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Don't forget that there are two types of Square Taper. JIS and ISO which can, theoretically, be mixed and matched to mess with chainline.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbtaper.html

ISO Crank on JIS square taper bb will be 4.5mm further out than on an ISO square taper bb.

Miche FTW.

For an HCx I'd make your own mount out of a RAM mount.

(Forgive me for the link to YACF, it's purely for the instructions...)

http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13073.0

i've been told you can't take them into deep access stations.

It's to do with the shape of the tunnels. This is their reasoning, not mine:-

Deep underground tunnels are oval shaped close to profile of the train. In an emergency you walk to the either end of the train to get off it. Bikes aren't allowed on these sections because they could get in the way of people walking down the length of the train.

On the not-so-deep underground or overground sections the emergency exit route is through the normal doors onto the tracks, bikes won't get in the way of people in the same way.

I've also been dropping my gear size lately. My regular street gear on my Brooklyn when it was brakeless was 48 x 18...i switched to 46 x 18 for the 3 dunwiches the other week....but i'm actually gonna go a touch lower still to 45 x 18 now for a slightly easier spin as my knees are a bit shit these days. :)

46x18 (67" on 25mm tyres) is as low as I've needed to go. That got me over the worst of the Brecons and Snowdonia on the Bryan Chapman 600 (Chepstow to Menai and back). It's also what I'll be using for LEL.

Bikes sold "for racing" in Oz didn't need all the reflectors, etc. on them. No good bikes have this kind of shit, legal or not.

Exactly.

Would some jobsworth from Trading Standards really require a £5bn track bike made of finest milled unobtainium, baked soot and feathers (with no fittings for brakes at all) destined for the pert bottom of La Pendleton to have reflectors and a bell? Probably.

If a fixed whell bike is sold for street use it legally has to be supplied fitted with two brakes.

Bzzzzzt. Nope. Read the CTC link given above.

There are two parts:

a) To use a bike on the road it must comply with the Construction and Use Regulations. This means it must have two brakes or, if fixed, you can get away with removing the rear brake (but not the front).

b) At time of sale (only) it must comply with the Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations. This means it must have a bell and front/rear reflectors and also comply with the Construction and Use Regulations. Along with a few other bits such as being in good working order and brakes "properly adjusted".

Also, if you buy the bike without pedals fitted then it's not a complete bike and therefore doesn't have to comply with any of this. It's considered just a part not a full bike.

My Wilier didn't have reflectors or a bell on it when I bought it. I fitted my own pedals in the shop and rode away on it into the sunset (well, Holborn actually).

Wheel reflectors are not part of either requirement. Mass produced or lower spec bikes tend to have them fitted. I removed them from my Hybrid because they've a nasty habit of working loose, turning sideways, getting stuck in the stays/forks and taking out a bunch of spokes and (subsequently) some of my teeth.

Was just wondering because you mentioned changing the batteries. I bought an AA battery pack charger for my Garmin due to being disappointed with the lifespan of the internal (non replaceable) battery.

Exactly. I'd buy an Edge 705 tomorrow if it had replaceable batteries, but it doesn't, so I won't. If I get a PowerTap wheel then having Power data on and logged by the Edge 705, along with position, speed, cadence, HR, etc via ANT+ would fucking rock.

I've told them that, but it's a pretty niche market people wanting a cycling specific GPS with a battery life of more than 20 hours.

Generally, if you want to post a "Have you seen this?" then there are two standard responses:-

a) UTFS
b) Yes, a thousand times before, UTFS.

Garmin eTrex. The basic old yellow one. But the cable has a proprietary connector on it and the cables aren't cheap (half the price of the GPS itself for the Garmin official one, 20 quid from ebay). About 100 quid for GPS, cable and handlebar mount.

If I were to buy a new GPS from scratch I'd get a eTrex Legend HCx or Vista HCx and upload the free OpenStreetMap bundle rather than paying lots of money for the Garmin maps. There are more solid mounts available for the colour eTrexes too.

The Edge series, plus some others, aren't that useful for Audaxing as they don't have replaceable batteries, so you're stuck with external battery packs or battery life that won't get you through a 300km ride.

I create my routes using bikely.com and upload them to the GPS using GPSTrackmaker (FREE Edition).

My saddle is really comfy.

HTH.

I actually dislike just about any energy stuff. Bars, tablets, gels, drinks. I've found that they make me feel gritty, uncomfortable and sometimes queasy and I don't need to add that to an endurance endeavour.

