Re: Beginner thinking about Audax

raisethe said:

Quoted message said:

Go for it. You'll enjoy it.

-=V=--

I too am new to cycling and I'm training with an audax in mind. My
best ride to date is 60 miles in 7 hours including stops, and this was
on a flat course without much wind, so I know I have some way to go
yet before I can enter an event. In fact, I am not planning to enter
one before 2008.

From what you have said you should be ready for a 100km audax, particularly
if you choose one without too much in the way of hills and a generous
minimum speed allowance.

Quoted message said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

Most bikes will be as you describe, but your hybrid has already enabled you
to do about 100km in 7 hours. Provided that you were comfortable on that
ride then your bike will be fine. Mudguards used to be compulsory for
audax, not sure what the current requirements are but it is good to have
them for riding in a group just in case the roads are wet.

--

Nigel

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Go for it. You'll enjoy it.

-=V=--

I too am new to cycling and I'm training with an audax in mind. My
best ride to date is 60 miles in 7 hours including stops, and this was
on a flat course without much wind, so I know I have some way to go
yet before I can enter an event. In fact, I am not planning to enter
one before 2008.

Nooooo!!!!!!

You are up for it no doubt about it. A full speed i.e. 15km/hr min average
speed audax needs 6 hrs and 40 mins. A lot of 100km audax rides are
organised with beginners in mind and have a lower min average speed 12km/hr
and 10km/hr being typical.

Quoted message said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

There's nothing wrong with flat barred hybrids. I've got one that I've
ridden 100km on at a speed faster than a road bike that I owned at the time.
Having lower gears and more of them on the hybrid made things easier on the
hills. I've done most of my audaxes using a Dawes Galaxy with a mountain
bike chain set and cassette not to mention the front low rider pannier racks
still attached from touring. It's not the lightest of bikes to use but it
gets me round the Audaxes and sees me through my cycling tours too. There's
all sorts of bikes used on audaxes. I had difficulty keeping up with a
Brompton ridden in this year's Thorne 100km audax and I've seen the whole
spectrum of MTBs from full suspension to no suspension being used. Your
bike is fit for purpose just get some entries made and then ride!

For the first few audaxes I was used to being last or near last. I didn't
let that get to me as most of my rideing upto my first audaxes was done
solo. Just make sure that you eat enough and drink enough and you'll be OK.
Don't let hills worry you - I took on some fiercely scenic AAA rides last
year - I failed to complete all of them but always managed to get something
positive from the failures to complete e.g. great scenery, nice pubs to
savour ale at leisure after bailing out, a spot of sun bathing......

in message <[email hidden]>,

raisethe (') said:

I too am new to cycling and I'm training with an audax in mind. My
best ride to date is 60 miles in 7 hours including stops, and this was
on a flat course without much wind, so I know I have some way to go
yet before I can enter an event. In fact, I am not planning to enter
one before 2008.

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

Audaxes - at least the ones I've been in - are pretty relaxed about types
of bike. Recumbents are allowed, and hybrids certainly are. You could
certainly do an audax on your current bike (and I'd encourage you to), but
do fit bar ends to give you some variation on hand position - straight
bars get /very/ tiring on a long ride.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Copyright (c) Simon Brooke; All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to transfer this message via UUCP or NNTP and to store it
for the purpose of archiving or further transfer. Permission is
explicitly denied to use this message as part of a 'Web Forum', or
to transfer it by HTTP.

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

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>,
raisethe ([email hidden]'😉 wrote:

Audaxes - at least the ones I've been in - are pretty relaxed about types
of bike. Recumbents are allowed, and hybrids certainly are. You could
certainly do an audax on your current bike (and I'd encourage you to), but
do fit bar ends to give you some variation on hand position - straight
bars get /very/ tiring on a long ride.

Yeah, I forgot about bar ends. They do make a big difference to comfort.

raisethe <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Go for it. You'll enjoy it.

-=V=--

Quoted message said:

I too am new to cycling and I'm training with an audax in mind. My
best ride to date is 60 miles in 7 hours including stops, and this was
on a flat course without much wind, so I know I have some way to go
yet before I can enter an event. In fact, I am not planning to enter
one before 2008.

Quoted message said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

Quoted message said:

Thanks
Ray

I have done a Dinner Dart on a hybrid.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

"Nigel Randell" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Most bikes will be as you describe, but your hybrid has already enabled you
to do about 100km in 7 hours. Provided that you were comfortable on that
ride then your bike will be fine. Mudguards used to be compulsory for
audax, not sure what the current requirements are but it is good to have
them for riding in a group just in case the roads are wet.

Mudguard requirements are up to the discretion of the individual
Organiser. The Audax Calendar should specify...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

In news:[email hidden],
raisethe <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames?

While the majority of Audax riders are on some variety of drop-bar machine -
ranging from full-on touring to carbon masterpiece - you see just about
everything on Audaces from the most minimal fixer imaginable all the way to
full-sus MTBs, with a side order of recumbents, folders, trikes, tandems and
The Bike That Bob Built. IIRC some lunatic did a 300 a few years ago on a
BMX bike!

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Historians' Right To Work Campaign - We Demand A Continuing
Supply Of History!

