http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Audax + sportives 2017 en Tue, 19 May 2026 15:56:33 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-292144 Tue, 25 Sep 2018 12:27:43 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 292144@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>FFS</p> <p><a href="https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/charges-dropped-against-farmers-accused-of-hitting-borders-cyclists-with-sticks-1-4804675" rel="nofollow">https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/charges-dropped-against-farmers-accused-of-hitting-borders-cyclists-with-sticks-1-4804675</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-278389 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:42:17 +0000 acsimpson 278389@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Better late than never. Here's my write up on last years Borders of Fife.</p> <p><a href="http://www.acsimpson.co.uk/take_the_stairs/letters/2018/02/20/3-C-is-for-Century.html">C is for Century</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275673 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:38:11 +0000 crowriver 275673@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"First audax was Crystal Run"</p> <p>Oof! That's not an easy one!</p> <p>"your last resort is my first..."</p> <p>Takes all sorts. Sweetened milk is good if you're running low on energy. More slow burn than cola, energy drinks or jelly babies (other jelly sweets are available - wine gums are my fave). Only issue with milk based products is possible digestive malfunctions or discomfort...</p> <p>Seems to me that the real audaxers* are not only very tough with incredible stamina and little need for sleep, but they have cast iron stomachs too! (For the avoidance of doubt, I don't make any claim to be one).</p> <p>* - Or randonneurs if you prefer. Sounds more sophisticated. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275657 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:57:04 +0000 paddyirish 275657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver - your last resort is my first...</p> <p>I only ever drink black coffee, except on Audaxes- a milky mocha (often from a corner store) seems to serve me well - warm, sweet and some milk/fat as well.</p> <p>Cheapest audax was a 100km where I got a knockdown soreen malt loaf the night before for 20p. Only "needed" about 1/2 of it.</p> <p>First audax was Crystal Run- enjoyed the pork pies provided at the van, but paid by a lack of fitness by coming to a halt about 15km from the finish after battling a strong headwind. A can of coke and a mars bar from the local garage got me to the end, but I felt awful after it... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275648 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:57:48 +0000 crowriver 275648@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Audax rocket fuel" - I saw a variant of this on a Highland 200 once. Strawberry milk! I suppose the idea there is it's got sugar for quick release energy, fat for slow release, protein for muscles and it re-hydrates you.</p> <p>I have tried it occasionally but only as a last resort! (Other flavours are available, though chocolate is a no for me).</p> <p>"feeling the cold more"</p> <p>Oddly I've rarely had this issue, despite once successfully completing RRTY (though it was quite mild winter). I think I tend to over-dress in general, and end up carrying the extra layers I've peeled off as I heat up strapped to the saddle bag...</p> <p>Motorbiker base layers and decent socks kept me pretty toasty on winter rides. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275646 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 19:52:53 +0000 ARobComp 275646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>While it's a bit of time since I did super long stuff but I'm still quite capable of pushing out 100+miles if needed. I think the main thing I learned nutrition wise is same as above - normal food as often as you can and little things every now and again. </p> <p>For mid distance stuff (like 200s I did last year) I've had a few <a href="https://shop.thehappycog.co.uk/collections/gift-ideas/products/luchodillitos10pack">Lucho Dillitos</a> in my jersey. Little Columbian energy snacks which I've found to not be as sickly or sticky as gels, not as bad for the stomach as energy drinks etc, and the packaging is biodegradable! </p> <p>Well worth trying if you often struggle. </p> <p>Finally there is the old "Audax rocket fuel" which I learned on a particularly harrowing loop of Forth and Tay. Can of coke into your bidon and top up with water. Only to be used in dire circumstances. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275640 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:39:35 +0000 Cyclingmollie 275640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, for me it's not just getting slower but also feeling the cold more. Two things I'm going to try to do this year:</p> <p>Eat and drink more hot things to stay warmer, especially soup.</p> <p>Taking a change of base layer with me. Even pure merino wool base layers seem to promote cooling once you stop exercising hard. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275621 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:40:14 +0000 amir 275621@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Soup is good - especially with sweet potato or the like </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275620 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:37:28 +0000 crowriver 275620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir, yes that all sounds familiar. </p> <p>One of the reasons I took a (long) hiatus from audax was just not being able to keep up the pace consistently, getting slower during the course of a ride. Age seems to be a factor for sure. For me, fitness/weight issues a distinct but related factor.</p> <p>Still hoping to try some audaxes again once the days are longer mind you (and once my bike is back in operation).