Audax rides

No. If want to take a lock buy a cheap basic cable lock for popping into small shops just to stop people running off with your bike.
EDIT: You prob will not need that if the ride is it's busy. I felt strange doing this at first of long rides after riding in London for so Long, but it get easier. :)

Yep, that makes sense. writing shopping list

Also nervous to ride with my new geared bike as it means I am not entirely sure what would happen if the gears broke. Can manage to keep a fixed running, but the Ultegra stuff on that bike might as well be a Video recorder, cuz as far as I am concerned you need magic to manage servicing it.

Not sure if I should bother with a heavy lock?

Absolutely no need. I take a small light cable lock and even that it too much really. Out in the areas you are most likely to be, with the numbers of people that you are likely to be with, a lock is almost unnecessary.

Yep, that makes sense. writing shopping list

Also nervous to ride with my new geared bike as it means I am not entirely sure what would happen if the gears broke. Can manage to keep a fixed running, but the Ultegra stuff on that bike might as well be a Video recorder, cuz as far as I am concerned you need magic to manage servicing it.

as long as you don't bend a gear hanger and your limit screws are set correctly you should be fine. Gears don't go wrong that often if setup well at the start.

175kph at the top of the Eiffel Tower means nothing. Ground windspeed is almost always much lower.
true dat. thank goodness.

Wouldn't bother ditching the helmet for wind resistance. It really won't do much. That which you lose on profile will partly be made up for in turbulence unless you have a shiny head.
duly noted. I think it's because I keep looking up and down like the sweaty unfit nodder that I am.

4 hours is OK for 100k although cramps would indicate that you're overdoing it to keep that up for 200k. Sod the tablets, eat real food, you'll enjoy it much more.
I wasn't hungry though. Eating when I'm not hungry makes me feel ill, which is the last thing I want! If I can avoid that by chucking a tablet into a bidon every 70k or so, then I'll definitely do that. That said, 200k is going to be very long, so I'll probably have a big cafe meal halfway round.

Not sure if I should bother with a heavy lock?

No. I have one of these around the seatpost for any cafe stops: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/abus/combination-lock-1150-ec006190

On LEL I never even used it (at some points I would have been quite happy had anyone stolen my bike).

Haveing to eat when not hungry is necessary during long distance exercise I'm afraid, eat little if you can't manage anything. Apatite is also reduced when dehydrated.

I've done a lot of running, up to and including marathons, and I permanently felt hungry, so feeding was easy! I know you need calories though, so I guess I'll have to HTFU and scoff something.

I get the same thing to be honest, but 15 - 20 min after stopping I get hungry so for me it's a case of stop order not feeling hungry and by the time food comes I will want it. Mind you I think this is something that is clearly very individual and personal.

Yeh, I spose my appetite will come back if I'm stopping properly. Might try two shorter rides of 50k, coming home in the middle to reheat some pasta and pesto or something, see how I go.

Right, got the route sheet. It says something about "light tyres might be not advisable" and that there's a 1km bit of gravel road. Do you guys thing 25mm gatorskins will do? Not sure if I have clearance for 28mm :(

Should be fine if you can ride light! I did a weekend credit card tour (fulled loaded carradice camper longflap and 12 stone rider) which included about 25 miles on gravel roads and a bit of nice singletrack on 25mm gatorskins without a puncture.

right. that was a very nice ride alltogether. 5.20ish for the 108km. all was fine, i packed to heavy. also learnt the most essential tip: get a clip for your handlebars, so you can read the route sheet instead of following people like i did. followed some that were too fast for me in the end, stopped, ate a banana and refocussed myself. hard last couple of k, but now i'm OK.

You picked a great day for it, Pascal! It's excellent to hear that you had a nice ride. I recommend this for a route sheet holder:

http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP1635.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=FGL

The CTC shop used to sell it, but for some reason I can't find it on there any more.

Cool. Thanks for that Oliver. Yes, weather was gorgeous.

I wonder how Anton is doing, he "upgraded" to the 100 and was on fixed. The last couple of hills took a lot out of me, I bet they're even harder for him.

Hey Pascalo,
it was a pleasure meeting you today (love your ride)!
What a fantastic day, gorgeous weather and the bike was really comfy... I had to go on the pedals on nearly every hill and for the last two I managed to gain some speed so I didn't have to walk 'em. 74gi was a bit high but it definitely helped a lot on the downhills in which I could keep up with the geared lads.
Can't stop thinking about the crumble!!!

