Audax rides

Yep he emailed me on the 11th, just a link to the AUK website page for the route sheet.

Looks like another visit to the Light Railway cafe in Hythe.

My plan was to cycle to Bromley South then get the train from there to Pluckley but looks like there is a change at Orpington and then a half hour wait. Might as well ride to Orpington and get the train from there.

Oh yeah, it's for the Fairies flattest possible 300. Only just opened up the route sheet. No GPS! Will have to roll my own. That's the afternoon gone then. What about my nap?

Just back from the ride. Absolute blinder. Really enjoyed it. Nice route and good weather. Felt on good form and it was really well organised. Three more points towards my FWC. Think I have my 25 now. Must count it.

High points - main roads route at night with no cars. Whoosh. Later on criss crossing the Romney Marshes. Seeing the sun come up around 04:30.

Low points - gravelly cycle lane after Hythe. The wind round Dungeness.

Would definitely do this one again next year.

Anyone riding or ridden the Devils Punchbowl 200k? Never ridden an Audax but thinking of signing up for next month.

I've entered the Devil's Punchbowl. Going to be staying with a friend in Brighton then riding to the start.

Sounds nice Arup, I might put that on my list for next year

Do you have a route map at all Arup? I've been wanting to ride a 200 and seeing as this is local it might give me the extra push to actually do it.

Hmm. Good thing you mentioned it as I don't seem to have received it. Had a look at my chequebook and it says 22/5. No phone or email listed on the event page so I'll have to old school and write a letter. Guess I could also check my bank account to see if the cheque has been cashed. About time they all went digital.

Cheque hasn't been debited. So perhaps he's waiting till the closing date (9th July) and doing the final route check etc.

OK. Just found it. Has the El Supremo sticker on the front. So yeah, I have the route sheet.

Did my first 'Perm' today. The Boat Ride 200k. It was nice. I was shit.

Let me guess, "legs felt empty, felt shit, barely scraped round in 8 hours, ..."

Something like that. It's worrying me.

Down to downs no.4 today. Am now a Grimpeur du Sud. That SR series took it out of me though. My left left knee still says thank you after day one of the Bryan Chapman, seeing the Pen-y pass before sunset had his price. Took it easy today and okay.

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I quite fancy doing that one as a perm. Want to keep it as a reserve in case there isn't a calendar event.

Surely just a one-off as your reports suggest that you're normally on good form and feel strong.

Considering the Greenwich Mean Climb in September. Not a big fan of hills but having been riding a lot this year what I would call the "perceived gradient" has gone down. For example on the Ditchling Devil I remember that I counted 5-6 tough climbs last year but this year I counted two. Or am I just asking for trouble?

Not really a one-off as I fell apart during Sunday's training ride too and the 12hr sucked (although I hope that was illness). I'm cutting my hours right down in the hope of getting out of this slump.

Posting my Devils Punchbowl entry form off tomorrow. Been slightly off the miles the last couple weeks, so need to get back onit.

Good job fella, GdS sounds like fun and the badge is cool :p

Anyone doing the Dartmoor Ghost?

Wondering about the London Sightseer tomorrow especially as the weather is so nice. Would be good training for Dunwich, one more fixed gear point and cover some of my regular commuting routes while riding an audax.

Anyone got any ideas for another 200k Perm audax for this weekend? Prefer west London.

Ditchling Devil maybe?

Or any events 25/26th of July?

Steamride is also available as a perm

Hmm, that could work if I can start it from Ealing.

I did like Paul's ride because he did it 'verified by GPS' which means I don't have to stop at checkpoints. In fact, I could do Paul's ride again... faster.

Or, I could do the same route but do it at night. That would be kinda cool.