First Audax RR

Matthew Haigh said:

Well, I'v completed my first Audax, the 100km Victor Ludorum Spring

Congratulations! That's a reasonable pace BTW, I've only done a couple
of 100's but under five hours sounds on the money. That's it now though,
you are hooked... next you'll look at a 150, then maybe try a 200, 300,
RRtY, SR series, the lot!

bfn,

Tony B

"Matthew Haigh" <?@?.?> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

Well, I'v completed my first Audax, the 100km Victor Ludorum Spring
Event, on my 24 year old steed :-)

..> Statistics: Total distance 104.3 km, time 4 hours 48 minutes, overall

Quoted message said:

speed average (including stops) just under 22km/h, according the HRM I
used 4086 calories, I consumed one malt loaf, one banana, one small bag
of mixed nuts, 750mL of isotonic drink, 1.5L of water, one cup of coffee
at the start and one at the end. Perhaps I should have had a bit more to
eat and need to investigate different drinks, but there wasn't a major
problem.

Matt

Well done! A cracking pace and a very respectable time. I just happen to
have my validated brevet cards in front of me and my first Audax was
completed in 5hrs 50mins. Wait until high summer and you'll get through a
lot more fluids my record is around six litres on a 100k ride on a
blisteringly hot day.

"Matthew Haigh" <?@?.?> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

Well, I'v completed my first Audax, the 100km Victor Ludorum Spring
Event, on my 24 year old steed :-)

I built a handlebar mounted holder for the route sheet last night, using
polymorph plastic (wonderful stuff - it melts to a plasticine kind of
consistency when put in boiling water, then when it cools down it is
like a hard white polyethelyne). I moulded it into the cranny between
the forks and stem, with holes through it for cable ties and screwed a
sheet of plastic to the top which had a self-sealing clear plastic bag
wrapped around it (so the bag was fastened down by the plastic sheet).
That worked really well.

About 20 of us left the village hall at 9am. I was in the main group,
the leaders pulled ahead early on but we were doing a reasonable pace
for me at 30km/h. At the start I had a problem in that I was pottering
along enjoying a beautiful day out in the countryside, but not paying
attention to the route sheet so I'd be surprised when everyone veered
off in one direction or another! That became less of an issue later when
we lost the pack (some in front, some behind) and I was actively
navigating.

The first info control seemed to catch a lot of people out - quite a few
were asking for the name of the hill. Luckily the guy I'd been riding
with (Steve) was a local to that area. Also I'd not actually realised
what an info control was, and hadn't thought to bring a pen! The first
30km to that info was 1 hour 6 minutes.

We started to hit some hills, and took another hour to get to the half
way point at Lambourn Lamb Inn (53km). I also suffered from the chain
jumping off my small chain ring and getting in a bit of a tangle on one
climb, so first oily hands of the day for me.

We were the only ones at the Lamb when we arrived, but four other riders
arrived whilst we there. A quick snack on malt loaf at the Lamb, and off
Steve and I went. I didn't notice how long we'd been stopped,
unfortunately - I guess about ten minutes. The climb out of Lambourne on
the B4001 heading south was the first real slog, but quite satisfying to
reach the top.

We nearly missed the next info control (quite an easy one really, just
the number of the cycle route), but we were going well. Hitting Woolton
Hill at 80km, we were definitely getting slower on the hills - which
caused me problems when we got to White Hill. I had to stop, then
suffered the chain jumping off twice before I got going again. I've got
to have a look at that, there isn't anything obviously wrong with the
chainline or gear setup, and none of the drivetrain is new (so it isn't
new chainset with worn chain, etc.).

Congrats and thanks for an interesting read, Matt.

I've got an identical problem to yours - with a brand new bike -
occasionally chain jumps the small ring. Typically just when I'm preparing
to power up on a steep hill! I've looked at everything obvious but haven't
been able to stop it yet. Will have a longer play with it this weekend and
get to the bottom of it hopefully.

Rob

<snipped>

Matt

Quoted message said:

Tony B said:

Matthew Haigh said:

Well, I'v completed my first Audax, the 100km Victor Ludorum Spring

Congratulations! That's a reasonable pace BTW, I've only done a couple
of 100's but under five hours sounds on the money.

Thanks :-)
I was hoping for around 5 hours, but obviously it's been a while since I
did this kind of distance and I would have been happy just to complete.

Quoted message said:

That's it now though,
you are hooked...

Oh yes, I'm applying for proper Audax membership now...

Quoted message said:

next you'll look at a 150, then maybe try a 200, 300,
RRtY, SR series, the lot!

There is a 150 next month with the same organiser alongside a 70 and 250
- apparently the 250 does Ditchling Beacon, I have a lot of respect for
anyone who can climb that 120km into a ride but have no intention of
being amongst them ...

The 150 appeals, but I'm also going to see if my son is up to the 70km
(called "My First Audax" - supposedly an easy ride); he has done about
half that with a fair percentage of off-road and without complaint at
the end, I know he'd love to try but I don't want to put him off by
doing too much on his first attempt.

Matt

Matthew Haigh said:

I built a handlebar mounted holder for the route sheet last night, using
polymorph plastic (wonderful stuff - it melts to a plasticine kind of
consistency when put in boiling water, then when it cools down it is
like a hard white polyethelyne). I moulded it into the cranny between
the forks and stem,

Of course I meant between the handlebars and stem :-)

vernon said:

"Matthew Haigh" <?@?.?> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

.> Statistics: Total distance 104.3 km, time 4 hours 48 minutes, overall

Quoted message said:

speed average (including stops) just under 22km/h, according the HRM I
used 4086 calories, I consumed one malt loaf, one banana, one small bag
of mixed nuts, 750mL of isotonic drink, 1.5L of water, one cup of coffee
at the start and one at the end. Perhaps I should have had a bit more to
eat and need to investigate different drinks, but there wasn't a major
problem.

Quoted message said:

Well done! A cracking pace and a very respectable time.

Thanks!

Quoted message said:

I just happen to
have my validated brevet cards in front of me and my first Audax was
completed in 5hrs 50mins. Wait until high summer and you'll get through a
lot more fluids my record is around six litres on a 100k ride on a
blisteringly hot day.

I've got through close to 4 Litres (two fills of my hydration pack) on a
35 mile off-road ride. I was half expecting to need to top up on this
ride, but in the end had enough with me with the pack an one large bottle.

Matt

RobDee said:

I've got an identical problem to yours - with a brand new bike -
occasionally chain jumps the small ring. Typically just when I'm
preparing to power up on a steep hill! I've looked at everything obvious
but haven't been able to stop it yet. Will have a longer play with it
this weekend and get to the bottom of it hopefully.

It may just be generally worn parts in my case, but I need to look
closer. It only happens under hard load. The front derailleur setup
looks fine, the rear needs tweaking slightly to get into 1st easier -
the limit screw needs backing off slightly. But, I found that moving the
lever towards 2nd cured the problem - co-incidence or actuality I don't
know, and wasn't in the mood to twiddle with it on that hill (and with
Steve very patiently waiting for me, which he didn't have to do...)

Matt