how hilly is 'hilly'? (audax question)

Quoted message said:

If an Audax event has an AAA rating of 0.75, how hilly
is that?

Not too hard. If you've done 100km, the best thing to do is
to find out for yourself. I started on 100s this January and
did my first 300km last Saturday. I'm doing at least 2 rides
at each distance to build up stamina. I'll probably do a 600
before the end of summer. Audaxes are a case of mind over
matter; break up the ride into smaller segments and the
distances/climbs don't seem daunting at all.

Quoted message said:

Also, what do the different categories mean?

BP = Brevet Populaire: ridden at the same pace for everyone
(all BPs are under 200km). BR/BRM = Brevet de
Randonneurs/Mondiaux: usually faster and longer and ridden
at your own pace. All 'Mondiaux' results are recorded by
L'Audax Club Parisien and count towards entry to
international events.

Enjoy!

Quoted message said:

Not too hard. If you've done 100km, the best thing to do
is to find out

for

Quoted message said:

yourself.

Reckon I might just do that. I've emailed the organiser for
some advice too but I've more or less made up my mind that
I'm going to do it.

I started on 100s this January and did my first 300km last

Quoted message said:

Saturday. I'm doing at least 2 rides at each distance to
build up stamina. I'll probably do a 600 before the end
of summer.

Eek!

Still, it's only a couple of months ago that 35 miles seemed
like a long way to me...

I've had a look through the calendar and picked out a few
100s and 150s that I like the look of. There's a 200 just
down the road from me in June that I ought to aim for but
annoyingly it's the day before the London to Brighton.
There's also a 400 near me at the end of June, but it might
be a bit soon for that.

Quoted message said:

BP = Brevet Populaire: ridden at the same pace for
everyone (all BPs are under 200km).

So you ride as a pack? That sounds like fun.

Thanks for the info,

d.

Quoted message said:

So you ride as a pack? That sounds like fun.

Sometimes, yes. If you find a group going at your pace,
there's nothing to stop you joining them. If you're riding
into the night, it's best to stay with a group to make
navigating easier.

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

Quoted message said:

breaks, lots of uphill but mostly quite gentle - except
for one evil

[censored]

Quoted message said:

towards the end that almost killed me (judging from the OS
map, it was

about

Quoted message said:

1km of climbing, from 100m to 190m, but starting off
gently and kicking up nastily in the last 200m).

Unless its really really steep, what you need is low gears
and patience.

A heart rate monitor is also useful to give the hint so
you'll realise you really shouldn't be pushing things that
far if you want to be out riding all day.

The message <[email hidden]>
from "Simonb" <[email hidden]> contains
these words:

Quoted message said:

BP = Brevet Populaire: ridden at the same pace for
everyone (all BPs are under 200km). BR/BRM = Brevet de
Randonneurs/Mondiaux: usually faster and longer and ridden
at your own pace. All 'Mondiaux' results are recorded by
L'Audax Club Parisien and count towards entry to
international events.

This is a bit misleading!

BPs are ridden at any pace within the given limits, usually
15kph (or less) to 30 kph including breaks, definitely *not*
at the same pace for everyone. The fastest riders take under
4 hours while we take nearer 7 hours on the tandem. You ride
alone or as a group depending on what you want and who else
is travelling at your speed.

Nik

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not too hard. If you've done 100km, the best thing to do
is to find out

for

Quoted message said:

yourself.

Reckon I might just do that. I've emailed the organiser
for some advice too but I've more or less made up my mind
that I'm going to do it.

If the 0.75 AAA is the one I am thinking of (the Invicta),
it is basically all hilly, but the only killer hill is
Yorks, as long as you have a triple it is do-able. .75 is
quite a lot for a 100, I am doing the Dorset coast on Sunday
and that is 1.0 over 200. The organisers always seem to put
the worst hill right at the very end, even on non-Grimpeurs.
A 400 is really mind over matter becuase you will end up
riding most if not all of the night, it is a great feeling
to finally see the sun rise. I am doing the National 400
(from Denmead this year on 10th July), that is always
popular as a first 400. I had only done about 3 200's prior
to my first 400.

