My first Audax.

Paul Rudin said:

So - midweek a cow-orker pointed out that there was an audax event
(the "End of Hibernation 200" from Hauxton near Cambridge) near us on
Sunday. I had planned to run a half marathon that day, but my toe was
a bit sore so I thought cycling might be a better bet, so I agreed to
do the audax instead.

The route was 213km, and with the ride to and from the start I must
have ridden about 225km. This is a lot further than I've done in one
day before, and the thought did fleetingly cross my mind that perhaps
I should have done a little preperation in advance (I've ridden very
little through the winter). Anyway, I managed to get round OK,
starting at 8am and finishing at about 6pm. The first 100km was a lot
faster than the second, and I felt pretty tired over the last 50 or

so

Quoted message said:

km.

It didn't rain on us, although it was a bit cold and windy. I expect
I'll do another one, preferably when it's a bit warmer.

(The only thing that was a little irritating was that we couldn't

find

Quoted message said:

out the route information in advance - there was nothing on the audax
web site and a couple of emails to the race organizer were not

replied

Quoted message said:

to.)

10 hours is pretty respectable. I did my first and so far only 200 in
9h50 and some of the more experienced riders with me were pleased to
have finished in less that 10 hours. Well done.

One of my gripes about AUK events was that the route is often not
available until you enter. At least you get sent a route sheet by
entering in advance.

MSeries said:

One of my gripes about AUK events was that the route is often not
available until you enter. At least you get sent a route sheet by
entering in advance.

That can be a drawback; I have entered rides quite a way away and ended
up almost riding past my front door. Generally it is only controls and
a few minor roads that change significantly from one year to another.
There is only space on the AUK website to add about 50 words or so so
detailed route info is not possible.

Paul Rudin said:

So - midweek a cow-orker

Sorry to point this out, I know it is just a typo, but I am greatly
amused by the idea of someone that orks cows for a living, even though
I have no idea what "orking" might be.

Anyway...

Quoted message said:

The route was 213km, and with the ride to and from the start I must
have ridden about 225km. This is a lot further than I've done in one
day before, and the thought did fleetingly cross my mind that perhaps
I should have done a little preperation in advance (I've ridden very
little through the winter). Anyway, I managed to get round OK,
starting at 8am and finishing at about 6pm. The first 100km was a lot
faster than the second, and I felt pretty tired over the last 50 or

so

Quoted message said:

km.

I'd say that's pretty good going. I completed my first 200 last summer
in a similar time and was well pleased.

If I could offer a useful comment, it would be that on my 200 I paced
myself so that I was going well within what I felt capable of for the
first 100 , and was able to maintain the same pace throughout the whole
ride, finishing with something in reserve. Your tiredness could just
have been because you weren't used to the distance, or it could be
because you pushed too hard on the early part of the ride. But it's all
useful experience for next time in any case. (I trust there will be a
next time?)

Quoted message said:

(The only thing that was a little irritating was that we couldn't

find

Quoted message said:

out the route information in advance - there was nothing on the audax
web site and a couple of emails to the race organizer were not

replied

Quoted message said:

to.)

It's possible that email is not the best way to get in touch with some
organisers, even if they do provide an email address - sometimes it's
best to try phoning instead.

You can also try asking questions about specific rides via URC, in case
there are other readers taking part that can help, or even better, via
the AUK email list: <url:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/audax/> where
you will almost certainly find someone who knows the ride, whether it's
the organiser or just one of the many "old hands".

d.

davek said:

Paul Rudin said:

So - midweek a cow-orker

Sorry to point this out, I know it is just a typo, but I am greatly
amused by the idea of someone that orks cows for a living, even though
I have no idea what "orking" might be.

It used to be a typo. Now it's an in-joke.

http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/cow-orker.html

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
The accounts and descriptions of this post may not be disseminated
without the express written consent of Major League Baseball

in message <[email hidden]>,

davek (') said:

Paul Rudin said:

So - midweek a cow-orker

Sorry to point this out, I know it is just a typo,

It isn't (now) a typo. Presumably it originally was a typo, like
'toadmire', but it has long since become part of the Usenet zeitgheist.

If you search Usenet using Google for 'cow orker' you will get 15,200
hits, mostly from the core geek culture groups (places like
alt.religion.kibology and alt.tech-support.recovery)

The jargon file entry is here:
<URL:http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/cow-orker.html>

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Hobbit ringleader gives Sauron One in the Eye.

