2013-06-09 - London Ditchling Devil 200km Audax

Might be 10 minutes late or so

Spencer arms kids..... beer .... beer more beer.

I'm in Richmond Park now. I feel like I've been hit by a canon ball. That was great

Happy to be off the saddle and on the sofa but I enjoyed that.

That was awesome, just got home and took load of photo.

I was taking it easy this time by stopping a lot more after reading what Skully enjoy about Audax in general, surprisingly I'm two hours faster than last year;

I'm not riding in order to have a season's achievements recorded, I like audax because it allows me to ride in this beautiful land without really having to find a route. For me, taking part in shorter brevets is an end initself, though I'm definitely interested in 200 or 300 in the future. Rode 165 or so recently, almost all of it alone (which is another brilliant aspect to audax), and I felt like million dolars at the end, could have made 200 or 250 that day with any suffering.

I forget that because it's a London ride, you get more sportive/club riser than usual, the 50km time trial at the start was pretty much pushing it!

That was awesome, just got home and took load of photo.

Why didn't you take pictures of the ride rather than of your home?

That dude's house was the best control of any Audax I've been on.

the people were even more lovely than the crockery, and that looked like sunday's best.

absolutely fantastic.

however, my sunday best bike is covered in tar. That was something I wont forget in a while.

I forget that because it's a London ride, you get more sportive/club riser than usual, the 50km time trial at the start was pretty much pushing it!

Nice to sort of meet you Ed.
I was the "sportive" wanker that said hi on the way out through wimbledony way.

I remember, I was wondering what was the rush about!

That dude's house was the best control of any Audax I've been on.

Till all the food have run out before the other half arrived, which probably explain why the first half was eager to get there.

what was the rush about!

I was riding with a good friend who I've ridden many Audaxes with over the last 6 months (titanium frame deep carbon rims) and he had a friend along who's a Cat3 training for the tour pre-ride thingy (ride the entire tour before the pros). Hence we were on a fast timetable by default.

sorry for eating all the pies.

I'm a bit like that sometimes.

pics or gtfo guys

ed has to put the vignette filters on.

then can see.

Clarity fucking slider

Ooof, feeling it now. Great day out, need to ditch the heavy steel for some ti though I think.

Thanks to Aufbruch for being a great ride partner and sorry for getting grumpy after I hit the wall at the last 10k.

That was tremendous! My first audax and very enjoyable too. Ended up going round with the forum's own Corlis Benfideo, who was an absolute gent. Saw KT numerous times, Scobe of Scobe Hall, and I think Hovis and zanda at the start. Thought the organisation was top notch. Big thank you to all the volunteers. Definitely one to repeat next year!

I. Love. Audaxes. That was an awful lot of fun - we adopted a leisurely pace (would have been hard to go much faster with so much cake inside us) and other than a bit of whimpering through the Surrey Hills it was all remarkably painless. Very much in awe of Dumps, though - could not have done that fixed and kept my sense of humour.

Lovely to bump into so many of you out there.

That'll be why there were only two fixed riders (I think) on Ware 100 today...

Glad you had fun! Bit cold today wasn't it?

Yep, was good to ride with you today, Dumps. Mega-chapeau for beasting the hills on fixed. Controls/food were all ace, especially that sausage and egg roll. I must admit, I thought the route was a little B/A road heavy at times but perhaps necessary to keep the climbing down. I think I managed to pack in about 140 miles so the overriding feeling is one of smugness.

Glad you (and your friend, hopefully) had a good time KT, I noticed you had a big grin whenever I saw you...

Ooof, feeling it now. Great day out, need to ditch the heavy steel for some ti though I think.

Thanks to Aufbruch for being a great ride partner and sorry for getting grumpy after I hit the wall at the last 10k.

Still can't work out how I managed to lose you guys within the first 1km.

My wife says I cant go to sleep on the couch.
Boooo!!

Finished just as the RP cafe was closing. Surprising given my complete lack of training and size of gut.

Glad I took gears, would have had monumental sense of humour failure on fixed with current crap fitness.

Nice being home and in the bath within 30 mins of finishing though.

Even made it to my better half's concert tonight, and didn't fall asleep!

I noticed you had a big grin whenever I saw you...

I think whenever you saw me I'd just arrived at yet another amazing food stop ...

Really enjoyed today.. I think it was a pretty good introduction to audaxes. Spent the first 150kms following various people around, and made the typical rookie mistake of starting out a bit too fast. Finally decided to have a go on our own the last 50km, and thoroughly proved that both my route finding and pacing need a lot of improving! Just glad to get back before the control left the Roehampton Cafe. And big big thanks to KT for leading us around .. I might still be somewhere in Surrey otherwise~

I would upload photos if LFGSS would fucking let me.

Finally uploaded it, LFGSS is more temperamental than a CitySprint courier.

Riding out from the windmill;

The 50km time trial;

First control;

Fellow tattooenger;

Ditchling beyond;

After Ditchling;

Tongdean fucking Lane;

Evil Lesbian;

Last control;

Surrey Hills (hambledon road);

Gee, thank;

Last control;

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