I agree with all the above - You will be absolutely fine with the
distance as long as you are comfortable on your bike. I would say that
is the single most important thing (other than remembering to eat and
drink lots), for getting you round. It's no fun and may even stop you
completing if your [censored]/back/neck/arms or hands hurt so get your bike
as comfy as possible before you start. Small niggles can turn into
bigger pain on longer rides so it's worth taking your time to find a
good position and set up if there is anything that isn't quite right.
IMO drop bars are more comfortable but many people do audax on flat
bars - it's down to individual preference and also the distances
involved. If you start upping your mileage you may find your needs
regarding bike setup change. Remember to get your bike, cycling kit,
food etc ready the night before, so you aren't rushing on the day and
get to the start with plenty of time (20/30 minutes) to spare - which
allows you time to get the bike out of the car and make any
adjustments, go to the loo, get a drink, sign in, pick up your card
and even chat to some others before the start. It makes the whole
thing less stressful and a more enjoyable day out. Good luck and enjoy
it!

vernon said:

"raisethe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Go for it. You'll enjoy it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

-=V=--

Quoted message said:

I too am new to cycling and I'm training with an audax in mind. My
best ride to date is 60 miles in 7 hours including stops, and this was
on a flat course without much wind, so I know I have some way to go
yet before I can enter an event. In fact, I am not planning to enter
one before 2008.

Nooooo!!!!!!

You are up for it no doubt about it. A full speed i.e. 15km/hr min average
speed audax needs 6 hrs and 40 mins. A lot of 100km audax rides are
organised with beginners in mind and have a lower min average speed 12km/hr
and 10km/hr being typical.

Quoted message said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

There's nothing wrong with flat barred hybrids. I've got one that I've
ridden 100km on at a speed faster than a road bike that I owned at the time.
Having lower gears and more of them on the hybrid made things easier on the
hills. I've done most of my audaxes using a Dawes Galaxy with a mountain
bike chain set and cassette not to mention the front low rider pannier racks
still attached from touring. It's not the lightest of bikes to use but it
gets me round the Audaxes and sees me through my cycling tours too. There's
all sorts of bikes used on audaxes. I had difficulty keeping up with a
Brompton ridden in this year's Thorne 100km audax and I've seen the whole
spectrum of MTBs from full suspension to no suspension being used. Your
bike is fit for purpose just get some entries made and then ride!

For the first few audaxes I was used to being last or near last. I didn't
let that get to me as most of my rideing upto my first audaxes was done
solo. Just make sure that you eat enough and drink enough and you'll be OK.
Don't let hills worry you - I took on some fiercely scenic AAA rides last
year - I failed to complete all of them but always managed to get something
positive from the failures to complete e.g. great scenery, nice pubs to
savour ale at leisure after bailing out, a spot of sun bathing......

Thanks for these comments, it is enouraging. It would be good to do a
couple this year so I get a feel for them, then I will have the winter
to get a more suitable bike ready.

I'm quite prepared to be the lanterne rouge once or twice, and I
hadn't realised that they go down to 12kph minimum speed so I should
have a sporting chance of finishing.

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>,

raisethe (') said:

At the moment, I ride a hybrid. Do you see these on audaces or do all
riders have dropped handlebar bikes with road frames? My intention is
to buy a ti audax bike once I have justified the outlay with suitable
fitness, but I was just wond'ring if I could do an event or two on my
hybrid to see how it goes?

Audaxes - at least the ones I've been in - are pretty relaxed about types
of bike. Recumbents are allowed, and hybrids certainly are. You could
certainly do an audax on your current bike (and I'd encourage you to), but
do fit bar ends to give you some variation on hand position - straight
bars get /very/ tiring on a long ride.

--

Yes, I've got bar ends and they have made a huge difference as my left
wrist was starting to go numb after only 10 miles before I put them
on.

I managed my longest ride in just under six hours and the bike was
pretty comfortable tho' not perfect.

I have found that the bike is one size too small for me, and the seat
post doesn't extend high enough, meaning my leg is not sufficiently
extended on the pedal stroke and I get a little saddle numb. Also, my
size 48 plates overlap with the front mudguard and most importantly my
sit up and beg riding position means I become a 20 stone anchor in
headwinds.

This new seat post should help, and when it arrives I will start to
play with lower handlebar positions.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5300001879

Having spent the best part of £1k on this bike, I would have preferred
it to be near enough perfect for a hybrid, and I'm disappointed that I
got something as basic as the frame size wrong.

Presumably a custom fitting will more or less guarantee a better
fitting bike, is this what most audaxer's go for?

Blonde said:

I agree with all the above - You will be absolutely fine with the
distance as long as you are comfortable on your bike. I would say that
is the single most important thing (other than remembering to eat and
drink lots), for getting you round. It's no fun and may even stop you
completing if your [censored]/back/neck/arms or hands hurt so get your bike
as comfy as possible before you start. Small niggles can turn into
bigger pain on longer rides so it's worth taking your time to find a
good position and set up if there is anything that isn't quite right.
IMO drop bars are more comfortable but many people do audax on flat
bars - it's down to individual preference and also the distances
involved. If you start upping your mileage you may find your needs
regarding bike setup change. Remember to get your bike, cycling kit,
food etc ready the night before, so you aren't rushing on the day and
get to the start with plenty of time (20/30 minutes) to spare - which
allows you time to get the bike out of the car and make any
adjustments, go to the loo, get a drink, sign in, pick up your card
and even chat to some others before the start. It makes the whole
thing less stressful and a more enjoyable day out. Good luck and enjoy
it!

Thanks for the advice, that'll make the first one easier. To
complicate matters, there are no events within a 50 mile radius of my
home, and I don't have a car, so due to the time and expense involved,
even when I am up to speed I will not be able to do more than four or
five per year. To get the most from them, I will need to enter events
that are as long or as mountainous as I am capable of doing.

For audaxing to be viable for me, I will therefore need to be able to
complete 200k events on hard courses within the time limit. However,
riding at 12 mph for more than a few miles on a hilly circuit still
seems a long way off. My best so far (on an admittedly very hilly
route) is 46 miles at 10 mph.