Audax rides

Yossarian
I'm not riding in order to have a season's achievements recorded, I like audax because it allows me to ride in this beautiful land without really having to find a route.

To be fair, Yossarian, as well as being one of the nicer guys I've ridden with, is also someone who really appreciates the beauty of the ride and the joyful experience of passing through a landscape. I think that's why he rides so many perms - where the camaraderie aspect, usually so prevalent on calendar audax, is in short supply.

but sometimes you need a little extra incentive. if points is it, then that's ok. Better than my form, which is uploading to strava (not for the KOMs but) to make my antipodean friends insanely jealous.

At he end of the day it's all for the love of the game I guess.

But he's right about the longer rides. There's an element of self discovery beyond 300km that is a reward for the endeavour. And until you do it, you never know you can do it.

We believe in you Skully. We believe!

I think it's also worth noting that the longer the audax, the more genuine the people can be (not that they weren't in smaller audaxes).

Surprisingly the paces were slower in the 400k I ridden recently, today the 200k were pretty fast (due to the larger amount of sportive/club riders), there's even a Parlee with Lightweight tubular wheels, a very stark constract to my humble downtube shifter fattie.

I can't imaging that Parlee in a 600k!

Yeah, I think the combination of the weather forecast (fail!!) and the location of the departee/arrivee probably attracted a few less mudguards than usual.

however, I rode with a few first time audaxers (strong riders) who will probably be back for more.

some of them may even grow beards. in time.

but I dont expect the full club geezers to be pulling anyone round a 600km anytime soon.

for the record, the first finisher was a seasoned audaxer, riding SS, I think (he also came second in the nocturne folding bike race last night)

To be fair, Yossarian, as well as being one of the nicer guys I've ridden with, is also someone who really appreciates the beauty of the ride and the joyful experience of passing through a landscape. I think that's why he rides so many perms - where the camaraderie aspect, usually so prevalent on calendar audax, is in short supply.

but sometimes you need a little extra incentive. if points is it, then that's ok. Better than my form, which is uploading to strava (not for the KOMs but) to make my antipodean friends insanely jealous.

At he end of the day it's all for the love of the game I guess.

But he's right about the longer rides. There's an element of self discovery beyond 300km that is a reward for the endeavour. And until you do it, you never know you can do it.

We believe in you Skully. We believe!

Haha. Yeah yeah. Happy to say that 200 is already within reach, (will do plenty more 100s and 150s around doing one or two of those) and 300 isn't out of the question sometime.

Hey, if I sounded sniffy with yoss, that wasn't intended. I was merely saying that I just like cake and lanes. Had a smashing half pint if ale at 87k today, rode the last 20 really happy and full of joy. I'm riding cos I just bloody love the general no-competition vibes at an audax.

Also, the whole audax jargon confuses me so maybe I don't understand some of the stuff you're talking about. Not interested in having a perm (I've hardly got any hair) or doing some diy, I'm crap at decorating.

Also, the whole audax jargon confuses me so maybe I don't understand some of the stuff you're talking about. Not interested in having a perm (I've hardly got any hair) or doing some diy, I'm crap at decorating.

UTFS, then, eh? :)

I can't imaging that Parlee in a 600k!

You will see bikes like that on some 600s as these are popular with the 24hr TT riders for training and testing. There was one on the BCM who was a pair of batwings short of a full TT machine. Got round in just over 25hrs.

Oh yeah there was a woman doing the Ditchling Devil on a TT bike, I can't imaging how she managed to get through the long loose gravel road after the Dyke which were being build at the time.

Discovered I have tickets for Leonard Cohen friday night so the National is out of the question.

Will probably **NOT **do Rocko's 200 on sunday though. even starts inside the M25!

Looks like I've missed the boat as it's mail entry only

The road that was closed (but passable on bikes) and relaid was Edburton Road going West from Poynings to the A2037.

Chip seal roads like that are horrible to ride along until they've been pressed and the loose stones removed. I hated that bit on 23mm tyres.

As for TTers on Audaxers. Nik Gardiner used to ride the Bryan Chapman 600 as training for longer TTs. He'd usually finish in 24 hours or so and man the Arrivee for any other fast finishers until the organiser got back from doing their stint at Kings YH.

FFS
my calendar skills are impeccable

Leonard is next friday
Pendle is therefore out
but 400 is back on the cards

Anyone riding the 400, what are your travelling / accomodation plans?

FFS
my calendar skills are impeccable

Leonard is next friday
Pendle is therefore out
but 400 is back on the cards

Anyone riding the 400, what are your travelling / accomodation plans?

Thats bad news about the Pendle, I was looking forward to riding with you and the rest of ACH - any chance of sending a stunt double?

Hello all, anyone interested in a new ride?

'Chase the Sun' - 17 hours, cross country, east-coast to west-coast cycle, pedalling from sunrise to sunset across the UK on the longest day of the year...

Riding this year on Saturday June 22nd.

More info here - www.chasethesun.org

Its a small and new ride, not quite a registered Audax event (yet), but its free!

been looking at this for weeks,
utterly mental,
and brilliant route,
have some friends in Kent which would be good for start but this is dedication.
like audaxers not lightweights like me

^^Cool :)

Will be doing the Pendo so can't do it that weekend unfortunately, sounds like a great ride though.

Want to get out there on the bike but end of year exams are looming and the fear is kicking in, so work will probably have to take priority :(
Can't wait for summer...

^ HA!

I was reading an Audax blog last week and this phrase made me laugh.

Why do you do these long bike rides, I was asked the day after finishing the Brevet Cymru - I really have no idea I said. And I still don't. The Brevet Cymru was a grinding lesson in fatigue, delusions and poor nutritional choices...

From here

That meme's hilarious.

It looks like he got shot during a particularly energetic bit of disco dancing

I really can't wait for my first 600k, just gotta call first dibs on a bus shelter before everyone.

Thats bad news about the Pendle, I was looking forward to riding with you and the rest of ACH - any chance of sending a stunt double?

unfortunately last time I saw him play there were about 5 encores.

will scope out a possible midnight train, but dont think it's gonna happen.

Nice. Another motto is:

"Audax: Embrace your inner tramp."

One of my finest hours is sleeping for an hour in a church porch in Brampton on LEL'09. Another was sleeping for 30 minutes on an upturned bread crate outside a petrol station (shut) somewhere on the A44 (Ponterwyd?) in deepest darkest Wales on the Snowdon & Coast 400.

There's no south east England Audax on the weekend of 22nd/23rd of June but for anyone who wants an Audax fix, a Willesden member, Tony Willard, has organised Audax style charity rides from Oakley, near Basingstoke. Once you get out of 'stoke you're in cracking cycling country. Details are at http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.uk/tony-willards-breast-cancer-care-ride-22nd-june-2013/

So am I alone on the national 400?

You're never alone on an audax. But most of the hard nuts pretend they are.

Does anyone know if you can ride a calendar event as a DIY? What I mean is to ride it on some other date but as it's already been registered as a particular distance you don't need to apply for it as a DIY. For example if you rode a calendar event and enjoyed the route but didn't want to wait till the next scheduled event and also wanted to get your audax points.

Haven't booked it yet but pretty sure I'll be doing the Windmill Ride as my first 200.

Tomorrow London to Brighton. My own route (not BHF) written out audax style with a group of about 6 others.