My First Audax...

Jeremy Collins said:

Hi all,

Thanks to this group, a couple of weeks I found out about a 115K

Audax

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near my home town, and was given a bit of encouragement to enter.

So I did.

Yesterday I rode the Stevenage (Not the) Start of Summertime special

and

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thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere and great weather made it a

really

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good day out.

First impression: I felt like a little bit of a misfit, not riding a
"proper" road bike and not wearing club lycra, but it didn't really
matter. There were a few other non-hardcore roadies there, but not

many.

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Second impression: The starting pace was a bit more brisk than I had
expected. The average speed must have been around 16mph for the first
30 miles or so. I found it fairly easy to keep up, fortunately!

Third impression: What a nice bunch of people! Had chats with a few
people - unidentifiable yellow tourer, red Cannondale with personal
touches, bloke from North London cycling club and finished the ride
with a chap on his first Audax on a Specialized road bike (without
whom I would probably have got lost in the last couple of miles, so
thanks whoever you are!).

And despite riding a £300 Specialized hybrid I don't think I

disgraced

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myself. Finish time was 4pm, total riding time about 4h 50mins.

Finally, thanks and kudos to the organisers. It was a lovely route

and

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the directions were clear and simple.

Glad you enjoyed it, well done. That is a very good time for 115k. The
200k was a breeze all the way to Lavenham; as soon as we turned I found
out why as the breeze decided to try to stop us getting back all
afternoon. I stopped for a drink and a pasty just before Mr Larrington
pulled over,was very envious of his low wind resistant 'bent. Shortly
after I jumped onto a chain gang which I stayed in all the way back,
taking turns on the front. Local knowledge from our two Stevenage CC
riders helped a lot on the labyrinth of cycle paths in Stevenage.
I thought it was a bit pricey, £5 for no free catering whatsoever, a
lot of them included free coffee/tea/squash at the finisn and often
free lunch.

MartinM said:

Glad you enjoyed it, well done. That is a very good time for 115k. The
200k was a breeze all the way to Lavenham; as soon as we turned I
found out why as the breeze decided to try to stop us getting back all
afternoon. I stopped for a drink and a pasty just before Mr Larrington
pulled over,was very envious of his low wind resistant 'bent. Shortly
after I jumped onto a chain gang which I stayed in all the way back,
taking turns on the front. Local knowledge from our two Stevenage CC
riders helped a lot on the labyrinth of cycle paths in Stevenage.
I thought it was a bit pricey, £5 for no free catering whatsoever, a
lot of them included free coffee/tea/squash at the finisn and often
free lunch.

Wot 'e said. The engine is /way/ down on power this morning, to the extent
that the 13.5 km into the Nut Mines were done at a rolling average rather
slower than the true average for the hundred and something km to Lavenham.
Mind you, the Thaxted - Lavenham leg is up there as one of the most
enjoyable bits of riding I've had in a very long time...

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

Was yours the matt black hybrid? I saw it at the start (but not you).

I thoroughly enjoyed it yesterday, and finished with spare energy left
at about 4:15 having set off in group F. I'll definitely be doing a few
more! Very nice bunch of people.

iakobski said:

Was yours the matt black hybrid? I saw it at the start (but not you).

Yes, matt black-ish! (With bar ends). I was probably queueing for a hot
cuppa - before we started I was regretting wearing just a thin short
sleeved top, but as you know the weather turned really nice.

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I thoroughly enjoyed it yesterday, and finished with spare energy left
at about 4:15 having set off in group F. I'll definitely be doing a few
more! Very nice bunch of people.

Totally agree. I started in group E, which is probably why our paths
didn't cross.

--
jc

Remove the -not from email

MartinM said:

200k was a breeze all the way to Lavenham; as soon as we turned I
found out why as the breeze decided to try to stop us getting back
all afternoon. I stopped for a drink and a pasty just before Mr
Larrington pulled over,was very envious of his low wind resistant
'bent.

Similarly with the Dene 300 from Oxford on Saturday. With an easterly
breeze it was easy going all the way to Chepstow, but a bit of a battle
coming back, especially the early bit over the Severn Bridge after a
stiff climb out of the town. There were a couple of really brutal hills
on the way back too. Fortunately the wind died away in the evening as
it often does. It was a gorgeous day though, and my first ride of the
year in shorts, with the longs and jacket being shed after the first
100k, and the arm warmers 50k after that.

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I thought it was a bit pricey, £5 for no free catering whatsoever,
a lot of them included free coffee/tea/squash at the finisn and
often free lunch.

The Dene was a shoestring event, and a bargain at £2. Catering
arrangements seem to have been similar to Stevenage, i.e. non-existent.
This was hardly surprising as the organiser was the only official, and
he was also one of the riders. It was an excellent cycling route with
just one information control strategically placed to prevent riders
simply blasting back to the finish from Hungerford along the A338.