On 16/4/04 10:54 pm, in article
[email hidden], "MartinM"

Quoted message said:

If the 0.75 AAA is the one I am thinking of (the Invicta),
it is basically all hilly, but the only killer hill is
Yorks, as long as you have a triple it is do-able. .75 is
quite a lot for a 100, I am doing the Dorset coast on
Sunday and that is 1.0 over 200. The organisers always
seem to put the worst hill right at the very end, even on
non-Grimpeurs.

What does this figure refer to? is it easily calculated or
into the arcane incantations like the overs remaining
equations in cricket?

I'm guessing that it is kilometers height gain? is
this correct?

..d

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not too hard. If you've done 100km, the best thing to do
is to find out

for

Quoted message said:

yourself.

Reckon I might just do that. I've emailed the organiser
for some advice too but I've more or less made up my mind
that I'm going to do it.

I started on 100s this January and did my first
300km last

Quoted message said:

Saturday. I'm doing at least 2 rides at each distance to
build up stamina. I'll probably do a 600 before the end
of summer.

Eek!

Still, it's only a couple of months ago that 35 miles
seemed like a long way to me...

I've had a look through the calendar and picked out a few
100s and 150s that I like the look of. There's a 200 just
down the road from me in June that I ought to aim for but
annoyingly it's the day before the London to Brighton.
There's also a 400 near me at the end of June, but it
might be a bit soon for that.

Sounds like you live in my area; the Battle and backs are
good fun, don't know about the hilly 200 though, have only
done the 160 before; the 150 might be a good idea after the
100. The 400 at the end of June will probably be similar to
the National 400 I did 2 years ago; out to near Rye, then
along the North side of the South Downs to Winchester then
back along the North side of the Weald. As long as you have
provision for what to do if you pack, no reason you could
not do a 400 in your first season, you have nothing to lose.
I do enter regularly with a club mate but often on my own,
after about an hour you find yourself riding with other
riders the same pace as you and usually finish either with
them or within a few minutes. Go for it ;-)

Quoted message said:

If the 0.75 AAA is the one I am thinking of (the Invicta)

Yup, that's the one. Will you be doing it?

Quoted message said:

basically all hilly, but the only killer hill is Yorks,

That's what the organiser chap told me too.

Quoted message said:

as long as you have a triple it is do-able.

Eek! No triple. Not until I get my new bike. Mind you...
the organiser also mentioned a few hills in my area that
he thought were comparable and I've been up them all with
my double (smallest gear 42x28) so I reckon I might be
all right.

Quoted message said:

I am doing the National 400 (from Denmead this year on
10th July), that is always popular as a first 400. I had
only done about 3 200's prior to my first 400.

Hmmm... sounds tempting. I'm aiming to have done a couple of
200s by then, plus a non-Audax 130-mile trip (London to
Brighton then cycling home again afterwards).

d.

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that it is kilometers height gain? is this
correct?

It's something like that - except I think it's measured in
altitude gain rather than length of climb. I'm still not
clear myself. Waiting for my handbook to arrive...

All I know is you need 12 points to qualify for the AAA
(Audax Altitude Award) but it seems pretty random which
events award points and which don't - probably something to
do with categories of climb, I expect.

d.

Quoted message said:

Sounds like you live in my area;

I'm just up the road from Canterbury. Where abouts are you?

I've put my name down for the Invicta and I've decided to
give the Otford 200 a go the following week.

Quoted message said:

Go for it ;-)

I'm easily swayed, so keep telling me this and I'll probably
succumb...

d.

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sounds like you live in my area;

I'm just up the road from Canterbury. Where abouts
are you?

