Audax rides

The fork rake/offset is the biggest difference, I doubt the handlebar height make that much of a difference, I have a very long one that cover the entire headtube length (220mm).

I have in the past mount a front rando rack on a bicycle that's not optimised for such load, and consquencely does not handle that well (steering feel stiffer, does not plane well, etc.).

Getting a fork made specifically for a front end load would be the best way forward if your bike geometry don't work with a front end load.

My spring copy of Arivee arrived yesterday. For those on this thread who are not AUK members, I can heartily reccommend it as a worthwhile benefit of your membership. It is a quarterly reminder that it is most definately not about the bike! Pictures of a whole selection of different people and different bikes getting on with enjoying (some often very tough) cycling.

I loved the one on the back showing 3-4 audaxees pushing their bicycle on an almost white landscape.

It's quite inspiring. These guys are so dedicated.

My spring copy of Arivee arrived yesterday. For those on this thread who are not AUK members, I can heartily reccommend it as a worthwhile benefit of your membership

This^!

I was well impressed by how glossy and well put together it was. Four of them a year is practically worth the membership alone.

I joined earlier this week so hopefully I'll get a copy!

Might be a bit late, if your didn't arrived, can lend you my copy.

Or email Mike Wigley and he'll send you one

I joined earlier this week so hopefully I'll get a copy!

Not only will you get the current copy of Arivee, but you will get a couple of snazzy AUK mudguard stickers to really get your bike looking like a proper audax machine!

Stickers? Amazing. I <3 a sticker.

Am going to have to get some "proper" mudguards rather than a saddle bad/raceblade at this rate ; )

And grow a beard too I suppose.

I've already got a beard! And I look curiously handsome with a beard. Himself gets a bit freaked out by it though #spoilsport

Check it out, fired up for the BCM in two weeks!

Rapha UK Continental: The Bryan Chapman on Vimeo

That ... is awesome.

The Bryan Chapman is an absolute classic ride.

Only done it the once (67" fixed) and I'd love to do it again (and again, and again...)

One of the Rapha riders told me this is better then the Alps.

Getting worried about this. I felt pretty ready for is last time and it still too me 39 hours. This year I keep feeling that the long winter and persistently colder than average temperatures have kept me under prepared. Going to have to dig a bit deeper on this one I think.

My favourite pic from Porkers 400, it doesn't do justice to clouds of fog covering the landscape below, it looked more like pools of water!

Excellent stuff, can't wait to do the 400k this Saturday, your first 400?

Ed - which 400? Severn Across?

^^Yeah it was

^and for zanda

I'm doing the Asparagus & Strawberries on the 11th otherwise would be keen.

Vesalius I'm massively impressed that you did a ride with just shy of 20k of climbing for your first 400, chapeau. Nice picture too. You need to do longer write ups though, one sentence for 250 miles with that much climbing!

How did you find it? :)

Thanks Fox :) I'll maybe give a go at a write-up later, I've picked up some sort of flu so I'm off today, and have some spare time.

In short though, it is undoubtedly the most enjoyable audax I've ever done, and undoutedly the hardest I've ever done!
I'm a sucker for nice views, and this ride provided so many.

Very well organised, lots of those lovely village hall controls with associated levels of pampering, and brilliant weather (albeit a bit chilly in the morning, had my balaclava on haha) which all helped to make it more enjoyable.

full write-up to follow? :p

You wrote more on your first 200 than your 400.

Yeah I got carried away in the nostalgia with that comment in the ditchling devil thread.