The message <[email hidden]>
from Paul Rudin <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

(The only thing that was a little irritating was that we couldn't find
out the route information in advance - there was nothing on the audax
web site and a couple of emails to the race organizer were not replied
to.)

That particular organiser was honeymooning till shortly before the event
so probably not picking up her email
http://www.cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk/

Nik

Simon Brooke said:

It isn't (now) a typo. Presumably it originally was a typo, like
'toadmire', but it has long since become part of the Usenet

zeitgheist.

Ah, now he sees. Thanks, Simon and Keith.

d.

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

Quoted message said:

Simon Brooke said:

It isn't (now) a typo. Presumably it originally was a typo, like
'toadmire', but it has long since become part of the Usenet

zeitgheist.

hey Davek, superhuman and general wizard audaxer, how did you manage to
finish Sunday's ride so quickly? (saw your finsh time at the HQ) did you do
the 100?

MartinM said:

hey Davek, superhuman and general wizard audaxer,

Are you talking to me? Or have you got me mixed up with someone else?
;-)

Quoted message said:

how did you manage to
finish Sunday's ride so quickly? (saw your finsh time at the HQ) did

you do

Quoted message said:

the 100?

Quickly? Yes, I did the 100, but I thought I finished well down the
field! I went off quite fast from the start, on the heels of a bunch of
the Southborough Wheelers, but dropped off their pace about halfway up
the first climb - they are a seriously fit bunch, and it would have
been suicide to try to keep up with them.

I did manage to knock a big chunk off my time from last year - down
from about 6hrs 30mins to 5hrs 45mins - which I was pretty pleased
with, but I felt I could have done even better (slept very badly
saturday night so was not at my best on sunday morning). And despite
drinking and eating plenty, I started to get some pretty bad cramping
at around 70km, which didn't help - going up Yorks was agony.

So, how did you get on?

d.

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

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

hey Davek, superhuman and general wizard audaxer,

Are you talking to me? Or have you got me mixed up with someone else?
;-)

Quoted message said:

how did you manage to
finish Sunday's ride so quickly? (saw your finsh time at the HQ) did

you do

Quoted message said:

the 100?

Quickly? Yes, I did the 100, but I thought I finished well down the
field! I went off quite fast from the start, on the heels of a bunch of
the Southborough Wheelers, but dropped off their pace about halfway up
the first climb - they are a seriously fit bunch, and it would have
been suicide to try to keep up with them.

I did manage to knock a big chunk off my time from last year - down
from about 6hrs 30mins to 5hrs 45mins - which I was pretty pleased
with, but I felt I could have done even better (slept very badly
saturday night so was not at my best on sunday morning). And despite
drinking and eating plenty, I started to get some pretty bad cramping
at around 70km, which didn't help - going up Yorks was agony.

So, how did you get on?

Oh so you are human after all, but still well done, the start sheet said you
finished at 1348. Simonb did not see you at the beginning. I entered late
and said I would pick up my route sheet at the start, but forgot. Follwed
Simon and my clubmate until Ide Hill, went wrong, nearly went all the way
down Ide Hill. Then went wrong again and ended up at Penshurst, retraced
back to Bayley's Hill, then stayed on route back to Otford where I caught up
with Simon, Forgot the route sheet again, dooooh! went wrong shortly after
losing Simon on the climb back up to Exedown, ended up outside Brand's
Hatch! managed to follow the route back by aiming for the transmitter.
Simonb and my clubmate went wrong again at the bottom of Bayley's Hill and,
ended up back at Sevenoaks Weald. I plodded on and went for the triple
bypass up Yorks hill in a 39x26, finished in exactly 6hrs with 14 km extra
travelled. A great day; I saw the Southborough demons on the way back from
the lunch stop, looked like they were an a mission. I ahve reported Dan and
Rob at the Underriver control to the Strasbourg court of human rights for
drinking pints of beer as they sent us up One Tree Hill!

MartinM said:

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

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

hey Davek, superhuman and general wizard audaxer,

Are you talking to me? Or have you got me mixed up with someone else?
;-)

Quoted message said:

how did you manage to
finish Sunday's ride so quickly? (saw your finsh time at the HQ) did

you do

Quoted message said:

the 100?

