Reflections on first audax

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I suppose wasn't
too bad, although towards the end I was fading! Things I learnt:

- things which don't seem uncomfortable in 40 minute commutes, can get very
uncomfortable after a few hard hours in the saddle (like packing my
camelback to the gills with 'may be useful' bits and pieces which quickly
add up to a lot of weight on the shoulders)
- those electrolytic energy powders that you can mix with water really do
have a whole lot more zip than plain water or even fruit juice
- my close ratio 11-21 cassette, which is fine around the places I go in
London, doesn't really get me low enough for lumpy bits in the countryside.
And I'm not fit even for modest little lumpy bits (it was an officially
'flat' course), despite the fact that I was 'faster' up them than most of
the peleton (where were they anyway?).
- despite the above, it was satisfying find myself able to keep up 30kph+
much of the time, including up slight inclines.
- 100k is enough! I don't want to even think about a 200 anytime soon! Hats
off to the urc'ers that are doing them!

Anyway, all in all a nice little Sunday ride, although perhaps if I'd ridden
it at 'touring' pace I might not be so knackered now!

Rich

Richard Bates said:

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 18:00:26 +0100, in
<[email hidden]>, "Richard Goodman"

Quoted message said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I
suppose wasn't too bad, although towards the end I was fading!
Things I learnt:

Well done. Audax is one of those things over which I keep thinking,
"Shall I? Shan't I?"

I have been in that situation recently so far haven't bothered. I need
someone to do one with first, to show me the ropes and look after me.
Instead I just go out and ride 200 clicks[*] on my own - like today.
Carlisle to home, 9 hours and 50 minutes including stops.

[*] Military term for kilometres

"MSeries" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Richard Bates said:

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 18:00:26 +0100, in
<[email hidden]>, "Richard Goodman"

Quoted message said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I
suppose wasn't too bad, although towards the end I was fading!
Things I learnt:

Well done. Audax is one of those things over which I keep thinking,
"Shall I? Shan't I?"

Quoted message said:

I have been in that situation recently so far haven't bothered. I need
someone to do one with first, to show me the ropes and look after me.
Instead I just go out and ride 200 clicks[*] on my own - like today.
Carlisle to home, 9 hours and 50 minutes including stops.

I did it and made a lot of new friends.

Audax rides are lots cheaper than Bike Events day rides too.

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

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

[*] Military term for kilometres

I've always called k's clicks but never knew where the term came from.
Thanks for that! Any idea of the full story behind it?

--
Mark (MSA)
This post is packaged by intellectual weight, not volume. Some settling
of contents may have occurred during transmission

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I suppose wasn't
too bad, although towards the end I was fading! Things I learnt:

Quoted message said:

- things which don't seem uncomfortable in 40 minute commutes, can get very
uncomfortable after a few hard hours in the saddle

Attend to every minor discomfort before it becomes a major discomfort or
right pain!

Quoted message said:

(like packing my
camelback to the gills with 'may be useful' bits and pieces which quickly
add up to a lot of weight on the shoulders)

I could never tolerate as much as a brevet card on my person & put
everything into panniers.

Quoted message said:

- those electrolytic energy powders that you can mix with water really do
have a whole lot more zip than plain water or even fruit juice

You can also buy Lucozade Sport from garages.
Some of these powders contain quite a lot of caffeine, which will give
you zip but need some caution to prevent overdoing it.

Quoted message said:

- my close ratio 11-21 cassette, which is fine around the places I go in
London, doesn't really get me low enough for lumpy bits in the countryside.

I think my block was a sedate 13-28...

Quoted message said:

And I'm not fit even for modest little lumpy bits (it was an officially
'flat' course), despite the fact that I was 'faster' up them than most of
the peleton (where were they anyway?).

You *don't* have to keep up with the fast boys. You could just enjoy the
scenery...

Quoted message said:

- despite the above, it was satisfying find myself able to keep up 30kph+
much of the time, including up slight inclines.
- 100k is enough! I don't want to even think about a 200 anytime soon! Hats
off to the urc'ers that are doing them!

I think you might have gone a bit too fast for any sustained effort.
200km is easy if you don't burn yourself out!

My first Audax was a (flat) 300km ride. I never bettered my time for
that distance.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, all in all a nice little Sunday ride, although perhaps if I'd ridden
it at 'touring' pace I might not be so knackered now!

I'm sure that's true. I didn't feel as if I'd done more than an ordinary
Sunday clubrun when I finished my first Audax. Finishing at 4pm helped,
I suppose.

If you go at a speed which you really can sustain, you can almost go on
forever, so long as you eat, drink and rest (a bit) regularly. I was the
slowest cyclist in AUK but still went on to do rides up to 1000km...

