Audax rides

Good. Fixed or geared?

It'll form part of my ToI training, so geared.

Did you get up that steep hill in the Burgess Hill sportive the other week? I was about to get off and walk which most people were doing but then one of the guys who I had been riding with over took me which spurred me on. Had a bit of blurred vision by the time I got to the top though. Putting on a compact chainset over the next few weeks!

Yeah. I'm a deceptively stubborn climber for a fat git. :)

I don't do Compacts*

*does not refer to midgets.

Do i have to do an Audax on fixed to brag about it here??

Do i have to do an Audax on fixed to brag about it here??

Probably.

Elenith in a couple of weeks?

Erm, no. I'm doing Shiela's 300 that weekend. Obviously I'm doing it cus it's nearer to me, not for the reason that it has proabably about 3800 less meters of climbing :s

That is hardcore, especially at BRM speeds, how many hours are you expecting to get off the bike?

A fair comment. I do try to keep to around 1000m climbing for every 100k I do. Haven't done one on fixed yet. Am waiting until the DD to give that kind of distance a try.

Erm, no. I'm doing Shiela's 300 that weekend. Obviously I'm doing it cus it's nearer to me, not for the reason that it has proabably about 3800 less meters of climbing :s

That is hardcore, especially at BRM speeds, how many hours are you expecting to get off the bike?

Finished in 19h45 last year (15 minutes spare) on the geared bike with about 4 hours off the bike (either at controls or pushing the bike up the really steep bits).

I'd expect to walk the same sections (Pont-Rhyd-Y-Groes, Devil's Staircase and Gamallt) so unless the weather is bad (it was good last year) then I'll expect about the same (I don't seem to be that much slower on fixed over gears) as I'm a fitter this year than last.

Woo Hoo, 300k cleared in just under 15 hours. The fastest I've ridden over that distance. Got up in the morning to discover that I had finished with a broken spoke. I need to get that wheel rebuilt with some stronger gauge spokes as that's the second to go and they've both broken at the nipple rather than the flange.

Good work!

I read some interesting and varied reports about the HoE elsewhere. One guy finished at 6pm (that's disturbingly quick), someone else had a torrid time and finished at 4.30am.

If you're looking for a good 400 then the Severn Across 400 has a similar amount of climbing (i.e. 1000m per 100km) and it's nice to cycle to Wales and back.

We heard that some guy pulled into the 250k control at about 3.50. If he didn't stop and thrashed it on the last 57 which is pretty flat he could have pulled in by 6. I left that control at about 6.30 and basically hammered the flat all the way to Macaroni Woods and rolled in at 8.59 on a sprint finish with everyone else trying to get in before 9. The legendary Stephen Poulton rolled in on his trike at 9.30 on account that he had started late and stopped for a beer at the last control.

I'd hate to think what happened to the person who finished at 4.30. The course, to be fair, is pretty easy.

Doing the Plains 400k in May which should be fairly gentle and then contemplating the Denmead 600. Then I get to wear my SR badge with pride. Won't be getting too far ahead of myself though. I fell asleep at the wheel on the last 400k and got to scared to carry on at 350k. A victim of psychology more than anything else. Still, waking up at 30mph on a descent isn't something that I would ever like to repeat. Possibly less of a problem on fixed though.

Doing the Plains 400k in May which should be fairly gentle and then contemplating the Denmead 600. Then I get to wear my SR badge with pride. Won't be getting too far ahead of myself though. I fell asleep at the wheel on the last 400k and got to scared to carry on at 350k. A victim of psychology more than anything else. Still, waking up at 30mph on a descent isn't something that I would ever like to repeat. Possibly less of a problem on fixed though.

On the SA400 last year I had about 15 minutes sleep on the cafe floor at Membury Services (300km, 1am). That did me ok until about 5am when the sun was coming up and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I think I did do the "I'll just shut my eyes for 5 seconds" trick a few times before I realised how silly it was. A 5 minute stop to splash my face with water was enough to get me safely to the petrol station at Henley where they had a coffee machine. After a large coffee there I was awake for the rest of the day (11pm wide awake, 11.15pm almost asleep in my pint).

Recognising when you're getting the dozies, and acting on it, is something you just have to learn. I think I'm sorted now. I'll stop and take a pro-plus (usually just a stop and some water is enough) before the stupid eye shutting behaviour starts.

There were a number of factors, including having to get up early to get on the train to Hull and not being able to sleep on the train. Also, it was pretty cold and wet with no indoor controls that day and I think that sapped a lot of energy as well. On this one I'll be driven to the start from my gf's parents place about ten miles away and should be well rested.

Also, I'm a lot faster now and expect to be out there for about the same amount of time as when I packed.

Rar.

[ame="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Elenith-Audax-300km"]Elenith[/ame

That was, err, interesting. My legs are aching a bit today.

A few photos: http://www.greenbank.org/audax/elenith_2009/

The ones marked Elan Valley are actually of the valley and lead mines near Cwmystwyth.

Geared I presume? Looks like a hilly course.

I'm attempting my first solo long distance ride this w/e. About 200 km I've done that distance before but never on my own and navigating for myself, I may get very lost.

Greenbank said 'fixed'.

Greenbank said 'fixed'.

You expect me to read all the post?

Just you come here and make me.

Just the first 4 words would have done :)

This is next (3 weeks' time): [ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Audax-Bryan-Chapman-2004-route[/ame

619km. 8300m climbing.

6am start on the Saturday. Finish by 10pm on the Sunday. Sleep stop at 400km at Kings YH in Dolgellau if I've got any time in hand, otherwise it'll be straight through with a couple of powernaps.

Yes, fixed.

Ouch.. with a capital fucking OUCH!

Ooh Wales.. that's some very nice riding scenery you'll be appreciating (maybe... when it's not dark and you're not in too much pain and..) on this. I did some of these roads during Devil Ride and Autumn Epic (near Builth Wells, Knighton, Rhayader, etc). Lovely.

I heart cycling in Wales.

Just the first 4 words would have done :)

This is next (3 weeks' time): http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Audax-Bryan-Chapman-2004-route

619km. 8300m climbing.

6am start on the Saturday. Finish by 10pm on the Sunday. Sleep stop at 400km at Kings YH in Dolgellau if I've got any time in hand, otherwise it'll be straight through with a couple of powernaps.

Yes, fixed.

619km, 8300m climbing FIXED..... that is just nuts. That is just amazing, I couldn't do that in 4 days let alone 40 hours with little/no sleep.

Say hello to my friend, pain.

619km, 8300m climbing FIXED..... that is just nuts. That is just amazing, I couldn't do that in 4 days let alone 40 hours with little/no sleep.

Plenty have done that ride before on fixed, and there are some Audaxers who do even more insane stuff than that on fixed.

It all starts with an innocent flat 100km ride. Oooh, shall I take the fixed?

...
...
ouch...

OK. No hiding now. Train to Bristol this evening and the fun starts in Chepstow at 6am Saturday.

Weather looking good for the blast up to Menai, not so good for the return leg. (HTFU, it's only wind and rain).

Get in.

Finished with half an hour to spare (10.45pm on Sunday).

Bit hilly Wales isn't it.

Well done Greenbank.
You won't catch me doing that kind of sillyness without some hotels dotted dotted throughout :)

Well done Greenbank.
You won't catch me doing that kind of sillyness without some hotels, beer, cake, and canals dotted dotted throughout :)

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