Ok, it's not an audax and not a sportif (presume they have to be on roads?).
Seen on another thread -
I'm sure it will get its own thread sometime!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
Audax + sportives 2016
(174 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Similar to the one which set out from Portobello in the summer (I can't remember what it was called). Sadly Northumberland, though it's the setting for the Chevy Chase, the Moss Trooper and other tempting events, is quite expensive to get to if you don't have a car.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yeah, I'm holding out for the Dirty Reiver after discovering I was double booked for next year's GT7...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@cyclingmollie
*If* I'm free the weekend they decide to do it, then I'd be happy to give you a lift down there if you're interested. The 23/24 is out, because I've been persuaded (against my better judgement) to sign up for the Etape Loch Ness sp*rtive. And the Merse and Moors is on the 16th, but not sure I'm entering that yet.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The Merse and Moors on April 16th looks interesting.... 300km in one day might be challenging for me however. Has anyone done this route before?
I fancy doing a few of these next year- I reckon it would be a good way to build up my endurance?
Forth and Tay one in March looks good too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
No one has as its a new route.
Though technically its an alteration of the existing Merse and Moors. Its Cyclops' route btw.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The old Merse and Moors route was challenging and I suspect the new one isn't any less challenging. The route is nice though. Best to do a couple of 200s first though to make sure you've the fitness. Lights will be required unless you're very quick.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Maybe a bit unrealistic... I've only done 1 ride more than 100 miles in my life...
I suspect my speed/time on the Pedal for Scotland big belter wouldn't scale to the Merse and Moors ;-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
You have plenty of time to practice. Just commute a few times a week (if you don't live over 25miles from work, and try to do a longer ride over the weekend. That's all most of us ever do.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I remember reading somewhere that if you're aiming for an event, e.g 100 miles, you should aim to be able to comfortably cycle that number of miles in a single week. Since August I've fairly regularly cycled ~300km total in a week. That said, I'm not cycling as much at the moment- just my 40-50 miles worth of commute (total, not each way!) and 50/60 miles at the weekend.
I'd like to do a fair few 200k audaxes next year at least, possibly a 300. The 400's and above scare me :P
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'd say 200s are quite manageable, even for a slowcoach like me.
I've had mixed results with 300s: managed to complete a DIY 300 (just) in time, but abandoned a calendar 300 (as I was out of time with about 50k to go), which was a bit off-putting.
I'm considering the Merse & Moors in 2016 though, mainly because the local start means not having to get up at quite so silly o'clock to take part.
Forth & Tay is a great route, but that time of year is very unpredictable weather wise: last time we were literally riding in a snow storm where you couldn't see more than a few feet in front of you. Most riders had abandoned by the Forth Bridge!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@smashfacethecat. I don't see why you should not be able to complete a Series Randonneur in your first year. Most riders I know don't do as many miles in winter with the weather being inclement. The calendar rides start in March commonly so some don't do much over winter and start there and suffer. Don't worry about any of the events, there are always riders to hook up with for company, of all abilities. You'll surprise yourself what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. Audax is about having a reasonable fitness but a lot of it is about mental toughness or doggedly carrying on even though you may want to slow down and stop. I break the journey into stages and make each stage the immediate goal. Even on long steep climbs, I pedal to the next snowpole as a short goal before aiming for the next.
You have the experience, you will have riders of a similar speed and who will support you if you ask. There is nothing extraordinary about Audax, its just another form of sport.
Dave C
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks @panyagua. I will bear that in mind.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm (foolishly) attempting Randonneur Round the Year (RRtY) and am in my 9th month. Last month I rode the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. This month we did our DIY round Fife.
It was cold but not feezing as we set off at 07:30. We rode through Rosyth up to Dollar encountering our first section of ice outside Saline forcing us to detour on the main road. From Dollar we headed off up Glen Devon on dryish roads with the sun breaking through. 10am and a second breakfast in Auchterarder before passing Dunning and Bridge of Earn for a snack at Newburgh. Dry off out to Tayport before turning down towards Guardbridge at 2pm and a cafe stop in St Andrews (who had run out of soup! :( 3pm saw us heading off towards Ceres on the B939 to Craigorthie before turning off the main road at Chance Inn onto more icy roads. At Coaltown of Burnturk I'd had enough of dicing with icy roads and came off the normal route down to Kettlebridge where I turned off to Freuchie and a stop at Spar. Then round the north side of Lomond Hills (and Falkland) and up Sannie road which links Strathmiglo and Glenlomond. Then back onto main roads through Scotlandwell and onto Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath before turning south at Crosgates and dropping down to home arriving at 19:30. A cold day but with light winds and not much ice not as bad as it could have been.
