

No need to get saucy.

I think he meant to write 'Saucebot Lane'...

I'm looking for a comprehensive list of Reliability Rides. Tried looking on BC and cyclosport website but not sure how comprehensive they are. Ideally one near London (pref W London). DOes anybody know of any around mid March?

yep.

try here:
http://www.harproadclub.org.uk/

edit.

doesn't have any listed from the end of february onwards however....

I've actually signed up for The Dean (and a couple of others in increasing length further down the line) - I'm supposed to be staying in the Travelodge the night before so no worries there, however, I appear to be cutting it a bit fine with making to the last train at 23:15 on the Saturday following the ride, I'll need to be quite vigilant with time/avg speed to get it all done.

Are you doing The Dean? and is anyone else from on this forum?

I'm seriously considering it as I'm local although it may be a bit much as a first given I've only ever done centuries before.

Given I've got rack fitments I'm tempted to go rack with rackpack and maptrap although I've also got a garmin 800.

I'm looking for a comprehensive list of Reliability Rides. Tried looking on BC and cyclosport website but not sure how comprehensive they are. Ideally one near London (pref W London). DOes anybody know of any around mid March?

I'm not sure you'll find a comprehensive list of reliability rides. Most of them are organised on a club by club basis and often little is done to promote them externally. To the best of my knowledge there isn't a single organising/overseeing body like there is with Audax (although a few Audax rides are ridden by clubs as reliability rides). Best thing to do is to check through the websites of clubs local to you and see what they have in their calendars.

I'm seriously considering it as I'm local although it may be a bit much as a first given I've only ever done centuries before.

Given I've got rack fitments I'm tempted to go rack with rackpack and maptrap although I've also got a garmin 800.

If you're local then I reckon it's worth a shot as you'll have the luxury of that bit of extra time to get it finished in. You don't have a lot to lose and in a big group (there is a decent field entered already) a lot of the miles can just disappear.

My bumf arrived this morning, along with a couple of stickers for the mudguards I don't own. I have to question the wisdom of abbreviating those in charge of the Permanent Events to 'Perm Organisers', but I'm a sucker for a cut and blow-dry.

Well, you should certainly have mudguards on an Audax bike. :D

Is it a fundamental requirement? Neither of my bikes are Audax frames, but I was planning on using my road-bike regardless. Will they point and jeer at me if I turn up without them?

Actually from looking at the covers of the magazines I've been sent, none of the bikes have mudguards...

They'll probably just make you ride at the back of any group your in, or at the worst, make sure you are give exceptionally weak tea and slightly stale biscuits at refreshment points.

Is it a fundamental requirement? Neither of my bikes are Audax frames, but I was planning on using my road-bike regardless. Will they point and jeer at me if I turn up without them?

Actually from looking at the covers of the magazines I've been sent, none of the bikes have mudguards...

All the pics were taken in the summer and the spring, though. Bloody fair weather audaxers.

No, it's not a fundamental requirement, but how can you have an Audax bike without an AUK mudguard sticker? ;)

More seriously, obviously use mudguards if you expect the weather to be bad and to be riding with other people, which tends to happen if you're at least a moderately communicative rider. If the weather is definitely going to be dry, then there is of course less reason for having them.

Whether mudguards are compulsory or not is up to the organiser. I have done audaxes where mudguards are recommended, but not compulsory. They've not said anything (they tend to be more interested in the novelty of the fact I ride a fixed tarck bike to be honest).

I would avoid audaxes where mudguards are compulsory, because I wouldn't want to find out how rigidly this is enforced the hard way. So far none of the audaxes I'm planning on attending this year have stated that they are compulsory.

I agree with Oliver though that mudguards are a good idea and very practical. They also have the obvious benefit Oliver hasn't mentioned of keeping you wet. Lots of clip on mudguards are available...

In other news, I posted off my application for the Fixed Wheel Challenge today. I have no idea if I'll do enough fixed miles to qualify for a medal, but we'll see.

All the pics were taken in the summer and the spring, though. Bloody fair weather audaxers.

The cover of the 2012 handbook features both ice and snow!

I have to question the wisdom of abbreviating those in charge of the Permanent Events to 'Perm Organisers', but I'm a sucker for a cut and blow-dry.

I think a few of those titles are tongue in cheek. Such as the organiser of the Audax Altitude Awards being known as the 'AAA Man'.

I agree with Oliver though that mudguards are a good idea and very practical. They also have the obvious benefit Oliver hasn't mentioned of keeping you wet.

You must mean 'dry'. :)

That was far too obvious for me, and after all, it's your choice whether you want to be wet or not. I think that etiquette around others is a much more important consideration. :)

Less wet. Mudguards don't stop rain from falling on your head, back, arms ...

I meant wet: they stop the rain from reaching the tyres so it hits you instead.

#scoblelogic

Anyway, wet or dry, literally or laterally, it's good to be aboard the Good Bike Audax. Looking forward to my first.

I haven't joined anything.

Do, you could become less wet as a result.

Do, you could become less wet as a result.

This the worst reason to join a club I've ever seen. Even worse than "free poop scoop for every member".

How to pace for this sort of event? I imagine I must lose my tendency to push for the next gear or spin faster and find a decent rythm that's not against much load?

Does a maptrap fit with a garmin on a normal length stem?