Audax rides

Not bringing a lock as well, now you're getting me worried about the travelodge...

But honestly, I don't think you'd need to bring anything apart from a fresh travel towel, boxer, tees and toothbrush to stay the night.

Not at all, all you really need for LEL is to be able to complete in about 18.5 hours and the ability to operate on limited sleep. In PBP year, I pushed to finish this ride in 17 hours and still finished PBP with enough time to sleep for four hours and go do the extra 200 of LEL in 15 hours.

Plus it's colder at this time of year. Has a bit of effect on times.

My first Dean (2008) I finished in 20h55, but it was a blizzard at the top of Broad Hinton. After my 4 hours of sleep in the Travelodge I did a DIY 100 to get home in the baking sunshine.

2009 (in prep for LEL) was a bit better at 19h05.

Don't worry too much about times. I rarely finish rides with more than an hour in hand and had no problems on LEL or PBP, but then I do deal with sleep dep very well (I had ~10 hours sleep on both LEL and PBP). All on fixed FWIW.

Never had a problem taking a bike into my room in a Travelodge in the ~20 times I've used them before/after Audaxes. Also never taken anything other than a light cafe lock with me on an Audax.

What's the lock for? If you're at the travelodge I assume we'll be keeping bikes in rooms?

travel lodge was full.
I'm at an arsey bnb up the road.
Plus i'll be heading here from work on Friday arvo.

Secure lockup or rooms. Any arguments, bury the owners in the backyard and move in permanently claiming any of their benefits. That's how the Engerland works amiright?

I'm at an arsey bnb up the road.

Ask them if you can leave the bike indoor, if not, persuade them.

Don't worry too much about times.

I was touch and go, but sometimes you just have to back yourself.

I've got no hotel for Sat, so it's 16.5 hrs around to make the last train.

Or sleep in a hedge
Or buy a box of HTFuuU flapjacks and make the 180 into a 240.

but I imagine that will not be a palatable solution.

It's 190 miles I'm afraid not 180! Makes no odds though, you'll be fine.

Good luck everyone, I'm doing Paris and back this weekend.

By Eurostar.

:')

wow. weather for Sat looks dire.

Looking ahead:

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-113/
or
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-417/#more

In no particular order;

dont much feel like carting a backpack full of bike locks and a phone charger for 180 mile

Really not needed. Almost any phone charged up by Friday lunchtime should still hold enough charge to see you around a 300k. Kill a few of the unnecessary functions and keep pictures, texts and twittering to a minimum.

As for a lock, the obvious solutions are either a) bring a lock but don't bother with a backpack and leave the lock on a railing or something on it's own. b) get someone in the Travelodge to take your bike in for you and stump for a couple of taxi's or shanks it if you're not too far and not on road cleats.

am I being optimistic thinking I can leave a backpack at the start/finish control all day? I just checked here and it says postal control finish?

Very optimistic indeed. This is an archetypal x-rated event with no on ride service offered at all. Amazingly it is still more popular than many of the supported rides. I won't be anywhere near Oxford from about 8am onwards so there will be no leaving a bag with anyone.

maybe I can just lock the backpack to a tree or something.

Really can't unrecommend this enough. Alas, the Park & Ride is not free of loitering youth or rough sleepers and there is no guarantee the contents of your backpack will be in anyway safe. Anywhere else in town would be equal madness.

wow. weather for Sat looks dire.

A couple of rain showers and a bit of wind isn't dire by any stretch for an audax this early in the year. It's better than I had two weeks ago and I didn't feel it much.

As an afterthought, leaving a bag or a lock or anything near the start necessitates getting back to it at the end of the ride. You'd then have to get back to the station after that, diminishing your chances of getting that last train. Best avoided at all costs.

The audax uk site seems to have had some updates :) There's a new "add to your calendar function", and a section that shows rides you've entered or are planning to do.

Wow. A littany of whiney questions.

What a moaning karnt.

Nope, just the usual concerns about doing something like a 300 for the first time. You're not the first to ponder this sort of stuff and won't be the last.
Best to get the advice early on, finding out the hard way just makes you feel silly (there's a reason I know that).
It's a great ride, you might even enjoy most of it. Watch out for wild boars.

Cheers tsk

Weather said chance of snow in Oxford on Sat! hah.

Really looking forward to this, will do another cheeky 10 miles on top of the 307k to do my first 200 miles ride.

Just signed-up for the Green & Yellow Fields 300, start/finish Manningtree station on the main line from Liverpool Street.

First 300 and it's x-rated, hope my (experienced) pal can make it: anyone else?

20 April, will double check the date, look good too, thank for the head-up, I like to go to an audax that's accessible via train from London.

There's also a 400 on 11th May from Manningtree Station.

So that mean I can get a 100, 200, 300 and 400 under my belt.

My bike better be ready for the 400!

I am loving the new Audax UK website, so much more useful and it's great to actually be able to organised my calender without having to make note of it.

Enter the Asparagus & Strawberries Audax (love the name).

So far I got this in my calender;

23 Mar - 307km - The Dean
06 Apr - 300km - 3 Down
11 May - 416km - Asparagus & Strawberries
09 Jun - 205km The Ditchling Devil
13 Jul - 600km - The Buzzard

I'll see how I get on with the 300, but as Manningtree is just down the road from me I'm keen to do it.

As emailed out but thought it worth posting here as well for The Dean 300k...

*Dear Riders,

As I'm sure has come to your attention, the weather forecast for this weekend has deteriorated a bit. Currently, according to the BBC Weather, Oxford is expecting snow with other areas of the ride expecting rain and possibly freezing temperatures in the late hours of Saturday, early Sunday.

However, a forecast is just that an is no guarantee of the weather on the day. It could be better or equally it could be worse. As well as that, audaxing attracts riders of all abilities, stripes and adventurousness. For these reasons, I am not cancelling the event and respect anyone's wishes to go out and give it a try. The decision, as ever is all yours.

That said, I encourage you all to consider responsibly whether you should start the ride and ensure that you are properly prepared for what may turn out to be challenging conditions. Maps, road atlas pages, gps or a combination of all three should be a serious consideration, even for those familiar with the route. I realise that many of you will have booked accommodation and/or train tickets for this event and fully expect decisions to be made on the day. There's no shame in deciding that a ride isn't for you and I'd far rather find myself standing like a silly fool in a snowy park and ride than hear of any accidents or ill effects later on. There are worse places to DNS a ride than a picturesque University city.

If the weather is bad then I'll likely be found in the foyer of the Travelodge adjacent to the start at around 8am to head into town for a warm breakfast. Any non-starters are welcome to come along. For those braving what comes, my number is on the routesheet and brevet card, my phone is on all day and you are welcome to call for advice on route alternatives.

That, I think, is quite enough doom and gloom for a Thursday evening. I shall return to my positive optimism that the weather will be good and everyone will have a jolly good time. Apologies to anyone receiving this who has already withdrawn from the ride.

Regards,*

I think im a dns.

Too many things conspiring to make this a disaster, including mechanicals. Shame as I was really looking forwards to it.

If anyone is planning on chancing it, I have a hotel room in a nice b&b paid for tonight. Pm me if youd like it.