Reflections on first audax

[Jon Senior]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I think Jon thought it stood for Edinburgh-Livingston.

I'm not that much of a local!

Jon

 

[Jon Senior]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> When They say Edinburgh-London, They actually mean "and back via a slightly
> circuitous route" 1400 km or thereabouts.

I knew it was 1400km. As I said, it's not that far. You've got a nice
armchair to lie back in and enjoy the ride. ;-)

Jon

 

[MartinM]

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> [email protected] (MartinM)typed
>
>
> > Helen Deborah Vecht <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:<[email protected]>...
> > > [email protected] (MartinM)typed
> > >
> > >
> > > > "Simonb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:<[email protected]>...
> > > > > MartinM wrote:
> > > > >
>
> > > > A curious thing about Audax is that riders never refer to a ride as
> > > > what it's called in the calendar but as e.g. "Pam's 400" but the
> > > > organisers deserve all the publicity they get, such a lot of hard work
> > > > and organising, I think I'd rather be riding all night than manning a
> > > > control.
> > >
> > > Brings back memories...
> > >
> > > "Please don't roll your wet bike over my sleeping bag."
> > > "Sorry, I had no idea it was YOUR sleeping bag."
> > >
> > > (Wet overnight control -Marlow- on Windsor-Chester-Windsor 1995)
>
> > They don't seem to do the WCW 600 anymore, Pam's was cancelled and the
> > only one I ever did has gone now; hope there are some left by 2007.
>
> 1995 was the last W-C-W.
> I'm sure there'll be 600s run in a PBP year but it *is* dependent on
> volunteers...

This was certainly the case last year, in fact several riders on my
600 were on a second attempt after failing to complete Pam's the
previous week. Can anyone suggest a nice easy one (other than the long
flat one) for us softie would be PBP ers?

 

[MSeries]

Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk.remove> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > Having joined AUK back at the tail end of last year, I have so far failed to
> > do a single event (hangs head in shame).
> >
> > My pal Dr. Cox is trying to persuade me to do E-L next year. Should I
> > arrange to have him killed?
>
> No. I've just set my sights on it, and may well attempt it on a bent
> (Depending on the condition of both myself and the bike by that point!).
> It's not that far surely.
>
> Jon

My sights are on it too, the wife isn't too keen on letting me do it
though at this point in time.

 

[MSeries]

Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk.remove> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > Having joined AUK back at the tail end of last year, I have so far failed to
> > do a single event (hangs head in shame).
> >
> > My pal Dr. Cox is trying to persuade me to do E-L next year. Should I
> > arrange to have him killed?
>
> No. I've just set my sights on it, and may well attempt it on a bent
> (Depending on the condition of both myself and the bike by that point!).
> It's not that far surely.
>
> Jon

My sights are on it too, the wife isn't too keen on letting me do it
though at this point in time.

 

[Jon Senior]

And out of interest. Why does Edinburgh-London involve starting at
either London or Doncaster? What's wrong with a start in Edinburgh?

Jon

 

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk.remove>typed


> And out of interest. Why does Edinburgh-London involve starting at
> either London or Doncaster? What's wrong with a start in Edinburgh?

> Jon

It *might* have something to do with the number of helpers needed to
staff a control. Checkpoint opening times on this ride are huge. I don't
know is the 'Edinburgh' control is a place that's suitable for use as
ride 'HQ'.

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

 

[Dave Larrington]

Jon Senior wrote:

> You've got a nice armchair to lie back in and
> enjoy the ride. ;-)

Since ICE changed the design of their hardshell seat, my back is less keen
on it, tho... I am hoping that Darth Stuart gets me a Velotechnik one in
time for the Dunwich Dynamo.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Arthur Clune]

Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_dot_co_dot_uk.remove> wrote:
: And out of interest. Why does Edinburgh-London involve starting at
: either London or Doncaster? What's wrong with a start in Edinburgh?

It's actually Harlow - Dalkeith - Harlow.

As to the starts, I guess it's more to do with the availibity of facilities/helpers
etc than anything else.

Arthur

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

 

[davek]

MSeries:
> My sights are on it too, the wife isn't too keen on letting me do it
> though at this point in time.

My wife is terrified at the thought of me doing it.

I haven't made up my mind whether or not I'll do it yet - I'll try to get in
an SR series early next year and take it from there. I'd love to have a go
at it, though.

d.

 

[MSeries]

Michael MacClancy wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 14:12:10 +0100, Dave Larrington wrote:
>
>> Jon Senior wrote:
>>
>>> No. I've just set my sights on it, and may well attempt it on a bent
>>> (Depending on the condition of both myself and the bike by that
>>> point!). It's not that far surely.
>>
>> When They say Edinburgh-London, They actually mean "and back via a
>> slightly circuitous route" 1400 km or thereabouts.
>
> I think Jon thought it stood for Edinburgh-Livingston.
>
> ;-)

edinburgh - leith

 

[Jon Senior]

MSeries [email protected] opined the following...
> edinburgh - leith

Exactly, my daily commute. It would be appear to be the slightly more
circular Edinburgh (centre) - Leith, via that big nasty place in the
South though.

