LEL 2013 / London - Edinburgh - London Audax

http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com/

A thread separate from the general audax rides thread to discuss LEL.

28th July - 2nd Aug 2013

I don't think it's too early to start thinking about this. Is anyone planning on riding?

I have been harbouring a desire to do something like this for a while, and am drawn moth like to the audax flame. I think I'll see how my autumn / winter miles go and then make a call as it will need some pretty well thought out training from Jan - July to prepare properly.

I'd be in if i'm well practiced in 300km rides :) although do I recall it being very expensive?
I'd do it if the entry was a couple hundred pounds but anything more :/

870 miles in 5 days? oof.
doing it in 8 days would be tough enough for me.

Sounds tempting but don't think I have the mental capacity for this one

know what you mean, i did london-glasgow-london in june and the english roads do get pretty monotonotonotnotntotnotontotnous. I used to pray for hills just to break the silence in my head.

There a London-Edinburgh-London Facebook page and a sub-board for this on yacf.co.uk

I've done two fairly swift lejog's and most days I'd wake up and think 'not another a road' and just cursed everyone and anything. Kudos to those that can do this one, think it's beyond me

Tempted. I've done fully loaded touring and 800 miles in 8 days but that was arduous carrying the tent etc.

This seems quite cool with the pit stops every 80km, hopefully travel nice and light! but it's more mental than physical.

Any clues on cost?

A quick skim read of the yacf thread suggests approx £200. As someone there pointed out, not extortionate for five days of 'entertainment' inc food and beds.

^Jesus I thought it was going to be significantly more than that!

Well I had better start doing some 300s now!

...I don't think it's too early to start thinking about this. Is anyone planning on riding?...

Started training last Jan...

I'm going to sign up to this when it opens.

Remember that you don't just 'sign up' for LEL (or any super brevet ride). You have to do at least an SR series in the calendar year leading up to the ride, i.e. you have to do at least a 200, 300, 400, and 600 (BRM = brevet randonneur mondial) to show that you're up to it.

You also have to be fairly experienced in what you need and reasonably organised in how to pace yourself and how to plan your stops.

^?

Entries open January 2013. Anyone can enter, and you do not need to qualify.

Unlike PBP, there are no qualifying criteria for the LEL.

im gonna do this for sure

You also have to be fairly experienced in what you need and reasonably organised in how to pace yourself and how to plan your stops.

The stops are reasonably spaced and as others have said - no qualify needed for this ride.

I recently did a ride in Norway which was 540km which was quite hard and I did start off too quick but with breaks 25hrs, should be OK. It's all about getting the miles in the legs I think - and a good playlist.

There is no need to qualify.
Some people successfully completing LEL have done no previous Audax rides. Most riders are best with the experience that informs them how body and bike perform after long periods awheel.

Ah, sorry, showing my ignorance here. I thought this sort of mechanism applied to all super brevets.

Ah, sorry, showing my ignorance here. I thought this sort of mechanism applied to all super brevets.

Mind you, an experienced audax rider told me I should be aiming for *two *SR in 2013 in the lead up to LEL.

I would certainly recommend riding at least one ride of 600km or more in the run-up but it's not compulsory.
It's useful to learn how to cope with night riding, sleep deprivation, hunger, thirst and punctures in the dark (in the pi$$ing rain) in the middle of nowhere.

^this

There are normally a few extra 600s in May/June for this very purpose.

As many have mentioned though, I do not have the mental resilience for this, I get bored on a 300.

I'm planning on riding the LEL - I reckon I'll do another SR as well leading up to it, but actually, the skill needed (from what I can see) is the ability to ride a reasonably quick 300 then recover enough to ride the next day for 5 days...

If you take your time and end up riding into the night then of course, night riding skills would be essential - my plan is to avoid that by keeping things quick during the day...

The psychological aspect is definately the hardest part of any Audax over 200km - riding in a group helps, but setting off with a group of friends is even better!

I did this last time and it's not easy.

I think the entry fee is quite reasonable as they do provide a lot of food and support where necessary.

One word of advice though is that if you're expecting an actual bed to sleep in every night or at every rest stop then you'll be disappointed! I slept at various places and 'beds' consisted of the benches in a rugby club changing room, a pool table, a floor (with the spaces marked out in tape and on a stage.

Some stops have camp beds available but there's a rota system of 1/2 hour per person!

I'm considering doing it again this year again though.

I'm considering doing it again this year again though.

Again?