She might be the Erit Lass?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
Audax + sportives 2017
(282 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
-
or you may find her on the Ride of the Valkyries
Posted 6 years ago # -
I did the National 400 last weekend and very nice it was too. The National 400 is a souped up audax, with fully catered controls (mostly in village halls) and even a sleep stop or two. This one started near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, wibbled south mainly on undulating lanes to the Wye southeast of Hereford and then onto Hay-on-Wye, Rhyader and up through the Elan Valley (gorgeous) over the mountain road to Aberystwyth on the Welsh coast (that stop was an upgraded bandstand). That back through the night over the nicely surface main road to Newtown and then back to the start.
Weather was fine though a bit hot in Herefordshire and then misty at height in Wales. Only a bit of rain during the night.Next audax for me is on Saturday - the 200km Moffat Toffee from Gala.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@amir - sounds like an excellent route. I've ridden some of those roads many years ago and I remember how lovely the Elan Valley was.
See you in Gala on Saturday.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It should be good. I am not sure how lively I'll be though!
Posted 6 years ago # -
The Moffat Toffee was great fun, helped by largely excellent weather for cycling and a route with minimal vehicle transit. We did face a slightly annoying headwind going west out of Langholm (always a place where you can bet on being "cheered" on by local youngsters) but we turned north west soon enough. From Moffat we had a real blast back to Gala with a strong tailee - wow!
These borders audaxes are very friendly and the scenery is great.Posted 6 years ago # -
Next local audax is this Sunday. The East Lothian Roughstuff. Short by audax terms at 53km but takes us along tracks around East Lothian (and a wee bit of Midlothian). I'm taking my OH.
Then we have the London-Edinburgh-London!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Whenever I say I'm going to do a ride it seems to jinx it. So all I'll say is the 2.2" tyres are now on the MTB.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm taking my cyclocross. I may not have the car so may have to RTTSABHAA.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@DaveC,
In the same boat, so if you'd like some company, drop me a text or a PM...
Posted 6 years ago # -
My one proper Strava KOM is on the Rough Stuff, through Butterdean woods. Come and have a go!
Posted 6 years ago # -
@DrAfternoon I'll let my OH know!
Posted 6 years ago # -
@DrAfternoon #ItsNotARace
Posted 6 years ago # -
Enjoyed East Lothian Rough Stuff - as promised it was muddy but a lot of fun and virtually traffic free. A dodgy navigation error meant I added about 6km to the route but got there in the end.
Thanks to @Cyclops, my riding companions and to @DaveC and family for the lift.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It was super muddy. My OH did get round despite the awful weather. And now she properly understanding the ups and downs of audax. Including the incredible muffins produced by @cyclops's OH.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Next local Audax is on 12 August, a 400km from Musselburgh into Galloway and back through the badlands. Closing date 10 August I'm doing as long as the weather is reasonable. This one is usually earlier in the year. Perhaps it's timed as a gentle warm down for the LELers.
Posted 6 years ago # -
At the start of the year I said I was hoping to ride my first imperial century this year. Time is marching on and I haven't yet made plans.
I could head out myself and ride the distance but would prefer to do it as part of an event (audax or sportive). Can anyone recommend an event between now and the end of the year. It needs to be over 100miles but hopefully not much more and ideally close enough to Edinburgh that it doesn't require travelling the night before.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@ acsimpson
Posted 6 years ago # -
http://www.peeblescycling.org/tour-of-tweeddale-sportive-2017/
http://www.kenlaidlawsportive.co.uk/fullsite/index.htmlNot much time left to train for these though.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@ acsimpson
I am currently musing over a trundle to the Borders, probably via Innerleithen to Mountbenger then left to Selkirk or right via Talla and back.
That'll be 100 miles on pretty fairly quite roads.
Might take a day off and have a gentle day if you are interested.
Happy to take the carbon road bike and charge round or the Cx commuter mile muncher and trundle.
Posted 6 years ago # -
A selection of audaxes (beyond DaveC's sure to be excellent ride)
http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=03%2F08%2F2017&To=4&Days=&Category=&Dist_min=100&Dist_max=200&Aaa=&Region=scotlandPosted 6 years ago # -
Thanks, those look like good suggestions. redmist, I said I wanted to ride 100 miles, not 100 plus training, although the extra 40km of an audax might break me.
Perhaps what I need is a 100km audax 30km from home. Other than registering a dnf what's the penalty for cutting a corner on an audax, eg missing West Fife in DaveC's event?
Posted 6 years ago # -
No penalty, if you enter you get the use of the control at the start/finish. If you missed a control, you'd just miss out on a validated ride. If you are not a member of the club, then that's nothing to worry about. But if you ended up riding along in a small group, you'd then have to leave them for your short cut.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Longer distance riding is all about pacing. And as we've seen in the LEL that's very individual.
With audax, time isn't the main issue so stops tend to be more leisurely and you get time to recover (not too much time - you get stiff).
A lot is in the mind. I often feel tired at the end of a 20km commute - probably because I am anticipating the finish.
I'd organise another century ride but I am not sure when I have a weekend free (need my weekend licences for audaxes)
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm trying to set up some DIY routes.
Fine quote from Sir Wobbly
"Audaxing is a supremely simple and straightforward activity which the volumes of AUK regulations may just possibly obscure"
Posted 6 years ago # -
good old Sir Wobbly, is he still out there on his Guv'nor with his stained and wrinkly fingers?
What is the difference between planning a 100 mile cycle and a DIY audax?
Posted 6 years ago # -
DIY is about getting the route pre-approved, then validation that you have done what you said you would. Could be agreeing where you get receipts etc to prove that you have started, gone through the agreed checkpoints, met the required distance and reached the finish within the agreed timescales. Could be sending a gpx file and following that exactly.
Not just going out, turning Strava on and riding.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Thanks Paddy Irish helps with the distinction - I suppose Strava can be faked? The record for a while on the Lang Whang was from a guy in an aeroplance who took off early one morning from the airfield at Kirknewton and flew close to the road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@amir: Longer distance riding is all about pacing.
As Mr Micawber might have said if he'd been a cyclist: "Sustainable pace 24kph, event pace 23.5kph, result happiness. Sustainable pace 24kph, event pace 24.5kph, result misery."
Posted 6 years ago # -
Anyone going tomorrow?
Southern Uplands 400I'm not - someone I know is...
Posted 6 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