Same here, I carry them purely for emergency. I never plan on actually using them and prefer not to. I had to drink the energy gels on one ride as I was so dehydrated. Luckily I passed a pub before I was going to drink the other one and was able to top up my bottles with water.

Would rely on drop bags for most stuff but I'm not guaranteed to get as far as I'd need to each day. The alternative is paying 15 quid more for 3 more drop bags and a load of extra faff, just to save me carrying a toothbrush, toothpaste and 30g of travel sized suncream.

Battery pack thingy for charging phone (4 AA batteries and USB output). Phone off during most of daylight. Printed contact list.

iPhone in flight mode during the day so that it can be used as a camera without draining batteries searching endlessly for a signal in the wilderness where there isn't one. Should last the entire ride without a charge but I don't want to be without it, hence the charger thingy. The battery pack thing and iPhone cable weigh 50g at most and will solve that problem. I'll change GPS batteries every day, whether spent or not, and dump the rest of the power from them into the phone each night (or during the day I can leave it charging in the rackpack). The ride notes say that there will be no power sockets available at controls, otherwise I'd take the normal charger thingy.

It's always the food issue that concerns me....i know how easily i can bonk, so i always try and take lots of food rather than relying on finding places along the way.
I assume with an audax people find out where more food can be bought along the way rather than taking it with them?

The controls normally feed you (either with soup/sandwiches) or because they're at a commercial cafe or petrol station, otherwise you'll get to know what there is and isn't about. I always carry some food with me, but often get through to the end of the ride without eating it.

Also, the more long distance stuff you do the better your fat metabolism gets. When I first started getting back into cycling I couldn't do more than 30km without feeling starving. I can now do 150km on an empty stomach (albeit not very fast) before I need to be concerned about food. Eating little and often whilst on the move is the sage advice.

For LEL I'll be carrying:-

2 spare tubes
Puncture Repair Kit
Tyre boot
Spare folding tyre (GP 4 Season in 25mm, same as fitted)
Tool kit

• multi-tool with screwdrivers, allen keys, etc
  
• Leatherman Mini (mini pliers, knife and cutters)
  
• Zip ties (small and large)
  
• Insulating tape.
  
  • Spoke key
    
• Chain tool pared down to minimum (allen key from multi-tool will drive it)
  
• Spare links of chain + snap links
  Spare SPD cleats (been known to need them on a long ride!)
  Spare brake blocks
  Arm/Leg warmers (Endura Thermolite with roubaix backing)
  Skull cap (Endura Thermolite again)
  Waterproof jacket (Gore Alp-X)
  Headtorch (useful for repairs in the dark and for reading routesheet/cycle computer/GPS)
  Drugs (Nurofen Express, generic Ibuprofen/cuprofen, pro-plus, immodium)
  Very basic First aid kit (plasters and anti-septic wipes)
  Baby wipes (keep arse area fresh and clean)
  Earplugs (for helping sleep at controls)
  Suncream (travel sized tube)
  Sunglasses case (for the pair I'm not wearing, I wear glasses and have prescription sunglasses from Optilabs)
  Toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste
  Two torq energy drink singles (ready sized portions) (emergency only)
  Four Torq energy gels with Guararananarana (emergency only)
  Space blanket (35g so why not) (emergency only, banned from use within controls due to the noise they make).
  Nuun hydration/electrolyte tablets to add to bidons of water
  Spare batteries for lights, GPS, headtorch
  Smart Superflash rear light as a spare (normal rear light is a battery powered B&M D'Toplight on the rack)
  Front lights are two battery powered B&M Ixons (second one is a spare and for tricky descents at night).
  Battery pack thingy for charging phone (4 AA batteries and USB output).
  mp3 player with FM radio on it (for the dull bits)
  
  

About 6kg of stuff, including the rackpack itself. Not too bad.

In a Tri-bag just behind the stem I'll carry:-

• Brevet card
  
• Wallet
  
• Camera phone
  
• Bonk rations (flapjack)
  
  

I'll also sometimes need to grab one or two spare days worth of kit (jersey, pants, socks) if I'm not going to be sleeping at Thorne or Dalkeith. LEL jersey will be stuffed in my Thorne bag drop so that I can pull it out to wear on the final day.