Jon

 

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email protected]>typed

> Unless the DATC has changed since I did it (and was First Lady ) You
> get the same points for completing the ride whether you come in first or
> last. The competitive bits of the DATC are obviously competitions, like
> map-reading or free-wheeling. You get more points for being 'placed'.

> I'll check with my spies in AUK & DATC...

My AUK spy (Peter Coulson, Hon. Events Secretary) confirms what I typed.

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

 

[MartinM]

[email protected] (MSeries) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk.remove> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > > Having joined AUK back at the tail end of last year, I have so far failed to
> > > do a single event (hangs head in shame).
> > >
> > > My pal Dr. Cox is trying to persuade me to do E-L next year. Should I
> > > arrange to have him killed?
> >
> > No. I've just set my sights on it, and may well attempt it on a bent
> > (Depending on the condition of both myself and the bike by that point!).
> > It's not that far surely.
> >
> > Jon
>
> My sights are on it too, the wife isn't too keen on letting me do it
> though at this point in time.

No way I'm doing it, might just about be up for the PBP in 07 because
of the sheer scale and atmosphere of the thing (plus it's a more
inconvenient to pack in the middle of France!) but 1400k in
England/Scotland does not appeal, neither does Dave Hudson's 1000 this
weekend.

 

[MartinM]

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> [email protected] (MartinM)typed
>
>
> > "davek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:<[email protected]>...
> > > gavin:
> > > > Thanks, Helen. Can I just ask what "within pre-arranged speeds" means?
> > > > There's an upper speed limit????
> > >
> > > That's exactly it - it's because it's a strictly amateur organisation and
> > > they don't want people to treat it as a race (there are no prizes for
> > > finishing first).
>
> > Actually that's not strictly true, the CTC run a competition called
> > the DATC which uses mostly AUK events organised by CTC DA's rather
> > than cycling clubs, and you get so many points for finishing in the
> > first 12 etc through the season. I believe it is fiercely competitive
> > but has nothing to do with AUK and appears to be a bit of harmless fun
> > between a few riders to add some spice to the season.
>
> Unless the DATC has changed since I did it (and was First Lady

You are quite right Mrs Bush ;-)

Competitive events are scored differently, based on the number of
Starters in the event.

For coming in the First 10% - 12 points
11-20% - 11 points
21-30% - 10 points
31-100% - 9 points

does not apply to normal rides
Of course even if you don't ride all 10 events you can get a nice
shiny Mille Miglia medal for 500k,1000k or 1000m total rides in a
season

 

[MartinM]

"davek" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> MSeries:
> > My sights are on it too, the wife isn't too keen on letting me do it
> > though at this point in time.
>
> My wife is terrified at the thought of me doing it.
>
> I haven't made up my mind whether or not I'll do it yet - I'll try to get in
> an SR series early next year and take it from there. I'd love to have a go
> at it, though.

Don't think you actually have do to an SR for LEL, but you would be
well advised to at least do a 4 and a 6 beforehand

 

[Jon Senior]

MartinM [email protected] opined the following...
> No way I'm doing it, might just about be up for the PBP in 07 because
> of the sheer scale and atmosphere of the thing (plus it's a more
> inconvenient to pack in the middle of France!) but 1400k in
> England/Scotland does not appeal, neither does Dave Hudson's 1000 this
> weekend.

Wus! <says he who has yet to cover more than 75 miles in a single day!>

Jon

 

[MartinM]

Jon Senior <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> MartinM [email protected] opined the following...
> > No way I'm doing it, might just about be up for the PBP in 07 because
> > of the sheer scale and atmosphere of the thing (plus it's a more
> > inconvenient to pack in the middle of France!) but 1400k in
> > England/Scotland does not appeal, neither does Dave Hudson's 1000 this
> > weekend.
>
> Wus! <says he who has yet to cover more than 75 miles in a single day!>
>
> Jon

perscatly, and when it's 3 times that distance each day for day after
day your mind has to do a lot of convincing to your matter ;-).

 

[davek]

MartinM:
> Don't think you actually have do to an SR for LEL, but you would be
> well advised to at least do a 4 and a 6 beforehand

Exactly! I'm not attempting LEL unless I've done at least one 600 before
then, and I won't be attempting a 600 until I've done at least one 400...
which is why I'm thinking in terms of doing a SR, whether I need to for LEL
qualification or not. Given that my current record distance in one go is
about 250km, I'm some way off being ready for LEL.

d.

 

[Dave Larrington]

davek wrote:

> MartinM:
>> Don't think you actually have do to an SR for LEL, but you would be
>> well advised to at least do a 4 and a 6 beforehand
>
> Exactly! I'm not attempting LEL unless I've done at least one 600
> before then, and I won't be attempting a 600 until I've done at least
> one 400... which is why I'm thinking in terms of doing a SR, whether
> I need to for LEL qualification or not. Given that my current record
> distance in one go is about 250km, I'm some way off being ready for
> LEL.

<AOL> Plus I am hoping to be doing Other Things in the opening overs of
next year, which would preclude doing much in the way of Long Distance
Stuff. Hence the target is PBP in 2007.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================