Audax rides

See my post above: I know nothing about audax.

Ludwig - are you trying to ride a DIY Audax tomorrow that follows the route of the Great Escape Audax?

Your post above suggests you are, but that it's not been done in an Audax-enough fashion (remember that Audax is fundamentally for old men in spd sandles, and be glad that you don't have to send everything by post anymore...) - here is my guide to DIY's...

First you need to register as a member of Audax UK, then buy a DIY Brevet card, then submit a proposal for the route (or simply the controls) the the relevant DIY organiser, then when they confirm that it's okay (as in, long enough for your proposed distance) you ride, and send them back reciepts/ GPS....

I've never bothered with DIY's as it's a massive hassle and to be honest, pointless (except of course, if you are collecting points, in which case its pointfull...)

Fancy this one later in the year - http://www.audaxclub-sh.de/node/513

In the end they were very helpful and I could not DIY because I could not buy brevet. So I had lunch at Blue Egg and just rode the 198.75km. Surprisingly rewarding Herr Kaleu.

This isn't much of a write up but I completed my first audax (A Mere Century) yesterday with a bunch of Manchester riders. Despite the rain and wind all morning and fist-sized hail (maybe a slight exaggeration) in the afternoon I think we all had a great time. Found some nice little pubs along the way including one with two open fires, came in handy for drying out gloves and hats. The whole thing was well organised and soup and a cheese sandwich at the end was a nice touch!

Started filling up my calendar with other North West events, have entered the North West Passage but have a feeling I'll be riding that alone.

A rather testing event on the Mere 200.

Rain from the off was a bit demoralising and any moment on the first leg spent exposed or heading south left riders somewhat battered by the wind. Not something that boded well for the trip from Delamere to Ellesmere. Given how tiring the first leg was, I was surprised to have covered the first 50k in just over two hours.
As I started on the southern leg I realised that I was fast running out of water so diverted down the A49 in search of a garage I'd used before. Alas it turned out to be closed on a Sunday so decided to press on rather than return to the route for uncertain shopping opportunities. Not the most pleasant of southerly trips although the traffic was pretty quiet for a main road. At Whitchurch I restocked at a Garage/McD's combo that I knew would definitely be open and was glad to finally turn away from the south. Grinding out the miles into a rain lashing headwind on fixed was really losing it's appeal at that point.
I was surprised again when I managed to pull into Ellesmere at 1pm and knew that I was good to make Prees Heath before the 3pm cut off.
Managed to ditch the waterproofs and put on some dry gloves after lunch which boosted spirits as did the fast spin into Audlem where the tailwind nearly had me undergeared. Alas, turning north there with a change in the wind slowed me up some and I was reduced to just pottering along.
Not long after darkness my main light crapped out on me which was annoying as I'd only charged it up the night before. Fortunately I had enough in the backup for the last hour back to the finish.
The shitty weather and mucky roads meant my chain had stretched quite a bit on the ride so no surprises that I managed to ship the chain on a fast bumpy descent. Luckily I had not long overtaken a bunch from the short ride and they stopped to give me a bit of light whilst I sorted it out. Turned out to be a group of women, most of whom where on their first audax and, despite the weather, seemed to be enjoying themselves. They certainly seemed cheery when they rolled into the finish.

I quite like this route and the terrain is certainly good for riding fixed but alas I seem to have no luck with the weather. I think that in future my winter rides will be planned as short notice rides on weekends when the weather isn't this bad.

Anyone doing Mad Jacks on the 15th? Just entered, now wondering if I'll need a buddy...

Anyone fancy riding to/from the Bryan Chapman?

Riding there? I was thinking of taking the car with you to the event?

I wanted to do that last year, audax uk website seemed to be down.

Anyone fancy riding to/from the Bryan Chapman?

So, my plan is to ride to Chepstow on the Friday, stay overnight, ride up/down Wales on the Saturday/Sunday and the ride home from Chepstow on the Monday.

You've got the Audax bug bad.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3986420

So, my plan is to ride to Chepstow on the Friday, stay overnight, ride up/down Wales on the Saturday/Sunday and the ride home from Chepstow on the Monday.

Tubular tyres I assume?

you are fucking mad mate.

Would love to do the BC one year, just not this one.

Via my Mama's house it's 220km to the start. Easy-o-peasy-o

So, my plan is to ride to Chepstow on the Friday, stay overnight, ride up/down Wales on the Saturday/Sunday and the ride home from Chepstow on the Monday.

Top effort, I've wanted to do that fow a few years (see my post above with details of ECE'ing into a 1000km ride).

I've done London-ish/Chepstow quite a few times thanks to the Severn Across 400 and The Dean 300 and it's a nice ride across several different types of terrain.

Bryan Chapman is surprisingly fixed friendly. I used 67" in 2009 but would consider gearing up to ~70".

Ah, my old posts about it are way back in this very thread: http://www.lfgss.com/thread60-2.html#post701747

Hotel booked in Chepstow.

Who else is doing the Bryan Chapman? My experience of endurance events is the more the merrier to while away the miles.

Audax Club Hackney should have a few riders on this.

I need to get out and do some long rides :( Feel like I've having a dry spell

I am doing the Bryan Chapman this May plus the 3Down in April as a warm up.

£30! fuck me that's expensive!

It's not bad for £30!

Food at first two controls (Bronllys and Tre'r Ddol) you have to buy yourself; both are cafes.
Food free at Kings YH
Food free at Menai
Free sleeping at Kings YH (never been fast enough to make use of it!)
Food free at Kings YH
Cheap food at Aberhafesp (if it is as before)
Have to buy your own food at Woebley (it's a shop).

I realised that, it's a big jump from a x-rated audax.

Still going to join, just changed the tyres to a lighter one.

What size of saddle bag should I be thinking of for this?

Would a bar bag not be easier?

Was thinking Ortlieb saddlebag large.