Quickly? Yes, I did the 100, but I thought I finished well down the
field! I went off quite fast from the start, on the heels of a bunch
of the Southborough Wheelers, but dropped off their pace about
halfway up the first climb - they are a seriously fit bunch, and it
would have been suicide to try to keep up with them.

I did manage to knock a big chunk off my time from last year - down
from about 6hrs 30mins to 5hrs 45mins - which I was pretty pleased
with, but I felt I could have done even better (slept very badly
saturday night so was not at my best on sunday morning). And despite
drinking and eating plenty, I started to get some pretty bad cramping
at around 70km, which didn't help - going up Yorks was agony.

So, how did you get on?

Oh so you are human after all, but still well done, the start sheet
said you finished at 1348. Simonb did not see you at the beginning. I
entered late and said I would pick up my route sheet at the start,
but forgot. Follwed Simon and my clubmate until Ide Hill, went wrong,
nearly went all the way down Ide Hill. Then went wrong again and
ended up at Penshurst, retraced back to Bayley's Hill, then stayed on
route back to Otford where I caught up with Simon, Forgot the route
sheet again, dooooh! went wrong shortly after losing Simon on the
climb back up to Exedown, ended up outside Brand's Hatch! managed to
follow the route back by aiming for the transmitter. Simonb and my
clubmate went wrong again at the bottom of Bayley's Hill and, ended
up back at Sevenoaks Weald. I plodded on and went for the triple
bypass up Yorks hill in a 39x26, finished in exactly 6hrs with 14 km
extra travelled. A great day; I saw the Southborough demons on the
way back from the lunch stop, looked like they were an a mission. I
ahve reported Dan and Rob at the Underriver control to the Strasbourg
court of human rights for drinking pints of beer as they sent us up
One Tree Hill!

Martin! Shhh! You're making me look completely incompetent at route finding.
Oh well...

Yes, One Tree Hill was horrible. I had forgotten to notice it on the outward
loop so it came as a complete (and nasty) surprise to me. It had a long
straight bit which just seemed to go up and up (I prefer my hills winding).
Plus, your clubmate very nobly said, "Don't wait for me, Simon." somewhere
near the bottom only to come spinning past me about 2/3 of the way up!

It wasn't as bad as Yorks Hill, though.

Simonb said:

Martin! Shhh! You're making me look completely incompetent at route finding.
Oh well...

Yes, One Tree Hill was horrible. I had forgotten to notice it on the outward
loop so it came as a complete (and nasty) surprise to me. It had a long
straight bit which just seemed to go up and up (I prefer my hills winding).
Plus, your clubmate very nobly said, "Don't wait for me, Simon." somewhere
near the bottom only to come spinning past me about 2/3 of the way up!

It wasn't as bad as Yorks Hill, though.

Yes, One Tree Hill wasn't as bad as Yorks - I actually managed to get up
it, although that was the hill where lactic acid build up set my thighs
on fire for a few yards. I never knew it was possible to ride on in such
pain! As for Yorks, by the time I got about half way up that I didn't
really even have the energy to try! I was scarcely riding at more than
walking pace anyway, so I just decided to get off and push for the last
200 yards. I think I actually suffered less on it as a result than I
did on One Tree Hill!

Rich

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

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

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

Quoted message said:

MartinM wrote:
> hey Davek, superhuman and general wizard audaxer,

Are you talking to me? Or have you got me mixed up with someone else?
;-)

> how did you manage to
> finish Sunday's ride so quickly? (saw your finsh time at the HQ) did
you do
> the 100?

Quickly? Yes, I did the 100, but I thought I finished well down the
field! I went off quite fast from the start, on the heels of a bunch
of the Southborough Wheelers, but dropped off their pace about
halfway up the first climb - they are a seriously fit bunch, and it
would have been suicide to try to keep up with them.

I did manage to knock a big chunk off my time from last year - down
from about 6hrs 30mins to 5hrs 45mins - which I was pretty pleased
with, but I felt I could have done even better (slept very badly
saturday night so was not at my best on sunday morning). And despite
drinking and eating plenty, I started to get some pretty bad cramping
at around 70km, which didn't help - going up Yorks was agony.

So, how did you get on?