</p> <p>On diet, I can't really advise on the very long rides (over 300k). One thing that does seem to work for me is trying to eat normal food at some point. Could be as simple as soup and a roll. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275618 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:27:02 +0000 amir 275618@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for inserting this in the right place, fimm</p> <p>@Greenroofer just noticed your query on eating above. On longer rides I can't cope with too much sweet stuff. So I dilute the drink more and eat more savoury stuff. It's best to eat less complex food that's hard to digest, smaller portions but more frequently I think. Mainly because the system struggles to do both exercise and digestion at the same time.</p> <p>I cannot say much about speed as I am slowing down quite a lot these days. I think that is partly down to long distance riding and partly due to reaching a critical age. I believe that to increase speed (even for long rides) you have to focus more on shorter rides with intervals. But for me that contradicts somewhat the reason I cycle (which is to tune out and enjoy the scenery and exercise). I did speed up quite a bit when I joined in the ERC group rides on Saturdays. But I no longer find riding in a close group of people I don't really know much fun (I'm a bit more feart these days) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-275600 Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:17:16 +0000 fimm 275600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-43129103"><em>"Two charged after Tour O' The Borders cyclist attack claims"</em></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=10#post-267780 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 23:03:27 +0000 Greenroofer 267780@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've bought a book <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Ultra_Distance_Cycling.html?id=dB6LDQAAQBAJ&amp;source=kp_cover&amp;redir_esc=y">Ultra-Distance Cycling</a>. I like it. It says things like '<em>Because you are able to ride distances most find incomprehensible, you get to see a significant amount of an area in a very short space of time. You become more than simply an athlete; you also become an aesthete, attuned to the beauty of the world around you.</em>'</p> <p>Later one of the authors says '<em>I had become extremely good at riding slowly. I learned to ride a very long way on insufficient food and often ended up feeling sick</em>'. This is exactly how I'm performing at present. I'm working through their nutrition and training advice, but wonder what works for you and how you learned to ride a long way fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261677 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:05:53 +0000 edinburgh87 261677@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@rider73 - don't mind making it a bit social, I'm usually in the middle of the field on these events so hardly blasting along. Should be at both the Etal and Long Dark Teatime </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261650 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:19:33 +0000 paddyirish 261650@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@acsimpson</p> <p>+ 1 for the drag to Dunfermline (I always try to do that in the opposite direction on circular rides). I was feeling relatively good by then (after a while of struggling between Newport and Newburgh and just about managing as far as Powmill), but even then I was so glad to get to the end and the Glen (had never cycled through it before).</p> <p>I also rode over 50% of this for the first time. Apart from the old railway, the only familiar parts were the St Andrews to Abernethy part (done in reverse on Forth and Tay), and the Gateside to Cleish part. As an example, had never cycled the back road to Kirkcaldy before, despite it being about 3 miles from home, I felt it too dangerous with many drivers trying to hit the ton on the long straight.</p> <p>One day will meet properly - I keep missing CCers, e.g. amir despite riding the same events. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261648 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:11:48 +0000 acsimpson 261648@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@rider73,</p> <p>Borders of Fife was my first Audax but my understanding is that it was fairly typical of most similar events. It had a speed range of between 15 and 30kmph so you needed to be at each control with your average speed in that range. It is up to whether you ride faster and spend longer at controls or slower and have to shorten your time of the saddle, or as ARobComp did ride fast and don't spend time out the saddle.</p> <p>The control points required proof of passage which normally takes the form of a receipt from a local shop/cafe so you could in theory have cake at ever control and then stop for more cake as time allows. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261644 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 08:45:33 +0000 acsimpson 261644@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another +1 thanks for DaveC for organising an excellent Audax. Other than Edinburgh Fife is where I have lived the longest and still spend most of my time, however there were plenty places I had never been before (especially on the north coast).</p> <p>The weather was almost perfect on the day. Sunny to start with but overcast later to ensure I stopped overheating.</p> <p>I was still fiddling with my GPS when the peleton left but not as late as PaddyIrish so managed to catch the pack. Huge thanks to ARobComp and for sharing the hard work on the first leg. I managed to hang onto the back of the leaders until Crail but wasn't anywhere near strong enough to take a turn pulling. (I should probably have recognised you but without a blue tabard I failed).</p> <p>I left Crail alone so that I could take my time over to St Andrews where I stopped for ice cream and a chat with my day tripping family. I saw some others in Tayport but it was Abernethy before I joined a group again and for the longest climb of the day.