So will you be carrying stuff inbetween your bag drops? if so, what in? i assume you just take what you need out of the pannier at each drop so you only carry the panniers on your way home from the finish?

I'll be using a Creek2Peak rackpack.

http://www.greenbank.org/misc/le13.jpg

That's taken at the top of the last of the Moorfoot hills on the B709 North of Innerleithen. The two lumps on horizon (on the right) are Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh Castle Hill. Nearing the end of a 3 day 750km ride up to North Berwick from Putney.

I was carrying more stuff on that ride than I will on LEL as I didn't have any bag drops to rely on. It wasn't exactly the same as I stayed in a Travelodge (Thorne), a B&B (Alston), Travelodge (Edinburgh) before getting the train home on day 4.

The main bit of the rackpack took my usual long distance stuff (spare tubes, tyre, toolkit, bonk rations, map, spare layers, etc). The expanding bit at the top took the 2 extra days worth of clothes.

And yes, I'll be topping it up with whatever I need from the panniers. I've got a plastic bag of fresh kit for every day. Some nights (like at Thorne at the end of day 1) I'll be sleeping at the conrol where I have a bag drop, that makes it easy. Other days I'll need to stash the extra days clothes in the rackpack as I won't be stopping where my bag drops are. When I do see a bag drop again I can drop off the dirty clothes and swap them for another spare set of fresh clean clothes.

For the Dun Run (and back) I used a Carradice Barley on an SQR mount. 7 litres is usually enough space for a 400km ride. For longer rides the extra space is needed for changes of kit (which are bulky but not heavy). I don't carry any extra spares (tools, tubes, tyres, etc) on a 600 that I wouldn't on a 400. I tend to carry lots of stuff in the hope I wouldn't use it. In terms of what I've ever actually needed, I could do almost all of the rides with a seatpack the size of a gnat's chuff, but self-sufficiency is the key, there's no guarantee there'll be anyone to help you out at 3am at the top of Yad Moss in the freezing rain.

In general, it's not about comfort. At the end of a 350km day I can sleep on cold sharp gravel. By the end of the fourth day I can sleep on cold sharp icy gravel.

If anything, sleeping in a proper comfy bed will more than likely make you want to stay there and abandon the ride. I know plenty of people who've got 400km round a 600km ride, stayed in a Travelodge for a few hours and then "accidentally" overslept.

42 hours in the same shorts/jersey/socks/etc including multiple soakings and sweating gallons? Not a problem. Then you've got days 3, 4 and 5 to go. :)

^
Print off
Put in pocket
Show to next policeman who thinks he knows it all
Then cycle off whilst calling him a cunt

Pretend to phone 999 and claim that there's someone here "Impersonating a Police Officer".

I pulled this gag on the two Community Support Officers that tried to stop me for riding on a clearly signed shared use pavement after cycling across a Toucan crossing.

When they, understandably, had a sense of humour failure and started getting shirty I just cycled off knowing that they wouldn't be able to catch me.

So how do the drop bags work? do you have to give them to organisers and tell them where you want them left or do you sort it yourself?

For LEL you give them to the organisers on Saturday when you register (ride starts Sunday). They'll take them to where you've booked them (we got one free one at Dalkeith, and then bag drops at other controls could be purchased for £5)

They then get driven back to the start when that control closes, so they should be there for you when you finish. I'm using two panniers for my bag drops (Thorne and Dalkeith) with fresh kit for each day, plus some spares for the bike. This also means that I can just attach them to the bike after finishing and cycle home, very slowly, to Putney.

Most other Audaxes don't have bag drops at all, you just have to carry everything yourself.

Some 600s do provide bag drops, but it's rare. The Bryan Chapman has a bag drop for Dolgellau Youth Hostel which you visit at 200km and 400km. Useful for a few spares or a change of kit (I didn't bother). Some other long Audaxes get aronud this by running it as a set of loops from a central control. The New Forest 1000 did a first day of 430km, then a 350km day, then a final 220km. Most people pitched tents at the start to sleep in between each loop. I'd love to ride this one if it is ever put on again. Missed out last time.