December next.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Nice one DaveC. Wish I could have joined you, but I need to work back up to randonneur distances after a month with very little riding due to my back strain.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I haven't been out since the 31st October and we very slow and fighting tight hamstrings! I think I spent 90% of the time along playing catchup.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Nice one DaveC but just confirming your insanity ;)
Posted 8 years ago # -
I think I was very lucky when I did RRTY the winter was exceptionally mild. It's tough without the daylight in December/January though.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Posted 8 years ago #
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Where do people generally sleep on 400k+ addaxes? Or would you just keep going on a 400?
Posted 8 years ago # -
It appears that both are options. I did the National 400 last year. This was relatively well supported with the possibility to sleep in two catered locations. I slept for 2-3 hours on that after about 290km but others (like DaveC) rode on after a break. On some audaxes, like the Southern Upland, opportunities may be more limited and so more riders may limit themselves to just longer stops with perhaps a wee nap. The main difficulty with a 400km is that unless you are very quick you are only going to be able to manage a short sleep at most. That's why it's supposed to be harder than a 600km (which I haven't done yet)
Posted 8 years ago # -
I look forward to giving the different distances a shot.
I don't know what "(very) quick" is in this context!?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I don't know what "(very) quick" is in this context!?
And whatever your conception of quick is may change on such long rides. I did the first half pretty quickly by my standards, with a rolling speed of over 16mph. But the second day it was a different story!
You get 27 hours to complete a 400 in. With a 3 hour stop overnight, I arrived in a little over 24 hours.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The 3pistes Sportive is profiled on the Adventure Show tonight. 8pm BBC.
(I'm on a orange bike if you spot me...)
Posted 8 years ago # -
An excellent show - I was thinking about entering that one, now I'm not so sure...
Also found the Nepal piece very interesting and sad.
Posted 8 years ago # -
My legs & bike were shown at about 48 mins in.
Did you work out that Dougie Vipond didn't interview anyone as he was storm bound in Ireland and couldn't get to the event.
PaddyIrish: it is a big day out. Start early, eat well at the stops and get into groups and you'll be fine (if an eliptixal bike can do it you can do it)
Also don't think it has only 3 climbs - it has about 8 that your legs will scream on.
I'm signed up for it again. Anyone else?
Interestingly, they are also organising a 3 day version on the same weekend starting in Glencoe, with day 1 Glencoe to Pitlochry, day 2 Pitlochry - Aviemore (3Pistes) & day 3 Aviemore - Glencoe. It sold out inside a day.
Posted 8 years ago # -
A couple of mates & I have entered. Missed this year but did the inaugural one in 2014.
Saw the programme last night. Was there an official feed stop at the Corgarff café (Goodbrand & Ross) at the foot of the Lecht this year? Was that weather related? Seem to remember the café doing good unofficial business in 2014.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Imagine riding a 300km+ audax every day for a year.
A resident of Arkansas, USA, just did that, his last ride was yesterday. Kurt 'Tarzan' Searvogel has now put 1,000 miles on top of Tommy Godwin's 1939 record for the highest annual mileage. Kurt rode 76,076 miles in total.
Amazing achievement I'm sure you'll agree.
Meanwhile, Milton Keynes based Steve Abraham is still going, aiming not only to beat the 1939 record but also the new 2016 one. He restarted his attempt in August following a broken ankle caused by a drunken moped rider back in March.
You can find both riders on Facebork, or follow progress on yet another cycling related forum whose name it would be inappropriate to sully CCE with. :-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yes, a staggering performance from Tarzan, the man is a cycling machine. It is incredible to see the kind of speeds he was averaging all year long....& he is a year older than me!!!
Posted 8 years ago #
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