</p> <p>The railway path back to Dunfermline which I had been looking forward to ended up being a long drag. It's hardly worth calling a slope but even 1:100 requires a bit of work and after 15km I was ready for a change of scenery and the piecemeal cycle paths of Dunfermline provided just that.</p> <p>Too bad I didn't get to meet PaddyIrish, they do say it's the ones who live closest who are always late. Otherwise a great days riding and a thoroughly enjoyable first imperial century (despite discovering I was locked out when I got home). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261636 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 07:39:41 +0000 rider73 261636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@paddyirish - phew - i'm hoping theres plenty of cake stops and food on the way round too.<br /> @edinburgh87 - mmmmmm beans on toast, good for you , but not for the rider behind :-)</p> <p>if anyone wants to do this as a social ride, i'll be keen! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261628 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:17:02 +0000 edinburgh87 261628@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir/cyclingmollie - must try that, usually beans on toast at Eskdalemuir. Loved the remoteness of the place on the return leg of the long dark teatime in the dark last year </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261531 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:39:25 +0000 paddyirish 261531@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@rider73</p> <p>yes- I missed the start by about a minute and never caught the bunch. I was about 10 riders from the end after 11 hrs elapsed (9 hrs cycling). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261522 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 08:23:50 +0000 rider73 261522@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>errr , theres slower people in these Audax's though...right? GULP! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261507 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 20:42:37 +0000 ARobComp 261507@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>+1 Kudos to DaveC. Tour of the Borders was a really great route which, some road surfaces aside, I thoroughly enjoyed! </p> <p>I went off the front as planned and soon had my legs busted after a few turns on the front which seemed to come with regularity, especially when the 8 of us at the front pulled over to let traffic pass on a narrow road approaching Creil to find that we'd been dragging what seemed like the whole of the rest of the audax behind! (not that I mind, I enjoy the front for the first few miles) </p> <p>I kept the pressure on hoping to finish relatively fast as<br /> a) wanted to see what the legs can do<br /> b) I had to get back to help the wife out with a massive todo list<br /> So I stopped for narry 5 minutes at any one stop, apart from to sit down and shove in some cake in at the last checkpoint. TBH had some great company and towed some wheels, especially of a strong northerner called Rob. Also had some very pleasant chat with a North Berwick cyclist who blew out a bit earlier after a particularly strong turn from some boys from Stirling road club. </p> <p>HAving sat at 30kmph for the first 100km, then about 28kmph after that I was done in by 180km and limped the last 25 at barely 23kmph. Not as strong as I once were. </p> <p>Awesome day out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261490 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:20:26 +0000 amir 261490@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So that's why the old ladies move so quickly in those parts </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261489 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:06:13 +0000 Cyclops 261489@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"don't get the lavender cake"</p> <p>+1 to that advice. I once heard it memorably described as "tastes like eating an old woman". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261487 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:40:21 +0000 Cyclingmollie 261487@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@edinburgh87 At Eskdalemuir can I recommend the apple pie and custard? I think it can be seen from space. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261486 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:05:49 +0000 amir 261486@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@edinburgh87 first bit of sage advice is don't get the lavender cake </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261476 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 09:29:23 +0000 edinburgh87 261476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir/cyclingmollie - could be onto my first CCE spot then! (Likely be on a white trek for the Etal and my orange winter Pinnacle for the Teatime) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261462 Sat, 23 Sep 2017 20:57:05 +0000 paddyirish 261462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Borders of Fife was a real success today. A lovely route and great weather for it. Shame Paddy was late, fat and slow... </p> <p>Many thanks to DaveC and his band of helpers for a really well organised day and very welcome food at the end. Hope the experience hasn't put you off doing it again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261424 Sat, 23 Sep 2017 12:33:28 +0000 amir 261424@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, I'm planning to do the Etal-u-can. And the Long Dark Teatime </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261421 Sat, 23 Sep 2017 11:52:28 +0000 Cyclingmollie 261421@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@edinburgh87 I am hoping to. Doesn't mean I'll do it though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16799&page=9#post-261417 Sat, 23 Sep 2017 11:26:38 +0000 edinburgh87 261417@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Anyone doing Etal-u-can from Galashiels in October? </p>