Oh so you are human after all, but still well done, the start sheet
said you finished at 1348. Simonb did not see you at the beginning. I
entered late and said I would pick up my route sheet at the start,
but forgot. Follwed Simon and my clubmate until Ide Hill, went wrong,
nearly went all the way down Ide Hill. Then went wrong again and
ended up at Penshurst, retraced back to Bayley's Hill, then stayed on
route back to Otford where I caught up with Simon, Forgot the route
sheet again, dooooh! went wrong shortly after losing Simon on the
climb back up to Exedown, ended up outside Brand's Hatch! managed to
follow the route back by aiming for the transmitter. Simonb and my
clubmate went wrong again at the bottom of Bayley's Hill and, ended
up back at Sevenoaks Weald. I plodded on and went for the triple
bypass up Yorks hill in a 39x26, finished in exactly 6hrs with 14 km
extra travelled. A great day; I saw the Southborough demons on the
way back from the lunch stop, looked like they were an a mission. I
ahve reported Dan and Rob at the Underriver control to the Strasbourg
court of human rights for drinking pints of beer as they sent us up
One Tree Hill!

Martin! Shhh! You're making me look completely incompetent at route

finding.

Quoted message said:

Oh well...

I think getting lost was a fairly common occurrence, there was a group of
about 6 or 7 in Penshurst all scratching heads; we kept asking other riders
who suggested that we go with them to the tea rooms instead.
It turns out Paul my clubmate actually came 7th in the Catford hillclimb up
Yorkshill once, Oh I am not worthy!

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 17:12:18 -0000, "MartinM" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

<audax details>

Quoted message said:

I think getting lost was a fairly common occurrence, there was a group of
about 6 or 7 in Penshurst all scratching heads; we kept asking other riders
who suggested that we go with them to the tea rooms instead.
It turns out Paul my clubmate actually came 7th in the Catford hillclimb up
Yorkshill once, Oh I am not worthy!

I was audaxing on Saturday, the Brass Monkey. 100km, over Farthing
Down, Bletchingly, Outwood, Smallfield, Copthorne, Turners Hill,
Sharpthorne, Hartfield. Coffee and cake,then return via various
places including Penshurst (info control, name of cafe) then towards
Edenbridge, Godstoneish, Tilburstow Hill, Bletchingly, _up_ the now
vertical face of the North Downs, over Farthing Down again and back yo
DDs cafe for beans on toast.

Field of 60 or so, I believe. Finished in 5 hours and a handful of
minutes. Most enjoyable, except for attracting the attention of a
carful of gougers on pleasure bent. I nearly phoned Mrs. Hall to give
her the number plate so she could track them down if I was found dead
in a ditch.

Back home by chinese dentist, ready for tandemising the next day.

Tim

Richard Goodman said:

Yes, One Tree Hill wasn't as bad as Yorks - I actually managed to get

up

Quoted message said:

it, although that was the hill where lactic acid build up set my

thighs

Quoted message said:

on fire for a few yards. I never knew it was possible to ride on in

such

Quoted message said:

pain!

I know exactly what you mean! I managed to pedal all the way up without
putting a foot down, though I confess I did use someone's nice /level/
driveway about two thirds of the way up for a moment of respite.

Quoted message said:

As for Yorks, by the time I got about half way up that I didn't
really even have the energy to try! I was scarcely riding at more

than

Quoted message said:

walking pace anyway, so I just decided to get off and push for the

last

Quoted message said:

200 yards.

I had a couple of moments where I nearly fell off into the bank at the
side of the road. But I was really determined to make it to the top,
and I knew the next corner was the last, so I decided I just had to
keep on going that extra ten yards, and then...

....it turned out it wasn't the last corner at all! Arrrrgh!!! It was at
that point I decided falling off my bike was the preferable option. And
I didn't walk up the rest of the way - I crawled.

Still, I think I prefer doing the course this way round, with Yorks
near the end - for two reasons:
First, I *hate* Exedown with a passion - it may not be as steep as
Yorks, but it seems to go on forever.
Second, what kept me going up Yorks was the knowledge that once you get
to the top it is downhill all the way to the finish. I completed the
ride in 5hrs 45mins, of which just under 5hrs was actual cycling time -
I was racing against the clock for that final stretch and just made it
with less than a minute to spare.

d.