Cool man, big respect for upgrading last minute. What time did you come in?

I got lost once and had to do stage5 twice.. despite that I got to HQ @ 16:57.. What time did you get to HQ?

Ouch, that must've added some kms.
I got there about 15:20 ... was on the 16:19 train home, which was good, as my clothes were wet and smelly.

I did't consume too much though:
1 cuppa and 1 slice of lemon cake before start
1 ham sandwich and a mars bar at half way
2 bottles of apple juice and water mix throughout
1 banana around the 90km mark
1 cuppa and one sandwich when I arrived

was really worried about bonking before the ride. Bought energy gels for emergencies etc, but felt alright apart from when I had to throw in the banana.

the whole time i had a bulky ortlieb with me. next time i'll leave that behind and opt for a small saddle bag for tools and mabye a small waterproof roll bag for on top of the rack to carry a rain-layer and some bonk bars, or maybe I even get fanny pack for that.

Wow, that's a pretty good avg speed. Well done!

Ouch, that must've added some kms.

I recon I did some 25k more :(

Given that my left knee is on strike today I think I'll pop-in a bigger cog for the next audax.

I am also going to get:

• cycle computer (there are some really cheap on Amazon)
  
• mini map holder
  
  

Did you get your brevet back at the end, or should we expect something through the post?

Post. That's why you have to send 2 envelopes.

Sorry to hear your knee is on strike. Hope it'll get better soon.

The one guy I was teaming up with, on the stunning purple condor 653 frame, just used two plastic cable ties around his stem, then fixed the route sheet onto those with a metal paper clip in frame colour. Worked neatly, and I might go for that instead of a weird plasticky thing.

I'm gonna do a CTC membership, me thinks. Shame that LCC membership doesn't count for audax registrations, but there is no harm in having both, right?

I'm gonna do a CTC membership, me thinks. Shame that LCC membership doesn't count for audax registrations, but there is no harm in having both, right?

I was thinking of doing the audax membership... why would you do the CTC instead?

The one guy I was teaming up with, on the stunning purple condor 653 frame, just used two plastic cable ties around his stem, then fixed the route sheet onto those with a metal paper clip in frame colour. Worked neatly, and I might go for that instead of a weird plasticky thing.

I saw that, I think I am going to try and give a shot @ building me own too.

BTW I was surprised how much I could eat:

Breakfast: 2 toast peanut butter + jam + tea
Before the race: half a twix + cup of tea
Every stage > 10k: half twix or half snickers
Lunch: Ham sandwich + cup of tea
@ 90K I suddendly became really hungry: 2 x cereal bars
108: tomato soup + bread roll (That settled everything)

I think CTC and AUDAX UK memberships are interchangable when it comes to registration fee?

Good work on the ride!

I think CTC and AUDAX UK memberships are interchangable when it comes to registration fee?

Yes, but AUK membership is £19 a year, CTC membership is £36. And, IMHO, the AUK magazine is more interesting than the CTC one.

If you've already got the third party insurance from the LCC then doubling up on it with the CTC isn't that useful.

Good to hear you two enjoyed your first Audax. I decide to step it up and completed by first 200k. Got back to HQ at 18.40. Pretty nice ride and lovely day, looked like a pretty good turn out for all the rides judging by the numbers at the hut when I completed the first 100 loop.

I was a bit foolish on the last 50. It was 16.00 at the 150K point and I somehow convinced myself I could make it back for 18.00 and make the 18.19 train. 20k of struggling in headwinds and gradual climbs soon put paid to that delusion. Then I settled back into a more comfortable pace.

Got to see a great sun set going over a plateau after a bit of a climb. But then the tempreature dropped dramatically and the light disappeared and the last 30-40 minutes were a bit difficult for me. Not really used to navigating in the dark on country roads and My lights just about saw me home.

The ride between stations after wards was not really a struggle either. I did a 30 mile round comute today and didnt feel too bad. A Little heavy legged but nothing too bad.

Im seriously considering trying The Dean 300k at the end of the month. Just need to look into the practical issues of getting there and back etc. Plus better lighting I suppose.

SR series in my first year perhaps? I'll see if my early enthusiam lasts. I would like to aim for a 400 by the end of the summer at least so I could have the option of PBP next year.