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

Well done Rich. I hope you go on to the longer distances. 200k may seem
out of reach but if you set the right pace and make sure you eat and
drink enough it's not as hard as it might seem.

Mseries, you are obviously fit enough so just get stuck in ! There isn't
really that much to learn; you just ride your bike at a pace you are
comfortable with, make sure you can navigate using the route sheet (and
maybe with the help of a map), make sure you get your card stamped at
the controls and .. that's it. There will be other riders there who will
be happy to help you.

If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them (if I can :-) )

Ian

--

Richard Goodman said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I suppose
wasn't too bad, although towards the end I was fading! Things I
learnt:

- things which don't seem uncomfortable in 40 minute commutes, can
get very uncomfortable after a few hard hours in the saddle (like
packing my camelback to the gills with 'may be useful' bits and
pieces which quickly add up to a lot of weight on the shoulders)
- those electrolytic energy powders that you can mix with water
really do have a whole lot more zip than plain water or even fruit
juice - my close ratio 11-21 cassette, which is fine around the
places I go in London, doesn't really get me low enough for lumpy
bits in the countryside. And I'm not fit even for modest little lumpy
bits (it was an officially 'flat' course), despite the fact that I
was 'faster' up them than most of the peleton (where were they
anyway?). - despite the above, it was satisfying find myself able to
keep up 30kph+ much of the time, including up slight inclines.
- 100k is enough! I don't want to even think about a 200 anytime
soon! Hats off to the urc'ers that are doing them!

200 is not a great deal more difficult than 100 -- so long as you don't go
mad. Saturdays are better than Sundays as you get more time to recover
before work. At the mo, with 2 young kids, 300 is my limit. I'm looking now
at doing shorter rides (100-200) with more climbing -- one in Wales in 2
weeks (Bala). Climbing is where I'm weakest (I could blast along on the flat
all day long) and really want to improve.

Good on you -- hope you do more. Audaxes are nearly always great rides. Damn
cheap to do.

MSeries:

Quoted message said:

Instead I just go out and ride 200 clicks[*] on my own - like today.
Carlisle to home, 9 hours and 50 minutes including stops.

That's about the same pace I did my first 200 a few weeks ago - shame I'm
right down the other end of the country or I'd happily 'show you the ropes'
(aka help each other to interpret the route sheet and not get lost...)

d.

Richard Goodman:

Quoted message said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I suppose

wasn't

Quoted message said:

too bad, although towards the end I was fading!

That's fair progress. Broadly speaking, Audaxers seem to split into two
camps - those who try to complete the course as quickly as possible and
those who like to harp on about how it's not a race...

Quoted message said:

- my close ratio 11-21 cassette, which is fine around the places I go in
London, doesn't really get me low enough for lumpy bits in the

countryside.

You shouldn't very often need lower than 21, as long as you are prepared to
ride at a slower pace overall and save your energy for the tougher bits. I
have an 11-28 cassette, with 18, 21, 24 and 28 at the bottom end. I try to
avoid using either the 24 or the 28 and find that these days I can manage
most small hills with the 21 (with a 42 chainring) - it's all about
practise, I think.

Still, it's nice to have the 28 for those occasions when I really need it.

Quoted message said:

- 100k is enough! I don't want to even think about a 200 anytime soon!

Hats

Quoted message said:

off to the urc'ers that are doing them!

If you can do 100 at that pace, you'll manage a 200 easily - as long as you
slow down and conserve your energy, and make sure you eat, drink and rest
properly.

d.

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

Quoted message said:

Richard Goodman said:

Did my first audax today, 105k in not much over 4hrs, which I suppose
wasn't too bad, although towards the end I was fading! Things I
learnt:

- things which don't seem uncomfortable in 40 minute commutes, can
get very uncomfortable after a few hard hours in the saddle (like
packing my camelback to the gills with 'may be useful' bits and
pieces which quickly add up to a lot of weight on the shoulders)
- those electrolytic energy powders that you can mix with water
really do have a whole lot more zip than plain water or even fruit
juice - my close ratio 11-21 cassette, which is fine around the
places I go in London, doesn't really get me low enough for lumpy
bits in the countryside. And I'm not fit even for modest little lumpy
bits (it was an officially 'flat' course), despite the fact that I
was 'faster' up them than most of the peleton (where were they
anyway?). - despite the above, it was satisfying find myself able to
keep up 30kph+ much of the time, including up slight inclines.
- 100k is enough! I don't want to even think about a 200 anytime
soon! Hats off to the urc'ers that are doing them!