MartinM said:

Oh so you are human after all, but still well done, the start sheet

said you

Quoted message said:

finished at 1348.

That's mad. I don't believe anyone finished that early - and certainly
not me. I actually trundled in at about 3.15pm - Steve must have put
someone else's time next to my name. Do you think I should tell him?
;-)

Quoted message said:

Simonb did not see you at the beginning.

I arrived in Otford really early, so after checking in and picking up
my brevet card, I stayed in the car, keeping warm and drinking coffee,
until not long before the start. It was too cold to be hanging around
outside - though I am sorry I missed you and Simon, and it would have
been nice to have been able to say hello at least.

I entered late

Quoted message said:

and said I would pick up my route sheet at the start, but forgot.

Follwed

Quoted message said:

Simon and my clubmate until Ide Hill, went wrong, nearly went all the

way

Quoted message said:

down Ide Hill. Then went wrong again and ended up at Penshurst,

Oh dear! I promise not to laugh. I'm fortunate to have a good memory
for these things, so I remembered most of the route from last year and
only had to look at the sheet a couple of times. Although last year I
nearly ended up at Penshurst myself after missing a turning.

Quoted message said:

I saw the Southborough demons on the way back from
the lunch stop, looked like they were an a mission.

Whatever they were on, I want some!

Quoted message said:

I ahve reported Dan and
Rob at the Underriver control to the Strasbourg court of human rights

for

Quoted message said:

drinking pints of beer as they sent us up One Tree Hill!

When I went through first time around, Rob was complaining about the
lack of beer, but by the second time through he had rectified that
situation. Last year there was a wedding on and someone kept him in
regular supply - obviously he has acquired a taste for it.

d.

"Tim Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I was audaxing on Saturday, the Brass Monkey. 100km,

I was going to do that one instead, but as it was Saturday (Kid's footy day)
and on my weekly-ish route home from work when the clocks go forward decided
to do the IG instead. Good that Tim had a big field for it; must do it next
year.

Whitepit lane? Harrow pub at the top? you have my sympathies :-)

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

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

Oh so you are human after all, but still well done, the start sheet

said you

Quoted message said:

finished at 1348.

That's mad. I don't believe anyone finished that early - and certainly
not me. I actually trundled in at about 3.15pm - Steve must have put
someone else's time next to my name. Do you think I should tell him?
;-)

Quoted message said:

Simonb did not see you at the beginning.

I arrived in Otford really early, so after checking in and picking up
my brevet card, I stayed in the car, keeping warm and drinking coffee,
until not long before the start. It was too cold to be hanging around
outside - though I am sorry I missed you and Simon, and it would have
been nice to have been able to say hello at least.

I entered late

Quoted message said:

and said I would pick up my route sheet at the start, but forgot.

Follwed

Quoted message said:

Simon and my clubmate until Ide Hill, went wrong, nearly went all the

way

Quoted message said:

down Ide Hill. Then went wrong again and ended up at Penshurst,

Oh dear! I promise not to laugh. I'm fortunate to have a good memory
for these things, so I remembered most of the route from last year and
only had to look at the sheet a couple of times. Although last year I
nearly ended up at Penshurst myself after missing a turning.

Quoted message said:

I saw the Southborough demons on the way back from
the lunch stop, looked like they were an a mission.

Whatever they were on, I want some!

Quoted message said:

I ahve reported Dan and
Rob at the Underriver control to the Strasbourg court of human rights

for

Quoted message said:

drinking pints of beer as they sent us up One Tree Hill!

When I went through first time around, Rob was complaining about the
lack of beer, but by the second time through he had rectified that
situation. Last year there was a wedding on and someone kept him in
regular supply - obviously he has acquired a taste for it.

And while we are on the subject of sadism and pain; I had my first entry for
the Mid Sussex hilly today,
15th October, 108km 0.5AAA,
you know you want to!!

Quoted message said:

That's mad. I don't believe anyone finished that early - and certainly
not me. I actually trundled in at about 3.15pm - Steve must have put
someone else's time next to my name. Do you think I should tell him?

Don't think it matters, the times go to the AUK man in Paris but the times
are just to ensure you stay within the max/min limits, they are not
published anywhere. I can only assume that the 1348 finisher was doing the
50k, did not notice any USPS yellow jerseys that day ;-)