CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

Audax + sportives 2016

(174 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from morepathsplease

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  1. amir
    Member

    Great day out in the company of cyclingmollie. The weather was fine until St Andrews when the forecast tailwind turned into a headwind. But it wasn't bad. On the way to Falkland snow flurries became more intense and so we decided not to venture up Falkland hill (nothing to do with10% gradients for several miles :) ). We then took an interesting adventure around Glenrothes. By the time we got to the sequence of Hinterland Fife mining villages the snow was really intense and roads were very wet. So at this point I confess that we'd both made the decision to go on guard less Summer bikes. Soon frostbitten bums joined the toes and fingers. In our defence the met office forecast had <5% chance of precipitation.

    Thanks to the organisers and a guest appearance from DaveC.

    Oh and we spotted the great George Berwick on a tricycle tandem.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  2. amir
    Member

    Last weekend was the Merse and Moors 300km audax. This is a tough early season longer audax with about 4200m of climbing.

    Unlike last time, I had the company of a good group most of the way through the route, with 3 others of this parish plus a newbie at this distance (who seemed much better prepared).

    The weather was "interesting" during the day, with a pleasant if cold start. Ice creams headaches developed in the frost hollows on the way into Innerleithen. Clouding over after passing Denholm and the climb to Carter Bar with weak flurries of snow/hail. A chilly tea at the top of Carter Bar and then a tailwind assisted high speed romp to Otterburn, where we failed to get into a cafe crammed full of pensioners. So onto the classic cyclist cafe at Elsdon.

    Then the feared Winter's Gibbet climb, which seemed relatively okay given the other climbs down plus a tailwind. From then along ultra straight roads in the moors gradually descending through picturesque Northumberland villages (cf Cotswolds) and then turning into the devil of a headwind over some lumps into Alnwick for another cafe stop. From there the normally pleasant riding in the lowlands was a testing grind into the wind. As we neared Scotland again, clouds got bigger and taunted us with brief bursts. The temperature started to drop. By Duns the wind had dropped completely but it was getting very chilly. However the wee break to get a till receipt somehow helped to get the legs working a little better and the ride through the Lammermuirs was pleasant in the moonlight. That is until the Hungry Snout, quickly followed by the grind up Redstone Rigg.

    On the way up the Rigg we became aware of ice and snow. So we took the safety first approach descending by walking the first bit. Once ice free we swooped through Gifford back to Musselburgh. I was so cold at the end I couldn't stop shivering despite a radiator, soup and pie.

    This was a hard one but the route was great and it should set us up for the rest of the season. Thanks to Cyclops for organsing!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. crowriver
    Member

    Well done amir!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. amir
    Member

    Thanks crowriver. The others in our grupetto were cyclingmollie, panyagua (with a spare jumper) and jacksonpriest.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Yes, good company. My only worrying moment was removing my sunnies in Coldstream thinking I'd steamed up the left lens only to find it was my left eye that had fogged up. Thankfully my other eye held out until the end. It's cleared up now.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    "only to find it was my left eye that had fogged up"

    ???

    Contact lens?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. panyagua
    Member

    @amir - Was trying to work out the spare jumper reference... ah yes, the padded gilet, I remember struggling to get my arms in it at the top of the Rig. Boy was I glad of it though!

    It was lucky you guys went past just as my original companion was deciding to pack after his tyre blew out at about 90km. Very much enjoyed your company for what turned out to be a very long day and my toughest M&M yet. Thanks again to Cyclops for organising - the new route is excellent.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    "the new route is excellent"

    I agree. Creepy Winter's Gibbet, pretty villages - Longwitton and Longhorsley? - the view from Guizance down to Alnmouth Bay, the Cheviots covered in snow; Northumberland was the highlight of the ride for me.

    Winter's Gibbet by Tom Orr, on Flickr

    The Merse and Moors Audax near Guizance by Tom Orr, on Flickr

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman)
    22/04/2016, 7:57 pm
    Hand-grenade warning: in the last 2yrs, how many injuries from disc brakes in sportive's have you seen/heard of?

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. steveo
    Member

    First Audax yesterday, the Burma Road in Northumberland. Good fun unfortunately my mate picked up an injury at about 12km by 40km he was struggling by 50km I decided to be less mercenary and cruise along with him in his lowest gear.

    By the time we got to the next control in a village and called for a rescue for him I would have struggled to finish the ride and still catch my train so DNF less than auspicious start.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    That was bit of a 'mare. You did well to arrange a rescue from somewhere so distant.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. steveo
    Member

    Fortunately my buddies house was only half an hour away so his wife managed to deposit their children somewhere and come get us.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    That was lucky. On the plus side you can match other Audaxers now when they start with the miserable stories.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    "

    THIS WEEKEND ONLY you can sign up for the Super Challenge, Challenge and Taster routes and receive 10% off registration!! (Thursday 29th - Monday 2nd May)

    "

    http://www.entrycentral.com/bethanysportive

    http://bethanysportive.org

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. SRD
    Moderator

    anyone else following this guy's 400km audax on an elliptigo???

    http://idaimakaya.com/tracking/

    (after posting that, i looked at his website and note that (a) he's done rather longer distances on the elliptigo and (b) that he's their sales director).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. gembo
    Member