Over by Gatwick but these events all need a bit of
travelling to

Quoted message said:

I've put my name down for the Invicta and I've decided to
give the Otford 200 a go the following week.

I did one similar to that the other week, also from Otford,
in the really bad wind/rain, it was "character building"!

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that it is kilometers height gain? is this
correct?

I think the handbook says either a particular amount of
climbing in total or a very steep section with several
climbs over a short distance.

Quoted message said:

If the 0.75 AAA is the one I am thinking of (the Invicta)

Yup, that's the one. Will you be doing it?

Yes planning to

Quoted message said:

as long as you have a triple it is do-able.

Eek! No triple. Not until I get my new bike. Mind you...
the organiser also mentioned a few hills in my area that
he thought were comparable and I've been up them all with
my double (smallest gear 42x28) so I reckon I might be
all right.

You'll be fine with a 42x28, my lowest is higher than
that as my lowest on the back is 23 and lowest on the
front is 30.

Quoted message said:

I am doing the National 400 (from Denmead this year on
10th July), that is always popular as a first 400. I had
only done about 3 200's prior to my first 400.

Hmmm... sounds tempting. I'm aiming to have done a couple of
200s by then, plus a non-Audax 130-mile trip (London to
Brighton then cycling home again afterwards).

The thing to do is enter them in advance and then you are
mentally commited, I did this with my SR last year even
though I felt like giving up after the 300 (knee
problems) MM

David Martin <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

What does this figure refer to? is it easily calculated or
into the arcane incantations like the overs remaining
equations in cricket?

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that it is kilometers height gain? is this
correct?

No.

It's a very complicated formula. I can't remember the
details.

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

"davek" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Hmmm... sounds tempting. I'm aiming to have done a couple
of 200s by then, plus a non-Audax 130-mile trip (London to
Brighton then cycling home again afterwards).

Can't you devise some way of getting Audax points for this
by devising a 'Permanent'? If you have a Youth Hostel near
your home, you can, for example, get a rubber stamp from
there and call it a 'Hostel Dart'.

I used this wheeze when cycling to my parents (½ mile from
Hampstead Heath YHA) from Poole (via Salisbury 201 km...)

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

[email hidden] (MartinM)typed

Quoted message said:

The thing to do is enter them in advance and then you are
mentally commited, I did this with my SR last year even
though I felt like giving up after the 300 (knee problems)

True. I found my bike frame was buckled (a few days after a
minor collision) six days before an event I'd booked to
ride. I *had* to get a new bike, didn't I?

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

Quoted message said:

Can't you devise some way of getting Audax points for this
by devising a 'Permanent'?

That sounds like an interesting possibility. Thanks
for the tip.

d.

(MartinM) said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sounds like you live in my area;

I'm just up the road from Canterbury. Where abouts
are you?

Over by Gatwick but these events all need a bit of
travelling to

<waves>

I'm in Crawley, Three Bridges. What do you ride? Will I
have seen you?

Tim (Magenta Mercian, Red fixer, misc tandems)

davek <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Eek! No triple. Not until I get my new bike. Mind you...
: the organiser also mentioned a few hills in my area that
: he thought were comparable and I've been up them all with
: my double (smallest gear 42x28) so I reckon I might be
: all right.

Cheap option is to buy a 39 or (if you have Shimno) 38 inner
ring. Quite a cheap swap and will give you usefully much
lower gears.

Long term a triple is better, but that is an easy win.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a
philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

Tim Hall <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 16 Apr 2004 23:34:25 -0700, [email hidden]

(MartinM) said:

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

Quoted message said:

> Sounds like you live in my area;

I'm just up the road from Canterbury. Where abouts
are you?

Over by Gatwick but these events all need a bit of
travelling to

<waves>

I'm in Crawley, Three Bridges. What do you ride? Will I
have seen you?

Yellow ribble, yellow everything else unless I've got my
EGCC kit on (not often as I don't race)