Audax rides

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.

No, it's not quite as simple as that, but there are a few options:-

a) The ride may have an associated Perm(anent) version of the event. For example, the Ditchling Devil has a perm version:-

http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/PST01/

The controls and route on a Permanent may be slightly different as calendar events have a little extra slack compared to DIY/Perm rides w.r.t controls and routes. Info controls are fine on calendar rides but are being discouraged on Perms. The Perm version of the Ditchling has no info controls so it has two controls either side of the Beacon to force you to ride it; there's nothing to force you up to the cafe at the Devil's Dyke.

b) If there are no info controls on the ride you can enter it as a standard DIY ride nominating the same controls. However, there are a few calendar rides that, even without info controls, may not satisfy the shortest distance between controls. (Again, these are generally long standing Calendar rides that are slowly being tightened up.).

Another problem with this is that it may be impossible to get proof-of-passage at the same location as a calendar control. If the calendar event uses people stamping cards at a village hall and there are no shops/petrol-stations/etc in that village then you've got to rethink it. But you can experiment with using controls in nearby places where there is proof-of-passage.

c) The final option is DIY by GPS. You can nominate controls at the same locations as the calendar ride (even at the places the calendar event uses info controls), get this route approved, and then ride the event using the GPS to record a GPX tracklog of your ride. You then submit the tracklog to the DIYxGPS organiser for validation. It's a good idea to pick up receipts at any places you stop for food just in case there's a query about the validity of your ride.

All 3 options should be explained in the DIY section of the Audax website.

Thanks Greenbank that's very helpful. I've only done calendared events so far and mainly just want to maintain my rhythm i.e. doing a ride every other week or so. Which in some cases will have to be a route of my own making. Might as well make it an event even if it's just me.

Thanks Greenbank that's very helpful. I've only done calendared events so far and mainly just want to maintain my rhythm i.e. doing a ride every other week or so. Which in some cases will have to be a route of my own making. Might as well make it an event even if it's just me.

If you use a calendared event route that is not a perm, it's a courtesy to let the organiser know you are doing it - and to feedback any comments you have on it.

I am running a 300K Audax, the Rutland Weekend, on Saturday July 6th. It's a flattish ride from Baldock - handy train connections to London & Cambridge - up north to the other side of Rutland and back. Very quiet, well surfaced roads compared to what most of us in the South East corner of the UK put up with.See Link for details.

May be interested in that (especially the train connection, very important as I don't have a car).

^^ This sounds great - v tempted - though have only done a 200k before and will have been off the bike for a fortnight before (um, tapering?). Worried this might be quite a big step up.

It have a similar amount of climbing as the LDD, but 100km longer, I reckon it'll be fine, will enter it once I got my new debit card that I lost in the LDD.

Weekend before my exams unfortunately, might not be the wisest choice to join you guys! :p

Have the Pendle 600 this weekend but i think that may have to be it for june/early july whilst i put my head down

^^ fine for you or fine for me? I felt ok after the LDD (except for low-level cake-induced nausea) but think this might be pushing it. Not around for a few weeks, though, so might stick in an entry and see how I feel.

^ Good luck J (for Pendle and exams - but probably mostly Pendle, it looks amazing)

For you (and me i guess), what I mean is that it look like there's less climb than the LDD (more spread out).

Annoyingly enough, it look like I'm booked for that particular day, as it look fantastic.

I've entered - what's the worst that can happen? (I get found a crumpled, broken mess in a ditch near Oundle, probaby).

I've entered - what's the worst that can happen? (I get found a crumpled, broken mess in a ditch near Oundle, probaby).

I'm pretty sure this is where you refer back to the old Audax saying - "if you can ride 200km then anything over that is psychological" - basically, if you want to ride 300km and have a base level of fitness then you'll be fine. Make sure you eat well at the controls, and don't waste too much time at controls though. 300km is a good distance for Audax, the perfect sun up till sun down full days riding.

That's what I was hoping - and forgetting to eat is not something I've ever struggled with. Will brace up. Thank you for the pep talk!

He's quite right, 200k is the first step into the realm of audaxing, I actually found the BLL a little harder than the 400k A&S, despite only having a 15 minutes nap in the very early morning with 80km to go.

That's what I was hoping - and forgetting to eat is not something I've ever struggled with. Will brace up. Thank you for the pep talk!

I've got more... If you are ever offered home made custard the answer is always NO. It might be fine in the garden if you are doing a spot of weed killing, but it's not what you want to be eating whilst riding. Stick to baked beans.

Speaking of baked beans, it's perfectly ok to break wind while riding in a group.

Like snot rockets and fly-spitting, I find it customary to pull out of the peleton or drop to the back before doing so.

Riders should also beware the Common Room of the Kings YHA after 2am.

Like snot rockets and fly-spitting, I find it customary to pull out of the peleton or drop to the back before doing so.

^I hate getting sprayed with snot, should definitely move out unless you're there racing etc
Why does anyone do it anyway??

^ Good luck J (for Pendle and exams - but probably mostly Pendle, it looks amazing)

Thanks! I'll need it for both...
Likewise good luck for the 300km :)

^I hate getting sprayed with snot, should definitely move out unless you're there racing etc
Why does anyone do it anyway??

Because it's a lot easier than blowing your nose when cycling.

And sniffing isn't??

And sniffing isn't??

I see you have never had so much snot build up in your nose that you can't really breathe properly. Sometimes it goes a bit hard and pointy because it's been exposed to the air moving through your nostrils and you get these shards of pointy snot in your nasal cavity. YOU try sniffing that back in. Ditto the ones that feel like you've got half a bowl of custard lodged up there that clog up an entire sinus when you try to sniff. Grim.

I see you have never had so much snot build up in your nose that you can't really breathe properly.

I unfortunately get this quite often actually, I've even been meaning to see a GP about it but that's a story for another day (thread?)

Although I can't empathise with pointy shards of snot so in future I won't think you inconsiderate for blowing your nose in my face, but please dont be offended if I don't cycle behind you!

The next weekend I'll be free on is the 30th, this look good, any taker?

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-272/

^ Just booked on that one. It was a postal booking but the route sheet arrived this morning. Will be my first 200. Going to stay with a friend overnight in Walthamstow and then get the train from Stratford to Chelmsford which is only half an hour. Fingers crossed for decent weather.

Anyone on the London midweek sightseer?

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-558/

Booked on that one too. Did it last year and was very enjoyable but did it at the weekend.