200 is not a great deal more difficult than 100 -- so long as you don't go
mad. Saturdays are better than Sundays as you get more time to recover
before work. At the mo, with 2 young kids, 300 is my limit.

I would go along with that, I'm completely wiped out after the 400,
glad I'm not doing another one for a year. I would do a few more 100's
before you go for a 200, perhaps get a few 100's this year than think
about 2's next year. There are a few 150's as well.

MartinM said:

I would go along with that, I'm completely wiped out after the 400,
glad I'm not doing another one for a year. I would do a few more 100's
before you go for a 200, perhaps get a few 100's this year than think
about 2's next year. There are a few 150's as well.

How was the 400? I found that I hadn't shaken off the shingles I had about 2
weeks ago, so didn't enter (again).

Hope you enjoyed it -- despite the extreme knackeration.

Davek said:

MSeries:

Quoted message said:

Instead I just go out and ride 200 clicks - on my own - like today.
Carlisle to home, 9 hours and 50 minutes including stops.

That's about the same pace I did my first 200 a few weeks ago - shame
I'm right down the other end of the country or I'd happily 'show you
the ropes' (aka help each other to interpret the route sheet and not
get lost...)
d.

Thanks for the offer. Its not so much the practicalities of the event,
more a motivational thing. I would be more comfortable too if I know the
route beforehand so I can study it on my maps. If I was to do an Audax I
would almost certainly have to drive to the start and home afterwards. I
rarely do this, I prefer to ride from or to home, usually from and back
to home. So I just need a mate to talk me into doing something
different, my incentive will be to have some company during the ride,
otherwise I feel I might as well do what I did this weekend, that is get
a train 200km away and ride home - alone.

--

Msa said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

- Military term for kilometres

I've always called k's clicks but never knew where the term came from.
Thanks for that! Any idea of the full story behind it?
--
Mark (MSA) This post is packaged by intellectual weight, not volume.
Some settling of contents may have occurred during transmission

No idea, my cycling mate who is in the RAF always calls them clicks,
thats where I got it from.

--

davek <[email hidden]> wrote:
: avoid using either the 24 or the 28 and find that these days I can manage
: most small hills with the 21 (with a 42 chainring) - it's all about
: practise, I think.

Those are big gears. Most people road race these days on 39x23 or 39x25. Though
you don't tend to use the little gears (or indeed the little ring!) that often
in a road race.

I suggest a minium 39x26 bottom gear for Audax (assuming a double and lack
of cash/wish to change that). 39x28 would be better for longer events for
most people.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

MSeries said:

I would be more comfortable too if I know
the route beforehand so I can study it on my maps.

This is the case with Audaxes: you enter and they send you a route sheet.

Quoted message said:

If I was to do an
Audax I would almost certainly have to drive to the start and home
afterwards.

Why not get the train? There are loads of Audaxes each weekend -- you'll
often find they start in or near a railway station.

davek said:

You shouldn't very often need lower than 21, as long as you are
prepared to ride at a slower pace overall and save your energy for
the tougher bits.

No hills round your way? I use 39x27 for the hilly ones.

Simonb <[email hidden]> wrote:

: No hills round your way? I use 39x27 for the hilly ones.

You want to ride the Dales Grimpeur mate 🙂 Then you'll want lower
still.

I did it one year on 39x26 but there was a lot of zig-zagging involved.
34x26 this year was a lot better.

Arthur (back on 38x23)

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

JohnB said:

Simonb said:

MSeries wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If I was to do an
Audax I would almost certainly have to drive to the start and home
afterwards.

Why not get the train? There are loads of Audaxes each weekend --
you'll often find they start in or near a railway station.

I'd ride more if the starts were more convenient for train times.
Quite often the start time is before the first train leaves home,
especially for Sunday events :-(

John B

There's always B&Bs -- that's what I'm doing for the Bala one in 2 weeks.

MSeries said:

Its not so much the practicalities of the event, more a motivational
thing. I would be more comfortable too if I know the route beforehand
so I can study it on my maps. If I was to do an Audax I would almost
certainly have to drive to the start and home afterwards. I rarely do
this, I prefer to ride from or to home, usually from and back to home.
So I just need a mate to talk me into doing something different, my
incentive will be to have some company during the ride, otherwise I
feel I might as well do what I did this weekend, that is get a train
200km away and ride home - alone.

Mseries, ignore my previous patronising comments; I understand what you
are saying now. I must confess to driving to/from events unless they are
less than about 30k away, in which case I ride. I would like to use the
train more but the thought of negotiating Britain's rail system at the
end of a long ride isn't terribly appealing. Also having some company on
the ride makes the whole thing more enjoyable. I travel to events on my
own but have always found people to ride round with.

Ian

--