Audax rides

I've entered the London Sightseer. Will be on fixed again as it's my only bike. Need to get a route sheet handlebar mount and a bottle cage. Don't fancy getting dehydrated again.

Thanks for the FWC tips Greenbank. I'm going to get those points in the bank. I also want to do a DIY London to Brighton. I did one a couple of weeks ago as a training ride but only read about doing DIY routes later on. It was 97km from my house to my friend's house in Brighton. I didn't do Ditchling but Devil's Dyke but still didn't make it up the hill.

Anyone use GPS devices? I liked the route sheet but you sort of get focused on that more than the ride like you have very short controls. I've been recommended the Garmin Edge 800 but at £300 it's over my budget. I've seen some Etrex Vista HCx going 2nd hand for about £70 on ebay. Thoughts?

There's a lengthy but helpful GPS thread on the forum. After wading through I went with an Extrex 20 because it takes AA batteries (good for longer trips) and it works fine for cycling as long as you remember to look at it. I took a dozen other riders (strangers) on a 5km detour on the Cambridge 100 because I was concentrating too hard on staying upright on a very spinny downhill and didn't notice the turning.

You don't have to spend £300 on the 800, you can get the basic version for less than £250, that's all you need. Not a massive difference admittedly.

I'm very happy with mine and have a 'pebble' portable power pack to keep it going on longer rides but you can get at least 150 miles out of it.

I have been neglecting my FWC card, need to do some more fixed audaxes...

Better still see if you can pick yourself up a Garmin 705. I still use mine and there was no reason to upgrade to the 800.

Dammit was going to sell his I think for a shade over £100 or £150 (I can't remember exactly)

There is, true turn-by-turn navigation with .tcx files. The 700 doesn't do it, the 800 does.

700s are good, but for me I was buying a Garmin primarily as a navigational aid and with the true turn-by-turn it's a great one. But anyway yes, GPS thread >>>

My 705 has turn by turn navigation - I don't understand!

Having used an 800 and a 705 side by side, I did not feel the 800 was worth upgrading to. If I was buying fresh, I would buy one though.

Also:

I'm very happy with mine and have a 'pebble' portable power pack to keep it going on longer rides but you can get at least 150 miles out of it.

Ride faster ;)

The 800 can use .tcx files (which are much bigger because they have custom cue sheet entries) optimally for better, more reliable directions (true turn-by-turn navigation).

The 705 is best used with .gpx files which contain no cuesheet entries, only track information (a breadcrumb trail). This will provide turn-by-turn directions (true navigation) but not custom cue sheet entries.

To be honest it's not worth worrying about that much, especially if you aren't worried about custom cue sheet entries, but if you don't have a Garmin at all it is worth bearing in mind that the 800 has this additional functionality and more importantly I have found .tcx files more reliable in the real world with the 800 than .gpx files.

For example, if I plot a course which overlaps itself (say a figure of 8) I've found that using .gpx files the Garmin can get confused and will try to take you the wrong way, I've not found this with .tcx files.

If I'm doing a long ride and my blood sugar is low what I do not want is the Garmin telling me things I know are wrong. It's annoying and will annoy those riding with me!

The 800 also has a few other improvements over the 700 such as the touch screen, but if £250 is still well over Arup's budget this is probably all a bit academic and a bit of a derail (sorry).

Having used an 800 and a 705 side by side, I did not feel the 800 was worth upgrading to. If I was buying fresh, I would buy one though.

That's basically what I was trying to say, but in more words ;)

I'm not very fast at the moment :(

The 800 can use .tcx files (which are much bigger because they have custom cue sheet entries) optimally for better, more reliable directions (true turn-by-turn navigation).

The 705 is best used with .gpx files which contain no cuesheet entries, only track information (a breadcrumb trail). This will provide turn-by-turn directions (true navigation) but not custom cue sheet entries.

Misleading. I solely use tcx files, often with custom markers ('feed stops here', 'summits in 100m' etc) (but don't bother with cue sheets) with my 705, to great success (as do most other 705 owners I know). I have found .gpx use to be iffy on the 705, and in my two week test still had problems on the 800.

#operatorerror

anyway, gps thread >>>

I can't claim to speak for 700 owners, haven't used one, so no operator error! Anyway that proves we're agreed that .tcx > .gpx

I don't know if Etrex Vista HCx can use .tcx files, going back to Arup's question.