--
Dave...

dkahn400 said:

The Dene was a shoestring event, and a bargain at £2. Catering
arrangements seem to have been similar to Stevenage, i.e.

non-existent.

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This was hardly surprising as the organiser was the only official,

and

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he was also one of the riders.

There is no reason why a shoestring event should cost any more. My one
is £4.50 and you get free bananas/bix/drinks at the start and an El
Supremo lunch.

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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There is no reason why a shoestring event should cost any more. My one
is £4.50 and you get free bananas/bix/drinks at the start and an El
Supremo lunch.

Oh that sounds good, which one is your one?

Rich

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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Wot 'e said. The engine is /way/ down on power this morning, to the
extent
that the 13.5 km into the Nut Mines were done at a rolling average rather
slower than the true average for the hundred and something km to Lavenham.
Mind you, the Thaxted - Lavenham leg is up there as one of the most
enjoyable bits of riding I've had in a very long time...

Ah, I see, you enjoyed that bit. You might have enjoyed it less if you
hadn't been lying down on the job 😉 I enjoyed the outward leg more!
_My_ engine was so far down on power this morning I decided not to ride into
work at all. For those who are long-term ill and claiming benefit, there's
a test the DWP do to determine if a person is fit for work or not involving
things like ability to sit, walk, go up and down stairs etc. You have to
score at least 15 points. I think last night I would have managed that
easily!

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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There is no reason why a shoestring event should cost any more. My

one

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is £4.50 and you get free bananas/bix/drinks at the start and an

El

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Supremo lunch.

Oh that sounds good, which one is your one?

The Mid Sussex Hilly 108k Chailey 15th October
Warning; 0.5 AAA ;-) but well worth it and superb scenery including
Ashdown Forest and the South Downs (under not up!). I have ridden it
twice and took it over this year as the former organiser pulled out and
it was going to die the death.

Richard Goodman said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Mind you, the Thaxted - Lavenham leg is up there as one of the most

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enjoyable bits of riding I've had in a very long time...

Ah, I see, you enjoyed that bit. You might have enjoyed it less if

you

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hadn't been lying down on the job 😉

He is referring to the outward leg, where we all flew along due to the
SW tailwind; The weather vanes and flags along that section gave a fair
warning of what was to come ;-(

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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Richard Goodman said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Mind you, the Thaxted - Lavenham leg is up there as one of the most

Quoted message said:

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enjoyable bits of riding I've had in a very long time...

Ah, I see, you enjoyed that bit. You might have enjoyed it less if

you

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hadn't been lying down on the job 😉

He is referring to the outward leg, where we all flew along due to the
SW tailwind; The weather vanes and flags along that section gave a fair
warning of what was to come ;-(

Oh yes, of course that was the outward bit. Damn. Lavenham - Thaxted was
such a trail I must have been just fixated on that.

Rich

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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The Mid Sussex Hilly 108k Chailey 15th October
Warning; 0.5 AAA ;-) but well worth it and superb
scenery including
Ashdown Forest and the South Downs (under not up!).
I have ridden it
twice and took it over this year as the former organiser
pulled out and it was going to die the death.

Oh that sounds interesting, I'd like to do that. It does happen to be my
daughter's 18th birthday 'weekend' however..... Have to wait and see closer
to the event whether my presence will be required for any domestic
purposes.....

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

Oh that sounds interesting, I'd like to do that. It does happen to

be my

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daughter's 18th birthday 'weekend' however..... Have to wait and see

closer

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to the event whether my presence will be required for any domestic
purposes.....

You should be able to finish it and get back to London easily by early
evening.

Richard Goodman said:

Oh yes, of course that was the outward bit. Damn. Lavenham -
Thaxted was such a trail I must have been just fixated on that.

It wasn't too bad from where I was sitting, but Martin looked a bit the
worse for wear when I met him in Finchingfield. For me the road surfaces on
the return leg were more of a promble.

And the P+nct+r+ Fairy paid a visit just before the Great Hormead control.
Bah!

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

Dave Larrington said:

Richard Goodman said:

Oh yes, of course that was the outward bit. Damn. Lavenham -
Thaxted was such a trail I must have been just fixated on that.

It wasn't too bad from where I was sitting, but Martin looked a bit

the

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worse for wear when I met him in Finchingfield.

That is a very accurate description; I had neither the readies nor the
inclination to visit the Nationale Truste Tea Shoppe in Lavenham and
Fitchingfield was actually the first open emporium I found after that.
But it was a very well timed stop as while sunning myself Richard's
cycle recovery service in the form of the Stevenage CC windcheaters
turned up.