Audax rides

If I were doing a DIY by GPS then I would definitely have a second recorder, even if it's just OSMAnd going on my phone. I guess it depends how pissed you would be if it wasn't validated!

Yes, I've previously done that with my old Garmin for anything over 100. But having 'upgraded' to an 810, I wasn't anticipating it would have already crashed twice before 100. By which point I decided I didn't really care about the data much.

Mad Jacks was a route that looped 3 times through the same control, so wasn't great for following via GPS.

I use one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canmore-GT-730FL-Rechargeable-Waypoints-Compatible/dp/B004BBD1QE for GPS tracks for photographs. Is about the size of a large USB flash drive.

I've not used it for cycling but it happily copes with wandering around for a full day, I think there is some low power mode to extend that but I've never explored it.

The software is shit, once you get it set up though all I use that for is extracting a GPX track which is easy enough.

My Garmin 800 has successfully validated brevets of 200, 300 and 600.

I've entered the Greenwich Shark in April. I think it's going to hurt.

I'm in for the Shark \o/

Was great fun last year. Although I did have to walk one hill - aiming to be stronger this time.

Yep, my 800 has never let me down, 810 seems like a piece of garbage, my mates crashed constantly when we rode Paris and back last summer.

Excellent see you all in April, I'm helping on the Shark this year, it's a great route fingers crossed for the weather.

Kent valley run today. Amazing weather, its often frosty for this. Lots of people in shorts.
Got into a group going quickly for the second quarter, was fun but did a bit of knee damage so not the best idea
I did it with full IPWR kit as a test, so 6 litres of water and 2.5 kg of food meant any little rises were hard work!

Great day for it, I remember ice on the ground the last couple of years.

Had to attend child's birthday party today, so instead of doing a sunny Kennett valley, it looks like I need to force myself to do 100k of Kent hills in the rain tomorrow (Invicta Grimpeur).

5 year old birthdays are even more tiring than audaxing.

Finished 'Making Hay' for the second time, conveniently ending up in a strong and supportive trio who didn't spend an hour at each cafe cut total time by circa 3 hours. Less snow on the welsh mountains this year too.

I know it's likely out of the way for most of you (from Cardiff) but would very much recommend it for anyone looking for a 200 with a bit of everything. Great views, a few decent climbs, but overall a fast route. Wouldn't be a wasted trip!

I always look out for routes away from Hungerford / Reading (which are lovely and local, but can be repetitive). Wales would be amazing, but every time I check the trains I lose hope. Why SO expensive?

Figured this would be a good place to ask - tips on a first 300km ride?

Mine was the Dean. As you are a lots of time for the pub rider I would strongly recommend the Hardboiled.

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-175/

As a first 300? Lol

On the TT bike.

More in terms of tips on riding 300km as I'm in Majorca right now and a lap of the island is 205 miles

Garmin with spare battery or two Garmin for navigation and Strava. Light for evenings. Two bottles with water. Flapjacks bananas apples mandarines. Break it down in ~ every 40 miles foodstop.

I can tell you what not to do: don't do your first 300 fixed, if you have a Garmin 800 don't record it all in one go and don't start your first one at midnight.

stretch every couple of hours, as soon as you get off the bike, I find it helps a lot.
start as early as humanly possible, you'll be glad of it in case anything goes wrong.
eat lots of carbs and fat and not too much sugar
glwr

Brompton would be better

Eat, eat, and, just when you can't face anymore, eat. Drink a bit when you eat too.

Ha, I feel the same looking at London for events/gigs/work. It can be cheap, but only at very specific times.

Eat, eat, and, just when you can't face anymore, eat. Drink a bit when you eat too.

That's good advice: most people who struggle haven't eaten early enough. Eat in the first hour and you will be fine (as long as you eat in the other hours too!)

For most people, a 300 is not such a step up from a 200 in that it is just a full day ride. From a 300 to 400, is usually a bigger step - although smaller in % terms - as it goes into the night.