The utterly bonkers Mille Cymru 1000 planned for next year does this too, using Aberystwyth as a base for each day after starting from Shrewsbury:

Day 1 - North: Shrewsbury - Vyrnwy - Bala - Penmachno - Betws y Coed - Llanberis - Beddgelert - Barmouth - Tywyn - Machynlleth - ABERYSTWYTH
Day 2 - West: Aber - Carmarthen - Laugharne - Saundersfoot - Tenby - Pembroke - Broadhaven - St Davids - Fishguard - Cardigan - ABERYSTWYTH
Day 3 - Mid: Aber - Tregaron - Llyn Brianne - Llandovery - Brecon - Crickhowell - Gospel Pass - Hay - Kington - Rhayader - Elan Valley - Devils Bridge - ABERYSTWYTH
Day 4 - Home: Aber - Llanidloes - Newtown - Shrewsbury.

Luckily I'm busy next year...

I don't really know all that much about audax's, but i assume that there are no sleep stops in any of them? is the idea just to keep riding apart from your refueling stops?

Rides of 600km or more will usually have sleep stops, but these can be nothing more than a wooden floor in a village hall. It's rare that they'll ever be proper beds. Many riders look for nearby accomodation (i.e. Travelodges) to grab a few hours sleep and maybe a shower before carrying on.

On the Bryan Chapman 600 I had 20 minutes sleep sitting down with my head on a table in a church hall in Menai. I didn't bother sleeping at the Youth Hostel stop in Dolgellau as I didn't feel tired, just had some food and a chat and carried on.

On the Severn Across 400 I had 15 minutes sleep on the floor of the cafe upstairs in Membury Services on the M4. Probably wasn't enough as I had an attack of the dozies at 5am coming in to Henley, cured by a stop at a petrol station that did coffee.

There are 10 controls on LEL (Cheshunt YH, Gamlingay village hall, Thurlby village hall, Washingborough community centre, Thorne Rugby Club, Coxwold village hall, Middleton Tyas school hall, Alston Outdoor Centre, Eskdalemuir village hall, (Gordon Arms Inn sleep stop in Traquair), Dalkeith Rugby Club, and the same on the way back).

You can stop/sleep at any of them and some, obviously, will be better than others for sleeping. As I'll be near the back of the field I'd expect all of the beds and good sleeping spots to be taken by the time I get there.

For LEL I'm planning on at least 4 or 5 hours sleep a night, 15 hours riding a day and 4 or 5 hours faffing at controls, eating, washing, fettling, etc. First night sleep at the control at Thorne rugby club (possibly camp beds, but I've put an inflatable air bed in my drop bag), second night on a floor at the Eskdalemuir control or, if I'm lucky, in a bed at the Gordon Arms Inn up the road in Traquair, third night at the Alston control which is an outdoor centre (camp beds but most likely floor again), fourth night at the Washingborough control which is a community centre (most likely sleep on a carpeted floor). I'm just carrying a silk sleeping bag liner to sleep in and assume the controls will be warm enough (they usually are), if not I'll just sleep in cycling stuff, leg/arm warmers and extra jersey.

Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km in 2011

There's also plenty of other quadrennial Audaxes:-

BMB 1200 = Boston-Montreal-Boston
MGM 1200 = Madrid-Gijon-Madrid
Rocky Mountain 1200 = Pat Hurt did it last year on fixed. Nutter.
VanIsle 1200 (Canada)
GSR 1200 = Great Southern Randonnee in Australia starting near Melbourne
Sydney - Melbourne 1200
Perth - Albany - Perth 1200 in October 2010.
Sofia - Varna - Sofia 1200 in Bulgaria
Super Brevet Scandanavia 1200km (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)

I'm sure there was a Russian one going from Vologda. Ah, Vologda - Onega - Ladoga 1200km.

And what about Hamburg-Berlin-Cologne-Hamburg 1500km Audax?[I][/I]

Dr Hutch had a good rant about the assumption that "Cycling = Ethical" the other week in [sic] Cycling Weakly. If I can be arsed I'll dig it out and scan it...

Starting to pack my drop bags for next weekend and working out where I'll need stuff.

Suddenly seems very very real.

1401km. Crikey. On fixed too.

a) Get a job somewhere where they've got secure bike storage. I don't even have to lock my bike up at work (but I do anyway).
b) Get a knackered old racer from eBay for under a fiver and make it into a commuting fixed by spending under a tenner converting it to fixed.

Bullhorns and tri-bars: http://www.greenbank.org/bikes/tempo/tempo7.jpg

Especially tricky if he'd left his car there, maybe he was ahead of the times, HTFU'ing and going for the 4 times DunRun (Dunwich, Hackney, Dunwich, Hackney, Dunwich).