It is worth saying ridewithgps.com (for example) will generate custom cue sheet entries for you. So they're not as custom as they might sound...

I was suggesting I use the gpxs wrongly :) the .tcx files rwgps creates are massively bloated compared to bikeroutetoaster's, which allows editing of the cue sheet table. but its interface is shockingly clunky.

I've bought a klickfix mini map holder and a laser printer. I noticed a few people on the Kidds Toys event with those. I think I need to ponder the whole GPS thing a bit more. I had a read through the GPS thread. Perhaps I could borrow or rent one to try out. I have an android phone which as "car mode" that has a gps receiver. I could try and get a handlebar mount to see how that goes. But old skool paper for now.

Got a lovely email response from Richard Phipps who does the FWC cards. He's going to add the points for Kidds Toys (he saw me at the start and knows from Billy that I managed to finish it) and says that the points may be carried over from one season to the next. Cool. A few DIY London to Brighton rides should clock up a few points. Which I guess is the next thing to sort out - contacting the organiser about my proposed route.

Went out yesterday and did Bernies Tiny Flat One as a Permanent. Cold, but not a bad day out. However, I've realised just how much shortening my commute and taking lots of time out of the saddle have affected my fitness. I have a lot of work to do as I'm currently contemplating doing the Super Brevet Scandinavia.

I am ashamed to say I've not done one Audax this year, despite my intentions at the beginning of the year.

2013 for sure.

Is the S-B-S quite bumpy or flat would you say?

Need to do a self-organised 200 this month as I'm vaguely looking to do a RRTY, and I missed a calendar event as I was in snowdonia.

Thinking the of doing the London-brighton-london perm either this saturday or next, but I really need to pull my finger out and organise it or else I'll fail the RRTY in the first month!

I am ashamed to say I've not done one Audax this year, despite my intentions at the beginning of the year.

2013 for sure.

Same! I felt so embarrassed about it I signed up for a populaire that's happening in Stevenage in a couple of weeks time. It's not much, but it'll get me out on a bike. Seem to be in a major laziness funk lately :(

Is the S-B-S quite bumpy or flat would you say?

They describe it as having as much climbing as PBP, which clocks in at around 10500 in 1200km. However the first bit through Denmark is supposed to be pretty flat so presumably would be hillier through Sweden and Norway. I would estimate that Sweden would be longer rolling hills and Norway punchier coastal climbs. That's just a guess though.

Fancy having a go at it?

Same! I felt so embarrassed about it I signed up for a populaire that's happening in Stevenage in a couple of weeks time. It's not much, but it'll get me out on a bike. Seem to be in a major laziness funk lately :(

Go for it! End the year with at least one ride. You can build on it next year :-).

They describe it as having as much climbing as PBP, which clocks in at around 10500 in 1200km. However the first bit through Denmark is supposed to be pretty flat so presumably would be hillier through Sweden and Norway. I would estimate that Sweden would be longer rolling hills and Norway punchier coastal climbs. That's just a guess though.
Fancy having a go at it?

Ha! No way man. I'd be tempted to 'race' PBP just because it's so famous but I'm not sure sleep dep on a bike is my thing. I'm just wondering how painful some of these other nation's long rides are. What about the Mille Miglia?

Not sure about that one. I know it has a lot of flat sections in it but also does a lot in the mountains as well. If you're still part of Willesden then a few of your lot have done it.

I think the ones with the most climbing in are the Canadian and American Rocky Mountain rides as well as probably Hamburg Bern Koln Hamburg. MGM is known for being tough for the heat and the Aussie rides being a bit sparse on the controls.

Go for it! End the year with at least one ride. You can build on it next year :-).

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've been riding - I cycled up Monte Grappa just a couple of weeks ago! I'm just super-lazy when I'm at home, it seems. Need to sort it out, ffs.

Same! I felt so embarrassed about it I signed up for a populaire that's happening in Stevenage in a couple of weeks time. It's not much, but it'll get me out on a bike. Seem to be in a major laziness funk lately :(

Likewise, I have been extremely slack and not managed an Audax so am toying with the Stevenage 100k. Have to work out how early I'd need to get up to make it happen!

You should do it! You wouldn't even need to get up early as they are even slacker than we are and don't start the ride until 10am(!)