    I participated in the tear fund sportive at Drumlanrig yesterday. It is an 88 mile figure of eight route and I think they time you only when you are cycling, and certainly just by eye and shouting out your number (no chip). Some Edinburgh, some Glasgow, some from south (honnister club in evidence). Quiet roads, occasional crazy farmer but no traffic really. We hooked up with the white lee warriors for a while (quite nice chaps hardly warriors at all). I thought there was a higher proportion of women in the event than I have noticed in the past which is good in my opinion for obvious equality reasons but also makes the event slightly more diverse. An example, I was only passed by a peloton where the last guy nearly hit me once in the day. And indeed only passed by a peloton one other time and they gave very good warning the train was coming through. Feeding stations were very high on home baking which is also a big plus to me. There was one mad hill near moniaive which I just managed to get into my lowest gear (alas I was on summer bike so no granny) and grind up. The descent with the mad farmer was too hairy for me, but I did get a better descent later on where I did not need to brake or pedal - my favourite type of descent. PM was Mennock pass which has more height but gradual in a very bleak lead hills landscape. A.m, was St. John's town of Dalry and lovely valleys, forestry roads, hydro and wind farms and some lambs. You could sign up for a.m. And p.m. Or p.m. Only. At the castle I was nearly taken out by a car that clearly wanted to go where it wanted to go despite me having right of way (either a staff member or someone intent on dropping something at the door). I suggested to the witnesses that the driver had not seen me and indeed I had spotted them coming from so far away that I had taken a very wide berth to avoid them killing me and they still nearly got me. The witnesses suggested it was because my top was not bright enough (lurid pink). Endorphins went a good way to making this all just part of the jolly day out (cyclists get warned by the starter to take care they do not hit castle visitors on their return to the grounds, to which they could add, remember some of them will be mentalists pissed off by the cycling event). The morning was very well marshalled but spotted a few cyclists in the afternoon coming back from the m74. I do not like sportives because of all the testosterone in the car park at the start and the eyeing up of kit etc. However, I quite liked this one (I was a substitute for someone who dropped out)

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. amir
    Member

    The Drumlanrig is a lovely sportive (especially the scones)

    I am glad I'm not doing this audax:

    Tan Hill 600

    "A clockwise circuit primarily round northern England, with an incursion into southern Scotland.The early part of this ride climbs through the Trough of Bowland en-route to the Lake District; introducing the riders to an amphitheatre of scenery whilst climbing over some legendary Lakeland passes including Wrynose; Hardknott and Honister Pass. Leaving Cumbria, riders will experience an evening/night ride through Dumfries & Galloway before the overnight sleep control deep inside Kielder Forest at about 375 km. Sunday sees riders climb over the wild, windswept moorland roads of the northern Pennines, over Bollihope Common and Sleightholme Moor to the Tan Hill Inn. "

    http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-11/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. DrAfternoon
    Member

    Haven't quite committed, but I'm planning to do that one. I did most of the first day hard climbs on The Swan with Two Necks 600k (another Andy Corless ride) back in 2014. The one good thing about the super steep bits is that they're over relatively quickly, and they're ok if you have low gears. I had 30 on the front and 29 on the back last time, although even that is a lot of work out of the saddle.

    Still intending to start the West Highlands 1200 in July, so will need a pretty fearsome build up.

    There are a lot of people doing the Highlands ride after the TV from 2014, it's even doubled up with Monday and Tuesday starts. I predict carnage.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. amir
    Member

    You will have the merit of being "Original cast" along with Dave (taps aff) C

    I could do with lower gears on my bike - must change the rear dérailleur/cassette one day - or get one of those secret motors

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    "or get one of those secret motors"
    That's just what someone with a secret motor would say.

    Semi-compact is the new compact btw.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  22. amir
    Member

    :0

    I'd want super-compact - does it exist?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  23. chdot
    Admin

    Compacts are fine (depending on actual combinations of teeth at front and rear), but a triple probably makes more sense for long/hilly trips.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I have no experience of compacts or triples. But I could talk all day about knee pain.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. steveo
    Member

    Compact chainset and mtb cassette/rear mech, I've encounter no tarmac hill I've not managed to haul my fat self up. Although might be having a crack at hard knott later in the month so this opinion may change...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. gembo
    Member

    Honnister is my least favourite of the Lake District passes. Due to the buses comin at ya.

    Dunreggan brae in the Drumlanrig sportive is very steep up and down. I prefer descents where I tuck in and neither pedal nor brake.

    We reeled in a woman on the kirkstone pass probably as she was just on her own. We were taking pictures of ourselves etc when she reached the top, she then accelerated down The struggle. I wore out front brake blocks to get down that.

    My winter bike is a triple. My summer has 28 teeth on the rear cassette. And the rear mech hanger is short. I am not changing as quite new / well relatively unused given the window I go without mudguards being short. However if I went 32 teeth and a longer hanger would that help me on the hills? I managed the dunreggan climb but it came in about 40 miles. I pushed on honnister as it was about 70 miles in after kirkstone and several other climbs and I was scared of the buses.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  27. amir
    Member

    My top tip for long steep hills is to avoid them

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. steveo
    Member

    For various reasons Honister fills me with more dread than all the others.

    Wore out a set of pads coming off Whinlatter a couple of years ago, not sure how well the disks will cope, taking a couple of spare sets (just in case).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. PS
    Member

    Honnister is my least favourite of the Lake District passes. Due to the buses comin at ya.

    My experience exactly last year - just coming to the top of the steepest bit of Honister from the Keswick side, where they've rather unhelpfully put a drainage channel in the road, I heard a bus rumble over the cattlegrid just ahead. Gave me a right wobble.

    ... she then accelerated down The struggle. I wore out front brake blocks to get down that.

    I went down The Struggle last year. Not doing that again, especially as the descent towards Troutbeck is fantastic - one of your tuck in and don't touch the brakes ones.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. gembo
    Member

    Trout beck better but the time I did it that way I was nearly taken out by a sheep that ran right in front of me

    Posted 7 years ago #

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